14 minute read
HAUTE FASHION
Mulliner’s First Electrified Bentley
The ultimate in four-door luxury grand touring was revealed at Monterey Car Week in California.
BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR
BENTLEY MULLINER HAS INTRODUCED THE ULTIMATE four-door luxury grand touring: the first electrified Bentley. Named Flying Spur Mulliner, the new GT can enjoy a technically advanced V6 hybrid powertrain, the emotional V8 or endless waves of torque from the W12. Revealed at California’s prestigious Monterey Car Week, the elegantly appointed sedan sits at the pinnacle of the Flying Spur family, combining the very finest in modern craftsmanship and breathtaking luxury.
The most luxurious Flying Spur to date has been created and developed by Bentley Mulliner and designed, engineered and handcrafted in Great Britain. Taking its place as the flagship of the Bentley range, it will appeal to customers who desire an even greater focus on elegant details. Beautifully appointed detailing includes exclusive 22-inch wheels in a gray painted and polished finish with self-levelling wheel caps that remain upright as the wheels rotate, a “double diamond” front grille and chrome front lower grille that are matched by bespoke Mulliner-branded wing vents, and Satin Silver painted mirror caps. The iconic Bentley Flying B is electronically deployed and illuminated, along with jewel caps for fuel and oil.
An example of one of the curated interiors — Ascot — is a combination of Imperial Blue leather on the instrument panel, door trim and headlining and a light tan leather called Camel emphasizing the style of the seats. White micro-piping, embroidery and accent lines add a third color. Other options, such as Flare and Sirius, add bolder combinations, including Hotspur and Beluga or Linen and Brunel, both with a silver accent. The Mulliner Driving Specification is fitted as standard, bringing the “diamond-in-diamond” quilting to the seats and three-dimensional leather to the doors. The interior quilting involves an embroidery process that took 18 months to develop. Each diamond contains precisely 712 individual stitches — each one aligned to the exact center of the diamond it creates
The classic Bentley theme continues in the LED driver’s instrument panel, with stylish new and exclusive Mulliner graphics. The now-famous Bentley Rotating Display, sports pedals, heated duo-tone 3-spoke steering wheel and panoramic sunroof add to the luxurious ambience. Unique electrically operated picnic tables are mounted to the rear of the front seats and can be deployed with a single button press. The veneered tables feature a unique overlay with lower and self level to reveal a leather-trimmed surface with a recess for a pen or stylus.
Flying Spur Mulliner customers receive leather-bound keys in a handcrafted presentation box that matches the three-color cabin of their car. The two keys themselves are provided in similarly colormatched cases with contrast stitching.
The Flying Spur Mulliner is available with Bentley’s V8 and W12 powertrains and the new V6 hybrid. When equipped with Bentley’s 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged W12, the car accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds and can reach a top speed of 207 mph (333 km/h). The new generation 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 delivers a top speed of 198 mph (318 km/h) and 0-60 mph in 4.0 seconds. The new V6 hybrid accelerates from 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.3 seconds), with a top speed of 177 mph (285 km/h).
Tailored Luxury
The New Range Rover SVAutobiography Ultimate editions from SV Bespoke are the pinnacle of the Land Rover family.
BY NIKITA VIVEK PAWAR
EARLIER THIS YEAR, LAND ROVER SPECIAL VEHICLE operations launched a pair of exclusive new Range Rover special editions created by its SV Bespoke personalization team. The Range Rover SVAutobiography Ultimate editions represent the pinnacle of Land Rover’s luxury SUV family, elevating SVAutobiography and SVAutobiography Dynamic models even higher with a suite of complementary hand-finished SV Bespoke features. Curated by the SV Bespoke commissioning experts at the Special Vehicle Operations Technical Center in the U.K., the Ultimate editions showcase the full range of personalization options applied to the timeless Range Rover design.
“Range Rover has defined the luxury SUV segment for more than half a century, with our SVAutobiography models offering customers a world-class travel experience — whether driving or being driven,” said Mark Turner, commercial director of Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. “These new Ultimate editions elevate that refinement and sophistication even further.”
The Ultimate edition has satin-finished Orchard Green paintwork complemented by a Narvik Black roof and copper detailing. The attention to detail extends to the Gloss Black knurled infill and copper-edged metal Range Rover badging on the bonnet and tailgate. This also includes a copper-plated and black enamel SV roundel on the B-pillar, SV roundels embroidered on all four headrests, and illuminated Ultimate-edition treadplates. The finishing touch is a “SV Bespoke Ultimate edition” commissioning plaque on the center console, complete with copper-finished SV roundel.
The 22-inch alloy wheels feature a five-split-spoke design finished in Gloss Dark Grey with contrast Diamond Turned finish, while side vent, bonnet finisher, grille and front bumper accents are all finished in Graphite Atlas. Inside, a knurled finish for the rotary shift controller, starter button and pedals plus anodized red paddle shifters underline the performance focus of the SVAutobiography Dynamic.
