Selectism

"If it's 'in,' its in there" is the motto of LUXE City Guides who have been producing pocket-sized city guides filled in deep tips on finding the best of the best in cities worldwide. LUXE is now offering the Bespoke Grand Tour Box. "Want to customize a box for that very special travel gift ? You got it. With LUXE you can even choose your own titles to fill this LUXE Bespoke Grand Tour Box. In rich imperial faux suede, with gold logo, each LUXE Bespoke Grand Tour Box holds 12 LUXE guides of your choice. It’s the ultimate tailored travel gift for the discerning jetsetter." Retailing for 110$US, this is a great gift for any traveler (via Luxist).

Organic by John Patrick launched Spring of 2006 with casual yet polished looks that could easily fit into any wardrobe. The fabrications are polished and include vegetable-tanned leather, whisper-soft cashmeres and organic wool, cotton and velvet. They even utilize recycled cotton. The modern take on classics done in muted shades definitely make an impression. NewDandyism has restocked their selection, check it out here.

It seems furniture isn't the only thing on display during the Milan Furniture Fair. Increasingly, corporate sponsors, associations, and schools use the fair as an opportunity to sell their brands. Interestingly enough, one of the most awe-inspiring installations this week has come from Polimoda, the International Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing, which is based in Florence. The exhibition is designed not to showcase the work of graduates and presumably catapult new careers, but to serve as a proud banner for the school itself.

"White Carpet for Polimoda" is an exhibition of work from 60 first year students, produced in their very first semester. By lining the students' pieces in single file along the entire length of the space, and sticking to a regimental palette of black, creamy white, and natural tan, the collective work was a profound break from the chaotic design displays throughout the Zona Tortona. For full details and close-up pics check it out at CoolHunting.

Bell & Ross has caught our attention with the BR-Instrument Minuteur Tourbillon. It's the newest eye candy to join the Bell & Ross watch family. It has four hands that include a tourbillon, a large timer, a power reserve indicator, and a small second hand. If you have the kno how to figure out how to work all it's features, it may be the watch for you.

WeSC , has gotten together with, former Pasadena Art Center College of Design student and avid snowboarder, Jeff Hastings and allowed him to create an installation for their LA Robertson store. Hastings has created is an “environmental art installation” which consists of rings of grass comprised of soil, seed, and vermiculite that look like potted donuts. He suggests that having the rings growing in the store “defies the odds of nature.” Kind of like a flower growing through a crack in the sidewalk.

L.A. designer Dr. Romanelli has collaborated on a pair of limited edition Converse. The sneaker giant has teamed up with Bono’s African AIDS charity (RED) to produce 1HUND(RED), 100 artists to create limited edition kicks to benefit the cause, and Romanelli happens to be #12. The result is a shoe covered with band-aids, skulls on the soles, and vintage anatomical drawings on the interior. 

Lanvin has released some new sneakers as part of their Spring/Summer 2008 collection. The brand has been increasingly popular with their sneaker collection, combining interesting colors and materials, while keeping an overall clean look. The low top sneakers this season come both with and without strap and are now available in the Barneys online store.

Check out more styles after the jump.

Just like every season, Creative Recreation presents a couple of Barneys Exclusives. This season they worked on the Milan Hi and gave it a real premium look. It comes in a pack of three sneakers in white, brown/silver and black/gold. Via Complex.

Barneys will release the pack this summer. Check them all out after the jump.

Once again Nom de Guerre and Oliver Peoples worked together on a new frame for the Nom de Guerre Fall/Winter 2008 collection. Here we give you a first look at the promising piece - the NDG-1. Coming out later this year. Via Gourmet.

Luxury phones could very well be labeled a dime a dozen. But the new MERIDIIST Phone by TAG Heuer takes things to some serious new levels of build and quality. The MERIDIIST Phone borrows the best features from TAG's premium timepieces:  an un-scratchable 60.5 carats sapphire crystal dual displays, corrosion-resistant, watch making 316L steel, 28 days of power reserve... and its topped off with a front view independent time unit.

Did we mention 28 days of power reserve??

Some promotional shots after the jump.

