Fine Indulgences

Fashion

A Cut Above

The 137-year-old legendary French tailoring house Cifonelli, that invented the signature cigarette shoulder and has dressed big names like Cary Grant, Charlton Heston and former French President Francois Mitterrand, is making inroads in India. It is opening a lounge in Mumbai in 2018 in partnership with luxury retailer Vault Luxury. "The face of retailing has changed and it's not about a retail store anymore; it is about a buying experience. The lounge will give a sense of privacy and involvement to the customers. When a customer walks in, we want them to know that they are not just buying from Cifonelli but becoming a part of the ever growing brand," says the brand's Creative Director John Vizzone. Cifonelli prides itself on a personal, hands-on approach and uses the finest quality fabrics.

Fragrance

A Scent to Remember

3003 BC, a personalised luxury fragrance destination, has collaborated with UK-based master perfumer John Stephen - whose clientele includes the Queen of England, Elton John and Pierce Brosnan, to name a few - to launch a unique service for the creme de la creme in India. The brand is offering to create a wedding fragrance to send out as an invitation or a return gift. The process of curating the exclusive fragrance begins with a consultation with the perfumer, an understanding of the individual's preference and his association of thoughts with various smells, creation of the fragrance and finally, personalisation. The final bottle gets delivered in an exquisite handcrafted box with the creator's certificate of authenticity.

Hotel

Dive into Luxury

The Andaman Islands, known for their picturesque beaches and diving sites, will soon get a luxurious facelift. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces will launch its maiden property in the Andamans - Taj Exotica Resort and Spa - in January. Located at the edge of the jungle, opening out to a pristine white beach, this ultra-luxury resort hotel will have 75 villas spread over 30 acres. The villas have a distinct pitched-roof style design, inspired by the native Jarawa huts, made using natural wood. It complements the wooden walls and the clean, contemporary interiors that use natural colours for a relaxed beach-side vibe. Head here for the best of luxury and adventure.

Wheels

On The Fast Track

Brazilian modernist architect Oscar Niemeyer's abstract forms and curves that heralded, as the New York Times once wrote, his "war against the straight line, whose rigidity he saw as a kind of authoritarian constraint", finds resonance in the voluptuously designed Ferrari 812 Superfast. According to the Robb Report magazine, it is Ferrari's latest in a line of V-12-powered grand-touring automobiles. The 812 Superfast is the fastest and most powerful Ferrari car ever built. The 6.5-litre engine produces 800 hp at 8,500 rpm, generating 717 Nm of torque, and can reach a top speed of 340 kmph.

Home Decor

At home with Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren Home has made its foray in India with a complete collection under Seetu Kohli Home, the leading retailer of international luxury home furnishing brands. Opened in mid-September, the collection is on display in a 4,700-square-foot retail store in New Delhi's Mehrauli precinct, opposite the Qutub Minar. Known for his superior craftsmanship, Ralph Lauren's design sensibilities and signature touch extend to the home collection, too. Each of the galleries offers an array of furniture and lighting, elegant decorative accessories, luxurious bed and bath linens, and distinctive fabric and wall coverings. The designer, who started his career in 1967 with his line of trendsetting wide ties, became famous with the Polo shirt. His brand now boasts a diverse portfolio ranging from a menswear line, women's suits and luxury

clothing line to fragrances and home furnishing.