L’Homme Cologne Cedrat by l’Occitane. Gentleman’s signature.

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Cédrat is probably one of the most mysterious citrus fruit. Also called Citron (do not be confused with Lemon), Cedrat was considered as one of the rarest fruits in Ancient times. We tend to consider Cedrat as the golden fruits from the Garden of Hesperides. Its fragrance is subtle as intense and has been part of men’s perfumery heritage. L’Occitane en Province has been exploring this theme as part of the brand legacy, as a true masculine theme. For this christmas, L’Occitane reinvents its masculine territory thanks to L’Homme Cologne Cedrat. With a fragrance flacon invented by Olivier Baussan, the main idea was to rediscover a masculine flask. A perfect timeless theme for a timeless and elegant scent.

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L’OCCITANE’s masculine fragrances for men are comprised of harmonious blends of wood, spices, and herbs, and evoke feelings of mystery, ruggedness, and sensuality. Each fragrance reflects Provence’s authentic nature. With its striking appearance and irregular shape, the cedrat is an eminently masculine citrus fruit. Its skin thick and rough, it embodies the very rawness of nature – just like the man it is intended for.

The Cedrat or Citron citrus is originally from South Asia and more specifically from India. It started to spread across Asia and Europe from the third century BC. Alliance of a lemon and an orange, this large citrus grows in Mediterranean latitudes and the Caribbean. Today only a few small orchards remain in Corsica. The fruit has not much juice, its main usage is in perfumery for the essential oil contained on its skin. Obtained by cold expression of the peel, the essential oil of citron is selected in perfumery for its tangy wake, sparkling, intoxicating top note. He is famous for very large scented waters and Cologne. L’OCCITANE has placed this mysterious citrus fruit at the heart of its new fresh and energizing range for men.

With the new L’HOMME COLOGNE CEDRAT, you will rediscover the joy of a new classic. The scent is fresh and sparkling, yet strong and deep. Any man by wearing it will feel elegant and dynamic. The new fragrance will be available by the end of October  in all L’Occitane stores and of course in the brand website: http://www.loccitane.com

José Amorim

Info sourced at L’Occitane official communication release. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Luxury Family holidays: is it possible? Sure and here is how.

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 6 minutes

You have your luxury lifestyle. You find the person of your dreams and you start a simple life made of small pleasures and luxury delights. You appreciate small luxury hotels, you enjoy marvelous weekends in amazing cities like Prague, Barcelona or Paris. And then one day, you decide to build a family and get children. It is probably one of the most beautiful things you will have in life: children. Problems start when you get your first holidays with your children. You realize the following cannot happen anymore:

  • Decide on last minute what to do
  • Get in this marvelous small luxurious romantic hotel
  • Just lay down by the pool and enjoy a calm and stylish afternoon
  • Go party all night
  • get that table for 2 in that 3 Michelin star restaurant

Children and luxury, you become immediately a drama queen

When your life get full with children, you start realizing that you egocentric non-parental life is over. You need to take care of them and as you decided to have them, it is normal that you dedicate quite some time to these little human beings. Children are great and each of their smiles and hugs provide you with a whole new energy. Unfortunately you will not get a good diner if you take them to a 3 stars Michelin restaurant. Probably you might not even get a reservation if you say “2 adults and a 3 years old child”. So you realize you need to change your lifestyle. You need to change your natural interest for an elegant lifestyle. No more romantic and luxurious hotels and restaurants. You will just make a mess if you still try to go to these places. So is it over? Are you living a real luxury nightmare? Well, probably but as someone told me, you have no choice as you decided to have children. Certains things cannot be undone. Scream and run are not an option. So should you get rid of your past life and accept to downgrade your lifestyle? You can do it but seriously, be brave and follow the below tips to maintain your luxury expectations still up and running.

Elegant Guest houses rather than luxury hotels.

You liked to stay at Kempinski or other luxury hotel? With small children it is not something you can still do. They will get bored and you might feel embarrassed if they start crying or screaming in the middle of the nice diner you are having. One interesting option would be an elegant Guest House. Some people are very keen to welcome you in a chic and exclusive environment that will be more relaxed than a luxury hotel.  Here are some examples of marvelous guest houses that you could choose for a weekend of a whole week holidays. These have an interesting balance between luxury and family holidays. Here are two examples of luxury guest-houses in France that would provide you a great lifestyle during your holidays.

L’Onzaine in France, Essentials for a marvelous stay.

