Victorinox Tomo – the unboxing by LuxuryActivist

LuxuryActivist
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12
Victorinox Tomo – the unboxing by LuxuryActivist
Reading Time: < 1

Hi, this month the Makers of the Swiss Army knife, Victorinox, is launching a new product called Victorinox Tomo. It is the result of a beautiful collaboration between the Swiss brand and the Japanese design studio Abitax. We can really say that Swiss Precision meets Japanese Design for a cutting edge product. I have already made an article about it a few month ago, before the launch. You can find it here. There is more information about Mr Yamaguchi work and the collaboration. Now, here below you will find a video of the unboxing I made of the Victorinox Tomo. It gives you a good idea on how great this product is. You will like to collect them all!

 

According to Mr. Yamaguchi: “for Japanese people, Simple is beautiful”… check here an exclusive interview from the Designer:

Victorinox Tomo is definitely a beautiful product with a beautiful story. Visit the official mini-website to learn more about it and especially where can you find them:
http://victorinoxtomo.victorinox.com

LA

You can also check the unboxing video on my Youtube channel here:

 

 

Victorinox Swiss Unlimited – the unboxing

José Amorim
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1
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Hi,
victorinox swiss unlimitedthis week I am revealing the unboxing of a fragrance for men called Victorinox Swiss Unlimited. It was created by the famous swiss company, Victorinox, the makers of the original Swiss Army Knife.  This fragrance has the swissness attitude. In deed, Victorinox took the best Switzerland can offer and put it into a fragrance. First of all, it reflects a new icon for the swiss brand. And as a new icon, it follows the 4 key values:

QUALITY
Victorinox Swiss Unlimited is swissmade and for that it has the best quality materials ever. The aim is to be outstanding with a longterm legitimacy.
INNOVATION
Victorinox Swiss Unlimited is a focus on innovation. Victorinox got the International fragrance foundation prize. In 2010, it got the Original Technological Breakthrought of the year.
MULTI-FONCTIONALITY
With the ON-OFF cap system and the rubber case, Victorinox Swiss Unlimited reveals a masculine functionality without loosing glamor!
ICONIC DESIGN
For the past 127 years, Victorinox became iconic in the world thanks to its outstanding designed products. The Swiss Army pocket knife is an universal symbol that you can recognize everywhere. With its new fragrance, Victorinox captures the spirit of swiss design.

The fragrance reveals the swiss heritage thanks to Genepi liquor, Absinth and Silver fur. It represents a good blend of originality and reassuring masculinity. It was created in 2009 by the french perfumer called Jean-Christophe Herault with the help of swiss perfumer Christine Nagel.

victorinox swiss unlimitedConcerning the key visual, we can see the american top model Ned Shatzer. He has a unusual look, as gentle as powerful, as elegant as raw… It was the first time the brand has a spokesperson on an advertising. The photographer was Liz Collins. She is a London-based fashion photographer, who studied at the University of Surrey under leading documentary photographers including Martin Parr. Since graduating, she has worked on numerous editorial features at high-profile publications such as Italian Vogue, Vogue Nippon, Vogues Hommes International, Pop and Numéro. She was the perfect photographer for this special photo as she succeeded to capture the energy behind the concept.

Discover now the video of my unboxing. Do not hesitate to have a look and let me know what do you think.

no borders. no boundaries. no barriers

LA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dufour 34E, luxury, design and performance.

Arsene Wargas
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1
Dufour 34E, luxury, design and performance.
Reading Time: 3 minutes

dufour 34E performanceThis month I spend 2 days in a beautiful boat, a Dufour 34E. It is a 10m from Dufour yatching company. The french company spent the last 40 years in the cutting edge boat construction, designed to race. The Dufour 34 E Performance was the very first in the Dufour Performance range. It was named Yatch of the year in 2003, the Dufour 34E won lot of prestigious sea races, like the “Copa del Rey” in 2004, the “Spi Ouest France” 2008 across all classes, and the “Voiles de Saint Tropez” 2009.

Mr Michel Dufour had the sea on his blood. This engineer-designer founded his sailboat manufacture in 1964 at La Rochelle, France. Since his first collection called Sylpie on the same date, Dufour never stopped innovating and bringing into the sailboat industry new materials, new building techniques and always a perfect design.

The Dufour 34E is typically the brilliant result of the company heritage. True to their roots and their passion for sailing, all the company managers, designers and of course employees have a deep vocation for sailing. According to them it is the only assurance of perfection. And this kind of personal investment is also shared with specialists around the world that distributes Dufour yachts. I think this enthusiasm is kept on the boats and once you buy a Dufour, well….. you want to be on board all the time !

