survival guide

Rose Gym Clothes?

2009-11-09T14:46:06-08:00

Exciting New Active Wear Development!

Back in the day before supers and regulars, applicators vs none, menstruating women were left without anything discreet or sanitary to absorb their bodies’ discharges.

My point here is that we learn to make do with what we have before advancements allow us to wonder how we ever survived without. Look at where we were at technologically, even a year ago, and can you imagine getting through any Wednesday now without your iPhone?

But sometimes, as I’m sure those dripping 19th century women thought too, you have to look at things as they are and know that there’s a better way— and pine for the day new options arrive for you.

This is a longwinded introduction to both an embarrassing story and an exciting shopping discovery. You see, I’ve upped my workouts in anticipation of Thanksgiving, and last evening during an intense quad and glutes session my trainer looked at my red, sweating face and announced quite loudly that I and my growing burgeon of sweat smelled like the inside of a men’s storage locker. He was joking, I know—- but regardless of whether the comment was fully, partially, or not at all intended as such, as a fragrance connoisseur being caught off guard not at my ‘scented best’ mortified me. I felt like an adulteress caught with my pants down.

So now, just like I eagerly awaited the fall’s Charles Jourdain collection re-launch all summer, I am now impatiently anticipating the arrival of another realm of clothing altogether: scented fabrics.

Yes. It’s recently come through the rumor mill that Italian sailing brand Slam is unveiling a Fruit’s Polo line, of which each item is made with “sensitive eurojersey,” containing a microcapsule application that releases perfume oils. Slam has also apparently created a long-sleeved shirt of the same abilities for athletes training in hot climates—- and this is the information I’ve clung to in my hopes that the invention will expand quickly into a women’s active wear line.

Come on Slam! For my trainer’s sake. (Plus, a little whiff of feminine oils instead of “storage locker” when I pass the blond hottie on the elliptical wouldn’t hurt any either). For now I’ll use something light and discreet like Clean Shower Fresh to be at my best while breaking sweats!

Celeb Halloween Costume Comment Winner!

2009-11-09T16:26:43-08:00

Congratulations!

We’ve got a winner for last week’s Celebrity Halloween Costume Comment Contest!

A big congratulations goes out from Kiki D. and Perfume.com to KIMBERLEY D. from NEW HAMPSHIRE!

This lovely (and lovely-smelling!) woman and valued member of the Perfume.com community won a $250 shopping gift card to use on any of Perfume.com’s over 12,000 brands of fragrance! —Just in time for the holiday season!

The team at Perfume.com wishes Kimberley D. and all our valued customers happy holiday shopping!

Twilight Teardown

2009-11-06T15:08:30-08:00

Nina Ricci sues the makers of Twilight fragrance

I can’t even imagine what it would be like if the fashion world followed the same rules as other industries, including fragrance. Imagine if no one BUT Chanel could make a little black dress? If Dior was still the only designer in the world allowed to send tailored New Looks down the runway?

In fashion it seems that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery: top looks from couture and ready-to-wear collections clone and morph as they trickle steadily down the retail line into basement bargain bins.

This is SO NOT the case in the fragrance department, where there is now another highly publicized incident regarding trademark and ownership. First it was Bono’s wife suing Stella McCartney, claiming she had sole rights to the word Nude. Then Beyonce was being banned by Abercrombie & Fitch from using the name Fierce for her fragrance, currently being created (using “Fierce” as part of her performing alias, Sasha Fierce).

This time though the trademark police have made a steady arrest; and the perpetrators have been caught red-handed (or rather, red-bottled). Hot Topics, the makers of the Twilight fragrance recently released in promotion of the vampire flick that seems to have everyone under 30 squealing with obsession (or is that just the fangs of peer pressure pressing in?) have blatantly copied the bottle design from Nina Ricci’s Nina perfume.

The bottle of Twilight is strikingly identical to Nina, which was launched in 2006—- two years before the movie and vampire buzz even surfaced. From the leafy stopper adornment to the apple shape of the bottle itself, these products are as hard to tell apart at first glance as any of Jon & Kate’s eight. Although the forbidden fruit idea might work with the Twilight theme, it’s an obvious rip off. In Twilight’s (slight, very slight) defence, that is where the similarities stop: the vampire jus smells like lavender and freesia, a far cry from Nina Ricci’s crisp gourmand floral with notes of lemon, lime, vanilla, peony, red toffee apple, praline, cedarwood and musk. This, however, will not save them from the wrath of Ms. Ricci’s team of lawyers.

What does this all prove? That vampires might be able to get away with murder, but not trademark infringement.

Kristen Stewart, who stars as Bella Swan in Twilight, wears Burberry Brit.

"I'll Take Half & Half"

2009-11-02T13:41:52-08:00

Halloween 2009 - The Final Costume Call

After straight days of turning my wardrobe and makeup drawers upside down, the final Halloween costume inspiration finally struck me mid-afternoon Saturday as I debated options between the lines of good and evil, femininity and masculinity (or rather of costumed sensuality vs. the form of more horror-inspired costumes). It was this line of thought about extremes, and stumbling across an asymmetrical blazer I’d somehow forgotten about, that turned all of my earlier preparations on their heads. I suddenly sparked with the greatest costume idea ever: I would simply work with both extremes, and go as half-man, half-woman.

I purchased this Martin Margiela asymmetrical wool blazer in Brown’s Focus just a few months ago while in London (see London (Spending) Fog). It is fully tailored like a woman’s jacket on the right side, looser and longer like a man’s on the left. I played this up with some impromptu tailoring of my own, attaching half of an old pencil skirt to the leg of a pair of the Beau’s forgotten work trousers, and donned a sharp stiletto boot on the right and an inconspicuous three-inch wedge heel on the left. A perfectly straight line down the center of my face marked the different sides of this gender coin, and I alternatively sported one bushed-up eyebrow and then one-half ruby red lips.

It was a hoot! Some of my friends and colleagues couldn’t even recognize me from my gentleman side. I sported the complementary Bvlgari fragrances for men and women to complete the ensemble, as their compositions are light enough to stand next to each other without being overbearing. Bvlgari for women is a light, classic floral scent that screamed femininity, and when I spun around the men’s cologne wafted off of me, retaining an elegant, masculine and clean aroma based on accords of Darjeeling tea, water lily and cedarwood.

Until next year, it’s back to “regular” dress-up for me!

KIKI'S COSTUME PICKS #3

2009-10-29T16:39:35-07:00

The Vampire

I’m back to darker ideas. There are many advantages to choosing a black-themed outfit instead of white—- not just for the shade’s slimming qualities but it’s just much more fun to be bad when you get the chance, isn’t it?

Everyone is raving about vampires this year. I’m thinking about it… the Beau was actually slightly enthusiastic examining this costume idea, but possibly only because I threatened to bite him with my fangs after the party. I like the idea because I know I look damn good in blood red lipstick, and I’m still stuck on showing off those black Gucci boots with the great buckling.

One of the hottest looks on the runway this season is biker chic, which presents me an array of leather goodies to play with in putting together this costume. My Balmain biker jacket has the chicest pointed shoulders that are almost reminiscent of Dracula’s cape. Or how good would the vampire bit look with a totally naughty semi-sheer boudoir-inspired cocktail look from Dolce & Gabbana’s new fall collection?! Paired with the deliciously devilish Poison by Dior?

My only concern, despite my abilities to out-vogue every other neck biter out there, is the lack of originality in the idea itself. I want to turn heads, and not just for the purpose of baring teeth. Back to the ol’ drawing board…

KIKI'S COSTUME PICKS: #2

2009-10-27T14:51:35-07:00

The Angel

This season’s sheer and boudoir-inspired trends mean magic for costuming. The ability to inject a little sensuality and sexuality into Halloween costumes is a longstanding trend with women (and girls much too young to be participating in these types of fashions), but if done tactfully, can be liberating and immensely fun—- all part of the exhilaration of “donning a different mask” on All Hallow’s Eve.

