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Flying High With Flexjet Expert Guide Jet Card
Tweet Share on Facebook December 9, 2008 Comment (1)I just got back from a weekend trip to Florida, and although the air travel left me largely unscathed, I'm still dumbfounded by the extra fees for checking my luggage and in-flight beverages, the soiled napkin left in my seat pocket, and the uncomfortably cramped seats with barely any legroom. (Tight for me, but worse for the 6-foot-2 man to my right, knees crunched into his seat pocket, cursing his job for playing a "cruel joke" on him.)
If you have the means to upgrade—and I don't mean a mere bump to first class—a private jet may be your cup of tea. Better yet, take advantage of Bombardier Flexjet—which offers a turnkey program that allows individuals or companies to purchase a share in a Bombardier business jet at a fraction of the full ownership cost but with a twist.
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Luxury Retailers Attract Customers With Rare Discounts
Tweet Share on Facebook December 8, 2008 Comment (7)When a luxury retailer cuts prices too steeply, it threatens its brand's image of luxury and exclusivity. But with global luxury goods sales expected to decline by 3 percent to 7 percent in 2009, according to a recent Bain & Co. study, it's no wonder luxury retailers are being forced into a corner. They're slashing prices so severely that they end up looking like discount outlets.
Slate's Daniel Gross took a walk down Fifth Avenue and saw the carnage for himself. In his excellent column, Gross ruminates on the desperate holiday shopping season and is baffled by Bergdorf Goodman's lowbrow sales technique:
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Si Newhouse Denies Anna Wintour Retirement Rumor
Tweet Share on Facebook December 3, 2008 CommentLife imitates art (à la The Devil Wears Prada) where delicious rumors run amok about the gilded age of Vogue editor Anna Wintour drawing to a close, and a chic, French counterpart taking the reins. With Men's Vogue scaling back to two issues per year, Teen Vogue's advertising pages—a key indicator of a magazine's health—down 10.2 percent, Vogue's 9.6 percent decline in its advertising pages, and the annual supplement Fashion Rocks on hiatus until 2009, it's no wonder there's been hot speculation about Wintour being forced out. The economic downturn and Wintour's $2 million annual salary could also be added to the checklist of items working against the iconic editor. And to pour salt on fresh wounds, Condé Nast chairman Si Newhouse reportedly met with French Vogue editor Corine Roitfeld to discuss the final details of her move to New York. All told, Condé Nast chairman Si Newhouse has blown off the speculation, saying "this is the silliest rumor I ever heard and there is no truth to it" to the WSJ. A spokesperson from Condé Nast confirmed with U.S. News that there are no changes to Ms. Roitfeld's role.
Vogue isn't the only magazine to suffer from the economic crisis. WWD reports double-digit drops through 2008 for many of the Condé Nast magazines: "Other Condé Nast titles hit by double-digit declines included Glamour (down 12.4 percent); W (12.7 percent), Lucky (11.3), Teen Vogue (10.2) and GQ (11.5)."
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Nakheel Cuts 500 Jobs, a Sign of the Times
Tweet Share on Facebook December 2, 2008 Comment (5)
Even in the midst of the global economy's current frailty, international hotelier Sol Kerzner couldn't help himself. Late last month, Kerzner, along with Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, executive chairmen of Dubai real estate development company Nakheel, threw a three-day, multimillion-dollar gala to coincide with the opening of the Atlantis Hotel on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. The opulent celebration was chock-full of heavy-hitting celebrities including Michael Jordan, Quincy Jones, Robert De Niro, and Charlize Theron. It included a spectacular lighting and pyrotechnics display as well as a private performance by singer Kylie Minogue. To top it off, renowned chefs such as Nobu Matsushisa and Michel Rostang prepared signature dishes for the 2,000 guests.
Such extravagance, however, doesn't match the recent news that Nakheel cut 500 jobs and scaled back some of its projects. Government-controlled Nakheel said in a statement that the 15 percent reduction in its global workforce is a result of the global financial crisis: "We have the responsibility to adjust our short-term business plans to accommodate the current global environment. The redundancies are indeed regrettable, but a necessity dictated by operational requirements which are in turn dependent on demand."
