The First Wearable 24 Karat Gold Shoes Are Here! But, Would You Wear Them?

By Andrea Arterbery, Shine Staff | Fashion – 20 hours ago

Behold the first pair of wearable pumps made of gold!

Alberto Moretti is going for the gold with the creation of the first wearable pair of 24-karat gold shoes. For the ladies, there's a pair of heels, and for the guys, loafers. Each is covered in velvet and drenched in 24-karat gold. But expect to fork over some serious coinage for these shoes as prices start at $2,650 (or 2,000 euros).

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According to the brand's Facebook page, the shoes were created in collaboration with HORO, a brand that has also made gold leaf T-shirts. The footwear will be available for purchase exclusively at five places around the world: Barneys in New York, Fred Segal in L.A., the Swank in Hong Kong, Level Shoe District in Dubai, and Harrods in London.

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Strip away the gold, and there's really not much more to these shoes. Both the heels and loafers are very plain designs, which begs the question: Are they really worth the big bucks? Are the pumps magically painless? Can you click your heels and have them take you back to Kansas?

 "Both models are simple with essential lines, the importance of the material that covers the entire surface of the shoe makes it unnecessary to any kind of decoration," the brand said in a statement to the Daily Mail. Forgive us, but when you're shelling out over two grand for a pair of shoes, you'd expect more of a wow factor. Some sexy straps, eye-catching jewels… give us something!

Golden loafers, anyone?

 Just one scroll through Moretti's spring/summer 2013 look book proves he has gold on his mind. While there are designs of snakeskin and confetti, the bulk of his shoes feature a gold-laced texture. Unsurprisingly, wealthy celebrities flock to Moretti for fancy, attention-grabbing footwear. Lady Gaga, Cameron Diaz, Jessica Chastain, and even Ryan Gosling have all been snapped by the paparazzi wearing the designer's creations.

While Gaga could definitely (and probably has) worn heels made of expensive metals, how realistic is it for your average fashionista to wear a shoe covered in pure gold and crushed velvet?
"I don't care how loaded a lady is, who wants to get caught in a rain storm wearing shoes worth 2,000 euros?" Aly Walansky, of alittlealytude.com, told YAHOO! Shine after checking out the pair online. We'd have to agree - these shoes would look better sitting in a display case than pounding the dirty pavement. We reached out to Alberto Moretti for a comment on his gold shoe creation, but had not heard back as of press time.
For those obsessed with all gold everything, like the rapper Trinidad James, heels and loafers aren't your only options these days. How about the 24-karat gold Nike sneakers, or even a pair of $19,000 gold shoelaces? The price tag comes with absolutely no guarantee that you'll jump higher or run faster, and they're impossible to keep clean. But that insatiable urge to blow money on useless fashion items will be fulfilled. Whew!
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Source(http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/first-wearable-24-carat-gold-shoes-wear-them-181600918.html)

Tesla speeds up free nationwide charging network, 20-minute quick repower

By Justin Hyde | Motoramic – Thu, May 30, 2013 2:34 PM EDT

If there's one nut left uncracked by Tesla Motors, it's the inherent range limits of electric vehicles. The Model S sedan can travel about 270 miles on a full charge, but the combination of lack of high-power vehicle plug-in stations and lengthy charging times keeps the Model S from being of use for a classic American road trip. Today, Tesla co-founder Elon Musk revealed the company would speed the expansion of its free Supercharger network to make a coast-to-coast journey viable within two years — and a new charging system that would drastically shorten how long Model S sedan owners would have to wait for juice.

