New fashion label Lazy Lu to launch this July

New womenswear leisurewear brand Lazy Lu is launching in the UK this July. The range comprises casual clothing made from angora, draped chiffon and washed stretch baby cord. The AW11 collection, priced approximately between £20.00 to £60.00, features rich indigos, airforce blues and steel grey marks with highlights of sky blue and ivory; warm chestnuts, dusty Autumn roses with pebble shades. Key pieces include the Stone Waffle Pocket Jumper, £45.00, and the Taupe Pocket Cords, £42.00. The collection will be available from 11 July in 28 concessions in the UK and online at www.lazylu.com from 13 July.

New private members' club Dorsia to launch in South Kensington

New private members' club and restaurant, Dorsia, will open its doors later this September. Located in a Georgian townhouse in South Kensington, this new development will hold three venues under one roof: a private club and bar together with a stand alone restaurant that will be open to both members and the public. Named after the fictional restaurant in the film American Psycho, Dorsia was founded by Nick Andreen and Fraser Carruthers - both formerly of members club Boujis.

In the wake of a £2.4 million refit overseen by interior designer George Rose, the building has been completely refurbished with period features restored. The basement has been transformed into a private members’ club that is itself divided into several very different and eclectically designed spaces. The ground floor hosts the members only bar, while the 40-seater restaurant is located on the first floor. In charge of Dorsia’s kitchens is Alexander Baillieu and mixologists and multi award-winners Thomas Gillgren (Sketch) and Fredrik Olsson (Kosmopol) will provide Dorsia’s cocktail menu.

Dorsia, 3 Cromwell Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 2HR. www.thedorsia.co.uk

Fabergé exhibiting at The Dorchester from this week

Fabergé, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, is exhibiting a collection of pieces in The Dorchester hotel in Park Lane, London W1, from this week.

In addition to the flagship Fabergé boutique in Geneva, a glass cabinet in the lobby of The Dorchester hotel will showcase a selection of Fabergé’s High Jewellery and Haute Horlogerie collections: Les Fabuleuses de Fabergé, with its three themed collections, Les Fleurs, Les Fables and Les Fauves; Carnet de Bal, Faberge’s all-white, all-diamond jewels; and the newly-launched, Fabergé watch collections.

First retrospective of Jean Paul Gaultier to launch

From 17 June - 2 October 2011, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) will present The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk, the first retrospective devoted to the French couturier. Organised to mark the 35th anniversary of the designer’s own label it will feature approximately 120 ensembles created between 1976 and 2010, mainly from the designer’s couture collections, but also from his prêt‐à‐porter line, accessories and cult fragrances. Sketches, stage costumes, excerpts from films, runway shows, concerts, videos, dance performances, interviews and television programmes will all provide a look at the world of Gaultier. Photography will also be shown featuring previously unreleased prints from renowned contemporary photographers and artists. The exhibition will be organised along five different sections - Paris, Fusions, Multi‐Gender, Eurotrash/X‐Rated and Metropolis.

A monograph comprising 424 pages and 500 illustrations will also launch in November priced at £65.00 and will include interviews with Gaultier’s mentors, muses and colleagues, as well as the artists he has worked with. This will also include an essay written by Suzy Menkes, journalist at The New York Times and fashion editor of the International Herald Tribune, and two interviews with the designer himself.

New luxury loungewear brand LUCZA launches

LUCZA is a new luxury loungewear brand specialising in modern wardrobe essentials. Karen Scofield established LUCZA after unsuccessfully searching for pieces she could throw on after work and look chic yet comfortable. LUCZA launches as an e-tail brand with a capsule collection of 14 styles all available in a range of neutral classic colours: gold, champagne, pewter, ivory and black. Simplicity is key with tunics, peasant blouses and palazzo trousers in silk satin. The collection features a racerback maxi dress in soft modal washable jersey, racerback vests and soft modal cotton leggings with contrast grey cuffs. The trousers are available in three lengths and a key aspect of the collection is the shelf bra with adjustable support. All LUCZA items are made in England, using Chinese silk and Austrian yarns. Prices in the LUCZA range start from £60.00. www.lucza.com.

