Sandra‘s Closet

F1 Arcade has arrived in the USA with Boston being the first spot to experience all the excitement, drama, and glamour of Formula 1 and Washington D.C later in the year. In Europe, you can find the experience in London and Birmingham.

However, if you find yourself hoping over the pond, I recommend visiting the US venue in the Boston Seaport district. F1 Arcade is a thrilling new simulation racing experience, and probably the only place in the world where you can get drunk driving. Not that I recommend this, but here you can bar, dine and race at once.

Featuring full-motion racing simulators, typical American food and a selection of enticing drinks, this is truly unrivaled social gaming. Racing is thirsty work. You can grab a much-needed pit stop at the really cool cocktail bar, that is featuring an impressive list of vintage Champagne cocktails. So, Anouk and I decided not to wait any longer and assemble our pit crew, grab a cocktail, and take the wheel of an F1 simulator for an electrifying experience we’ll never forget.

To book your racing experience, click here please.

F1 ARCADE SEAPORT DISTRICT
87 Pier 4 Blvd Boston MA 02210 United States

Even the restrooms match the theme and feature different light installations of race tracks in every cabin.

Racers, start your engines!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Sandra Bauknecht
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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is delighted to present ‘The Pearl Cullinan’ – a magnificent, one-of-one Bespoke motor car commissioned by the owner’s family to mark a significant birthday. It is also the first Bespoke project to be revealed by the Private Office Dubai, which works with local Dealer Partners to bring the authentic Goodwood experience to clients across the Middle East and Africa region.

‘The Pearl Cullinan’ was commissioned in early 2022 by a longstanding Rolls-Royce client, to mark his father’s 90th birthday. Regional Director, César Habib, and Bespoke Lead Designer, Michelle Lusby, were originally introduced to the father with the purpose of understanding his passions and life story; these meetings provided valuable insights to inform the design direction for the commission.

BESPOKE PEARL ROSE EXTERIOR FINISH
The Bespoke Pearl Rose finish is inspired by the colour of the owner’s most prized pearl in his extensive, world-class collection and is reserved exclusively for this motor car: it will not be available to any other client in future. Paint specialists at the Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood used carefully selected pigments to replicate a delicate hint of pink rarely found in natural pearls. Unusually, the paint combines both metallic and pearlescent effects to give exceptional depth and lustre.

Perfecting the finish required around 30 different iterations, each applied to a full-sized body panel. These were pre-checked under daylight simulation lamps in the Atelier at Goodwood, then sent to the client to make sure the colour was correct when viewed under the Middle Eastern sun. The paint also underwent extensive technical testing to ensure it will remain unaltered by heat or UV light over its lifetime.

The Pearl Rose finish is complemented with a single coachline, applied by hand in Rose Gold paint, to match the rose gold-plated Spirit of Ecstasy mascot. The rose gold theme also extends to the Bespoke treadplates, which are revealed on each of the four door sills upon opening.

INTERIOR: THE ART OF PRESENTATION
The interior of ‘The Pearl Cullinan’ features two different leather colours. The front seats – where the father prefers to travel as a passenger – are finished in his favourite Cashmere Grey. In reference to the family’s heritage, the rear seats are trimmed in Ardent Red which takes inspiration from the colour of the material on which pearls are presented to customers, to best highlight their subtle natural colour variations. In a similar vein, the burr walnut veneer echoes the wooden presentation boxes in which pearls are traditionally handed over to customers upon purchase.

Bespoke embroidery detailing includes ‘RR’ monograms in Rose Gold thread on the headrests, and rear seat inserts in Grace White, inspired by the symmetrical growth patterns of an oyster shell and angled at the same precise 55 degrees as the veneer.

A CELEBRATION OF MOTHER-OF-PEARL
‘The Pearl Cullinan’ features one of the most extensive uses of mother-of-pearl ever seen in a Rolls-Royce motor car. The natural variations of this beautiful material created opportunities and challenges in equal measure for the marque’s designers and craftspeople.

This is particularly apparent with the detailed design of the Picnic Tables, fitted to the rear of the front passenger seats. The upper surface features an intricate, circular pattern inspired by traditional Arabic design that draws the eye inwards to a central point. Each tabletop is then inlaid with 1,351 separate pieces of mother-of-pearl, every one individually selected and placed by hand in the surrounding burr walnut marquetry and sealed with clear lacquer. The natural shade and colour differences in both the mother-of-pearl and the wood mean each tabletop is a unique work of art.

The burr walnut fascia incorporates an exquisite mother-of-pearl inlay inspired by traditional Middle Eastern art. At its centre is the Arabic word for ‘father’, inlaid in stainless steel. In a first for Rolls-Royce, the Bespoke dashboard clock is set in a mother-of-pearl surround; the dial and hands are in rose gold. The centre rotary dial is also finished with mother-of-pearl, giving it a tactile, jewel-like quality.

Above the occupants, the Bespoke Starlight Headliner shows the sky as it appeared on the night and at the very place the commissioning client’s father was born.

