CULTURE & FASHION
Many performers past and present have given us an alter ego as unforgettable as their music. One which captures their personality and style. Now, Bruno Mars is introducing us to his very own, Ricky Regal, as he collaborates with French fashion giant Lacoste.
It’s important to look and feel good no matter what you are doing, exercise included. Time and time again however I’am sure we find ourselves showing up at the gym or heading out for a run in gear that looks a little worn out and dated to say the least. Thankfully French brand Satisfy exists. A beautiful blend of luxury fashion and function that has taken what you wear when exercising to a whole new level.
As a frequent traveller here at The Gentleman Select I know all to well the difficulty in trying to eat and exercise properly whilst always being on the move. It can be so easy to simply grab some fast food and bypass the gym area because you are tired and want to rest up however continuing with those choices can be a slippy road to go down and even harder to come back up. Thankfully one particular brand, Pullman Hotels, is driving forward Wellness Tourism with a passion, aiming to get visitors making healthy choices when they travel. Recently I paid a visit to their stunning site at Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport for an exciting two days of healthy living, exploring their invigorating anti jet lag programme and spending time in the company of its creator and Pullman brand ambassador, Sarah Hoey.
Given that we now live in an age of mobile tech and emoji language, the U.K’s fastest growing language in 2015 I must add, a personal favourite brand which has spawned a summery emoji style capsule collection, is none other than French label Lacoste and Yazbukey.
Brioni has been going through some big changes recently. You can find Justin O’Shea now taking the helm as creative director and introducing a super cool new campaign to kick off his tenure featuring none other than Metallica. We can confirm then Brioni is now going in a very different and very exciting direction indeed.
What the timeless Italian brand have now just given us though is an awesome new Paris flagship store curtesy of David Chipperfield Architects. Located at 370 Rue Saint-Honore, the flagship store is a visual masterpiece aimed at capturing both the Brioni essence of its Rome heritage, yet bring fourth the future vision of the brand under the effortlessly cool Justin O’Shea. Over the past year David Chipperfield Architects in Milan and Brioni have been developing a new store concept which merges ideas of luxury, craftsmanship, industrialisation, tradition and a future vision.
Brioni creative director Justin O’Shea said of the store ” Its been really exciting to work with David Chipperfield Architects on the creation of this space which is a cool mix between branding, design and retail and definitely one of the most beautiful stores I have ever seen”. The store, which is almost entirely made up of grey travertine, a clear reference to Rome, will feature a main store and also a VIP area with the idea that the space can be partitioned in such a way customers can explore it, however at the same time can be made much more intimate and private when necessary. You can also expect to find meshed metal throughout the store design which is transparent and gives the customer the ability not only to see through it but a sense of perspective. I personally love the sleek floor to ceiling gun metal bars which are slim and most importantly, make the stunning new range stand out massively.
If you are heading to Paris soon, please do make the Brioni store one of your places to stop, it really is a sight worth taking in.
Since 1998, Louis Vuitton has brought its colourful, vibrant and informative travel guides to the opulent, globetrotting people of the world. Coming into the modern era however, the need to carry about a book of travel tips when technology can be contained in one device, seems very much a dated procedure.
With 2016 rapidly approaching, it is lovely to say the iconic French brand has now begun adapting its range of guides for the IPhone generation with the introduction of its first ever City Guide Mobile App. The app will be available for 25 cities in the 2016 collection, with 4 new entries appearing in Prague, Rome, Bangkok and Chicago in addition to updated entries for Paris, London, Tokyo and New York. To celebrate this modern leap, there will be limited edition box sets along with monogram IPhone 6 and 6+ cases available in 4 different colours. The Paris city guide will be available on iOS between November 5 and December 31, for free, wonderfully in time for the festive season.
In the months of warmer weather, its time for you to exude that masculinity and get your summer scent game on par. Here at The GS we have selected five fragrances which are fresh, captivating and are sure to give you a medley of Mediterranean and spruce of sunshine in your day.
Acqua Di Parma have brought to us so many countless scents and candles of a wonderful aroma it really is hard to pick a favourite. through many hours of sampling, we select Arancia di Capri. It has light notes of mandarin, orange and lemon with essentials oils which radiate warmth and really do take your nostrils on a journey down the Italian RivIera. We also like that if you buy through the website, you get a delightful little handcrafted cap to go on top. Very individual indeed.