About the boat itself. The Dufour 34 E has 2 cabins and 1 bathroom with toilets and shower. The E is for Evolution as it has a more roomy cockpit with large opening aft, lightening the boat, and the completely redesigned cabin and internal fittings make this a whole new boat — even more enjoyable and better-performing, yet still just as seaworthy.

dufour 34E performancedufour 34E performancedufour 34E performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Length overall :10.60 m

Hull length :10.28 m
Length waterline :9.13 m
Displacement :5 400 kg
Draft :1,50 m / 1,90 m
Mainsail surface :65 m²
Water capacity :285 L
Fuel tank capacity :90L
CE Certification: category A

If you want to download the full documentation, just click here and you will get a PDF file directly in your computer.

All computerized devices are available, so you can either navigate with your compass and maps, or you can basically program your on board computer and get all the assistance needed: wind speed, depth, boat speed or the course to follow. It is very impressive to see how many tools can help the modern skipper.

dufour 34E performancedufour 34E Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One big important issue can also be the place to locate the boat in a Marina. In deed free places are rare and sometimes you need to subscribe to a 3 years waiting list. Dufour developped some packages so that you get your boat and the place. Of course you do not really has the choice, so to start you need to be patient.

Here is a small video I made while cruising with the Dufour 34E somewhere at large in France.

Looking for adventure? Here is the right place.
LA

 

« Je valide l’inscription de ce blog au service Paperblog sous le pseudo luxuryactivist ».

Paperblog

Sisley Eau d’Ikar, new fragrance for men

José Amorim
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5
Reading Time: 3 minutes

eau d'Ikar SisleySisley just announced the launch of Eau d’Ikar, its new fragrance. It is the brand first fragrance for men. Most of people say that Sisley waited 40 years to launch a masculine fragrance. Well, do not forget that some of Sisley fragrances are also used by men. 1976 Eau de Campagne, a beautiful creation by Jean Claude Ellena, conquered the heart and the noses of many men around the world (including me). It’s distinctive green note and the elegant freshness is a real masterpiece.

With Eau d’Ikar, Sisley got inspired by the wild and sparkling nature of Mediterranean shores, especially Corsica and some of Greek islands. It seems the idea of Eau d’Ikar exists at Sisley for a while and finally the creation got birth for our pleasure.

One main ingredient is highlighted through-out the entire fragrance: Mastic. Mastic is a typical mediterranean tree that also grows in Corsica. Pistacia lentiscus. The aromatic, ivory coloured resin, also known asmastic resin mastic, is harvested as a spice from the cultivated mastic trees grown in the south of the Greek island of Chios in the Aegean Sea, where it is also known by the name “Chios Tears”. Originally liquid, it is sun dried into drops of hard, brittle, translucent resin. The resin is collected by bleeding the trees from small cuts made in the bark of the main branches, and allowing the sap to drip onto the specially prepared ground below. The harvesting is done during the summer months between June and September. After the mastic is collected it is washed manually and spread in the sun to dry. Mastic resin is a relatively expensive kind of spice that has been used principally as a chewing gum for at least 2,400 years. The flavour can be described as a strong, slightly smoky, resiny aroma and can be an exquisite taste.

Eau d’Ikar inspires freedom, skylight and of course a link into the greek mythology by the link of this man’s name who tried to fly and got his handcrafted wings burned by the sun.

eau d'ikar sisleyThe Fragrance flacon was made by Polish sculptor Bronislaw Krzysztof. He explored sculpture, designed objects and drawings. Mr and Ms D’Ornano own some of the artist creations and naturally they asked Mr Krzysztof to create the fragrance flacon. A massive, masculine and yet elegant glass flacon. We can see the glass is engraved with the name Ikar. It is an amazing glass work. The fragrance advertisement packshot shows the massive glass flacon infront of a beautiful summer sky. I think we are getting a smell of holidays. hummm….

sisley eau d'ikar

The fragrance will be available in the markets by september 2011. 2 flacon versions: 50ML and 100ML.
After the launch of Sisleÿum, the first Global skincare for men, we can say that Sisley is investing the brand territory towards men. Let’s wish they will succeed as the products look brillant.

LA

 

information sourced at:
http://parfum-homme.prime-beaute.com, http://www.basenotes.net, http://www.sisley-cosmetics.com

Elie Saab Le Parfum, pure elegance.

