The World of George Zaharoff
My Dreams. My Passions. My Life. A Gentleman's Journey.
About Me...George Zaharoff
Life is inspiration.
Be it a flower growing on a sidewalk or climbing the Great Wall of China. Inspiration is everywhere. Since I was a child, I dreamt of one day being a clothing designer. When I was 5 years old, I would be asked, "George what do you want to be when you grow up?" I would respond, "a fashion designer." Little boys don't grow up to be fashion designers, they grow up to be doctors and
lawyers or policemen.
Nonetheless, during my Junior and Senior years at DePaul University (where I received a BS in Operations Management, Manufacturing and Purchasing), I started flying to Milan and Paris to see what I could do to "jump start" my dream. After finishing DePaul, I moved with a small staff to Milan, I was only 21 years old. And that was the beginning
of the beginning.
I've lived in London, Paris, Milan, and Athens. At one time I commuted to all those cities like those taking the bus to work. It was when business started to grow in the States
that I moved back.
Every year I travel between 200,000 to 250,000 miles a year (a plane ride around the globe is 20,000 miles, so figure ten to twelve round the world trips a year!). I love traveling and exploring. I've traveled extensively all over the world - over 100 cities covering about fifty countries.
This is my passion, it's where I seek inspiration, where I get to clear my mind. I love meeting new people and learning about new cultures. I read about the history and peoples before getting on a plane and visiting the area. I love history, and the principles of cause and effect.
This is the mark found on almost everything I create:
Why does one play the violin?
Because they love it.
Why do I do what I do?
Because I love it - and it comes from the inner depths of my heart. Zaharoff isn't a just a label, it's a lifestyle, for the man, woman, and child who go through life being just a little different.
With lots of love,
George
Pictures above from left to right: lunch in the Serengeti; 30,000 miles above the earth; Ankor Wat, Cambodia; another plane pic, where I do most of my dreaming.
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The World of George Zaharoff
My Brush with Mona Lisa
Last week, on a cold morning, I woke up at 6am to get ready for meetings at the office in Chicago. Piccolo loves to sleep and getting up this early isn't typical for him. He decided to sit in bed rather than the usual waiting outside the door while I showered. I threw his sweater on and put him in the back seat of the car.
Piccolo was cold and the "routine" every morning (just a little later) is for him to jump on my lap so I can keep him warm. This time, I ran into Starbucks and was going to drop him off at doggie day camp. As I was driving, I realized it was really quiet. Where's Piccolo? I looked to my right and there he was, just sitting there in the passenger seat, falling asleep.
I took my iPhone and snapped a picture. This has become my favourite and I wanted to share it with you. He has this little smurk on him and it reminds me of Mona Lisa's smile.
Piccolo Loves Gemma - Sneak Preview
So, all of you know about my little boy, Piccolo. I brought him into my life on the 1st of January 2009 (he was born September of 2008) and it has been love ever since. My dearest friend, whom I have known since we were children brought an Italian Greyhound into their lives six months after Piccolo, and named her Gemma.
This is the only picture I was able to get of the two of them together because, well, you try to get two young Italian greyhounds together...they are just beautiful. The little blue snake in the upper middle part of the picture is what they fight over, unless, like in this case, you give them a treat.
Being an Italian Greyhound, Piccolo (and all Italian Greyhounds) gets cold during the Fall, Winter and early Spring. These is a fabric, most are familiar with, called fleece. It is a polyester and very plush, which makes it extremely warm, and both Piccolo and Gemma love cuddling into fleece blankets. I went in search of finding Piccolo something nice and warm and first twent o the big guys like Petsmart and Petco, to no avail. Then I went to the dog boutiques and found a few items, but nothing spectacular, outfits I didn't quite get into. While driving, it popped into my head to come up with a small collection of dog clothing. Nothing huge, just something nice and easy, but fashionable. I had to call it "Piccolo Loves Gemma".
I got home and quickly sketched out the label. I've enclosed the scribble scratches so you can see my creative process (laughing...but it is the truth). You will then see what the graphic designer came up with and then, voila! the final. I wanted the letters to have a 1920's art-nuevo type feel, something fun. Below that are some sneak previews of some of the items.
Initial sketch, bottom left, (the top part is for another label, the bottom is the initial sketch sent to graphics). Then when I got it back from the graphics, bottom right, I then assign pantone colours to everything and then send it to the label people.
Final Piccolo Loves Gemma, below (sorry it's a picture, couldn't scan), but pretty cool, no?
Some of the pieces:
Leather and studs (the inside is reinforced with fleece, so it's very very warm)
Fleece Red Plaid
White Fleece Plaid
This is the only picture I was able to get of the two of them together because, well, you try to get two young Italian greyhounds together...they are just beautiful. The little blue snake in the upper middle part of the picture is what they fight over, unless, like in this case, you give them a treat.
Being an Italian Greyhound, Piccolo (and all Italian Greyhounds) gets cold during the Fall, Winter and early Spring. These is a fabric, most are familiar with, called fleece. It is a polyester and very plush, which makes it extremely warm, and both Piccolo and Gemma love cuddling into fleece blankets. I went in search of finding Piccolo something nice and warm and first twent o the big guys like Petsmart and Petco, to no avail. Then I went to the dog boutiques and found a few items, but nothing spectacular, outfits I didn't quite get into. While driving, it popped into my head to come up with a small collection of dog clothing. Nothing huge, just something nice and easy, but fashionable. I had to call it "Piccolo Loves Gemma".
I got home and quickly sketched out the label. I've enclosed the scribble scratches so you can see my creative process (laughing...but it is the truth). You will then see what the graphic designer came up with and then, voila! the final. I wanted the letters to have a 1920's art-nuevo type feel, something fun. Below that are some sneak previews of some of the items.
Initial sketch, bottom left, (the top part is for another label, the bottom is the initial sketch sent to graphics). Then when I got it back from the graphics, bottom right, I then assign pantone colours to everything and then send it to the label people.
Final Piccolo Loves Gemma, below (sorry it's a picture, couldn't scan), but pretty cool, no?
Leather and studs (the inside is reinforced with fleece, so it's very very warm)
Fleece Red Plaid
White Fleece Plaid
Aircraft Registration Codes
As you know, I love airplanes. I don't know what it is, but it has been this way since I was a child. There are even bigger enthusiests than I am, there are people who actually follow the history of specific aircraft. The way this is done is by their markings. You've certainly seen them, but not really paid attention. On the back of every airplane (and under their wings), this is called registration markings. Every aircraft, from a helicopter to a private jet to commercial airliners have them.
If you notice, in the United Airlines 737 below, at the back of the plane there is an "N" followed by a bunch of numbers "381UA". Just to show you, google "N381UA" and you will see there are over 12,000 entries (and now this one). United has no longer flies this aircraft.
The "N" is the country in which the aircraft is registered to - and once you know the more popular countries, when you see an aircraft, you know which country it belongs to, for example: F-France; D-Germany; N-United States; G-United Kingdom. Sometimes, you will see a movie which is supposed to be filmed in say Vietnam but the airplane the actors are getting into is registered in Canada.
All pictures here was taken from airliners.net, a really awesome website for any aircraft enthusiast.
Here's another one, a private airplane. These are fun because whenever I see one, I wonder who it is on the plane and where they have come from, again, this one has the "N" markings, which is the United States. If you google N911DT, you can find out more about the aircraft.
By googling the numbers, you can see the type of aircraft (Dassault) and who owns it (a charter company). Pretty awesome. I've taken this from Wikipedia just so there's another reference out there. The following is a list of countries, followed by their code. Again every aircraft, from a hot air ballon to even a zepplin will have one.
AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION COUNTRY CODES
If you notice, in the United Airlines 737 below, at the back of the plane there is an "N" followed by a bunch of numbers "381UA". Just to show you, google "N381UA" and you will see there are over 12,000 entries (and now this one). United has no longer flies this aircraft.
The "N" is the country in which the aircraft is registered to - and once you know the more popular countries, when you see an aircraft, you know which country it belongs to, for example: F-France; D-Germany; N-United States; G-United Kingdom. Sometimes, you will see a movie which is supposed to be filmed in say Vietnam but the airplane the actors are getting into is registered in Canada.
All pictures here was taken from airliners.net, a really awesome website for any aircraft enthusiast.
Here's another one, a private airplane. These are fun because whenever I see one, I wonder who it is on the plane and where they have come from, again, this one has the "N" markings, which is the United States. If you google N911DT, you can find out more about the aircraft.
By googling the numbers, you can see the type of aircraft (Dassault) and who owns it (a charter company). Pretty awesome. I've taken this from Wikipedia just so there's another reference out there. The following is a list of countries, followed by their code. Again every aircraft, from a hot air ballon to even a zepplin will have one.