A beautiful house from 1850. You will find according to your desires the little piece of tranquility that suits you on a lounge chair, a bench, a table under the Sophora or a blanket in the shade of trees. Each room has a view of the greenery, wooded and flowered surroundings in a 1800 m² area.

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With 5 guest rooms, you will be welcomed in a true refinement experience. Each detail were taken in consideration in order to allow you the pleasure of the senses. You can read more about this amazing place by visiting the official website here: http://www.maison-dhotes-lonzaine.com

Domaine de Lespoune in France, history and chill-out

Lespoune Manor started its history in the beginning of the 18th century. The region where it is located is dominated by the fortified city of Navarrenx, and the river “Gave of Oloron”. Between Bearn and Pays Basque, 1hour drive from Biarritz and the ocean, 1hour  from Pyrenees ans Spain, it’s the perfect place to rest and discover this amazing region. Spa, sauna, jacuzzi in the park, organic garden, Yves & Nicole will be happy to welcome you to spend perfect family holidays in style.

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4 rooms and a suite  are available, one on ground floor, wheel chair convenient,   and also pets. 3 at first floor and suite on second. Between 30 et 65m2, they all have private bathroom and tea facilities. Beds in 160×200 or 2x90x200 and free WIFI.
You can check more information by visiting the official website here:
http://www.lespoune.fr 

Luxury Restaurants, still possible but you should ask first

Remember that beautiful and nice stylish restaurant you used to go before being parents? It might still be possible but you should call and ask first. It is not a problem to go there with a child if you ask before for a calm table with some space for a child-buggy. They might help you out with it. Sometimes luxury restaurants have special private tables that can provide you with a great experience and still being comfortable with your young child. In the UK, there is an interesting group of hotels under the name of Luxury Family hotels. They provide you with a great lifestyle and journey. The restaurant as well the hotels are great for any family who still wishes to be surrounded by great atmosphere.

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Some hotels provide as well amazing sunday brunches adapted to families. For example Movenpick in Switzerland, they offer a special formula for a Sunday brunch. Everything is adapted to provide you with a great stylish family experience. They even have a room for your child to play while you enjoy a relaxing Sunday afternoon.

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As you can  see, there are several ways for you to still taste your stylish lifestyle while having children. So do not panic as there are always solutions. In the incoming month you will find here at LuxuryActivist.com several tips to find your perfect Luxury family holidays.

José Amorim

Info sourced at the different companies website and LuxuryActivist own experiences. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Davidoff Yamasa, exceptional new Cigar. One of a kind.

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 5 minutes

The life of Davidoff Cigars is the life of Zino Davidoff. His brilliant savoir vivre infused all aspects of cigar craftsmanship and enjoyment. A visionary in all regards, Zino was a man who ensured time, like each of his cigars, was always beautifully filled. While we think everything was invented, everything was already done, Davidoff launches a new Cigar. After 20 years in the making, Davidoff Cigars unveils its newest cigar range, Davidoff Yamasá: an intense exhilaration in taste.

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Davidoff is a Swiss luxury tobacco goods brand name, which is carried by a range of products including cigars, cigarillos, cigarettes and pipe tobaccos. The company is otherwise independently owned by Oettinger Davidoff AG. Here are some key figures about Davidoff Cigars:

  • 2015 Turnover: CHF 1.126 Million
  • Employees: 3’541
  • Number of total cigars produced annually: 45 Million

Davidoff cigars are sold worldwide through a selective distribution system. The Davidoff Flagship Stores have a special position among the carefully selected trading partners who guarantee the quality of the products. The over 70 Davidoff Flagship Stores are designed according to a uniform concept and offer the entire Oettinger Davidoff AG product range. These shops are all ideally located and are distinguished by quality, competence and an elegant atmosphere. In addition, around 500 Davidoff appointed merchants carry the entire Oettinger Davidoff AG tobacco range including accessories. They must also meet specific location and shop furnishing criteria. Davidoff cigars are available in first-class hotels and restaurants and in the duty-free trade. In 2011 the Oettinger Davidoff Group evolved a new and modern retail concept and design. Start of the Roll-Out was on December 1st 2011 when the first of its kind Davidoff Flagship Store in the redesigned Airside Center at Zurich Airport has been opened.

Davidoff Yamasa, pure state of art

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The pioneer and daring spirit of Zino Davidoff is completely aligned with the creation of this new cigar. 20 years were needed to carefully craft this new product. The artist behind Davidoff greatest creations is Henke Kelner. He is the Davidoff’s globally acclaimed cigar visionary. He embodies that same daring spirit today. His endless pursuit to bring the cigar aficionado new tastes, experiences and pleasures, led him and his team of experts to the Yamasá region. A harsh and unforgiving swampland where others had tried and failed to grow tobacco, and which would ultimately deliver an incredible intensity and complexity. Everyone said it couldn’t be done. Henke dreamed that it could. He followed his vision during 20 years. As yet unencountered, intense and complex flavours and aromas were the reward for his quest. Davidoff Yamasá is now finally ready to be unveiled.