José Amorim
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3
Reading Time: 6 minutes

Hi there,
elie saab le parfumwe have this month the launch of the first fragrance of the beautiful brand Elie Saab. It is called Elie Saab Le Parfum (the fragrance in french). And we can say that this fragrance crystallizes all the outstanding beauty of the Couture House. Elie Saab was born in Beyrut, Lebanon in 1964 and his vocation to fashion started very young as at the age of 9 he already started making dresses for her sister. Once teenager he started selling dresses to the women of his neighborhood. So, yes Elie Saab was made for fashion before he started making fashion. After his studies on fashion in Paris he got back to Lebanon and founded his own fashion house in 1982. He is self-trained and had since the beginning an exquisite way to highlight a woman’s femininity. In 1997 Saab was the first non-Italian designer to become a member of the Italian Camera Nazionale della Moda and to show his first collection outside of Lebanon. His show took place in Rome. In May 2003, the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture invited him to become a member, and he showed his first haute couture collection in Paris in July 2003. His first ready-to-wear collection in Paris was the Spring-Summer 2006 collection, and Paris is now his permanent ready-to-wear runway.Stars like Halle Berry, Christina Aguilera or Catherine Zeta-Jones, Queen Rania of Jordan and Angelina Jolie made Elie Saab famous in the USA.

The Creator underline femininity by working the finest materials, often with high quality embroidery. Magic is in the air thanks to simple designs and precious fabrics. Elie Saab dazzles with his small details that enhances his sense of Beauty, bewitching all women.
elie saab couture fashion house

The Creator got an agreement with the international group Beauté Prestige International (BPI) in order to develop, launch and distribute his first fragrance. BPI has a large experience on developping creators fragrances thanks to the other brands they have:

– Jean Paul Gaultier
– Issey Miyaké
– Narciso Rodriguez

Now they added a fourth mousquetaire to the group and it is definitely one of the prettiest brands in the market.

Elie Saab has always wanted to create his own perfume, from the beginning of his career. But he had first to install ELIE SAAB as a worldwide brand: from Haute Couture gowns worn by princesses or celebrities to Ready to Wear collection and accessories… Launching a perfume was a natural next step, to share the ELIE SAAB brand’s femininity with more women over the world.

The fragrance was created by the great talented master perfumer Francis Kurdjian:
francis kurdjian elie saab perfumer

“What I found fascinating in working for Elie Saab, was the idea of interpreting light; I didn’t have any specific images in mind, just sensations: the whiteness of the sun at its zenith, radiant femininity, a modern interpretation of voluptuousness”, the perfumer explains.

It is a very elegant white floral with a soft wood-oriental sensuality. Main ingredients are Orange blossom, Jasmine Grandiflorum (the majestic one) Sambac Jasmine (the wild one), Patchouli, Cedarwood and a white honey note called honey rose. When I smelt the fragrance for the first time I got a feeling of a natural and warm-hearted femininity, very elegant, sexy and yet comfortable and clean. On skin it is a real wonder.

Concerning the Ad campaign, Elie Saab has always admired the work of Mert & Marcus. He was convinced of their ability to understand the ELIE SAAB house and translate his vision of femininity. Strongly known for their portraits of sophisticated, powerful women, their photos lend an air of grace and unmistakable perfection to advertising.
elie saab advertising le parfum

“The difference between us and other photographers is that we care a lot about appearance. We spend most of the time in the make-up and hairstyling rooms”.

The team works today for magazines such as Vogue USA, Vogue Italia, W Magazine, Pop Magazine, Numero and Arena Homme Plus. Some of their major clients are top fashion labels such as Louis Vuitton, Missoni, Giorgio Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Fendi, Kenzo and Miu Miu. They created the images for perfume houses such as Gucci, Yves St Laurent, Givenchy and Lancôme. Alas and Piggott have also worked with celebrities of the caliber of Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Linda Evangelista, Gisele Bündchen, Björk, Lindsay Lohan, Scarlett Johansson, Charlotte Rampling, Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and most recently Victoria Beckham for a Giorgio Armani shoot.

Anja Rubik was chosen as the face of ELIE SAAB Le Parfum because the designer feels she represents both the strong and delicate woman: embodied with confidence and aware of her beauty. She is featured in the 2011 Pirelli Calendar photographed by Karl Lagerfeld. She was one of the models to star in Lacoste’s “new look” campaign in January, a different advertising concept for 2011 under the new tagline, “Unconventional Chic”. The ads were shot by Mert and Marcus, showing models wearing the iconic white Lacoste polo shirts worn over fancy black evening wear.

