Could luxury retailers finally be ready to take full aim at the plus-size fashion market? Just last week we saw Saks Fifth Avenue announce that it would be adding more plus-sized designer options to its New York flagship store. Now it seems that fashion designer Marc Jacobs is ready to create a complete plus-size line for women over size 14. The Guardian reports that Robert Duffy, president of the Marc Jacobs label, posted on Twitter that the company is in the early stages of planning a plus-size range. It will be a year before the line is available. Duffy has been tweeting under @MarcJacobsInt a lot lately offering contests and opining on the fashion industry. Duffy also tweeted about his own issues in finding clothing that fits. Marc Jacobs was larger when he started out in the fashion world although in the past few years he has maintained a very slim and toned physique.

As an NY Times article recently pointed out, it's not easy to make plus-sized clothing because women who are the same size may have very different shapes. There has also been a perception that larger women aren't interested in spending money on designer clothing. But with larger-sized model Crystal Renn serving as a muse for Jean Paul Gaultier and singer and plus-sized designer Beth Ditto sitting front row at a whole host of fashion shows, it seems that the time has never been better for fashionable plus-sized clothing. Also younger plus-sized consumers seem to have more confidence and more interest in trendy, sexy clothing as the popularity of the Torrid stores proves. Instead of being an afterthought it may be in the future that creating fashionable clothing for larger consumers is a way to build a brand.

A new creation from Pepin Garcia's cigar factory will be unveiled in New Orleans this week. Miami Cigar is set to release its newest cigar, the Nestor Miranda Art Deco, at the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association's 78th Annual Convention and International Trade Show. This exciting new cigar's blend is 60 percent Nicaraguan Corojo 99 and 40 percent Dominican San Vicente, dual Dominican Criollo '98/Nicaraguan Habano '00 binder, and a dark, oily and aromatic Nicaraguan Corojo '06 wrapper leaf with a triple cap. The cap, according to Miami Cigar, offers a dark, rich-tasting smoke that provides a unique balance of aroma, flavor and strength."

According to Nestor Miranda:

"We wanted to get Pepin out of his comfort zone, which is using Nicaraguan tobacco," said Nestor Miranda. "He accepted the challenge and came out with an amazing blend using 40% Dominican tobacco."

Instead of using traditional wooden boxes, the Nestor Miranda Art Deco will be sold in metallic art deco-designed tins with 21 cigars each. The sizes are:

Coffee Break / 4.5 x 50
Robusto Grande / 5.5 x 54
Gran Toro / 6 x 60

The Pauric Sweeney Painted Stripe Python Bowler is a flashy new take on a classic.

This luscious python bag is 9 1/2"H x 15"W x 6"D -- doesn't it seem too pretty to be so roomy? Though it's eye-catching, it's remarkably neutral; a perfect complement for black, brown, grey or a color, and a equally fetching for a jeans day or a fabulous dinner date. The black, silver and brown python skin is accented with gleaming silvertone hardware and comfortable brown calfskin.

Perhaps the most extravagant detail of this clutch is the stripes. Those horizontal black lines are painted directly onto the python skin, giving the bag an artsy, customized look.

The Pauric Sweeney Painted Stripe Python Bowler is available from Neiman Marcus for $2,160.00.

October has fast become the pink month with more and more products taking on a rosy hue to benefit breast cancer. Beemster is the only official cheese sponsor and it will be going pink for the second year in a row by partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure to help raise money and awareness for breast cancer research.

The limited edition Pink Ribbon Vlaskaas cheese will be available from September 15 through October 31, and for every pound sold, Beemster, will donate 50 cents to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. After donating $23,308 in 2009, the Gourmet Dutch company is pledging a minimum of $25,000 in 2010 and has set a goal of $40,000.

Beemster Vlaskaas is a gourmet Dutch cheese with a long history. Vlaskaas translates to flax cheese-- the sweet and creamy cheese was made only during the harvest festival of the flax for the workers to eat on thick slices of bread and with porridge while they worked and celebrated. In 2004 the harvest festival celebration was recreated as a community event. While digging through archives for information on the exact way to recreate the harvest festival, the recipe for Vlaskaas was discovered and Beemster was asked to make the Vlaskaas recipe. The cheese won a Gold Medal in its category and third place overall in the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Competition, one of the toughest cheese competitions in the world.

The foreclosed-on house where a Wells Fargo vice president moved herself in and threw wild parties has been sold for $14,950,000, according to the MLS. The house had been originally listed at $21 million and then dropped to $18 million.

The four-bedroom, four-bath home is located in the famed Malibu Colony and has unobstructed ocean views. It has walls of glass, and features an indoor/outdoor living space with glass pocket doors leading to the outdoors. There are state-of-the-art appliances in the chef's kitchen and the master suite has a steam shower, spa tub and large walk-in closet.

