In its new 7 Series sedan, BMW AG is abandoning some of the striking design elements that characterized the previous model -- and turned off some lovers of the luxury brand.

The new model, which comes as the conservatively styled Lexus LS has outsold BMW in the top-end luxury-sedan segment, will hit showrooms in 2009. Breaking with a look introduced in a controversial model unveiled in 2001,]]>  

In its new 7 Series sedan, BMW AG is abandoning some of the striking design elements that characterized the previous model — and turned off some lovers of the luxury brand.

The new model, which comes as the conservatively styled Lexus LS has outsold BMW in the top-end luxury-sedan segment, will hit showrooms in 2009. Breaking with a look introduced in a controversial model unveiled in 2001,shop for tiffany, the 7 Series is returning to simple, sleek lines. It no longer has a bulging trunk lid (dubbed the "Bangle butt" after its designer, Christopher E. Bangle) or headlights often described as "tearful," with accentuated curves on the lower lid.

The latest 7 Series, unveiled last week,earrings, combines elements of the German auto maker’s 3 Series coupe and the 5 Series, which have a more traditional look. BMW hopes to woo customers with radical innovations under the skin,cheap tiffany bracelets, such as a thermal imaging camera that spots stray pedestrians at night,tiffany earrings clearance, Internet access and four-wheel steering, which reduces the turning radius of the car.

Although the car hasn’t yet hit showrooms, online photos and video of the new look are sparking comments around the globe. James Dills, the 33-year-old executive manager of a Big 5 Sporting Goods store in Sacramento, Calif., calls the new design a "definite improvement." Mr. Dills, who is shopping for a used 5 Series, prefers the pre-2001 design to the current one but thinks the new design has BMW "heading in the right direction."

The launch of the 7 Series is a critical step for BMW as it seeks to boost sagging profit margins. The luxury sedan is one of the few vehicle categories where margins are robust, thanks to well-heeled, status-conscious buyers who tend to order vehicles with expensive options such as metallic paint, electric heated seats, navigation systems and entertainment systems.

When the current 7 Series was launched in 2001, it represented a radical break from the Munich-based firm’s traditional conservative styling. BMW at the time wanted to broaden its appeal beyond the German firm’s traditional customer base. It also aimed to help customers distinguish between the designs of its 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series sedans, which to some had become the same car in small, medium and large.

But some BMW fans disliked the design and launched an Internet petition calling for BMW’s top designer,thanksgiving bangles, Mr. Bangle, to be fired. More than 14,000 people signed the petition. BMW toned down some of the extreme design details in a 2005 reworking of the car. Mr. Bangle is now director of design at BMW Group, which includes Rolls-Royce and the Mini brand.

In designing the new car, BMW placed as much emphasis on making the new 7 Series "elegant" as on making it "distinctive," Chief Executive Norbert Reithofer said at a presentation in Munich last week.

Mr. Reithofer said the final design of the new model is the product of an exhaustive evaluation process that started out with six potential designs submitted by competing teams. "The entire management board was involved in weeding out designs that were deemed unsuitable," Mr. Reithofer said.

Although the current 7 Series is the most successful 7 Series ever in terms of unit sales, it hasn’t kept pace with its main competitors. Sales of the current model, despite the 2005 reworking, never managed to overtake the market-leading Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Last year, Mercedes-Benz sold 85,500 S-Class cars, helped by the fact that it presented a new generation in 2005. In 2007, BMW sold fewer than 50,000 7 Series.

Perhaps more troublesome for BMW, sales of the 7 Series were overtaken by the conservatively styled Lexus LS in 2007. Lexus boosted sales of its LS to 71,760 sedans in 2007 — nearly double the previous year’s 34,833 — after introducing a new generation in 2006. BMW aims to increase sales of its 7 Series with the new model, which is known as the fifth generation.

Adrian Van Hooydonk, director of design at BMW automobiles, who styled the exterior of the new 7-series, says the car is distinctive and designed to reflect "authenticity and engineering precision." The new BMW now has a "stance and proportion" to express "power and dynamics," Mr. Van Hooydonk said.

Mr. Van Hooydonk, a Dutchman, said BMW kept to its custom of not polling customers before putting it into production. "We don’t use customer clinics," Mr. Van Hooydonk said. "They will be judging it based on the world today. Design needs to look good in eight years’ time. You can’t ask a customer whether he will like the design of the car in 2018." BMW does spend a lot of time researching customer needs before designing a car, Mr. Van Hooydonk said.

