The Porsche Experience at the Porsche Sport Driving School

Every time a Porsche pulls up next to me, my heart starts to race. Since I've been a kid, even before I knew what sexy meant, I knew Porsche was it.

I know I'm speaking to many of you right now... Imagine handling a Porsche 911 on a world class track under the guidance of a certified race car driver? Sweet!

The Porsche Sport Driving School provides owners and enthusiasts with an opportunity to discover for themselves just how extraordinary Porsche ultra-high performance products are. Driving a Porsche under the skillful guidance of some of the country's most accomplished race car drivers, you will receive on-track and classroom instruction in the art and science of high-performance driving - along with thrills that will last you a lifetime.

Are you ready for your Porsche Driving Experience? Well, you won't have to wait much longer because this Porsche package, I'm excited to announce, is a silent auction item at Doggies on the Catwalk on June 4th at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta. This exclusive driving experience is almost always booked, so it's a big deal that we have it to auction off! The winning bidder takes home the Porsche leather keychain (pictured above), a brochure and the gift card for your Porsche Driving Experience. 

[Get your] Tickets to 'Doggies' - keys to Porsche!

Adrenaline at the push of a button, goose bumps included: the functions of the optional Sport Chrono Package enable an even sportier tuning of the chassis, engine and transmission - and launch you to unprecedented sporty heights. Learn more about the high performance systems, available for the new 911 Carrera models in this video.

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ALTON LANE BRINGS BESPOKE MENSWEAR TO ATLANTA

Alton Lane

menswear

Alton Lane

Alton Lane

formal

Alton Lane

buckhead, atlanta

The premier custom men’s clothier, Alton Lane, will open its eighth retail location, a 2,000-square-foot private showroom in Buckhead, on May 25th, bringing bespoke tailoring, 3D body scanning technology and an unprecedented customer experience to the men of Atlanta.

Alton Lane offers a full collection of custom clothing for business, social events and weddings, including suits, shirts, trousers, blazers, tuxedos, overcoats, and accessories. The appointment-only showroom creates a private, comfortable shopping experience, featuring custom leather couches, a fully-stocked design bar and flat-screen TVs.

“We are extremely excited to introduce the Alton Lane experience to the men of Atlanta,” said Colin Hunter, Alton Lane’s co-founder and CEO. “We look forward to providing top-notch client care and a curated selection of some of the world’s best fabrics in an incredibly comfortable environment.”

Founded by Hunter and Peyton Jenkins in 2009, Alton Lane has showrooms around the country, including a 31 ft. custom-built mobile showroom.  They outfit a variety of clients, including top business professionals, former presidents, professional athletes, Emmy award-winning actors and Oscar-nominated directors, all of whom attribute custom fit and the personalized experience as key strengths of the brand.

Alton Lane uses 3D body scanning technology to capture 300 measurements in just 30 seconds, creating a digital avatar for each client. Once all the size specifications are confirmed, the client’s order is submitted directly to the Alton Lane’s partner factories around the world, where the clothes are hand-cut according to the client’s exact specifications and usually arrive within four to six weeks.

With a strong commitment to excellence and quality, Alton Lane offers a wide selection of premium fabrics from the most prestigious textile houses in the world, including Scabal, Dormeuil, Zegna, Vitale Barberis, Thomas Mason and Albini. Custom shirts range from $99 to $500; custom suits range from $595 to $10,000.

The Atlanta showroom, led by new showroom director Calvin Fields, will be open by appointment beginning on May 26th. Appointments are available Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m. To sign up for early access to appointments and to receive invitations to opening events, visit http://www.altonlane.com/Atlanta.

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In the Name of Gucci: A Memoir, by Patricia Gucci

"There were always so many unanswered questions about my childhood; in fact, until recently it was just one big black hole." Patricia Gucci

I have just started reading In the Name of Gucci: A Memoir, by Patricia Gucci and I wanted to tell you about it right away - it's that good! 

