Lifestyle

y HIT THE RIGHT NOTES Few purchases are more dependent on an individual’s penchant than a fragrance. As more of us become disillusioned with mainstream brands, opportunities are opening up for independent perfumers, free from the red tape of branding, politics and peer rivalry that restricts the larger houses.

Perfumer 4160 Tuesdays is at the forefront of the ‘slow scent’ movement, creating fragrances that are joyful, witty and inventive. Noteworthy are Doe In The Snow, in which founder Sarah McCartney ‘stirred woods, fruits and flowers with an icicle’, and What I Did On My Holidays, which was described by James Craven, buyer for Les Senteurs, as ‘an irresistible pick-me-up, even on the weariest, wettest and wickedest of days’.

The house also offers bespoke blending sessions to guide those with hard-to-please noses towards designing their own ideal fragrance. 4160tuesdays.com x MODAL BEHAVIOUR With their new label, Clara Waldburg, designer Clara Schönburg and marketing expert Franziska Altenrath have pulled off the tricky feat of combining comfort and style. The Berlin-based ‘smart couture’ house specialises in effortlessly chic ready-to-wear dresses in flattering cuts and classic hues. Each garment is handmade in Germany and produced from the naturally sourced material Modal, which is derived from beech trees.

An advocate of sustainable fashion, Schönburg was first introduced to the idea of using ethically sourced, cellulose-based fibres during her time working as a bespoke eveningwear and bridal designer. As well as being easy to look after and beautifully wearable, Modal has the added benefit of having a luxurious, high-shine texture akin to silk. Style, comfort and elegance – turns out you really can have it all. clarawaldburg.com

y LAND MARQUE The wonderfully named Fur Feather & Fin country clothing, accessories and gift company launches its new website this month – a boon for those looking to purchase a present for a fan of the great outdoors. Its leatherware line, in beautiful burnished brown hide, is exclusive to the brand and includes this sturdy yet stylish men’s travel bag (right), elegant women’s tote, practical unisex backpack and capacious purse, all of which can be embossed with the recipient’s initials. Other items can be personalised, too, including a handsome silver-plated champagne stopper, pewter hip flask and glass tankard – all ideal gifts for those who are particular about their tipple. furfeatherandfin.com

x WARE WITH ALL Horseware is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading equine brands. Founded in 1985 in Dundalk, Ireland, by Tom and Carol MacGuinness, the then-small company had a single determined aim: to design the world’s first fully waterproof and breathable horse rug (left).

Not only did it achieve its objective, but, in doing so, set a new precedent in equine design. After months of research, the now-indispensable Rambo Original was born – and the company has continued to evolve and expand ever since.

Today, Horseware produces enough rugs every day to cover an entire football pitch, as well as countless other accessories, such as bridles and saddle pads. Among the company’s more innovative products are its Ice-Vibe vibrating horse boots, which combine the effects of cooling and massage therapy to boost circulation and remove soreness and swelling.

Horseware also caters for discerning riders, offering stylish collections of casual outerwear and smart competition garments. horseware.com

x BESPOKE SPOKES Gladstone Motorcycles is the brainchild of enigmatic TV presenter, adventurer and motorbike enthusiast Henry Cole, a descendant of former prime minister William Ewart Gladstone. However, though the business bears the name of Cole’s famous great-great uncle, it was actually named in honour of a very different family member.

Eccentric uncle Dick ‘Red Beard’ Gladstone instilled in Cole a lifelong passion for the two-wheeled lifestyle when his nephew was just 12. Since then, the latter’s vision has been to bring back the ‘Bobber’ (left). Popularised in the 1950s, this classic customised style has the front fender removed, the rear one made smaller (that is, ‘bobbed’), and all superfluous parts removed to reduce weight.

Each bike is composed of handmade parts and the company takes pride in being the first British brand to have brought a bespoke motorcycle to market since 1984. Since establishing Gladstone, Cole has striven to bring together a global community of kindred spirits – a breed that he affectionately refers to as ‘discerning hooligans’. gladstonemotorcycles.com

y OFF THE WALL Wallpaper emporium Feathr.com was launched by three former advertising executives late last year. For its debut line, the Helsinki-based digital start-up invited a community of 120 creatives from across the world to design wall coverings that double up as art.

As a result of that successful launch, Feathr.com caught the attention of eminent publications such as It’s Nice That and Dezeen. Even style bible Elle Decor has proclaimed its wares ‘our new favourite wallpaper’. The company adheres to a ‘more art and less decoration’ philosophy, and works with artists, graphic designers, typographers and even tattooists. Each roll is printed on demand, using environmentally friendly inks, and delivered to your door, with royalties going straight to the artist.

Feathr.com’s innovative and affordable wares offer an ingenious way to promote contemporary art and fill your home with original works. feathr.com y HIGH ART Situated in picturesque St Christoph, in the Tyrol region of Austria, is the five-star Arlberg Hospiz Hotel, the foundation stone of which was laid in 1386. Earlier this month, the historic establishment launched a lavish new arts and concert hall (below), the Arlberg1800 Resort. Located, as its name intimates, 1,800m above sea level, the cultural centre – the result of a €26m building programme – is the highest of its kind in Europe and encompasses a concert hall, artists’ studio and exhibition space.

Described by Vienna Philharmonic CEO Andreas Grossbauer as a ‘milestone on the road to a fusion of the arts’, it will host concerts, classes and workshops, as well as an artists-in-residence programme.

World-class skiing, 300km of hiking and mountain-biking trails, not to mention adrenaline-fuelled activities such as rafting and canyoning – St Christoph now has everything required to be a year-round destination. arlberghospiz.at

x SHOW STOPPERS Summer may be over, but a great pair of sunglasses is never out of season. The premium eyewear brand Cutler and Gross has been in vogue since it was founded in 1969 and counts everyone from Rihanna to Elton John among its fans. The company is known for its fine craftsmanship – all its wares are handmade in Italy — and vibrant colour combinations, and its inimitable style means it continues to find favour.

For its latest line, Cutler and Gross has indulged a distinctly playful side, inspired by 1940s attractions and performers. The new Circus collection includes eye-catching oversized frames and striking patterns, with whimsical names such as Ringmaster, Showgirl and Strongman. Fashion-forward, finely crafted and effortlessly stylish, Cutler and Gross sunglasses are guaranteed to brighten up even the dullest and most overcast of winter days. cutlerandgross.com