A set of super stylish leather motorcycle / Vespa helmets is the latest luxe offering from Italian label Tod’s, famed for its iconic driving loafers, shoes and chic bags.

Tod's introduces leather motorcycle and scooter helmets.

Featuring a microfiber lining, stainless steel hardware and flip-up plexiglass eye shields, the helmets are priced at about $1,000 and come in glove soft, saddle stitched black, white and vacchetta leather.

The helmets are made by hand entirely in Italy, in a painstaking process ensuring their quality and durability, and adhere to rigorous road-going safety standards in a marriage of timeless style and contemporary luxury.

Tod’s has been expanding its offerings of late and also recently introduced its first line of sunglasses. Meanwhile, the firm’s dapper owner Diego Della Valle just published a book titled Italian Touch extolling the virtues of the stylish lifestyle embodied by the brand.

Ray-Ban has given its ultra-classic aviator shades a luxe new twist for 2010 with its new Craft Genuine Leather collection. The Craft Outdoorsman sunglasses are luxuriously detailed with hand stitched genuine deer leather accents and boast premium craftsmanship.

Ray-Ban Craft genuine leather collection.

Made in Italy they feature Ray-Ban’s trademark Crystal lenses for optimum optical clarity. The leather is designed to improve and beautify with age and use. The Outdoorsman is priced at $216 and a slimmer, more contemporary model, the Caravan, is priced at $171.

Both are now available in either gold with brown leather or silver with black leather combos and matching cases from haute online eyewear boutique Eyegoodies.

The Brabus GLK V12 is a modified Mercedes-Benz billed as the world’s fastest street-legal SUV and just made its world debut at the Dubai Motor Show.

Brabus GLK is world's fastest street legal SUV.

With a whopping 750 hp 12-cylinder twin turbo engine, the vehicle set a new speed record of 200.3 mph at Italy’s Nardo test track in October and can do 0 – 62 mph in 4.2 seconds.

Other upgrades include air intakes, carbon fiber spoiler lip on the front apron, a four-pipe sports exhaust system, fender flares, a rear roof spoiler. The interior is done in full leather interior with Alcantara elements, an ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel and wood or carbon fiber trim for the dashboard, doors and center console.

Custom consoles for the backs of the vehicles front seats contain multimedia devices in case the passengers get bored between neck-snapping accelerations.

Oh yes, and the price will set you back a cool $570,000.

It’s been a long time coming and now Italian motorcycle maker MV Agusta Group has unveiled their first new models in 10 years.  MVA believes that their purchase by Harley-Davidson, Inc. in 2008 is now beginning to pay off.

MV Agusta Launches New Models For First Time In A Decade

HD’s purchase of MVA for $10M was a strategic move to broaden HD’s presence in Europe. While many mistakenly believe that most HD’s are sold in the U.S., this market actually accounts for less than 50% of new HD sales as the majority are in foreign markets.

There are two new bikes which are geared towards an affluent younger demographic of rider. The new versions are from the Brutale sport bike family and great for those that enjoy a sporty ride.

The 2010 Brutale 990R has a 990 cubic-centimeter engine and will be priced at $15,000 when it goes on sale in the U.S. at the end of this year or early next year.

The 2010 Brutale 1090R has a more powerful engine and will cost $18,000.

~~ Raine Devries

I took one look at the photo.  One glance at the stats of 562 horsepower and 202 mph top speed.  I breathed out a soft “Hello, lover“.   Some girls may get soft eyed at infants but this girl loves the sexy lines of a sleek machine.   The sensual feeling of sliding down into the leather seats, shutting the door, and feeling that sensation of the car enveloping you.   The wide wheel base, fat tires, and low center of gravity and I’m in heaven.

Ferrari F458 Italia.

So Ferrari has brought us the 458 Italia. It’s the first all-new mid-engined production Ferrari in a decade, replacing the F430 which itself was based on the 360 Modena. It’s set to debut at the Frankfurt auto show in a couple of weeks, but Ferrari’s already given a sneak peek at this gorgeous beast.