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The new Davidoff Yamasá has been 20 years in the making. 20 years of Henke Kelner’s and his team’s expertise, of nurturing and cultivating soil that was reluctant to change. The development of Yamasá is the story of men who challenged the impossible in the pursuit of their dream. For the Yamasá region to unveil its true potential, Henke Kelner and his team had to first nurture nature. To raise the pH levels to those that best suit the growing of tobacco (5.5 to 6.5). They conditioned the soil by adding calcium carbonate, agricultural lime and slaked lime/dolomitic lime. This they did at intervals of every two months, by hand and to each and every single tobacco plant, then once a month, before transplanting. Henke Kelner didn’t rely on science. He relied on his own expert intuition.

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Seed selection saw the elimination of 30 down to just 3, until only the best in terms of colour, shine and lamina stood out. The site in Yamasá covers 100 hectares, but only 21 are used. Henke Kelner and his team know to rest the land between each harvest so as to let nature take its course, and to help ensure that the unmatchable quality of the Yamasá leaf is maintained for years to come. They grew the tobacco in the shade, shielding it from the harmful effects of the sun. The curing process was equally as important. The ‘yellow’ stage, where the more yellow the leaf, the better the wrapper it makes, implored Henke Kelner and his team to ensure the Yamasá wrapper fulfilled its true potential. For this, entirely new climate controlled curing facilities were constructed.

Moreover, the deep expertise built over the years by the Davidoff team in taming the wilder tendencies of Nicaraguan Estelí and Condega tobaccos has helped deliver an exhilarating Yamasá blend with all the intensity, refinement and sophistication aficionados would expect from Davidoff.

The result? An exquisite, rich and round cigar taste. Subtly facets of nuts melted with spice, coffee, cedar wood, earth undertones and hints of black pepper. It is a cigar that takes all the character of the Yamasa region and the very best of tobacco plants. Basically the sweetness of Nicaraguan Condega meets the spiciness of Nicaraguan Esteli. A new exhilaration is provided to the cigars world.

davidoff-yamasa-cigars-new

davidoff-yamasa-cigars

THE BLEND

  • Wrapper: Yamasá
  • Binder: San Vicente from Yamasá
  • Filler: Nicaraguan tobaccos from Condega and Estelí Dominican Piloto and Mejorado

FORMATS

  • Petit Churchill: 48RG x 4 – 1.90 x 10.2 cm
  • Robusto: 50 RG x 5 – 2.00 x 12.7 cm
  • Toro: 52 RG x 6 – 2.06 x 15.2 cm
  • Piramides: 52 RG x 6 1/8  –  2.06 x 15.6 cm

The new Davidoff Yamasá cigar range will be available to cigar aficionados in matt folding packs with four cigars and in black wooden boxes with 12/14 cigars at selected Appointed Merchants in the US, and at Depositaries/Davidoff Flagship Stores worldwide starting in late July 2016.

To discover more about the passionate world of Davidoff cigars, check the official website here:
http://davidoff.com

José Amorim

Info sourced at Davidoff Communication release. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

The Do’s and Don’ts of Properly Washing Your Face

LuxuryActivist
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0
Reading Time: 4 minutes

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It seems so simple, so basic. But many people are washing their face all wrong. During our adolescent years, we all learned about the importance of keeping our face clean. Battling hormones was a big enough challenge without adding dirt, sweat and environmental factors on top of it. Chances are you swiped on an Oxy pad or washed with a salicylic acid bar soap and called it a day.

Achieving silky smooth skin starts with properly washing your face. The do’s and don’ts below will help you perfect your daily cleansing routine to reveal beautiful skin under the build up.

Don’t Forget It’s a 4-5 Step Process

Washing your face properly doesn’t end when you rinse off the cleanser. That’s just the first step. To really get your face fresh and clean, you should follow up with an alcohol-free toner and then a serum that nourishes the skin. Finally, top the serum off with a moisturizer. At least a few times a week add a gentle exfoliator to the cleansing routine for improved texture and clarity.

Do Find a System That Works for Your Skin

The first step in the process is using the right products. You’ll need to find products that will get the job done without being harsh on the skin. It could help to find a multi-product system like Dermaclara Advanced that contains a cleanser, exfoliator, serum, and moisturizer.

