Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you the most expensive socks in the world. And no, these socks aren’t adorned with diamonds, nor are they made of gold, because that would make the m really uncomfortable and therefore useless. But these socks are pretty interesting fare, as you will find out.

Interestingly, the world’s most expensive pair of socks was made by US designer Rodarte, maker of expensive clothing items. The socks are made of a combination of silky mohair and soft alpaca wool, which makes them too delicate to even wash. As such, these socks cannot be washed at all and can only be spot-cleaned. So what happens when they get too, well, stinky for comfort? I guess you have to  buy another pair, and each pair costs a staggering $500.

Why pay $500 for a pair of socks that are multi-colored (something that only fashion victims would wear), full of holes, and cannot even make your feet warm? Well, it would be a good conversation piece. Just make sure you wash your feet really well before showing the socks to your guest and start a conversation about it. One interesting thing about it is that it is hand-crocheted, something that grandma used to do. Still, that doesn’t justify the highly restrictive price tag. Anyway, the highly impractical pair of socks are available to buy at New York store Opening Ceremony.

Indeed, these socks are considered the most expensive socks in the world. However, I think another tag that can best describe this piece of clothing would be: the most impractical piece of clothing ever. So, okay, I take it back. I don’t think these socks will go well with your most expensive shoes but, hey, their price tag still makes them something to brag about, doesn’t it?

]]> http://6starliving.com/most-expensive-socks/feed/ 0 http://6starliving.com/most-expensive-dress-shirt/ http://6starliving.com/most-expensive-dress-shirt/#comments Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:51:49 +0000 alfred http://6starliving.com/?p=3097 Continue reading →]]> After my recent blogposts about the world’s most expensive suits for men, what better way to look even more wealthy and capricious than to put on the world’s most expensive dress shirt underneath the suit. Indeed, trying to look like a million dollars doesn’t cheap.

And if you want to take things a little too literally, then check out this dress shirt that would surely look good beneath your expensive suit. They say that clothes make the man. Well, this baby will really “make” you, more than any other shirt you can get your hands on.

Eton, a Swedish shirt-making company, during the celebration of their 80th birthday, created this shirt out of the finest Egyptian cotton. But what really makes it the most expensive dress shirt in the world? Well, the jewels, my friends. Indeed, it wouldn’t be considered the most expensive shirt in the world without a few diamonds here and there. Both the studs and the cuff links are encrusted with diamonds (white diamonds on the cufflinks and colored diamonds on the studs).

What’s more interesting is that the shirt went on tour in 2010,  making stops in Milan. LA, and Sotckholm, among other key cities, and was put put on auction for  a whopping $45,000.

Eton of Sweden is internationally known for its innovative and classic designs, exclusive colors, and full range of coordinating accessories. Eton of Sweden was founded as a made-to-measure shirt company in 1928 by Annie and David Pettersson and is still headquartered in Ganghester, the same small village in Sweden since its founding.  Eton is one of the only few apparel brands that have completely vertically integrated the shirt-making process. With its mill partners, Eton of Sweden buys the raw materials—Pima and Egyptian cotton—which comprises 100% of its collection. Eton buys high-quality Pima cotton directly from a consortium of farmers in Peru. The company is also known for paying attention to seemingly small details, from the buttons it uses to the coordinated lining found inside its ties.

Indeed, this shirt-making company has outdone itself by creating the most expensive dress shirt in the world. Now, go and look for your  most expensive dress shoes, wear them with this shirt and your suit, and you’ll definitely feel like a million dollars. Literally.

First off is this suit from world-acclaimed fashion brand Gucci.  The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci, is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR Gucci was founded by Guccio Gucci in Florence in 1921. Gucci is considered the biggest-selling Italian brand and operates about 278 directly operated stores worldwide (as of September 2009) and it wholesales its products through franchisees and upscale department stores. Anyway, Gucci suits like the one in the photo fetch a price of around $2,600 and above and are considered some of the most expensive suits around.

