The Lavish World

The Pretentious Guide to Grooming like Bateman

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 21:35:00 +0000

As iconic as American Psycho really was, there was nothing more intriguing than Bateman's morning ritual. Pretentious, dedicated and overall heavy on the wallet. But while others have tried to summarize a list of the product Bateman personally uses to keep his skin smooth and clean, none have read both the book and watched the movie. So what is in Bateman's bathroom and why?

It all starts with an ice-pack from the freezer, which helps with the puffy eyes that most people get after a night of heavy alcohol and bad sleep. The dehydration causes blood vessels to dilate, which inevitably leads to water retention around the face and gut. This is followed by a deep pore cleansing lotion, a water activated gel cleanser, an exfoliating gel scrub and a honey almond body scrub, all from L'Occitane. While the book and movie don't follow each other precisely, there are products that aren't used at that moment but are present in his shower:

Yves Saint Laurent Pour Hommes shower gel.
Vidal Sassoon shampoo & conditioner.
Greune Natural Revitalising shampoo, conditioner & nutrient complex.
Foltene European supplement & shampoo. (Evelyn's advice)

While we do know that there's a herb-mint facial masque right after he steps out of the shower, nor the book or movie mention which brand Bateman uses. Surely we would've guessed L'Occitane or Yves Saint Laurent, but there doesn't appear to be a herb-mint mask from either brands. This is why, if you want to have the complete package, you'd go for the Khadi Neem Basil & Mint Face Mask. It's not available in America, it's pretentious and it's one of the few that actually fits the description.

The movie actually skips the shaving process, but here are some interesting things happening as well. Especially since Bateman uses after shaves with lesser alcohol and it's a well known fact that his favored fragrance is P.S. by Paul Sebastien there are a lot of other fragrances he uses. His mirror cupboard for instance has an Oscar de la Rente deodorant, L'Occitane Pour Homme after shave, Yves Saint Laurent Pour Home after shave and deodorant, and a Phyto Man body splash. However, about the shaving process it's interesting how he starts with a moist hot towel and L'Occitane protective lotion (the book says Clinique). It's those two minutes that soften the hairs, but it's the Mousse A Raiser from Pour Hommes (still no idea whether the brand existed) that gives a clean cut.

There are also other products that Patrick has or after having been advised by others will buy in the future, such as the Redken Vivagen hair enrichment treatment, Styling Spray from L'Occitane and Aramis L.s Hair/scalp Nutriplex for his hair and a gell appaisant from Pour Hommes. While there's probably still more, there were several products that were hard to recognize. Still, enjoy the excerpt from the book and scene from the movie below for further reference.

The Wonders of Turning 30 Something

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 06:52:00 +0000

While our female counterparts fear the dreadful moment of stepping out of your twenties and reaching the point of no return, us men celebrate that beautiful day when we reach the age of maturity. Jay-Z said it best: "thirty's the new twenty". Here the list of why you should be looking forward to turning 30 with the help of the literature of author Shawn Corey Carter.

"I don't have the bright watch, I've got the right watch..."
So you've had a steady day job since your 24th and had a few promotions, but let's be honest: your wardrobe has had a few small updates but still make you look like a rookie. The beauty of being 30 something is that you've had the chance to save and can easily replace your whole wardrobe in 2 months. Say no to GAP and yes to Hugo and replace those two suits you've had for half a decade with some decent designer threads.

"You ain't got enough stamps in your passport to fuck with me..."
Talking about work, you thought there would never be a time again where you could travel as much as back in the days. In your 30ies you'll probably have more vacation days, either your boss hates you and would love a moment without you in the office of loves you and easily gives you a few days to unwind. And the difference between your backpacking days in your teens and twenties and now is that you won't ever have to settle for a hostel.
"Young enough to know the right car to buy, yet grown enough not to put rims on it..."
Maturity means that you know what the word 'subtle' means. Instead of going for the bright yellow sportcar you've learned that it's more practical to go for a little more space in the back for when you're going to that cabin in the mountains with your girlfriend. Then there's the fact that if you need rims to make your car look better, you've probably picked the wrong car in the first place.