Tesla says that starting from the few sites mostly along the East and West Coast today, it will triple its Supercharger locations by the end of the month. Within six months, it will expand to most of the upper Midwest and Canada; and before the next 12 months will have an intercontinental network of Superchargers that Musk said should cover 80 percent to 90 percent of the U.S. population. Within two years, Tesla will aim for full coverage, with more than 200 Supercharger stations.
Tesla vows that its owners can use the Superchargers for free, for life; the chargers only work with Teslas, and can handle between four and 10 cars at a time. While a full recharge at the Supercharger currently takes more than 40 minutes, Musk said Tesla would soon deploy a higher-power charging option that would restore three hours of driving time in 20 minutes, using a 120-kW charge — about 60 times more power than a typical house uses in a day — while not harming the Model S battery packs.
Over time, Musk says he plans for the Superchargers to be powered mostly by solar panels, with large battery packs in the chargers that store spare energy and recharge vehicles. "These stations will operate even if the entire national grid goes down," Musk said. "Even if there's a zombie apocalypse, you'll still be able to travel using the Tesla Supercharging system."
For the past few weeks, everything's been coming up Milhouse for Tesla and Musk; it made its first quarterly profit, saw its stock rise to more than $100 per share and paid off its $465 million U.S. loan nine years early. Yet Tesla still has a long road ahead; at a current run rate of 20,000 luxury sedans a year, it's a mouse among giants in the auto industry. Tesla's first SUV, the Model X, isn't due until late 2014, but Musk has already said the company will follow with a cheaper, smaller electric car in three to four years — which, he said today, would also use the Supercharger network for free. As one wait ends, another begins.

Source( http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/tesla-speeds-free-nationwide-charging-network-20-minute-183456360.html)

Suitcases you'll want to use forever

By Julianne Lowell | Smarter Travel – Wed, May 22, 2013 6:20 PM EDT

(Left photo: Antler Luggage USA; right photo: Briggs & Riley)

The forever suitcase: defined as the one bag that will last a lifetime, be your constant companion on trips of all kinds, and meet your particular travel needs, all without disintegrating into a pile of cheap materials before you even make it home. This is no carry-on bag, folks. This is a suitcase that has it all and fits it all.

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I scoured the racks and tested out many makes and models. Height, weight, maneuverability, and durability were the most important criteria, but I also examined features like zippers, handles, and compartments. My final list of medium-sized beauties boasts super-smooth wheels and ergonomically designed handles alongside new features like built-in overweight indicators and global bag-tracking systems. Read on to find out which suitcase should find a forever home in your closet.

Note: Prices quoted are manufacturers' list prices. Most suitcases are on sale for lower prices online.

Delsey Helium Ultimate Expandable Spinner Suiter
Perfect For: The Overpacker

(Photo: Delsey)The built-in overweight indicator in Delsey's Helium Ultimate 25" Expandable Spinner Suiter Trolley is a godsend for the traveler who tends to pack everything but the kitchen sink. While the scale won't exactly help break your habit, it will at least prevent you from throwing in that one last item (or seventh pair of shoes) that would otherwise have taken your bag from pleasantly plump to totally overweight. The 25" Helium Ultimate comes pre-programmed to indicate when it's overstuffed and weighing in at more than 50 lb.

In addition to this much-appreciated cost-saving measure, Delsey has thoughtfully included a number of useful interior and exterior pockets so you can keep organized all the extras you just had to pack. The ergonomics of the bag could use a bit of work, as the handle was a bit difficult for me to pop up and the spinner wheels were a bit tippy.

List Price: $350

Briggs & Riley BRX Explore Upright
Perfect For: The Adventure Traveler

(Photo: Briggs & Riley)Whoever thought the grown-up version of a backpack would be this much fun? With myriad pockets, bright-orange interior detailing, and a super-lightweight design, Briggs & Riley's BRX Explore 25" Upright is the perfect bag for adventurous types. It has extra handles in convenient places, an external buckle system that allows you to connect it to another bag in the BRX line, and details like moisture-wicking mesh lining. This rugged suitcase wouldn't look out of place on the hiking trail—but all zipped up, it would fit right in at a fancy hotel, too.

And this bag has pockets galore. Add Briggs & Riley's lifetime warranty, and this innovative bag adds up to a great deal.

List Price: $335

Travelpro Platinum 7 Expandable Rollaboard Suiter
Perfect For: The Frequent Flyer

(Photo: Travelpro)The year was 1987, and Northwest Airlines pilot Bob Plath was fed up with the two luggage options currently on the market: a heavy suitcase carried by a top handle or a horizontal model with four wheels pulled by a strap. So he designed a small suitcase, standing it upright, attaching just two wheels, and creating a long, extendable handle for the top. And thus was born the Travelpro Rollaboard.

You know you can trust a luggage company that was founded by a pilot. Travelpro's Platinum 7 26" Expandable Rollaboard Suiter has a timeless look, with ballistic-nylon fabric, nickel accents, and herringbone trim. Like the exterior of the bag, the interior is classic and offers no superfluous components: simply a compartmentalized lid (including a detachable garment bag) and a hidden mesh bottom pocket.

