Dolce&Gabbana has unveiled an haute couture range of exclusive heavily embroidered bodices that may be turned dresses, all in crystals, priced at eighty thousands of euros on average at its fall fashion show. The new “63 exquisitely crafted bustiers encrusted with jewels and sequins and everything glittery” were presented at the closing of the SS12 (watch the video below). These bodysuits are available both as they are and as dresses, which are much easier to wear than bustiers (the key elements of design and decoration are preserved)—only a few of them can be purchased at the moment (which makes this range a bit prêt-à-porter), the rest can be ordered by the loyal clientele.

IKEA, The Life Improvement Store, announced the grand prize winner of the second year of its Life Improvement Sabbatical Contest: Melissa Matthews of Wake Forest, NC. After a month-long, online public vote, Ms. Matthews has won a year-long sabbatical (worth $100,000) to improve the lives of others through her Special Technology for Special Kids! program, and over the next year, will share her experience online at www.thelifeimprovementproject.com. Additionally, IKEA is donating $50,000 to Save the Children’s U.S. Programs, $1 for every vote cast in the contest (up to the first 50,000 votes—the program received a total of 50,191 votes).

Coffee brands are working hard to turn the Chinese into the coffee-drinking nation, using the traditional western stories with strong rebellious characters for their advertising campaigns. One of the strongest players on the coffee market, Nescafé, has tapped Chinese professional rally driver, blogger, best-selling author, singer Han Han to front its recent campaign ‘Live Out Your Boldness’ by Publicis Nestle Team Beijing, in which the 29-year old man is living his life to the full and never misses an opportunity to experience something new, with no boundaries or restrictions (of course, nothing illegal).