Who’s the hottest men’s designer? Where can a woman find the most stylish shoes without sacrificing comfort? What are the premium accoutrements for today’s business and lifestyle demands? And which premier destinations help you escape from it all? We talked to our writers and editors as well as scores of experts, enthusiasts, and industry tastemakers to answer those questions-and more. Our result: The black enterprise Guide to the Best of Everything.
From high-end fashion and luxury autos to top-shelf spirits and enchanting resorts, this comprehensive package reveals the finest products, unmatched services, and world-class experiences for professionals and entrepreneurs who work smart, play hard, and deserve nothing but the best. Just as important, we unveil a number of African American innovators and emerging talents worthy of recognition. They represent the force behind some of the world’s first-class brands and exciting new properties. Read the following pages of our inaugural guide and discover the ultimate lifestyle.
Best Emerging Men’s Designer: Nana Boateng: Born in Ghana, Nana Boateng is a clothier to the stars with his custom men’s line-Akua Adoma-offering suits, shirts, and overcoats, featuring Persian lamb and Australian wool (the softest in the world). Clients include actors Forest Whitaker, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Luke, Terry Crews, and tennis star Boris Becker. Carried in boutiques in London, Tokyo, and Rome, suits range from $1,800 to $5,000; coats $3,000 to $6,000. www.akuaadoma.com
Best Ties: Robert Talbott: Robert Talbott ties are known for their signature fabrics, intricate weaving, and fine quality. All neckwear is hand-sewn on the Monterey Peninsula in California. Each tie is given special consideration such as the Seven Fold tie, which is created with seven hand-cut layers. www.roberttalbott.com
Best Cufflinks: Longmire: Longmire provides men with one of the world’s largest collection of cufflinks in 18-karat white, yellow, and rose gold and a stunning array of stones including diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. www.longmire.co.uk
Best Bespoke Designer: Ozwald Boateng: Designing for more than 20 years, Ozwald Boateng (Nana’s cousin) is the first black to own a boutique on Britain’s famed Savile Row. His one-off designs, entirely made by hand, have impressed celebrities from Laurence Fishburne to Mick Jagger. Boateng also has his own line of fabrics sold around the world. www.ozwaldboateng.com.uk
Best Custom Shoes: GJ Cleverley: The art of custom shoemaking is a rare skill. Renowned bespoke shoemakers George Glasgow and John Carnera inherited the knowledge of the craft from their mentor, famous London shoemaker George Cleverley, whose store they now operate. Using pre-Revolutionary Russian reindeer hide salvaged from a Danish ship sunk nearly 200 years ago, the duo fashioned a pair for Prince Charles. www.gjcleverleyco.uk
Best Men’s Retail Experience: Ralph Lauren: A New York City landmark, the Rhinelander Mansion-with antique furnishings and cashmere upholstery-houses Ralph Lauren’s flagship men’s boutique. http://stores.polo.com
Best Leather Goods and Accessories: Martin Dingman: Martin Dingman provides an extensive assortment of belts, shoes, wallets, and other accessories. Fashioned in European tradition, each piece is a timeless design, exquisitely constructed in the world’s best leathers and exotic skins by hand. www.martindingman.com
Best Emerging Jewelry Designer: Mychael Knight: He is best known as Project Runway’s “fan favorite” on season three. He didn’t win, but he moved on to partner with premier diamond jeweler Louis Glick (www.louis glick.com) to present his own jewelry line. His unique bold diamond creations set in platinum start at $100,000. www.mychaelknight.com