List Price: $560

Tumi Vapor Medium Trip Packing Case
Perfect For: The Fashionista

(Photo: Tumi)Tumi's eye-catching Vapor Medium Trip Packing Case is bold, beautiful, and filled with surprises. The Vapor line is focused on innovation, from the smartly designed interiors to the molded bumpers that protect the outside from damage. Patented zipper technology even ensures that, if caught on something, the zipper's pull—and not the entire zipper—will break away, so you'll be left with a still-functioning zipper and only have to replace the pull. Plus, the triple-layered polycarbonate shell looks and feels like it could withstand even the most careless airline baggage handler. And in the unlucky event that your bag goes missing, the Tumi Tracer hotline will work to find it for you.

If there is a fault in this suitcase, it's the warranty that comes with it. Lasting for only five years—four of which feature coverage in only a limited capacity—Tumi's protection is less than ideal.

List Price: $595

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Source(http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/suitcases-you-ll-want-to-use-forever-222055039.html) 

After months of anticipation, Ferrari’s replacement to the legendary Enzo supercar was unveiled today at the Geneva International Motor Show. It’s called LaFerrari; it’s Ferrari's first hybrid, and the fastest road car ever built under the Prancing Stallion logo.
The name of Ferrari’s new flagship has been under question for sometime. Many expected it to be called the F70, and then it was rumored to be the F150 (highly amusing for us in America). The name LaFerrari however, is even worse — hearkening back to the Dodge La Femme of 1956 —  but this is Ferrari. It can, and will, do whatever it likes.
When the sheets were removed, the Ferrari stand at Geneva erupted into cheers, clapping, and rather a lot of pushing and shoving. And for good reason, too. LaFerrari is simply beautiful. In fact, it looks better than expected, as it presents sleek, swooping lines, and limits the aggressive edge of the Enzo. That ferociousness is still present at the front with its massive hood vents and sharp chin, but it blends elegance and speed in a wondrous fashion. The interior looks as breathtaking and futuristic as you would expect as well, with its digital display cluster and Alcantara wrapped surfaces.
Beneath the skin, LaFerrari does not disappoint. A V-12 motor punches out 800 hp, but when you add the 163 additional hp provided by the coupled electric motor, a grand total of 963 raging ponies are unleashed, comfortably outdoing the 903 hp produced by LaFerrari’s arch nemesis, the McLaren P1.

Both the P1 and LaFerrari boast 663 lb-ft of torque, and with the electric motor allowing Ferrari to tune the engine performance for higher revs, leaving the electric portion to deliver the low rev punch, LaFerrari should explode throughout the entire range, just like the P1.
The hybrid system is composed of two electric motors developed with Magneti Marelli. One motor powers the driven wheels while the other the ancillaries. The battery is located on the floor of the all-carbon chassis, and consists of cells assembled in the same department as their Formula One team’s KERS system.
Battery regeneration switches on under braking as well as when the V-12 produces more torque than needed, like when cornering. Rather than sending that excess torque to the wheels, the torque is converted into energy and stored in the batteries.
Unsurprisingly, the motor is coupled to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and carbon ceramic Brembo brakes. Combining all of this ensures LaFerrari will burst to 60 mph in well under three seconds, and surpass 124 mph in less than seven. It will also eclipse the 1 minute, 20 second barrier for lapping Ferrari’s Fiorano test track, which is five seconds faster than the Enzo and three seconds faster than the F12berlinetta. Prices for the beast were not revealed, but expect the sticker to read an equally impressive $1.3 million.
Only 499 LaFerraris will be produced, and Ferrari already has 700 written requests from eligible buyers. With the big guns in the hypercar world now unveiled, only time will tell whether LaFerrari has what it takes to become the champion of the world's asphalt. Regardless of how that plays out, this is, without question, a fantastic era for the enthusiast.
I just wish Ferrari used a better name.

