Luxist

The Dolce & Gabbana Miss Martini Patchwork Pony Shoulder Bag is a fun way to work a lot of animals prints into your outfit at the same time.

Some of these prints are actually pony hair, originating from Italy and New Zealand, so not only does the bag make it look like you're dating a successful Serengeti fur trapper, but it's soft and stroke-worthy (helpful, because you miss him on his long trips).

In all seriousness, this is super cute. Throw this over your shoulder with a little black dress, put a martini in the other hand, and you might as well be in Mad Men. The bag is 9"W X 8"H X 1½"D, and has a fabulous goldtone chain and logo plate. Added bonus: all these colors are neutrals, so you can totally pair it with your jewel-toned holiday dresses for a very luxe effect.

The Dolce & Gabbana Miss Martini Patchwork Pony Shoulder Bag is available from Saks Fifth Avenue for $1,075.00.

A classic whisky distillery is being shut down in a cost-cutting measure. The Edrington Group plans to close the Tamdhu distillery and malting operations in Aberlour next year resulting in a loss of more than 30 jobs. The group has decided to concentrate its efforts on its three main brands, The Macallan, Glenrothes and Highland Park. Another distillery Glenturret will also remain open. The closure is a response to the economy.

Whisky is still selling well but costs have risen and The Scotsman quotes Graham Hutcheon, group operations director for Edrington, who said that the move was done to make sure that the "business is the right size and shape to support current and future activity levels." Edrington employs about 2,200 people across the globe and also owns the Famous Grouse and other brands such as Cutty Sark and Brugal rum. The Tamdhu distillery opened in the late 1890s and went through several closures over the years including a long period between 1928 and 1947.

I'm not one for enormous jewels and gems on my jewelry (I know, call me crazy) but this Glacier Ring by Swarovski really appeals to me. Maybe it's because there is no large bling set onto a band so much as the bling is the band. Appropriately named after a mass of ice, this Swarovski crystal cocktail ring is faceted to catch both the light and the attention of your fellow party goers and is gold-plated inside for comfort. A perfect winter accessory as it evokes feelings of snow and sparkles and will coordinate with everything. £142

How's this for a dreamy bed? The Mermaid's Sleigh bed is a gorgeous bed custom made by artisans in Vermont. The bed has a wave-shaped footboard and carved maple natuilus shells adding a fanciful sea-themed touch. Each bed is custom crafted of natural solid hardwoods and hardwood veneers. The piece above is in queen size with cherry and curly cherry veneers, curly maple and nogal. Because it is made for the new owner you can customize it to your choice of wood and add names, dates or other personal touches. Prices start at $17,100.

We've been to Spring Island, South Carolina before to check out Bank of America chief exec Ken Lewis's getaway home (still on the market and the price keeps dropping). Today's estate is in the same area and belongs to former Proctor and Gamble executive Tom Laco. The property consists of two separate lots, the 3.48 acre lot the house is on and a 3.13 acre lot directly across the pond from the house which provides privacy and serves as an ample nesting area for local birds.

The five-bedroom home sits high above Rice Gate Pond and offers a panoramic view of the pond and a thousand acres of Spring Island marshes. The home's master bedroom is on the main floor of the residence and two guest rooms are located in a separate wing with two additional bedrooms on the upper level of this bi-level home. The living room, study, dining room, sunroom, office and three bedrooms all have views of the pond and salt water marsh. The three car garage is currently configured to accommodate two automobiles, a golf cart and a work shop. The home has over 1,600 square feet of porches and terraces and there is a freestanding greenhouse and a rose garden. This home is listed at $2.75 million.

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Golf lovers, are you prepared for another golf themed watch? Ready or not here is one sure to put a smirk on your face. This is the Iron watch by Charriol, shaped just like one of your clubs. The watch dial is complete with the iconic horizontal grooves and a dial shaped like the club head. Charriol calls the watch unisex being suitable for a man or a woman, but whoever you are, it takes a dedicated lover of the sport to wear one of these.

The watch case is in steel and not so large at 33mm wide by 29mm tall. Dots on the dial make the time readable, and the case is attached to a leather strap with an embossed crocodile pattern on it, and a steel butterfly clasp. In addition to the pictured black tone, the watch is available in a "green" green color that you shouldn't miss. Movement is quartz.. I like that Charriol is able to not take themselves too seriously and release a fun watch like this. Price is 1,260 Swiss Francs and it is available on their website.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com

The Miss California USA pageant is eager to put the Carrie Prejean story behind it and has unveiled the crown that will sit atop the new Miss California USA's head. INTA Gems & Diamonds, the official jeweler of Miss California USA, has designed the new crown which they say promotes unity, love and the beauty of California. The crown will be unveiled to the public at the Beauty of California dinner at the Rivera Resort in Palm Springs on November 21 at 8 pm. The stars that line the border of the crown represent the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The curves of the crown are mean to recall the waves that flow back and forth along the California coastline. The crown is made of silver, gold and a total of 768 stones including diamonds, diamond simulants, natural sapphire, and pearl.