"Your chick shop at the mall, my chick burnin' down Bergdorf's..."
It's a known fact that you can't choose your family, but that doesn't mean that you can make up excuses for that friend of yours that still pukes at every party you go (including your nephew's wedding day). Pharrell Williams once said that the key to his success is to be surrounded by the right people. They influence you in every way, plus they reflect who you are as well. From your girlfriend that you see every day to that friend that you see once in a month but still have a great time with, make sure that he has the same state of mind.

So for all of you, whatever age, look forward to it. 30 something is one of the best things that could happen to you, from complete metamorphosis' of your wardrobe to a vacation in 3 months just because you can.

Denham X Converse: A Collaboration or Ode?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 13:45:00 +0000

Denham had a great year so far. After the screening of "Denham Psycho" in their pop-up store in Berlin their latest campaign was spread all over the internet, they launched a Sake line and several stores around the world. But what is a brand to do to celebrate their five year existence? Apparently the right way to keep the stream of success going was to collaborate with Converse.

The beauty in the collaboration is that they didn't go for the expected choice of a denim sneaker, but decided on a black and white canvas sneaker that looks more like an ode to Converse's classic model. The choice of collaborating with the sneaker brand wasn't an idea that just appeared out of thin air, says founder Jason Denham. "I have hundreds of Jack Purcells at home, so it has always been a dream to create my own pair. However, the story behind our collaboration is a combination of our shared passion for quality, subtle details and the fresh modernity of the sneaker. This is anchored by Denham’s desire to worship tradition and destroy convention in everything that we do."

What's so striking about the design is the interesting mid- and outsole. From the leather Jack Purcell logo on the back of the outsole to the front solid black toe, this shoe stays true to its mission to destroy convention. Another nice detail is the scissor on the heel of the shoe, which is slightly adapted to make the shears look like a smile.

Godfathers & Artists: Companionship of Schott Perfecto

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 12:45:00 +0000

There have been few that had the chance to appreciate the presence of the likes of Marlon Brando, Keith Haring, Basquiat and Jay-Z. But all of the above? Only one. As the Perfecto Jacket of Schott has been around for 101 years, there's no denying that it made an impact on pop culture and shaped the 80ies in a way no other leather jacket has. Keith Haring used it as a canvas, Marlon Brando was the face of the movement and Jay-Z passed it on to the new generation in Andy Warhol's Interview Magazine. But what makes one leather jacket so special?

Having worn it ourselves, we have to admit that there is a sense of preciousness when wearing this jacket. Besides the point that it's not the least expensive jacket, ranging from $880 to a smashing $2000, there is also the idea that you are wearing a design and cut that has been around for 101 years, perfected to the point that it feels as incredible as a tailored suit. The Perfecto was the uniform of the rebel, with vanguards such as James Dean and Marlon Brando paving the way for many high school students. A funny aneckdote: at some point the leather jacket was banned from many American schools as it was a symbol of rebellion. It's something that emits from the jacket whilst wearing it.

Despite the biker connotations, the jacket is also one of the few that feels as sophisticated as a motorcycle jacket will get. Whether it's the fact that cult icons such as Haring or Basquiat used the back of the jacket as their canvas, or the fact that the lining feels as soft as possible while the outside feels stiff and tough enough to protect you from the road, there is something about the jacket that makes it a gem. Just like a blazer the jacket blends well with a tee, but surprisingly elevates a combination of jeans and a crisp white dress shirt as well. But don't take our word, judge yourself in our editorial down below:

The New Sound of Ed Sheeran: Sing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 13:18:00 +0000

While we weren't as much a fan of the last effort from the incredibly talented Ed Sheeran, we have to say that we were dreading the news that Sheeran would work together with Pharrell and Rick Rubin. A juxtaposition of talent, standing the furthest from each other and having no connection what so ever, the three sounded like something that could never work. But even The Lavish World is wrong sometimes, the proof being "Sing".