Best Emerging Handbag Line: Sukari: Undiscovered luxury line Sukari-the Swahili word for “sweet” or “sugar”-boasts buttery lambskin and exotic ostrich with suede interiors. And you can customize each piece with hardware cast in smooth or hammered 24-karat gold or rhodium. The premiere collection, priced from $860 to $3,800 and available by special order, was inspired by designer Alicia Ferriabough’s travels. www.sukaridesigns.com
Best Classic Handbag Designers
Lana Marks: Alligator, ostrich, crocodile, and lizard skin LANA MARKS handbags are favorites of Angela Bassett and Oprah Winfrey. The highly popular Diamond Cleopatra Clutch is loaned to one actress a year on the Academy Awards red carpet. www.lanamarks.com
Judith Leiber: Judith Leiber’s signature designs include the rectangular Goddess bag decorated with Austrian crystals. Leiber’s products are all made in the U.S. by hand and sought after by Hollywood’s hippest fashionistas. www.judithleiber.com
Best Executive Shoes: Samant‡ Shoes: Style with comfort equals luxury, says the designer of Samant‡ Shoes, whose unique hybrid of a high instep, flat foot mold, and moratorium on heels higher than three inches provide for easy, elegant stepping. Tyra Banks, Sanaa Lathan, Geena Davis, and Sophia Bush all agree. www.samantashoes.com
Best High-Fashion Shoe Designer: Courtney Crawford: His collection
is not for the fashionably timid. His clients are women who want to make a statement. Courtney Crawford designs sleek, sexy stilettos featuring fine leathers and skins often accented with a variety of furs-including chinchilla. www.courtneycrawford.comBest Luxury Retailer: Asprey: Located in the United Kingdom, U.S., Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates, this 226-year-old British luxury retailer offers an array of unique items ideal for client gifts or personal treats. Its extensive corporate gift collection features 18-karat white-gold-and-diamond cufflinks ($3,383), a travel alarm clock made from alligator skin and stainless steel ($1,293), and a sterling sliver ice bucket ($4,379). www.asprey.com
Best Trendy Boutique: The Red Lemon Store: Raised in Japan, Phnewfula Frederiksen has attracted celebrity regulars including rapper Ludacris and actress Gabrielle Union to her trendy boutique in Los Angeles. From its selection of $600 jeans to candles that dissolve into moisturizing cream, it’s a one-stop feel good shop. www.theredlemonstore.com
Best Bridal Designer: Amsale: Strong, feminine, and simply classic, Amsale is not your typical bridal designer. Her uniquely elegant gowns suit a variety of bridal celebrations. Her flagship salon is on Madison Avenue, but her creations can be found in fine boutiques nationwide. www.amsale.com
Best Fragrance: Clive Christian: The fragrance formula dates back to 1872 and has been a favorite of royalty for years. Today enjoyed by many, Clive Christian Perfumes bottles alluringly exotic and rare scents to create the world’s most expensive perfumes. www.clive.com
Best Diamond Buying Experience: Tiffany: Known for fine jewelry and the best selection in stones, Tiffany & Co. also provides private consultations as well as workshops on how to select a suitable engagement ring. The contents of the little blue box with the satin ribbon come with a price tag no less than $1,430. www.tiffany.com
RESTAURANTS
Best Tea Sitting: Palm court, The Ritz London: For £36 per person, you can enjoy a variety of sandwiches, freshly baked scones, and other pastries (with condiments such as Devonshire Clotted Cream) and an eclectic selection of delicious teas, including South African Rooibos Red Tea. Men must wear a jacket and tie, and you must make a reservation-sometimes months in advance. www.theritzlondon.com
Best “Green” Restaurateur: Govind Armstrong: Raised in Costa Rica and Los Angeles, Govind Armstrong’s dishes are exquisite creations of local meats and produce in L.A and Miami-the locations of his highly celebrated Table 8 restaurants. His approach is minimalist for a clean, straightforward dining experience.