Priced at $250,000, each car will be hand-built by Land Rover’s SV Bespoke team at Special Vehicle Operations in England. The recommended Ultimate edition specification features Vintage Tan leather interior trim and Copper Weave Carbon Fiber finishers. Customers can also opt for leather upholstery from the Italian artisans at Poltrona Frau for a truly cosseting experience.
The flagship model is available with a choice of powertrains, including the 565PS Supercharged V8 petrol and highly efficient P400e plug-in hybrid, capable of up to 40km (25 miles) all-electric driving. Land Rover’s advanced Dynamic Response active roll control system also enhances composure. At the same time, the ride height is lowered by 8mm — delivering more engaging driving dynamics and a more purposeful stance.
The Ultimate edition can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in around 5.4 seconds, with a top speed of 155 mph. Originally launched at the Paris Motor Show in 2012, this Range Rover variant is still a raging success.
ARTFOR THE LOVE OF
INTRODUCING THE FOURTH CHAPTER OF THE LOUIS VUITTON ARTYCAPUCINES COLLECTION, WHERE SIX RENOWNED GLOBAL ARTISTS REIMAGINE THE CAPUCINES HANDBAG THROUGH THEIR OWN VISION AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS.
BY ADRIENNE FAUROTE
AMÉLIE BERTRAND
For French artist Amélie Bertrand, art is about studying the relationship between paint and the surface. Known for her vibrant use of colors and creating a visual universe of skewed perspectives, Bertrand blurs the lines between the natural and artificial in her work. “My work is a study of surface,” explains Bertrand. “Each painting is constructed using layers upon layers of digitally sourced materials — tiling, pebbles, plant motifs, artificial nature — which are first composed as small-scale digital works and then hand-drawn and painted onto the larger-scale canvas. Unlike a lot of paintings, there is only one single layer of painting itself in my completed works; the layers exist in the source material, not on the canvas.” A testament to her expertise in warping the dimension of color, her Artycapucines radiates bold colors and light.
DANIEL BUREN
Daniel Buren is one of the world’s leading contemporary artists. The French artist has explored the dynamic relationships between art and its physical and intellectual structures and our perception of light and space for the last six decades, with his work featured in over 3,000 exhibitions. His Artycapucines creation further investigates his study of space while also introducing his signature vertical stripe, which is now trademarked. “The subject of this work is not a specific space or precise environment, which [is] usually at the heart of all my work; rather, it’s a fixed object,” admits Buren. “The Capucines has a really simple design: a trapezoid as a base and the arc of a circle as a handle. Everything starts from there. My initial sketch was rather abstract, but the object’s function was still clear. By making the handle an exact semicircle and transferring it to the body of the bag itself, two shapes emerged: a trapezoid and a circle.”
PETER MARINO
New York-based architect Peter Marino is no stranger to the fashion industry, as his work globally reaches a vast range of sectors, including residential, cultural, hospitality, and major luxury fashion retail. In fact, Louis Vuitton also tapped Marino for its 200 Trunks, 200 Visionaries project, where artists interpreted the Louis Vuitton trunk for an exhibition. Marino is known for his minimalistic designs, graphic use of black and white to create light, and experimentation of textures, ultimately fusing the worlds of fashion, art, architecture, and interior design. In true Peter Marino style, his Artycapucines is a black monochromatic masterpiece with dynamic textures. He was inspired by a visit to a 14th-century building in Venice, Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista: “One time when I was visiting, I noticed a medieval box near the monumental staircase designed by Italian architect Mauro Codussi,” he explains. “This box had straps and a medieval key. I was inspired by these elements, which I translated into this new Artycapucines bag.”
PARK SEO-BO
One of Korea’s most celebrated artists, Park SeoBo, is the founder of Dansaekhwa, a movement that began in the early 1970s and altered the course of Korean art with its ideas of the purposelessness of actions and the spiritual benefits of endless repetition. This profound philosophy echoes through his Artycapucines. “When I started using colors in my painting, I did so by searching for ‘natural color’ instead of ‘ideological color.’ One time, I was looking at a valley by Mount Bandai; the valley was aligned with the sun, so it appeared almost neon red. The color was so intense that it felt like I was looking at a flame chasing me to my death,” explains Seo-Bo. “That moment acted as a reminder that I’m only a tiny being in front of the vastness of nature. As the wind blew the clouds and the sunlight shone, one side of the valley remained neon red, while the other side became shaded and much darker. I thought I should paint this harmony of nature; my red painting came from this moment — from nature.”