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Don’t Use Hot Water

Hot water will dry out the skin, strip the natural oils and enlarge pores. Hot water can also inflame skin tissue making acne flare-ups worse. Instead, start by wetting your face with lukewarm water. Apply a cream cleanser then rinse with cool water. Hollywood starlet Joan Crawford was famous for using ice cold water, but experts say cold water is better because it will refresh the skin without restricting blood flow.

Do Use Your Fingers in a Circular Motion While Washing

The reason so many aestheticians use an upward circular motion while cleaning a person’s face – because it’s relaxing and helps loosen up the grime. Start by thoroughly washing the oily t-zone and work your way outward. Take at least a minute to get a good cleanse all the way down to the jawline.

Remember – always use your fingers, not a washcloth. The washcloth’s abrasive texture can aggravate the skin.

Do Wash Your Face at Night

Experts are on the fence as to whether you should wash your face once or twice a day, but everyone agrees you should wash your face at night. After a long day out in the dirty world, applying sunscreen, wearing makeup and possibly sweating your pores are clogged with gunk. To keep the acne at bay and allow your skin to breath the grime needs to be washed off each night.

As for morning washes, that’s a contentious topic. Some skin specialists say go ahead, while others say it’s unnecessary so there’s no reason to wash off your nightly moisturizer or serum. If you have sensitive or dry skin you may want to try skipping the morning wash.

Don’t Overdo It

Sometimes good intentions create skin problems. In an effort to get as squeaky clean as possible, some women overdo it. It’s never a good idea to vigorously rub in an exfoliator even if your skin is flaky. Depending on the type of skin you have, washing your face twice a day could be dehydrating.

You also have to be careful when using electronic cleansing brushes. The brush should be constantly moving to avoid irritating the skin.

Do Blot Your Skin Dry

After you’re done cleaning your face resist the urge to rub the skin dry with a towel. Rubbing can irritate the epidermis. Some people believe it can also stretch the skin and damage elastin. The better option is to blot the skin dry with a soft hand towel or tissue paper.

Don’t Use Too Much Toner

A little bit of toner goes a long way. Lightly moisten a cotton ball with the toner and focus on areas where there’s excess oil and enlarged pores.

Do Follow Up With Moisturizer Before the Skin Dries

Moisturizers work best on moist skin. Products that contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid work to latch on to moisture in the skin to create a plumping affect. Moisturizer should be applied shortly after the toner or serum to lock in the moisture. Pay special attention to moisturizer around the eyes where the skin is most delicate.

Liz Becker

Info sourced by the author for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Power Your Way to the Top with These Fashions

LuxuryActivist
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0
Reading Time: 3 minutes

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Anyone looking to climb the corporate ladder needs to understand just how important fashion is in their endeavors. As little children, we were taught ‘never judge a book by its cover,’ but unfortunately, that’s just how the world of business operates. If you are looking to power your way to the very top of your profession, you sure better look the part. Here are some tips on fashions that can send you on your way.

Timeless Timepieces

With all the buzz about digital this and digital that, there is something quite dignified in the timelessness of a mechanical watch. For some undeniable reason, an analog mechanical watch brings with it the perception of a person who has control of their own life. A digital watch just keeps going and going until the battery runs out, but an analog mechanical watch from days gone by offers the image of a person who is in charge of their own life and doesn’t need any outside motivation or power to keep going. That’s a person who is ready to rise within a company and why every power-player’s wardrobe should contain a mechanical watch to show the world who they are – self-propelled leaders.

Forget Faux – Real Leather Is Where It’s At

Many people believe that there is no distinguishable difference between real leather and faux leather but to those in the know, there is definitely a difference. Whether new or well broken in, leather has a look and feel that sets it apart from even the highest quality imitation leather on the market. Leather is leather, and once you have owned leather shoes, leather brief cases, leather cell phone cases, leather watch bands, you learn to discern the difference. One of the most influential power pieces you can carry would be a real leather laptop bag. Yes, they are higher priced than nylon or other synthetic materials but so much more effective when making that all-important power play.

Less Is More – Smaller, Less Flashy Jewelry

No matter how much a piece of jewelry costs, those overly large statement pieces tend to make the wrong kind of statement. In the corporate world, they are often viewed as being pretentious. After all, if you really have money and high standing in the community, there is no need to flaunt it. When looking to grow with your company or on your own as a freelancer, the more secure you can make yourself appear, the more others will believe in you. Some of the most powerful and influential men in our country still live in homes they bought 60+ years ago (Warren Buffet) or go about in worn, torn jeans (Bill Gates) because they have no one to impress!

