Luxury Essentials

Imagine Lifestyles luxury rentals is thrilled to announce our recent expansion into the Chicago area.  Imagine Lifestyles is the premier source for luxury car rentals, yacht charter, aircraft charter and luxury property rentals in Miami, New York, Los Angeles and now Chicago.  Chicago is a premier world city, and we are pleased to become a part of it.

Legendary classic “supercars” such as Lamborghini and Ferrari now have another competitor to fear, and from an unlikely source-Lexus.

On October 20th, Lexus introduced its first attempt at a supercar ever, the Lexus LFA-at the Tokyo Motor Show.  The same evening, Imagine Lifestyles was invited to the exclusive North American introduction for the LFA, held in South Beach. 

While we all wish our vehicle was secretly a transformer, there are certain luxury amenities that are not so far out of reach.  Our current top 5 picks for add-on options include:

•    Ejection seats
•    Limo window front and back
•    Separate LCD flat screens For each passenger area
•    Backseat refrigerator
•    A button to instantly tint the windows to invisible while parked

Where there is luxury, there are clones.  Attempts to mimic authentic luxury brands can be obvious, and at times fairly stealth.  It is important to not only be familiar with your favorite brands, but to remember that anytime someone offers you a deal that seems too good to believe, you probably shouldn’t.  Here are ten helpful ways to spot a phony Rolex, in the event you are suckered into an exchange on the street:

When you indulge in an upscale and extravagant trip, be it business or pleasure, you secretly yearn to be spoiled.  You envision yourself soaking in the glittering lights of the city, zipping along in a luxury rental car South Beach style that would make any witness tingle with jealousy, and you expect the royal treatment-as you well should.  Your time is valuable, and we at Imagine Lifestyles have the finesse to transform every second of that time into a lavish memory and overall luxury South Beach experience.

So sit back, relax, and indulge in the fact that our South Beach chauffeur services take a more concierge angle to your experience-providing exactly what you were searching for, and motivating you with what you did not know you needed.

We are the ultimate luxury chauffer service in South Beach, with services available with each and every one of our luxury rental cars and exotic SUV rentals.  Never underestimate the lasting impression and power of a sleek Rolls Royce rental or Aston Martin convertible on your next business outing-and having a driver who is dedicated to your every need only adds to the package. 

A successful luxury South Beach vacation is just a phone call away, allow our white glove chauffeur service to show you why meetings, pickups, weddings, nights on the town and more can be a pleasure void of all stress!  We have locations in Boca, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Key West for your convenience, and are honored to be of service.
 

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

For the real and really luxurious jetsetters of the world, take Marc Jacobs advice. The American fashion designer and icon knows what luxury travel actually means. Mr. Marc Jacobs says, “I don't think there's anything practical about traveling with a trunk. Luxury travel is traveling with a toothbrush. That's it, end of story. The people who really live luxurious lives don't need to pack. They've got stuff wherever they go."

Imagine Lifestyles is a luxury rental company and we do concur! Our company keeps luxurious jetsetters status quo and on the go. Meaning, our clients don’t even need a toothbrush because that is the least of it. We provide our clients with the jets to jet set; five-star properties with five-star amenities to live; and, exotic rental cars to race or just drive. We have exquisite yachts to rent and knowledgeable employees to get you into the best restaurants and nightclubs. You Imagine and we make the luxurious lifestyle reality.

Luxury lifestyle imposters are the ones travelling with the bulky Louis Vuitton trunks on commercial flights. When a real jetsetter reaches their destination they buy a seasonal wardrobe or we can even have someone do that for you. Marc Jacobs has it all right and the real jet set are on his brain wavelength.

In celebration of the luxe London Selfridges' 100th birthday, the store has commissioned RIM to make a limited edition Blackberry Bold. These days everybody has a "Crackberry", so this special edition Blackberry Bold is your best bet at standing out from the crowd. The back of the phone will be colored in Selfridges' trademark pantone 109 yellow and comes with the ultimate VIP support. Selfridges is synonymous with luxury so it's safe to bet the VIP perks will be more than worth the money. Each limited Blackberry bold will be numbered one through ten, just ten! Get your sexy yellow Blackberry Bold immediately, $1,300 per.