Today I’ve flipped from black to white, exploring the angel possibility for my second potential costume choice. My favorite, draping semi-sheer white Kain tee is graceful and delicate; I imagine myself in it winding gracefully down a set of stairs, make-up frosty and silvered against the soft sheerness of the shirt, and below the belt…below the belt…hmm, well maybe I’ll have to put that fantasy aside until I can complete this look. I would sport the store-bought wings with the right angelic ensemble, assuming their shoddy construction would disappear behind the -–excuse me, heavenly guise of my outfit.

I’m left flipping through Vogue again for inspiration, my Bible in dire fashion-dilemma times like these. There are only four days left until Halloween and the Beau is already growing weary of my constant “What do you think of…”’s.

And then, in an old summer issue on a half-torn page, a beautiful Alice + Olivia mint silk asymmetrical dress protrudes from the page. A lovely one-shouldered answer to my costume prayers and I can fully recant the fantasy now head-to-toe, the most lovely ringlets set in my hair, gold gladiator sandals on the feet and (well, what else?) nothing but Thierry Mugler’s Angel on the wrists.

Kiki's Costume Picks: #1

2009-10-25T09:17:49-07:00

#1: The Witch

Perhaps it’s the lazy Sunday morning air, but my first solid thought on a Halloween costume is along the lines of the classics: a witch. Maybe not as exciting as what you’d expect of me but you know, my mother hasn’t worn a drop of anything but Chanel No. 5 since ’63, so there’s a little bit of that tendency toward the tried-and-true in me.

There’s a way to do the classics without being sweater set boring, however too. I’ll tell you what I’m thinking for witch, and you’ll have to let me know what you think. What appeals to me about this disguise is its potential wow factor; and I do love a challenge. But how to take the pointy hat and staunch black cape dress to something out there and vogue?

I’ve successfully torn every black item out of my wardrobe. (It’s going to be another one of those mornings where the Beau wakes to find me half-buried under silks and chiffon.) I have this amazing new Balmain biker jacket with pointed shoulders to give the witch’s proper bad-ass aura, OR boudoir-inspired side-studded black Alexander Wang trousers that would look amazing with the Gucci boots I ordered a few weeks ago that have finally come in the mail.

Thankfully fall always brings around the return of the smoky eye, so what to wear above the neck isn’t so much a debate. And plus, this season Armani has reinvented the smoky eye with a smashing new array of palettes of seriously blackened purples, greens and blues in his Eyes to Kill Collection. I’m thinking of playing with the Rouge Iron palette, with a haunting crimson liner and red iron shadow, complemented by a deep BLV Notte perfume by Bvlgari. With its unusual, sensual and mysterious blend including addictive dark chocolate and intoxicating vodka, it will seem like I’m able to put my surrounding company, most appropriately, under a spell.

HOLLYWOOD HALLOWEEN

2009-10-22T11:23:01-07:00

Last night I thought I’d look to the stars for Halloween costume inspiration with a glass of wine, and came across some get-up gems that had me on the floor laughing. I had to share.

Heidi Klum as the Hindi god Kali, the goddess of time and change, is outrageous in any time, day or era. Leave it to a supermodel to still look fabulous slathered in blue paint, with bloody hands and miniature heads dangling off of her waist. Truly the high fashion diva of Halloween, Klum has also strut her costumed stuff as a serpent and forbidden fruit, and a vampire- somehow even managing to make that classic get-up look couture and original.

50 CC’s of cold shower, stat! Each year new yummy mummy Christina Aguilera teams up with hubby Jordan Bateman in some of the cutest couple costumes out there. Last year they showed up to Hollywood’s hottest Halloween jams as a sexy nurse and doctor pair, and the year before that came as a recently wedded (and recently deceased) zombie couple.

The world’s most famous homemaker let her domestic skills shine for ghouls’ night with the elaborate and immaculate Medusa costume she sported in 2008. Martha Stewart traded in her daily pastel and khaki uniform for an equally drab all grey ensemble, topped up however by a sophisticated headpiece structured with a crown of jewels and a wild head of snakes.

And because Halloween wouldn’t be Halloween without a little bit of straight up gore, the last honorable mention goes to Bette Midler for her bloodied-up butcher costume! Bette’s theatrical nature and great expressions make this costume as great as it is. This is the essence of Halloween costumes: simple, gory, and a little nuts!

I’m starting to narrow down some of my choices. More to come! In the meantime, tell me what you think!

Cologne Corruption

2009-10-14T13:19:43-07:00

Scandal in the Land of Perfumery

You should know that my love of perfume is not a new affair. Throughout my life, I ALWAYS saved EVERY penny I could for fragrances (ok and shoes). So diligently in fact that my mother, and later my roommates, (and today the Beau) would lecture me on my gravitation toward the day I would have no roof over my head or food in my belly, but still enough in the closet to fill my own department store.
(I know they MEAN this to be a bad thing, but…)

I have worked hard for every pair of strappy sandals in there though, regardless: which is why I’m outraged at the news of the recent scandals in the perfume world that just take advantage of the detailed elegance that goes into the art of perfuming. Not only did thieves in Miami recently steal $100,000 worth of fine Chanel perfumes, as I’m sure you’ve heard, but a man was also just arrested in Spain, selling thousands of bottles of fake perfumes disguised as real designer olfactory masterpieces.

What were they? Guerlain’s L’Heure Bleue disguised as a teenager’s blueberry body mist? Chanel No. 5 as just another drugstore cologne cocktail? I couldn’t imagine how many people had shelled out dollars and euros for bottles of bliss, only to have their nasal passages assaulted by chemical imposters. And worse yet—- imagine someone not knowing the difference and unknowingly sporting the fake version, boasting about it?

I’m not feeling well. I’m going to pour myself a glass of wine, call my girl pal KK, and buy some perfume online. Restore some balance to the world.

Passion for Survival

2009-10-14T12:53:36-07:00

I remember watching television airings of Cleopatra as a child, my mother knitting on the couch, lamenting the perfection of Elizabeth Taylor’s eyebrows while I sat on the floor with my knees under me, enthralled instead by the way her headdress jewels danced around her face.

Last week the ever graceful Liz Taylor underwent heart surgery, twittering (honestly, I’m still not used to this as a news forum) to the world late Thursday that she was back at home again already, healthy and recovering. And it shocked me, how much time had passed between her glowing role in the 1963 film to the recent pictures of the frail but still glamorous actress on the covers of supermarket tabloids.

When her Passion perfume came out in ’87 I felt like I was at a passion peak in my own life: I was 18 and about to finish high school, was awaiting my new beginnings at an out-of-state (thank god!) college, and at a legitimate adult life—- finally. I remember my wild Aunt Sheila just oozing the scent, her stiff bangs scratching against my cheek when she hugged me at graduation, while my mother raised an eyebrow.

My mother disapproved of Passion and anything else that suggested anything sexual. She was always a stern advocate for Chanel No. 5 and I’ve never heard of her even flirting with another fragrance. She lectured me the whole drive home from graduation about making sure I wouldn’t be one of “those” girls at college, wearing loud perfumes and short skirts, skipping out on class (and therefore on my future, she said). She also reminded me of the time she let me have dinner alone at Aunt Sheila’s, who let me have a glass of wine with the meal and I, a little tipsy and paranoid, drenched myself in my aunt’s Passion perfume to cover it before my mom arrived to pick me up.

I didn’t understand perfume very well then, or smells in general I suppose—- because it was the same as when I tried cigarettes and thought a piece of gum would cancel out the stench they left in my jacket. And little did I know at the time about “oriental fragrances “or “intense bouquets” , because about five minutes into the drive, Passion was just starting to hit its heart notes of rich jasmine and tuberose. And my mother’s back stiffened once the sensual blend wafted beneath her nose. As if it were a preview to my college debacles.

Luckily though, unlike the smoking, I still wore perfume after getting my business handed to me about it. Just the same as I continued being a fan of Elizabeth Taylor long after Cleopatra faded into the middle of her long filmography.

