IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

The Luxury Review in Beverly Hills By John Grafman November 2010—To get a good understanding of what luxury means, you can spend days and hundreds of thousands of dollars on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, or the better part of a week roaming the affluent shopping malls like South Coast Plaza. Or, it can all be boiled down to a few dreamy hours at The Luxury Review. Situated at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills, this affair brings out celebrities, media, studio executives, TV and film producers, personal shoppers, stylists and special guests. The evening condenses the very best into one bite-size morsel of deliciousness. Perhaps the only trick is deciding where to start looking first.

The sponsors of this event can be lumped into a few major groupings, including apparel and fashion accessories, alcohol, beauty products, electronics, food and beverages, jet services, and of course premium automobiles. Mariel Hemingway, Ed Begley Jr., Rachelle Begley, and Paul Watson of Whale Wars not only add to the celebrity appeal of this, but also provide a certain social consciousness to the affair. Ed is striving to bring sustainability into all facets of our lives, and luxury isn’t an exception to this. Bradford Rand of Rand Luxury assembles the best companies in one of the swankiest venues around. On display is almost everything the well-healed individual could ask for.

Shafer Vineyards, Moonshine whiskey, and Tequila Avion (the same as seen on Entourage) provide a festive start to the evening. Avion is just as smooth as Vince professes on HBO’s hit series. Showcasing functional art are watches from Blancpain, in cooperation with Tourbillon Boutique, IWC Schaffhausen, and Dior Timepieces. These portable expressions of success are unique and add a sense of style to any wardrobe. The Alberto Parada Jewelry not only creates beautiful accents to any neckline or hand, the use of 100 percent recycled gold is environmentally friendly as well. A quick peek at the watches from IWC, et al, and even the most jaded superstar can understand why these are in such high demand.

Linda Masquefa Designs produce several lines of very special handbags. Linda designs her limited production bags with exotic skins and materials sure to please the most discerning clients. Stephen Seo Clothiers is displaying fine, hand-tailored suits for those that have high expectations and desire specific cuts and materials that you simply can’t find from most shops. Beyond the suits, the personal attention to the individual client is a cut above. Technology has managed to become part of the lives of nearly everyone that has risen to the top of the executive ladder. BlackBerry has been a fundamental cornerstone of the mobile generation. On hand are some of the latest handhelds created to make life easier for those on the go. In a strange way, mobile devices today are also an expression of fashion similar perhaps to what were neckties decades ago.

Other displays help round out the Luxury Review, such as Future Home, Ciel Spa, Studio Becker, LifeSource Water Systems, Genuine HoBo Bodi-Sense, Eco Smart Fire, Avantair, Tatchme Cosmetics, The Ultimate Green Store, Weizhi, Bottles Up, Soda Stream, MaNic Fashion, Tei Spa, California Audio Technology, and Fibre Arts Design Studio. While each of these companies have special qualities, it’s the automotive companies at this event, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, and Mercedes-Benz, that most prominently combine elements of style, engineering, and craftsmanship. All three have products staged in the drive of the hotel that represent the latest offerings from each. It’s very hard not to notice well over a million dollars in stunning cars carefully positioned right in front of the hotel on this rather damp evening. Mercedes has a SLS (no relation to the hotel) with its iconic gullwing doors. This is the top of the food chain for the brand. The SLS is the modern day equivalent of the SL 300 that stunned the automotive racing world in the 1950s. The power of the Mercedes is a direct result of technological refinement over the years.

Aston Martin presents the brand new Rapide, which takes the tried-and-true performance and grace of the coupes, and adds another set of doors. While the Astons have well documented performance, the style is what makes the brand the preferred choice of Mr. James Bond, and hundreds of others with good taste. Completing the ensemble is the Rolls-Royce Ghost. The Ghost nomenclature has long been part of the Rolls stable, but this reincarnation is a contemporary interpretation of what a luxury automobile should be. What highlights the Rolls-Royce brand is the attention to craftsmanship. This is no less evident in this new model. Beyond the standard model, it is possible to have the talented personnel at the mark create a bespoke model, which specifically develops a custom car to the buyer’s request and taste. The Luxury Review is just what the name implies, and those in attendance get a chance to sample some of the very best. This doesn’t offer an overview of all the wonderful selections out in the marketplace, or even an opportunity to make a purchase onsite. However, this allows ample opportunity just round the corner to expand on this event. The future of luxury goods looks very bright indeed.

For more information, go to theluxuryreview.com