Food and Wine

Carolee Jewelry: Fresh Floral Inspirations, Macaroon Pastels, and Tropical Brights for Spring

Last week, I went to a special showing of Carolee Jewelry Spring collections and met their head designer, Jennifer Kato.  If you haven't heard of Carolee, the brand has stood for the ultimate in design, value and workmanship for over 40 years.  Jennifer introduced me to their new spring collections, which are inspired by  florals, colors from macaroon pastels, and tropical brights.  

Catch the Bouqet: Fabric Floral and Pearl Necklace, Beaded Necklace, Crystal Stems Dramatic Necklace

The main collection, which Jen describes as classic, feminine, and flirty uses pearls and semiprecious gems, and are perfect for bridal and special occasion.  Their Catch the Bouquet Collection has a stylish beaded collar and fabric flower and pearl necklace. 

The Gemstone Garden collection has multi-layered pieces, long necklaces that can be worn in different ways, and drop and chandelier earrings.  The Gemstone Garden Five Row Necklace is one of Carolee's most popular pieces.

(L to R: Gemstone Garden Dramatic Necklace and Five Row Necklace)

Carolee is also been a big supporter of Breast Cancer Research, so there are a lot of pink pieces in their collections.

Gemstone Garden Dramatic Drop Clip Earrings and Floral Stretch Bracelet

The Golden Trellis Collection is dramatic with bold silhouettes and made with semiprecious cherry quartz with a golden earthy tone.

Sothys Spa NYC Sensitive Skin Facial

I was recently invited to visit the NYC flagship of Parisian luxury Sothys Spa to try their new Sensitive Skin Facial.  Located in Midtown West just 2 blocks south of Central Park, Sothys has been setting the standard for the professional beauty care industry for more than 60 years and is represented in 20,000 spas in over 115 countries worldwide.

My skin was feeling very sensitive, especially with the changing seasons, and the area around my nose was dry and peeling after a recent cold. The 50 minute facial treatment was ultra calming and soothing and is perfect for the most sensitive and reactive skins.  The sensitive skin facial also included their unique decongesting facial massage with chilled porcelain spoons, which at first felt very cold, but also surprisingly calming.  Afterwards my skin was super soft and moisturized.  My face really glowed and looked dewy and clean.  Thanks to Sothy and my amazing facialist, Zina!  I'm excited to try the samples I received of the new sensitive skin line that was used in my facial. 

Sothys’ complete professional face and body treatments and high performance home care products provide both the spa industry and consumer with products that promote well-being while providing authentic, proven results.  It was also interesting to learn that Sothys uses SpaTM Thermal Water, which is a very pure natural spring water with a low mineral content and a pH similar to that of the skin.  The water comes from the Belgian Ardennes, and has been used by spas since the 16th century, and its balancing properties have now been scientifically proven. 

Boots Beauty Launch Event at Duane Reade with Marina and the Diamonds

I recently attended the launch of The Boots Beauty Experience Launch at Duane Reade with a special performance by British sensation Marina and the Diamonds.  The British brand now offers customers "The Beauty Experience", at Walgreens and Duane Reade shops in the NY metro area.   

Customers will receive complimentary access to incredible service and the opportunity discover and play with all the Boots beauty brands in one location: No7 Skincare & Cosmetics, Botanics Skincare & Cosmetics, Expert, Extracts, Mark Hill, Champneys, and Indeed Labs. 

 Boots Beauty Advisors were on-hand to offer advice, tips & trends, free samples, complimentary skincare consultations, makeovers, and quick touch-ups!  They also offer complimentary Match Made Service, which matches you to your perfect foundation shade in just minutes.  At the party we got to sample products, get makeup touchups and of course, take photos at the photobooth! 

With fellow fashionista TijanaStyle.

