Luxury labels are pushing the retail boundaries.
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Pearls, tweed and the number five are three things synonymous with Chanel. Surfboards, skis, skateboards? Not so much. But they’ve been slapped with the Chanel logo and are now on the way to becoming the brand’s staples.
It’s hard to imagine taking a $3900 Chanel surfboard down to Bondi Beach – even if you are Lara Bingle who reportedly loves hers.
Then there’s the $4055 you’ll need to fork out for a pair of skis. Victoria Beckham probably packs her set on the roof racks of her Range Rover Evoque Victoria Beckham Edition. Yes, even her clothing label has branched out with a car, costing upwards of $100,000 in the US with no added luxuries. Well, except for the included four-piece luggage set and manual signed by Posh herself.
If you’re looking for something a little less pricey, there’s the Fiat 500 by Gucci. This sweet little car sells for $AU27,000.
Available in black or white, detailed with the classic Gucci red and green stripes and interlocking Gucci G symbols on the rims, this car sounds just like a handbag. But would you match your bag to your car?
If you’re the environmentalist type, Hermes has just the thing… a bicycle!
Hermes is better known for horseback riding, but bike riding can be just as luxurious. Of course, a signature Hermes scarf will be required to keep the wind out of your hair.
The bike is called “Le Flaneur” which translates to “the stroller” or “the dawdler” which makes sense – this isn’t a bike for working up a sweat. It’s more riding to the shops, if only there were a basket for your Birkin.
Speaking of baskets; another Hermes creation is a blue calf leather basketball. Made for a window display for the Rodeo Drive boutique, it caught the eye of a customer who asked for the prop to be set aside for purchase.
“It can certainly be used for play – the leather is sturdy, and why not make such a unique item come to life on the court?” Robert Chavez, the company’s US chief executive, told The Telegraph. Just make sure to play gently: the basketball is priced at $12,900.
Marc Jacobs is reminding his customers to play safely.
You can buy subtly disguised Marc Jacobs brand condoms from select Marc by Marc Jacobs stores for $2 each. The packaging is simple with the words “Remember, safety first! XXOO, Marc Jacobs” scribbled on the front.
You can even find Louis Vuitton’s iconic logo monogrammed onto condoms, but they have nothing to do with the brand.
The condoms were designed by Georgian architect Irakli Kiziria as a fundraiser for world AIDS day in December 2011. The luxury knock-off knock-ups were priced at $68 each.
Photo Credits: Red chanel surfboard thedecadenceproject; Chanel skis from Anjoyplanet’s Flickr photostream; Hermes bicycle from Hugo VK’s Flickr photostream; Hermes blue leather basketball www.bornrich.com/hermes-basketball-for-13000.html; Marc Jacobs condoms rollingout.com/entertainment/designer-condoms-are-you-buying-it/; Fiat 500 by Gucci from achimh’s Flickr photostream.
Top photo from automotive rhythms Flickr photostream.
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