AIRCRAFT REGISTRATION COUNTRY CODES
Country / Region  |
Registration Prefix  |
Presentation |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | YA | YA-AAA to YA-ZZZ |
| Albania | ZA | ZA-AAA to ZA-ZZZ
ZA-HAA to ZA-HZZ (Helicopters) |
| Algeria | 7T | 7T-AAA to 7T-ZZZ |
| Andorra | C3 | C3-AAA to C3-ZZZ |
| Angola | D2 | D2-AAA to D2-ZZZ |
| Anguilla | VP-A | VP-AAA to VP-AZZ |
| Antigua and Barbuda | V2 | V2-AAA to V2-ZZZ |
| Argentina | LV/LQ | LV-AAA to LV-ZZZ
LQ-AAA to LQ-ZZZ (Official use only) |
| Armenia | EK | EK-10000 to EK-99999 |
| Aruba | P4 | P4-AAA to P4-ZZZ |
| Australia | VH | VH-AAA to VH-ZZZ |
| Austria | OE | OE-AAA to OE-KZZ
OE-BAA to OE-BZZ (governmental service) OE-LAA to OE-LZZ (airlines operating scheduled flights) OE-VAA to OE-VZZ (test registrations) OE-WAA to OE-WZZ (amphibian and sea planes) OE-XAA to OE-XZZ (helicopters) OE-0001 to OE-5999 (gliders) OE-9000 to OE-9999 (motor gliders) |
| Azerbaijan | 4K | 4K-AZ1 to 4K-AZ999
4K-10000 to 4K-99999 |
| Bahamas | C6 | C6-AAA to C6-ZZZ |
| Bahrain | A9C | A9C-AA to A9C-ZZ |
| Bangladesh | S2 | S2-AAA to S2-ZZZ |
| Barbados | 8P | 8P-AAA to 8P-ZZZ |
| Belarus | EW | EW-100AA to EW-999ZZ
EW-10000 to EW-99999 |
| Belgium | OO | OO-AAA to OO-ZZZ (OO-Q never used)
OO-BAA to OO-BZZ (preferred for Balloons) OO-YAA to OO-ZAA (preferred for gliders) OO-01 to OO-499 (Homebuilt aircraft) OO-501 to OO-999 & OO-A01 to OO-Z99 (Microlights) |
| Belize | V3 | V3-AAA to V3-ZZZ |
| Benin | TY | TY-AAA to TY-ZZZ |
| Bermuda | VP-B, VQ-B | VP-BAA to VP-BZZ, VQ-BAA to VQ-BZZ |
| Bhutan | A5 | A5-AAA to A5-ZZZ |
| Bolivia | CP | CP-1000 to CP-9999 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | T9 | T9-AAA to T9-ZZZ |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | E7 | E7-AAA to E7-ZZZ |
| Botswana | A2 | A2-AAA to A2-ZZZ |
| Brazil | PU | PU-AAA to PU-ZZZ (Microlights) |
| Brazil | PT | PT-AAA to PT-ZZZ |
| Brazil | PR | PR-AAA to PR-ZZZ |
| Brazil | PP | PP-AAA to PP-ZZZ |
| British Virgin Islands | VP-L | VP-LAA to VP-LZZ |
| Brunei | V8 | V8-AAA to V8-ZZZ
V8-AA1 to V8-ZZ9 V8-001 to V8-999 |
| Bulgaria | LZ | LZ-AAA to LZ-ZZZ |
| Burkina Faso | XT | XT-AAA to XT-ZZZ |
| Burundi | 9U | 9U-AAA to 9U-ZZZ |
| Cambodia | XU | XU-AAA to XU-ZZZ |
| Cameroon | TJ | TJ-AAA to TJ-ZZZ |
| Canada | CF- | CF-AAA to CF-ZZZ |
| Canada | C-I | C-IAAA to C-IZZZ (ultralight aeroplanes only) |
| Canada | C-G | C-GAAA to C-GZZZ |
| Canada | C-F | C-FAAA to C-FZZZ |
| Cape Verde | D4 | D4-AAA to D4-ZZZ |
| Cayman Islands | VP-C | VP-CAA to VP-CZZ |
| Central African Republic | TL | TL-AAA to TL-ZZZ |
| Chad | TT | TT-AAA to TT-ZZZ |
| Chile | CC | CC-AAA to CC-ZZZ
CC-CAA to CC-CZZ (commercial aircraft) CC-PAA to CC-PZZ (private aircraft) |
| Colombia | HK | HK-1000A to HK-9999Z |
| Colombia | HJ | HJ-1000A to HJ-9999Z (Microlights) |
| Comoros | D6 | D6-AAA to D6-ZZZ |
| Congo, Democratic Republic of | 9Q | 9Q-AAA to 9Q-ZZZ |
| Congo, Republic of | TN | TN-AAA to TN-ZZZ |
| Cook Islands | E5 | E5-AAA to E5-ZZZ |
| Costa Rica | TI | TI-AAA to TI-ZZZ |
| Croatia | 9A | 9A-AAA to 9A-ZZZ
9A-GAA to 9A-GZZ (Gliders) 9A-HAA to 9A-HZZ (Helicopters) |
| Cuba | CU | CU-C1000 to CU-C1999 (Airlines, cargo operations)[3]
CU-E1000 to CU-E1999 (Agricultural Aircraft)[4] CU-H1000 to CU-H1999 (Helicopters) CU-N1000 to CU-N1999 (Private Aircraft) CU-T1000 to CU-T1999 (Airlines, passenger flights) CU-U1000 to CU-U1999 (Ultralights)[5] |
| Cyprus, Republic of | 5B | 5B-AAA to 5B-ZZZ |
| Czech Republic | OK | OK-AAA to OK-ZZZ
OK-AAA 00 to OK-ZZZ 99 (Microlights) OK-0000 to OK-9999 (Gliders & balloons) OK-A000 to OK-A999 (Ultralight gliders)[6] |
| Côte d'Ivoire | TU | TU-AAA to TU-ZZZ |
| Denmark | OY N2 | OY-AAA to OY-ZZZ
OY-HAA to OY-HZZ (Helicopters) |
| Djibouti | J2 | J2-AAA to J2-ZZZ |
| Dominica | J7 | J7-AAA to J7-ZZZ |
| Dominican Republic | HI | HI-100AA to HI-999ZZ |
| East Timor | 4W N1 | |
| Ecuador | HC | HC-AAA to HC-ZZZ |
| Egypt | SU | SU-AAA to SU-XXZ
SU-ZAA to SU-ZZZ |
| El Salvador | YS | YS-AAA to YS-ZZZ |
| Equatorial Guinea | 3C | 3C-AAA to 3C-ZZZ |
| Eritrea | E3 | E3-AAAA to E3-ZZZZ |
| Estonia | ES | ES-AAA to ES-ZZZ |
| Ethiopia | ET | ET-AAA to ET-ZZZ |
| Falkland Islands | VP-F | VP-FAA to VP-FZZ |
| Faroe Islands | OY N2 | OY-AAA to OY-ZZZ
OY-HAA to OY-HZZ (Helicopters) OY-XAA to OY-XZZ (Gliders) |
| Fiji Islands | DQ | DQ-AAA to DQ-ZZZ |
| Finland | OH | OH-AAA to OH-ZZZ
OH-001 to OH-999 (gliders) |
| France | F | F-AAAA to F-ZZZZ
F-CAAA to F-CZZZ (Gliders) F-OAAA to F-OZZZ (Overseas Territories) F-PAAA to F-PZZZ (Homebuilt) F-WAAA to F-WZZZ (Test and Delivery) "department number"-AA to -ZZ & -AAA to -ZZZ (Ultralights)[eg: 59-ABC] |
| French Guyana | F-O | F-OAAA to F-OZZZ |
| French West Indies | F-OG | F-OGAA to F-OGZZ |
| Gabon | TR | TR-AAA to TR-ZZZ |
| Gambia | C5 | C5-AAA to C5-ZZZ |
| Georgia | 4L | 4L-AAA to 4L-ZZZ
4L-10000 to 4L-99999 |
| Germany | D | D-AAAA to D-AZZZ for aircraft with more than 20t MTOW
D-BAAA to D-BZZZ for aircraft with 14t-20t MTOW D-CAAA to D-CZZZ for aircraft with 5,7t-14t MTOW D-EAAA to D-EZZZ for single engine aircraft up to 2t MTOW D-FAAA to D-FZZZ for single engine aircraft from to 2t-5,7t MTOW D-GAAA to D-GZZZ for multi-engine aircraft up to 2t MTOW D-IAAA to D-IZZZ for multi-engine aircraft from 2t-5,7t MTOW D-HAAA to D-HZZZ for rotorcraft D-KAAA to D-KZZZ for powered gliders D-LAAA to D-LZZZ for airships D-MAAA to D-MZZZ for powered sports aircraft D-NAAA to D-NZZZ for non-powered sports aircraft D-OAAA to D-OZZZ for manned free ballons D-0001 to D-9999 for Gliders |
| Ghana | 9G | 9G-AAA to 9G-ZZZ |
| Gibraltar | VP-G | VP-GAA to VP-GZZ |
| Greece | SX | SX-AAA to SX-ZZZ |
| Greenland | OY N2 | OY-AAA to OY-ZZZ |
| Grenada | J3 | J3-AAA to J3-ZZZ |
| Guatemala | TG | TG-AAA to TG-ZZZ |
| Guinea | 3X | 3X-AAA to 3X-ZZZ |
| Guinea Bissau | J5 | J5-AAA to J5-ZZZ |
| Guyana | 8R | 8R-AAA to 8R-ZZZ |
| Haiti | HH | HH-AAA to HH-ZZZ |
| Honduras | HR | HR-AAA to HR-ZZZ |
| Hong Kong, China | B-L | B-LAA to B-LZZ |
| Hong Kong, China | B-K | B-KAA to B-KZZ |
| Hong Kong, China | B-H (formerly VR-H) | B-HAA to B-HZZ |
| Hungary | HA | HA-AAA to HA-ZZZ |
| Iceland | TF | TF-AAA to TF-ZZZ
TF-100 to TF-999 (Microlights) |
| India | VT | VT-AAA to VT-ZZZ
VT-HAA to VT-HZZ (Helicopters) |
| Indonesia | PK | PK-AAA to PK-ZZZ |
| Iran | EP | EP-AAA to EP-ZZZ |
| Iraq | YI | YI-AAA to YI-ZZZ |
| Ireland | EI | EI-AAA to EI-ZZZ |
| Isle of Man[7] | M | M-AAAA to M-ZZZZ |
| Israel | 4X | 4X-AAA to 4X-ZZZ |
| Italy | I | I-AAAA to I-ZZZZ |
| Jamaica | 6Y | 6Y-AAA to 6Y-ZZZ |
| Japan | JA | JA-0001 to JA-9999