Liz, if you use Perfume.com (as you should) as well as Twitter, I’m glad for your recovery!

If You Jimmy Choose

2009-10-12T16:30:31-07:00

Jimmy Choo Pens Signature Scent Deal

The Beau and I spent Sunday evening in bed, nearly comatose from the effects of an indulgent dinner of creamy pastas and two bottles of champagne.

He was wrapped up in the newspaper so I won control of the remote, a reality he quickly regretted as my fingers skipped across a channel airing the Sex & The City movie. As my favorite foursome discussed shopping and shmucks over brunch, Beau scoffed at their conversation. “How ridiculous!”

“It’s not ridiculous,” I retorted. “It’s the way it is!” To give weight to my claim I had to remind him of an episode we’d seen together—- rather, an episode I’d forced him to watch with me, following a real life incident that mirrored when Mr. Big outrageously introduces Carrie to his mother as his “friend.”

A few years back while at a restaurant opening in London, I reminded him, the Beau actually introduced me to a colleague as his “friend” as well. I’d had to stop drinking immediately in order to keep myself composed through dinner, but exploded in the taxi afterwards, as soon as the doors were shut. Friend! After a year sharing the same bed, two vacations abroad and countless weekends shacked up in our (our!!) chic villa in the mountains.

Needless to say, he never referred to me that way again. And instead of arguing now, kissed my head and turned his concentration back to the newspaper, while I concentrated on the great pair of grainy leather criss-cross Jimmy Choo pumps Sarah Jessica Parker was sporting out for lunch with Charlotte. They were strong, confident stilettos; I could almost smell the musky Lovely scent off her, a perfect accessory for this outfit.

“Don’t you like this guy?” The Beau asked, breaking me from my fashion reverie, pointing to a small article in the corner of page six. Well, speak of the devil. It appears Jimmy Choo has just penned a 12-year global fragrance development and distribution deal to add a signature scent to his product line. I sighed and closed my eyes, imagining how this olfactory equivalent of a sharp pair of stilettos would play out; I nuzzled into the crook of my beau’s arm, grateful for how well he knew me (and my favorite designers). We had come a long way since that dinner in London.

And then I’m not sure whether it was the dinner, the drinks, the comfort of my beau or the news of Choo, but I had the best sleep of my life.

Don't Be A Boob

2009-10-05T17:11:35-07:00

Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I brushed my black Alexander McQueen drape cardigan to the side and felt myself, in the same routine of steps I’d followed on an almost religious monthly basis since my 30th birthday.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Where suddenly cities are abound with fundraising walks, and pink ribbons appear on bumpers and chests by the hundreds. Still, did you know that about 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer next year?

I realized the impact of this the other day while at this chic coffee shop near the office, reading a stats-heavy newspaper article about the tragic disease—- which has claimed even one of my closest friends. I looked at the group of three young women in the corner of the shop, the sun pounding heavily through the window and onto their faces as they laughed and gossiped. Two different couples in their 30’s at other tables, sharing mid-morning snacks of croissants. Two women eating spinach salads, a pot of tea between them. An older woman at the next table doing the same as me—- sipping a cappuccino and perusing the paper. One of us, I thought, would be diagnosed.

For one of my efforts, I’ve decided to wear pink every day this month to demonstrate my support. Lucky for me, I have an army of sweet shades of candy floss pink lipstick and have instructed my esthetician to color my fingers and toes in brightest bright OPI nail polish.

What will you do?
For every purchase of a pink perfume, Perfume.com will donate one dollar to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Shopping never felt so good!

Gaga for Gucci: Fall Fragrances No. 3-5

2009-10-05T16:35:00-07:00

I couldn’t sleep all weekend. I kept tossing and turning about my boots dilemma from Friday, and finally rose from a restless sleep this morning at 5:29 am to sort my thoughts and un-sort my closet. And so for the next few hours, I tore through all of my freshly hung items trying to find justification for the €1000 Euros I’d just spent on a pair of purple knee-high boots (they are like the stuff dreams are made of, so I was surprised to not get shut-eye).

So I decided not to get the purple Le Silla boots after all and cancelled my order as the last of the sun rose. Because looking at all the heaps and mounds of outfit attempts on the floor, I realized that all I could find to go with them was one grey knit dress. (Note: this only un-justifies my buying them at full price. They are bookmarked so I can snag them when they go on sale. ;))

I AM going to get these black Gucci-inspired leather boots from Le Silla though. Their detail reminds me of a recent gift from the beau: a black sleeveless top with gold trimming, just like the ankle-wrapping chain detail on the boots. Besides this, I have a million other things I’m sure I can wear with them as well—- including three of my most favourite Gucci scents of all time:

Flora by Gucci
This is hands down my favourite new scent from Gucci—- day or night, I love it. It’s a floral, as the name suggests, and it is both powerful and sensual, and stomps just like the boots.

Gucci by Gucci
This signature scent is classy and refined but uber sexy thanks to its floral/chypre mix. This is my favourite dinner date scent; it’s intoxicating when combined with playful feet beneath the table.

Gucci Rush
This scent is soft but lively, and aptly named for busy days at the office, which is wear I rock this fragrance. It’s a gentle mix of vibrant florals and a warm, earthy base, but it’s all sophistication. Because even when you dress down great boots, there’s no reason to dress down your fragrance.

Fall Fragrance No. 2: A Penchant for Purple

2009-10-02T12:46:41-07:00

The Perfect Boot Find on the Perfect Fall Day

Ahhh crisp.

I started today slowly with a hot coffee on the cool veranda, watching the dry coloured leaves break away from branches and float to the ground in the park across the street, pondering my wardrobe choices for the day under rule of this new colder weather. I had eagerly been awaiting the arrival of fall fashion and now here it was before me, and I was lost.

The morning news was boring so I started flipping through September’s Italian Vogue, in search of new fall boots. And there, on the center of page 270 in the Accessory Guide, I fall in love with a pair by Le Silla. With the day’s new mission now on the horizon, I jumped in front of my laptop to check out the website to see how quickly I could get them into my arms. Tragedy. Items beam off the webpage. There are now two pairs that I need. Need!!

Besides these glorious, knee-high eggplant slouch boots that pluck at my heartstrings, I am also in love with the company’s purple-laden website itself. Ever the emotional polygamist, I am ALSO just as deeply in love with my second favourite new fall scent, Viktor and Rolf Extreme Flower Bomb —-in of course, the purple bottle. Perfect compliment to the hot purple boots that I’m ordering online THIS minute.

(You have to love when your favourite shades take the forefront in fashion.)

Adding them to my shopping cart I can hear the inner voice of my mother commenting on the sensibility of tall purple boots. I could shoosh it away with one more click, if I could decide between these black Le Silla’s with the divine ankle cuffs, and this pair of classy hot black Gucci boots I came across unintentionally. …They do have international shipping…

I tap my Visa on the side of the desk and think about where to direct my indulgence.

Perhaps both. Economists may wince but like Carrie Bradshaw said, “I like my money where I can see it: hanging in my closet.”

Thriller Scent: This Is It!

2009-09-10T12:31:02-07:00

Remembering the King of Pop Through Fragrance

In between all the drama over the cause and details of Michael Jackson’s death, the battles over his estate, the opinions about his legacy and with the anticipated movie release of “This Is It” out this week, one journalist is choosing to remember the entertainer in a sweet and special way—- sparking a “scentsitive” revolutionary search for a rare and discontinued fragrance. You know your girl Kiki is on the prowl! Still, I couldn’t be selfish and keep this story to myself, so throw on some Billie Jean and get reading.

I’ve always been a big fan but then—- who hasn’t? I don’t really want to revisit this part about it, but I sported the red leather Thriller jacket and one glove look during those days. Luckily his music is more versatile and long-lasting than his fashions! (Although today’s return of the skinny jean is reminiscent of his black pant uniform.)

Music journalist Lisa Robinson from Vanity Fair magazine was fortunate to have spent lots of time with MJ before drama, court troubles and neuroses overcame him; the two developed a solid artist/writer relationship during her many interviews with him over a 16-year period from 1972-89. Consequently, Lisa was able to catch a glimpse into the raw human side of the untouchable star, a side that not many of us, fan or media, were able to witness or experience.

