In Lagerfeld's orbit
Designer Karl Lagerfeld's dwindling waistline is not the only thing changing at Chanel. The Parisian atelier last year bought five elite French fashion suppliers, specialists in embroidery, costume jewellery, feathers, millinery and shoes. The acquisitions - dubbed 'satellites' by Lagerfeld - inspired the designer to create Satellite Love (left), a capsule collection of quirky beaded knitwear, elegant chiffon blouses, seductive platform shoes, ladylike fur hats and faux bijou jewellery created by the companies' artisans. Launched in December, the collection is now available at Chanel, Prince's Building, Central.
Diamond life
First came the jewellery, then the perfume and now Italian jeweller Bulgari is to open a five-star hotel. The new operation, the first of a planned chain of 'super-luxury' hotels and resorts, will open in Milan next year as a joint venture between Bulgari and Marriott International Luxury Group.
Located a precious-stone's throw from the city's prime shopping district of Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga, the Bulgari Hotel (right and far right) will offer a pampered counterpoint to the adrenalin-inducing retail therapy on its doorstep. Housed in a former nunnery backing onto the botanical gardens, its 51 rooms and seven suites will be imbued with an Asian ambiance - think wood, bronze and matt-black marble, and enormous bathrooms. The lush grounds will include a spa, a gold-mosaic swimming pool and a meditation garden. But la dolce vita comes with a hefty price tag: be prepared to fork out at least 600 euros (HK$5,500) a night.
Costume drama