JA-001A to JA-999Z JA-01AA to JA-99ZZ JA-A001 to JA-A999 (Balloons) |
| Jordan | JY | JY-AAA to JY-ZZZ |
| Kazakhstan | UP | UP-AAA01 to UP-ZZZ99 (Suffix letters refer to aircraft type) |
| Kenya | 5Y | 5Y-AAA to 5Y-ZZZ |
| Kiribati | T3 | T3-AAA to T3-ZZZ |
| Korea, People's Democratic Rep. | P | P-500 to P-999 |
| Korea, Republic of | HL | HL1000 to HL9999 |
| Kuwait | 9K | 9K-AAA to 9K-ZZZ |
| Kyrgyzstan | EX | EX-100 to EX-999
EX-10000 to EX-99999 |
| Laos | RDPL | RDPL-10000 to RDPL-99999 |
| Latvia | YL | YL-AAA to YL-ZZZ |
| Lebanon | OD | OD-AAA to OD-ZZZ |
| Lesotho | 7P | 7P-AAA to 7P-ZZZ |
| Liberia | A8 | A8-AAA to A8-ZZZ |
| Libya | 5A | 5A-AAA to 5A-ZZZ |
| Liechtenstein | HB | HB-AAA to HB-ZZZ (shares allocation with Switzerland) |
| Lithuania | LY | LY-AAA to LY-ZZZ |
| Luxembourg | LX | LX-AAA to LX-ZZZ
LX-BAA to LX-BZZ (Balloons) LX-CAA to LX-CZZ (Glider) LX-HAA to LX-HZZ (Helicopters) LX-XAA to LX-XZZ (Ultralights) |
| Macau, China | B-M | B-MAA to B-MZZ |
| Macedonia | Z3 | Z3-AAA to Z3-ZZZ
Z3-HAA to Z3-HZZ (Helicopters) |
| Madagascar | 5R | 5R-AAA to 5R-ZZZ |
| Malawi | 7Q | 7Q-AAA to 7Q-ZZZ |
| Malaysia | 9M | 9M-AAA to 9M-ZZZ
9M-EAA to 9M-EZZ (Amateur-built) 9M-UAA to 9M-UZZ (Microlight) |
| Maldives | 8Q | 8Q-AAA to 8Q-ZZZ |
| Mali | TZ | TZ-AAA to TZ-ZZZ |
| Malta | 9H | 9H-AAA to 9H-ZZZ |
| Marshall Islands | V7 | V7-0001 to V7-9999 |
| Mauritania | 5T | 5T-AAA to 5T-ZZZ |
| Mauritius | 3B | 3B-AAA to 3B-ZZZ |
| Mexico | XC | XC-AAA to XC-ZZZ |
| Mexico | XB | XB-AAA to XB-ZZZ |
| Mexico | XA | XA-AAA to XA-ZZZ |
| Micronesia | V6 | V6-AAA to V6-ZZZ |
| Moldova | ER | ER-AAA to ER-ZZZ
ER-10000 to ER-99999 |
| Monaco | 3A | 3A-AAA to 3A-ZZZ
3A-HAA to 3A-HZZ (Helicopters) |
| Mongolia | JU | JU-1000 to JU-9999 |
| Montenegro | 4O | 4O-AAA to 4O-ZZZ |
| Montserrat | VP-M | VP-MAA to VP-MZZ |
| Morocco | CN | CN-AAA to CN-ZZZ |
| Mozambique | C9 | C9-AAA to C9-ZZZ |
| Myanmar | XZ | XZ-AAA to XZ-ZZZ (Not Used) |
| Myanmar | XY | XY-AAA to XY-ZZZ |
| Namibia | V5 | V5-AAA to V5-ZZZ |
| Nauru | C2 | C2-AAA to C2-ZZZ |
| Nepal | 9N | 9N-AAA to 9N-ZZZ |
| Netherlands | PH | PH-AAA to PH-ZZZ
PH-1A1 to PH-9Z9 (Microlights) PH-100 to PH-9999 (Gliders) |
| Netherlands Antilles | PJ | PJ-AAA to PJ-ZZZ |
| New Zealand | ZK | ZK-A**, ZK-B**, ZK-GA*, ZK-HA* reserved for historical aircraft including helicopters and gliders since 1987
ZK-FA*, ZK-FB* balloons ZK-G** gliders ZK-H**, ZK-I** helicopters ZK-RA*, ZK-RB*, ZK-RC*, ZK-RD* gyrocopters ZK-Q** marks are prohibited by ICAO Remainder for fixed wing aircraft[8] |
| Nicaragua | YN | YN-AAA to YN-ZZZ |
| Niger | 5U | 5U-AAA to 5U-ZZZ |
| Nigeria | 5N | 5N-AAA to 5N-ZZZ |
| Norway | LN | LN-AAA to LN-ZZZ |
| Oman | A4O | A4O-AA to A4O-ZZ |
| Pakistan | AP | AP-AAA to AP-ZZZ |
| Palestine | SU-Y | SU-YAA to SU-YZZ |
| Palestine | E4 N1 | |
| Panama | HP | HP-1000AA to HP-9999ZZ |
| Papua New Guinea | P2 | P2-AAA to P2-ZZZ |
| Paraguay | ZP | ZP-AAA to ZP-ZZZ |
| People's Republic of China | B | B-1000 to B-9999 |
| Peru | OB | OB-1000 to OB-9999 |
| Philippines | RP-C | RP-C0001 to RP-C9999 |
| Poland | SP | SP-AAA to SP-ZZZ
SP-1000 to SP-3000, SP-8000 (gliders) SP-SAAA to SP-SZZZ (ultralights) SN-00AA (police and border guard) |
| Portugal | CS | CS-AAA to CS-ZZZ |
| Portugal | CR | CR-AAA to CR-ZZZ |
| Qatar | A7 | A7-AAA to A7-ZZZ |
| Republic of China (Taiwan) | B | B-10000 to B-99999 |
| Romania | YR | YR-AAA to YR-ZZZ
YR-1000 to YR-9999 (Gliders) |
| Russian Federation | RF | RF-00001 to RF-99999 (state-owned aircraft) |
| Russian Federation | RA | RA-00001 to RA-99999
RA-0001A to RA-9999Z |
| Rwanda | 9XR | 9XR-AA to 9XR-ZZ |
| Réunion Island | F-OD | F-ODAA to F-ODZZ |
| Saint Helena/Ascension | VQ-H | VQ-HAA to VQ-HZZ |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | V4 | V4-AAA to V4-ZZZ |
| Saint Lucia | J6 | J6-AAA to J6-ZZZ |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | J8 | J8-AAA to J8-ZZZ |
| Samoa | 5W | 5W-AAA to 5W-ZZZ |
| San Marino | T7 | T7-AAA to T7-ZZZ
T7-001 to T7-999 (Microlights) |
| Saudi Arabia | HZ | HZ-AAA to HZ-ZZZ
HZ-AA1 to HZ-ZZ99 HZ-AAA1 to HZ-ZZZ99 |
| Senegal | 6V | 6V-AAA to 6V-ZZZ |
| Serbia | YU | YU-AAA to YU-ZZZ |
| Seychelles | S7 | S7-AAA to S7-ZZZ |
| Sierra Leone | 9L | 9L-AAA to 9L-ZZZ |
| Singapore | 9V | 9V-AAA to 9V-ZZZ |
| Slovakia | OM | OM-AAA to OM-ZZZ |
| Slovenia | S5 | S5-AAA to S5-ZZZ
S5-HAA to S5-HZZ (Helicopters) |
| Solomon Islands | H4 | H4-AAA to H4-ZZZ |
| Somalia | 6O | 6O-AAA to 6O-ZZZ |
| South Africa | ZU | ZU-AAA to ZU-ZZZ (experimental license) |
| South Africa | ZT | ZT-AAA to ZT-ZZZ |
| South Africa | ZS | ZS-AAA to ZS-ZZZ |
| Spain | EC | EC-AAA to EC-ZZZ
EC-001 to EC-999 (Test and delivery) |
| Sri Lanka | 4R | 4R-AAA to 4R-ZZZ |
| Sudan | ST | ST-AAA to ST-ZZZ |
| Surinam | PZ | PZ-AAA to PZ-ZZZ |
| Swaziland | 3D | 3D-AAA to 3D-ZZZ |
| Sweden | SE | SE-AAA to SE-ZZZ |
| Switzerland | HB | HB-AAA to HB-ZZZ
HB-1 to HB-9999 for Gliders and Motorgliders |
| Syria | YK | YK-AAA to YK-ZZZ |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | S9 | S9-AAA to S9-ZZZ |
| Tahiti | F-OH | F-OHAA to F-OHZZ |
| Tajikistan | EY | EY-10000 to EY-99999 |
| Tanzania | 5H | 5H-AAA to 5H-ZZZ |
| Thailand | HS | HS-AAA to HS-ZZZ |
| Togo | 5V | 5V-AAA to 5V-ZZZ |
| Tonga | A3 | A3-AAA to A3-ZZZ |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 9Y | 9Y-AAA to 9Y-ZZZ |
| Tunisia | TS | TS-AAA to TS-ZZZ |
| Turkey | TC | TC-AAA to TC-ZZZ |
| Turkmenistan | EZ | EZ-A100 to EZ-Z999 |
| Turks and Caicos | VQ-T | VQ-TAA to VQ-TZZ |
| Tuvalu | T2 | T2-AAA to T2-ZZZ |
| Uganda | 5X | 5X-AAA to 5X-ZZZ |
| Ukraine | UR | UR-AAA to UR-ZZZ
UR-10000 to UR-99999 |
| United Arab Emirates | A6 | A6-AAA to A6-ZZZ |
| United Kingdom | G | G-AAAA to G-ZZZZ
G-1-1 to G-99-99 (Test and delivery) G-N01AA to G-N99ZZ (dual registration of Concorde)[9] |
| United Nations | 4U | 4U-AAA to 4U-ZZZ |
| United States of America | N | N1 to N99999
N1A to N9999Z N1AA to N999ZZ |
| Uruguay | CX | CX-AAA to CX-ZZZ |
| Uzbekistan | UK | UK-10000 to UK-99999 |
| Vanuatu | YJ | YJ-AA1 to YJ-ZZ99 |
| Venezuela | YV | YV0001 to YV9999
YV-0001A to YV-9999P YV-AAA1 to YV-ZZZ9 (Official use) |
| Vietnam | VN | VN-1000 to VN-9999
VN-A100 to VN-A999 |
| Yemen | 7O | 7O-AAA to 7O-ZZZ |
| Zambia | 9J | 9J-AAA to 9J-ZZZ |
| Zimbabwe | Z | Z-AAA to Z-ZZZ |
A Year with My Piccolo
A year has passed since I brought Piccolo into my life. Boy has my life changed - for the better. He sleeps with me at night under the sheets, cuddling into a ball on my chest. In the winter time, I have to keep the temperature cool because it gets so hot under the sheets.
