The Super-Yachts of Super-Rich Fashion Moguls

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Here at Racked, we're dedicating this week to the kind of fantastical shopping that most of us only get to experience in dreams (or at 80%-off sample sales). Taking a page from casino parlance, we'll be talking a lot about "whales," those big spenders who feel perfectly comfortable dropping tens of thousands of dollars every night on roulette, or, in our case, on Cartier. Welcome to Whale Week 2013.

Photo via Flynet

No Whale Week would be complete without a look at the ultimate whale item: the private super-yacht. Today we feature nine yachts owned by designers and envied by the rest of the sea-faring world. Enjoy below, and for more yacht-gawking fun, head to our sister sites Curbed National, where you'll find the mind-blowing yacht interiors of the filthy rich, and Eater National, where a private chef shares his private thoughts on cooking at sea.—Lauren D. Shinn

Sir Philip Green: Lionheart
This is Sir Philip Green on one of his other boats, the Lion Cub, which he uses to ferry over to his super yacht, Lionheart. The retail tycoon and Topshop owner is so enamoured of his yacht that he celebrated his 60th birthday aboard the Lionheart, along with Leonardo DiCaprio, Naomi Campbell, Gwyneth Paltrow, and other close frieds. In the name of animal-skin accuracy, it's worth pointing out that technically lions don't have spots (but on the bright side, Green and Cavalli are kindred leopard-loving spirits on the open sea.) The 207-foot boat is rumored to have cost $37.5 million.

Photo via Prive International

Roberto Cavalli: Roberto Cavalli
Yes, he named his boat after himself. And the décor involves a lot of leopard print. The boat is rumored to ahve cost $40 million to build, and not only that, the exterior is decked out in a special color-changing paint that runs $500 per quart. Here's what he has to say about that: "Many people ask me, 'Which color is your boat?' Honestly, I don't know because it depends on what time. In the morning, it's a dark blue, and sometimes it's even gold." Bonus: His car and helicopter are painted with the same magic paint.

Photo via Born Rich

Calvin Klein: Vantage
A bit smaller than the aforementioned two yachts at 150 feet, Calvin Klein's Vantage is sleek and sharp, much like his ready-to-wear designs. The ensuite bathrooms are done up in marble, and other fun features aboard include a bar, relaxation pads, and a jacuzzi. In 2011, the designer showed off his yacht during the Cannes Film Festival, throwing a huge party for celebrities, millionaires, and wannabe millionaires. And just in case you're wondering, the cabins are upholstered in cream and brown.

Photo via Super Yacht Times

Leonardo del Vecchio: Moneikos
The founder and chairman of Luxottica, the firm that owns the Sunglass Hut and Lenscrafters chains, is the second richest man in Italy. Accordingly, he snagged the gigantic, 203-foot Moneikos, which has five levels that guests can access by an internal lift or a spiral staircase. The saloon, pictured above, features glowing images and columns, which reflect off the gleaming floor and ceiling.

Photo via Awesomobile

Giorgio Armani: Maìn
Of course Giorgio Armani himself had a hand in designing the exterior of his 213-foot yacht, which boasts angular lines and a trim physique. The boat took three years to build, can cross the Atlantic in just 11 days, and, from the looks of it, can probably slice the ocean cleanly in half. The designer's staff members are required to undergo three daily uniform changes, but Armani himself picked them, so there's that. The boat took 30 months to build at Italy's prestigious Codecasa shipyards and cost the designer more than $60 million—not including the price of keeping the thing running. "The costs [of upkeep] are extraordinary," Armani told Harper's Bazaar in 2010. "When you decide to have a boat like this, a thousand euros is nothing. It's a drop in the bucket."

Photo via Maison Chaplin

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana: La Regina d'Italia
This yacht gets extra points because it comes with its own giant, custom-built, inflatable water slide. Other details on board include gold doorknobs shaped like two outstretched hands and, of course, leopard skin throws. Each of the four guest bedrooms is named after an exotic animal: giraffe, elephant, crocodile, and rhinoceros. Other lavish features include gold-veined marble floors and gold bathroom taps studded with sapphires and rubies.

Photo via The Daily Mail

Diane von Furstenberg: Eos
The Eos technically belongs to DVF's husband, Barry Diller, and he's a billionaire—not a millionaire—which means that his boat is one of the biggest private sailing super-yachts in the world at 305 feet. The best rule on board? Guests must check their shoes before boarding (consider it an excuse to get a pedicure?). The boat reportedly cost $150 million, and Diller pays $2,000 a day to have his super-yacht moored directly opposite his Manhattan headquarters.

Photo via Charter World

Valentino Garavani: T.M. Blue One
Valentino's 152-foot vessel is named after his beloved parents, Teresa and Mauro. On board is a full-time staff of 11, and a selection of art ranging from Picassos to Warhols. The interior was designed not by Valentino, but rather architect Peter Marino, who says of the designer, "He's the kind of person who would tell you, 'Why do you need to pay a shrink? I'll tell you what's wrong with you.'"

Photo via Deluxe BlogSean "Diddy" Combs: Maraya
Diddy's yacht includes a party floor on the top deck, fully equipped with a stage and projector screen. Of course. On the inside, creamy leather sofas beckon you to read the books—which are about Africa—displayed on the entertainer's tables. In Diddy's room, the bed is impressively "emperor-sized" and adorned with monogrammed pillows. The ship is maintained by 10 staff members, whose duties include but are not limited to baking chocolate chip cookies.

· All Whale Week coverage [Racked]
· Pack Your Louis Vuitton Luggage: We've Got Your Passport to 14 Fashion Hotels Round the World [Racked]