Panthere de Cartier Ring

I have always been a sucker for beautiful, iconic and classic jewelry craftsmanship, as well as new and eye-catching creations, yet it seems that the two are rarely synergystically executed in products that bear the characteristics of both. Leave it to the legendary house of Cartier to blend the two into one divine and iconic piece. Bearing the classic "Panthere" form that has become synonymous with the design house, Cartier has crafted a ring as awe-inspiring and regal as the namesake feline. Drawing from a ring design first introduced by Cartier back in 1914, this ring combines strong angular lines, coupled with the addition of peridot and expertly applied enamel details, and has recently garnered a renewed attention since being featuring in Vogue in 2005, and gracing the delicate fingers of Kristen Stewart for a Vanity Fair shoot. The “feline motif is a tribute to devastating seduction, mysterious beauty and untamed character” states the company, adding to the already enticing aura of the piece, and giving even more reasons for the woman with an extra $20,300 burning a hole in her Herrera pockets to pick one up on her next trip down Fifth.

Urban Battlefield - Combat Inspired Footwear With an Urban Twist

With the city heating up, and the slow (and wet) progression into the summer months now upon us, one of my favorite recent trends of the season is making it's mark on the fashion battleground, that being combat inspired boots with shorts. This trend has been seen pacing the catwalks of Givenchy, Rick Owens, Damir Doma, Kris Van Assche, Balmain, Maison Martin Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester, and Dior Homme, yet remains fresh and current due to the creative interpretations offered by each design house. Whether offered in military form (Balmain), refined and urban form (Demeulemeester), avant garde form (Doma), or classic chic with a twist (Givenchy), these boots can be dressed up or down, and paired with everything from a pair of Lanvin shorts, Oak jersey cutoffs, black skinny jeans, or even one of Tisci's kilts, a la Marc Jacobs. I have included some of my favorites, yet with so many to new options introduced this past season as well as being introduced in the upcoming seasons, it will truly be a battle to pick just one (or three).

Left to Right

Ann Demeulemeester $816.00 - Givenchy $442.00 - Damir Doma $860.00 - Balmain $1290.00 - Maison Martin Margiela $601.00

-Stephen Fisher-

All shoes featured can be found at www.LUISAVIAROMA.com

(Limited sizes available)

Moto à la Mode

Italian hand-stitched leather, diamond quilting, subtle sculpting, and a stacked heel. These are not style terms usually associated with mainstream motorcycle accessories, yet Ralph Lauren has managed to do so with the creation of the Caruthers motorcycle boot. The designer best known for his classic and refined lifestyle and clothing empire has now taken it one step further, and created a boot that is equally at home on the open road as well as the city street. With equestrian inspired details such as a sculpted calf, stacked leather heel, hand-finished buckle details, and quilted shin plates, the boot calls to mind the traditional leather shinguards worn by polo players, yet melds these visual and functional qualities into a product geared toward a rider of a different type with the addition of a reinforced leather plate to resist the abrasion of countless stylish upshifts. Priced at $1200, and embodying the refined and rugged spirit of the Ralph Lauren brand, these boots are sure to garner attention both on the road as well as off, and remain a versatile and stylish staple for years to come.

-Stephen Fisher-