There's something to be said about having a little creature next to you, feeling his little heart beat. It's a stress reliever and having a responsibility of having to take care of someone other than yourself is something very new to me. So new I am still trying to get used to it.
The picture above is Piccolo falling asleep on my chest. The picture makes him look big, but he is only about 18 lbs. My little boy - he does have a girlfriend, her name is Gemma. Gemma is about six months younger than he is but they have been playing together since she was a month old.
Now that is it winter time, I have some items made for him to keep warm. Here's a "Zaharoff" creation as well as a picture of Gemma.
Travel Diary: Port Louis, Mauritius
The country of Mauritius: the little red dot right above Pamplemousses was the location of the The Grand Mauritian (Starwood Hotel). Note the distance between the Airport (SE part of the island) in relation to Port Louis and the hotel.
HISTORY
Mauritius has an interesting history that I would love to share with you.
The island was uninhabited until 1638 - the island was visited several times by Arab, Portuguese and Dutch people. Around the year 1000, Arab merchants came upon the three islands - Rodrigues, Mauritius, and Réunion. They didn't colonize the islands and remained deserted.
There was a Frenchman - the sole survivor - of an English shipwreck expedition in 1596. He was marooned on the island for two years and lived off the "fruit of the trees and the meat of the turtles." It was this story that inspired Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (which I didn't know!).
By 1611, the island was referred to as Mauritius by all sailors. It was a point for the ships to stop and get fresh water and fruit. The Dutch began cutting down the abundant ebony trees. It was not until 1638 the Dutch set up a fort, which to this day can still be visited opposite the church at Vieux Grand Port (pic above).
With the clearing of ebony trees, settlers began to bring slaves from Madagascar to help with the tobacco and sugar can plantations (which are still being grown to this day). Sugar cane came from Indonesia and tobacco from the colonies in North America. Once the ebony trees were all cut down, the Dutch left the island for good in 1710.
From there the Portuguese came and went as did the English, but it was the French that named the port "Port Louis" in honour of the French King Louis XV. The French used it as a base for ships repair, but also for sugar cane,spices and coffee which were successfully grown on the island. Slaves from Madagascar were used for this cultivation.
Paris abolished slavery in 1796 and when they came to Mauritius to enforce the law the settlers rebelled - 80% of the population of the island were slaves! They continued to use slaves even when the Treaty of Paris in 1814 gave Mauritius (and Seychelles) to the British. The British wanted to abolish slavery, but its inhabitants, mostly all French, rebelled. They were expanding production of sugar cane and needed the extra labour. Also, slaves were property and they felt it was their right to own property.
The British government ended up buying the slaves freedom in 1833. These slaves ended up becoming fishermen or small land holders. But the plantations needed workers - so under and indentured system, which was similar to slavery since if the worker didn't work, he could be imprisoned. Planters brought workers from India, China, Mozambique, and Madagascar In seventy years, a massive immigration was going to change the island's population radically.
In 1968, the island got its independence and Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam became the first Prime Minister and in 1992 became a Republic.
MAURITIUS TODAY
Mauritian society today is majority Indian (Hindus in a mixed proportion of Muslim), 30% mixed Croele origin, 3% Chinese and 1.3% European origin.
This was important because you can understand about the peoples of this beautiful island. They are extremely nice and laid back and have the whitest teeth. I asked one of the guys who would drive me around the island why everyone has such great white teeth. He told me that from achild they had pure sugar cane in their mouths.
Arriving into MRU airport is quick and easy. The ride to the hotel is long - up to two hours. The 42 kilometer/26mile trek is on a two-lane road and it goes through Port Louis. Depending on the time of day, the ride to the Grand Mauritian from the airport can be at least two hours through winding roads, The island is beautiful, but after a Chicago-London-Dubai-Mauritius flight, the first thing you want to do is get to the hotel.
Port Louis is not a small city, Zurich seemed smaller to me than Port Louis did. There wasn't much to see though for the exception of the fort pictured above. Because of it's short history, there are not something similar to the pyramids or the Eiffel Tower.
Mauritius though is good for one thing: beaches. The beaches are magnificent, some of the most beautiful in the world. It is far for us Americans to get to, but it is well worth it. The island is dotted with upscale resorts and is mostly visited by English, French, and believe it or not, nationals of India. It makes sense because the majority of its' population is Indian. Even their currency, the Mauritian Rupee is named after the Indian Rupee. The note above is worth $3.50USD.
The extinction of the dodo bird is one of the biggest examples as to how we have driven an animal to extinction.
Getting to Mauritius isn't as tough as it would seem. Air Mauritius is the national airline and actually a good airline with a modern fleet. They fly from many points in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia (route map) and it's a good way point between Europe/Africa and Australia/SE Asia. The airport is named after the first prime minister, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam.
Grand Mauritian
I stayed at the Starwood resort in the northwest part of the island and I was impressed with the layout, the rooms, and the people. Again, the only drawback was how far it is from Port Louis, but even farther from the airport. The property is also a spa and you really don't have to venture off outside.
Forbes Article: Survival of the Fittest
I came across this article on a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago in a December (28th) issue of Forbes and wanted to share this with everyone. We are in what the author refer to as “The Great Recession” – and hopefully on the tail end of it. I don’t want my blog to talk about hardships; there’s enough of it in the world and I would rather not blog about it.
Either you or a loved one is out of a job; these are trying times for many people. Now, more than ever, it is important to be in positive spirits – and taking care of oneself is part of it.
This was written by Forbes editor Rich Karlgaard, his blog can be read here. This is his article:
The American Winter Holiday runs from Thanksgiving to Super Bowl Sunday – and, for some,through ski week in mid-February. It can be a time of great joy and family connection. But statistically, the story line isn’t so bright. The dark months are associated with weight gain, heart attacks, alcoholism, melancholy, depression and suicide. These are all the more likely if you have lost your source of income.
Of those hurt or threatened by this Great Recession, people who are less than physically fit may be more vulnerable to layoffs and face longer bouts of unemployment. No corporate human resources manager would ever admit to this, of course, but one HR head who counsels unemployed men told me he has noticed a trend: The men with facing the longest road back to employment are those who have physically given up. Their waistlines have grown, their hair is poorly kept, they look slouchy and grouchy.
Staying in shape, keeping positive, and looking good takes discipline. You have to eat a little less and have one less eggnog. The payoffs are great – both professionally and physically.
This is dedicated to those who are survivors – many people I know are going throughtough times, and most are taking it like champs. Things will get better, they always do.
Wearing Suit Trousers without the Sports Jacket
I received a really good question I wish to share with my reader. It is something many men do - they wear their suit trousers as a trouser.
To me, unless it is a solid and it doesn't look like a suit fabric, it doesn't look nice - and it's all about looking fashionable, no?