Menus change not only with the season; new delights are in
troduced every few days-on recyclable paper, of course. Armstrong, co-owner and executive chef, opens his latest Table 8 this fall in New York. www.table8la.com
Best Soul Food: Ms. Tootsie’s: At Philadelphia’s Ms. Tootsie’s Restaurant Bar & Lounge, KeVen Parker and mother Joyce promise all the traditional comfort foods mama used to make: smothered pork chops, fried whiting, and caramelized candied yams. They have also introduced several health-conscious alternatives. www.kevenparker.net/mstootsrbl.html
Best International Dining Experience: Lasserre: For more than 60 years, Paris’ Lasserre has maintained a celebrated standard of elegance and fine dining. The restaurant is dramatically appointed, featuring a ceiling that opens up for open-air dining when weather permits. The wine cellar boasts 160,000 bottles. www.restaurant-lasserre.com
EXCURSIONS
Best Luxury Train Experience: Orient-Express: There’s exquisite dining prepared by French chefs as well as breakfast and afternoon tea. The cabin suite includes 24-hour steward service, and the black-tie splendor of the bar car is where great acquaintances can be made. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express offers a luxury boutique as well. www.orient-express.com
Best Family Cruise: Royal Caribbean: There’s a water park, onboard ice-skating, a theater group, deejay, culinary classes, and even a reward program for frequent cruisers. For kids and teenagers, the Freedom family of ships offer a wealth of programs and activities to keep them well entertained. www.royalcaribbean.com
Best Charter Boat Experience: Phocea: Surround yourself with serene waters and splendid opulence aboard the 246-foot Phocea. Onboard amenities include satellite television, hair salon, gym, and sauna. And the hand-picked crew is there to cater to all that you may fancy. With an interior outfitted to the highest standards, this enchanted vessel allows guests (up to 12) to sail the Mediterranean in virtuoso luxury. www.nigelburgess.com
Best Luxury Cruise: Regent Seven Seas: Select from a choice of ships in Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ six-star fleet. Each boasts signature cuisines and amenities as well as superb guest-to-staff ratios for attentive service.
In addition to fine living, these vessels offer a myriad of waterway destinations for the uber-traveler, including Europe, Asia, Antarctica, Africa, and India. www.regentexperience.com
GOLF EXPERIENCES
Best Caribbean Course: Teeth Of The Dog, Dominican Republic: It provides interesting challenges and spectacular views for golfers who play the course with seven holes located directly on the Caribbean Sea. www.teethofthedog.com
Best Resort Course: Punta Mita Four Seasons, Mexico: This 19-hole championship course is a private club for resort guests, with an optional Tail of the Whale par-3. www.fourseasons.com/puntamita
Best Domestic Membership: The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa: An 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course with a 7,178-yard challenge in Jupiter, Florida, is the first de-signed for the acclaimed resort. www.ritzcarltonclub.com
Best Public Course: Pebble Beach, California: Considered one of the world’s most challenging courses, California’s Pebble Beach offers expansive ocean views, forestry, and four courses.www.pebblebeach.com
Best International Course: St. Andrews Old Course, Scotland: There are several courses available to the public, but the favorite at St. Andrews Links in Scotland is the Old Course-mainly for the history. Because of the high demand, there is a handicap requirement-24 for men, 36 for women. www.standrews.org.uk
TIMEPIECES
Best Formal Watch: Krieger Gigantium Rose: Featuring three subsidiary dials that record minutes, hours, and running seconds, the 18-karat rose gold and diamond bracelet is available for $110,000. www.kriegerwatch.com
Best Ladies Watch: Tiffany Cocktail: Classic, elegant, and adorned with diamonds, Tiffany & Co.’s Art Deco Cocktail Watches are a feminine, beautiful complement to evening attire. Swiss-made, in 18-karat white gold, they range in price from $11,000 to $42,000. www.tiffany.com
Best Limited Edition: Audemars Piguet: Millenary by Audemars Piguet is the fifth design in the Tradition of Excellence, a limited and numbered collection of 20. This platinum chronograph with a sapphire crystal back has 323 components, 42 jewels, and 168 hours of power reserve. www.audemarspiguet.com
Best Precision Watch: Harry Winston Tourbillon: Available in rose gold and platinum, the Excenter Tourbillon is a brilliant mechanical construction made through collaboration with master English watchmaker Peter Speake-Marin. www.harrywinston.com
AIR TRAVEL
Best On-Demand Charter: Hawker Beechcraft: As the only charter company owned by an aircraft manufacturer, Hawker Beechcraft is equipped to handle a variety of international and domestic itineraries 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The company connects with more than 5,000 airports domestically and more than 2,500 internationally. www.hawkerbeechcraft.com
Best International Airline: Singapore Airlines: Boasting the largest seat in the sky, Singapore Airlines’ first-class cabin offers passengers 35-inch leather seating accented with mahogany. Its beds provide work and resting comfort, and menus are prepared by a panel of renowned chefs and wine consultants. The entertainment center offers a personal 23-inch LCD screen. www.singaporeair.com
Best Airline Lounge: Virgin Airlines: The Virgin Airlines Clubhouse at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York is the coolest place to hang out. The 7,000-square-foot lounge is designed with floor-to-ceiling windows, a waterfall, and a 90-foot long reflecting pool. It offers a full dining menu, well-stocked bar, and Sony PlayStations. www.virginholidays.co.uk
Best Fractional Program: Marquis Jet: The Marquis Jet Card, backed by the NetJets Fleet, provides 24/7 access to jet travel in 25-hour increments with pricing ranging from $119,900 to $399,900.