The Elie Saab Ad Campaign was shot in Los Angeles in aim to express the modernity of a universal city that could be found in the U.S, Europe or Asia.

elie saab fragrance flacon and packaging

The fragrance flacon was designed by french designer Sylvie de France. She is used to work for the Fragrance industry and especially with creators fragrances like Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Lolita Lempicka, Chantal Thomass, Jean-Paul Gaultier or Issey Miyake. The Elie Saab flacon represents a baroque style yet with simple shapes and a beautiful classic cap. 3 sizes will be available: 30ML, 50ML and 90ML. Also you will be able to find a short and essential body line: Shower gel, Body lotion and cream, and  a perfumed deodorant spray.
elie saab le parfum body line

Available this summer, do not hesitate to go to your preferred perfumery store and try. Your femininity will be underlined with grace and sensuality. Love it.

The Fragrance brand is doing a facebook revelation where you can discover different facets of the fragrance project, the perfumr, the bottle designer and more. You can also participate in an online contest directly in Facebook. Check it out by clicking on the image here below:
elie saab facebook fan page

Purelly a moment of elegant beauty.

LA

all images rights reserved Elie Saab, Francis Kudjian, Sylvie de France, BPI.

Ellen Von Unwerth – a woman’s story…

Arsene Wargas
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3
Ellen Von Unwerth – a woman’s story…
Reading Time: 2 minutes


If you like Helmut Newton, you will love Ellen Von Unwerth. She was considered for a longtime as Newton’s Alter Ego but Ellen von Unwerth is much more than that. She goes further in the exploration of women fantasies and phantasms. Some websites try to define her style like “erotic feminine” but the work of Ellen Von Unwerth displays something more deep. We could describe it as  a sort of subversive women world where men are non-existent. While Newton often revealed a man’s eye on a woman’s body, Von Unwerth reveals a feminine world where men are not invited! Of course their work are both very sexy but we can see that this little difference makes a huge gap.

She was born in Frankfurt, Germany in 1954. Her career started as a circus assistant to the knife thrower and then worked as a model for 10 years. Afterwards, she became a photographer and also film director. She is one of the most influent fashion photographers today and her work is timeless. Between outrageous sexiness and playful naiveness, Ellen Von Unwerth photos have a singular modernity. She got her first big success when she shooted the Guess jeans campaign with Claudia Schiffer.

Her work is published in all big fashion magazines like Vogue, The Face, Vanity-Fair or I-D. She also worked with several music artists into their album covers and inside pictures.

Duran Duran Liberty  – 1990
Janet Jackson Velvet Rope – 1997
Dido Life for Rent – 2003
Rihanna Rated R. – 2008

She directed several music clics for international singers like Christina Aguilera or Salt-N-Pepa. The last clip was made for Kenneth Bager on his song Fragment one in 2010. Have a look here below on the video clip. You can recognize the eye of Von Unwerth.

And finally here are some of my preferred photographs of Ellen Von Unwerth. Enjoy.
Cheers,

LA

Shakira: Sexiest woman alive? Rabiosa…

Arsene Wargas
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0
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Hi,

I know it is not exactly on my theme but, as a brazilian, how can I let this under silence?!!!
Who does not know Shakira? We say that she is the sexiest woman alive… what we can say for sure is that her “hips don’t lie”. She is launching a new single called Rabiosa. It is on her last year album Sale el Sol (launched in october 2010). Rabiosa in spanish and especially in this context means: “hungry for love”. … “Rabiosa, come a little closer and bite me en la boca (on the mouth)“. Yes suddenly the ambiance gets a little hotter here…

Here is the videoclip. I chosed the spanish version but you can see the english version on Shakira youtube channel.
The spanish version is featured El Cata, a dominican rapper. He already collaborated with Shakira on her single Loca.

And here the making off with very interesting scenes on all the hard work behind.

The video is directed by Jaume de Laiguana. He is a Spanish music video director from Barcelona, born on June 14, 1966. He is best-known for directing the video for Shakira’s “No” in 2005. He is also the artistic director of Shakira’s 2006-2007 world tour entitled Oral Fixation Tour . Besides directing quite a few videos for the Colombian superstar Shakira (“Don’t Bother”, “No”, “Día De Enero”, “La Pared”, “Las de la Intuición”, “Illegal”, “Gypsy”, “Loca”, “Sale el Sol”) and Spanish singer-songwriter Alejandro Sanz (“Te lo Agradezco, Pero No”, “A La Primera Persona”, “No Es Lo Mismo”, “Regálame La Silla Donde Te Esperé”, “Tu no tienes alma”), he has worked on several videos of other Latin artists like Enrique Iglesias (“Esperanza”) and Miguel Bosé (“Hey Max”).

 

shakira rabiosa

Well, hot?

LA

Mugler Men Spring 2012 – Brothers of Arcadia… not convinced.