The 458 Italia represents a significant step forward from the already blindingly fast F430, adopting the latest lessons gleaned from Ferrari’s campaigning in the Formula One world championship. Under its curvaceous bodywork lies an all-aluminum chassis, powered by a new 4.5-liter V8 with direct injection, producing 562 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque, revving all the way up to 9000 rpm and driving the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

This is enough power to accelerate from 0-60 in under 3.4 seconds en route to a top speed of 202 mph. Inside the all-new interior features controls centralized on the steering wheel, from which the driver can control everything, and a warning system that alerts the driver when his ride is ready to roll.

~ Raine Devries

When you think of touring Italy, do your eyes glaze over with the thought of trains stuffed with fellow tourists or a clunker of a rental car?  Well, fear no more hearty traveler as Hertz of all people has recently acquired a fleet of chic Lotus Elise SC‘s for your touring pleasure.   This fleet is part of their “Fun Collection” and are now ready to rent.

Imagine the sensation of driving a legendary sports car through the winding roads of the Italian countryside.

The Elise SC sports a compact Toyota-sourced 1.8 liter four cylinder with a supercharger which produces a decent 218 horsepower; however, it has a curb weight of less than 2k pounds so it can blast to 60mph in less than 4.3 seconds which will help immensely as you come out of a mountain curve and drive on to tackle a straightaway before you.

The new $175 million Verdura Golf & Spa Resort on the southern coast of Sicily from the Rocco Forte Collection opening August 1 will be the only luxury resort in the Mediterranean offering a five-star experience across golf, hotel, dining and spa facilities. The Collection’s 13th property features 203 ocean view rooms and suites, each with a private terrace overlooking 1.2 miles of private coastline, two championship golf courses, six tennis courts, a 43,000-sq.-ft. spa, fitness and yoga center, four restaurants, 55 private villas, a conference center, ballroom, open-air amphitheater and helipad.

To celebrate its much-anticipated opening of the 570-acre beachfront resort, Verdura is offering guests visiting between August 1 and December 31 complimentary benefits including green fees for unlimited golf play on its three world-class courses, dinner every evening at any of its four superb restaurants and thalassotherapy spa treatments as well as a 50% discount on a second family room. Starting rates for a three-night stay range from $1,399 for a December visit to $2,967 for a visit in August.

I know what’s on my wish list!

About nine months ago, Aston Martin started taunting performance car aficionados with teaser shots of its upcoming One-77 supercar.   Now, with much fanfare, the first completed vehicle has made its way out of the marque’s factory in the United Kingdom and over to the shores of Lake Como in Italy where it took part in the Concorso d’Eleganza, where it received rave reviews.

Aston’s brutally-styled beauty took home the Design Award for Concept Cars and Prototypes, garnering 30% of the total number of votes cast at the event in the process. Not only were the event’s attendees the first to gaze upon a fully assembled One-77, they also got to hear it run for the first time ever.

Watch the car in slow action here and check out the sound of that sweet motor!

Any well heeled connoisseur has been to Venice but for those aspiring to reach those ranks, there are tricks to the trade to make it appear as though you’ve already embraced certain experiences.   Horchow offers gorgeous Venetian masks which add a hint of mystery and glamour to any room.   The masks range from $183.90 up to $251.90.

The masks which are traditionally worn during Carnivale in Italy are rich with elegance and history and they draw upon Commedia dell’arte characters for the design inspirations.

Contrary to popular belief, exquisite footware does not soley belong in the realm of women.  Men also enjoy fine shoes – they like having an outline of their foot done, choosing the types of soles, leather and lacings and wait with baited anticipation for that call a few weeks later from the cobbler to let them know the day has finally arrived.

It’s an amusing yet touching sight to see a man sitting and looking with love at his handmade shoes much with the same look of love he bestowed upon his first million dollar$.

In today’s world, it doesn’t get much better than Stefano Bemer shoes.

Bemer, who once worked for Gucci, is an Italian master cobbler who hand-makes truly unique shoes. Using materials such as toad and camel, his bespoke shoes take about three months to produce and start at around $2,000.  Considering these shoes will last a couple decades with good care, they are an absolute bargain.