BMW is also keeping its i-Drive system, a button mounted near the armrest with which to control the vehicle’s suspension system, climate control, satellite navigation and entertainment systems. Like a computer’s mouse, it can be used to point and click through menus on an in-dash display. The system — which was quickly dubbed "why-Drive" or "iDunno" when it was introduced in 2001 — has since been copied by rivals Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Analysts at HSBC say the global premium-car market has grown by 20% since 2003. Volume growth in the global premium-car market is set to rise 24% between 2007 and 2013, HSBC said in a research report last month. Competition is getting more intense in this segment of the market. Audi’s A8 is connecting with drivers, as sales rise, while Infiniti, the premium brand owned by Nissan, will launch a raft of new cars in Europe this year.

Separately, BMW on Tuesday said it’s exploring a cooperation deal with Fiat SpA of Italy to jointly develop components for Mini and Alfa Romeo vehicles. Both companies declined to divulge details of the possible collaboration.

Eyes wide, we take in her Elizabethan parterres, the rocketing corn and okra, the orchard, wildflower meadow and foundation beds. But when Lapham meanders around her genial 41/2 acres two blocks from the city, her head is down.

She's trolling -- for acorns, bean pods and ivy leaves, pinecones,]]> Emilie Lapham’s Wyndmoor garden is many gardens, really, each resembling an outdoor "room" on the same grand scale as her house.

Eyes wide, we take in her Elizabethan parterres, the rocketing corn and okra, the orchard, wildflower meadow and foundation beds. But when Lapham meanders around her genial 41/2 acres two blocks from the city, her head is down.

She’s trolling — for acorns, bean pods and ivy leaves, pinecones, herbs, even rose thorns and cherry buds.

Once found, they’re dried, whittled down, and sliced up to make bracelets and brooches, necklaces and rings you’d swear belong in a window at Tiffany’s.

Making fine-looking jewelry from what’s officially called "plant material" is, Lapham concedes, "a bit obscure" for modern tastes. Those tend more toward hormonal displays of outsized diamonds than anything so tiny and refined as this.

But the use of flowers as adornment, as living art,tiffany clearance, reaches back to prehistory, making it part of our common legacy, says Sharon Church, crafts professor at the University of the Arts.

For an artist, what better symbol of humankind’s yearning for eternal life than the flower, which springs from seed, then dies, then is re-created anew?

"It’s what we all hope for in our lives in some way," says Church, a studio jeweler and metalsmith.

That may help explain the psychic draw of the jewelry exhibits at the Philadelphia Flower Show for the last 11 years. The pieces look so real, yet so regal and exotic, that silent crowds gather and linger before the displays.

Sherry Somach of Mount Airy is so intrigued she has signed up for a workshop Lapham is giving next week. She has already mastered beadwork, designed real jewelry, created "fringe-y" art, and, most recently, taken up container gardening. She also plays guitar and sings jazz and swing-era music in a group called Sherry Canary and the Kool Kats.

Somach’s a novice when it comes to designing with seeds and leaves, but she enjoys the "focus and abandonment" that comes with "working small." If all goes well, she’ll enter the Smooth and Cool jewelry class at the 2008 Flower Show (March 2 to 9), whose theme is "Jazz It Up!"

The rules require her to make a ring and tie tack "inspired by a musician of the Harlem Revival era." She’s thinking Billie Holiday.

"Sometimes challenges come your way, and right now I’m not turning many away," Somach says.

The challenge of making this kind of jewelry, which is not meant to be worn, can be considerable. Jackie Purvis of Wayne had been intrigued by the Flower Show specimens for years before entering the class herself last year.

"I couldn’t believe it wasn’t real jewelry," she says.

But it wasn’t real easy. After a corn-husk bracelet fell apart, Purvis and a partner turned to clematis vine, which they soaked and wrapped around a spray can till it took the right shape.

Out came the tweezers and glue,buy tiffany bangles, tiny scissors and scalpel, and through four incarnations, they added holly leaf,tiffany cuff Links sale, German statice and bean pods, coriander seeds, and dried hydrangea blossoms.

Finally, they sprayed it with clear varnish and, Purvis says, "We just kind of knew it was right."

The task requires patience and attention to detail. Bonuses for art background and perfectionist personality. "And I have little skinny fingers. That helps," says Purvis, jewelry chair for the 2008 Flower Show.

Lapham, a member of the Wissahickon Garden Club, seems to have all those qualities, in addition to an abundance of spices in the kitchen and flora on the grounds.

She likes coriander and mustard seeds. She dries orange and onion skins. She gathers the herb teucrium, birch bark, Japanese maple leaves,tiffany necklaces for sale, astilbe stems and lavender twigs, sunflower and fennel seeds, protea and pine needles.