Acqua Di Parma Arancia di Capri: £82.00
Being that we live in a country that is rather susceptible to a cold spell, even in the summer time, we felt this scent was a wealthy balance for that very situation. You have that musky hit of middle eastern Oud, smoky yet subtle and not to dark, perfect when the weather changes, yet it is followed by zesty and refreshing bergamot with punchy orange filtering through as well. It really is a great all round scent. We also like the online purchase option of getting the bottle you order personally engraved with your initials.
Jo Malone Oud & Bergamot: £105.00
Our next selection is by no means cheap, but by god does it caress the senses. Billed as “the most popular fragrance ever created by the House of Creed” hat is certainly no lie. You will find beautiful notes of pineapple, apple, bergamot and blackcurrant. Sitting in the middle you have birch, jasmine and patchouli which then at the base you find oakmoss, ambergris and vanilla to top it off. My favourite aspect of the scent is how it lasts, it literally clings to skin and clothing alike, even after a shower you can still smell it, a true nod to how well its made, and why it costs what it does.
Creed Aventus: £200
Whilst the limited edition scent of Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Swimming in Lipari will not make you look like David Gandy emerging from the sea in white swimming trunks, what it will give you is one of the freshest aromas available currently. You can expect notes of sea salt balanced out by grapefruit, with an injection of both mandarin, rosemary and musky based notes to truly deliver a cool summer breeze in a bottle.
Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue Swimming in Lipari: £50
As we are all aware Bottega Veneta are masters of craftsmanship with their leather goods, however what they also deliver are some truly terrific scents. Our selection here is the brands signature cologne however with a bigger, “extreme” clout. Much like Creed Aventus it has a longer lasting aura, you will find intense leather notes along with labdanum and pimento. Its a delicious fragrance to wear on a lovely evening dinner that will leave a lasting aroma long into the night.
Bottega Veneta Pour Homme Extreme: £52
The combination of Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons (The Chemical Brothers), last delivered a studio album in 2010 with Further so we must agree that the forthcoming release of their latest album Born in the Echoes on July 17th is one to get excited about.
Most recently the track of “Go” featuring Q-Tip has been the first to caress our ears as a taster, growing in presence on the radio and on hearing it, seems like this could be an album well worth the wait. A song which was used for the introduction of Google’s I/O Keynote in 2015, is a distinct and fresh burst of hip house with the distinguishable voice of Q-Tip complementing that recognisable electronic vibe synonymous with The Chemical Brothers, including powerful synth hits throughout. For me its certainly one to take with you on a trip to the gym.
Whilst the song really has our heads moving, so the video is equally as catchy. Directed by frenchman Michel Gondry who has collaborated with The Chemical Brothers in the past, the film sees a procession of matching dressed dancers like a scene from Metropolis, wonderfully in sync to the backdrop of some Bauhaus-esq architecture in Paris 15th district. Personally I think it compliments the song fantastically however we will let you judge for yourself. Check out the guys live this sunday the 28th at Glastonbury and see the music video below.
“Go” is available to download from Itunes store now.
On the 13th of May for 12 days the most glamorous film festival on the circuit begins. The inaugural 68th Cannes Film Festival arrives in as always glittering fashion, however whats more exciting for us at The Gentleman Select is the naming of “Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans” in the Cannes Classic Section this month.
The film based around the famous Le Mans 24hr race documents the trials and tribulations of the production that was well documented as being riddled with issues both on and off set, from financial difficulties to corporate politics and disagreements.
By the time Steve McQueen began working on this project in 1970 he was already at his height of fame with such films as “Bullitt”, “The Great Escape” and “The Thomas Crown Affair” on his mantlepiece to name but a few. For McQueen though this project was more personal, it gave him the opportunity to express his passion for racing and all things mechanical through the art of film.
For any fan of motorsport the film itself is a must have in their collection and for any avid McQueen fan, they will understand the passion and realism that he poured into this picture. It had so much attention to detail from McQueen, that some of the cars were reported to have dead flies glued to the bodywork.
What is most exciting about “Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans” is that it features never seen before footage and images taken from basements in L.A and Paris that had been in storage all these years. You should expect it to be like “Senna”, yet with the rogue and un-tameable essence of Steve McQueen thrown in through his voice narating, detailing how he battled tooth and nail to save the film and make it happen.
You can also be sure that the film will stay true as possible to the man himself with Steve’s son Chad McQueen featuring as an executive producer on the film. We simply cant wait to see this, a film which we reckon will really say “Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting”.