QUESTION:
Dear George,
I sometimes like to wear the black pant only and I need to know the colors that go with it (sweaters+shirts)
Thanks,
Jimmy
ANSWER:
Hi Jimmy,
I'm a strong advocate of wearing the suit as one piece unless it's a solid colour or a unique enough pattern. When it comes to stripes, wearing one without the others (called an "orphan pants" or "orphan jacket"). http://georgezaharoff.com/2009/12/08/the-difference-between-a-blazer-sports-jacket-and-a-suit-jacket.aspx
So, Jimmy, me trying to imagine what would go with a pair of orphan trousers is challenging. But I have an awesome black pair of pants with white stripes and what goes best with that is a nice solid shirt, most colours, sweaters (black, off-white, red). Stay away from patterned shirts and baggy sweaters.
Also, George, those suit pants - if they are NOT flat front (no pleats) I would just go and invest in a new pair of pants. Men's fashion has changed from three-four pleats (think Armani in the 90s) to a two-pleat (early 2000s) and one-pleat (2005) to now a flat front. This should be like this for at least the next couple of years since men's fashion doesn't change as quickly as woman's.
I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but I want you to look fashionable when you go out.
To me, unless it is a solid and it doesn't look like a suit fabric, it doesn't look nice - and it's all about looking fashionable, no?
QUESTION:
Dear George,
I sometimes like to wear the black pant only and I need to know the colors that go with it (sweaters+shirts)
Thanks,
Jimmy
ANSWER:
Hi Jimmy,
I'm a strong advocate of wearing the suit as one piece unless it's a solid colour or a unique enough pattern. When it comes to stripes, wearing one without the others (called an "orphan pants" or "orphan jacket"). http://georgezaharoff.com/2009/12/08/the-difference-between-a-blazer-sports-jacket-and-a-suit-jacket.aspx
So, Jimmy, me trying to imagine what would go with a pair of orphan trousers is challenging. But I have an awesome black pair of pants with white stripes and what goes best with that is a nice solid shirt, most colours, sweaters (black, off-white, red). Stay away from patterned shirts and baggy sweaters.
Also, George, those suit pants - if they are NOT flat front (no pleats) I would just go and invest in a new pair of pants. Men's fashion has changed from three-four pleats (think Armani in the 90s) to a two-pleat (early 2000s) and one-pleat (2005) to now a flat front. This should be like this for at least the next couple of years since men's fashion doesn't change as quickly as woman's.
I know it's not what you wanted to hear, but I want you to look fashionable when you go out.
Big Arms, Small Waist
Today I received this question on www.allexperts.com, here's the question: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Men-s-Clothing-2310/2009/12/big-arms.htm
QUESTION
I'm trying to buy my husband a sweater or long sleeved top for Christmasbut most of what I see in the stores the sleeves would be too tight ashe has very muscley arms. if I go up to X large the waist is too baggy.Are there any brands I should look for that cater for muscley men withbig arms but slim waists?
Many thanks
Caroline
ANSWER
Hi Caroline,
I'm going to make this a quick answer so you can finish up your holiday shopping.
Veryquickly, if you take a tape measure, the difference between the chestsize (around the center of his chest and back) and chest size with arms(around the body, center of chest and arms) is called "The Overarm" -
Nowthe "drop" is the difference between the chest size and waist size. Most manufacturers, including myself give a 6 inch drop. This is thesituation you are encountering. Sweaters that fit him on the chest istoo baggy on the bottom.
I have the same issue, but in adifferent way, I have broad shoulders and a thin waist or a 10 inchdifference. You could go to a big and tall store, but typically theydon't have what I consider fashionable (note: what I consider).
You can do two things: Go to a big and tall store like a Rochester Big and Tall OR do what I would do:
Buythe x-large sweater you like and when he opens his gift and tries iton, pin the sides the way he likes it, and just take it to a tailor atyour dry cleaners. It is literally a 1 minute job and shouldn't costyou a lot.
Many don't consider taking in the sides but it can be done with most articles of clothing.
Caroline,does this help you at all? I want to make sure I address your questionand and give you an answer which helps you. If I can help you withanything more, please let me know. I would like to know what you endedup doing if you get a chance to let me know.
QUESTION
I'm trying to buy my husband a sweater or long sleeved top for Christmasbut most of what I see in the stores the sleeves would be too tight ashe has very muscley arms. if I go up to X large the waist is too baggy.Are there any brands I should look for that cater for muscley men withbig arms but slim waists?
Many thanks
Caroline
ANSWER
Hi Caroline,
I'm going to make this a quick answer so you can finish up your holiday shopping.
Veryquickly, if you take a tape measure, the difference between the chestsize (around the center of his chest and back) and chest size with arms(around the body, center of chest and arms) is called "The Overarm" -
Nowthe "drop" is the difference between the chest size and waist size. Most manufacturers, including myself give a 6 inch drop. This is thesituation you are encountering. Sweaters that fit him on the chest istoo baggy on the bottom.
I have the same issue, but in adifferent way, I have broad shoulders and a thin waist or a 10 inchdifference. You could go to a big and tall store, but typically theydon't have what I consider fashionable (note: what I consider).
You can do two things: Go to a big and tall store like a Rochester Big and Tall OR do what I would do:
Buythe x-large sweater you like and when he opens his gift and tries iton, pin the sides the way he likes it, and just take it to a tailor atyour dry cleaners. It is literally a 1 minute job and shouldn't costyou a lot.
Many don't consider taking in the sides but it can be done with most articles of clothing.
Caroline,does this help you at all? I want to make sure I address your questionand and give you an answer which helps you. If I can help you withanything more, please let me know. I would like to know what you endedup doing if you get a chance to let me know.
The Difference Between a Blazer, Sports Jacket, and a Suit Jacket
What is the difference between the three jackets in a men's wardrobe?
This is very simple:
BLAZER
A blazer is a double-breasted jacket either in blue (below) or black with gold buttons. They have evolved over the years and could be single breasted as well like the one to the left. Personally, this reminds me of an era gone by and/or an airline uniform.
It looks stylish, but where?
SPORTS JACKET
A sports jacket is what people mistaken for a blazer. A sports jacket is a jacket made from a thicker fabric you wouldn't necessarily use for pants. It typically has a bigger pattern and not constructed "tight" as a suit jacket. What's a suit jacket you ask? Good question.
Sport jackets can be fun (left) or serious (right) but note the fabric. The one on the right wouldn't look right with a matching trouser.
SUIT JACKET
A suit jacket is exactly what it sounds like. It's a jacket that matches the trousers and the two become a suit, hence suit jacket and suit trouser. A suit jacket will be made from a finer fabric and can come in many different patterns (like a pinstripe, plain, plaid, etc). Below is Tony modeling his Zaharoff suit, which comprises of a suit jacket and a trouser.
DO NOT weat a suit jacket with out it's suit pants - when you do, it's called an "orphaned jacket" - so no orphans!
This is very simple:
BLAZER
A blazer is a double-breasted jacket either in blue (below) or black with gold buttons. They have evolved over the years and could be single breasted as well like the one to the left. Personally, this reminds me of an era gone by and/or an airline uniform.
It looks stylish, but where?
SPORTS JACKET
A sports jacket is what people mistaken for a blazer. A sports jacket is a jacket made from a thicker fabric you wouldn't necessarily use for pants. It typically has a bigger pattern and not constructed "tight" as a suit jacket. What's a suit jacket you ask? Good question.
Sport jackets can be fun (left) or serious (right) but note the fabric. The one on the right wouldn't look right with a matching trouser.
SUIT JACKET
A suit jacket is exactly what it sounds like. It's a jacket that matches the trousers and the two become a suit, hence suit jacket and suit trouser. A suit jacket will be made from a finer fabric and can come in many different patterns (like a pinstripe, plain, plaid, etc). Below is Tony modeling his Zaharoff suit, which comprises of a suit jacket and a trouser.
DO NOT weat a suit jacket with out it's suit pants - when you do, it's called an "orphaned jacket" - so no orphans!
Travel Diary: Baccarat, France
This is a blast from the past and I thought I would share this with you. Before 9/11 (and websites) we used to come out with bi-annually newsletters. I wrote about my experience visiting the Baccarat factory in France. This was written in 2000. Here are some excerpts:
Travel Diary: Baccarat, France
Baccarat, France is an actual city located in Eastern France, a good five hours by train from Paris. The first-class cabins of the French trains are exactly that - very first class. The seats are comfortable unlike other European trains. I was traveling with the French sales manager and there was enough room where he sat behind me. Fifteen minutes after leaving the station in Paris, I fell asleep waking up moments before arriving into the city of Nancy - where we had to change trains. I swiped two Snickers bars at the station and stuffed them into my bag.
Arriving into Baccarat was something out of a movie. The city has a population of roughly 2000 people of which 500 work at the Baccarat crystal factory. We arrived at 10:30pm and there wasn't a soul to be seen. The smell of pine overcame me, reminding me of childhood memories with my grandparents in Greece.
The one-block walk to the gates of the Baccarat estate took a couple of minutes. The moment the gates opened, I walked into a dream. The estate was built in the 1500s and contains the Baccarat château, a Baccarat museum, and the actual factory....HUGE. The provincial château itself was at least a half-block long. The factory was on the other side of the estate and was about three times the size of the château.
The Tattinger family - the owners of Tattinger Champagne, along with some of the most famous hotels in France, such as the Crillion in Paris - purchased the crystal company and renovated the château a couple of years ago.
A map of the house was posted at the entrance (yes, a map). I saw "M. Zaharoff" and an arrow pointing to my room, which was on the other side of the house. Going up a spiral staircase and into a long, narrow hallway, I walked past one crystal chandelier after another. The walls had paintings with crystal lighting shining on their faces. I was in awe, walking on the thick carpet and hearing the wood creak beneath my feet "This is simply surreal," I thought to myself.