Donald Trump claims “now” is the time to buy property, if only it were that easy.  Many who still have the money to buy “now” can’t find financing. If financing isn’t stopping you, consider yourself lucky and look to South Beach. Right now in South Beach properties are being sold for way less than asking price.  Take, for instance, luxury building Murano at Portofino, located at 1000 S Pointe Drive in the South Beach area of Miami Beach. Where a penthouse unit with an asking price of $12,000,000 just sold for $7,600,000. The spacious three bedrooms, five and a half bath unit is just one example of what’s going on in South Beach, there are lots more just like this. The question is, when will the real estate market finally hit bottom? The question is tough to answer but it seems like buyers are moving towards the beach. Activity is gradually picking up, more inquiries, and more viewings, will sooner or later translate into more sales.

We have found a new book for your coffee table. The book is the latest edition in teNeues' Luxury series called Luxury Houses : Top of the World. The very, very best houses from around the world have been photographed in the hard cover. The houses are stunning, the real deal creme de la creme of the real estate world. They all have "stunning settings, sumptuous materials, and sophisticated architectural detailing and interiors." Plus, each house "offers a unique perspective on what's possible if both money and taste abound." These houses have been built with serious money in serious locations. Architects and the affluent aren't the only who will appreciate this book by John Smith. Check it out!

People pop bottles of champagne for New Years, French billionaire, Bernard Arnault buys champagne companies. Arnault is the 14th richest person in the world with a net worth of $25.5 billion. He owns 47.5% of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton or LVMH, which is the world's biggest luxury goods group.

Recently, LVMH bought the Montaudon champagne house for an undisclosed amount. The Moet Hennessy wine and spirits subdivision of LVMH will now have eight top-shelf champagne labels to maintain. Of which include, Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Ponsardin, Krug, Ruinart and Mercier.

The rundown on Montaudon, the champagne house was founded in 1891 by Auguste Louis Montaudon. The house has since remained a small family owned business. Employing only 29 people in Reims, the exclusive champagne spot. Montaudon champagnes are sold throughout more than 25 other countries. The champagne is of high quality and noted for its tea-like flavor and airy taste.

 The most recent statement from LVMH was by Moet Hennessy Chairman Christophe Navarre, who said, "The acquisition of Montaudon enables us to complete our portfolio of prestigious brands and to increase our champagne reserves. This corresponds with Moet Hennessy’s strategy to strengthen its worldwide leadership in the luxury wines and spirits sector." And there you go, LVMH already the world's largest luxury goods conglomerate adds one more to the mix. For the record, LVMH is the owner of about 60 sub-companies that each manage several prestigious brands. At what point does LVMH go for world domination? And Mr. Arnault, we would love to be you right now.

All credit cards were not created equal, black is on another level. If you have no credit limit but don't have a black card, then there's something wrong with you. Get one!

Most big spenders are well aware of the American Express Titanium Centurion card or the Black card as it is commonly referred to. The Black card is a coveted status symbol and only about 17,000 total are in circulation right now. To score a black card, you, first and foremost, must be charging a minimum $250,000 a year. You pay the $5,000 initiation fee, plus, the annual fee of $2,500 which is simply worth it considering the perks. Besides a no credit limit, you will have a wholly, personal concierge service to abuse. This means, the best tickets to sold out events, reservations to the best restaurants that were at capacity. Private shopping services that gain you access into major fashion houses, oh, and a private jet with just six hours notice.

Visa, not to be outdone by Amex, has recently launched their version of the black card. The Visa Black card which they tout as the World's most prestigous and versatile credit card has launched. The card is designed out of patent pending carbon graphite for maximum attention. The annual fee is only $495 and the perks are, well, just alright. There's a 24-hour concierge service, a plethora of information and discounts on luxe goods, travel and business services. The original American Express Black card is still our first choice but the choice is yours. Happy spending ya'll!

A small percentage of the world has been unaffected by the financial crisis or, at least, they are rich enough to never really feel it.  These are the people still spending money and the Krug champagne house is fully catering to them. Krug hosted the biggest Miami Art Basel party on Thursday at the Raleigh Hotel. They were pouring out their best bottles of champagne like it was cheaper than water. Krugis doing just fine and has introduced a new service that allows elite clients to personalize cases of Grand Cuvee. "The Krug On My Own Terms" case is a wooden encasement that on one side can be personalized with metal, mirror, or saddle leather with an inscription of choice. Could make a good gift this season and is sure to make Krug a little extra something, something. You can order your champagne case exclusively from Krug.