Membership also entitles card holders to a variety of luxury items and amenities. www.marquisjet.com
Best Business Jet: Cessna Citation X: The Cessna Citation X starts at $20 million and is the world’s fastest business jet with a speed of Mach .92. Only the retired Concorde jet is faster. http://citationx.cessna.com
CIGARS
Best Full-Bodied Brand: Fuente Fuente Opusx: Arturo Fuente’s premier brand is also one of the hardest to find. Packed with flavor, and constructed from a bold, spicy blend of Dominican tobaccos, these cigars consistently rank among the finest in the world. (Ring gauge: 50, length: 51/5″;Box of 25: $428) www.cigarfamily.com
Best International Label: Davidoff Millennium Blend Robusto: With its deep brown wrapper and aromatic blend of Dominican tobaccos, the Millennium Blend is the most potent line offered by the cigar masters at Davidoff. Somewhere in the medium to full-bodied range, the well-crafted cigars continue to draw rave reviews. (Ring gauge: 50, length: 51/4″; Box of 25: $390) www.davidoffmadison.com
Best Domestic Brand: Tatuaje Cabinet Noella: One of the few premium cigars manufactured in the U.S., they have become wildly popular worldwide for their Cubanesque flavor. Blended from various Nicaraguan tobaccos, these richly-flavored cigars are not for the beginner. (Ring gauge: 42, length: 51/8″; Box of 25: $180) www.tatuajecigars.com
Best Desktop Humidor: Daniel Marshall: The best desktop humidor must not only appeal to the eye, but also properly care for its contents. This is something Daniel Marshall understands. With a lacquered ebony exterior, the Daniel Marshall Macassar Ebony 125 Cigar Humidor
($700) is a sure fit for any executive’s desk. Its Spanish cedar interior and self-regulating humidification system also make it a fine box for maintaining and aging your prized cigars. http://danielmarshall.comSPIRITS
Best Rum: 10 Cane: What makes 10 Cane Rum so smooth? The process. Unlike most rum, whi
ch is derived from molasses, this luxury white rum is made directly from the first pressing of Trinidadian sugar cane and then distilled in small batches in French pot stills. A luxurious sip at a reasonable price: $35. www.10cane.com
Best Cognac: Martell Creation Grand Extra: Both its taste and design are rich and opulent, with the triple arch of the bottle crafted by French designer Serge Mansau. Its flavor is defined by a smooth, full-bodied combination of spice and fruitful notes. Martell’s Creation Grand Extra is the finest in a tradition of
cognac distillation. www.martell.com
Best Single Malt Scotch: Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist:
Its name means “shelter of the beast,” but Ardbeg Airigh Nam Beist, even with smoky hints of flavor, has a creamier, sweeter taste than its name would suggest. Made from rare and finite whiskey stocks, its premium offering retails for $115. www.ardbeg.com
Best Vodka: Ketel One: The first 100 gallons and the last 100 gallons in the distilling process of Ketel One are tossed out, believed to be too harsh or very weak. What’s left is an ultra smooth product that is best enjoyed neat, but defines texture for any mixed cocktail. www.ketelone.com
Best Brandy: Imoya: It could be considered among the best in Cognac, France, except Imoya is made in South Africa. Its rich flavor and texture, distilled in a French process from African soil, make it a modern offering to Old World brands. www.imoyabrandy.com
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
Best Plasma TV: Panasonic: Last year, Panasonic released the mother of all televisions. With a full HD pixel resolution of 1,920 horizontal by 1,080 vertical, the Panasonic TH-103PZ600U is the world’s largest high-definition plasma. It’s the size of four 42-inch displays and weighs nearly 500 pounds. This 103-inch Goliath is priced at $69,999. www.panasonic.com
Best Mobile Phone Design: Samsung/Bang & Olufsen: Bang & Olufsen’s innovative Serene Mobile breaks the mold in cell phone design. The display is located in the lower shell of the phone along with the microphone. A circular keyboard and loudspeaker are placed in the top shell. The camera lens is hidden along the side of the phone. It’s at your fingertips for $1,275.