Michelle Lusby, Bespoke Lead Designer at the Private Office Dubai, said, «For me, there was a huge emotional connection with this Bespoke project. I had the privilege of spending time with the commissioning family, which allowed me to discuss details of the design directly with them, and really understand their true significance. Their unique use of mother-of-pearl was a great creative and technical challenge for us: to see the Picnic Tables go from my original digital designs to those beautiful, highly detailed finished works of art was fantastic. This is a truly special commission in so many ways, and a project we aspire to have as Rolls-Royce designers. Emotions inspire our imaginations.»

Another beautiful bespoke creation from the House of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rolls-Royce
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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveiled the amazing Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail to the commissioning client, their family and friends at a private event at Gstaad Palace in Gstaad, Switzerland – a region of particular significance for the patron. The car is a breathtaking coachbuilt masterpiece that celebrates its commissioning client’s cultural heritage, family legacy and personal passions.

One of four unique expressions of the Rolls-Royce Droptail, Amethyst Droptail is a truly elevated expression of applied art, commissioned by a patron whose family business has grown from a gemstone boutique to a multinational corporation with diversified interests. Exceptionally well-travelled, internationally educated and truly global in their inspirations, the client is an established patron of the arts, whose collection of precious jewels, significant motor cars and contemporary artworks are housed in a specially commissioned private museum.

The patron tasked Coachbuild designers to create an elegant expression of Droptail inspired by the amethyst gem – the birthstone of their son and an enduring symbol of purity, clarity and resilience; themes that are explored throughout this exceptional motor car in extraordinary depth. The client’s passion for quiet artistry and subtle flourishes is what defines Amethyst Droptail – a projection of true connoisseurship that rewards those who study it with beguiling details.

A FLOWER IN THE DESERT

The patron and co-creator of Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail expressed a profound desire to celebrate the cultural heritage of their home region. Rolls-Royce Coachbuild designers responded with an inspiration point that would define this Droptail’s exterior treatment: the Globe Amaranth wildflower, which blooms in the desert near one of the client’s homes.

The duotone exterior paint finish captures multiple stages of the flower’s bloom. The main body colour is a soft purple hue with a delicate silver undertone, named Globe Amaranth in tribute to the flower, and is enhanced with fine flecks of powdered aluminium that reflect the light and create a captivating iridescent finish. A deep purple Amethyst contrast paint, which is used on the motor car’s upper coachwork, contains a blend of red, blue and violet mica flakes that together create a unique mauve colour with a subtle metallic sheen.

In sunlight, the motor car also reveals a gentle hint of mauve paint on the inside of the 22-inch wheels, providing a subtle but elegant contrast to the mirror-polished aluminium surface; a touch that the client compared to the colourful lining of their favourite bespoke jacket.

The exterior is finished with a subtle but highly complex treatment to the carbon fibre used to construct the lower sections of the motor car. The result of two years of development, the marque’s craftspeople created a chevron pattern book-matched along two axes, which adds geometric decoration to Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail’s technical exterior surfaces. The carbon fibre itself is finished with a fine layer of lacquer tinted with Amethyst pigment, which in most lights reads as body colour. This intricate and technically demanding detail is hidden until the motor car is closely scrutinised, speaking of the client’s passion for subtlety and restraint.

DEPTH OF DETAIL

The client’s trust in Rolls-Royce’s artisans to execute the most challenging flourishes is expressed in the Pantheon grille treatment. The exterior grille surround and ‘kinked’ vane pieces are partially hand-brushed and partially hand-polished with a precise line demarking each finish – a surface treatment that had never been attempted on this scale before. The concept was suggested by the commissioning client’s son, a collector of haute horlogerie who was inspired by the brushed hands of an historically significant piece in his archive. Achieving the perfect uniformity in the finishes, as well as the sharpness of contrast between the finish types, was the result of more than 50 hours of collective work.

Beneath this extraordinary expression of contemporary craftsmanship is an intricate lower front air intake. This highly detailed piece was digitally designed and ‘printed’ in a lightweight composite and incorporates 202 hand-polished stainless-steel ingots, each of which has been painstakingly painted by hand in the Globe Amaranth hue.

The front end is resolved with a Spirit of Ecstasy figurine surrounded by amethyst cabochons. The cabochon treatment, whereby a gemstone is shaped and polished into a rounded form rather than faceted, was requested by the client in order to avoid a conspicuous sparkle. This subtle detail recalls the client’s early enterprise in the precious gemstone business.

CELEBRATION OF MATERIALS

Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail celebrates the materials and crafts personally curated by the commissioning client and his family. The material selection began with a sample of wood offered by the client – a stunning Calamander Light open-pore wood, which has a complex texture and long bands of colour.

The colours of the client’s initial wood sample served as the inspiration for the motor car’s leather treatment – the gently contrasting leather, in the aptly named Sand Dunes hue, was developed to perfectly match the caramel strands on the Calamander Light open-pore wood. Following this, wood specialists were challenged to source material with bands in precisely the same colour as the leather, a task that took more than six months to resolve, requiring specialists to review more than 100 logs before the perfect piece was discovered.

