And so to Milan, where the Hogan Menswear presentation is a decidely futuristic affair complete with 3D projections and high tech intallations. What will the Hogan man be wearing come Fall? Ready to Wear highlights include bomber jackets and parkas in leather, suede and wax-effect fabric which is pleasingly soft and flexible unlike regular waxed fabrics. The collection, entitled Future Roots, comprises of new takes on archive hogan designs. For example, the original ‘interactiv’ trainer has been modernised into a sleeker version with concealed stitching and less branding. The upshot is that they can be worn as sportswear or more formally with suiting. Sounds the way forward to us.

We are beyond thrilled to be resprenting Brit designer Jonathan Saunders in the UK. Famed for his zingy prints and masterful use of colour, Saunders is one of the most talented designers in the capital and his London Fashion Week show next month is sure to be a hot ticket.

Fashion pundits may well be predicting a rise in the sales of sapphires following Prince William’s choice of engagement ring for Kate Middleton, but diamonds will always have an irresistible allure. Should the future Princess Catherine be hankering after a stunning rock (or two) then His Royal Highness could always splash out and buy the Steinmetz Yin Yang – the World’s largest pair of identical cut diamonds – which were unveiled earlier today at the Guggenheim Museum during Bloomberg  Link’s Hedge Funds 2010 event.

The spectacular stones weigh 35.61 and 35.77 carats  respectively and were cut from two individual rough diamonds, each  initially weighing over 100 carats, which were discovered in Southern  Africa, and cut by Steinmetz, creators of the world’s finest diamonds.  The resulting gems are Flawless both internally and externally of the  highest colour D colour and are also Type IIa, a classification reserved  for less than 2% of diamonds in the world.

“More than a year  was spent by a team of Steinmetz craftsmen to finish the perfectly  matched pair of Round Brilliant cut stones” commented Nir Livnat,  Chairman of Steinmetz Diamonds, “We strive to have the rarest most beautiful diamonds available in the  marketplace.”

The historic diamonds are likely to be destined for the collection of a true  connoisseur. According to market specialists, these rare gems are likely  to value in excess of $25 million and are available for  sale through Sotheby’s Diamonds, the partnership between esteemed  auction house Sotheby’s and Steinmetz Diamonds. That’s supposing they aren’t bought a private client first; the Bloomberg  Link Hedge Fund event was attended by some 300 international financiers and investors who gathered to hear talks from influential industry figures. If one them wasn’t tempted to blow their bonus then we can’t think of a more perfect owner for these peerless stones than the future Queen of England. After all, nothing says I love you quite like a diamond.

Madison Avenue, heavily trafficked by Manhattan’s shopping elite, tourists and ladies who lunch was the stage for Ralph Lauren’s latest digital coup de grace. This past Wednesday all walks of the fashion world descended upon the newly opened women’s mansion store to watch as the brand celebrated 10 years of digital innovation. Coats buttoned up and tartan scarves tightly wrapped, the crowd stood amazed as the store took on a whole new life. The facade seemingly disappeared and rebuilt itself level by level. Using projection technology lights hopped from window to window before the entire storefront revealed a runway. Elegantly dressed models slunk down a grand trompe l’oeil staircase as chandeliers fell out of the night sky, the scene was almost poetic. Next, the building was drawn like a curtain to reveal enormous products–a handbag, a belt to cinch the building’s waistline, a watch and waving ties. All went dark for a moment before a ball crashed the facade to pieces and polo players galloped atop Madison Avenue before transforming into the iconic logo. The brand’s latest foray into fragrance took stage next as the scents sprayed across the crowd creating a truly “4-D” experience. In a fitting finale, a slideshow of all things American royalty crawled up the shop before a final wave from Mr. Lauren himself.

Earlier this year, the Guggenheim partnered with YouTube on a similar project to transform their swirling facade and if this is only the beginning, we can’t wait to see what’s next. We’ve come a long way from the twinkling snowflakes adorning Saks Fifth Avenue now haven’t we?

New York City:

London:

The Official Ralph Lauren 4D Experience – London from Ralph Lauren on Vimeo.