Christian Louboutin and Bella Freud designer collaboration

Designer Bella Freud has teamed up with Christian Louboutin for its AW11 collection, Fetish. The range comprises jumpers and dresses in 100% Merino Cashwool, available in black and green, with hints of lurex portraying images of footwear designs drawn by Louboutin. This new collaborative range will go in-store in late July/August at stockists including Fifi Wilson, Net-A-Porter and Matches.

Estée Lauder forms new collaboration with Aerin Lauder as she launches her new brand

The Estée Lauder brand has announced a new collaboration with Aerin Lauder, former Senior Vice President and Creative Director for the Estée Lauder brand, and AERIN LLC, her new luxury lifestyle brand. Under the arrangement, Ms. Lauder, will continue to be actively involved in the Estée Lauder brand, serving as creative consultant and becoming its Style and Image Director. She will also continue as the brand’s global ambassador and spokesperson and remain a member of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Board of Directors, which she joined in 2004. The Estée Lauder brand will be the exclusive beauty partner to AERIN LLC in launching a beauty line under the AERIN name to be sold at select Estée Lauder counters. AERIN LLC is a stand-alone company wholly owned by Aerin Lauder.

New ethical fashion luxury publication Six Magazine launches

Six Magazine is a new ethical fashion and sustainable luxury magazine for the fashion-led and conscious-minded women. Four digital editions will be published each year and the magazine will also print a bi-annual special fashion edition around London Fashion Week in February and September. The first issue is focused on designer ethical fashion globally, showcasing a selection of six top ethical brands from the USA, Canada, Australia, Scandinavia, Europe and the UK. The magazine will also feature sections on beauty and nutrition as well as the art and culture scene. Six Magazine will launch on 24 March at the Conservatory of the Barbican (see DIARYdates).

www.six-magazine.co.uk

SHOP at The Savoy launched this week and announces news for 2011

SHOP at The Savoy is a new bespoke shopping experience available throughout the hotel as a virtual shopping space. Highlights of SHOP's launch services include:

The SHOP Collection No1 - a selection of handpicked, iconic products. Each season, the quarterly collection is overseen by consultant Yasmin Sewell and hosts pieces from London’s design talent. This season includes Anya Hindmarch, Dunhill, Boodles, Stella McCartney and Bottega Venetta.

Fetch Fabulous - SHOPS 'fetching finders' are on hand to to source gifts from all around London. Personal Shoppers are also offered to help find ideal gifts.

Bespoke London - a selection of London's crafts brought directly to shoppers at The Savoy - in the hotel room or the main hotel areas. This includes tailors, jewellers, milliners and perfumiers.

VIP Shopping - in which guests can be chauffeur driven to department store and boutiques while enjoying VIP privileges during their stay.

SHOP Services and the SHOP Collection are available throughout The Savoy and at www.shopatthesavoy.com in addition to the SHOP AtoZ Guide of Insider’s London and the SHOP TV channel in every room at The Savoy. The SHOP Boutique will launch from early March.

Floris introduces fragrance experiences for Valentine´s Day

For Valentine’s Day 2011, Floris has created four different fragrance experiences. Ranging from £55.00 to £2500.00, each experience includes a consultation with the Floris perfumer.

The introductory experience - the Fine Fragrance Personal Shopper - includes a 30 minute consultation, time to explore the collection to find an ideal scent and help making a decision. The Limited Edition Experience, priced at £80.00, also includes a 30 minute consultation, a guide to discovering the secret of the limited edition collection and a 100ml limited edition Eau de Parfum and certificate of provenance. Floris’ Fragrance Customisation, priced at £120.00, allows visitors to choose from either the Fine Fragrance or Limited Edition collections and the perfumer will then add new ingredients to personalise the chosen fragrance. This experience also includes a 90 minute consultation with the perfumer and a custom blended 100ml Eau de Parfum with certificate of provenance.

The final experience offered by Floris is the Bespoke Perfume Design priced at £2500.00. This includes the creation of a signature perfume as well as a full consultation with the perfumer who will determine the profile and direction to take the design. This includes a minimum of three consultations over a six-month period Using rare essential oils and floral essences from around the world, the Floris perfumer will then custom blend an original fragrance which will be presented to the client with a certificate of provenance and five repeat orders.