Finding my room, I grabbed the handle to the door. My hand felt cold, but not a metal cold, a glass cold. Looking down at what I was holding I notices a crystal the size of a baseball...
Opening the door, I immediately revisited my childhood. "Candyland" is all that came to mind. Everything was crystal. Yellow fabric, with large red roses, padded the walls. There were two wall chandeliers, and a very large one hanging on the ceiling. The table next to my bed contained a lamp, a clock, and about 10 vases in different sizes and shapes, all in crystal. I thought to myself, how will I sleep?
I'm embarrassed to say, that I did think of swiping something as a little keepsake - you know, a cute little lamp from the Baccarat château (laughing). Which I didn't, of course.
I unpacked and put on my jammies only to find myself starving. Remembering the Snickers bar, I polished them off in five minutes and then went in search for the kitchen. Across the long hall, down the staircase, and a couple of rooms later, voila! Next thing you know, I'm grabbing cookies, cakes, two bottles of Evian, a yogurt and a spoon and headed back to my room.
In the bathroom, I noticed the glass shelf had the Baccarat stamp etched on the bottom and I would find out the next morning the handles of the sink and shower also were of Baccarat crystal.
Getting into bed was as opulent as the room itself. I looked up and saw the large chandelier. It was spotless, as were those throughout the house. "Who cleans these?" I wondered as I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, I met the sales manager for breakfast. I grabbed a knife and held for the first time a Christofle sterling knife with a Baccarat crystal handle, "I blurted out, where am I?"
A tour of the factory reminded me of something out of Willy Wonka...everything was being made by hand....effortlessly. I am told that of the 20 world-renown artisans who exist, 10 create for Baccarat. Before my eyes, crystal stemware was being made with just a metal rod and molten glass - a flute was being created by seven different people...ONE flute. Vasses were being etched by freehand, as a man looked at a design next to him for reference. But what really stood in my mind was a group of workers on break pouring their Cokes into beautiful red Baccarat crystal goblets and drinking out of them. You know the kind of goblets people buy for $500 a piece and showcase yet never use.
And then of course the finale! A gentleman polishing my bottles. The excitement was overwhelming, even though the world saw calm confidence on the outside. We need to maintain exposure, n'est pas?
The final masterpiece is below. It was a limited edition run sold through Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom stores. 150 crystal bottles, designed by me, containing .5 ml of Zaharoff parfum - completely sold out in 20 days ($950).
My First OPRAH Moment
I call this my "First OPRAH Moment" because I am open to unlimited possibilities - something I have taken from OPRAH herself (actually, "I am open, willing, and ready to receive all my good"). As a matter of fact, I have little sayings she has said throughout the years in little places tucked away - the one on my mirror in my bedroom says, "Don't think you are, know you are".
A couple of weeks ago, I received a telephone call from Nordstrom on MIchigan Avenue informing me Project Runway's Tim Gunn was doing a men's makeover show for The Oprah Winfrey Show and a Zaharoff suit was chosen for the makeover. It didn't quite register with me, but the first thing I thought was "who's the lucky gent?"
Les Hale, Zaharoff's chief of sales, managed to take a snapshot on his iPhone sent it over to me via e-mail. The lucky gent, Russell Davenport, looked like a million bucks even though it was just a fitting. My first thought about Russell, "he's a good-looking guy and I'm so happy he looks great."
Nordstrom passed me his telephone number and I gave Russell a telephone call; I just wanted to reach out to him. I wanted to thank him for picking my suit for his makeover and then told him how much love went into making his suit. He told me picked it out himself and he really happy with it.
I am very grateful to Oprah, Tim Gunn, Russell, and the Nordstrom team. So much love goes into every creation and I hope Russell has many opportunities to wear his new Zaharoff suit!
Here is the story from the Chicago Sun-Times:
http://www.suntimes.com/
Oprah tries again with local man's makeover
November 18, 2009
It’s not often that America’s reigning daytime talk show queenissues a mea culpa, but that’s just what Oprah Winfrey does on her show Thursday.
Bolingbrook resident Russell Davenport (no relation to this reporter) first appeared on the “Oprah” show 19 years ago as part of that show’s popular annual “Oprah! Make Over My Man!” segment.
The "before" photo of Russell Davenport of Bolingbrook on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" airing Thursday: He's in his work uniform, before being surprised during the taping with the news of his second "Oprah" makeover.
RELATED STORIES
The 'O' blog: Makeover redux “There were four other guys on the show with me and they all got to pick out suits, but the guy doing the makeovers put me in sportswear,” Davenport recalls. “I figured I couldn’t be choosy, I was on the show and had to wear what they wanted me to wear.”
To call the look “dated” now would be an understatement. Winfrey’s staff put Davenport in a pair of black pants that they tucked into his socks and a black sweater worn over both a red shirt and a yellow one. A murse — or man purse — completed the look.
“This was a time when we clearly were still working out the kinks in our makeover department,” Winfrey says on the show. “I don’t know —what on earth were we thinking?”
Fearful that the 47-year-old would be reluctant to subject himself to another makeover on national TV, Davenport’s wife and the staff of the show created a ruse to get him back to Harpo Studios for a second makeover.
“My wife has been out of a job for about a year and she told me they invited us down for a segment with Suze Orman,” he says. “The next thing I know, Oprah comes out and says ‘Is Russell Davenport here?’ and she has me stand up and walk down to her. My face says it all. I was overwhelmed, happy with joy and didn’t really know what was going on.”
“Project Runway” guru Tim Gunn tackled Davenport’s makeover this time.
“He gave me the option of several suits and I picked one from George Zaharoff,” Davenport says. “I heard from Zaharoff afterwards and he thanked me for picking his suit.”
Winfrey gives Davenport a personal apology — “for the layers, the socks, the rolled-up thing, the man purse ...”
Davenport, who works as a foreman in public works for the Village of La Grange, is expecting to catch a bit of ribbing from fellow city works after the show airs today.
“Guys from the police department, the fire department, and streets and sanitation all know it’s airing,” he says. “Anyone who has seen the original photo tells me, ‘Yeah, they needed to give you another makeover.’ ”
SCAM: Asian Domain Name Registration E-mails
Be careful of Asian "property right consultants" or "government domain name" offices.
GOOGLE: DOMAIN REGISTRATION ASIA SCAM and you will see what I mean!
Just when I thought when people can't get any worse, things like this happen. When I received the first e-mail from the "Chinese Internet" government office telling me that a company by the name of XYZ was securing the keyword "Zaharoff" in China. At first glance, it seemed to me to be legitimate and I responded by asking them what to do? I was informed I could purchase it myself. The cost $3,000!
After doing some searches I couldn't find this "Internet" government office and my gut told me to just ignore it...and I did. Since then, I have received four e-mails similar to the first, but from a consultant organization in Asia. This time I wanted to blog about this because companies and people should be warned about this scam.
If someone contacts you stating they are a government office in China and that some Chinese company wishes to register a domain name under the name you do business under, think twice. Go to a legitimate website like godaddy.com and register in that manner.
This is one of four or five e-mails I have received. They have been from different parties, but the same exact verbiage. Even a check on this so-called "Viamich S&T Info Corp, Ltd" shows this company doesn't exist.
Here it is:
Dear President&CEO,
We are a professionalintellectual property right consultant organization in Asia, who mainlydeal with the global domain name registration and internet intellectualproperty right protection.
Right now we have an important issue to confirm with you. On November.9, 2009, we formally received an application, one company named"Viamich S&T Info Corp, Ltd." applied for the internet brandkeyword "zaharoff" and following domain names:
with our organization.
During our preliminaryinvestigation, we found that these domain names' keyword is identicalwith your trademark. I wonder whether you consigned Viamich company toregister these domain names with us? Or is Viamich company yourbusiness partner or distributor in Asia?If you have no relationshipwith this company, we assume that they have other purposes to obtainthese domain names.
Currently, we havealready postponed this company's application temporarily. Thereforeplease let the relevant person make a confirmation with me by telephoneor email as soon as possible.
Thanks & Regards,
Aimee
Web: http://www.china-onenet.hk
Tel: 00(852)-9566-0489
Tel: 00(852)-9566-0489
00(852)-9566-0103
Brilliant Marketing
Brilliant Marketing - Calvin Klein Does It Again
Banned from the United States, and I know purposefully, Calvin Klein uses Eva Mendes on their campaign for their new fragrance. Even trying to find the commercial was tough.
My thoughts? Brilliant. In Europe these commercials are common - and not for scandalous designers. Nivea and Coppertone show nudity in their commercials and ads all over Europe.
Banned from the United States, and I know purposefully, Calvin Klein uses Eva Mendes on their campaign for their new fragrance. Even trying to find the commercial was tough.
My thoughts? Brilliant. In Europe these commercials are common - and not for scandalous designers. Nivea and Coppertone show nudity in their commercials and ads all over Europe.
Elderly Woman Caught at Customs
The other day I saw something on the news I decided to share with you -
Pa Lor, an elderly woman from Laos, had just gotten off a 20-plus hour Northwest flight from Vietienne. She had an oxygen tank in her bag being pumped into her nose. She could barely walk. She was probably one of the last to get off the plane, wheel-chaired through passport control and finally assisted with her luggage.
rOccasionally, I have been stopped by customs agents and directed to go through to the "green line" - agriculture - some of the things people try bringing into the country...I can only imagine.
