Chic is in the details and if there’s one thing that Williams Handmade Luggage, some of the most luxurious luggage on the planet, gets absolutely right, it’s the details.  Moreover, unique handcrafted pieces from Williams Handmade Luggage revisit a time when travel and style were not exclusive but were instead wholly intertwined.

Translated to meet the needs of the modern traveler, a piece of luggage produced by Sarah Williams, the award-winning designer behind the Williams Handmade brand, doesn’t merely make a fashion statement, it celebrates practicality with an artful flourish. By combining traditional skills and techniques, timeless designs, the finest English Bridle leather along with materials and fittings sourced from Britain, each piece from the Williams proudly bears the stamp ‘British Handmade’.

Bottom line: Just because travel has become nearly devoid of glamour, you don’t have to give in to the trend. We say bring back the glam by gifting yourself or someone you love with these truly one of a kind pieces and turning your destined terminal into a runway of a different order.

www.williamshandmade.com

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Scarves, bags, briefcases, chaussures…here are my picks for the best accessories that came down the runway during the Spring/Summer 2015 menswear collections. Though there were few revelations, there was a fair amount of fabulous.

Boots -Moncler Gamme Bleu S/S 2015

Satchel - Giorgio Armani S/S 2015

Lace-up Sandals - Balmain

Tote + Scarf - Bally S/S 2015

Backpack - Fendi S/S 2015

Sandals - Cerruti S/S 2015

Tote - Versace S/S 2015

Duffel Bag - Emporio Armani S/S 2015

Sandals - Vivienne Westwood S/S 2015

Tote - Hardy Amies S/S 2015

Holdall + Chaussures - Emporio Armani S/S 2015

Travel Tote - Giorgio Armani S/S 2015

Briefcase - Dunhill S/S 2015

Boots + Backpack - Alexander Wang S/S 2015

Sandal - KTZ S/S 2015

Sandals by KTZ

Holdall - Dunhill S/S 2015

Boots -Moncler Gamme Bleu S/S 2015

Large Duffel - Dunhill S/S 2015

Boots - Yohji Yamamoto S/S 2015

Backpack -Trussardi S/S 2015

Holdall - Corneliani S/S 2015

Tote - Hermes S/S 2015

Tote - Marc Jacobs S/S 2015

Large Satchel + Scarf - Loewe S/S 2015

Chaussures - Y-3 S/S 2015

Satchel - Jil Sander S/S 2015

Backpack - Loewe S/S 2015

Bags by Loewe

Duffel Bag - Loewe S/S 2015

Bags by Loewe

Holdall - Louis Vuitton S/S 2015

Satchel - Louis Vuitton S/S 2015

Chaussures + Duffel -Moncler Gamme Bleu S/S 2015

Tote - Louis Vuitton S/S 2015

Monogram Tote - Louis Vuitton S/S 2015

Chaussures - Thom Browne S/S 2015

Case - Louis Vuitton S/S 2015

Case - Louis Vuitton S/S 2015

Scarf - Massimo Piombo S/S 2015

Tote - Tod's S/S 2015

Duffel Bag - Philipp Plein S/S 2015

Tote - Ports 1961 S/S 2015

Backpack - Roberto Cavalli S/S 2015

Keepall - Roberto Cavalli S/S 2015

Holdall - Salvatore Ferragamo S/S 2015

Carryall - Salvatore Ferragamo S/S 2015

Sandals - Salvatore Ferragamo S/S 2015

(Scroll over photo to see designer)

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I was first introduced to work of Marc Marmel by Gay L. Harwin, who is in addition to being one of the most influential attorneys in Los Angeles, also one of the chicest women I know. Over lunch one day, I took a particular liking to her luxuriously worn Herman bag and asked about its provenance which led to the revelation that the bag had been designed by Marc Marmel, a name that up until that point I had no familiarity with whatsoever. Subsequent to that conversation, Mme Harwin introduced me to the designer himself and a new love affair was born.

Sitting in Marmel’s unassuming showroom in Los Angeles on my first visit after that fortuitous introduction, I had the opportunity to view the designer’s collection in full, an experience which in conjunction with Marmel’s detailed description of the loving care that goes into the production of each bag, only cemented my passion for all things Marc Marmel.

Fittingly, the inspiration for the former CAA agent turned designer’s first collection was born on a trip to the French Riviera where Marmel realized that there was a niche for a line of luggage that hearkened back to the golden era of travel, where style extended beyond the mere head to toe but also to the bags with which one traveled. From that flash of inspiration, Marmel created a line of six signature bags, each featuring the cracked Italian calfskin leather and vibrant patterned, hand-designed silk brocade linings that would become his hallmark. Bergdorf Goodman, Harrod’s and Maxfield’s, among others, signed on to carry the line, celebrities including Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, Charlize Theron, Cameron Diazand David Beckham snapped up the collection and Marmel was named Accessories Designer of the Year by Fashion Group International, proving that his initial instincts about there being a certain longing for the style of a bygone era could not have been more on point.

