Buckle up to travel in Versace-style chopper

By Marie-Louise Gumuchian

VERGIATE, Italy (Reuters Life!) - Versace suit? Check. Versace handbag? Check. Versace sofa? Check. Got them all, so now it's time to deck out your helicopter in the Italian designer's style.

The Milan-based fashion house has stepped into the world of luxurious air transport, making made-to-measure helicopter interiors for its wealthy admirers.

From smooth black and white leather seats to the house's classic Medusa head logo imprints, Versace is rolling out classy sleek interiors for those who want to add glamour to their chopper.

"We have entered a new frontier in luxury," Versace Chief Executive Giancarlo Di Risio said at a ceremony on Thursday, where the first two Versace interior-styled helicopters were unveiled to their new owners.

The choppers, for which Versace has teamed up with Agusta Westland, a unit of Italian defense and aerospace group Finmeccanica, took over a year to make.

The price was not disclosed, but an Agusta spokesman said a helicopter cost for $5 million-$6 million, to which interior design costs are added.

"For me, it is an object of class," former Romanian tennis player-turned-businessman Ion Tiriac said before pouring champagne and autographing his new chopper -- his third.

"I travel to work like this."