Classic surf brand, Maui and Sons, is relaunching with a hard push that carries heavily on their eighties roots in bright colored fashions. To help get things going, they have collaborated with Opening Ceremony on t-shirts and board shorts that re-use vintage Maui and Sons' graphics and colors. Opening Ceremony's Humberto Leon told R29, "I am highly anticipating the arrival of our Maui & Sons relaunch of the original pieces. I have been a huge fan of the brand since elementary school and to see some of the pieces that I have found in thrift stores all around the country being re-produced by the original company is super exciting." 

Available now at OAK and Opening Ceremony LA/NY.

More detailed views after the jump (photos via OAK).

Since 1946, Sebago has established themselves as being known for their top quality boat shoes. Their iconic Docksiders are known world wide and have dominated the boat shoe industry. Ronnie Fieg and David Z have teamed up with Sebago for their 25^th Anniversary to put a spin on boat shoe line by creating their own timeless styles using the finest leathers and materials available.

They created a black and a grey version of the all time classic. 120 pairs of each colorway have been made and they are available now online.

Check out detailed images of both styles after the jump.

This short sleeve shirt from Hussein Chalayan for Yoox features a contrasting double layer look and half button finish. Available now at thecorner.com. (via notcouture)

R29 has a preview of new menswear line, Bureau. "For designer Cory Gomberg, describing his clothes as "effortless" is the ultimate praise. His nascent menswear line, Bureau, is made up of beautifully crafted basics, each piece as functional as it is refined. This is no accident, as Gomberg has long been inspired by a time when mass production in clothing was still a ways off: His first label, the now-defunct Greige, gave a nod to 1930s migrant farm workers, and Bureau delivers similar references to eras past."

A great name and a great story. Men.Style turns us onto French brand *****L. "Want a bit of luxury with your workout? Neither did we, until we found out about *****L (as in cinq étoiles luxe, or "five-star luxury"), a French brand (of course) that makes sportswear out of materials like silk, astrakhan, and mink. (Note to plebes: They also sell stuff in cotton.) They just opened their first Paris boutique (pictured), where you'll find a mix of the conservative (polos, smart-fitting gym shorts) and the decidedly less so (athletic jackets emblazoned with giant lilies)."

This seems to a first. FWD is reporting, "Rogan Gregory's capsule designs for Target may not have generated the same frenzy as the Kate Moss for Topshop collection, but the collection certainly has a fan in Barneys New York. Julie Gilhart, the store's fashion director, has worked her magic by persuading Target to launch the Rogan for Target collection at her Manhattan and Beverly Hills flagships in advance of their launch at the superstore. The collection, which marks the first time Barneys has carried Target merchandise, will arrive in New York and Los Angeles on May 8 and 15, respectively, and will be carried on the Co-op floor. The pieces will only be in stock for five days-after that, shoppers will have to wait for the mass debut."

Pretty interesting concept that really begins to elevate the quality of Target's capsule collections. They aint a box store no mo!

Tatami has teamed with 3.1 Philip Lim on their latest collaboration - two in fact. For those looking for the gladiator look, the Apollo is a perfect  match with its lace up look, cork footbed, and rubber sole. The Triton has similar features except it features a triple buckle upper. Available now at Barneys.

DNR is reporting news that Marc Jacob's "Marc by Marc Jacobs" will open their first doors in Europe in 2008. "The designer is set to unveil his first fully owned Marc by Marc Jacob stores in Europe this year, DNR has learned. It will bow at Place du Marché Saint Honoré by the end of 2008, with a door in London to debut in early 2009. A flurry of others openings across Europe are to follow thereafter. "

"Champagne house Veuve Clicquot affirms its strong commitment to design excellence, innovation and audacity with the release of Globalight by Karim Rashid, the second collaboration between the eponymous Champagne House and the prolific designer celebrating Veuve Clicquot’s Rose Champagne.
The unique, limited-edition piece represents Rashid’s modern reinterpretation of the traditional French chandelier, icon of romantic dinners and meaningful moments. In the United States, Globalight will be unveiled exclusively at W Hotels, leader in modern travel, luxury design, and sensory experience. The Globalight was launched this week in Milan. 500 Globalights globally at $4500. Also available via www.e-clicquot.com. (via Notcot).

More views after the jump.

A.P.C. has released their Spring/Summer 2008 Madras collection. It's a collection designed by Jessica Ogden and Jean Touitou. The fact that the line is entirely made in India is not only reflected in the materials, but also in the style and looks.

As always, it's a very interesting and nice collection. It is now available at A.P.C. stores and also in their online store.