Ralph Lauren's 2008 Olympics Collection from his Polo line, to be worn by American athletes at the summer games in Beijing next month, is now available in stores. Lauren designed the official Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony parade outfits as well as an assortment of Olympic "village wear" pieces for the U.S. Teams, which anyone may now purchase. The Summer Olympics in Beijing run from Aug. 8 - 24th. Lauren's patriotic, logo-festooned red, white and blue designs are "inspired by the rich past of the Olympic Games and in keeping with the time-honored tradition of this historic event." Visit Lauren's site here for more and check out the gallery to see athletes modeling the collection.
Ladies' golf glove and pouch maker Fairway Skins Co. introduced its new line of butterfly-design gloves, made from the finest cabretta leather ($36). In keeping with the company's signature floral designs, each of the six new species rests on a colorful botanical, creating gloves that seems almost too nice to use on the course. Six classic floral designs also are available. Fairway Skins won a "Best New Product" award at the 2007 PGA Fall Expo and last year the company was awarded the GolfTest USA "Seal of Excellence" for the superior quality, value and performance of its products. See the gallery for a few of the new designs as well as classic styles and pouches.
It's a magnificent, much-needed extension of the horsey lifestyle portrayed in Hunt Country Style, the book I wrote about back in April. Moon divides her volume into different facts of the equestrian experience: In the Field, On the Farm, At the Track, In the Ring, On the Move, and Down the Road, focusing on all facets of horsiness and everything that goes along with it. The emphasis is on authenticity, not affectation; she barely mentions Ralph Lauren for instance except in the context of the actual polo team he fields.
If you missed out on one of those $100,000 Asprey shotguns we told you about that were auctioned off at Christie's in May, not to worry - Bonhams is holding its own Sporting Guns sale in London on July 30 where you can bid on some extremely fine pieces at a fraction of the cost. In actual fact, the highest priced guns at the Christie's sale were made by Holland & Holland, and there are several fine examples of their craft in the Bonhams sale. For instance, a 1947 12-bore 'Royal de Luxe' sidelock ejector shotgun with foliate-scroll engraving and gold inlays (above), est. $32,000 - $40,000, in its original leather case.
Also on offer: A fine lightweight 1934 12-bore over-and-under shotgun by J. Woodward, in a leather case, est. $40,000 - $50,000; a 10-bore 'Premiere' single-trigger over-and-under shotgun by E.J. Churchill, est. $20,000 - $30,000; a 1905 12-bore self-opening sidelock ejector gun by Purdey, est. only $10,000 - $14,000; and several fine vintage guncases including one stunning example executed in crocodile skin, est. only $400 - $800. See the gallery for pix.
Earlier this month we reported on the Royal Ascot races, one of the highlights of the English social season. This week ushers in another classic British sporting event-cum-society pageant, the Henley Royal Regatta. The five-day Regatta, held on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, takes place over the first weekend of every July and runs from Wednesday the 2nd through Sunday the 6th this year.
International crews compete in various races at the Regatta, which has been held every year since 1839 except during the two World Wars, the main event being the Grand Challenge Cup for Men's Eights. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's consort, became the Regatta's first Royal Patron in 1851, a tradition carried on by the reigning monarch ever since, though unlike Royal Ascot they don't always deign to attend.
Even more so than at Ascot, Henley provides an opportunity for aristocrats from the sporting and social sets to dress in that distinctively British style which has inspired so many fashion designers over the decades. The commercialization of Henley, unlike Ascot, Wimbledon and cricket at Lord's, has been slower to take hold, and as Godfrey Smith writes in The English Season, it is something of "an Edwardian time warp."