The 3,800-square-foot house drew international attention last September when it was learned that a Wells Fargo bank vice president had moved herself in after the bank had foreclosed on the property. She was fired once her escapades became public. Some local Realtors said the bank blocked showings of the home. Neighbors reported large parties being thrown at the property, including some where guests would be ferried to the house from a yacht anchored off shore. The original owners were a couple who had been duped by Bernie Madoff.

Hilton & Hyland agent Chad Rogers had the listing and is believed to have also represented the buyer. Rogers declined to comment on the sale.

There are 74 rooms with private balconies, all of them with uncluttered oceanfront views, now accepting reservations at the Hansar Samui resort in trendy Bophut Bay, on the island of Koh Samui, Thailand. The open-plan accommodations are furnished with local-flavor teak floors, stone bathroom fittings and local textiles, walk-in rain showers and free-standing tubs, and also come equipped with flat-screen televisions.

Culinary options come in the form of canapés and wine and champagne at Chill, the lounge, or Thai specialties at H Bistro served alongside French Mediterranean fare, Maine lobster, and oysters from Canada, Japan, and France. If you're a light eater we're sure that snacks and cocktails taken on a chaise between the ocean and the 30-meter, infinity-edge saltwater pool will be quite enough.

And if you must know, then yes, the Luxsa spa and its complete range of treatments will attend to any other need you might have. More traditional sweats can be worked up in the fitness center, more traditional relaxation can be had in the 24-hour lobby library and its free Internet access. The resort team will also be happy to arrange golf, yachting, diving, and sightseeing excursions if you're still trying to figure out how to relax by the beach. Rooms start at $197, which includes transfers to and from the airport. Bliss will be no extra charge...

Lovers of the great outdoors should enjoy today's estate, a five-bedroom home in the River Valley Ranch community in Carbondale, Colorado that is being auctioned off on August 26 through Concierge Auctions. The home was originally listed for $1.85 million and no minimum bid is required to participate. The sale is being conducted in cooperation with listing broker and seller Daniel Bruder.

The home has views of Mount Sopris, River Valley Ranch Golf Course and Roaring Fork Valley. River Valley Ranch currently has 43 homes on the market so Bruder decided to go the auction route. The community is designed around the Jay Morrish Championship Golf Course and the Ranch House Swim and Tennis Club. It has over 250 acres of dedicated open space and is home to a conservation area with Bald eagle habitats.

The home was designed by architect Brad Jordan and uses rustic materials like barn wood, interior/exterior rock and knotty alder. The kitchen is surrounded by natural rock, rustic granite and is the centerpiece of the main floor living area. There is a private outdoor deck entered through French doors in the master bedroom. The top floor living area has a private library which offers perfect mountain views.

The onsite auction 4118 Crystal Bridge Drive will be held on Thursday, August 26 at 11 a.m. MDT. Proxy bidding is available, and a 2.5 percent commission is offered to the buyer's broker. For more information visit www.RiverValleyRanchAuction.com or call 866-605-7287.

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K-B Toys co-founder Donald Kaufman wasn't just a seller of toys, he was a collector. Kaufman amassed an impressive collection of vintage toys which have been slowly sold off by Bertoia Auctions. The fourth auction in the series takes place on September 24 and 25.

The three previous auctions have already brought in $9.3 million, the highest amount ever achieved at auction by a single-owner antique toy collection. The fourth sale rounds up the last of the European toy automobiles from his collection. The items up for auction include French and German limousines and open tourers, fire pumpers, livery vans, airplanes and racers. There are a few double-decker buses and nearly 50 pedal cars.

The September auction also features toys that represent early TV and movie personalities like Popeye and Felix the Cat. Some of these still have their original boxes. In spring of 2011 there will be a final, one-day sale to conclude the auction of all the remaining Kaufman toys.

[via Art Daily]

Singer Jack Johnson has announced his support of Gulf Oil Spill recovery efforts. Johnson is due to embark on the second leg of his "To The Sea" tour, which begins on August 13th in Salt Lake City, Utah, and continues on to Texas and through the south to Florida. Many stops on the tour will be in areas directly affected by the Gulf Oil Spill.

As part of the All At Once campaign, Johnson's "To The Sea" tour will work with local and national non-profits in areas affected by the Gulf Oil Spill to encourage volunteerism and direct donations. Information on how to help will be available at the Village Green area at Jack Johnson concerts taking place in areas affected by the Gulf Oil Spill. Johnson's newest charity, the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation, is committing up to $70,000 to the All At Once non-profit partners working on Gulf Oil Spill relief efforts--a total of $30,000 in direct donations and up to $40,000 in matching grants. Johnson is auctioning off prime seats to his August shows via TicketMaster with all auction proceeds going directly to the nonprofits working on relief efforts in the Gulf. All At Once is Jack Johnson's social action network that offers connections with non-profit groups and ways to take environmental action. Participants earns rewards like free downloads.