So then, the one underlying theme seems to be that if you want to power your way up the corporate ladder, don’t make it appear as though that is your intent. When it comes to high-power fashions, less ostentatious is better. That calm air of being secure in who and what you are goes so much further than putting on airs of superiority. High-quality analog mechanical watches indicate a person in control of his or her own life and those who wear quality come across as being quality. Natural over synthetic and small high-quality jewelry over flashy statement pieces are a winning combination each and every time.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Medieval Factory by L’Espace des Inventions – Lausanne

José Amorim
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0
Reading Time: 3 minutes

L’Espace des Inventions opened in 2000 in Lausanne. Since then, their mission is to inspire vocations and to awaken young people’s interest in science and technology. These are 2 key elements to our modern culture that should educate future generations.

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They are located in a very special building, constructed for the National exhibition of 1964. The roof is a giant solar dial and the space is located at the bottom of an amazing park called the Youth valley. The main surface is about 250m2. Generally L’Espace des Invention hosts different ephemeral exhibitions dealing with a science or technical theme. Visitors are stimulated and exposed to experiences thanks to observation and manipulation. L’Espace des Inventions welcomes over 23’000 visitors each year. Right now you can discover an amazing exhibition called Medieval Factory.  It is displayed until December 2016 and visitors will discover, understand and manipulate catapults, medieval engines, learn more about the first printing techniques, etc.

Medieval Factory, history in the making.

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The Middle Ages is a period of European history between the 5th and 15th centuries. What else do we owe to this time sometimes known as the Dark Ages, other than castles and knights? It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and merged into the Renaissance and the Age of Discovery. The Middle Ages is the middle period of the three traditional divisions of Western history: classical antiquity, the medieval period, and the modern period. The medieval period is itself subdivided into the Early, High, and Late Middle Ages. Population decline, counterurbanisation, invasion, and movement of peoples, which had begun in Late Antiquity, continued in the Early Middle Ages. The large-scale movements of the Migration Period, including various Germanic peoples, formed new kingdoms in what remained of the Western Roman Empire. Although scientific research and progress did not exist as we know it, numerous significant technological innovations did take place during the second part of the Middle Ages. Many of those inventions still make our lives easier to this day. Some inventions, such as the compass and gun powder already existed in the Far East before being brought to Europe. Nonetheless, the Middle Ages was a more creative period than it often appears to be. This exhibition is an opportunity to discover some of them by learning about the history and the technology of the inventions, as well as some hands-on experience.

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The all purpose of the Espace des Inventions is the fact that you can experiment by yourself. Learning by doing! So exhibitions generally proposes experiments in which visitors will have a complete immersive action and potentially trigger future vocations. During the Medieval factory exhibition there is one amazing experience: the Catapult shooting. You can learn how catapults worked and why they were built that way. Then children (and grown up people as well) can try to shoot with the catapult. It was very interesting.

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The exhibition is in partnership with Chateau de Chillon, one of the most preserved castles in Europe. Chillon Castle is a true architectural jewel located in the most beautiful setting imaginable – on the shores of Lake Geneva, right at the foot of the Alps. This monument with over 1’000 years of history, has always inspired artists and writers, from Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Victor Hugo and Lord Byron, from Delacroix to Courbet.

If you wish to learn more about the exhibition, do not hesitate to visit the official website here:
http://www.espace-des-inventions.ch

José Amorim

Info sourced at the visit of Medieval Factory exhibition. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustrations purposes only.

Swiss Blog: Aesop opens new store in Lausanne

LuxuryActivist
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0
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Aesop just opened a new store in Lausanne. Year after year, the Australian brand is investing into the Swiss Market as being part of one of its key european territories. Aesop is an amazing brand. It all started in 1987 in Melbourne – Australia. It was founded by Dennis Paphitis. His aim was to have a precise and expert range of superlative products in which he would gather the best of what nature and science can offer. In addition to skincare, Aesop also produces hair care, soaps and fragrance.

Each time Aesop opens a new store, it is an unique new story starting. Each store has an unique design and atmosphere. In Lausanne, it is all about wood. Located in the historical area of the city, the new Aesop boutique was designed by  Marion Mouny, architect at Aesop Design department.

