We found Christmas:

• Amazing Christmas Trees
• Christmas Lighting – Fibre Optics and Fairy Lights
• Wrapping Paper and Cards
• Nativity Scenes
• Wreaths and Garlands
• Decorations and Ornaments

The Christmas trees were all setup – and they look life like with beautifully decorated ornaments. We continue walking and step through the lighting section. Ideas flooding through our heads – this place is great.

Then we see the light characters – reindeers, bears, santas, bells and christmas trees. Wow what beautiful shapes made from lights.

Christmas warehouses are located in the New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. The Rudolph’s Warehouse web site is http://www.rudolphs.com.au.

Love LXS Jenny.

This new Versace store has walls decked with white lacquer effect work, its floors are black granite marble and the showpiece is a clear blown glass curtain chandelier, the store is looking as luxurious as ever. It’s no secret that the luxury market is faring a little better in the Middle East than in the States these days.

An area of 250 square metres is spread over a single level, with a nice facade to blend modernity, elegance and simplicity. The Versace flagship store will house the complete Versace collection for men and women. This includes their watches, jewellery, fragrance, accessories, eyewear, and Versace Home. CEO of Versace, Giancarlo Di Risio, has maintained his vision to expand the brand, opening a new boutique store in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This is one store that Jenny and I will be visiting on our next trip.

Versace web site is http://www.versace.com

Love LXS Jenny

We bought a whole collection of decorated eggs for this easter. So these will form part of our gifts this year that we know will last beyond the week of Easter. The idea is to provide something other than chocolate.

There is a large collection of Easter eggs available. Wooden ones, real eggs decorated in vibrant colours and subdued colours. Eggs with butterflies, eggs decorated with flowers and beautiful patterns.

Babushka opened their first shop in the Royal Arcade in Melbourne in December 1991. In May 1992 they moved to the current location in the Royal Arcade. In June 1999, Babushkas opened their second store in Darling Harbour in Sydney. Babushkas also sells wooden boxes, artists matryoshki, Christmas decorations and Baltic amber jewellery.

Babushkas is located at Shop 9 Royal Arcade Melbourne, Victoria.

Love LXS Jenny

We have been to seven weddings this year from Whale beach (Northern Beaches), South head, Leura Everglades Gardens … and a friends farm. So we think we have a great selection of experiences to choose from. After talking with friends and family, we decided that we are going to Sydney’s next Wedding Expo. We will keep you posted. Over the last few months we have been thinking what we have to do. Our list of things to do include the following:

• ceremony location
• reception location
• decorations for the ceremony
• decorations for the reception
• flowers
• wedding rings
• music
• invitations
• guest list and seating
• wedding cake
• transport
• photographer
• wedding dress, shoes and accessories
• bombonieres
• hairdressers and makeup for bridal party
• bridal party suit hire
• dress fittings for the bridesmaids
• arranging an mc for the reception
• co-ordinating all the suppliers
• dress rehearsals
• legal requirements
• our honeymoon

Over the next few months Me, Jenny and Fiona will let you know about the plans. One thing I can let you know already is that Jenny and Fiona will be my bridesmaides. I was thinking that we would have Tiffany bombonieres on each table.

Love LXS Gaby.

   Just a quick post to say I checked out the 2008 Swarovski Christmas release and I am excited. Between a beautiful vibrant red Christmas stocking a Santa’s hat, the 2008 Kris bear and angel and of course the 2008 Christmas star.

A few of my close friends already know that last Christmas we decorated our tree with Swarovski ornaments and I think my Christmas Star collection goes back from 2007 – 2000. All that means is I have to go out today and get the 2008 star.

Swarovski describe this years star as … “this 2008 Christmas ornament sparkling in a million ways, hangs diantily on a blue satin ribbon. The star in clear fully cut crystal comes with a silver tone metal tag with the year of issue.“

I am heading to the store today to add to my collection.

Love LXS Jenny.

I visited both the online store and the boutique. The Swarovski web site is http://www.swarovski.com and the Swarovski Boutique at Westfield Shopping Centre, Bondi Junction.

It started innocently enough. The day I let my feet slip into a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes for the first time, I knew I was in love. Normally I consider myself a sensible, career-focused woman. But when it comes to my appearance even I have to admit, I sometimes lose all control. And that’s the way it is whenever I get near Jimmy.

So it’s really no surprise that I came home from my most recent Jimmy Choo rendezvous with a pair of smart-looking glossy leather shoes called Glacier. Incredibly sexy for such a conservative-looking shoe, the heel on this beautiful Bordeaux-colored classic measures a comfortable 85 mm. Let men have their power ties. With Jimmy Choo Glacier, I now have a pair of power shoes.

Something else that caught my attention, the Jimmy Choo Roquette, the compact leather handbag with a lot going on. Im really note sure what drew me to this bag, I went in for a closer look. The double top handles are a definite Jimmy Choo standard. But the thin leather straps intricately woven through a series of subtle gold rings clinched the deal.

I was amazed that, although gold, the rings and carefully placed studs also looked silver. Hardware that’s subtle yet bold enough to make a memorable impact is pure genius and just one more example of what I’ve come to expect from my man Jimmy. I looked at the Ramona but this is smaller, in classic black or Bordeaux, and with a look that’s different to all of my other handbags, I had all the justification I needed to tell the sales girl … “I’ll take it”.

Castlereagh Street is where you’ll find most of Sydney’s high-end boutiques and jewellery stores. But even with all these other stores trying to lure me in, you won’t find this shopper anywhere other than Jimmy Choo. This is store is the only one in Australia, so next time your in Sydney you really should stop by.

Jimmy Choo is located MLC Centre, Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW.