Here we go, don't know what to get your billionaire boyfriend this holiday season? We do, it's the Derek Rose dressing gown known to the joe-shmoes of the world as a robe. Now this is no ordinary robe, it is a luxurious splurge for those of you that can still afford to splurge. Selfridges department store is unapologetically catering to the ultra-affluent people of the world with items like the Derek Rose dressing gown. For a cool $22,290, the robe is the priciest bed gear known to man. Why you ask, does a robe cost $22k? It's called Vicuna wool, one of the most exquisite and rarest types of wool in the world. A Vicuna is cousin to the Llama but produces much less but extremely fine wool. A Vicuna is an endangered species that now lives only in captivity in the Peruvian highlands and the animal can only be shorn every two years. Just think your man could wear it all Christmas day, heck he might wear it everyday to get his money's worth. Then again, if you're buying the Derek Rose dressing gown in the first place, money is obviously no object. He will probably wear it once or twice and then lose it in the closet but it's still a good idea for the man who already has everything!

Yes, we said buy because unless you’re 17 years old and rolling to prom, renting is no longer an option. This is a quicky guide for fashionably challenged men that don't speak Calvin Klein, Prada or Tom Ford. Also for the ladies who don't know jack about dressing their men. People a tuxedo is not a bad thing, do not be afraid of the tuxedo. The tuxedo has been fashionable since 1886, you can't say that about your Nike dunks no matter how cool you think they are. Thus, it should never be a chore to wear one, they are gentlemanly and classic and every woman is attracted to a good tux. With the right tuxedo you can take on the world or at least a room, but you need to understand a few things about yourself first. Are you a bow tie or regular tie guy? Do you even know what a peak-lapel versus a shawl-collar means? We say the tux must always be tailored to fit like a glove. The shirt must be white, the shoulders sharp and the black tie, very black but lets start at the beginning.

Bow ties are back in. If don't feel daring or just don't dare to be an attention grabber then opt for the basic black tux and white shirt. Keep the shirt fitted slim because when you chuck the jacket you do not want to look like a pirate. Dior Homme makes a good slim-fitted shirt for $495. If you don't know your lapels then go with a notch lapel, it makes less of a statement than a shawl or peak lapel. Notch lapels resemble a more classical suit jacket and tend to flatter more men than not.

   

If you are going for something a little different, we said a little different, than convention. A midnight blue tux hits an alternative, but still classic, note without getting all tacky. Generally, wear the midnight blue suit, not light blue monstrosity, with a white shirt and black tie. Unless you still want to be different, which in that case, you can do a black formalwear shirt, open at the collar. There are good versions of this tux by Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Neil Barrett, and D&G. If midnight blue just isn't your color then go for a black velvet jacket, not the full suit guys but just the jacket and keep the rest of the suit simple. Velvet doesn't work in summer, it looks silly.  Equally not to be done in summer is the white dinner jacket. If you are going for Old Hollywood, think Clark Gables or Cary Grant, then master the white dinner jacket. Best to be worn from March through October, always with black pants and especially around mint juleps. If you want a more modern look then opt for an understated take on a two-button tuxedo.  The two-button tuxedo will be good for almost any formal occasion. Calvin Klein makes a great looking moder tuxedo for $1,195, Tom Ford makes a swankier version for $6,840.

Your tuxedo should be the focal point, not you cuff links so keep them understated. If you need a little more color in your life then go for a pale pink or dusty blue shirt. We are not talking brights or pastels here, but a few shades off white. The colored shirt is a good wardrobe for avid tuxedo wearers, it will help mixup the black and white monotony.

As for footwear, the shoes should always be black, period. We say keep the shoes simple too, no wingtips or monkstraps. Just basic good old-fashioned black leather lace-ups or slip-ons. If your black tie affair is ultra fancy then go for black patent leather kicks. Top it all off with a simple watch that has a black band. We like Chopard's for $10,690 but as long as the watch isn't flashing the time, you should be alright.

Take our tuxedo advice and you will be debonair and put together at your next black tie affair. Don't scoff at the tuxedo, embrace it because it's not going out of style in the near future. Good luck guys and may a Barney's sales associate always be with you.