She wouldn’t be without gold leaf for "painting" her creations. Or cheap nail polish.

Although Lapham’s the last person you’d expect to rave about the latter, she has her reasons. "Cheap nail polish in weird colors makes excellent paint," she declares, "and it comes with a brush."

Lapham is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Art, now University of the Arts, in graphic design and photography. She spent 15 years working in London, New York and Philadelphia as a graphic designer.

She also does decorative painting and restoration. Both are in ample evidence in the home she has shared for seven years with husband Peter, retired director of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society. They have two daughters.

One of the home’s many treasures is a 16th-century English cottage brought over in the 1920s by the original owners of the once-larger property, still known to old-timers as the Wharton Sinkler estate. The cottage is attached to a former four-bay garage and woodshed, all now restored by the Laphams into a single extraordinary living space.

A keen gardener, Lapham’s a frequent flower show competitor (and winner),buy tiffany necklaces, here and elsewhere. Of late, she has added jewelry design — the real kind — to her eclectic resume.

No "plant material" needed. Just, maybe, a window at Tiffany’s.

VANCOUVER, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ - Indochino, the pioneer and global leader in online custom suits, today launched The Hedonist Gentleman Collection, its latest offering of made-to-measure men's suits. Every month, Indochino introduces a new line of custom, stylish menswear, o]]> Leading men’s online suitmaker introduces enhanced customization and measurement features, letting any man suit up elegantly regardless of budget, size, or location

VANCOUVER, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ – Indochino, the pioneer and global leader in online custom suits, today launched The Hedonist Gentleman Collection, its latest offering of made-to-measure men’s suits. Every month, Indochino introduces a new line of custom, stylish menswear, one-of-a-kind suits made to fit any man, and the Hedonist Gentleman Collection is no exception. In just a few clicks, customers can order a perfectly tailored "Hedonist" suit featuring luxurious velvet, elegant pinstripes, larger lapels, and dark color tones capturing the look of a true modern gentleman. Inspired by the hard-working, pleasure seeking success of the 1950′s and 1960′s man, the "Hedonist" updates those classic styles with slimmer silhouettes and colorful customization. With this new collection,tiffany rings clearance, Indochino continues to innovate the way men suit up with its ever-evolving catalog of both classic and fashion-forward suits, shirts and outwear, customizable for every man, regardless of size, budget or location.

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With the new style collection, Indochino also introduces major enhancements to its website to create an even more unique, compelling online shopping experience. A simplified self-measuring process with a reduced number of mandatory measurements, a new intuitive tape slide feature, and suggested sizing helps men submit their measurements accurately, the single biggest hurdle to buying suits online. And since 90% of Indochino’s customers use the site’s unique customization options, the company now lets men add stylish lining and add a 40-character monogram for free. Advanced customization options for the discerning guy allow for even more personalized touches,thanksgiving cuff Links, like functional sleeve buttons, a pen pocket and a functional boutonniere. Along with a cleaner and streamlined navigation feature, simplified FAQ, and automated alteration requests, men can easily confirm their perfect size for future orders. The perfect suit is just a mouse click away for any guy, whether fashion novice or style savvy.

Indochino is ideal for any man who wants to explore fashion and look good in clothes, regardless of his budget, measurements or where he lives. Depending on the style and occasion they’re interested in suiting up for, whether it be a job interview, wedding or a day-to-day suit, customers can browse through an extensive catalog to discover the suit that best suits them. Next is a simple 11-step online process that lets any man measure himself in less than ten minutes. Made-to-order options allow users to customize lining, cufflinks, buttons, lapels, and add other unique touches. Once the customization process is complete, the Indochino team creates a completely custom-made suit, delivered within two weeks, the fastest turnaround time in the industry.

For more information or to speak with a style concierge, go to: http://www.indochino.com.

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Indochino is the pioneer and global leader in online custom suits, making fashion accessible for every man. Co-founded in 2007 by Kyle Vucko, CEO and Heikal Gani, chief creative officer, Indochino offers an ever-changing assortment of both classic and fashion-forward suits, shirts, and outerwear- all with an unparalleled number of customization options, delivered faster than anyone else in the industry. The company is headquartered in Vancouver,tiffany Pendants on sale, BC. To learn more about Indochino, visit www.indochino.com. To receive updates on Indochino’s latest collections, lookbooks and style services, join Indochino on Facebook at www.facebook.com/indochino or follow Indochino on Twitter at www.twitter.com/indochino.

The Lady Raiders took four of the six singles matches, but Hoke swept the doubles matches and won just enough singles matches to escape Rockingham with a 5-4 win in the Southeastern Conference opener for Richmond.