Interesting to note, also, is the fact that Gucci was cited in the 1998 Guinness World Records for their Gucci “Genius Jeans” which was labeled as the most expensive pair of jeans in existence (and not just in Italy or the United States). These jeans were distressed, ripped and covered with African beads and were offered for sale for at US$3,134 in Milan.

Next in line is the Newman suit, named after Paul Newman, an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast. He won numerous awards, including an Academy Award for best actor for his performance in the 1986 Martin Scorsese film The Color of Money and eight other nominations, three Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Cannes Film Festival Award, an Emmy award, and many honorary awards. The pinstriped Newman suits exude an aura of sophistication, pizzaz and casual elegance, much like the image that Newman himself projected in most of his movies. The Newman suit is pegged at  $2,500 a pop and is also considered one of the most expensive suits around.

We now jump to the ultra-expensive 6-digit suits like the suit that luxury designer Alexander Amosu created using fabric that is made of rare and expensive fibers such as vicuna, pashmina and Qiviuk. Moreover, what makes Amosu’s suit so special are the nine diamond buttons set in 18-carat gold.

The suit, which took 80 hours to make, also contains 5,000 stitches of platinum and gold threads. The Alexander Amosu suits are priced at a whopping $100,000 or more.

Currently the most expensive suit in the world today is the suit crafted by Stuart Hughes. Generally, the suits this designer creates are jeweled with diamonds and gold. His suits sell for roughly $800,000 and up to a million-plus dollars. One of his suits takes more than 800 hours from concept to the finishing jeweled and gold plated touches. Stuart Hughes and Richard Jewels, however, have crafted the world’s most expensive suit, the R. Jewels Diamond Edition. The suit is made from a blend of Cashmere wool and silk and contains over 480 diamonds. Each gem is half a carat for a total of 240 carats of bling. This particular suit costs $943,000.

Indeed, men don’t just spend a fortune on shoes, bling, and, yes, even expensive t-shirts, men spend a lot on suits as well, particularly those men who prefer a classy, elegant look for the office or for formal events.

]]> http://6starliving.com/most-expensive-suits/feed/ 0 http://6starliving.com/most-expensive-dress-shoes-for-men/ http://6starliving.com/most-expensive-dress-shoes-for-men/#comments Fri, 23 Mar 2012 00:40:46 +0000 alfred http://6starliving.com/?p=3052 Continue reading →]]> It is definitely a wrong notion that only women are fond of showing off their expensive shoes. In fact, there are some shoes for men that are even more expensive than those of women. Specifically, there are dress shoes for men that can run up to thousands of dollars a pair. This here article will talk about pairs of leather shoes considered as the most expensive dress shoes for men. Moreover, this article disproves the notion that most mean splurge only on expensive sneakers. They spend on dress shoes, too, you know.

Anyway, first one at bat is the Stefano Bemer Shoes. Stefano Bemer once collaborated with Gucci and is considered by many as a master in hand-made, hand-crafted leather shoes. Although his shoes take roughly 3 months to create, each piece is a real treat to the feet. His shoes are made of rare and hard-to-find materials such as toad and camel skin and each pair costs somewhere around $2,000. Definitely, Stefano Bemer shoes are some of the most expensive dress shoes for men.

Disproving the notion that diamonds are just for girls, this next pair included in our list of the most expensive dress shoes for men is bling’ed to diamond perfection. The Aubercy shoes for men are studded with real diamonds. Aubercy made these shoes black in color and the size of the diamonds encrusted in the black leather depends on the customer’s taste. Nicknamed “Phil,” the shoes cost $3,010 and $4,510, depending on the size of the diamond embedded in the leather. Indeed, diamond is no longer just a girl’s best friend. They can be men’s BFF, too.

The next pair in our list of most expensive dress shoes in the world comes from a brand that is mostly associated with women’s apparel: Louis Vuitton. The world-renowned fashion house launched a stunning pair of Louis Vuitton shoes for men when it commenced its collection of lace-ups for men in the Spring/Summer 2010. The shoe is made of waxed alligator leather and has a truly masculine look to it. The authentic handmade shoe features LV’s renowned traditional craftsmanship combined with a slight vintage touch that Louis Vuitton is known for. The shoe has a glove-soft leather lining and is made of Blake construction. This pair of shoes will set you back $10,000.