Sporting triumphs are often marked with the splash of victory, that moment when the Gatorade hits the winning coach's unsuspecting head. Celtics coach Doc Rivers got a good soaking in orange Gatorade when the Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in six games. His Gatorade-stained shirt has now brought in $55,000 for The Shamrock Foundation through an auction on sports radio WEEI (850 AM). The Boston Globe's Celtics Blog reports that an anonymous bidder pledged $35,000 for the shirt and the Gatorade bucket used in the soaking. The Gatorade company donated an addition $10,000 and a second anonymous donor gifted a $10,000 pledge.Steve Pagliuca, Celtics managing partner and president of The Shamrock Foundation has offered another $35,000 if the shirt's new owner will let the Celtics show off the shirt to fans at certain points during the next season.
The Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation benefits children in Boston, partnering with community based organizations that provide healthcare, shelter and vital services for children in need. The foundation's current community partners are Perkins School for the Blind, Childrens Hospital Boston, Horizons for Homeless Children, and the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC). They accept donations if you want to commemorate the Celtics victory with a little giving of your own.
When I was first learning to play golf when I was young, it was a big thrill that there were finally orange and lime green balls. Then came the hot pink golf balls and I was in heaven. My teenage self would have loved this pretty princess putter from The GoldenPutter but it would have been a bit out of my price range. Each Golden Putter has a 24 carat gold plated shaft, a leather grip (in pink but other colors are available) and a head with customizable crystal inlays. The First Special Lady Edition of the "GoldenPutter" will be available for 1995 euros. For those with more money to spend there is the possibility to create a diamond lady putter will be available for around $150,000.
Even though we are enjoying summer weather here in the northern hemisphere, in New Zealand it is ski season! At Terrace Downs, just at the foot of the southern Alps and Mt. Hutt, is a new privately owned resort with restaurants, 18-holes of golf, spa experiences, luxury accommodations and a fabulous new helicopter service that takes five minutes to get to the base of the ski area. The helicopter rides are only NZ$65 each way and allow the passenger to soak up breath-taking views on the way to the mountain. The villas, vistas and views make this getaway down under one gorgeous stop.
The annual Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge will kick off at the JetOne Jets Field at the Bridgehampton Polo Club on Saturday, July 19 this year. This season's partners include Coca-Cola, Fiji Water, T-Mobile, Pernod Ricard, Ralph Lauren, Hpnotiq and Zino Platinum Cigars, and the MVP Player Award will be presented by Westin Rinehart. The matches, which will run for six consecutive Saturdays through August 23 this year, are the social mainstay of the Hamptons season and feature some of the world's best polo players competing for one of the sport's most treasured prizes. Anyone can watch from the stands, but the invitation-only V.I.P. tent is the real scene. Celebs in attendance in years previous have included Anne Hathaway, Elizabeth Hurley, Heather Graham, Howard Stern, Jared Leto, Jay Z, Jessica Alba, Mischa Barton, Natalie Portman and Prince Albert of Monaco, to name a few. All proceeds will go to a good cause, the South Fork Breast Health Coalition.
Surfing's famous Malloy brothers have been working with outdoor gear company Patagonia to create a new more eco-friendly wetsuit. The wetsuit is made of Japanese neoprene lined with merino wool blended with recycled polyester to keep you warm when the water is cold and wick moisture away from the skin. The suit uses recycled polyester, chlorine-free wool, PVC-free kneepads and thinner neoprene layers to reduce the impact on the environment. Suits start around $350 while tops start around $110.
Since it was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, the annual Royal Ascot races have become the highlight of the English social season. Ostensibly a five-day sporting event, it's also evolved into something of an immense fashion show, marked by the arrival of the Royal Family in ceremonial horse-drawn carriages every day. It has become the style for ladies to sport increasingly outrageous hats, and lately the traditional rules about "formal day dress" in the coveted Royal Enclosure have been rather loosely interpreted, much to the Queen's dismay.
This year officials have cracked down, declaring that "Off the shoulder, halter neck, spaghetti straps and dresses with a strap of less than one inch and/or miniskirts are considered unsuitable," while "Midriffs must be covered and trouser suits must be full length and of matching material and color." Those not in compliance will be asked to leave the Royal Enclosure. Gentlemen have always been required to wear full morning dress with top hats. Lest all the pageantry detract from the business at hand, it's worth noting that prize money at this year's event, which runs through Saturday, has reached an unprecedented $7.8 million.
