Wants & Needs
Surreal shopper
Luxury French fashion label Lancel recently launched a handbag collection inspired by famed Spanish painter Salvador Dali (pictured). Collection Daligramma features 20 handbags - 13 crafted from jacquard and seven from leather - as well as a host of leather goods and accessories. The collection is inspired by Dali's 'love alphabet' and also includes two updated versions of the original Dali hangbags Lancel launched in the 1970s. The brand will celebrate the launch with a photography exhibition of Dali and his wife at its Paris flagship store, Galeries Lafayette, until September 20.
Decadent dame
Vivienne Westwood has channelled her inner Marie-Antoinette at an exhibition titled Le XVIII au Gout du Jour (The 18th Century Back in Fashion) at the Palace of Versailles. Westwood, in collaboration with the Mus?e Galliera in Paris, is featuring more than 50 looks from such modern designers as Karl Lagerfeld, Jean Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen and Yohji Yamamato. Until October 9. chateauversailles.fr
Peace offering
Sir Richard Branson has put his private luxury island retreat at Noosa in Brisbane, Australia, up for rent. Makepeace Island is a 9.2 hectare escape Branson bought with his Virgin Blue business partner Brett Godfrey in 2003 - it took five years to build and has a main recreational building, a four-bedroom guest house, swimming pool and tennis court. The private island can accommodate up to 22 guests. makepeaceisland.com
Soaked in luxury