I caught up with Marmel post his showing in Paris earlier this year to find out what new treats he had in store for his collection which has grown substantially since its inception and discovered that there is more than a little for stylish travelers to get excited about. First up, there’s the new black ‘Moneybag’, a substantial day-bag carryall that was inspired by an actual Wells Fargo Bank money bag and designed with the modern man in mind. It’s the ideal thing for an overnight trip.

“I like the idea of turning at utilitarian bag into something more elegant.”Marmel explained of his creation at my request. “[The Moneybag is very functional… [and]… it goes with my style of vintage inspired pieces.” Ditto for the newish Dopp Kit bag, a classic take on a men’s valet bag, which boasts a thoroughly modern zip out plastic bottom and a classic design borrowed from a favorite piece that belonged to Marmel’s grandfather, which was subsequently lost and reborn in the current collection almost out of sheer necessity.

For the ladies, there’s a new Cigar Duffle and a mini-version of the popular Jaxx bag, both of which are perfectly elegant travel accoutrements. Meanwhile for the home, Marmel has designed picture frames and photo albums reminiscent of old Englsh manors and libraries, rightly pointing out that “the look [of his collection] lends itself to anything home-related.”

In addition to new pieces, some old favorites like the Rolling Bag have been reimagined and improved, while more exciting designs are on the horizon. Next up is backpack inspired by the rucksacks carried by French children en route to boarding school and a new piece Marmel casually describes as “a really cool simple soft shoulder bag with a flap for women.” That said, though the shape is basic, Marmel says “the dimensions [of the new bag] are perfect. It kind of resembles a pocket. No hardware.”

A wine caddy with enough capacity for several bottles of wine and a“Deux Pad” which will accommodate both an iPad and a traditional note pad that Marmel promises will bring the “old and new worlds together” are also in the works.

No, you may not have heard the name Marc Marmel before now but from this point forward, I feel relatively confident that you will be glad that you have.

Marc Marmel is available at A’MAREE’S  through  www.farfetch.com.  Find out more about Marc Marmel at www.MarcMarmel.com.

To read this post on the Huffington Post click here.

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Nowadays, traveling for pleasure is in and of itself becoming something of a luxury, but the fact remains that a great many folks are still setting off for destinations far and wide, and when they do, they often want to do it in grand style. So beyond giving the gift of travel this holiday season, the question becomes what gift to give the luxury traveler that they might not necessarily think of for themselves.  With that in mind, I have put together a little luxury guide for the holiday season with some extraordinary gift ideas for the luxury travelers on your shopping list this year.

Koss Striva Tap In-Ear Wireless Headphones
In my experience, a little music always makes life on the road more pleasurable. In fact, I like to think of the music that I listen to while traveling as the soundtrack to my trip. This season, Koss Striva Tap In-Ear Wireless Headphones offer the best and most portable way to enjoy music both in transit and at rest. No cords, no wires and, best of all, no bulky strap over your head. With built-in Wi-Fi receivers, these in-ear headphones give you three ways to listen to music. First, anywhere you have Wi-Fi access, you can stream thousands of free, high-quality internet stations from the internet directly to your Striva Tap headphones. Next, plug the included Content Access Point (CAP) into any smartphone, tablet, or MP3 player stereo output, and it will transmit the audio right to the headphones—wirelessly.  All that, and you can still use these handy dandy creations like standard headphones by plugging them into any stereo device using the included audio cable. $500; koss.com

Taschen 4 Cities
Even the most seasoned traveler can learn a thing or two about some of the most well-travelled destinations in the world and giving the gift of Taschen’s 4 Cities series guarantees that they will. This stylish, pocket-sized box set includes 12 volumes loaded with insider tips about the best hotels, restaurants and shops that Paris, New York, London and Berlin have to offer. $59.99; taschen.com

Goyard Passport Cover
It may be true that all passports are made equal, but the same cannot be said of the way in which we carry them. A passport cover from the centuries-old house of Goyard not only says that its owner is a luxury traveler, but it reveals them to be a classically stylish one as well. $645; goyard.com

Kudocase iPad Solar Charger
It’s green and it’s useful—that alone makes it a luxury. But the fact that the Kudocase iPad Solar Charger uses photovoltaic ink technology to convert indoor and outdoor light into usable energy that can charge your iPad for up to an average of 10 days is the real selling point. That you might need one less converter for a device when you’re on the road makes this super cool innovation worth its price and then some. $129.95; kudocase.com

Jumpjet Membership
Give the gift of an Upper Club Jumpjet membership this holiday season, and the recipient of your largesse will surely beam from ear to ear. And they should, because this is a membership that certainly has its fair share of privileges. Upper Club members can make up to 10 round-trip flights per year on a private jet, with a party of up to eight people. (Additional charges apply for additional passengers.) And what’s even better, members fly to and from small, executive terminals throughout the United States, so there’s no hassle with long waits in security lines, airport traffic during busy season or pesky delays.  $550 for the membership plus a $2,350 monthly fee; jumpjet.com

For more luxe gift ideas, visit my Springpad holiday notebooks: Gifts for the Luxury Travel Enthusiast and 2012 Holiday Gift Guide: My Grown-Up Christmas Wish List.

Until next time…be well…live Wells. Happy Holidays!

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