The new Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht hotel has just opened its doors. Marvelously set on the Prinsengracht – Prince’s Canal – part of the city’s iconic ring of canals, the 122-room hotel is surrounded by the unique cultural scene and spirit of the lively Jordaan district and adjacent “Nine Streets”. The hotel was designed by non other than the famous Dutch designer (and my personal favorite) Marcel Wanders.
It seems the new trend is creating affordable luxury , household department stores are now collaborating with famous designers and creating beautiful designs similar in style to the brand’s own designer line. After Missoni collaborated with Target, Marks & Spencer announced their collection designed by Marcel Wanders just in time for Christmas. The announcement took place yesterday at The London Design Festival 2011. The launch will take place on October 12,2011, the collection is a whole line of tableware, home accessories, make up, men’s & women’s accessories, and more.
This is the first time M&S has worked with a single designer to create a collection that spans a range of product areas encompassing food, clothing and home. Marcel was selected for his international reputation, as one of the world’s most influential product and interior designers his work is shown in some of the world’s most important collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and San Francisco and the V&A in London.
If you are a follower of this blog you will know how much I love Marcel Wanders work, if it were up to me I’d post about every single item he designs. This time the world renowned designer has designed a collection of suitcases for luggage and bag company Fabbricapelleteriemilano. The collection is called: ‘Saint-Jacques.
Each of the suitcases comes with a TSA combination lock and handles designed to provide easier means of toting the bags around.
The interiors are organized to allow for the optimal placement of one’s belongings, while the exterior of the suitcase is covered in wanders’ signature pattern with zipper pulls that recall the ironic face of the designer.
‘I think the style conscious people will love the colors, the contrasts and the interior in bright colors,
while those who are attracted by the multi-sensory will appreciate the three-dimensional embossed surface (…).’ – marcel wanders
The suitcases are available in quick silver, jet black or space blue colors.
World renowned designer and a personal favorite, Marcel Wanders, and award-winning Los Angeles, Switzerland and Hong Kong-based tecARCHITECTURE collaborated on the Casa Son Vida luxury villa on the Island of Mallorca. Located approximately 15 minutes outside of Palma de Mallorca in an exclusive community called Son Vida. The 8,500 square foot luxury residence acts to redefine luxury architecture as it is typified by the traditional Mediterranean and Tuscan styles otherwise found on the island.
The structure is a bold, curvaceous shape that completely evades conventional definition of modern villas. The idea is that the two pieces co-exist as separate entities, meeting abruptly and then quite literally turning away from each other. Their interaction suggests a chance encounter and speaks to the deliberate and bold juxtaposition of the two elements.
Marcel Wanders has teamed up with MAC Cosmetics in their annual couture collection which will be released on November 24th, 2010.
The MAC couture line consists of higher-priced, more luxury themed designs and products. Such collections are usually considered ‘collectible’ (i.e.: Hello Kitty with Swarovski ,Monogram, Baroque Boudoir, etc).
The compact looks to be the Sheer Mystery Powder, which they launch in every couture collection. There is also Air of Style concentrated perfume, a specially packaged brush , clutch, and four lipsticks and lip glosses.
To be honest I am looking forward to the packaging itself rather than what’s inside. Knowing how Marcel Wanders works, I am sure this will be one of the most stylish and intricately designed ones.