The primary leather hue, named Amethyst, complements the exterior surface and is finished with a subtle pearlescent lacquer, reminiscent of the brilliance of the precious gemstone after which the motor car is named.

For Amethyst Droptail, Rolls-Royce has created the most extensive wooden surface area in its history, with the material extending from the motor car’s fascia and doors to the shawl panel, cantilevered ‘plinth’ centre armrest and onto the aft deck.

In applying wood to the aerodynamically functional aft deck, the marque’s aerodynamicists and wood specialists worked closely together to experiment with not just the form of the panel, but with different wood-grain textures and the precise angle of the placement of the veneer itself. The result is both an extraordinarily artistic piece and the world’s only ‘raw’ wooden surface that produces downforce on a new roadgoing motor car.

A completely new veneering process was developed specifically for Amethyst Droptail, with each veneer sheet placed upside down to expose the raw wood texture. Two techniques are combined: ‘bookmatching’ at 55 degrees, in which the sheets of wood mirror each other, and ‘slip-matching’, in which the sheets of wood are aligned side by side in sequence, to create a repeating grain pattern for an organic, natural effect that gives the illusion of a single piece of wood.

To ensure Amethyst Droptail can be enjoyed by its commissioning client in a variety of climates around the word, the interior wood parts were tested to meet the same rigorous endurance standards as the exterior parts. Prior to its final construction, more than 150 samples underwent over 8,000 hours of testing. This included a full sunlight exposure simulation and rainfastness assessment, as well as testing for durability in temperatures ranging from +80°C to -30°C. The deck’s protective coatings, developed specifically for Amethyst Droptail, have been granted their own patent.

To complete the interior treatment, the client requested an elegant addition: the adornment of the rotary dials with rare amethyst gems. As with the gems at the base of the Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, they too are shaped in a convex cabochon style rather than faceted. The stunning depth and clarity of each stone is of a standard usually reserved for fine jewellery. Each stone was examined by experts within the client’s organisation before they were personally and individually approved by the client. The interior suite is resolved with woven leather floormats – a subtle tribute to the traditional weaving crafts found for centuries in the souks of the client’s original home region.

BESPOKE, ELEVATED

A removable hard top has been designed to give Rolls-Royce Droptail two distinct characters: without its roof, Droptail is a lithe, open-top roadster; with the roof installed, it is a formidable and dramatic coupé.

The roof incorporates electrochromic glass that allows the surface to change colour and transparency instantly. The client challenged Coachbuild designers to develop a glass that would alter its hue in order to correspond with the colourway of Amethyst Droptail. In response, the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective developed a unique chameleon effect for its electrochromic glass: when deactivated, it is completely opaque and has a subtle purple tint, mirroring the motor car’s Amethyst exterior finish. Once the glass is activated at the touch of a button, it becomes translucent with a hue that matches the Sand Dunes leather colour used in the interior suite. The realisation of this extraordinary flourish required specialists to experiment with 60 iterations of glass colouring before a perfect match was found.

A SINGULAR TIMEPIECE

Rolls-Royce Amethyst Droptail fascia is graced with a unique timepiece commissioned by the client from the renowned Swiss haute horlogerie maison, Vacheron Constantin. Handmade in Geneva, the piece, named ‘Les Cabinotiers Armillary Tourbillon,’ has an intricate hand-wound movement and is securely housed in a specially designed holder, enabling it to be removed and stored separately from the motor car if desired. The timepiece features a bi-retrograde display with instantaneous return of the hours and minutes as well as a bi-axial tourbillon.

Vacheron Constantin and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars worked closely together to ensure the forms, materials and colours of the timepiece were in perfect harmony within the motor car. The instrument dials combine amethyst-coloured inserts with the partially brushed and polished finish of the timepiece’s hands. The timepiece is affixed to a white-gold baseplate with a hand-crafted sunburst guilloché pattern.

AMETHYST DROPTAIL: A PERSONAL PLACE IN ROLLS-ROYCE HISTORY

This extraordinary expression of Rolls-Royce Droptail is a testament to the commissioning client’s passion for quiet detail, playfully but meticulously incorporated into one of the most historically significant Rolls-Royces ever built. It also represents the marque’s capabilities, not just in realising such a clear vision, but in artfully harmonising heritage, modernity and soul.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rolls-Royce and © Vacheron Constantin
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To celebrate the 30th anniversary of its iconic Twingo, Renault has partnered with internationally renowned designer and contemporary artist Sabine Marcelis to reimagine this iconic model, unveiling an artistic vision of the original Twingo launched in 1993.

Sabine Marcelis, the latest winner of the ELLE DECO International Designer of the Year Award, has established her as one of the world’s most influential designers. Her impressive art installations have captivated international audiences, from design and art lovers at Art Basel to visitors to museums around the world.