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The space is inspired by what Gio Ponti did at the Intercontinental Hotel in Naples. This new 17m2 store gives the impression of a full compact wood decor and everything was prepared to provide customers a great experience.  In the store you can find all the ranges for face, hair and body. The contrast of materials as well as the minimalism approach of the overall look make you feel different from your daily life. One important detail are the 2 main glass chandeliers made by Paulo Venini from the 60’s. They occupy an important place in the store as its unique signature. Obviously everything was also well organized from a practical and functional aspect. You can easily discover all the products, how to use them and even ask for an advice.

Rue Saint Laurent is a very interesting place in Lausanne. Located in the historical area, it is a very animated location. Several stores, department stores, other beauty stores and even a little weekend market are present in this specific location. So there are always people walking around. The new Aesop store will benefit from a local area customer as well as visitors from other places and even tourists. With a very elegant façade, the new Aesop store blends perfectly to the elegant architecture of the area. Before Lausanne, Aesop opened Geneva store as you can see in the below images.

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There is a certain connection, yet each boutique is different. Aesop generally adapt its boutiques to the areas in which they are located, or it can be another strong reference. They all have this savvy blend between heritage, cultural references and of course being functional in order to inspire sales. In general, the brand can be found in its own ‘signature spaces’ (concept stores) and department stores. Aesop has a very specific way to develop the brand. In many ways, less is more. They prefer to have a short yet interesting distribution network that they master completely rather than going broader and then completely lose the brand message and quality. Aesop picks up the locations of its stores with the aim of proposing the brand universe in the best way possible. Each store tells a story, a different story but all of them are proudly ambassadors of the Australian brand. You can visit the brand official website to connect deeper into Aesop universe.
http://www.aesop.com

If beauty was considered as a religion, the Aesop Lausanne store would be one of its beauty magnificent temples.  If you are passing by, do not hesitate to enter the store. Very soon they will have Christmas gift sets, which represent amazing gift occasions.

Aesop Lausanne
Rue Saint Laurent 6-8
CH-1003 Lausanne
+41(0)213238700
lausanne@aesop.com

Open hours:

  • from Monday to Friday – 09h30 to 19h00
  • Saturday – 09h00 to 18h00

José

aesop-ch-store-lausanne

Info sourced at official Aesop communication release. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

An exquisit Autumn picnic, with Champagne Krug

José Amorim
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0
An exquisit Autumn picnic, with Champagne Krug
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Autumn is often a nostalgic season. Not yet winter and no more summer. Temperatures start to drop and holidays are over. That is probably why we should find things to do, to treat ourselves with nice things. While the sun is still there, Autumn is the perfect season to connect to nature and rediscover simple pleasures like a picnic. We can see nature changing and for LuxuryActivist was the perfect occasion to rediscover Champagne Krug.

Autumn, nature under the hood

The word autumn comes from the ancient Etruscan root autu- and has within it connotations of the passing of the year. It was borrowed by the neighbouring Romans, and became the Latin word autumnus. After the Roman era, the word continued to be used as the Old French word autompne (automne in modern French) or autumpne in Middle English, and was later normalized to the original Latin. In the Medieval period, there are rare examples of its use as early as the 12th century, but by the 16th century, it was in common use.
The alternative word fall for the season traces its origins to old Germanic languages. The exact derivation is unclear, with the Old English fiæll or feallan and the Old Norse fall all being possible candidates. However, these words all have the meaning “to fall from a height” and are clearly derived either from a common root or from each other. The term came to denote the season in 16th century England, a contraction of Middle English expressions like “fall of the leaf” and “fall of the year”. This Autumn, LuxuryActivist decided to embrace the new season and at the same time rediscover one of the most amazing Champagne houses: Krug. During the time of a Autumn picnic, let’s review this excellent Champagne.

Champagne Krug, rediscovering a state of art.

Krug Champagne is a Champagne house founded by Joseph Krug in 1843. It is based principally in Reims, the main city in France’s Champagne region and is one of the famous Champagne houses that formed part of the Grande Marques.Today the house is majority owned by the multinational conglomerate LVMH whose portfolio includes other well known wine brands such as Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Château d’Yquem and Ruinart. Despite LVMH’s majority ownership, the Krug family is still actively involved in all the key decisions of the house but does not manage the day-to-day operations.

Champagne Krug was well known as well as the Concorde champagne. Every client flying on Concorde would enjoy this amazing champagne and the French Champagne house became the symbol of a modern and stylish lifestyle.

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Drug is mainly know for its Krug Grande Cuvée, supplemented by a non-vintage rosé, a vintage blanc, a vintage blanc de blancs from the Clos du Mesnil in the Cotes de Blancs, a vintage blanc de noirs from the Clos d’Ambonnay and older vintages released as Krug Collection series.

