Born as archduchess of Austria, Marie Antoinette, the Dauphine of France from 1770 to 1774 and Queen of France and Navarre from 1774 to 1792, is historically known for help provoking the popular unrest leading to the French Revolution and to the overthrow of the monarchy in August 1792, in part of her famous quote addressing starving French populace, ‘Let them eat cake’. And, following the French revolution, she was convicted to treason and executed by a guillotine in France on October 16th 1793. Now, on the anniversary of the 18th Century French queen Marie Antoinette’s execution, a pair of green-and-pink slippers have been auctioned for $65,570, to become one of the world’s most expensive shoes. However, we have also earlier seen that the silk shoes of this last queen of pre-Revolutionary France garnered a price of $57,000 at the French Revolution era artefacts in Toulon, France.

Most expensive royal shoes: Marie Antoinette’s slippers sell for $65,600

Continue reading →

The very idea of creating tastier coffee from the protein-broken coffee beans excreted by animals isn’t new. As we have earlier seen the kopi luwak coffee, a Southeast Asian brew made from sweet red coffee cherries passed through the digestive tract of an Asian palm civet, which was earlier thought to be the world’s most expensive coffee at a price of $600 a pound, when unveiled back in 2010. And, now the Thailand’s Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas properties are offering one of the world’s most expensive coffee, $1,100 for a kilogram made with beans popped-out by Thai elephants. Impressively dubbed as ‘Black Ivory Coffee, it’s a speciality brew made with beans digested and ‘naturally refined’ by elephants at the hotel group’s huge elephant camp situated behind its Golden Triangle resort.

Most expensive Black Ivory Coffee brewed by Thai Elephants

Continue reading →

Mixologist Salvatore Calabrese ‘The Maestro’, one of the world’s leading bartenders whose dream of mixing the world’s most expensive cocktail was earlier shattered, after its key ingredient, a historic $77,480 cognac got accidentally smashed on the floor, has finally succeeded to create the world’s most expensive cocktail. At London’s highly exclusive Playboy club, the legendary cocktail-connoisseur Calabrese was delighted to mix the luxury $8,830 concoction using the 240-year old ingredients dating back to before the French Revolution. Defined to be a classic blend of vintage ingredients, the cocktail dubbed as ‘Salvatore’s Legacy’ was bought by an affluent long-term client of Calabrese. And, in an effort to create the exclusive and the most expensive cocktail, Singapore’s ultra-exclusive Pangaea lounge and acclaimed luxury jeweler Mouawad also recently unveiled the Asia’s most expensive cocktail ‘The Jewel of Pangaea’ costing $26,000 a glass.

World’s Most Expensive Cocktail Created By Salvatore Calabrese At London Playboy Club Costs £5,500

Continue reading →

Purveyors of world’s most beautiful handcrafted greeting cards and custom luxury holidays cards for all seasons, Florida-based etailer Gilded Age Greetings, inspired by the Gilded Age and paying homage to the iconic art of illumination, will now turn up the twinkle this holiday season. As the designers and artisans of handmade, world’s most expensive greeting cards finished with the finest materials including 23K gold, has now joined rare yellow diamonds with white diamonds, emeralds, rubies and authentic Swarovski crystals to make up the updated Grand Couture line. These one-of-a-kind works of art by renowned artist and co-founder Rosemary Buczek are actually the original paintings with lush details and ultra-lavish embellishments. Also, we have seen the Royal wedding invitations embossed in gold with the names of royal couple Prince William and Kate Middleton.

$5,000 Custom Luxury Greeting Card for Holiday 2012 is adorned with jewels and 23k gold

Continue reading →

For whom money is no object, Neiman Marcus Christmas Book has the gift choices for ultimate shopping indulgence. For 86 years, the luxury retailer has been offering the fantasy gift options for the filthy rich with a penchant for the finest. “Once again there is something for everyone – from the luxury watch collector, to the video game aficionado, to the backyard farmer,” said John Koryl, President of Neiman Marcus Direct. All nine of the fantasy gifts offered in the gift guide features a certain percentage for charity, so it sure would leave a mark on one’s bank balance, but not on the conscience.