Now, currently the most expensive dress shoes for men comes from the House of Tistoni, a world-renowned shoe-making company that was founded in Bologna in 1929 by Amedeo Testoni and is known for the Norvegese technique of shoemaking. The Norvegese is a Norwegian manufacturing style that uses the finest alligator skin to come up with highly durable shoes. This pair of shoes is made of linen twine, lined with glove-soft goatskin and festooned with a gold and diamond buckle. The shoes are superior water resistant and were sold for a whopping $38,000.

There you have it. Women don’t have a monopoly of expensive shoes, men have them, too.

A couple of weeks back I featured Tiger’s ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, who had a multi-million dollar mansion bulldozed to the ground – with valid reasons of course. Now, it’s time to feature Tiger’s new bachelor’s pad. Tiger is really excited on this one and this might spring him back to the game since it is going to be a practice facility for him as well.

Tiger will soon be moving into his new Jupiter, Fla., home in the ultra-exclusive Jupiter Island. The mansion which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, exhibits huge windows for fantastic sea views and has a glass-fronted lift for anyone too tired (or too lazy) to take the stairs (probably for his aging golf buddy, Jack Nicklaus).

Earlier reports revealed that the 10,000 square foot luxurious den includes a gigantic bedroom, 3 more bedroom suites, a large wine cellar, possibly a cinema, and games area. (All of these for a single guy?)

Outside there are a number of tall trees and high boundary walls that surround the plot, and probably a few paparazzi death traps to ensure the privacy the golfer yearns for . There are further four buildings adjoining the main house: a boathouse, a stand-alone garage, an enormous guesthouse, and a golf training studio. It also features a tennis court, diving pool, lap lane, gym, and a 100-foot running track. A pair of boat docks will provide berth for the former number one golfer’s 155 ft yacht, Privacy.

And as icing on the cake, a new 3.5-acre back yard golf course – which the golf champion himself designed. Nothing really beats another game of golf after a game of golf!

All of these cost the former number one golfer about $50 million. Knowing that Tiger is worth a billion or more… $50 million was probably just a spare change to him. And the $100 million settlement –  was just his lunch money!

A particular type of collectibles some people might be interested in are expensive collectible weapons. The weapons that will be discussed here are not the ones you can ilegally purchase from your local gun runner, but the ones you can acquire from certified antique dealers. So basically, these are the weapons your grandfather’s grandfather are more acquainted to.

The question is, is it a wise decision for one to invest money in collectible weapons? Wally Beinfeld, Director of Antique Arms Show, said that he has witnessed the collectible arms industry grow considerably in the past 50 years. Fagan Arms proprietor, William Fagan, noted that the price of several types of antique weapons and armor have recently jumped. Meaning, if you have a 16th-century open-face helmet worn with a suit of armor, known as burgonets, which was once sold for $27.50 through magazine ads – you can jump for joy since they can sell for about $5,000 these days.

Here are some of the collectible weapons collectors go gaga for:
Scottish Basket Hilt Broadsword

According to William Fagan the market for Scottish weapons is healthy since the lore surrounding Scotland’s rebellion against the British crown  is attached to it (kudos to William Wallace). Fagan sold a Scottish basket-hilted broadsword for $6,900.

Suit of Armor

The European armor, which looks like the comical armor ubiquitous in a Scooby-doo cartoon series, was sold by William Fagan for $56,000. The circa 1570-type of plate armor replaced riveted mail in the 14th century.
Antique German Broadsword

This particular engraved German broadsword, according to the seller, was forged for a nobleman. For centuries, broadswords were used throughout Europe and relatively had wide blades. It often had basket hilts to shield the wielders hand. William Fagan offers this for  $38,000.
Halberds from Poland

William Fagan sold these pair to the Palace of the Dukes of Lithuania. It was priced at $13,200. This pair of Halberds, circa 1695, were from the guard of Augustus the Strong – the king of Poland whose past time includes breaking horseshoes with his bare hands and engaging in fox tossing with a single finger (his version of flipping coins using a live fox?). Halberds were widely used by foot soldiers against horsemen in Europe during the 14th to the 16th centuries. It consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft (the best tool for stabbing people and chopping woods at the same time). Probably the granddaddy of the Swiss army knife (bottle openers not included).