UGO RONDINONE
Ugo Rondinone, a renowned Swiss artist, creates with intention, exploring the depths of the human condition and nature, and creating a wide range of two- and three-dimensional objects, installations, videos, and performances. Rondinone’s works often represent pressing issues in current history, where modernist achievement and archaic expression intersect. “[For the bag], I took two archetypal symbols I often use in my work: the clown and the rainbow. With its recognizable nonbinary character and outlandish costumes, distinctive makeup, colorful wigs, and exaggerated footwear, the clown is designed to entertain large audiences,” notes Rondinone. “In my work, though, I have turned it into a character who doesn’t entertain but instead just sits in contemplation. The rainbow is a communal archetype of unity and peace, while also referring to the gay-liberation movement.”
KENNEDY YANKO
For famed artist and sculptor Kennedy Yanko, her artistic niche is found in metal and paint skin, a material she makes by pouring large amounts of paint, letting it dry, and using the sheet-like form to create new sculptural compositions. Her modern works have led her to become the first sculptor in residence at the Rubell Museum in Miami. Working on this particular project with Louis Vuitton broadened Yanko’s artistic horizons. “When the Louis Vuitton team first came in, I shared an idea of what I wanted to do. The next time I saw them, they presented me with so many different options to choose from — it really expanded my mind of what this bag could be,” she explained. “Once we’d figured out the colors and style and how to create the bag itself, I was particularly interested in making something functional. I wanted a bag you could use at any event and with any outfit. For example, the handle comes off, and there’s a pouch underneath it, so you can slide your hand and then carry the bag as a clutch.”
THE ARTYCAPUCINES DESIGNED BY THESE SIX ARTISTS FURTHER DEMONSTRATE LOUIS VUITTON’S DEDICATION TO THE FUTURE OF ART AND FASHION AS WELL AS THE MAISON’S PASSION TO COLLABORATE, CATAPULTING THE CAPUCINES DESIGN INTO A NEW DIMENSION. THE 2022 ARTYCAPUCINES COLLECTION WILL RELEASE EACH BAG IN A LIMITED EDITION OF 200 PIECES AVAILABLE IN LOUIS VUITTON STORES WORLDWIDE.
CRUISE CONTROL
The Chanel Cruise 2022/23 collection has officially arrived, and it’s headed to Miami this November for an exclusive runway show. Embracing the joie de vivre of Monte-Carlo, from motorsports to holiday at sea, the Chanel Cruise 2022/23 collection by Virginie Viard introduces auto-inspired styles, like the driver’s jumpsuit in tweed and the racing helmet à la handbag, as well as stunning sequined numbers. A collection that embodies Karl Lagerfeld’s love affair with Monaco, the cruise collection fuses modern, sporty silhouettes with sophisticated, feminine touches — a design driving-force that continues to define Chanel.
FASHION & CREATIVE DIRECTOR: ADRIENNE FAUROTE PHOTOGRAPHER: DANNY CARDOZO STYLISTS: VERONICA GARROTE AND CHARLIE RINCON HAIRSTYLIST & MAKEUP ARTIST: MARK WILLIAMSON AT ARTIST MANAGEMENT MIAMI MODEL: RENATA GUBAYEVA / WOMEN 360 MANAGEMENT PROPS: MIAMI VINTAGE PROP CARS DIGITECH: JP CUNNINGHAM PHOTOGRAPHER ASSISTANTS: ALEX LARSON AND JACQUES BRUNA STYLIST ASSISTANT: MORGAN BIRDWELL SHOT ON LOCATION AT ONE THOUSAND MUSEUM, PENTHOUSE 540; LISTED BY LOURDES ALATRISTE OF DOUGLAS ELLIMAN ALL CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES BY CHANEL
Dior Lady Art Limited Edition in Collaboration with Brian Calvin, left bag $8,000, right bag $11,500; available at select Dior boutiques nationwide and 1-800-929-3467
Dior Lady Art Limited Edition in Collaboration with Dorothy Iannone, $12,500; available at select Dior boutiques nationwide and 1-800-929-3467
DOROTHY IANNONE
LADY OF THE ARTS
PHOTO COURTESY OF ULRIKE RINDERMANN
FOR THE SEVENTH EDITION OF THE DIOR LADY ART PROJECT, DIOR GAVE CARTE BLANCHE TO NEW, GLOBALLY ACCLAIMED ARTISTS TO TRANSFORM THEIR TIMELESS ICON, THE LADY DIOR HANDBAG. HAUTE LIVING GIVES AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT SELECT ARTISTS’ UNPARALLELED CRAFTSMANSHIP AND INNOVATIVE INTERPRETATIONS, CAPTURING THE ALLURING ESSENCE OF LADY DIOR.
Dior Lady Art Limited Edition in Collaboration with Ghada Amer, front bag $15,000, back bag $15,00; available at select Dior boutiques nationwide and 1-800-929-3467
GHADA AMER
Dior Lady Art Limited Edition in Collaboration with Sara Cwynar, $12,500; available at select Dior boutiques nationwide and 1-800929-3467 “It’s a symbolic object that is at once a bag and an image that represents and embodies the Dior spirit; it acts as a ‘popular image,’ a symbol of value, taste, and dreams, in the same way many images do.”