Renault has commissioned Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis, that is known for her work with pure, elegant forms, her particular affinity with light, and her mastery of technologies that push the limits of what’s possible when it comes to making better use of materials, to revisit the iconic Twingo. The project began with a detailed exploration of the Twingo, returning to its most recognizable features: its iconic single-volume silhouette, its characteristic headlights, its modular interior with its incredible sense of space and luminosity.

This was followed by meticulous work on the play of transparency and the interplay between color and materials. The result is striking: a Twingo like no other, yet faithful to the very essence of the iconic model, 30 years after its creation.

«The collaboration with Renault began with an invitation to rethink Twingo as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations. It was a fantastic opportunity, and a new field of exploration for me, as I’d never designed a car before. Working on such an iconic and popular car was a real challenge, especially given the scale of the project. It was an opportunity to create something truly innovative and memorable,» says Sabine Marcelis.

This collaboration between Renault and Sabine Marcelis is a true testimony to the values of artistic and creative freedom. Renault’s commitment to electric cars – the concept has been retrofitted with an electric motor – and Sabine Marcelis’ innovative approach to materials and design create the perfect synergy to celebrate the anniversary of the iconic Twingo, revealing the car in a whole new light. Unique and unexpected, this concept is the meeting of the emblematic Twingo and the designer’s artistic vision, offering a refined reinterpretation of the vehicle.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Renault
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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars unveils Phantom Syntopia, an intricate, Haute Couture-inspired masterpiece created in collaboration with renowned Dutch fashion designer and Haute Couturière Iris van Herpen. Based on Phantom Extended – the ultimate blank canvas for personalisation – it is the most technically complex commission ever undertaken by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective. Now, after four years of continuous development, this extraordinary and unique creation is complete; it will soon take its place in the private collection of discerning patrons of the brand.

Phantom Syntopia takes its name from Iris van Herpen’s landmark 2018 collection, designed on the principles of biomimicry in which art is inspired by patterns and shapes found in nature. Like the collection, which comprises a series of highly sculptural garments brought to life through movement, Phantom Syntopia seeks to represent the elusive, ethereal beauty of fluid motion in solid materials through its ‘Weaving Water’ theme.

«For this special collaboration I was inspired by the concept of ‘Weaving Water’ and transformed the sense of being in movement into an immersive experience of fluidity inside the Phantom. I wanted this to become a state-of-the-art experience being overwhelmed by the forces of nature. The powerful movement of the Phantom is woven into the shifting three-dimensional waves inside the car to embody the ingenuity of nature.

When I met the Bespoke Collective, I discovered that the world of Rolls-Royce is very similar to Haute Couture. Every garment I create is a one-off, tailor-made to my clients’ individual measurements, just like every Rolls-Royce. My clients come to our atelier in Amsterdam for fittings, just as Rolls-Royce clients are invited to Goodwood throughout the design and craft process. On many levels, this collaboration was a natural symbiosis.»
Iris van Herpen

EXTERIOR COACHWORK: IRIDESCENT MAGNETISM
To create the stunning, shimmering exterior, the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective developed a one-off Liquid Noir paint. Iridescent in sunlight, it reveals Purple, Blue, Magenta and Gold undertones when viewed at different angles. To achieve this effect, the marque’s darkest solid-black paint is overlaid with a finish incorporating a mirror-like pigment, selected for its colour-shifting properties. To add a subtle, elegant shimmer, the team developed a brand-new technique for applying pigment to the clearcoat – a process that took several months, including over 3,000 hours of testing and validation alone.
On closer inspection, the motor car’s bonnet is seen to feature a subtle rendering of the Weaving Water motif that appears throughout the interior, produced by carefully redistributing the pigment during the finishing process.

INTERIOR SUITE: THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART
Phantom Syntopia’s interior suite incorporates magnificent features which were co-created in a creative and technical meeting of minds by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective and Iris van Herpen. Some interior elements were handcrafted at the Home of Rolls-Royce by the company’s leading craftspeople working alongside members of Iris van Herpen’s team, while others were created in Iris van Herpen’s Amsterdam atelier, alongside her Haute Couture garments.

On opening the magnificent coach doors, the eye is immediately drawn to the Weaving Water Starlight Headliner, the most technically challenging version of this signature Rolls-Royce feature ever produced. It was crafted using a single sheet of flawless leather, selected from over 1,000 hides. Precise symmetrical cuts reveal a silver ‘liquid metal’ texture made from woven nylon fabric underneath, used in Iris van Herpen’s ‘Embossed Sounds’ collection, giving the Headliner a three-dimensional appearance. It is finished with 162 delicate petals made of glass organza, applied by members of Iris van Herpen’s Couture team who travelled to Goodwood to undertake the work – a process that took nearly 300 hours. In addition, 187 of the 995 sparkling fiberoptic ‘stars’ were individually placed by hand alongside the artwork; illuminating sequentially, starting from the rear and moving to the front, they create a feeling of movement. In total, the entire Headliner alone involved almost 700 collective hours of work.

The ‘Weaving Water’ theme continues throughout the unique artwork in the Gallery, which runs the width of the Phantom’s fascia. Combining traditional Haute Couture techniques and innovative visual forms, this highly expressive work includes a further 85 petals, which were also attached by hand by Iris van Herpen’s team working at Goodwood, representing almost 60 hours’ painstaking work.