Italian Barbute

This may look like the bicentennial man’s hippy wig, but this rare north Italian barbute which dates back from the late 15th to early 16th century was sold for more than $81,000 by Christie’s Auction House.
Scar Face’s Colt Pistol

Al Capone’s nickel-plated .38-caliber Police Positive six-shot double-action Colt revolver, with checkered walnut grips bearing the Colt medallion was sold for $109,000 by Christie’s Auction House in June. Similar pistols often sell for around $1000, but since there is a sworn affidavit and paper trail that the six-shooter once belonged to Scar Face, then price would definitely shoot up (or the Capones will start shooting somebody!).

Who said that space travels are for astronauts and cosmonauts only? Space Adventures, a Virginia-based firm, arranges multimillion-dollar treks to the International space Station for the super-rich. Guy Laliberte, founder of Cirque du Soleil, became the seventh private citizen to go to space through the said American firm in 2009. Laliberte paid a whopping $35 million for a ride aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

The space tourism company has struck a new deal offering a suborbital spaceflights for almost half the going cost. Priced at $102,000 it is nearly $100,000 cheaper than the one being offered by Virgin Galactic.

 
What Space Adventure Offers

 
Lunar Mission

Space travellers will start their journey to the far side of the moon by first launching aboard a Soyuz spacecraft.The space craft will rendevouz with an additional system – an unmanned rocket booster – for a subsequent launch. This will enable the spacecraft with the required propellant to reach the moon.

 
Orbital Space Flight/Spacewalk

This will bring the space traveller to a please-make-me-snap-out-of-it moment! Upon reaching Earth orbit the space tourist will be travelling through space at over 17,000 miles an hour, and are over 200 miles above the Earth surface. Here, the space tourist will experience the zero gravity environment. Space tourists will also experience an unforgettable activity called, the Spacewalk.

 
Suborbital Spaceflight

Starting at $110,000 per space tourist, the Suborbital space is a destination to experience. It is 10 times higher than the altitude reached by a commercial aircraft, and a third of the way to the International Space Station. Space travellers will have a fantastic view of the curvature of the earth.

 
Zero Gravity Flights

For $4,950 per person or $165,000 for a private charter (36 people), the Zero-G flight is an awesome way to experience total weightlessness. When their specially customized Boeing 727 performs parabolic arcs, passengers experience weightless environment letting them float, flip, and soar just like in space.

We’re not talking about weapons of mass destruction or any dangerous drugs here. It’s only right for the government to stop anyone who wants to make an ornament out of a nuclear warhead for their home. What we are talking about are simple things… simple “expensive” things that satisfy our senses at the expense of, say, the continues existence of certain species.
Ivory

A primary component of the teeth and tusks of elephants and walruses, the ivory is widely used in various items and ornaments. Other animals such as crocodiles, hippopotamuses, mammoths, narwhals, and sperm whales had been sources of the rare luxury material as well.

The use of ivory was banned because it heavily contributed to the decline of Asian/African elephants and walruses. Items like chess pieces, piano keys, billiard balls, dominoes, knife handles, and chopsticks were known to be made from ivories (imagine how many elephants and walruses became toothless because of these) – until the ban  on the luxury product was imposed and the substitute (plastic) was developed.
Casu Marzu

A delicacy from Sardinia, Italy, Cazu Marzu literally means “rotten cheese.” This particular kind of cheese was banned in the European Union not because bovines were endagered during the making of this product, but because it may beat the “killer asteroid” from wiping the entire human race from the face of the Earth.

Casu marzu is the end product of leaving an entire chunk of Pecorino cheese outside and allowing it not only to ferment but to become a bachelor’s pad for fly larvae as well. People not used to eating this will be surprised, as the larvae can jump as high as six inches into the air when disturbed (or perhaps to happily greet you and shout “bon apetite” before you consume it).