Peter Young, creative director of INTA Gems & Diamonds designed the crown with the idea that after the controversy over Carrie Prejean's opinion on gay marriage at the Miss USA pageant he wanted his design to present a positive view for the next 2010 Miss California USA titleholder. The wave design also represents the different perspectives in California. He says: "I felt a strong need for people to know that although we may have different opinions from opposite sides, the one universal idea that speaks true for all of us is that love unites. Therefore, at the center of the beautifully formed sparkling wave design is a heart. I hope that speaks true to the next Miss California USA."

The 2010 Miss California USA pageant that will be televised on Sunday, Nov 22 on the CW and on My Television television networks.

Just thinking about the Thanksgiving holiday brings up mixed emotions for many people. Maybe you don't have a lot of family or maybe you have so many people in your family that no matter whose house you choose to go to someone feels slighted. It is also possible that the thought of spending the day in front of the stove preparing for the arrival of your relatives fills you with dread. It could even be simply that you actually love Thanksgiving and the traditional feast that accompanies the day but are in desperate need of a vacation.

There are many options for those who decide they'd rather skip town, relax and let someone else do the cooking.

Blackberry Farm, a Relais & Chateau property located on 4,200-acre estate in the Smokey Mountains, has a special Thanksgiving weekend program. It includes an annual turkey fry held on the lawn, bluegrass music and local artisans at the Fall Harvest Festival, storytelling and the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Enjoy the last of the fall colors at this relaxed retreat which is renown for its Southern hospitality. Rooms start at $995, include meals and children under 10 (not normally permitted at the property) are allowed over the holiday.

If you need a long weekend at the beach Seven Stars at Grace Bay on Turks & Caicos may be just the place to put up your feet. The resort which is adjacent a marine preserve and is surrounded by white sand beaches is offering a Thanksgiving special with rooms starting at $401 a night for an Ocean View Junior Suite.

Jackson Hole Wyoming's Rusty Parrot Lodge & Spa is offering a special "Thankfully in Jackson " package. It includes four nights lodging, their famous breakfast, two one-hour massage therapy sessions at The Body Sage, admission to The National Museum of Wildlife Art, and unique afternoon activities including a local history walking tour, and presentation by staff biologist from The Teton Science School. Their restaurant The Wild Sage, will host an evening wine and cheese tasting reception and last but not least a spectacular Thanksgiving feast for two. All this begins at rates of $1308.00 per couple and up.

Have a great trip!

Peter Nitz creates unique leather goods that represent his own personal vision of what a sophisticated luxury aesthetic embodies. A former Assistant Director of Acquisitions at an auction house, Peter has a unique eye for quiet luxury and handcrafts each piece himself. He refined his abilities for two and a half years at the knee of a former Hermes craftsman, who he encountered on a weekend trip to Paris. During this time he mastered centuries-old techniques that, while demanding precision and patience, result in products that are truly refined.

Originally from South Carolina, Peter moved to Europe and traveled the globe in a quest to find the best producers of exotic skins, linen thread, hardware and other materials necessary to open his own atelier. Each bag is designed from an initial plan, but influenced by the specific exotic skin used, to produce a perfect union between design and material. Some of the bags feature vintage fine jewelry Peter acquires by scouring auction houses and private collectors, and each piece is one of a kind.

There are two main collections:
The Atelier collection, which include classic Peter Nitz designs, but can be special ordered in whichever skin and color a customer desires. This results in a truly bespoke bag that suits a clients specific needs.
The Masterpiece collection, which combines exquisite vintage fine jewelry with exotic skins resulting in a piece that is closer to art than a handbag.

Each piece comes in its own handmade leather-covered drawered box with a customized handle made from the same leather as the individual bag. Prices for the bags without jewels begin at $2,500 and can reach as high as $9,000 to $20,000 dollars depending on both the type of skin used and the value of the jewels that adorn the bag.

Those new aviator shades Brad Pitt's been sporting lately are by his favorite designer Tom Ford, naturally. The decadent designer's Pablo model is actually two pairs of sunglasses in one. One set of lenses fits right into the metal frame and the other set sits in plastic inserts. The Pablo is an evolution of an earlier Ford design as worn by Daniel Craig; these are much better proportioned and actually a fine fit for both men and women. The sunglass history buffs at Eyegoodies, where the Pablo can be purchased for $450 a pair, note the influence of an old (1970's) Ted Lapidus aviator with the plastic inserts in, and the Porsche Design Aviators from the 1980's with the plastic inserts out. The Pablo comes in three colors: gold / light havana (pictured above), gunmetal / dark havana, and gold /black.

[via JustLuxe]