With slight hints of Neptunology, raw guitar and a little bit of nostalgia towards old punk-pop and the first single for Sheeran's new album "X" was born. While we don't know much about the album yet, we can tell that it will be a difference of day and night compared to the last album. While most songs on "+" weren't really exciting or energetic, most being slow love songs, this one might be filled with songs that'll have to make you move your feet.

While all is speculation, one thing is not: "Sing" is everything you need to get out of bed and start the morning exercises, drink a fresh cup of coffee whilst enjoying a cream cheese bagel and put on your freshest suit to go to work. It's rejuvenating, which is incredible considering the last album from Sheeran would put us to sleep.

Carbon Fiber & Lava: The Peugeot Onyx Sofa

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 17:53:00 +0000

What happens when car manufacturers switch lanes and head in an unexpected direction? A car crash, or perhaps one of the most beautiful and unexpected stunts? When Bang & Olufson created their Beolab 15 & 16, they borrowed techniques used in cars to create a speaker that's compact and stable, but with incredible sound and power. It's with that same ingenuity that Peugeot created this sofa from carbon fiber and lava.

The $186K sofa is the first project of their new 'Made to Measure' line, which gives me the idea that we can expect to see small projects appear on the web once in a while whenever a rich entrepreneur is bored with his current interior. And why not? The beauty of using carbon fiber and lava is that it's resistant to extreme cold and chemicals, it's durable and the best of all: there is no couch alike.

The sofa was designed by Pierre Gimbergue, the senior designer at the Peugeot design lab, and took 70 days to make. Especially if you realize that the rock part was cut out of an 11.000 year old rock formation of lava from the Volvic vulcano, 70 days is incredibly fast. Watch the project down below, enjoy the craftsmanship and be amazed at what can happen when a company step outside their field to think outside the box.

The Editorial: When Blind Men See

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 21:24:00 +0000

Print and online have always seen each other as a brother and sister, who despite being related to each other never seem to work well together. iPad publications seem like a stiff and boring copy of their printed version, magazines have trouble competing with the speed and dynamics of the internet and "Snowfall" was far from the journalistic mile-point that we hoped to reach by now. Still, we keep working to find something that can fuse the two together; the magazine 2.0.

The Lavish World has always had the same goal. Instead of showing an outfit every day and post videos of how to get the hollywood glamour look we chose the journalistic approach. In a sea full of pretentious and narcissistic 'stylists' there is a whale that brings depth and context to the waters.

While we're far from the solution, The Lavish World has tried to borrow elements from magazines to further explain our mission. That's why, as of today, we proudly share with you the first editorial. First of all we'd like to thank everyone for the help and support that they gave us, as no one knew what to expect. Especially for this mini-photoshoot to accompany the editors note for this month we would like to thank Denham, Triwa, Schott and Circle of Gentlemen to help us get one step closer to our dreams.

Below the editorial with an editors note. It will also explain my absence in the last few weeks.

TRIWA & Storm's Second Run With "Sort of Black Gold & Chrono"

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 09:56:00 +0000

Tomorrow we'll be launching our first editorial, which will actually feature the first "Sort of Black" collaboration between TRIWA and Storm, so it almost seems like perfect timing that the new collaboration has just been released on the internet. But then again, we're talking about timepieces; timing comes with the job.

The new models were already announced at the release of the black colour way, which also had the same colour indicators but with a black dial. The nice thing about the golden colourway is that you actually get two wristbands and a pin to change them. It's nice that you get to vary from the golden mesh strap and the black Tärnsjö organic leather strap, as we all know that in some situations you can't come out full blazing with all gold everything.

Another nice feature is that you get to choose from a regular (€260) and a chrono(€345) model. It's like asking the question whether you're an advanced watch collector or whether you just want to look good, which TRIWA proves neither have to be expensive.

Both can be bought here. If you're not completely sure whether this is for you there's always these videos of cool guys looking pretty dapper, just to show you how amazing the watch actually looks when it's worn.