Krug Grande Cuvée is a blend of over 120 wines coming from ten or more different vintages – some up to fifteen years in age – and three grape varieties (Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier) from numerous vineyards. Every year Krug recreate its Grande Cuvée and in total more than 20 years are required in order to create a bottle of Krug Grande Cuvée. Within this time, each bottle of Krug will lay on a minimum of 6 years in the Krug cellars. The result is the distinguished deep golden color and very fine bubbles. That is why Krug Champagne is often considered as one of the best champagnes in the world. So for our Autumn picnic, a bottle of Krug is the perfect companion to celebrate nature with style.

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Autumn Picnic, celebrating refinement, quality and creativity.

The art of picnic requires:

  • Great people to picnic with
  • A little organization when it comes to address lunch out of home
  • Great food (otherwise why bother?)
  • Convenient weather if not good weather

While in the 18th Century, people where enthusiasts by the natural surroundings. The 18th century and the 19th century brought many people to Mountains landscapes. For some people was because of medical reasons, others because living in the mountains or closer to Mountains was a idyllic life, completely translated into the Romantic trend at that time. Nowadays, life became more urban and still men are always tempted to reconnect to nature. Autumn is the perfect season for that as we enjoy every single moment we can spend outside before Winter arrives.

First things first. In order to prepare a great Autumn picnic, we need to start with 2 main things:

  • Appropriate crockery and cutlery. 
  • Great ingredients to please the palate

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For these 2 points, Champagne Krug provided everything perfectly adapted to the experience. From seasonal ingredients like the lobster mushrooms, to Ratte potatoes towards some special ingredients like combavas limes and Yuzu confiture, we had everything to cook an amazing picnic. Krug even provided a cooking apron.

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After the preparation, the only thing remaining was to find the perfect spot to picnic. In Lausanne, there are considerably a certain amount of parcs. Switzerland is amazing for this as nature is all around you. So after the perfect location chosen, we just needed to get there and enjoy.

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Krug Grande Cuvée was the perfect addition to the picture. From the very first seconds we had the champagne in mouth, we would appreciate the finesse of the deep-gold liquid. Fine bubbles and a sort of roundness would completely seduce you. We can see that all the time spent at Krug Cellars was worth it.

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Each different natural element just blend together in order to obtain a sublime result. It is like an orchestra: Strong, different and distinguished instruments that blend into a symphony. The champagne was truly appreciated and brought a sort of sharp soft energy to the picnic. Discover more about this amazing Champagne house by visiting the official website: https://www.krug.com

José Amorim

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Info sourced at LuxuryActivist Autumn picnic, wikipedia and Krug website. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

The World’s Most Expensive Gemstones

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

For thousands of years, people have used gemstones in a variety of different ways to add color and more aesthetic value to a range of jewelry pieces, such as necklaces, rings, and earrings. Although today, some gemstones are more popular than others, there is a wide range of other gemstones to choose from which are both stunning to look at and expensive to buy. Whether you’re planning to buy something lovely for yourself, are looking for an expensive gift for that special someone, or simply want to learn more about the most expensive gemstone options, we’ve got all the information you need right here.

Diamonds
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Arguably the most popular gemstone of all time, diamonds are also one of the most expensive to purchase. Hugely durable and long-lasting, diamonds are also the traditional choice for engagement rings and other jewelry items which tend to hold more sentimental value. Although most people tend to think of diamonds as being a bright, white or clear stone, they are actually much more versatile than most people realize, coming in a range of different colors, cuts and shapes – red diamonds are one of the most expensive types of this gemstone, priced at up to $1,000,000 per carat. See ascotdiamonds.com for a stunning range of diamond rings and other jewelry pieces.

Musgravite

musgravite

Originally discovered in 1967 in the Musgrave Ranges, Australia, Musgravite is a very rare, hard gemstone which comes in at the massive price of $6,000 per carat. In the same family as the taaffeite gemstone, musgravite has a deep, elegant purple color and makes a stunning addition to almost any type of jewelry. This expensive gemstone can be a perfect alternative to a diamond engagement ring or other diamond jewelry, especially if the wearer prefers gemstones which are of a darker color.

Red Beryl

red-beryl

Found in mineralized rhyolite tuffs in Utah, Red Beryl is colorless in nature but acquires its rich, deep red color from trace amounts of additional elements. At the massive price of up to $10,000 per carat, this gem is rarely found above 2-3 carats, and can be a great alternative to a ruby stone for those who are looking to invest a little more money into their jewelry.