I was excited to learn about the Boots Botanics product line which is free of parabens, mineral oils, paraffin waxes, SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulfate), replacing man-made chemicals with natural ingredients where possible.  I also can't wait to try the popular Botanics Organic range that is rich in Organic Rosehip to nourish and boost skin’s radiance.  The Botanics Facial Oil is 100% organic and the first mass market facial oil to lock in moisture for up to eight hours.

We then headed to a The Bailey Pub for performance by popular British pop star, Marina and the Diamonds. She performed her songs "Primadonna Girl" and "Froot" which were super catchy and fun!  See the video below for her amazing performance!

La Maison du Chocolat Tasting & Giveaway, April 1st

La Maison du Chocolat

Invites you to an afternoon tasting of pastries and chocolates at all our NYC locations, enter your contact information in our raffle to win a gift valued at $60.

April 1^st 2015

 2-6PM

Photo Credit: La Maison du Chocolat

Boutique Locations

1018 Madison Ave (at 78^th St)

30 Rockefeller Center (at 49^th St)

63 Wall St

The Plaza Food Hall: One West 58^th St

The Shops at Columbus Circle: 10 Columbus Circle

Asia Week NY March 13 - March 21

Last week I attended a preview of  Asia Week New York, a week-long celebration which includes gallery open houses, Asian art auctions, museum exhibitions, lectures, symposia, and special events, with 42 top-tier international Asian art specialists, five major auction houses —Bonhams, Christie’s, Doyle New York, iGavel, and Sotheby’s, and 22 museums and Asian cultural institutions. 

Asia week is definitely one of the highlights of my year.  It's an amazing opportunity to see and discover the story behind beautiful works of art, and possibly start your own collection!  This year, I was really drawn to the subject of fantastic animals, both real and imagined. 

We started the gallery tour at China Fine Art 2000 which showcased work by An Ho 安和, a female artist born in Beijing 1927, who began studying at the age of 17 under Pu Ru 溥儒 (master painter and cousin of the last emperor of China). Her painting, Prowling Tiger, impressed her teacher so much that he completed the background and wrote the inscription for the painting. At Carole Davenport gallery, the scroll painting of two tigers by Maruyama Okyo (18th C.) shows a gorgeous, stylized tiger with piercing eyes that jumps off the scroll.  The Chinese bronze horse (2nd Century AD.) at Gisele Croes (Gagosian Gallery), was stunning, its motion beautifully expressed in fluid lines.

Other favorites of mine included an adorable Khmer Sandstone Lion (9 - 10th C.) at Nancy Weiner Gallery that reminded me of Doraemon. There is a similar looking (although more elongated version) Guardian Lion (11 - 12th C.) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The mythological beasts (Carole Davenport) looks like a cross between a rhino and a dinosaur with 3 spikes.  The fanged Tomb Guardian at The Met also has 3 spikes but looks like a gargoyle.

It was so amazing to see works from 2nd Century AD. to modern day, with artists who were and are still influenced by the beauty of nature and fantasy.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week NYC Venexiana Fall Winter 2015

This season, Venexiana designer Kati Stern, found her inspiration at the cubist exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  This was evident in some of the asymmetric and geometric patterns in the collection, but still featured her signature lace overlay gowns with punk rock glam edge.  The lineup started with looks in soft neutral hues of beige, nude, and blush pink, elegantly drape but with a hint of sparkle at the neck or waist. 

Hair was romantic and piled high in a modern day version of the Marie Antoinette pouf, braided in the back, and adorned with jeweled barrettes.

Watching the Venexiana show was like being a kid in a candy store. There were so many "I want!" moments.  For me that included gowns that had any of the following combination: floral, animal print patterns, sequins, halter or unique or asymmetric necklines, velvet, and flowy chiffon.

The colors are perfect for the fall/winter and holidays with black and metallics (gold, silver, bronze), and rich shades of plum, turquoise, and one stunning orange/red velvet dress.  With so many choices, it's difficult to pick a favorite.  Which one is yours?