Chivas Regal 18 Years: The Prince Has Grown Up

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 20:34:00 +0000

To upgrade from a 12 or 15 year old whisky to an 18 year old is like your first older woman. Things go smoother, aren't about speed or measurements anymore; for one moment life seems like it's without any complications. Now we're not saying that you should drink your troubles away, or your money for that matter, but if you're ready for your life to get less complicated you'd better start thinking in quality instead of how to get drunk as fast as possible. We're not in Alpha Delta Pi anymore: welcome to Chivas Regal 18 Years.

Ever since my experimental phase from 2009 to 2011, where I tried whisky after whisky after whisky, there was never anything that could compete with the sweet honey and ripe apples that are part of the signature taste that make Chivas Regal so unique. The brand has always been approachable, it's even leading the market of scotch whisky's 12 years and above in Europe and Asia Pacific, but always exuded a feeling of exclusivity.

What makes the 18 year old edition stand out most from others is the idea of what it stands for. When I was five years old this whisky entered its cask to evolve into what it is now. Between the Dimples, the Glens, the Jacks and the Johnnies you'll find that Chivas is more elegant, subtle and quieter then the others. It's always been a clear winner for me when it comes to blended whisky's, from the moment you take this beautifully designed bottle out of its package to the moment you feel the first drop land your tongue.

As always, and especially this time, enjoy this without overdoing it. We don't want to see super rich kids get drunk of 18 year old whisky's; this is something that should be enjoyed by people who can handle a whisky neat, with a small drop of water added to open it up, just the way it was meant to be.

G I R L: Pharrell During His Best MJ Impression

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 12:28:00 +0000

There were fears. He couldn't make it work 8 years ago with "In My Mind", so why should he now? The real answer to that question is even easier than math: production wise, there was no ego, no people excluded and yet the right amount of features to keep this vibrant and diverse. "G I R L" isn't just an album, but a moment to relax and enjoy music the way it was meant to be enjoyed back in the 70ies and 80ies.

Every song at some point feels like it was made for Michael, if not by the late king of Pop himself. Especially songs such as "Marilyn Monroe", "Brand New" and "Gust of Wind" feel as if Quincy and Michael just met and jumped in the studio to create "Off The Wall" and "Thriller" in one session.

That's however another thing: while the record is incredible, it feels forced at some moments. At moments when the beginning of "Motorcycle / Come Get It Bae" plays through our speakers, we feel disappointed that P would redo a song released 4 years ago just to fill up the tracklist with feel good songs. The same goes for "Lost Queen", which takes notes from Beyonce's "Grown Woman" without making it feel eclectic but satirical.

While Pharrell definitely reached legendary status with this record, which feels refreshing amongst all the negativity and corniness, we do feel left out on the amount of songs we were hoping to hear. Click here to download.

Elevation of Whisky: The Elysian Decanter

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 12:08:00 +0000

When you really enjoy something, you can explore it as if it were to be a whole world. Take whisky for instance: some people just like the taste when it's mixed with coke, but when you drink it pure it matters which glass you drink it out of, how many years its been in the cask and of course in which cask its been. And that's just a level of expertise, and half of the world. Take for instance this decanter above, which is above all just a luxury. But then again, that's what drinking whisky is all about.

Surely, if at some point you decide to become filthy rich and you could easily buy bottles that are the whisky's own decanter such as is with the Macallan M, ignore all of the above and please present it on a marble stone in the middle of the room as if it were a museum piece. However, when you're trying to elevate the experience of a less expensive whisky, a crystal decanter might do the job.

Take this beautiful crystal decanter by Waterford for instance. A beautiful bold, round silhouette topped off by an amethyst glass stopper, a golden ring around the middle of the decanter and facets on the bottom giving it a classical, sophisticated feeling. If this doesn't make your heart skip a beat every time you walk into the room and see this standing in the cabinet, we might start to wonder whether you even have one.

All Black Everything or Silver: The Land Rover Defender

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 23:02:00 +0000

There are 3 things that every man can admire, no matter his interests, sexual preference or age. We all admire our peers, we all admire beauty and we all admire great cars. It's something that has to do with adrenaline and our obsession with our own genitalia. But no worries, no king is without weakness, and if anything will impress your peers and is by any definition incredibly beautiful it's the new black and silver Land Rover, a great car at that as well.