The design to be found on the picnic tables and the passenger panel just below the Gallery mirrors the Weaving Water artwork on the bonnet. The motif was achieved by combining multiple coats of paint and lacquer containing different quantities of glass particles. First, the surfaces were covered with a black paint mixed with 0.9% glass particles. Then the artisans applied the Weaving Water motif with a clear coat mixed with 1.4% of shimmer – an extraordinarily complex process that took over three weeks to complete. Before commencing the work, the Exterior Surface Centre team had spent four months perfecting the formula, running nine trials before identifying the ideal proportion of glass particles: across the entire car, precisely one tablespoon has been used.

NEXT CHAPTER IN TEXTILE EXPLORATION
Phantom Syntopia continues the Bespoke Collective’s exploration of textiles. In homage to Rolls-Royce’s heritage, this unique motor car recalls an era where a driver’s seat was trimmed in hardwearing leather and the rear compartment in luxurious, inviting fabrics. The front seats of Phantom Syntopia are finished in Magic Grey leather, distinguished by its lustrous finish. The rear seats are upholstered with a specially created silk-blend fabric, featuring a distinctive pattern which recalls the patterns cast by light reflecting on water at night.
The seats are quilted with a Weaving Water motif, inspired by a tufting technique often employed in fine furniture-making in which embroidery is applied to the reverse side of the textile. This creates a three-dimensional depth while achieving a smooth, seamless, uninterrupted surface.

AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE: STIMULATING ALL SENSES
In keeping with the highly innovative approach taken with Phantom Syntopia, it is the first Rolls-Royce motor car to incorporate a Bespoke scent, creating a truly immersive expression of luxury. It was developed by an expert perfumer – now affectionately known as ‘the Nose of the Bespoke Collective’ – in close collaboration with the clients. Designed to create a lasting memory, the fragrance is subtle and perfectly complements other aromas arising from the materials used in the car.

The Bespoke fragrance expert tested numerous combinations before settling on the perfect blend. The core scent is cedarwood and as part of this project’s constant quest for the ultimate in personalisation, the cedarwood used was carefully sourced specially from the clients’ home region. The scent’s base combines powdery notes of Iris, obtained using a fluid extraction technology, with added hints of leather, finally blended with rose from Patagonia and a mild lemon.
The specially-developed scent-releasing mechanism is housed within the headrests. This patented technology, which incorporates innovative materials originally used in the field of medicine, ensures the fragrance is released in suitably delicate doses for a long-lasting, sophisticated sensory experience. The development process took more than two years, including rigorous testing in both very hot and very cold temperatures, to ensure the scent maintains its distinctive profile in all conditions.

PINNACLE LUXURY MEETS HAUTE COUTURE
For a truly Haute Couture experience, Iris van Herpen will design a one-off garment especially for the clients of this transformative commission. The sculptural design of the dress echoes the Weaving Water theme explored in Phantom Syntopia’s Starlight Headliner, featuring an elegant application of the ‘liquid metal’ fabric and the glass organza petals, laser-cut and hand-stitched in a pattern resembling undulating waves. This exquisite garment, reflective of Iris van Herpen’s newly developed Haute Couture techniques, is expected to take around six months of work, including pattern development, crafting and applying the petals, embroidery, fitting and tailoring.

Phantom Syntopia will take its place in the clients’ private collection in May. As a true one-of-one commission, Rolls-Royce has undertaken that it will never be replicated.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rolls-Royce and © Iris van Herpen
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The House of Rolls-Royce reveals «Cullinan – Inspired by Fashion», comprised of two prêt-à-porter collections– the bold Re‑Belle and striking Fu-Shion. These exquisite «objects of desire» by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective take inspiration from vibrant hues and textures seen in the world of high fashion, reflecting the eclectic tastes and lifestyle of the luxury clientele, like works of art in their own right.

«Cullinan – Inspired by Fashion» brings out the multifarious character of the luxury SUV and its Black Badge alter ego.  To offer a glimpse into infinite Bespoke possibilities, the designers created eight distinctive personalities. Each collection includes two interior colourways defined by iconic accent colours: Lime Green or Peony Pink for Re-Belle and Mandarin or Forge Yellow for Fu‑Shion. Each interior style can be paired with one of two carefully selected exterior looks – either eye-catching or more discrete and understated.

«Cullinan – Inspired by Fashion» Re-Belle is the ultimate statement piece, reflecting contemporary colour blocking trends with its vivid hues and playful combination of textures. A splash of colour in the interior with Peony Pink or Lime Green accents provides an irresistible contrast to the Arctic White or Cashmere Grey leather trim. The fascia is finished with extraordinarily detailed handwoven stainless-steel fabric, evocative of metallic apparel seen on this year’s catwalks. Delicate thread with a diameter as fine as 0.45 mm creates an intricate texture, which catches the light beautifully as the vehicle is in motion. «Cullinan – Inspired by Fashion» Re-Belle is offered in Lime Green, Gunmetal, Wildberry or Arctic White exterior colours, available depending on the selected interior.