Luxurious Christmas Gifts

Continue reading →

For centuries, the exquisite, timeless and unforgettable Taj Mahal ‘Crown of Palaces’ has been the classic symbol of abounding love. Now imagine if this immaculate tribute to love, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, could be the setting for the milestone event in the life of man and woman, when the bond of love is sealed with commitment through marriage. Yes, this dream will soon become a reality. As the City of the Future; Dubai, which intends to surprise, impress, and bewilder with its novel ideas and incredible ultra-modern constructions will now soon be adding an ostentatious building, the $1 billion Taj Arabia or the Crown of Arabia to its skyline. In Dubai’s Falcon City of Wonders, a wondrous and luxurious concept will come alive; the ‘Taj Arabia’, which is the breathtaking replica of the original Taj Mahal and yet four times larger and embedded in an exquisitely landscaped estate, will become a symbol of love and destination for world’s most expensive weddings.

Taj Arabia, Dubai

Continue reading →

For the high-end shoe lovers who treasure their shoes, Kathryn Wilson, New Zealand’s most successful footwear designer, has teamed up with Sarah Hutchings of Orsini Fine Jewellery to create the world’s most expensive shoe for $500,000. Known for her passion for fine jewellery, Sarah continues her love for creating most exquisite and hand-crafted jewellery by giving Kathryn’s shoe a bespoke diamond makeover. The single classic court-heeled shoe features more than half a million dollars’ worth of white diamonds to make it a one-of-a-kind work of art. The process involved hours of surgeon-like precision using tweezers and a special adhesive.

Most expensive shoe

Continue reading →

From altar to editorial, runway to red carpet; the next chapter for Debbie Wingham, Britain-based designer who started her fashion career at the age of 13, got written with the glamorous unveiling of her latest creation at the Ukraine Fashion Week, which has been described as ‘The World’s most expensive Black Diamond Dress.’ This young and famous designer who lives and breathes her trade, created the ultra-pricey $5.7 million Black Diamond Dress using 50 stunning two-carat black diamonds. Debbie, who herself sewed this dress that weighs a staggering 13kg’s and boasts as above 6 months’ worth of hand finished detail, has described it as “an anthem for a beautiful women who loves life.” However, we have also earlier seen the world’s most expensive cocktail dress costing $15 million that actually took the haute-couture fashion world with a storm, besides the most expensive wedding dresses, the most expensive prom dress, and the most expensive diamond dress dubbed as the “Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur.”

Debbie Wingham’s $5.6 Million Black Diamond Dress

Continue reading →

After the Bartender’s dream of mixing the world’s most expensive cocktail shattered at London’s highly exclusive Playboy Club under the watch of Guinness World records judges, a Singapore’s ultra-exclusive Pangaea lounge is now offering what is said to be the Asia’s most expensive drink, the ‘Jewel of Pangaea’ costing $26,000 a glass. Being promoted as the ‘most extravagant drink of the year’ and exclusively targeted at a distinguished clientele, this expensive drink was unveiled at an exclusive showcase at Marina Bay Sands by luxurious nightclub Pangaea and acclaimed luxury jeweler Mouawad.

Singapore club Pangaea and luxury jeweller Mouawad unveils Asia’s most expensive $26,000 cocktail

Continue reading →

Breakthrough into a completely new product category, Electrolux Grand Cuisine is an ultra-luxury kitchen range by the world’s second-biggest appliance maker Electrolux, bringing professional cooking systems used in Michelin starred kitchens to the world’s most exclusive homes. Geared towards a market for wealthy food enthusiasts who want to enjoy professional equipment in their homes, this Swedish appliance manufacturer has introduced an iconic French style cooking stove, the Molteni Range Cooker. Built to order and the choice of the world’s most demanding chefs, this ultimate bespoke range cooker comes with as many features an amateur chef could ever want, or desire of, including a Combination Oven, the Blast Chiller, the Precision Vacuum Sealer, and even a Stand Mixer.

Electrolux Most Expensive Kitchen Range sells for $100,000

Continue reading →