Walpole Awards For Excellence 2010 winners

The Walpole Awards For Excellence 2010 took place last night at the Banqueting House in Whitehall, presented by British actor Hugh Bonneville. Over 500 figures from the British and International luxury industries attended the event including Angela Ahrendts, CEO of Burberry, Marco Bizzari, CEO of Bottega Veneta, Arnaud Bamberger, MD of Cartier, Vicente Castellano, CEO of Hackett, Michael Ward, MD of Harrods, Barbara Snoad, CEO of Theo Fennell and Mark Sebba, CEO of Net à Porter. This year Walpole awarded the Medal of Excellence to The Earl of March and Kinrara, CEO, The Goodwood Estate who has transformed Goodwood from a family estate to a globally renowned UK luxury destination. The annual Medal of Excellence is a unique mark of recognition made on behalf of the Walpole members. Previous recipients have included Mario Testino, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Daniel Craig, Sir Matthew Pinsent and Lord Coe. The Winners of the Awards Categories:

British Luxury Brand: Burberry

International Luxury Brand: Hublot

British Luxury Overseas: Hackett

British Luxury Brand Online: Burberry

British Luxury Design Talent: Timorous Beasties

Best British Craftsmanship: Soane Britain

British Cultural Excellence: Aldeburgh Music

Best British Luxury Service: Claridge’s

Corporate Social Responsibility: Six Senses Resorts & Spa’s

Emerging British Luxury Brand: Erdem

Oliver Peoples announces 2011 campaign

Oliver Peoples has announced that it has aligned with acclaimed photographer and director Lisa Eisner, to create its 2011 campaign. In a departure from the past two seasons of lighthearted storylines, this season’s campaign stars real life couple, musician Devendra Banhart and set designer Rebecca Schwartz, with a focus on exploration of intimacy and sexuality, in a contemporary Southern California setting. Lisa Eisner began her career in the 80’s as a fashion editor at Mademoiselle and American Vogue magazines, where she worked with the leading fashion photographers of the time. In the late 1990’s, after more than 15 years in fashion, she decided to focus on her own photography. Since then, she has published two influential books of her own work, ‘Rodeo Girl’ (1999) and ‘Shriners’ (2004), and has contributed to numerous publications, including New York Times Magazine, Paris Vogue, Vanity Fair, W, Harpers Bazaar and Travel & Leisure. The love affair is explored at the Rainbow House; a one-of-a-kind masterpiece created by architect John Lautner. The Oliver Peoples 2010 campaign will debut in October on www.oliverpeoples.com.

Classic label rebrands and launches new website

London-based eveningwear label Bellville Sassoon is delighted to announce that as of September 2010 the label will be formally known as ‘Lorcan Mullany for Bellville Sassoon’. This re-brand celebrates the vision and creativity of Lorcan Mullany and signals a new strategic direction as the company re-positions itself as the label for evening and cocktail wear for a younger, but still sophisticated clientele. The brand has also unveiled its Spring Summer 2011 collection photographed by fashion photographer Andrew Woffinden. Established in 1953, Bellville Sassoon soon became a label of choice for young debutantes and society beauties and over the years the high-profile and international clients including Audrey Hepburn, Ava Gardner, Lauren Bacall and of course the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Photographers such as Cecil Beaton, Helmut Newton, David Bailey and Mario Testino have all captured the glamour of Bellville Sassoon, and these images have featured in publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Brides and Tatler. The new Bellville Sassoon logo has been designed to identify the label with its history and highlight the companies’ commitment to elegance. A new website will be launching soon, and will allow visitors to learn more about the heritage of the brand.

Winners revealed at the inaugural Quintessentially Awards

The inaugural Quintessentially Awards in association with The British Virgin Islands took place last night at Freemasons’ Hall, London. The awards, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, represent the luxury market across the fashion, travel and lifestyle sectors as voted for by Quintessentially members. Winners included Pefume House of the Year - Hermés, as well as Interior Designer of the Year - Candy & Candy. To celebrate the inaugural awards people flew from all over the world including representatives from Clinique la Prairie in Switzerland (Winners of Retreat Spa of the Year), Simon Hammerstein from The Box- New York (International Nightclub or the Year) and 3 Michelin starred chef Heinz Beck from La Pergola who was nominated for International Restaurant of the Year. Full list of winners from the awards are below:


· International Hotel of the Year – One&Only Reethi Rah Hotel - Maldives

· International Nightclub of the Year - The Box – New York

· International Restaurant of the Year - El Bulli – Roses, Spain

· London Bar of the Year - Nobu Berkeley

· London Nightclub of the Year – Boujis

· London Private Members Club of the Year - Soho House

· Private Island of the Year - Necker Island

· Air Travel of the Year - Singapore Airlines

· Art Exhibition of the Year - Frieze Art Fair - London

· Car of the Year - Aston Martin One-77 & Jaguar XJ (same number of votes)

· Fine Jeweller of the Year - Van Cleef & Arpels

· Interior Designer of the Year - Candy & Candy

· Menswear Fashion Designer of the Year - Tom Ford for Tom Ford

· Perfume House of the Year - Hermès

· Watch Brand of the Year- Cartier

· Womenswear Fashion Designer of the Year - Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel

· Yacht Charter of the Year - Sunseeker

· Retreat Spa of the Year - Clinique La Prairie – Switzerland

· UK Restaurant of the Year - The Fat Duck – Bray on Thames

· UK Hotel of the Year- The Connaught - London

· Urban Spa of the Year - Mandarin Oriental Spa – London

· Quintessentially Award for Excellence - Natalie Massenet Net-a-Porter

New men's label launches into Matches this July

RAKE is a menswear collection of versatile separates that can be worn with their counterpart as a suit or separately with jeans, chinos, trainers or complementary pieces from the collection. The signature halo symbol has been subtly incorporated into shirting, appears as a buttonhole on jacket lapels and is embroidered onto trousers. After developing Richard James into an international brand during the period 1992 – 2002, Clive Darby bought Savile Row House, Kilgour, which was re-branded and re-launched in 2003, and is now an International menswear name. The experience Clive gained from these two menswear establishments has been integral to the concept and design of RAKE, which is due to launch into Matches this July. Collaborations for the Spring/Summer 2011 collection include a shoe by Lodger for RAKE and a leather shirt and jacket by Lot 78 for RAKE. These will be shown in conjunction with the collection during Paris Fashion Week at the Park Hyatt Vendome in June. In the future RAKE aims to open a retail space within Mayfair, to showcase the brand as part of a lifestyle concept store.

New casual label launches July/August

New casual label U has launched. U, which stands for Universal Clothing Company, is a collection of California-inspired staples with a Japanese edge, mixing masculine silhouettes with utilitarian detailing. The line consists of everyday pieces in different fabrics to contrast to generic T-shirt and jersey brands. Founders Rafal Antos and Don-Alvin Adegeest designed and worked for Giorgio Armani, Gap Europe and LVMH (Marc by Marc Jacobs) respectively. The look is deconstructed, pared-down utility dresses and hooded tops in soft heather, washed silk and luxurious terry. The collections are made as sustainably as possible in the USA using American fabrics. The range will be available from Matches and select UK retailers from July/August. www.uclothing.com

ACHICA now offering interior and homeware

ACHICA, the private member’s online store that launched in February this year, is now by offering interiors and homeware brands at up to 70% off the original retail price. Co-founded by one of the founders behind ASOS.com, ACHICA is the first online retailer to introduce private promotions to brand new categories across Homeware, Garden, Kids and Accessories with brands including Portmeirion (pictured here) Christy, Yves Delorme, Bodum and Jamie Oliver. ACHICA members not only have access to regular promotions but also advice on seasonal trends, interior design tips, interviews with personalities from the world of design and inspirational ideas.

Privé International and Stuart Hughes retro mobile phone collaboration

Privé International has collaborated exclusively with Stuart Hughes of Liverpool UK to produce the 'Privé Phone' a completely refurbished retro brick phone, 76 diamonds IF flawless 23ct, 22ct solid gold circa 900 grams. The phone also has the latest technology including WAP, Text SMS and Colour screen. Only 10 limited edition phones will be produced one time only. Individuals purchasing this phone will receive a one year free membership to Privé International (value $20,000.00). The phone will come with a Privé-Stuart Hughes Design Box made from granite, individually numbered from 1-10, including a personal membership card to Privé. Membership will give individuals access to all of Privé’s luxury amenities, from private jet/yachts charters to vacation properties. The Privé Phone will be available for purchase exclusively through Privé International and Stuart Hughes for £139,995.00.