Taaffeite

taaffeite

Taaffeite is an extremely rare and expensive gemstone which costs up to a huge $35,000 per carat. Often mistaken for spinel, this gemstone was discovered already cut and polished in 1945 in Dublin, Ireland. Although it was misidentified as spinel at the time, it wasn’t long until it was realized that this was actually a different gemstone altogether. Naturally, this gemstone is found in alluvial deposits in both Tanzania and Sri Lanka.

Do you love expensive and rare gemstones? Which gemstone is your favorite? Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the classic, traditional diamond or prefer to wear gems that get people talking, we’d love to find out more! Whether your favorite gemstone is already on this list or you’d like to add to it, join the discussion in the comments below!

Carol

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Info sourced by the author for LuxuryActivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Victorinox Fall Winter Fashion Collection, Modern Craft story.

José Amorim
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Reading Time: 4 minutes

What is surprising with Swiss Ingenuity is the large numbers of possibilities. Victorinox is the proud ambassador of such philosophy and the Swiss manufacturer has season after season innovated in the fashion industry. They propose a modern and clever fashion, crafted for outdoor and daily adventures. Here is our review of the new Fall-Winter collection by Victorinox. It is our Swiss Blog of the month.

This is how Victorinox describes the new collection: “In the new-season collection from Victorinox, we embrace craftsmanship, celebrating artisanal skills and enjoying innovative textiles in apparel and accessories designed for endurance. The pieces in the new collection showcase the company’s trademark Swiss quilting in unexpected ways. Another key element in the collection is Damascus steel – the patterned metal giving a blade an interesting and artisanal look. Its distinctive markings are made using a handcrafting technique dating back to medieval times.”

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What we can say is that Victorinox allies design, functionality, quality and innovation. Their attachment to details is extreme. Every single piece of clothe will represent an unlimited amount of details that put together will make the perfect outfit for your daily adventure. The new collection is called Modern Craft. It summarizes centuries of craftsmanship, like a true legacy for future generations.

Winter is coming, so we need to be prepared. What makes the new collection perfect for the season? First things first: Fabrics. The choice of materials, from comfort to warmth, gives you the feeling to wrap yourself on it and enjoy the healthy outdoor life. Having an active life, means you need the right companions to follow you on any path you explore. Design is crucial and it rules the Victorinox fashion. Architecture, craftsmanship, ingenuity will be the key elements for Victorinox Fall-Winter 2016.

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Inspired by craftsmanship, the all idea of the new collection is to bring noble materials used for centuries by talented craftsmen in order to add a “plus” to the items. Here below a few close-ups about certain details that will seduce you for sure. The new-season collection from Victorinox perfectly embodies the meeting of modernity and heritage that lies at the root of everything this Swiss company does. It’s a combination that is more generally characteristic of the country’s design and culture.

In order to inspire and to create the buzz, Victorinox organised fashion shows in each of their flagship stores. Customers and partners could discover the new collection, discuss with Victorinox people and even buy already the new pieces. Here below some images from the event at the Geneva flagship store in which we had the pleasure to attend. We were lucky as the event happened under the eyes of Mrs and Mr Elsener, the company owners.

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Employing the company’s signature Swiss quilting, the System allows a range of liners and jackets to be worn alone or snapped into one another – via popper fastenings – therefore ensuring versatility and enduring appeal. In developing a way to enable the wearer to renew a jacket season after season by simply combining it with a liner – a trans- seasonal stalwart in its own right – Victorinox is also promoting sustainability, as well as creating the perfect adaptable wardrobe.

Another Modern Craft initiative is a series of limited-edition pieces inspired by the art of Makers. With names such as the Masonry coat, Craftsman sweater, Machinist utility shirt and Sculptors vest, these items – there
are six in all – are modern interpretations of old-world artisans’ purpose-made workwear. The fabrics used have a vintage look – moleskin and selvage denim, herringbone and heathered wool – but the collection is brought up to date by modern styling. Welded pockets with reverse-coil zippers, bungee cords as button holes and laser-cut eyelets give a contemporary feel. The result is a distinctive modern/heritage blend that suggests the very best in quality, craftsmanship, and innovation.

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As you can see, season after season, collection after collection, Victorinox pushes its fashion story always a little more further. Visit the company website to learn more about its amazing products:
https://www.victorinox.com

In a world where design rules, Victorinox is a Swiss Champion. Like a Swiss Army knife, the new collection is sharp, functional, clever and each piece of clothe and accessories will never let you down. Heritage and tradition set visions of tomorrow.

José Amorim

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Info sourced at Victorinox.com and official communication release. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

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