It was banned for the reason that it may cause parasitic infections when eating the cheese with the larvae still alive and squirming. Taking it out on the other hand makes the connoisseur feels cheated out from absorbing its aphrodisiac qualities. (As you can see, some people prefer dying over not feeling sexy!)
Beluga Caviar

Caviar have been always associated with luxury and extravagance, and one of the best varieties is the Beluga Caviar. It came from the Beluga sturgeon and it is considered the most expensive caviar in the world.

Unfortunately, the Beluga sturgeon is an endagered specie. This prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ban the importation of Beluga Caviar in 2005 (1 for the sturgeon, 0 for the patron). One of the only legal ways to savor it is to personally visit Caviar House & Prunier U.K. and sample the Beluga caviar it produces in-house.

A Swiss army knife is a tool that every guy wouldn’t mind having in their pocket. It became very popular among the U.S. Army at the end of the Second World War. GIs bought these knives in huge numbers at PX stores in Military bases. It was actually the U.S. Army who coined the name “Swiss Army Knife” since it was quite difficult for them to say its German name, Schweizer Offiziersmesser, same reason why we call the ex-Governator,  Arny! Even Richard Dean Anderson wouldn’t be able to ”MacGyver” his way out to pronouncing its real name.

So, how will they make the Swiss army knife more expensive? Will they built-in a tiny “Jedi” lightsaber or will they fit in a Ducati 1199 Panigale somewhere in there for you to just fold out everytime your Ferrari runs out of gas?

Apparently, Victorinox launched a limited edition Swiss army knives back in 2007 to celebrate its 120th anniversary. The Victorinox Swiss army Platinum Diamond Knife is based on the 74mm Executive-type Victorinox army knife. Its shells are made of pure platinum 950, inset lengthwise with 430 flawless diamonds (making it capable of cutting glass as well – theoretically) with a total weight of approximately 4 carats. All tools are elaborately decorated with diamond engraving - except the tweezers. Tools included are: Large Blade, Small Blade, Nail File and Nail Cleaner, Scissors, Ring, Tweezers, and Orange-Peeler with Screwdriver.

Victorinox made only 120 pieces of these remarkable Swiss army knives worldwide, including ones in yellow gold. The set also included a serial number engraved on the blade, a solid gold or platinum chain, and a unique platinum Bonfort case. The whole set was sold for a  staggering amount of $75,000 making it the most expensive Swiss army knife ever.

The couple reportedly coughed up $1.3 million to obtain a flashy, newly renovated suite at Manhattan’s Lenox Hill Hospital on the upper East Side. Rumor has it that they occupied the entire floor. Hmmm… what more if they had twins?

The following were Beyonce’s diva-ish request or should we say… demands: To avoid any unauthorized picture snapping or the suddenly turning into an instant paparazzi, hospital staffers’ celphones were confiscated upon entering the suite; she also demanded that the floor’s security cameras’ lenses be covered with tape; and she also enlisted an entire security team to stand guard during her stay in the classy upper East Side hospital.

Unfortunately the convenience of one superstar became the inconvenience of others. A parent who wants to check on his premature twins was stopped not once but twice in entering or exiting in the neonatal intensive care unit by Jay Z’s muscle men simply because they wanted to use the hallway.

But that is the curse that tags along with being a celebrity and an ordinary person near a celebrity. Celebrities are constantly afraid of that one evil paparazzo springing out from nowhere firing up his deadly state-of-the-art camera, fearing that the constant rapid flashes it creates would eventually melt them. Thus, paranoid bodyguards always suspect an average Joe of having concealed cameras in them planning to blast their clients  to kingdom come.

The funny thing about it is that no matter how much they have prepared for the baby’s arrival, the baby won’t even care. She won’t even remember what happened when she grows up, unless of course she goes to a public library and browse into news  archives.

One thing’s for sure, though. If the parents have the influence and a very deep pocket (make that two), they can give the very best to their little one, even if the “very best” actually applies to them and not the baby itself. As the saying goes, “Mothers knows best,” here it’s more, “Beyonce Knowles Best!”