To celebrate the 2008 European Cup soccer tournament, dashing designers Dolce & Gabbana have created a stylish new wardrobe for the Italian National Football Team ("Nazionale"). Italy debuted today in the fiercely-competitive 16-nation tournament at the Stade de Suisse in Berne, Switzerland. Dolce & Gabbana custom-tailored natty narrow-lapeled one-button dark blue suits with the Nazionale badge embroidered on the breast pocket, classic white shirts and solid narrow blue silk ties for the team. Filling out their off-pitch wardrobe are blue single-breasted peak-lapel blazers, matching four-button vests, blue cotton and wool hooded track suit tops, blue cotton track suit bottoms with satin belts and sides, and black nylon padded parkas with multiple pockets and detachable hoods. The collaboration is the latest in a line of recent designer makeovers for famed European football (soccer) teams, including Giorgio Armani for the Chelsea F.C. and Paul Smith for Manchester United. See the gallery for more.
In celebration of Big Brown's seemingly inevitable Triple Crown victory at tomorrow's Belmont Stakes, our favorite small batch bourbon Woodford Reserve has created a special cocktail. The "Big Brown Triple Crown" recipe is as follows:
Shake vigorously and strain into a tall glass with ice. Garnish with 3 blackberries (one for each crown, natch).
The Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, founded in 1812, is a National Historic Landmark with strong ties to horseracing. It was selected as the Official Bourbon of the Kentucky Derby, and as we can personally attest, it also makes a mean mint julep. Check out the BBTC cocktail and more in the gallery.
On Saturday, renowned French champagne house Veuve Clicquot staged the first polo match in Manhattan in 70 years. The match, between two North American Polo League (NAPL) teams - Ralph Lauren's Black Watch, captained by Polo model Nacho Figueras, and Asprey's Skeeterville, captained by Will Johnston - was played on Governor's Island, the 172-acre former Army base on Manhattan's southern tip. New York is often cited as the birthplace of American polo c.1876, and Army officers played the sport on Governor's Island until just before the onset of World War II in 1941. Black Watch bested Asprey 10 - 6 in the inaugural match of the Veuve Cliquot Manhattan Polo Classic. Veuve Clicquot has long supported polo in Europe, and since last year other parts of the U.S. as well, such as the Greenwich Polo Club in Connecticut.
The other day my colleague Deidre Woollard reported on Chivas Regal's luxurious Father's Day travel package, which costs $117,000. If you prefer single malt Scotch and you're looking for something a little more over-the-top - and you have $500,000 to spend on dear old dad - Scotland's preeminent luxury travel agency Dream Escape has partnered with Classic Malts Selection, the prestigious portfolio of single malts, to create the Ultimate Scotland Experience.
The six-day journey for five guests begins with a private jet trip to the exclusive Myres Castle in Fife, followed by a lavish dinner featuring select single malt whiskies from the Classic Malts Selection, like Talisker, Oban, Cragganmore and Dalwhinnie. Day two kicks off with golf at the famed St. Andrews. Day three includes a helicopter ride to Islay, home of our favorite smoky single malts. Day four features a trip to the Isle of Skye. Day five finds you at the magnificent Corrour Lodge nestled in the Scottish Highlands. Day six kicks off with a drive through the dramatic landscape in your choice of a Ferrari, Aston Martin or Lamborghini (as pictured above).
The festivities culminate in the ultimate food and whisky pairing dinner prepared by three of the country's best chefs. Then it's back home via private jet. Contact Dream Escape's David Tobin at ultimatescotland@dreamescape.co.uk for booking info.
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Since it was founded by Queen Anne in 1711, the annual 
In celebration of Big Brown's 