Unleashing the daring Black Badge personality, «Cullinan – Inspired by Fashion» Fu-Shion reinterprets high fashion with a utilitarian edge. Reminiscent of the S/S 2023 prêt‑à-porter collections, embellished with functional elements evocative of street wear, Fu‑Shion showcases Cullinan’s personality – the pinnacle of luxury, effortless everywhere. For Fu-Shion, designers created two interior styles: an eye-catching combination of Military Green, Navy Blue and Mandarin or a blend of Arctic White and Cashmere Grey leather with Forge Yellow accents. Depending on the interior palette, «Cullinan – Inspired by Fashion» Fu-Shion can be commissioned in one of four exterior colours: Military Green, Burnout Grey, Forge Yellow or Tempest Grey.

For «Cullinan – Inspired by Fashion», designers created the all-new Starlight Tailgate – a stunning feature which extends the magical, celestial ambience of the Starlight Headliner beyond the interior of the motor car. This Bespoke feature, which takes over 22 hours to manufacture, includes 192 softly illuminated stars incorporated into the perforated leather. The Starlight Tailgate is complemented by the Viewing Suite, creating a perfect setting to enjoy the enchanting beauty of a starry night, anywhere and everywhere.

A further innovation is to be found on the lower part of the fascia, which introduces a coloured Piano veneer for the first time: Cashmere Grey for Re‑Belle and Navy Blue for Fu-Shion. This glossy finish acts as a unifying element, bringing yet more depth to the interior.

For travel in ultimate style, «Cullinan – Inspired by Fashion» is available with matching luggage sets, designed to complement each of the four interior themes. The collection comprises of the 24hr Weekender, 48hr Weekender, Holdall, Tote Bag and Organiser Pouch, offered individually or as a five-piece set.

I am so in love …

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rolls-Royce
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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Dubai and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Abu Dhabi, are inspiring greatness at its best by collaborating with the Dubai-based world-renowned contemporary British artist Sacha Jafri for the inception of ‘The Six Elements’ Phantom.

Jafri is known for creating the world’s largest painting on canvas, Journey of Humanity (see above) over seven months during the COVID-19 pandemic in Dubai. With his work having been shown in the most prominent Art Institutions across the globe. The Dubai-based artist is described as ‘The Pioneer of Magical Realism’ and this century’s true zeitgeist, bringing painting with raw emotion back to the forefront of the art world. Sacha’s work acts as an electric shock to the senses, reminding us of the magic in the mundane and awakening the child within us all. His recent paintings celebrate the life’s achievements of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, President Barack Obama, HE Nelson Mandela, David Beckham and Sir Alex Ferguson. Sacha Jafri is widely regarded as one of the world’s most celebrated living artists and has raised more than $140 million for charities across the world from the sale of his art.

Coming back to this beautiful collaboration. These six one-of-one Rolls-Royce Phantom Series II motor cars will each feature a unique, painted Sacha Jafri Gallery, inspired by the one of the five elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Air, with Humanity as the ‘sixth element’. The project has the expressed aim of raising $1 million for charity, with associations to be announced later this year. The chosen beneficiaries will be Humanity-centric, spanning three sectors: Education, Health, and Sustainability.

Selected for his inimitable vision, style and use of colours, Jafri is crafting a unique Gallery for each Phantom Series II, themed around the Six Elements. The principle of adding Humanity as an element builds on the ethos of the British artist’s works around the five traditional elements. The underlying message is the need to reintroduce a sense of humanity to the world and to find balance within ourselves.

For Sacha Jafri, each of the elements evokes different emotions, spirit, energy and purpose. Fire represents passion and belief. Fire is balanced by earth, which represents grounding and roots. Air is the essence of life, enabling us to breathe. Wind enhances our feelings of freedom, whilst Water, supports our lyricism and fluidity. Humanity brings love, embrace, and the linking of souls.

«The six Rolls-Royce Phantoms will embody the emotion of each elemental force. The artistic journey begins and ends with emotion and intention, fuelling my inspiration to create the colour palette of the ‘Six Elements’. Earth, Fire, Wind, Water and Air are enhanced by the addition of a ‘new element’, Humanity – the very essence of life itself.
Rolls-Royce is a brand of intention, excellence, power, detail and passion – a brand that has been on a similar journey to my own. It has set new levels of achievement, with pioneering accolades yet to be surpassed. By embracing empathy, we are able to reconnect the spirit of our world, in connection with our Elements and the souls of not only the individual, but of the very idea of universal consciousness.
We are embarking on a journey that aims to continuously fulfil those values, keeping our intentions pure and driven, eternally. This commission is indicative of these principles, not only incorporating art for the sake of aesthetic inspiration, but also a nurturing of the soul, an uplifting of the spirit, and the embodiment of a true charitable cause.»
Sacha Jafri, Artist

The Rolls-Royce Phantom ‘The Six Elements’ motor cars will also feature a unique digital element. The marque is simultaneously launching «The Rolls-Royce That Keeps on Giving» NFT initiative, which includes six individual flythrough animations.