So it's sure that this year's Geneva Motor Show will be an incredible event. Not only will it show the Ferrari California T, but as well will it debut this incredible monster, both with aluminum finishing and incredibly tasty interior. And if that's not already enough, add the option for both a glass black Sawtooth alloy wheel and a gloss black heavy duty wheel to chose from, all for the love of customization. n contrast, the silver pack coats the Defender XS in an Indus silver finish, puts it up on Dual Finish alloy wheels, and adds white tail and indicator lights.

Still, for those who love cars but don't really bother about the specifics, this is a beautiful design to look at. It's manly, well proportioned, and will go through any terrain of your choosing, so whether you're an Indiana Jones or just the average George this car will get you where you want to be in style.

Denim Psycho: From Off-Way Colouring to Otaku

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 22:12:00 +0000

We've seen it many times now, but for everyone who loves "American Psycho" we advise you to watch the newest short film that Denham released last month. The Denham brand has always been keen on the details, but this seen creates the perfect commentary on elitism in denim culture.

We all have that friend. He loves art, has a different coffee table book lying in his room every month and swears selvedge denim. He probably only wears APC and Japanese virgin denim, or has something that didn't exist a week ago and only he has heard of. The same type of characters are portrayed in the last campaign of Denham, where two of the most iconic scenes in "American Psycho" are remade with a hint of indigo.

It's especially funny how they turned the business card scene into the different classes of denim, from Virgin denim to Skinny jeans and the upper god of all denim: Otaku. All jokes aside though, there is a core of truth to the beauty of raw denim and the craftsmanship behind brands such as Denham and APC, who without a doubt are far from the conventional denim all of your friends buy at the Zara or H&M. Watch the short below and look forward to Denham appearing in our first editorial ever, which will be released on the 3rd of March.

25 Years of Experience in One Bottle

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 21:49:00 +0000

Already one of the most available Bourbon's on the market, there isn't much that Booker's can do to improve on a high quality product. But it appears they have done just that with Booker's 25th Anniversary. This limited edition release ranges between 9-11 years old with an unfiltered proof strength ranging between $121-130, depending on the bottle you wind up with.

Available in early March, the juice pays homage to its namesake, 6th Generation Beam Master Distiller, Booker Noe and is taken from the center-cut of Booker's favorite rack house. It's a great asset to the legacy of Jim Bean's distillery, as well as to your house. The beautiful typography gives the bottle a warm aesthetic that will enhance the aesthetics of your kitchen, so if you decide to indulge yourself on one of these bottles, be sure to place it in your kitchen to show people you know both your Bourbon's and a fair thing about interior decoration.

The Audemars Piguet 1938 Chronograph

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 23:23:00 +0000

Belonging to a French luitenant, this 1938 Audemars Piguet has seen some serious time through WWII. However the irony makes it that this watch did survive the war while it's owner didn't. May his soul rest in peace, the man had taste. Especially a 1930 Audemars is probably one of the rarest and most difficult to trace timepieces. We'll tell you why:

The reason why vintage Audemars chronographs are so difficult to find is simply because AP had such a limited production. The lot notes for this chronograph explain why. "In the 1930s, production levels for Audemars Piguet dropped nearly to a halt following the worldwide economic depression following the 1929 stock market crash. The firm adjusted by re-assessing the number of watchmakers on staff, but remained committed to the tradition of haute horlogerie that continues to define the brand. By 1938, the firm recorded just over 400 pieces made for the year, a number which may seem low but which marked a 400% uptick from the previous year."

18k yellow gold case, an outer telemeter track; this pinkish bronze with gold plating and roman numeral is both tasteful and worth of $98,500.

Lavish Living: Bondi in Sydney Australia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 23:15:00 +0000

Shot from cinematographic perspectives, Romello Pereira has an eye for how to make something as static as a house feel more powerful and monumental. Now, we would post this for the beautiful photography, but the real value lies in the amazing decor and interior. Bondi House lies at sea located in Bondi Beach, one of Sydney’s iconic beaches.