She reminisces in her article about meeting Jackson on the first night of his Bad tour in 1988. By this point they had become friends of sorts, she contends, and MJ asked for her that evening by name. Always child-minded (not in that way guys!), he played hide-and-go-seek with her, gave her a hug, giggling when he finally allowed himself to appear. “What’s that smell” she recalls him asking of her fragrance. “I know it.” She described it as an “old drag queen perfume from the 1950’s”, which made him titter even more.

A few days later she sent him a case of the fragrance, revealed to be Tuvache Jungle Gardenia, and as he prepared to go on stage at Radio City Music Hall that night, leaned in and whispered to her, “Thanks for the smells… I’m wearing it now.” The leak of this story is causing perfume and music fans alike to scramble in search of the original fragrance.

The scent, like Michael himself, has a history. Tuvache first released their Jungle Gardenia brew in 1933, and it remained popular throughout the 1970s and into the 80s, when it was discontinued. Few have tried to recapture the scent since, but none have exacted the formula. It is rumoured that MJ’s longtime friend Liz Taylor’s Gardenia perfume is a dead ringer imitation of the Tuvache scent—- which was a favourite of hers as well. There are also rumours about who owns the Tuvache Jungle Gardenia trademark and formula today, and we can only hope whoever it is will come out of hiding with a re-release of the classic scent!

Across the globe, fans of the original fragrance and the original King of Pop both are demanding a re-launch, and stalking the internet searching out the perfume, which is difficult to find in its original formula outside of eBay. Jungle Gardenia’s top notes include sage, clary oil, bitter orange, cyclamen and heliotrope, layered over gardenia, tarragon, ylang-ylang, jasmine and lily of the valley. Finally, base notes of oak moss, musk, sandalwood and benzoin. Combined, it is a scent that reeks of the free, sweet spirit of the 1960’s, a spirit Michael Jackson captured not only in scent, but in his whole being.

Boy Toys

2009-09-23T15:47:58-07:00

The Power of Attraction

Yesterday I stopped by the local bicycle store to have my tires pumped up and to my surprise, got my ego a little inflated too.

I ran into a past lover. Not just any lover, but one I acquired while “taking a break” from my then-steady beau; a roping of a young, sporty version of a man, to entertain myself (and keep me fit!) throughout the summer months.

The first few moments of these encounters are always awkward, aren’t they? The small talk, the catch up, the where’ve-you-been and what’ve-you-done and how-is-so-and-so, and whatnot. And then the inevitable, fatal goodbye… the outstretched hand, the move to embrace when you both go to the left, and then to the right, and laugh nervously. And then suddenly I’m stuck between his arms anyway and he won’t let go. He squeezes to varying degrees as he says again how great it is to see me, breathes deep and then comes the “Oh my god, I forgot how good you smell.”

After this type of thing happens you ride away (or walk or drive), thinking Look out Demi, you’re not the only one who can hogtie someone 15 years your junior! I think he was 22…well, fingers crossed for 24; I just never really wanted to know for sure. Anyway.

I know that scent easily transports you back in time. Drakkar Noir will always take me back to prom night as assuredly, I suppose, as a whiff of my standby classic L’Heure Bleue by Guerlain will take this man back to the way my hair draped over the sand when we made love on the beach that summer.

He’s called me twice already to get together to “catch up” some more. But that’s a chapter I’ve closed in my love life, I know; I smile writing this as I glance over at my beau standing in the kitchen, one eye on the television and one on the bottle of merlot he’s opening for us.

It’s not, however, a chapter I’ve closed in my fragrance books—- I remove the top of my L’Heure Bleue and inhale, and the beach and the sun and his arms become real again.

Fall Fragrance No. 1

2009-09-21T13:55:20-07:00

A Promising Affair

Saturday night was an evening of rich extravagance. My beau and I attended a “Creative Black Tie Masquerade” birthday celebration, in honor of a dear friend who spared NO expense allowing us to party like energized teens at her turning of (yet another) decade.

I surprised myself (being organized a whole week in advance) and, both of our handmade Italian Venetian masks having just arrived fresh at my doorstep, I decided to do a whirlwind party dress shopping trip during the late afternoon, choosing a Lavin sequined and sculpted top, paired with Barbara Bui cigarette pants and Balenciaga stilettos.

I presumed that this was going to be a “hot” modern twist on a Marie Antoinette look, but to my dismay, the beau thought entirely otherwise. So there I was, one hour before the party started, and having a wardrobe meltdown. There is no description in the book ‘Miss Manners” for “creative masquerade”. And so my thoughts ran fervently. Was Prada still open?

And so I ranted, I paced, and after several wardrobe changes and a shot of Petron to calm my nerves, I went back to the original ensemble. I also spotted on my vanity a rather classic, timeless scent—- which, I just so happened to note, is what the master of seductive costumery herself, Madonna, wears: the timeless Fracas by Robert Piguet. It happened to be JUST the right accessory for my look and intent to come together.

Fracas by Robert Piguet is an overtly romantic scent with an edge of carnal daring. It is a scent described exactly as I wanted my aura to be at this masquerade ball: “singular, original, uncompromising and ravishing beautiful.” Based around a heavy note of tuberose and using a blend of white flower and orange, along with jasmine, jonquil, lily of the valley and white iris, Fracas leaves a lasting impression of a lady who means business. …Whether the business is actually business, or just to party.

Renowned fragrance critic Chandler Burr of the New York Times said it best: Fracas is a hat trick of a legend, an equilibrium between the power of the perfumer’s style (tall, beautiful, intellectually voracious, abrasive (and possibly lesbian)) and the power of tuberose.

As the night came to a fade and we stepped into the weaning light of a rising sun just peeking over the edge of the hillside, my fragrance had lasted as long as I had. And only the impression the night left would last longer than us both.

An Obsession Night(mare)?

2009-09-17T14:24:59-07:00

In Search of Fashionable New Scent

I’m in the office today and two very big boxes have just been delivered to my desk. I can tell you with zeal that their arrival is, to me, better than Christmas! Inside them are all of my samplings for this season’s hunt for the perfect scent. (Oh how do I love thee, job!)

I’m so eager for fall to get into full swing. My boyfriend found me last Saturday morning plunked down in the middle of my closet, surrounded by all my new fall fashions, mimosa in one hand (yes, I do it up right!) and my iPhone in the other.

He paused and with that questioning look asked, “What are you doing?”

I respond nonchalantly, “Planning my future.”

“And with whom are you sharing your universe?” he retorted as he glanced down at my phone.

”KK”, I say. (Who is my dearest fellow fashionista and a woman who understands the importance of wardrobe fussings.)

He shakes his head in disbelief. “You are so weird.”

Yes, bizarre to the wonderland of the male mind, but of great natural importance for a girl like me. And to finish off my new, fabulous fashions with just the right accent, is my fall fragrance collection. Like my flavor for fashion, my scent tastes change from season to season and very rarely do I ever wear the same thing from one year to the next. Yes it may be a ritual that is out of the ordinary from most of my comrades’, but I love all things new, all the time.

The first perfume out of the box is Obsession Night by Calvin Klein. The fragrance was designed back in 2005 and true to its name, it smells like night: cool, dew-like. Instantly, I love it; it is mysterious and seductive.

What luck! The first one out of the box and it’s smelling promising. I sit, I wait for its heart notes to surface, and then —Shazam! I know this smell, or something just like it… and then I’m back in high school with that jackass boyfriend who made a “mistake” and found himself in bed with another girl.

But back to the non-personal fundamentals. Brilliant, truly brilliant. The Calvin Klein brand has masterfully succeeded in a conceptual collection of Obsessive scents.

…A fragrance from so long ago can trigger an instant moment in time. Do I need to relive those pubescent days? Sure. Why not? Not now, seriously never…

Obsession Night is back in the box and we are moving right along…But ladies, if you are a lover of Obsession, you should definitely try this perfume. It is sure to be a winner!