Arsene Wargas
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2
Reading Time: 4 minutes

mugler brothers of Arcadia
A Fashion week is always an intense moment where all Brands reveal their new fashion collections under, more or less, interesting themes. We have a hint of what it will be our “world” of tomorrow… at least from a fashion perspective 🙂

Last week, Mugler revealed its new collection for Men, Spring/Summer 2012. As you know, Nicola Formichetti is the Artistic Director of the fashion brand. Last March, we had the opportunity to watch live the women’s catwalk with Lady Gaga as special guest and as Sound Ambiancer.

This time, we were waiting to see what Nicolas Formichetti would propose for next year spring and summer collection for men. The Mugler man… between a greek god and a modern hero. The Fashion house built during all this years a powerful, anatomic and yet elegant vision of masculinity. All masculine myth were reviewed by Mugler and this time Nicola Formichetti also decided to bring his chapter in the olympus of Muglerian males.

mugler men spring summer 2012The show took place at the Galerie de Mineralogie – Museum of Natural science in Paris. The vast vaults welcomed a sparkling show revisiting the Muglerian imagery. Nicolas Formichetti revealed his inspirational theme called: “Brothers of Arcadia”. He explored myths and reality under a sleek iconography. From italian 60’s Fellinian cinematography to Olympian gods stories, we attended to a collection rich of symbolisms. Concerning my opinion on the collection, I was a little disappointed on the choice of the clothes presented. Nothing really astonishing or at least nothing that you could not find elsewhere. The colors and the design were not exactly representative to the Mugler signature, the way I know it. We are missing the lines that follow the muscles, the spiky cuts that made men powerful and also a lack of “couture” spirit. I know summer collections are always more complicate as the materials and colours are so specific but I was not hooked by it. I saw images I could see at Dior Homme, Dries Van noten, Alexandre Wang or even Gustavo Lins. At least I think the swimsuit collection will sell well as the shapes and the materials will fit the trend of the swimsuits market. Here are some of the looks that illustrates my words.

 

mugler men spring summer 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mugler men spring summer 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mugler men spring summer 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mugler men spring summer 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the only look that ì found quite Mugler, but then not very spring/summer:

mugler men spring summer 2012

Nevertheless, it is interesting to see how virtuose are the new fashion deisgners with the usage of video, internet and multimedia content in general. In order to support the fashion show and the collection inspiration, Mugler launched a Video called: “Brothers of Arcadia with the photographer and Director Branislav Jankic.
Branislav Jankic self-portrait

“Brothers of Arcadia”

Here are the words of Nicola Formichetti about the project:

“I was interested in the idea of fantasy, dreams and voyeurism. I also liked the idea of modern and ancient myths. I was looking at Italian neo-realist cinema and then post that, where Fellini and Pasolini become more about myth and fantasy. At the same time I loved the idea and accessibility of pornography and that everyday voyeurism on XTube. I wanted to bring some of that excessive drama and the look of fantasy back to porn – to acknowledge something as over-the-top as Tinto Brass’ Caligula. With the explicit sex scenes left in.” Nicola Formichetti

Fashion Zoo- episode one

Arsene Wargas
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0
Reading Time: < 1

Hi you, fashion animal,
check the first video about fashion news made by me… humour, humour, humour and nothing too personal…
welcome to the fashion zoo!

funny no?
LA

fashionzoo by luxuryactivist

Marc Jacobs, new Louis Vuitton collection a/w 2011

Arsene Wargas
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1
Reading Time: < 1

Hi,
since BANG, Marc jacobs new fragrance, it was hard to see a Mr. Jacobs in a serene moment. We had the feeling he was a little over the top. New life? Finally the beast is out? Well, what we can say, anyway, is that the creative power of his elegant mind is still doing marvelous things. Of course here it is for Vuitton and not for his own brand. We discover an elegant, simple, natural Marc Jacobs in a very arty, classical “with a hint” ambiance.
Marc Jacobs

He explains the philosophy of creation of the new 2011 Autumn/winter collection. He proposes a classical scenario but with a modern style by the choice of the female models, the accessories (puppies) and the image displayed. It is almost a modern Bonnie and Clyde ambiance without the guns and without Clyde :-).

Here are my preferred pictures out of the campaign.

Louis Vuitton 2011/2012
louis vuitton 2011/2012
louis vuitton 2011/2012
louis vuitton 2011/2012

While other fashion houses are struggling with their fashion designers, Louis Vuitton has a beautiful stability with Marc Jacobs. We could say a mutual respect.

LA

info scouted at new york fashion
photos: All rights reserved Louis Vuitton.

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