Designed by Australian studio Katon Redgen Mathieso, this home is so minimalistic it's almost haunting us through our dreams. From the color palette, which narrow reach goes as far as white, brown and black, to the long open hallway upstairs leading from the hall, through the bathroom into the master bedroom: everything is simple and quiet, but therefore soothing, comfortable and luxurious. Decorate it with your own coffee table books, a few paintings and flowers to give it color and this amazing four level house (basement included) will feel like the best home one could imagine.

House of Cards: Second Term (Download)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 23:56:00 +0000

Back in 2012 when this show came on we were amongst the first to watch it. The hype hadn't picked up yet, many of dear friends hadn't even heard it. At this point Netflix hadn't even gotten close to it's peak yet, something which changed after this show. But what makes House of Cards so great? For those who haven't seen the first season yet and just caught up on how incredible an actor Kevin Spacey is, here's a spoiler friendly article on why you should watch this show. For those who have seen everything up to so far, yet haven't gotten around to start the second season yet, this one is for you:

While the first season was magnificent on it's own, it raised the bar on the quality we expect from what happens next. First episode in felt as if being in a movie: it's not exactly clear to what was different, but it felt distant, bigger, as if they went on without us. Around the last 5 minutes of the show you'll find out why, with Spacey talking into the camera for the first time to bring you into the corruption and deceit that has had you on the edge of your chair for a straight 45 minutes. Speaking of the endings and almost falling off of it: have a glass of water ready (or something stronger).

As this is our first week with First of June Child, we'd like to offer you a special gift. It's just been Valentines day, and if you're a great boyfriend or husband this means you're probably short of cash or just sick and tired of paying for a month of Netflix, so we decided to offer you the whole second season for free. Download link down below:

The Re-Opening of the Saint Laurent Store (Sloan St)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 18:39:00 +0000

Yves Saint Laurent has gone through quite the transformation the last few years. Stefano Pilati was replaced by Hedi Slimane, who renamed the brand to Saint Laurent Paris, which in turn became a high-end punk brand for alternatives. It's all questionable whether the brand improved throughout these decisions, but one aspect that was an improvement were the stores.

Raw concrete walls that suffice as a clean canvas to the clean marble, mirrored columns, sleek sitting area's, everything perfectly aligned to each other to make everything feel structural and balanced, all designed by Slimane. The interior designs are based on a "minimalist transposition of the techniques and materials of the French modernist movement", says Slimane about the interior, aiming to create "an air of serene, contemporary luxury". Colours throughout the building are a monochrome combination of black, white and gold, which form a perfect canvas for the clothing.

Another nice detail is how the store will handle new packaging. Packaging for the store is based on the Saint Laurent tuxedo design, using a mixture of black matte, gloss textures and an embossed insert which Slimane says "evokes the Art Deco paneling in Mr Yves Saint Laurent’s home at rue de Babylone."

Lavish Living: This Is Us, 30 Years From Now

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 01:28:00 +0000

There is nothing as wondrous as the vast magical garden in the middle of Manhattan, especially if seen from your two floor duplex, sitting in your living room with a glass of Macallan in your hand. It's one of those moments that only few dare to dream of, and even fewer actually get to experience. Yet, we foolishly still dream to one day set foot in this apartment, sit on that couch, pour ourselves a glass of whisky and get kicked out by the actual owner.

Because let's face it: will we ever have $26.5 million to spend? But then again it's probably worth it. Five bedrooms all with connecting bathrooms, a walk-in closet and an incredibly tasteful interior. The living room has a glass dining table in front of the long wine cabinet, where I can already imagine eating apple beignets on New Years Eve looking out of the window at the fireworks or how the families are ice skating in Central Park while drinking a glass of the best wine available.

But let's not forget the beautiful gunmetal staircase leading up to the second floor, complete with three beautiful bedrooms and bathrooms that overlook the rest of New York. Everywhere you go there's a window to look out of, so make sure you're not scared of heights!