Source(http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/laferrari-fastest-ferarri-road-car-ever-comes-just-135535376.html?cache=clear)

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray arrives with edges sharpened

By Justin Hyde | Motoramic – 14 hours ago

In a rational world, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray wouldn’t exist. The very idea of launching a two-seat sports car named after a World War II ship powered by a truck-sized V-8 goes against every trend line on every chart in every automaker’s boardroom. Yet here it is, the seventh generation of America’s most venerated sports car, sharpened in all dimensions by racing experience toward out-hustling the best sports cars in the world. The question will be whether it can outrun history.
After 60 years of production, General Motors could have found ample reasons for waving the checkered flag at the Vette. Thanks to GM’s bankruptcy, the Vette has soldiered on longer than it should have without a major update; GM sold 14,132 last year, well off the 30,000 a year it sustained for much of the past decade. New U.S. fuel economy rules hit sports cars head-on, demanding the same measure of efficiency improvements in hot rods as in compact family sedans.
Slideshow: 60 Years of Corvette HistoryMore importantly, the Corvette has lost much of its cultural currency from the heyday of NASA astronauts drag-racing their free Corvettes on the beach, falling into the tar pit of an old man’s car competing for young people’s attention. From “Transformers” to the “Fast and Furious” movies, Hollywood prefers the new Chevy Camaro and those Vettes the astronauts drove. A survey from the popular Forza racing video game of the most-driven models found the modern Vette didn’t crack the top 40. And while you can still buy Barbie her classic pink Vette, it’s a far less popular choice than sending her off with Ken in a Mini Cooper.
On first view, the makeover wrought by Corvette chief engineer Tadge Juechter and team appears evolutionary. Yet every piece of the car has either been re-engineered or updated, from the new all-aluminum frame to the sharper, “shrink-wrapped” exterior to the 6.2-liter, 450-hp, 450 lb.-ft. V-8. That engine can now be paired to an optional Tremec 7-speed manual, a GM first, that will automatically match the engine’s RPMs to the anticipated gear in all shifts.
The biggest improvements come from applying modern electronic controls throughout the car for the first time. The Corvette will have five driving modes that alter 12 different systems, from the optional electronic limited-slip differential that’s part of the Z51 track package to launch control. In “eco” mode, the all-new V-8 will shut off four cylinders for maximum fuel economy, while in “track” mode, Chevy engineers say the new Vette will pull more than 1 g of cornering force and run to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds. (Chevy vows to release exact figures, including prices, closer to the car's launch this fall.)
The interior, long the weakest part of the car, has been renovated to modern sports car standards. In place of Barbie-quality plastic, the dash comes wrapped in leather and carbon fiber; the heated and cooled seats have bolstering built for track use. The Vette also finally gets the requisite HD LED screens for the center console, but Chevy wisely keeps separate radio and air control switches instead of touch screen controls.
Much of the Vette’s improvements began as lessons learned from the Le Mans-winning Vette C6.R endurance racing team, such as the new fender intakes by the rear window that cool the transmission and differential. Purists have already begun to exclaim over the loss of the Vette’s trademark round taillights; the new squarish units take that shape because their frames double as a cooling vents.
While Corvette enthusiasts often dream of more radical changes, the Corvette engineering team has six decades of experience arguing against such moves. Moving to a smaller V-8 or turbocharged V-6 as in the Nissan GT-R would have added more weight while doing little for fuel economy; Chevy expects the new model to easily surpass the previous generation’s 26 mpg highway rating. A mid-engine super Vette would lose the sizable hatchback space that makes it more livable as an everyday car or grand tourer than a Porsche 911. And the unique suspension, with its transverse leaf spring rear axle, sacrifices little on the track while weighing less than the alternatives.
Some compromises were inevitable. Even with a new carbon-fiber roof and hood, and a frame that’s 99 lbs. lighter, the new Vette will weigh about as much as the old one, due to added pounds from the engine, interior bits and crash safety — although it keeps its perfect 50/50 front-rear weight balance and sports a lower center of gravity. The new 7-speed manual will still have a skip shift that forces higher gears for better city mileage, and a revised six-speed automatic remains standard.
But the greatest challenge for the new Stingray won't come from rivals like the new SRT Viper, the GT-R or the 911. As Zora Arkus-Duntov, the famed "father of the Corvette" wrote in 1954: "If the value of a car consists of practical values and emotional appeal, the sports car has very little of the first and consequently has to have an exaggerated amount of the second." The engineers behind the new Vette hope the revival of the Stingray name for the first time in 37 years along with years of knowledge gained from racing will spark that emotional connection with a new generation. The most apt answer for why the 2014 Corvette exists may be an Internet meme: Because racecar.
Top photo: Jim Fets

Source(http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/2014-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-arrives-edges-sharpened-235611949.html)