Patricia Gucci was the love child of Aldo Gucci and Bruna - the woman he fell in love with at just eighteen years old. It took a lifetime for all of the family secrets to be revealed as to Patricia's rightful place within the Gucci dynasty. She was born at a time when having a child out of wedlock, via an extramarital affair, was considered a crime punishable by imprisonment, hence the secrecy.

At the end of Aldo's life, it was Patricia, the product of a fifty-year love affair, who sat by her father's deathbed - the only member of the Gucci family who did.

This is a synopsis of the book:

In the Name of Gucci: A Memoir, by Patricia Gucci is the first book written by a direct descendant of Guccio Gucci—Patricia’s grandfather and the company’s founder.  It chronicles her life as the secret love child of Aldo Gucci and Bruna—the woman he fell in love with when she was just eighteen.  Woven throughout the book is the relationship between Aldo and Patricia Gucci, the first woman in the family to be elected to the Gucci board of directors and his sole universal heir.

This is a daughter's bittersweet tribute to her beloved father, traces Aldo Gucci's marketing brilliance and stamina in establishing Gucci as one of the world's most iconic brands. 

He was the first Italian to set up a luxury goods retail operation in the US, opening on Fifth Avenue in New York, Worth Avenue in Palm Beach and Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, paving the way for the 'Made in Italy' phenomenon throughout the world for countless others to follow in his footsteps.

The Gucci shop in Florence c. 1950 (Patricia Gucci)

In the Name of Gucci: A Memoir, by Patricia Gucci

Pappa, Mamma, and Me at the Villa Camiluccia, Rome, 1965 (Patricia Gucci)

Wishing my mother a happy birthday at my New York apartment, 1983 (Patricia Gucci)

Modeling swimwear at the Gucci Galleria for Town & Country magazine, 1982 (Klaus Lucka von Zelberschwecht)

Papà and me at a party in Palm Beach, 1972 (Mort Kaye Studios Palm Beach)

Mamma and me outside the house in Palm Beach, 1973 (Patricia Gucci)

Outside the suburban Hendon house in my horse-riding gear, age five (Patricia Gucci)

My grandfather Guccio, founder of the Gucci business (Patricia Gucci)

Patricia Gucci

FASHIONADO

HATSUNE MIKU - VIRTUAL JAPANESE AVATAR - WEARING GIVENCHY HAUTE COUTURE by RICCARDO TISCI in VOGUE MAGAZINE

One can definitely say Hatsune Miku's fan base is diverse. If you look her up, you'll see that trendsetters, net-music composers, pop culture enthusiasts, fashionistas and visual artists from all over the world, use Miku's character as inspiration to create various art forms. They then use the Japanese avatar to express themselves to a growing worldwide audience via online platforms and a performance art subculture, in which people wear customs to represent their favorite characters. Miku can now add Givenchy's artistic director Riccardo Tisci and the creative team at Vogue Magazine to the list of inspired Miku creators. On Monday May 11th, Vogue Magazine's 2016 Met Gala issue hit newsstands and features Hatsune Miku meeting with Riccardo at the fashion house's Paris studio for a couture-gown fitting. Here's a look at the story.

"She's so cool," says Riccardo, one of TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People for his influence on 21st century fashion. "It's insane - Japan is 20, 30 years ahead of the rest of us ... she is a travel guide to the future."

"The balance is electric," says Vogue when talking about the photo which celebrates this year's "Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology" Metropolitan Museums costume institute exhibition. "Miku, the technological pyrotechnic, and Riccardo, whose couture program knows no competition when it comes to handmade intricacies. Manus x machina, totally killing it."

"The collaboration with Vogue was a new and exciting challenge for us," says Guillaume Devigne at Crypton Future Media (the company who created Miku.) "Haute-couture is an unfamiliar territory for us, so we worked hard to design this CG composite featuring an exquisite Miku whom Vogue could identify with, while making sure we didn't aim for realism. No one wanted the photo to look like a model cosplaying as Miku. It had to be Miku wearing a Givenchy dress."

The photo was a true back and forth collaboration with the editorial staff at VogueMagazine who called on some of the best hair and make up people in the business to offer their advice to the Crypton tech team in Japan. "It was yet another occurrence of collaborative creation and another exploration to see what our curiosity uncovers," adds Guillaume. "Typical Miku stuff."