Stay tuned for my top ten picks for must-have scents for this Fall 2009 season.

Heartless?

2009-09-14T16:38:43-07:00

Kanye’s Truth “SippySippy” Serum Strikes Again

It was like watching your daughter get stood up on prom night.

Poor sweet country star Taylor Swift, just a baby at 19 years old, had her video music award deflowering aired on national television the other night. And like most first times, it was awkward, and left a sour taste in the mouth.

Taylor’s win for Best Female Video at the VMAs was cut short when Kanye West rushed the stage, taking the mic out from in front of her and proclaiming that Beyonce –nominated for the same award for her “Single Ladies” video— had “one of the best videos of all time.” Aka: off the stage Taylor, Bey should be up here, not you.

(For her part, Beyonce looked completely surprised and mortified by Kanye’s announcement.)

And now the whole world is up in arms about him. Obama called him a jackass; Donald Trump is calling for a boycott of all things Kanye. Facebook and Twitter exploded immediately, and College Dropout CDs were dropped off roofs across the country. As if we’d never seen this side of him before.

Clean-up of this incident has been more strange and awkward than the event itself. Beyonce and her dad both apparently rushed to Taylor’s side, seeing if the star was ok and offering ways to mend her hurt ego. Kanye also apologized, but later, and on his blog? Twice?

The first apology was taken down shortly after it went up, and his second one had him claiming he felt like a “Focker” about it (referencing Ben Stiller’s awkward romantic coms). Then he appeared on Leno, and for once his stoic, hard-edged barrier fell down, the star nearly brought to tears when Leno smartly asked, “What would your mother think about this?” (Kanye’s mama knows he acts a fool, but she passed away in 2007).

Kanye’s now publicized that he’s “ashamed” of his actions and is going to “take some time off” to deal with his mother’s death—- which he says he hasn’t done yet and that’s what’s been fuelling his aggressive fire (he was arrested last fall for attacking a TMZ pappie and has been known to lash out at awards shows before). He also told Leno he wants to meet up with Taylor to apologize face to face— but according to Taylor, who appeared on The View this morning, he hasn’t so much as put out a personal Tweet?

It’s hard to think that Kanye’s anything but genuine when he squints back waterworks talking about his mom, but one soft incident in a sea of statements like this make him hard to trust: “I’ll always try to push the envelope, get a rise out of people, and try to entertain them too,” he once told Time Out London magazine.

In 2007, Kanye announced he would “never return to MTV” after Britney Spears was chosen to open the show instead of him. He also rushed the stage at the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards after “Touch the Sky” lost to Justice and Simian’s video for “We Are Your Friends”; he took their mic and exclaimed that his video should have won because it “cost a million dollars, Pamela Anderson was in it… I was jumping across canyons… [and] If I don’t win, the awards show loses credibility.”

“I had a little sippy sippy,” he told MTV UK afterwards. He also responded to criticism once he sobered up, saying, “People were so surprised at what I did… I’m more surprised people thought I had changed.” Kanye later appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone as Jesus wearing a crown of thorns. Same with his “Bush hates black people” outburst after Hurricane Katrina, when he said about it: “I think people understood me a little more. They understood this guy is like…has a little baby Tourettes …maybe not quite diagnosed, but the truth just comes out like accidentally."

What’s different this time? Where he claims he feels bad that he took something away from someone, that he stepped on Taylor’s emotions and that it was plain rude? (Note: his original blog-pology stated that he was only speaking the truth about his choice). What happened to just telling the truth Kanye?

Maybe Kanye’s going soft like spring fragrances. Which isn’t a bad thing.

Davidoff

2009-09-11T10:37:13-07:00

From Perfumes to Smoke Fumes

Zino Davidoff MUST be a Gemini: in expression of his dual nature, he’s a man who is both responsible for making the world smell better with his acclaimed fragrances, and worse, with his smoking products.

Flipping through the latest Vogue, I came across his ad featuring a woman sitting at a bar, holding a cigarette quite awkwardly. Minimal makeup, soft hair, pleasant, a far cry from the cowboy-laden men’s smoking ads or biker chick bada**es from ads in the 1990s. (Were these supposed to be our ideals?)

Without knowing if one inspired the other, I can tell you that Davidoff has been a staple of the cigar industry longer than he’s been in fragrances. Zino, who states that “pleasure knows no price” and caters to such a notion with his fine quality products fit for indulgence and luxury, has recently targeted women with the 2009 release of light and menthol slim cigarettes.

The ad states that “life is rich. And the sophisticated details of Davidoff Slims cigarettes are a perfect complement to your elegant profile.”

I find his scents much more elegant than the smoking utensils and personally, I spend so much on creams and beauty products to keep away the wrinkles that I couldn’t even imagine throwing that small fortune away on the reverse effects that smoking cigarettes inspires.

Davidoff fragrances, including the top seller Davidoff Cool Water, are all aquatic, inspired by the ocean—the freshest scents on the market. The name Davidoff in relation to fragrance inspires thoughts of good looking people rolling in the sand on beaches, rich blues contrasting against golden sands. I think I’ll stick with this arm of the company.

Smelling Skinny

2009-09-08T15:27:40-07:00

Does This Perfume Make My Butt Look Big?

Ladies, gather ‘round!

As the weather chills and beaches empty, and you turn less to summer dresses and more to forgiving layered looks, and Thanksgiving weekend has relatives pushing carbs and sweet desserts in your face— and you cringing because Christmas is around the corner too, when not only does your food intake go up but your available gym time goes down, take comfort in this discovery:

According to a new study¹, some perfumes can actually have a slimming effect! The study took 199 adult male volunteers (aged 12-61, so no one’s left out here) and split them into four groups, each of which took turns estimating a woman’s weight. Frightening, I know—- brave woman.

Being presented to the first group, the woman wore a citrus floral scent; for group two she wore a “sweet pea and lily of the valley” scent. She encountered group three sporting a spicy floral, and for the fourth and final group, she didn’t wear any scent at all.

Neither the citrus floral nor the “sweet pea and lily of the valley” fragrances seemed to have any effect, nor did the control group –with whom she appeared scentless, apart from her own physiological devices. The spicy floral scent, however? Reduced the woman’s perceived weight by an average of four pounds. Not only that, but for those men who found the scent to be especially pleasant, it reduced the woman’s perceived weight by an average of TWELVE pounds below her actual number. (My trainer says this is no reason to slack on the crunches however. Sigh.)

The scientist who ran the study, Dr. Alan Hirsch, seems to agree with that much—that someone seeing you through skinny goggles doesn’t excuse you from exercise—but it just may inspire you to get moving. He said of the study’s results that “when women perceive themselves as leaner than they actually are, or are perceived to weigh less by others, they tend to be more socially active and confident, which may in turn lead to further participation in healthy activities such as exercise and socialization.” So it’s ok to fool yourself (and others) with this trick, as long as you don’t trade in your Lulu’s for a mumu.

Want a scent that actually helps you lose the weight? I’ll reveal that secret next time!

¹ Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation

Holey Health!

2009-09-09T08:19:39-07:00

Donuts That Pack a Punch, Not Pounds

Did you know that one Krispy Kreme glazed cinnamon donut packs 200 calories and 12 grams of fat?

Never have I heard about a “tasty, healthy donut” (I’d officially barred them to the “VERY occasional treats” list) but I just recently discovered this find that will excite all the sweet-tooths like me. I’m told that these sinfully delicious (hmm, healthy-ish) donuts from snackers’ savior Holey Donuts are prepared with a special patented cooking process, allowing them to contain NO trans fats or artificial sweeteners— and still taste good! Delivered flash-frozen in a cooler with dry ice-– the science behind it all is worth a try. Sampler favorites include Lemon Graham Cracker, Raspberry Vanilla Truffle, and Caramel Apple, to name just a few.