www.bang-olufsen.com
Best Smart Phone: APPLE iPhone: The newly released iPhone is one smart cookie. Use the multi-touch, wide-screen display to enjoy your favorite downloads, take high-quality photos, or search for directions and phone numbers. The predictive soft keyboard fixes mistakes as you type. Pick one up for $499 for the 4GB or $599 for the 8GB model. www.apple.com/iphone
SPAS
Best Male Spa: BBRAXTON: This gentlemen’s grooming parlor, located in a “green” development in Harlem, offers barber services, hot towel shaves, manicures and pedicures, facials, and an Ike Behar custom shirt service. Other features? Leather armchairs, a flat-screen TV, and a well-stocked bar.
Though BBRAXTON’s been open less than a year, Broadway actress Brenda Braxton and her husband, Anthony Van Putten, are already receiving requests for duplicate spas in Japan and California. www.bbraxton.com
Best Hotel Spa: Bathhouse: Stone, glass, and special design orchestration allow for an open and luxurious experience at the 14,000-square-foot Bathhouse in Thehotel at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. The focus is the rejuvenating effects of water, hence varying presentations of waterfalls and rainfall corridors. www.mandalaybay.com
FINE ART
Best Contemporary Artist: Kehinde Wiley: Kehinde Wiley paints B-boys adorned with French rococo in a technique that stirs curiosity and harsh critique. His portraits are unique and explore stereotypes of masculinity, power, spirituality, and class.
Best Classic Artist: kyle S. Lane: A well-kept secret among art enthusiasts, Kyle S. Lane, a stipple artist, is sold only through private placement. His earlier works featured images of the jazz greats. Today, he is focused on instruments of the New York Philharmonic, with each creation composed of millions of dots.
Best Multimedia Artist: Kara Walker: Controversial and genius are descriptors attached to Kara Walker’s expressive silhouettes of repression, power, and sexuality in the historical context and contemporary perspectives of race relations in America.s
AUTOS
Best Dealer Service: BMW of Sterling: Thomas Moorehead, owner of BMW of Sterling and Mini of Sterling, in Sterling, Virginia, has 32 technicians on staff, with 24 at master’s status. With a customer service index above the national market, their round-the-clock service provides turnaround for the customer in a day. There are also loaner vehicles and an Enterprise Rent-a-Car on location. www.bmwofsterling.com
Best Off-Road Vehicle: Land Rover LR3: For easy transition from on-road to off-road maneuvering, the LR3 provides four-corner independent height-adjustable air suspension terrain response. Starts at $49,300. www.landrover.com
Best Driving Experience: Ferrari Challenge: The longest-running sanctioned race series of its kind on the continent, the exclusive event allows owners of the F430s, 360s, and other models to compete on some of the best tracks in the U.S. and Canada. www.ferrarichallenge.com
Best Limited Edition: Mercedes SLR: With sexy winged doors enveloping 650 horses, the Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 edition can be yours for $452,750. The 5.5-liter V8 engine that pushes zero to 60 in under 3.8 seconds was assembled by hand. www.mbusa.com
Best Luxury SUV
Cadillac Escalade: Spacious and well-equipped, the Cadillac Escalade is a fitting luxury vehicle for a broad range of professionals. The 2007 edition is complete with 41.3 inches of front legroom, Bose calibration, and privacy glass. Starting price: $55,570. www.cadillac.com
Best Technology: Lexus LS 600H L: Lexus introduces the LS 600h L, the world’s first full-hybrid vehicle featuring a V8 power train. It offers an advanced pre-collision system, and it parks itself. www.lexus.com