Each time any of the six NFTs are traded, a royalty of 20% will be donated to the chosen charity. The six distinct one-off NFTs are linked to each of the six Phantoms, however, owners can sell their NFT separately if they choose to do so. These NFTs will be uniquely embedded within the glove compartment of each Phantom Series II, enabling each of the six owners to view their NFT experience whilst sat within their car.

The eighth generation of Phantom was unveiled in 2017. When creating this new expression, Phantom Series II, Rolls-Royce designers and engineers were guided by the requests of clients, who implored Rolls-Royce not to make any major changes to an already iconic motor car. In answer to these client demands, only the lightest of design touches, embellishments, and adaptations have been incorporated. Indeed, Phantom Series II is not about what should be changed, but in fact, what should be preserved and protected.

Utterly unique to Phantom, the marque offers an extraordinary art-within-art canvas: The Gallery. Running the entire length of the fascia and conceptualised to house Bespoke creations with an uninterrupted glass enclosure. In this instance, these ‘Six Elements’ Phantom Series II motor cars were designed at the Home of Rolls-Royce around Jafri’s hand-painted galleries.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rolls-Royce, © Sacha Jafri and via Humanity Inspired
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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Singapore unveils ‘one of one’ Phantom Orchid created by the marque’s Bespoke Collective at Goodwood in collaboration with artist Helen Amy Murray. It took two years to create this outstanding masterpiece.

The orchid was selected as an inspirational theme for resilience, beauty and strength. Orchids have long been a focal point for art through the ages, but this is the first time they have been chosen for a Rolls-Royce commission. The orchid is the most coveted of ornamental plants: elegant, exotic, graceful yet hardy.

«Phantom Extended, our pinnacle motor car, was chosen to be the ‘blank canvas’ for this commission,» said Michael Bryden, Lead Designer, Rolls-Royce Bespoke. «Our concept envisaged a balanced yet progressive design, which echoes the values of the Singapore region. The orchid is seen in many facets of Asian life, a reminder that the resilient adapt and thrive regardless of the evolving environment. Phantom is the only motor car in the world to feature the Gallery, a space that enables one to exhibit art, sculptures, or objects of self-expression in the sanctuary of Phantom’s interior. For Phantom Orchid, we collaborated with award-winning artist Helen Amy Murray to create a unique, hand-sculpted silk artwork. The delicate materials and techniques that were deployed in the creation of this piece are protected behind an application of pure glass, that runs uninterrupted across the fascia of Phantom. Finished in an elegant blend of Grace White, Havana and Smoke Grey with Dark Olive stitching, the interior evokes the calm and serene nature which is inherent to the character of Phantom.»

Helen Amy Murray and her team have undertaken pioneering bespoke work with Phantom’s Gallery – a wholly contemporary and luxury reinterpretation of a motor car’s fascia and instrument panel area.

Helen was inspired by several kinds of orchids, including the Singapore Orchid, spending over 200 hours relentlessly refining her design and artwork with a team of six.

«I started by focusing on the actual orchids, which promptly led me to realise that colour was key to capturing the essence of the species. I have created artworks featuring orchids in the past, but my idea for the Gallery was to create something in realistic full colour, which pushed us to refine our digital printing skills,» explains UK-based artist and textile designer Helen Amy Murray, adding that her work is usually more neutral and tone-on-tone: «This more recent return to colour was exciting!»

Murray started by illustrating the design by hand before creating a digital version that she could print directly onto the silk crepe satin. The final part of the process involved a meticulous hand-sculpting of the flowers, releasing layers of fabric to create a 3D effect.

ORCHID SANCTUARY
Within the interior, Rolls-Royce Bespoke Designer Yohan Benchetrit applied his talent to the Bespoke orchid-inspired Picnic Table Inlays in the rear of the suite which, when opened, gracefully reveal a beautiful layer of orchids set into Piano Black veneer. He added Bespoke treadplates emanating a similar theme sans text to welcome the owner and passengers into the motor car. The interior suite meanwhile was furnished with elegant, natural colours which provide a soothing ambience akin to an Orchid Sanctuary.

RESPLENDENT EXTERIOR
To complete this special ‘one of one’ Phantom, a unique paint was specially created using the latest paint technology. Arctic White was chosen as the base colour, while a tint of violet was added, inspired by orchids. Combined with fine glass particles through a special process, the result is a stunning pearlescent appearance. Under bright light, the paint technology creates a shimmering effect like no other, changing as an observer views the motor car from different angles. An eye-catching single coachline on either side of Phantom incorporates a Bespoke motif, inspired by an orchid, completing the theme.