As with everything North America has experienced with Miku to date, her users continue to explore innovative possibilities and offer fresh opportunities for various people to create and share their art.

"We're expecting to see a variety of reactions from the fans and media, and we're excited to see what unfolds. We obviously hope people like it. There are so many different versions of Miku and we're really proud of this adaptation!"

Hatsune Miku is currently in North America on the first of its kind 10-city national headlining tour that began two weeks ago with sold out shows in Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas. Over 35,000 fans in North America will witness this revolutionary 3D live show and will have the chance to participate in a series of fan gathering events that celebrate the worldwide cultural movement surrounding Hatsune Miku.

Learn more about the tour and events (which include a Barnes & Noble drawing workshop and film festival) here http://mikuexpo.com/na2016/events

Hatsune Miku continues to be unique, appealing and keeps the conversation going about the intersection of art, technology and the future of pop culture. 

"This is the real millennial pop star." - Vogue

fashionado

5 Reasons to Love The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

Alice and Olivia BY stacey bendet

The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

bubbles at Alice and Olivia By stacey bendet

Alice and Olivia By stacey bendet

The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

Billy Reid

The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

Billy Reid

The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

champagne, brownies & tulips at Billy Reid...

Theory

The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

COS

The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

COS

The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

NARS

The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

NARS

The Shops Buckhead Atlanta

1. Alice and Olivia by Stacey Bendet. 2. Billy Reid. 3. Theory. 4. COS. 5. NARS. And as a bonus, 6. Kit and Ace. 

Actually, there are dozens of fabulous reasons to love The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, but last week, the listed six win! The evening started with champagne at Alice + Olivia by Stacey Bendet where we were gifted the most fragrant votive candles ever. After perusing the ss collection and chatting it up with the A+O staff we strolled to Billy Reid. At Billy Reid we had more champagne while shopping their casual chic selections. The next stop was to Theory. Yes, more champagne. We also got to try on clothes and play dress up on IG. COS offered fancy juices, that was a good thing. They are new to The Shops Buckhead and I strongly urge you to check them out. Their clothing is architectural, sculpted and very chic. At NARS, it was all about make-up, naturally. Oh and back to champagne. The evening ended with the grand opening party at Kit and Ace. The technologically stylish brand opened its doors to a massive crowd. They are sure to be a brand fave on the property.

So, what was all this about? The Shops Buckhead Atlanta hosted a blogger & stylist mixer and took us on a curated tour of the property. So. Much. Fun. WE sipped, shopped and did what we do best: social media. 

It's no secret I love The Shops Buckhead Atlanta. After all, they're home to my beloved Doggies on the Catwalk. But aside from that, they carry some of my favorite upscale labels with the friendliest sales people anywhere, they have the best restaurants in the city and the property itself is landscaped to perfection. What's not to love?!

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Kendra Scott Party with Interiors Atlanta's Jenna Muller for Doggies on the Catwalk

Models get creative when fundraising for Doggies on the Catwalk. Modern Luxury's Interiors Atlanta Advertising Director, Jenna Muller, who has already raised 2K for Canine Assistants is taking a fabulous step further. Jenna is hosting a party on Wednesday, May 18th at Kendra Scott, located at The Shops Around Lenox, that you don't want to miss. Shopping for yourself is a blast, but when shopping for yourself has a ripple effect and helps a whole lot of people in need, it then takes a much deeper, gratifying meaning.

Kendra Scott is known for her gorgeous jewelry collections - earrings, necklaces, bracelet and rings. They have character, make a statement and their design in undeniably Kendra Scott. Well, Kendra is also known for her generosity and she "pays it forward" with the "Kendra Gives Back Party" platform she has created to support worthy causes. 20% of sales during the Kendra Gives Back Party goes to the non-profit of your choice. In Jenna Muller's case, it will be to Canine Assistants, a non-profit organization that provides service dogs to individuals with disabilities and who is the benefitting charity for Doggies on the Catwalk.