The sweet aroma of the Raspberry Vanilla Truffle that filled the room after a few moments in the microwave is reminiscent of a perfume that I recently sampled: Ma Dame eau Fraiche by Jean Paul Gaultier! It is a soft floral, zesty and fresh but I swear it smelled like my kitchen in that moment my teeth sunk into the soft, juicy, fluffy delight that was my Holey Donut. Holy, more like it!

Ma Dame eau Fraiche by Jean Paul Gaultier! is out of stock at the moment at Perfume.com, but keep an eye out in the next few weeks for the return of this yummy fragrance, with notes of orange zest, grapefruit, raspberry, rose, grenadine, sandalwood and musk. And while you’re at it, treat yourself to some delicious snacks to go along with the delicious scent!

For more info on the stealth health of donuts, check out Holey Donuts!"

From Paris, With Love!

2009-09-04T11:36:52-07:00

PARIS— Paris is the city that makes every woman happy— it is sleek, romantic, beautiful, and cultured (everything we want in a man!). The French make style and grace look effortless, and the city boasts a vibrant Old World charm as it also stands as the very modern City of Light. There are several treasures here to explore, so many in fact that it is hard to accomplish it all in a few days.

It is not hard, however, to sort a trip’s highlights (no matter how short):

STAY: The Radisson Blu Le Dokhan, in the heart of Paris’s 16th Arrondissment and a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower.
This restored hotel, like the city itself, is both new and old in its elements. It maintains its 18th century charm with classic French interior design, and yet the suites cut no luxurious corner and the hotel hosts one of the entire city of Paris’ firsts: a champagne bar. The highlight for this girl was the Louis Vuitton wardrobe-turned-elevator, every fashionista’s fashion/hospitality hybrid dream!

DRINK: Lounge Bar at the Pershing Hall hotel, located just off the Champs-Elysées.
The lounge bar is impressive and casts off a sense of wild grandeur—every ounce of which it deserves to project. Before your eyes can even reach the eclectic drink menu they are transfixed on the three-story vertical garden adjacent to the lounge, in the lush courtyard of the Pershing Hall hotel, and its retractable roof sets an even more magical air to your surroundings here. The lounge offers nightly DJs and some of Paris’ most desirable eye candy! Pleasure overload on the senses.

EAT: Le Cinq at The Hotel George V, a stroll from the Champs-Elysées and the River Seine.
When money is no object— and when in Paris you are tempted to live with this flair, despite your actual means— Le Cinq is an elegant option for dining, with remarkable views of the hotel’s courtyard garden and exuberant, rich décor based in greys and gold. Try the chilled pea soup, served in a clear ice block and garnished with crème fraiche and purple flowers—only a few bites per serving and it will set you back 39 euros, but the taste and memory of this impeccable appy will linger with you long enough to make it feel worth it.

SHOP: Barbara Bui, 7th Arrondissment, a bit of a stumble west of the hotel.
My one-stop fashion splurge destination, Barbara Bui, the quintessential French Rocker Chic boutique. The day’s damage included three trousers, three blouses, two pairs of boots and a leather jacket. My mother reads this blog so I won’t post the dollar damage! But she wonders why I don’t own a home…

Other highlights!
They include shopping at Merci, which offers a feel-good twist on fashion as part of their proceeds are donated to charity. The boutique carries a small selection of my most coveted designers, from Martin Margiela to Yves Saint Laurent. And an absolute MUST is visiting the boutiques of Isabel Marant and Vanessa Bruno.

My utter disappoint this trip: no luck hunting down anything by David Szeto.

But, no use crying the blues—there wasn’t even any room left on the Visa. ;)

Bye, George!

2009-09-03T10:59:32-07:00

A Fragrance to Inspire Travel?

As I prepare to leave London and move on to Paris, I regret not finding a fragrance sample of “By George!”. The fragrance was designed by Britain’s Tourism Authority to capture the essence of England – which apparently includes the smell of the sea, fresh vegetables and lawnmower exhaust fumes. A new spin on fragrance, in my books.

Launched as part of Visit England’s tourism campaign, “Enjoy Every Minute, Enjoy England”, was aimed at encouraging Britons to take short breaks and holidays at home, to rediscover their own backyards. I am fascinated to think that such a scent will encourage the ‘go power’ needed to explore an English seaside garden, but I like the idea. However, Britons are outraged at the £ 8500 cost to develop the scent—quoted by Mark Wallace of the TaxPayers’ Alliance as “a complete waste of taxpayers’ money”.

Notes of By George! include chamomile tea, salty sea air and damp earth, evening jasmine, and freshly cut flower stems on the compost heap, garden mint, carrots, beetroots, and a base of woodland mosses. For myself, it hasn’t really encouraged my desire to explore, but has made me a little hungry!

Blue-Blooded

2009-09-02T09:16:57-07:00

The advent of "art perfumery"

There is one event that stands out from my trip to London that I purposely left out of my last entry— this news is exciting enough to deserve its own platform. But you’ll recall I hit Brown’s Focus with a vengeance. And it was not until the sun began to fade that I realized how long I’d been in there.

As I was making a decision on my final purchases with one last lap around the store, the shop girl raved about an avant garde fragrance item that I simply had to try. Her eyes shone as she spritzed from an industrial-looking bottle of Boudicca perfume onto my wrist; she smiled nonchalantly as my eyes widened when, to my surprise, a blue substance shot out onto me, slowly fading away into nothing but a spicy herbal mist of scent. I blinked— and then, of course, threw myself into a question-asking flurry, the writer and perfumer in me needing to unravel the inspiration behind this product phenomenon.

Here’s the story:

Way back when, (we’re talking A.D.) Queen Boudicca –from whom the avant-garde label takes its name— was faced with incoming Roman occupational armies threatening to overthrow her and overtake her community. She and her tribe sported cobalt blue war paint to give them a mythical, ferocious look (wouldn’t fire engine red have done a better job at that?) but alas, their efforts weren’t enough when matched up against the resources of the sophisticated Roman warriors; and once defeated, Queen Boudicca killed herself by swallowing hemlock— its extract, morbidly, an ingredient of Boudicca’s Wode, the cobalt blue perfume-paint inspired by this tale.

“Woad” is a deep blue plant extract, used in paste form by ancient communities to create tribal markings on their faces and bodies. In its raw state, it looked muddy and it was only when it was exposed to oxygen that it turned blue, giving it a magical air and reputation. Its derivative “wode” also means “wood” and also “mad”! (which I think translates much more accurately in this case) and was used to describe the mind state of warriors. What battle are the boys at Boudicca fighting?

I must say that Boudicca takes the art of perfumery to a whole new level with Wode and their advent of “art perfumes”. I know what you’re thinking of the burst of colour: “How awkward!” But the cobalt blue mess does fade away after a few moments, leaving only scent behind. And its deliciousness sort of makes up for it all, opening with spicy herbals like nutmeg absolute, clary sage, coriander seed and juniper berry, then lightened by soft florals and toughened right back up with raw opium and black hemlock extract. Notes of saffron, tonka bean and treemoss inject some musk to the mix and are warmed by soft amber. The scent is packaged in a bottle resembling a spray paint can to represent the “modern war paint”: graffiti. All in all, with its surprise element and its history, Wode is a little disturbing—but a touch charming as well.

“Boudicca’s” Celtic translation is “victory”…I wonder if this art perfume phenomenon will see that sort of ending? Stay tuned…Kiki’s keeping an eye on this one.

London (Spending) Fog

2009-08-29T18:23:14-07:00

A Shopping Day in the UK

LONDON— It’s Thursday, 10:30 am and I’ve just stepped onto the train heading to Paddington Station. There is something very cosmo about arriving by train; I always feel somewhat more fabulous than when coming through airport arrivals. Plus, there’s something very classy and retro about it. I imagine ladies with legs crossed tightly, large hats, white gloves and smart Chanel suits; the men in fedoras and suits in various earth tones. It’s easy to drift into the past in a place with such history. Even the taxi ride through the streets of London feels nostalgic, and I keep my eyes closed—partly to keep my daydream going, but partly in preparation for the wild day ahead.

