THE KONSORTIUM

Colorama, a limited-edition new sneaker

GQ.com

Frenchman Pierre Hardy is already known for his outré dress shoes and boots, but frankly we didn't see this coming: Colorama, a limited-edition new sneaker wherein every part of the shoe is made from a different color. The kicks, available in a run of 500, should make matching either a breeze or a nightmare—or a little of each—and will be available this week from Barneys.
Pierre Hardy Colorama, $440, available from Barneys, 660 Madison Ave., (212) 826-8900, barneys.com

JOSH PESKOWITZ
Photo: Courtesy of Pierre Hardy

Diddy Does Vodka: Ciroc

Don't call Sean "Diddy" Combs a celebrity endorser. He prefers the term "luxury brand builder" and his latest endeavor involves some high-end vodka. He has just signed a multiyear deal to develop Diageo PLC's superpremium Ciroc vodka. And he isn't just putting his name behind the bottle. Combs plans to be very involved in all aspects of the development, focusing on attracting the "movers and shakers" of the vodka drinking world. "They're looking for something that tastes like their lifestyle," he said. "It's that trendsetter, that hipster, someone who's looking for luxury and looking for something better." If all goes well, Comb's 50-50 share of the profits could ultimately net him more than $100 million.

Wineauthentication.com: New Website Will Help Combat Wine Fraud

There has been a lot of talk about wine fraud lately and a lot of concern over just how many wine counterfeits are out there. Now Decanter reports that Russell Frye a wealthy wine collector, has created a new website to create a online community for those concerned about the issue. Wineauthentication.com will offer a bottle registry, bottle photos, counterfeiting solutions, an authentication service and a discussion forum. The site is still in its infancy with a planned launch for the end of the month.

The New DJ: Sooloos combines CD sound quality and MP3 convenience

What's the point of investing in a high-end home audio system if you're going to use it for crappy-sounding MP3s? That's the premise behind the new Sooloos music server, which combines the random-access, all-in-one convenience of digital music storage with CD sound quality. Yours for the price of a secondhand Volvo, it's obviously not intended for casual listeners—though if you're the type to blow ungodly sums on amps, preamps, speakers, and cables, what's another 12 grand? And frankly, the Sooloos sounds like money: It uses FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec), an uncompressed (a.k.a. "lossless") audio file format that retains fidelity as your tunes are converted from disc to hard drive. Those sweet-sounding FLAC files take up significant space—about 1,000 times more than MP3s—but the system compensates with three terabytes, or about 3,000 gigs, worth of storage, which is enough for 6,000 albums. And it's all housed in an unobtrusive, brushed-aluminum storage unit with a separate 17-inch touch-screen monitor, where you can browse and shuffle as you please. Preferably with a beer in hand. As Sooloos cocreator Rob Darling reminds us, "Everyone has a favorite memory in their life that involves alcohol, loud music, and a jukebox."

Sooloos high-fidelity music server, $12,000, sooloos.com

— Mark Ellwood, GQ

To-Do Before You Die: Halloween at the Playboy Mansion

Halloween at the Playboy Mansion – Friday October 26, 2007- 8PM – 2AM.

Halloween at the Playboy mansion will be a sight and sound experience like no other… the most over-the-top Halloween Party imaginable!

Playboy’s is the Scariest Haunted House in the nation bar none!

Pneumatic Monsters, Ghouls, and actors in all areas of the grounds to scare you
1,000 hand-picked Girls in the sexiest costumes
Body-Painted Models
Outrageous Performances
Go-Go Dancers
Playboy Playmates and Cyber Girls
Resident DJs
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE By MIMS
Access to the party
2 nights at the Mondrian Hotel,
Airport transfers within the LA area
Club and restaurant booking service

$4000pp (Bluefish Partners $3000)

Discount of $750 when 2 tickets purchased and sharing 1 room.

This is a limited price offer and subject to change

No other Halloween Party will rock this hard, be this sexy and scare you all in one evening – no other party will ever be at this level!

Costumes Mandatory!

Halloween@thebluefish.com

First Blush Varietal Grape Juice, Wine Varietals Without The Buzz

I recently came across this product in Whole Foods and had to try it out. First Blush makes varietal grape juices: Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, and a rosé juice made from Zinfandel. Each juice is made from 100% wine grape varietal without any added sugar. The 16-ounce bottles sell for around $4 a bottle. What does it taste like? I bought the Merlot and basically, it's just really good grape juice, sweet and fruit-packed.

Firstblushjuice.com