Singles winners for the Lady Raiders included Courtney Pope at No. 1, who bea]]> The Richmond Senior women’s tennis team came oh-so-close to getting its first win of the 2010 season Thursday afternoon at home against Hoke.

The Lady Raiders took four of the six singles matches, but Hoke swept the doubles matches and won just enough singles matches to escape Rockingham with a 5-4 win in the Southeastern Conference opener for Richmond.

Singles winners for the Lady Raiders included Courtney Pope at No. 1, who beat Toni Howell,buy tiffany bangles, 6-4,buy tiffany, 6-3; Ashley Martin at No. 2, who defeated America Kelly,shop for tiffany necklaces, 6-3,thanksgiving jewelry, 6-4; Maegen Davis at No. 3, who topped Laurin Clark, 62,tiffany jewellery, 6-3; and Katy Shelley at No. 6, who gutted out a 5-7, 6-4, 10-6 three-set win for the Lady Raiders.

It was a disappointing outcome for Richmond coach Paula York, who felt her young, inexperienced squad matched up well with the Lady Bucks.

"Things didn’t quite go our way out there today," York said. "But we had some good matches, and the girls played hard. We’re getting better."

Richmond did win a pair of exhibition matches.

The Lady Raiders dropped to 0-3 on the 2010 season (0-1 SEC). They return to action on Tuesday, when they will travel to Purnell Swett for another SEC matchup with the Lady Rams.

Contact sports editor David Vantress at 997-3111, ext. 14 or via email at dvantress@yourdailyjournal.com.

Credit: Richmond County Daily Journal, Rockingham, N.C.

BHS resumes its schedule 1 p.m. today at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley and Tuesday it will visit Moorhead.

"Offensively we dominated and we were able to manufacture many good shots,]]> Andrea Hanson scored three goals and Erin Booth had a goal and three assists to power the Bemidji girls soccer team to a 6-1 home victory over Little Falls Friday in the season opener.

BHS resumes its schedule 1 p.m. today at Walker-Hackensack-Akeley and Tuesday it will visit Moorhead.

"Offensively we dominated and we were able to manufacture many good shots,money clips," said Jacks coach Kelly Schoonover. "We started strong with four goals in the first half but, as expected,rings, we tired in the second half.

"This was a test of endurance and overall we did well,tiffany," Schoonover said.

Bemidji scored all the goals it would need in the opening 40 minutes. Booth opened the scoring about 12 minutes in and eight minutes later Hanson notched her first of the fall. Rachelle LeBlanc drew the Flyers within 2-1 midway through the half but Booth and Maari Stocker answered in the final 10 minutes to give the Jacks their 4-1 cushion.

Hanson iced the victory with a pair of goals in the second stanza.

Paige Niskanen,pendants, Caitlin Blotske and Josie Spry also had assists.

Casey Palmer and Whitney Morin combined for three saves in the Bemidji net.

The midfield transition game is something BHS coach Rick Toward thought would take time to develop and Friday’s 2-0 home loss to Little Falls showed that he was correct.

"There were moments when we played well and possessed the ball but we had trouble transitioning," Toward said.

"For eight or nine minutes early in the game we controlled play but we couldn’t sustain it," Toward said

"It was a frustrating game but it’s early in the season and we know we have improvements to make.

Grant Bell scored both Little Falls goals. Early in the first half he capped a flurry with a close-range goal and in the second half he scored on a penalty kick.

Carl Graefe and Connor McNallan split the goaltending chores.

BHS will continue its homestand 3 p.m. today against Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. Tuesday the Jacks will host Detroit Lakes at 4 p.m.

The Lumberjack swimmers head to Willmar today for the annual season-opening invitational.

BHS coach Scott Leindecker is anxious to see how his team will compete today because graduation claimed seven key performers and this year’s team could be spearheaded by underclassmen.

"It’s going to take us awhile to come together," Leindecker predicted. "I really won’t know what we have until I see the girls in competition.

"But I’m cautiously optimistic," the coach added.

Bemidji will also be on the road Tuesday when it visits Brainerd.

Y pmiller@bemidjipioneer.com

The Lumberjack swimmers head to Willmar today for the annual season-opening invitational.

BHS coach Scott Leindecker is anxious to see how his team will compete today because graduation claimed seven key performers and this year’s team could be spearheaded by underclassmen.

"It’s going to take us awhile to come together," Leindecker predicted. "I really won’t know what we have until I see the girls in competition.

"But I’m cautiously optimistic,earrings," the coach added.

Bemidji will also be on the road Tuesday when it visits Brainerd.

pmiller@bemidjipioneer.com