Today is a fast and furious one: I’ve dedicated myself to a shopping extravaganza! I am keeping a smart head about it though. Because I am spending pounds instead of dollars, I’m actively avoiding the latest hotel hotspot (aka $$$$!!!) and am checking in for a stay where the tab will not affect my shoe budget. I tell myself, Kiki, you will only sleep for eight hours here—but a great pair of slate grey Jimmy Choo ankle boots will last you a lifetime!

11:30 am
Check In: THE SANDERSON HOTEL, 50 Berners St.
The Vibe: The Sanderson is a London fave of mine, for atmosphere and for it being within walking distance to the fashion district and Browns Focus, my coveted shopping destination. This spot is ultra hip and funky, and despite its rich, wacky interior, is warm and welcoming (and reasonably priced!). The front desk staff chuckled as I spilled my purse contacts all over the floor, but also raced to help me gather my lipsticks, papers and change—as did a tall silver fox gentleman with the most piercing blue eyes. I tried to linger and listen for his room number but alas, the elevator came too quick, and I got ushered in with the rest of the waiting crowd.
The Look: Hip and modern—in stark contrast to my mind state during my travel here, reminiscing on horse and buggy days. The Sanderson was designed by the renowned Philippe Starck, and the sheer layered look, asymmetrical décor and Dali-esque surrealism laced with wild Warhol modernism is perfect for its place in hip Soho. I stayed in the Superior Queen room and became so enveloped in the room’s dreamlike, fresh vibe (created by the heavy use of silver leaf, chrome and mirrors) I almost just stayed in and ordered room service. Thoughts of Blue Eyes and Browns clothing inspired me to venture out.
Don’t Miss: Bathing in the deluxe shower of the glass-walled washroom, adorned with complimentary Agua by Korres products.

1:00 pm
Fuel: LA PETITE MAISON, 53-54 Brook’s Mews
The Vibe: On a main walking street, La Petite Maison is as great for people watching as it is for refuelling the body with deliciousness, and patrons come here to see and be seen as earnestly as they do to eat. Despite its location in the ritzy Mayfair area and its patronage, which can include celebs (I spotted Elton John on this sunny afternoon sharing a wine carafe with an unidentified fair-haired gent!), the resto maintains a surprisingly casual atmosphere, open and airy, and staff are delightful.
The Menu: Designed for plate sharing, La Petite Maison has excellent dishes for picking and exchanging. Unfortunately, on my own, I stick with one course of delectable French Mediterranean cuisine, cooked to perfection by Zuma’s ex-head chef and using only the finest local produce and freshest meat and seafood. La Petite Maison is renowned for its black leg chicken with foie gras, and as juices drip fearlessly down my chin, I’m quite happy Blue Eyes isn’t accompanying me for this.
Don’t Miss: The Dove Sole Menigure.

3:00 pm
Gear: BROWNS FOCUS, 38-39 Molton St.
The Vibe: Sitting opposite Browns, Browns Focus is the more hipster, edgy version of the popular boutique, designed for forward-thinking women who want to dress “with attitude”. The vibe is intense because the items are so good; I get thrown into Visa panic when I hit the new arrivals section. I have to try not to let the salespeople see me sweat—I’m an easy girl to up-sell to and I’m already eyeing the mustard yellow scarf by the front cash.
The Stuff: Browns Focus’ focus is all on cool coveted pieces from hot designers like Balenciaga, Surface to Air and Josh Goot. All the stock is from new, original lines and there’s no filler here: all the pieces are must-haves.
The Buys: Pair of Acne dripped paint boyfriend jeans and Martin Margiela asymmetrical wool Blazer
The Damage: 1200 pounds

8:00 pm
Grub: CECCONI’S, 5 Burlington Gardens
The Vibe: I’m instantly reminded of an early 1900’s Venice walking through the front door of Cecconi’s: accordion-laden music drifts above my head and servers are walking with bottles of deep red wines in every direction. The restaurant’s décor and design are apparently modeled after old Italy where it originated, the hostess tells me, and its rich atmosphere attracts top clientele, including a regular roster of royals. This posh environment has minimalist food, cooked classically Italian, although they also host London’s only Cichetti (Italian tapas) bar.
The Menu: Cecconi’s is one of the best Italian restaurants outside of Italy. Trust me, I’m a girl who caves for a good smoked salmon linguini with fresh crème rosé sauce. Yum! This time I tried the cannelloni, in a rich, smooth green sauce, pasta wrapped around veal spiced with nutmeg, and with a delicious glass of 1984 Bordeaux to wash it down I had to keep inconspicuously dabbing at drool with my napkin.
Don’t Miss: Prosciutto San Daniele with gnocco fritto and fresh Prosecco Bellinis.

10:30 pm
Drinks: LONG BAR / THE PURPLE BAR @ THE SANDERSON HOTEL, 50 Berners St.
The Vibe: Is young, hip and fabulous, steadily with stretch limos parked out front and a beautiful crowd indoors. Patrons are young and chicly dressed, and dim lights and ambient tunes play well over soft laughter and tinkling glasses. I left my boyfriend jeans upstairs to don my lucky black Vena Cava dress and Manolo cage shoes.
The Look: The room of The Purple Bar is draped in violet silk opera curtains and furnished with lavender Queen Anne chairs and purple etched Venetian mirrors. This bar is wildly theatrical and feels like it’s come straight out of a scene from Alice in Wonderland. Long Bar is more sleek but just as enticingly bizarre, with chair backs donning giant eyeballs lining the enormous 80-foot long bar. Long Bar is adjacent to the Courtyard Garden, a lush outdoor retreat for patrons complete with flowering trees, a fountain, and sexy lounge chairs. Blue Eyes was out here, seated on a white leather chaise with a blond woman; we locked eyes and just as I found myself a seat by the lush flower garden he had come around, sans blond but with a fresh martini to offer. We chatted until the wee hours of the morning: delicious, luxurious way to end an evening in London.
Don’t Miss: Cozying up under candlelight by the reflective pool in the Courtyard Garden with a Cuban Spiced martini.

Next: to la gaie Paris! (Also, a scary “blue-blooded” perfume encounter!)

Sweet Summer Cocktails

2009-08-24T09:52:41-07:00

Finding the right spirit for your summer scent!

A good summer scent is like a sweet summer cocktail and also like an enjoyable summer fling; it is fresh, flirty, fruity and refreshing.

I was lounging on the beach a few weeks ago when two of my girlfriends came to meet me, brandishing a bottle of chardonnay, one of rosée and a pint of fresh strawberries. As we bronzed skin while reddening cheeks, we marvelled over the sheer perfection in the combination of fruit, florals and sun (and booze).

By the time the buzz started to wear off and my head was nestled comfortably into the sand underneath a large straw hat, I was still enthralled by the connection, which, sobered by a cold shower and a coffee that evening, turned into a structured reflection on the perfect accessory to a sweet summer scent: a delicious cocktail.

I have assembled a small listing of some of my favourite drink recipes and matched them up with some of the hottest summer scents. Just like the right wine harmonizes with fresh salmon, the melanges of flavours and notes are designed to complement each other in a way that will create delight for both your nose and tongue.

