LUXE NEWS • FOOD & DRINK • IN STYLE • HIGH LIFE.
LUXE NEWS • FOOD & DRINK • IN STYLE • HIGH LIFE.
ELEVATED COMFORT
Airbnb grows from offering homestays to luxury travel programmes featuring “end-to-end trip planning” and 24/7 VIP support. The upscale branch of the operator – Airbnb Luxe – provides access to 2,000 impressive accommodation options, even including castles such as Fleming Villa at GoldenEye in Jamaica where Ian Fleming wrote his spy novels; or French Polynesia’s Nukutepipi resort, curated by founder of Cirque du Soleil and Lune Rouge Guy Laliberté. Each property must pass an evaluation of 300-plus criteria and come with local experiences and services, ranging from childcare and private chefs to personal training sessions.
www.airbnb.com
OCEAN POLICE
Banyan Tree Hotel & Resorts brings new coral reef-safe mineral sunscreen. Helmed with SPF 30 PA+++ protection, it’s designed to soothe and protect skin before and even after sun exposure. The formula blocks out UVA and UVB rays with 100 per cent non-nano mineral filters zinc oxide and titanium oxide rather than the traditional oxybenzone and octinoxate, which make corals more prone to bleaching. Key ingredients like organic cold-pressed virgin coconut are ethically sourced from Koh Samui and 94.5 per cent of the formula is naturally derived.
www.banyantree.com
BUBBLING OVER
Moët & Chandon unveiled its 74th vintage 2012 and its 43rd rosé vintage of the same year. Both evoke the transition of spring to summer: the first, fresh yet gentle and the latter delicate with a light coral hue. Matured for five years, the Grand Vintage 2012 is an extra-brut champagne with the usually prominent Chardonnay taking a background role to the Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. It’s a sweeter and more acidic interpretation of the region than usual, thanks to a long winter followed by sweltering summer. Grand Vintage Rosé 2012, meanwhile, is driven by Pinot Noir and is ideal with white meats and soft cheese.
www.moet.com
GREEN YARNS
Etro debuts the #ForTheOceans down jacket – each one is made entirely of materials derived from 120 recycled plastic bottles, that’s fabric, lining, labels and padding. And only chemical substances allowed by sustainability standard are used in the weaving and finishing processes. Manufacturing methods reduce CO2 emissions by 32 per cent, water by 94 per cent and electric power by 60 per cent, when compared to using virgin polyester polymer. Following a shop opening in Guangzhou, China this summer, the Italian label brings playfulness to its Fall/Winter 2019 menswear: card-playing rabbits appear on fabric linings of paisley-print blazers and fairies subtly adorn trousers. In the FW series, sustainability is evident in recycled fabrics used in an overcoat, and in plant-based ones used for the Oxford shirt and cashmeres.
www.etro.com
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
Atelier Cologne celebrates its 10th anniversary with its first Cologne Absolue, Orange Sanguine, created in partnership with British street artist Lucky Left Hand. Capturing the scent of happiness launched in 2009, the bottle design depicts a vibrant forest featuring colours the brand has used in its past leather casing. The scent blends Calabrian red mandarin and Seville bitter orange with geranium, jasmine, sandalwood and tonka beans to bring about bright and warm notes on a sunny day.
www.ateliercologne.com
TREASURED BOX
Tiffany & Co launched its 2019 Blue Book Collection: Tiffany Jewel Box, which unveils – among others – 10 fascinating brooches in equally dazzling boxes in the shape of bird cages, match boxes, and lockets – to describe a few. Categorised into seven chapters – Flora, Frame, Icons, Mosaic, Sculpture Ribbon and Flight and with pieces that have graced the likes of celebs such as Lady Gaga and Kendall Jenner, this collection also comprises watches for the first time in recent history.
www.tiffany.com
NEW DIGS
Quarry Bay, Hong Kong sees the debut of East Residences – formerly Taikoo Place Apartments. Its 106 studio, one- to two-bedroom suites and two penthouses offer generous living space, quick access to Hong Kong Island’s largest shopping mall (City Plaza) as well as minimalist design aesthetics in marble and wood – a surprising interiors contrast to its sister property and neighbour – East, Hong Kong hotel. Residents can enjoy an array of amenities and conveniences, such as a 24-hour gym, lounge and reading area, and in-room dining from neighbouring restaurant Mr & Mrs Fox.
www.east-hongkong.com
MAKING WAVES
Presented at the Salone del Mobile in Milan this year, the Pelago table by Zaha Hadid Design for Citco resurrects the late designer’s interest in the logic and coherence of natural forms. Referencing coastal rock formations modelled by the sea, the table comprises two interlocking, contrasting elements of black marble and transparent acrylic and appears to flow from motionless to fluid by waves rippling below its surface.
www.zaha-hadid.com
www.citco.it
MAIN PHOTO: SIMPSON YACHT CHARTER