Love LXS, Gaby

I drive past the Porsche show room in Willoughby regularly and decided to stop by and take a closer look. Located at 445 Willoughby Road, Willoughby – driving up to the all glass showroom reveals some very beautiful vehicles. I have like many young guys admired the Carrerra 911. So I reckon you can guess what was the first vehicle I went straight to.  A Ruby Red metallic Carrerra 911S. This machine is a 6 cylinder 3.6 litre 239 kW boxer engine. With a top speed of 285 km/h and 0-100km in 4.8 seconds. I want one.

After leaving the Porche dealership, I was having a lazy weekend, so I decided to visit Bentley. This showroom is located at 52 William Street, Sydney. I have always known about Bentley, and the Continental GT is a classic Grand Tourer coupé. In every respect this vehicle is incarnation of real quality. Technology that doesn’t compromise handcraftsmanship. The Grand Touring performance is complemented by the luxury of Bentley.

I have always loved the BMW M5 but now I have a new love … the BMW X6.  I had to visit the BMW dealer at 676 Pacific Highway, Chatswood.

Described as having the agility and elegance of a Coupé combined with the impressive versatility of an SAV. The claim is this vehicle is the first Sports Activity Coupé. Equipped with BMW Dynamic Performance Control. The X6 is technically very strong and as a Coupé it really knows no limits. The interior of the BMW X6 shows of a very stylish lifestyle. The quality of the finishes and the functional details are very impressive. This vehicle has 225 kW of power, that is capable of 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds.

Till next time LXS, Jeremiah.

The dark brown and beige designed leather, signature of the Louis Vuitton handbags and luggage, frequent the pages of fashion magazines and celebrity pictures. Louis Vuitton handbags are revered for their excellence in craftsmanship, exquisite leather or other material, and elegant design. Louis Vuitton bags are also revered throughout the majority of the world.

The authors of Luxury Shopper have visited the following Louis Vuitton stores:

• Louis Vuitton Paris – Champs-Élysees Avenue des
• Louis Vuitton Sydney – King Street
• Louis Vuitton Singapore – Orchard Road
• Louis Vuitton Melbourne – Collins Street
• Louis Vuitton Beverly Hills – Rodeo Drive

Walking down the Champs-Elysees in Paris, standing out like a luxury beacon is the palacial Louis Vuitton store. Around the corner is the company’s gallery, Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton. Something we would loved to have seen was the East Without Borders: From Beirut to Beijing in the Tracks of the Yellow Cruise, an exhibit combining contemporary art with the history of travel. When we where in Paris travelling down the Champs-Elysees was a 3 story Louis Vuitton luggage.

In Sydney, Louis Vuitton can be found amongst other high class fashion names on King Street Hugo Boss, AJX Armani Exchange, Bally and Paspaley Pearls. Turn onto Castlereagh Street and you will find Hermes, Versace, Chanel, Bvlgari and Cartier and Carla Zampati. Continuing the walk you can find elegant boutiques of Tiffany & Co, MaxMara, Bruno, and Magli the world’s most beautiful.

Louis Vuitton Singapore is an amazing store to visit, found on Orchard Road – Singapores version of Regent Street or Rodeo Drive. Leaders of the fashion avant-garde. It is All of us at Luxury Shopper love Singapore shopping. A definite favourite is the Hilton Shopping Gallery a designers haven. This gallery has three levels of exclusive brands also including Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Paul Smith and Valentino.

Gaby visited Louis Vuitton on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills and from her recent stories, this is one place you must visit. Rodeo Drive is renowned for boutique and designer stores and of course Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

Recently I stopped by Louis Vuitton in the tree-lined Collins Street and the staff were extremely friendly. The Visit Victoria web site describes Collins street as …
“Majestic and tree-lined, Collins Street exudes style and glamour. It’s a boulevard of grand heritage buildings, chic designer shopping, five-star hotels, exclusive jewellers and private clubs. It’s also the city’s premier commercial streetscape and home to big corporations and the stock exchange.”

Louis Vuitton web site is http://www.louisvuitton.com

This was the second time I had been back to Mrs Red & Sons, and the purpose was to momentarily step back in time and rediscover a moment.

A moment in time where service was important and word of mouth provided the recommendation that quality products and customer care is available here.

I spent the next 20 minutes finding things from an eclectic collection including ornate chopsticks, noodle bowls, Chinese porcelain, jewelry and incense. Something for me, something for some friends.

A tiny turtle was holding a tiny stick of rose incense that helped complete the scene for this store.

Only recently I read: “It is worth buying something to experience the service: your purchase is wrapped as if it is a rare jewel and your change delivered on a silver tray with a lot of bowing in between.”

The quality and time spent on individually wrapping each rare jewel adds to the beauty of this little store. Once home, I began unwrapping my presents. Christmas has arrived again. Each item is wrapped in 2 coloured papers, tied with a rattan string and a tiny flower attached.

My purchase included ornate wooden chopsticks with silver elephants adding a magisterial balance, the tiny turtle and sandalwood incense. Gifts for friends were a butterfly ornament and two tea cups.

Mrs Red & Sons is located 427 Crown Street, Surry Hills

Apparently Belgium chocolates have more antioxidants than red wine or green tea. I received a free taste of chocolate and then selected an assortment of treats. Then I had them wrapped in an elegant gift box, just like the one I had seen earlier on TV.

Later that evening over dinner we **reluctantly** handed over the box of chocolates to our friend in celebration of his 30th birthday.

But we convinced him to open them as dessert. First, the amazing chocolate aroma, then the taste. Of course I had to insist we try them.

This was a great gift given him! And everyone agreed. This one is on my list for need a special occasion gift or just a healthy indulgence.

Love LXS Gaby

Leonidas Cocoa Bean is located Shop 2, Chifley Square, Sydney near Circular Quay.