Best Sports Car: Lamborghini Murci_lago: Its speed and design make it the sexiest car on the road. If a spectator blinks, he might miss the Lamborghini Murci_lago LP640 Roadster whizzing by at more than 60 miles an hour in less than 3.6 seconds, topping out at a high speed of more than 200 mph. A thrill of a ride for $328,150. www.lamborghini.com
LUXURY HOTELS
Best Private Getaway: Cayo Espanto, Belize: This private island resort off the coast of Belize accommodates just 16 guests. It has five private casas and one over-water bungalow (each with its own houseman), with king-size beds dressed in Yves De Lormes sheets and a plunge pool on the verandah. Rates start at $1,695 a night. www.aprivateisland.com
Best Exotic Getaway: Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Thailand: Take a long-tail boat to this jungle locale in Chiang Rai, Thailand (there’s also transportation from the airport). Excursions include riding an elephant and hiking to a local village. The all-inclusive Adventure Package starts at $1,443 a night. www.fourseasons.com/goldentriangle
Best Luxury Shopping Services: Hâ„¢tel Fouquet’s: Barri_re, France: The elegantly grand Hâ„¢tel Fouquet’s Barri_re, located at the intersection of the Champs Elys_es and Avenue George V in Paris, provides a shopping package that includes a limo and personal shopper to accompany guests to top designer boutiques such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Prada. Rates start at $2,698. www.fouquets-barriere.com
Best Domestic Luxury Hotel: Skylofts At MGM Grand: Skylofts’ Inspired Escapes program provides extended personalized service to guests in any of the two-story, modernly appointed lofts located at the top of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Aside from butler service, keys to a Porsche sports car or the 2008 Cayenne SUV are part of the package. Depending on loft size and car model, packages start at $1,200 per night. www.skyloftsmgmgrand.com
Best Domestic Business Hotel: Mansion On Turtle Creek: A $20 million redesig
n is enhancing an already elegantly classic hotel. The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas offers round-the-clock service for the busy professional. The award-winning restaurant features private dining rooms, and there is complimentary Lexus sedan service. www.mansiononturtlecreek.com
Best International Business Hotel: Peninsula Hong Kong: Rolls Royce transportation services, helicopter sight-seeing trips, bespoke body treatments, fine cuisine, and exquisite luxury accommodations-The Peninsula Hong Kong provides unparalleled services and amenities to its guests. http://hongkong.peninsula.com
Best Hotel View: Jade Mountain, St. Lucia: Enjoy a therapeutic stay at Jade Mountain in St. Lucia where the rooms-called sanctuaries-are individually designed with infinity pools and outdoor bathrooms that provide breathtaking views of Piston Mountain and the Caribbean Sea. Sun Sanctuaries, which offer expansive panoramic views and more than 2,000 square feet, start at $1,400. www.jademountainstlucia.com
Best Secluded Hideaway: Kamalame Cay, Bahamas: Set on 96 acres and nestled by three miles of powder-fine sands, Kamalame Cay on Andros Island is accessible only by private seaplane or ferry. Each of its 16 spacious suites and villas offers enchanting ocean views for $840 to $4,480 per night. www.kamalame.com
Best Caribbean Escape: Amanyara, Turks & Caicos: There are 800 meters of white-sand beaches at the Amanyara resort along the coast of Northwest Point on Providenciales. Amanyara offers private villas and pavilions, with premium coral reef diving. Summer rates range from $1,000 to $6,750 a night. www.amanresorts.com