Just as it takes patience, time and dedication to grow an orchid, similarly, crafting a Rolls-Royce is a process that requires time and passion — but with an end result that more than justifies the wait.
I am driving a Rolls-Royce Wraith at the moment and can only agree. It is such an outstanding automobile. The Haute Couture of the car industry!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Rolls-Royce

«The centennial, for me, represents an opportunity to bear witness to Gucci’s eternal vitality that year after year, is reborn, it renews itself, reestablishing an unusual relationship with contemporaneity as a boy, forever young, observing the world with a powerful vision. I recognized the manifestation of its youth in its having intercepted and traversed, for one hundred years now, popular culture in all its forms. Above all, in music: the only medium, aside from fashion, more reactive to the times that mutate and mark the new, the today, the now», Alessandro Michele.

Conceived as a tribute to celebrate the centennial of the Maison, Gucci 100 manifests a deep connection between two universal languages, the language of clothing as an expression of personal identity and the language of music that recalls a collective memory.
It all begins with reflections on a number: 22,705. This is the extensive number of songs in which the word «Gucci» appears among the lyrics from 1921 to date according to Musixmatch, the Music Data Company that manages the world’s largest archive of music lyrics and that has collaborated with the Maison for this research.

«It isn’t a revisionist attempt to rummage through the past: if anything, mine is a ‘reverse’ revisionism of the House’s history, stitched back together by a piercing note, a melody, a refrain. Also because, if I were to depict Gucci, for me it would be an eternal teenager who hangs out at places where music is heard and played», continues Alessandro Michele.

Ready-to-wear and accessories feature the Gucci 100 logo or are adorned with verses from three songs chosen by Alessandro Michele from among the countless tracks that mention the brand: «Music is Mine Gucci Seats Reclined», from the song «The R» (1988) by Eric B. & Rakim, «This One’s Dedicated To All You Gucci Bag Carriers Out There It’s Called You Got Good Taste» from «You Got Good Taste» (1983) by rock band «The Cramps» and «And The Men Notice You With Your Gucci Bag Crew» from Amy Winehouse’s «Fuck Me Pumps» (2003). (© Sony Music Publishing)

The Campaign
Jazz, Psychedelic, Japanese Punk, Disco, Hip Hop, Afrobeat: these genres serve as the musical backdrops to a century-long journey in which a cast of characters moves through an evolution of sounds, harmonies, movements, tastes, and styles. Shot by Joshua Woods under the creative direction of Alessandro Michele, the campaign channels love for life itself, the pleasure of conviviality, the beauty of dance, the overwhelming energy of music, the thrill of performance. Images that manifest, through their «analogic» charm, Gucci’s desire to express optimism and the pleasure of getting dressed as a shared moment of joy and amusement.

The campaign’s finale reveals a scale model of the legendary «Seville by Gucci» Cadillac, a paradigmatic expression of the late ‘70s flair and a testament to the Maison’s forward thinking. Originally produced in a very limited edition starting in 1978, Gucci has collaborated with Mattel Creations to create its first official collectible with Hot Wheels, a 1:64th scale replica of the ’82 model of the Cadillac in a limited edition of 5,000 pieces worldwide.

Blending fashion and music – love it!

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Gucci #Gucci100
Campaign credits: Creative Director: Alessandro Michele – Art Director: Christopher Simmonds – Photographer & Director: Joshua Woods – Make up: Diane Kendal – Hair: Paul Hanlon

I absolutely love cars. Being German, I also adore driving fast. Due to the recent hail storm, my beloved car got pretty destroyed and therefore I am looking for a new one. What is important to me? I love luxury and racing – two things MASERATI is synonymous with. My focus is on power: the experience should be unforgettable on a daily basis, with driving pleasure and performance at the heart. However, thinking about the environment and future, electric power should also be considered.

Let’s get started. A drive is worth a thousand words so I was very curious to test drive the MASERATI Ghibli L4 MHEV 2WD in Grigio Maratea, a petrol mild-hybrid version, that is the very first MASERATI in history to include an electric power source of any kind.

My journey was a fascinating one and I will be given you a personal insight how I felt limitless among expansive landscapes at the wheel of the MASERATI. This car is designed to deliver an awe-inspiring driving experience. Sculpted forms and fluid volumes are connected by clean lines to form a unique style that is unmistakably for the Italian car manufacturer.

For starters, the MASERATI Ghibli was launched in 2013 and got a minor refresh for 2021, mostly on the inside, with a new centre dash. The Hybrid identifiers on the outside are restricted to a discreet, blue line on the badging and a revised front grille. The brakes are also painted blue.

That «small size» (compared to other MASERATIS) offers more nimble handling and easy parking in the streets of Switzerland.

Inside, the Ghibli gives you a wealth of premium features such as power-adjustable front seats that can be both heated and ventilated. Hand-stitched details, premium leather upholstery, and shiny inlays come together to give you a true sense of opulence, and the four-door setup offers comfortable seating for four when you want to bring a few friends along for the ride.

Sporty, sophisticated and dynamic. I truly enjoyed the driving experience and I will definitely consider this high-end Italian luxury sports car for my next set of wheels.

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Maserati | Rian Davidson 
DISCLOSURE: This post is sponsored.
#Maserati #MaseratiGhibliHybrid #PerformanceCharged