As the founder of Doggies on the Catwalk, I want to thank Jenna for her dedication, commitment and enthusiasm. I am excited to attend the Kendra Gives Back Party - thank you for hosting. AND I'm very excited to announce that two service dogs - a golden retriever and a goldendoodle - will be at the Kendra Gives Back Party!! 

*Support Jenna Muller, Canine Assistants and Doggies on the Catwalk - RSVP: jmuller@modernluxury.com

fashionado

Nando’s Spices Up Atlanta with 10-Day Pop-Up on the Atlanta BeltLine

Nando's #PERIPERIAtl on the Atlanta Beltline

Michelle & David Crosland

David just took a Polaroid of my sister and me and was waiting for it to come out... I took one of them. Fabulous night!

Tracye Hutchins

CBS46 Atlanta

Councilman Kwanza Hall & Justin Anthony

Photos by Patrick Fagan

Nando’s PERi-PERI, the Most Famous Sauce You’ve Never Heard of, 
Now Widely Available in Atlanta and Across the Nation

Nando’s PERi-PERi, the most popular hot sauce from England to Australia, is now widely available in Atlanta, throughout Georgia and in over 10,000 of the nation’s biggest retailers including Safeway, Kroger, Fresh Market, Walmart and Publix. And to celebrate, Nando’s is throwing a 10-day pop-up party on the BeltLine to introduce Atlanta to the most famous sauce you’ve never heard of. 

From Thursday May 5 to Saturday May 14, Nando’s will transform the Atlanta Beltline Bicycle warehouse into a vibrant party space and will kick off festivities with a Braai, a traditional South African party involving friends, fire and delicious Nando’s food. In addition, Nando’s surprise-and-delight teams have been leaving artfully designed packages of PERi-PERi sauce—bearing postmarks from Nando’s home in southern Africa—on the doorknobs of 40,000 fortunate souls in Midtown, the Old Fourth Ward, Decatur and other Atlanta neighborhoods.

The Nando’s pop-up, at 151 Sampson Street on the Beltline, started with an Instagram meetup on Thursday May 5. On Friday, Justin Anthony, master chef behind Atlanta’s Cape Dutch, 10 Degrees South and Biltong Bar, manned the grills at a killer Braai and help tell the story of Nando’s.  Anthony grew up within walking distance of one of the very first Nando’s restaurants in his hometown of Johannesburg, and will share his love of PERi-PERi. “You can say I’m mildly obsessed. I grew up eating Nando’s pretty much every day,” he said.

Nando’s PERi-PERi sauce is packed with flavor because it is made with sun-ripened lemons, onion, a dash of garlic and blended with our special ingredient – the African Bird’s Eye Chilli pepper. PERi-PERi (Swahili for ‘pepper pepper’) is the heart and soul of Nando’s PERi-PERi and the secret ingredient behind our 1,200 restaurants worldwide. One bite, and you will be hooked. 

The 10-day Nando’s PERi-PERi pop-up will feature:

- The first time that Nando’s succulent PERi-PERi chicken—marinated for 24 hours and flame-grilled to perfection—will be served in Atlanta

- Local delicacies including PERi-PERi infused Old 4th Distillery Vodka and popsicles from King of Pops

-  Atlanta artists including DJ Santiago and muralist and illustrator Barry Lee

- Special Braais for local musicians, artists, foodies, fitness gurus and South African ex-pats

- Chicken and waffles brunches featuring PERi-PERi Bloody Marys 

Why Atlanta? Nando’s is heating up Atlanta to celebrate the wide availability of PERi-PERi in Atlanta supermarkets. Atlanta also has a thriving community of South African ex-pats and a long tradition of loving chicken. Put it all together and we just know Atlantans will become Nando’s fans! 

*My Nando's PERI-PERI experience was beyond amazing. It was the most delicious food ever, so flavorful and moist. I wanted more, except I was FULL! I did, however, take home a bottle of Nando's! YOU can too! CLICK on this link Nandosatl.com/saucygift  and get a friend a free bottle of Nando's (and then have them do the same for you!)

RSVP's go fast! Here is the link: https://nandosmay14.splashthat.com

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