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Cyber-Monday: Deals on Luxury Goods
Tweet Share on Facebook December 1, 2008 Comment (5)If you're like me, you avoided the out-of-control mob of feverish shoppers at retailers on Black Friday. You may have decided to wait for discounts today, otherwise known as Cyber-Monday, the unofficial kickoff to the online retail season. You may be shopping from the comfort of your own home or "taking a break" at work; either way, online retailers see today as yet another opportunity to attract consumers with more promotions.
When you think of great deals, retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, and Best Buy may come to mind. But deep discounts abound on luxury goods, and you can save as much as 40 to 70 percent on men's and women's designer apparel, shoes, and handbags from the likes of luxury retailers Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue.
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Alfred Dunhill Offers Pave Black Diamond USB Key
Tweet Share on Facebook November 26, 2008 CommentThe Dunhill brand has sunk its teeth into the 21st century by delivering the Pave Black Diamond USB port, a far cry from when Alfred Dunhill took over his father's saddlery business in 1893. The company has grown over time: Today, the brand Dunhill is synonymous with luxury men's goods, from timepieces and lighters to leather goods, fragrances, and clothing.
Dunhill's latest offering has made No. 2 on the company's Top 20 Gifts list, right behind a black leather business luggage brushed in gunmetal hardware but before the carbon fiber and titanium skis and stainless steel with 18-karat rose gold and diamonds mechanical belt.
The Pave Black Diamond USB port, which retails for $6,665, is an exquisite gift for the most ostentatious of tech lovers. The USB drive boasts an impressive 8GB of storage. And although the base is made of oxidized sterling silver and discretely branded with the Alfred Dunhill name, what truly makes this stand out from the pack is the 272 black diamond embellishment.
I'll be thinking of this the next time I use a puny flash drive for a presentation.
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Marc Jacobs Bugaboo: Strolling in Style
Tweet Share on Facebook November 25, 2008 Comment (2)For those of you who bought the limited edition, Maclaren Juicy Couture stroller—priced at $450 with quilted pink seat, foot muff, and coordinating head hugger and shoulder pads—you've been one-upped. Starting tomorrow, Bugaboo, dubbed as the "Rolls Royce of babydom," will offer a new version of its popular Chameleon stroller, designed by Marc Jacobs, for $1,500. The chic, all-black stroller comes with a canopy and bassinet cover in black-on-black "love Marc" print. I can just envision the horde of Park Slope, Brooklyn, mommies debating the necessity for an upgrade.
Slim pickings though; there are only 15 available. According to parenting blog Daddytypes.com, "Starting November 26, four will be at Colette in Paris; Selfridge's in London and the Marc Jacobs boutique in Dubai get two apiece; one will be for sale in Amsterdam. And six will be for sale at Marc Jacobs NY."
Shopping blog Racked.com gets a bit more granular: "We were excited to witness the madness when the strollers go on sale Wednesday, but it turns out that (a) they're being sold through the Marc Jacobs showroom, (b) you can order them in advance, and (c) already only three are left. Lame! Should you desire an MJ stroller passionately but not enough to actually leave the house, you can always call Little Marc at (212) 206-6644 and have it shipped." Seems like an inevitable Bugaboo war on eBay.
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Luxury Libation: Macallan 25-Year-Old Fine Oak
Tweet Share on Facebook November 24, 2008 Comment (4)
On a cold winter's day in New York City's East Village, my friends
and I went to a bar around the corner from where I lived and ordered my father's favorite drink: a rusty nail. One healthy dose of Macallan single-malt scotch and a splash of Drambuie, this hard-nosed cocktail warmed my throat, stung my nose, and made me a bit teary-eyed. But, boy, did it taste good—like peaches and blood oranges and honey and saffron. It evoked fond memories of my
father mingling with friends and family at significant occasions.With the holidays at our doorstep, the award-winning Macallan 25-Year-Old Fine Oak is an exquisite gift, priced around $500 for a 750ml bottle. Devotees of the single malt will enjoy the rich, robust aroma, with hints of blood orange and wood spice, as well as coconut and vanilla flavors. It's sure to be a treat for any special occasion.