Below more imagery of the beautiful apartment:

The First of June Child is officially Launched

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 10:50:00 +0000

When I first launched The Lavish World in 2012, part of me felt conflicted. Surely I was proud, if not hyped, to finally start one of the biggest and most exciting journeys of my life. And yes, The Lavish World has brought me a world of joy, with all the benefits and perks that come from having a website that at this moment has a readership of 8000 readers a month. However, as beautiful and exciting as this website was, I could never express my love for one of the other things I truly felt passionate about: streetwear.

Now, 2 years later, we find us in a different time. Every website on streetwear you go to is a copy of another: a white background, a black logo made out of the name of the website, an incredible amount of random images pushing all these different products, when if you click on it a short description of the product and where to buy it. If anything, websites such as Hypebeast, Hypetrak, Highsnobiety, Complex Magazine and all of those who fit the list have lost all context of what the products on their websites stands for. There is no story, no journalism, no research or substance in any of the dozen of articles they post per day.

This is where "First of June Child" & "The Lavish World" come to play. We aim to find the next step in the evolution of journalism by bringing you the best of both worlds: the versatility of the Internet, and the quality in experience and high quality of writing that you expect from magazines, all in one. Follow us as we work it harder, make it better and do it faster (sorry, we like corny references, bare with us) in order to become the biggest urban culture website in the world. Sure, it might take us 10 years, but as long as we have you as our loyal readers we'll be all right.

Thank you, for now and in the future.

Sincerely,
Mr. Lavish

.

Buscemi x Ronnie Fieg: Rose Gold Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 22:56:00 +0000

Leaving Gourmet has always been a good step for Buscemi, just as it was a good step for Seinfeld to pull the plug on his show or for Donald Glover to create a random Wu Tang name and become a rapper. His new brand Buscemi, which started last September, instantly became a phenomenon unthinkable out of the fashion industry of today. It's edgy, luxurious and of incredible quality. So why did it take so long for us to write about it?

While design wise the luxury sneaker was everything we could have ever wanted in a shoe, we never felt like the colours of the shoes elevated the iconic design. There is no way in the world that we would pay above $500 for a white coloured sneaker, and it's impossible for us to ever buy a black or red sneaker ever again as the pain of being to late to buy the Air Yeezy 2's will always leave a scar (thank God we have the Louis Vuitton Suede Jaspers though).

This is where we introduce the highly sophisticated and tasteful Buscemi x Ronnie Fieg Veg Tan and Rose Gold colour way, impeccable and completely worth the $800. Now before you pickup the phone and call the asylum, we have three reasons to prove that we're not crazy:

Each shoe is made from vegetable-tanned calfskin leather with a vachetta liner and footbed. The 18k rose gold plated hardware was designed custom for this project, including the signature Buscemi lock and key in rose gold. That means it's real gold, which justifies the price. And for those who don't know: you can wear vegetable-tanned leather without socks, as it's not dyed with chemicals.
We did it before with the Louis Vuitton x Kanye West 'Jaspers', which costed $990. Believe us, we survived.

If you aren't sold on the unisex design, nor on the fact that the materials are of such high quality, then think about this: they're highly limited, so if you're doubting they might have already been sold out. Do yourself a favour and check on KithNYC to be sure, so that when you actually change your mind in the future you won't look stupid like us and the Air Yeezy 2's.

The Beauty That Is Emilie (18+)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:41:00 +0000

When our Holy Father created the female body, he made sure that the behind was shaped like the human heart so men would cherish it. Surely he needed some practice (as we all do sometimes), but there is no denying that when he eventually created the gorgeous and mesmerizing Emilie Payet he knew what he was doing.

For the sixth issue of photography magazine Treats the photography editor created a match made in heaven by choosing David Bellemere as the photographer for this shoot. An expert in lighting, Bellemere used only the sunlight as he photographed Payet standing in the water at the coast of Morocco. The result is a series of heavenly visuals filled with sensuality and beauty. Happy Valentines Day!

Bigger Than Life: The Trend of Art Installations

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 11:24:00 +0000

It seems like a build up of always wanting more, a desire that mankind has had from the beginning of time. While greed is conventionally considered a bad thing, it has also been beneficiary to our society. Take for instance how the word 'Art' lately gets connected a lot with the word 'Installation'; it almost seems as a trend. The pinnacle of this trend might be JR's recent art installation for the New York City Ballet.