So here is Pa Lor, being wheel-chaired with a luggage porter in tow, in line with a hundred or so other travelers. She is at the final point before leaving the custom area to her family who must be anxiously awaiting her.
She approaches the customs officer, looks at her card, and then looks at Pa Lor. An elderly woman in her 80s, hardly someone of interest. Karma? The Universe? No one knows for sure, but instead of letting her go, he sends her on a short detour to U.S. Agriculture..."follow the green line" which is clearly marked on the floor.
I can't imagine what was going through her mind as they were putting her luggage through the machines because what happened next shocked, well, the world.
"A ghoulish collection" of more than a thousand claws, teeth, and skins of many endangered species including primates. One elephant tooth was about ten pounds.
An investigation traced the elderly lady to a kiosk at a small market in Minneapolis where they found similar skins being sold for thousands of dollars.
I didn't know this but smuggling endangered species is the third-largest black crime in the world.
Average Suit, Trouser & Shirt Sizes
Q:
George, I am involved with a non-profit, workforce development program,which seeks to outfit it's graduates with interview appropriateclothing. What are the most common sizes of suits, shirts and pant inthe U.S.?
Thank You, Keith.
A:
Hello Keith,
I'm going to give you some rough numbers. Designers can create their own shapes and lengths, sometimes for a person that doesn't exist. I make suits for an actual working professional, below are measurements I have been using for years. Here we go:
SUITS
Most common (inches): 40S,40R,40L,42S,42R,42L,42XL,44R,44L,44XL
I would like to make this as uncomplicated as possible. STOCK suit sizes(meaning if you were to walk into a men's suit department at say a Nordstrom) start at 36Reg and then go 52Reg.
The "Reg" is the jacket length for regular. Length goes from the edge of the collar down to the bottom. It starts at 30 3/4 for 36Reg and increases a 1/4 for every two inch in size to 32 3/4 for a 52Reg. A small is 1 1/2 inch shorter and a long is 1 1/2 inch longer. If I lost you, don't worry it's not as complicated as it seems. I just wanted you to know (without taking into consideration big and tall sizes) suits come in Small, Reg, Long, and X-Long.
Average is 40S (5'9'') through 44L (6'3'') - meaning 40S,40R,40L,42S,42R,42L,42XL,44R,44L,44XL is were you are going to see the majority. The reason why there's no odd sizes is because that's where a tailor comes into play. Notice some are missing like 44S. Think about it, a 44S would be a broad shouldered short guy, which you don't come across often.
TROUSERS
Most common (inches): 31,32,33,34,35,36
Suits have a "drop" which is the difference between the size of the chest and the waist. So a suit that is 40 with a six inch drop will have a 34 waist (40-6=34). Using the average chest sizes above, you know have the average pant size 31,32,33,34,35,36 -- and of course they also come in short, regular, long, and x-long. Most suit trousers have to be hemmed.
SHIRT
Most common (inches): 15, 15.5, 16, 16 1/2 x 33-34 inches
Shirts are measured by the the length around the neck and the arms (from the center of back of the neck to right around the wrist). A 16 1/2 x 33 is a common size. Just give some room for shrinkage.
American shirt sizes come in 14 though 21, including 1/2 sizes: 14,14.5,15,15.5,16,16.5,etc. The average is 15 through 16 1/2. As for arm length, 33-34 is average.
As you can see it's a huge commitment for a store to sell suits, trousers and shirts! Add to that accessories like neckwear and cufflinks...
George, I am involved with a non-profit, workforce development program,which seeks to outfit it's graduates with interview appropriateclothing. What are the most common sizes of suits, shirts and pant inthe U.S.?
Thank You, Keith.
A:
Hello Keith,
I'm going to give you some rough numbers. Designers can create their own shapes and lengths, sometimes for a person that doesn't exist. I make suits for an actual working professional, below are measurements I have been using for years. Here we go:
SUITS
Most common (inches): 40S,40R,40L,42S,42R,42L,42XL,44R,44L,44XL
I would like to make this as uncomplicated as possible. STOCK suit sizes(meaning if you were to walk into a men's suit department at say a Nordstrom) start at 36Reg and then go 52Reg.
The "Reg" is the jacket length for regular. Length goes from the edge of the collar down to the bottom. It starts at 30 3/4 for 36Reg and increases a 1/4 for every two inch in size to 32 3/4 for a 52Reg. A small is 1 1/2 inch shorter and a long is 1 1/2 inch longer. If I lost you, don't worry it's not as complicated as it seems. I just wanted you to know (without taking into consideration big and tall sizes) suits come in Small, Reg, Long, and X-Long.
Average is 40S (5'9'') through 44L (6'3'') - meaning 40S,40R,40L,42S,42R,42L,42XL,44R,44L,44XL is were you are going to see the majority. The reason why there's no odd sizes is because that's where a tailor comes into play. Notice some are missing like 44S. Think about it, a 44S would be a broad shouldered short guy, which you don't come across often.
TROUSERS
Most common (inches): 31,32,33,34,35,36
Suits have a "drop" which is the difference between the size of the chest and the waist. So a suit that is 40 with a six inch drop will have a 34 waist (40-6=34). Using the average chest sizes above, you know have the average pant size 31,32,33,34,35,36 -- and of course they also come in short, regular, long, and x-long. Most suit trousers have to be hemmed.
SHIRT
Most common (inches): 15, 15.5, 16, 16 1/2 x 33-34 inches
Shirts are measured by the the length around the neck and the arms (from the center of back of the neck to right around the wrist). A 16 1/2 x 33 is a common size. Just give some room for shrinkage.
American shirt sizes come in 14 though 21, including 1/2 sizes: 14,14.5,15,15.5,16,16.5,etc. The average is 15 through 16 1/2. As for arm length, 33-34 is average.
As you can see it's a huge commitment for a store to sell suits, trousers and shirts! Add to that accessories like neckwear and cufflinks...
Inspiration of "Four Hearts Come Together"
This creation, I called, "Four Hearts Come Together" as a part of the Topkapi Zaharoff Collection. This is the only link in the collection which isn't some sort of a knot or star.
I came across this design (above) in an empty room, it was a fragment from a Byzantine Church from the second half of the 11th centruy - incredible. I don't know if you can see on the bottom edge, but there's some inscription in ancient Greek. It states, "Seeing this gate, reflect that within it is a more glorious house. Which is Constantine, in great love and faith. Built for the divine benefit of man." Pretty cool, eh? Even better, this was made in Mosynopolis, at the height of their prosperity.
When I was putting the cufflink collection together, I saw this pattern and sketched one of the hearts - well, sketched is a stretch, more like scribble scratch. I then created a cross. When I finished this and saw a final link, first thing that came to mind was "Four Hearts Come Together" - but rather than think of the heart pattern like that of a Valentine's Day heart, I thought of it like a human's heart, and what it's purpose is to its' body. When four similar hearts, or four people, or just a group of people, come together with like mind, things can happen. In this case a cross, in reality anything is possible.
I wanted to create objects d'art the person wearing would stop and think about. You have to be open to everything because you never know where you will find inspiration.
Inspiration of Zaharoff Star
From time immemorial, knots and stars have had an auspicious and apotropaic association, which can be found in 99% of Zaharoff patterns.
This simple abstract design of a star rosette I stumbled across the Church of the Virgin in the Lips Monastery in Constantinople which then became a mosque known as Kariye Camisi. It is now a musuem called the Chora Church, which has some incredible mosaics. It was from the year 907.
I found this rosette design (above) and fell in love with it immediately, it was like a karmic connection. It was part of a "parapet" or like a short ledge between two parts of the church. I snapped this picture and took it back and worked on it giving birth to "The Zaharoff Star" (below) - rather than smooth out the curves so it looked more like a rosette, I made it to have sharp edges to look more like a star.
This design can be found in many Zaharoff designs from buttons, neckwear, cufflinks (above), and various other Zaharoff creations. As you can see, inspiration comes in so many different forms and you never know when you will stumble across something that you can take to inspire others.
From time immemorial, knots and stars have had an auspicious and apotropaic association, which can be found in 99% of Zaharoff patterns.
Enjoy and always be open to all good things!
Piccolo in the Autumn
2009 October 31st
Today is the 31st of October and while driving Piccolo from Starbucks this morning, I thought I would write a little bit about him. His birthday was the 29th of September (2008), so he's a little over than a year and a month old. I took him home with me on the 1st of January of this year and I have ZERO regrets.
I never thought a being would bring so much happiness into my life. Maybe I'm a little emotional needy, but having my little boy cuddle up to me every night fills me with such happiness and love. I think it creates endorphins and puts me in a better mood. Sure, I am a little, how shall I say, I don't like the word "anal" - but I find myself following him around with baby wipes and I wash his four little paws a good five times a day. I may over-bathe him, the doctor told me it's okay as long as I don't overdo it. I figure if he's going to sleep in my bed, I'm going to keep him clean.
Speaking of bed, when I get into bed around 9ish, I usually have my lap top on my lap doing some work. He'll either come up and snuggle next to me OR he'll motion his nose as if he is trying to pick up the covers, which is a cue for me to let him get under the covers. He goes deep into the bed and lays against my legs. If I have had a long day and my calves are a little aching, his warmth helps me. And the warmth is like pure energy, not like a heating pad or a heating cream.
