On October 22, Sotheby’s New York will present the Creative Genius of Sam Simon—A Lifetime of Memorabilia. A jack-of-all-trades, Simon was the master of many, including writer, producer, cartoonist, and activist but is most well-known as the co-creator of The Simpsons animated TV series.

The dedicated sale will naturally include highly coveted memorabilia from everyone’s favorite dysfunctional family, like The Simpsons Data East Pinball Machine, but will also provide a unique look into the life of the …

For Joshua Bingaman, who grew up in Oklahoma, boots were simply a functional way of life. But, in 2012, after owning a shoe store with his brother in San Francisco and living and working in Istanbul with his aunt (who was importing and exporting fabrics for brands like Anthropologie), he decided to launch his own creations—Helm Boots. Three years later, his Austin-based company is rapidly becoming one of the most desirable designs in the business.

Made like a work boot, but fashionable enough to be worn as …

Originally published in the September 2015 Robb Report Private Aviation Sourcebook as “Don’t Hesitate to Ask.”

If you are a first-time buyer of a business aircraft, you should be asking yourself many questions before embarking on the quest to find the perfect plane: How often will I fly and how far? How much will I need to work or sleep en route to my destinations? How much luggage will I need to stow? How tall are my typical passengers and how much luggage will they bring? How long will I stay at each dest…

Originally published in the September/October 2015 issue of Robb Report Home & Style as “Character Study”

The recently opened Bottega Veneta home-furnishings boutique—replete with such adornments as 18th-century frescoes—on Milan’s Via Borgospesso; Murano glass lamp ($5,400); Bottega Veneta appointments inside the fashion house’s branded suite at Park Hyatt Chicago; KPM porcelain collection ($340 to $1,350); rectangular side table featuring a sleek …

Originally published in the September 2015 Robb Report Private Aviation Sourcebook as “Interior Motives.”

Just as jet manufacturers continually seek to produce aircraft with more powerful engines and longer range, the companies that design custom interiors compete to create the most efficient, attractive, and comfortable cabins. Their designers, engineers, and customer-service specialists will work with you to meet your requirements for a living space that allows you to conduct business while in flight or j…

Originally published in the September/October 2015 issue of Robb Report Home & Style as “Material Obsessions”

Nodo d’Amore fabrics featuring a “fil coupé” technique, from Loro Piana Interiors’ Maharaja Collection; Chelidonio from the Windrose Collection (drapery shown), which pairs linen with contrasting cotton embroidery; passementerie, a January 2015 debut; Graham gloves; Levante, a diaphanous linen fabric (drapery shown) with an embroidered design. In…

Those searching for the Fountain of Youth may find age-defying rejuvenation in two facials soon to be offered at the more than 16,000-square-foot spa at the Mandarin Oriental, Boston—a Robb Report Top 100 Hotel. On October 1, the spa will add to its treatment menu the skin-care line of Linda Meredith—renowned as the “Queen of Facials,” thanks to her 40-plus years’ tenure in the beauty industry. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Boston, will offer two of her signature facials, the Couture Facial and the Couture Fac…

The startup aviation company XTI Aircraft announced this week that it has been developing the XTI TriFan 600 concept, the world’s smallest fixed-wing aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and is in the process of seeking funding to finance the first example. (A larger VTOL, the  AgustaWestland AW609 TiltRotor, from the helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestlands, is scheduled for delivery in 2017.) The six-seat, fixed-wing TriFan 600 will pair the speed, distance, and altitude capabilities …

Originally published in the September/October 2015 issue of Robb Report Home & Style as “New Sensations”

Cassiopeia lamp in polished brass ($7,130); cushion with Swarovski crystals ($1,330); Fleurette coffee tables by Thierry Lemaire, featuring Macassar ebony wood and polished brass ($24,280 as shown); Hermann chairs in cognac-colored leather and semi-glossy Canaletto walnut ($16,260); the Leonardo rectangular dining table ($30,610), as seen in a vignette at Paris’s&nb…

Monterey Car Week is not just a showcase for beautiful classics; in recent years, it has also become the stage for some of the most cutting-edge concept cars. This year, striking examples were on exhibit from BMW, Bentley, Lamborghini, and Infiniti, as well as a bespoke design from the former Aston Martin designer Henrik Fisker. On Sunday, concurrent with the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, these beauties were displayed on the Concept Lawn at the Pebble Beach Lodge for all to admire. Here are…