DRINK: Frozen Bikini
Completely irresistible; icy and tingly in all the right places
Ingredients: vodka, peach schnapps, peach nectar, orange juice, lemon juice, chilled champagne, crushed ice
SCENT: Red Delicious by DKNY
A daring, sexy fragrance that starts with a glittering champagne accord that shimmers with exotic lychee while red raspberry flirts with crisp apple.
Notes: lychee, vanilla bean, champagne, amber apple, red raspberry

DRINK: A Day At The Beach
Attractive, glamourous and seductive
Ingredients: coconut flavoured rum, amaretto, orange juice, grenadine
SCENT: Magnetism by Escada
A sharp, oriental floral fragrance that features fresh fruits and leaves, with a touch of musk and patchouli
Notes: pineapple, black currant, melon, red berries, litchi, jasmine, sandalwood, amber, vanilla

DRINK: Tropical Passion
Elegant and refined, nothing says romance like a fruity shooter
Ingredients: peach schnapps, rum, sloe gin, triple sec, orange juice
SCENT: Tresor by Lancome
A fragrance that is at once oriental and fruity, romantic and sensual, with its melange of elegant rose and lilac with fresh apricot blossoms.
Notes: pineapple, lilac, peach, apricot blossom, bergamot, rose, jasmine, musk, vanilla, peach

DRINK: Sex On The Beach
Rich and zesty confession time: have you done it?
Ingredients: vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, orange juice
SCENT: Sex On The Beach by Demeter
A wearable version of the drink, this scent is made up of an inviting and refreshing combination of vodka, unsweetened pineapple juice, raspberry liquor, melon liquor, and a splash of cranberry—a scent so alluring and compelling, it should carry a warning label.
Notes: vodka, pineapple juice, raspberry, melon, cranberry

Leave it to Dior

2009-08-19T17:32:14-07:00

In the spirit of classics and the return of the spendable dollar

The recent recession meant a lot of bringing back the basics; for a time I heard horror stories of women mixing their own scents out of the drops left in bottoms of bottles. A novel idea perhaps, but we know there are still those who, against better judgment, will pair pink with red, sandals with socks. Thankfully, now that the economy has lifted, ladies are once again letting the professionals mix the scents and fragrance sales are climbing once again.

In the spirit of classics and the return of the spendable dollar in the average household, fall fashion collections are being released to the usual tune of smoky greys and dignified hemlines, with not a quality stitch to spare for economic caution. And fragrance houses are following suit, switching out their fruitier summer scents for deeper, woodsier tones. Christian Dior, one of my personal favourites on the runway and in the bottle, is showing their insight into the still-sad state of monetary affairs by promoting a few of their classic fragrances for men and women within their autumn collections.

In the late 1980’s I had a brief summer love affair with a Parisian man who sported Dior’s Farenheit cologne. Absolute Farenheit, today’s remixed re-release, is reminiscent enough of the classic scent that I was instantly taken aback; its notes of violet, myrrh, oud and incense are modern enough to appeal to the newest generations of young lovers, but its classic hues also enable my mental return to long nights absorbing this man’s scent and his words, strolling beneath the stars along the Champs-Élysées.

J’Adore, another of the aforementioned classic scents, is celebrating its tenth year as a staple women’s fragrance for the Dior house. They previously recruited modern seductress Charlize Theron to promote the line and these are the advertisements that will be “recycled” into the fall in print and television. Charlize does a wonderful job portraying the simple elegance that reflects throughout Dior’s products.

Perfume.com offers a lovely range of quality Dior fragrances, new and old. Although my “French baguette”, as I playfully referred to him, is no longer the bread melting my butter, I still had to purchase a bottle of Absolute Farenheit upon its release— which I leave on my dresser for a quick whiff, whenever I would like to reminisce.

Bono’s wife sues Stella McCartney

2009-08-19T17:30:40-07:00

The case is set to go to court in London this fall

Against all “scentsibility”, the wife of U2 star Bono is taking legal action against Sir Paul McCartney’s daughter Stella in a dispute over one of the fashion designer’s fragrances. Or rather, in a dispute over one very common word found within one of her fragrance’s product names.

Back in 2002 Stella McCartney added her first perfume, Stella, to her fashion house and, more recently, decided to revitalise the scent with a new version called Stella Nude. This latest addition to her fragrance collection is due to be released this September and she states that “nudity” is a big part of the perfume’s look and design. The bottle, for example, is of a nude colour.

But news of the new perfume’s title has infuriated Bono’s wife Ali Hewson, who runs a company called Nude Skincare, reportsdailymail.co.uk.

Hewson and her business partner Bryan Meehan have filed a suit against McCartney, arguing that the use of the word “nude” amounts to alleged copyright infringement.

“Nude Skincare is suing for compensation, not because of anything to do with the scent of the perfume but because of branding and the use of the word ‘nude’. Stella isn’t likely to make any changes now because the fragrance is coming out in September and nudity is a big part of the perfume’s look,” said a source.

For someone whose husband is an international philanthropist and activist, I would have thought that eco-loving Ali would easily find better use of her time than suing such a big celeb over a shared word as common as “nude.” What will Ali go after next, I have to wonder— hosiery companies? Besides, this isn’t even the first time we’ve seen the word on the fragrance shelves; Bill Blass released the brisk floral scent of the same title back in the 1990’s.

Perhaps Ali’s husband’s popularity and level of fame has just attributed to her belief that she can do things like own rights to a word such as “nude.” I wonder if Ali is also going to tackle getting the rights to the word “entitled”?

The case is set to go to court in London this fall.

Your Wedding Day Fragrance

2009-08-19T17:29:46-07:00

Finding the right fragrance for your Wedding Day

When it comes to choosing the right perfume for your big day, it is important to find a signature scent that reflects your personality and also your wedding environment. The style of your wedding gown, the time of year you are getting married and the location, are all essential when choosing a fragrance that will capture and reflect your emotions on this occasion. As brides, you are usually faced with a very emotional experience (commonly known as Bridezillas) and although the right fragrance will not guarantee a perfect wedding, it can sure help smooth the way.

Below are a few examples of 5 different scents for 5 different wedding settings:

For the truly classic elegant wedding, Songes by Annick Goutal is a romantic perfume with a lush blend of frangipani, jasmine and gardenia flowers. A special scent with a sensual finish, almost nostalgic in a way, without an old fashioned feel.

Beautiful by Estee Lauder is a perfect scent for the garden soiree and nature loving bride dancing under the stars. A perfume that smells like a fresh bouquet of flowers with warm undertones and a touch of bright citrus.

For the sleek, sexy modern bride tying the knot at City Hall, Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker is a citrus, woodsy fragrance with hints of musk, an ideal scent for downtown matrimony. I was at such a wedding this past Friday and the highlight afterwards was the walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. Defiantly Diva a.k.a. Sex in the City.

The bold and beautiful event with the horse drawn carriage and elaborate, theatrical train calls for Love in White by Creed. This bold, lively scent will awaken the senses and leave a lasting euphoric sensation.

A perfume fit for a seaside setting, from the iconic Wedding Designer herself, Vera Wang by Vera Wang is an elegant, sunny floral scent with wisps of mandarin, Bulgarian rose and gardenia. A scent that fuses fashion, memory and emotion.

Checkout other iconic Wedding Day Scents at Perfume.com. Till July 29th they are offering an additional 15% off a wide selection of designer fragrances. Use the coupon code MYBIGDAY at checkout.

New York City

2009-08-19T17:27:48-07:00

Fragrances so refreshing you can almost taste them

One of the highlights New York has to offer, outside its infamous Pizzerias, is the selection of “south of the border” cuisine. My new favorite find is Pampano on East 49th Street. Between the trendy white washed walls, lobster tacos and sable fish that melts in your mouth, it reminded me of a recent holiday in Pamilla, Cabo San Lucas. I was sure that I might walk out of the restaurant and find myself walking on a tropical beach under a moonlight sky rather than a busy street in midtown Manhattan. While sipping on one of their house made lime margaritas, I was reminded of a recent shopping trip to the Bond No. 9 Perfumers. Topic of conversation turned from Mexican sun to lime perfumes. My beau could hardly believe that Bond No. 9 Coney Island is comprised of notes related to margarita flavors, including tequila, as well as melon, guava, cinnamon, chocolate, caramel and vanilla.

“Sounds disgusting”, was his only reply. Bond No. 9 did, thankfully, skip the grilled hot dog and greasy french fry smells associated with Coney Island.

There is definitely something summery about fragrances with citrus ingredients that transport you back to the beach. Perhaps an acquired taste, but if you love sweet smelling scents, a la margarita madness, check out Bond No. 9 Coney Island, Demeter’s Frozen Margarita, or Tommy Bahamas’ Set Sail St. Barts for Woman. Fragrances so refreshing you can almost taste them!