You'd need the word 'Installation' to describe the scale of it. Spread over the floor of the lobby inside the New York City Ballet Theater building is a photograph, life size, composing all the dancers of the NYC Ballet in the shape of an eye. In different sections of the lobby you'll see a photograph digested inside a wooden canvas, the texture forming a part of the artwork. It's the signature work of recently very popular street artist JR, who through his work of black and white photographs on paper has created incredible things.

"They basically gave me the whole theater to play with and to install my artworks. This is an exhibition; there’s no ballet on stage. The three nights of the opening have selections of ballet, but it's a way to invite the public to come and discover this world that they might not know, or if they do to give it another perspective," the artist explained to Complex Magazine recently. "If you want to take distance to look at the image, you have to walk upstairs to get a different perspective of it. So it would create a movement, as people would be walking on it, realizing that they're in the middle of a piece."

It's interesting as just a few days ago The Lavish World posted an article on the work of Marco Brambilla, who created a very different sort of art installation project with an equally impressive scale inside the Hugo Boss store located at the Time Warner Center. Just like that project, there is a sense of beauty enhanced by scale and experience, an idea of bringing art to other locations than galleries. It's something that JR has already shown a lot in his work, together with his signature use of texture incorporated inside the photography or design, this project however being different as it has reached a level in society that has always been perceived as the furthest from the streets.

For those who live in New York and want to experience the impressive installment themselves, head out to the theater as it's not too late. The installation will be on display during all performances taking place during NYCB’s 2014 Winter Season, January 21 through March 2. The David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center will also hold one week of open hours to experience the exhibition for free on the following dates: Sunday, February 2 through Sunday, February 9, with hours on Sundays from 10 AM to 1 PM; Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM; and Saturday from 10 AM to noon.

For those who don't have the opportunity to hop on the plane, below a video and imagery to experience it in another way.

Topless and Tasteful: The Ferrari California T

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 01:27:00 +0000

Set to make it's physical debut in March at the Geneva International Motor Show, the Ferrari California T is the first release set for 2015. While staying with the refined cabin, the ergonomic design and retractable hardtop roof that have become signature elements in this generation of Ferrari designs this new release will have a new suspension and steering box that make a ride in this beauty as smooth as a baby's bottom.

"And it's beautiful!"
The streamlined design yet again shows how fine Italian craftsmanship can turn the toughest and coldest material such as aluminum and sheetmetal into a warm and sensible car. The 2015 Ferrari California T (which stands for either Turbo, Tasteful or Terrific, you choose) also gets a minor interior redesign, with a new touch-sensitive entertainment system mounted in the center stack, standard leather trims of the finest quality and aluminum accents. Yet again a product like this just shows how topless can be elegant! More photo's down below:

Flawless: 20 Celebrities & How They Woke Up Like This

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 23:35:00 +0000

At this moment in time Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott are the crème de la crème of fashion wonderland. Whether it's a all nude photoshoot with Kate Moss for Playboy, Rosie or Lare for the cover of Love Magazine or a campaign for Gucci or H&M x Versace: everything these two shoot turns into solid gold. So what do two photographers with this much talent decide to do next? YES, exactly! They photograph 20 celebrities in bed, from Pharrell Williams, Naomi Campbell and Australian dream-wife Miss Kerr to Riccardo Tisci and more.

Simply called "Pillow Tweets", the photography series is part of the next issue of W Magazine and holds some of the biggest names in fashion as of right now, some of them completely naked. The issue already received some attention when photos of Miley Cyrus' photoshoot for the issue were released on the internet (dressed in nothing else than a rather revealing McQueen dress).

While there have been a lot of discussions lately about the state of fashion, we do have to say that this as far as it goes for this shoot W Magazine once again shows that no matter what they do, they do it with elegance and sophistication. The photography is tasteful, intimate and due to the black and white even more iconic than we could ever imagine.

Let's just be happy that this time Miley kept her tongue in her mouth, right?

For more, continue here.