If you've read this far, I appreciate it. Today I went and bought Piccolo this pumpkin outfit. I was walking him and I could hear people laughing from their car. But unfortunately he hated it...and I didn't force the outfit on him.
Today is the 31st of October and while driving Piccolo from Starbucks this morning, I thought I would write a little bit about him. His birthday was the 29th of September (2008), so he's a little over than a year and a month old. I took him home with me on the 1st of January of this year and I have ZERO regrets.
I never thought a being would bring so much happiness into my life. Maybe I'm a little emotional needy, but having my little boy cuddle up to me every night fills me with such happiness and love. I think it creates endorphins and puts me in a better mood. Sure, I am a little, how shall I say, I don't like the word "anal" - but I find myself following him around with baby wipes and I wash his four little paws a good five times a day. I may over-bathe him, the doctor told me it's okay as long as I don't overdo it. I figure if he's going to sleep in my bed, I'm going to keep him clean.
Speaking of bed, when I get into bed around 9ish, I usually have my lap top on my lap doing some work. He'll either come up and snuggle next to me OR he'll motion his nose as if he is trying to pick up the covers, which is a cue for me to let him get under the covers. He goes deep into the bed and lays against my legs. If I have had a long day and my calves are a little aching, his warmth helps me. And the warmth is like pure energy, not like a heating pad or a heating cream.
If you've read this far, I appreciate it. Today I went and bought Piccolo this pumpkin outfit. I was walking him and I could hear people laughing from their car. But unfortunately he hated it...and I didn't force the outfit on him.
Louis Vuitton Opens Store in Mongolia
Louis Vuitton Enters Mongolia
So today I came across this article in Women's Wear Daily, I've enclosed a link to the article, but I think one has to subscribe to the magazine to read it in its' entirety. So, I've gone ahead and copied and pasted the article below as well. If, when you read this, it's missing, that means I got into trouble from the publication for re-printing (laughing).
I'm all for progress, believe you me. But a part of my heart sank when I read about Louis Vuitton opening a store in Ulan Bataar, the capital of Mongolia. True, there's wealth in Mongolia, and I've witnessed with my own eyes Mongolians carrying a Vuitton bag (whether it was real or fake is another thing, nowadays you can't tell the difference).
There's something unspoiled about Mongolia - it's like the last frontier (my blog). Mostly untouched (note: mostly) by the western world was what made is so charming. I refuse to speak about it in the past tense. My dear friend Robert La Mont, who was Chief of Party, for the Mongolia Judicial Reform Program from 2001-2006, said it best,
"Personally, I can't believe that Louis Vuitton [opened a store in UB]. I suppose it shows that Mongolian rich have become richer and as status conscious as any new rich. It is kind of sad that status now comes from a bag rather than a horse in the land of the Great Khan, but it is possibly a part of the inevitable homogenized direction of globalization. I am glad I lived in Mongolia when it was still unique."
Robert left for Jakarta for another assignment in 2006. I know exactly where this store is, located on the ground level of "Central Tower" which you can see being built right behind me in this picture.
In some ways, it's a smart move for Louis Vuitton (and Zegna who opened their store a month earlier), who's quest for global domination is almost complete (next? Louis Vuitton boutique on the US base in Antarctica?). There's a few little boutiques that carry beautiful items made by local designers and one huge state department store, aptly called the "State Department Store".
Neither carries brand names adorned in Vogue magazine. To me, I'd rather keep the city the way it is and let the wealthy Mongolians go to Beijing, Seoul, or Moscow to make their luxury goods purchases.
Wealthy Mongolians
I asked my dear friend Buyan, who is an executive with Mobi-com, the "T-Mobile" of Mongolia. I asked him what his thoughts were and it was interesting. He told me that huge coal, copper, and gold projects have begun like Rio Tinto and Ivenhoe Mines in "Turqouise Hill" or "Oyu Tolgoi" have started mining and because the economy is so small, it literally is changing the economic structure of Mongolia.
Another example, he told me, is the Ford Expedition, which entered the marketplace this year. One hundred vehicles were sold in Mongolia whereas in England only four were sold. But, I have to say Mongolia's terrain would suit an Expedition well (and maybe the mine purchased all 100 trucks). He compared Mongolia to the likes of Russian "neuvo riche" driving around in Lexus LX570 and Toyota Landcruisers, "which in Mongolia price is 70.000 to 140.000 usd...and a lease is 20% interest annually."
With capitalism comes debt, he finished off with, "household income [in general] is not so good. People can see rich people by their consumption but not their banking information and business....this is probably what LV saw." In other words, you really never know.
Here's the article:
PARIS — Sukhbaatar Square in Ulan Bator, the capitalcity of Mongolia, is so central that many of its million-plusinhabitants are bound to traverse it on a regular basis.
Thatmeans its newest resident, a 5,300-square-foot Louis Vuitton boutiquewith a two-story high, 112-foot wide wraparound facade, is aconspicuous beacon of luxury in a remote country becoming wealthier bythe minute, thanks to enormous gold, copper and uranium reserves.
Vuitton,a luxury pioneer that opened its first store in Greater China in 1992,is excited to be among the first to arrive in the region. “Why befirst? You have 100 percent share of voice,” enthused Yves Carcelle,Vuitton’s chairman and chief executive officer, who is slated to hostan opening celebration Friday. “It helps impose your brand as thestandard of luxury. I honestly think it’s the right move.”
Carcelle said Vuitton’s 440th store is projected to be profitable within its first year of operation.
Thanksto the Internet and Russian fashion magazines, Mongolians are alreadyfamiliar with the Vuitton brand and have been purchasing its productsfrom Vuitton stores in three popular destinations: Moscow, Beijing andSeoul, Carcelle said. Another promising sign is the presence of manyVuitton bags “on the arms of elegant women” in Ulan Bator’s trendynightclubs and restaurants, he added.
Vuitton is also clearlybanking on the vigorous economic development expected in tandem withmajor mining ventures. Already, the skyline is dotted with constructioncranes. “It’s a country that knows it has to modernize but wants to doit in a controlled way,” Carcelle said.
The two-level boutique in the new skyscraper Central Tower — whichalready houses an Ermenegildo Zegna shop that opened earlier this month— features a 30-foot long “bag bar” flanked by men’s and women’sdepartments, each devoted to extensive selections of leather goods,footwear and accessories.
Upstairs is a circular VIP room, theshape reminiscent of a yurt. A Vuitton saddle was made especially forthe store in recognition of Mongolia’s nomadic roots and strong horseriding culture.
Carcelle noted VIP rooms, and the elite service that comes in tandem, are particularly prized in Asia.
Tomark the opening, Vuitton plans to donate more than 6,000 educationalbooks to support some 220 primary schools across Mongolia, still a poorcountry.
Meanwhile, Vuitton continues its global retailexpansion, with major stores slated to bow in December at CityCenter inLas Vegas and One Central in Macau. “Casinos are always a good vicinityfor luxury,” Carcelle said. Next year, Vuitton will enter two newcountries, Lebanon and the Dominican Republic, he added.
Topkapi Cufflink Collection
This collection is my first true collection of gentlemen's links. Before I had done some limited edition or a couple of cufflinks for Nordstrom, but this time, it was my first true collection with a cohesive theme. The collection was inspired by a dozen plus visits to Topkapi Palace in Istanbul - a place not only rich in history, but also rich in design.
What is life when there is no meaning to it? I want to give the Zaharoff man beautiful objects of art and in the process give them the tools to attract good energies, prosperity and wealth – even in the smallest ways. It isn’t about a cufflink or a necktie, it is about what went into the design, it’s meaning. It’s about digging a little bit deeper and finding the true meaning of why things are the way they are. Like smelling a bouquet of flowers and being able to differentiate between rose and jasmine instead of a bunch of flowers.
Thank you for allowing me into your heart, through your eyes. To me, this is a very special and personal thing to share with you - something done by my own hands and meant to share with you. The detail is so incredible, please click the pictures to see the incredible detail.
If you were to break down anything in the Universe, you would eventually get an atom, one proton and one neutron traveling round and round the nucleus. It is the smallest,indestructible building block of everything. Be it a desk or skin – it is all about how they connect with other atoms to create, well, endless possibilities.
One would see a cross design, celtic perhaps. But actually it was the heart design I noticed on the moulding of an empty room. It was beautiful. I thought of bringing it together with three others to get the design it is today. Four hearts come together is a meeting of the minds, making things happen, bringing dreams into reality. By acting as one, a group of people (or hearts) can get together and accomplish any task.
I look at this and I think about a typical house in Marrakesh. A typical Moroccan home, all white against the cloudless blue sky. It’s a hot afternoon and the town is quiet because it is siesta time. A kitchen with a small table and two chairs, the metal spout of the faucet dripping into the marble sink below it (drip, drip, drip). A line of tiles a foot wide from top to bottom on all four walls.
In Byzantium a star was a symbol for prosperity. Since then, I have designed this star and called it the “Zaharoff Star” – this star reminds me of myself and my dreams and the ability to share it with others. May the person who wears this design attract much prosperity.
I love stars, it reminds me of my childhood when I would look out to the sky and wonder what was out there. A little dot high in the sky, its’ light emanating from the center, reaching my eyes, years and years later. The surrounding circles representing the Universe.
Knots were a way of attracting prosperity during the Byzantine times. It’s inhabitants would literally create elaborate designs with pieces of fabric and tie them into knots and place them outside their homes. This is a very simple knot using four pieces of fabric. It is to attract prosperity to the person whowears them.
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