ILORI An Optical Fantasia

A few weeks ago while leaving the Chanel boutique on West Broadway, extremely annoyed because I wasn’t able to find the perfect shades for my trip to Miami, I noticed a small optical boutique across the street called ILORI with the most beautiful sunglasses from the likes of Bulgari, Prada, Dior, you name it adorning the windows. Being a self-proclaimed sunglass connoisseur and a little desperate for the right pair of shades for my trip I just had to take a peek inside.

ILORI is derived from an African word meaning “special treasure”. The boutique is designed to resemble your favorite art gallery filled with exclusive collections and distinctive works showcased in easy-to-view displays. The poignant style consultants are like curators of fashion and can assist you in selecting your eyewear look, whether you’re shopping for eyeglasses, sunglasses or prescription sunglasses with expertise and panache.

From the moment I stepped in the door I was greeted with the outmost hospitality by Duane a handsome ILORI sales rep with the most gracious smile who escorted me through the fantasia of sunglasses ranging from the very theatrical to the classically feminine. After asking me a few questions about my likes and dislikes he came back with a silver platter of sunglasses that were perfect for my face-shape (extremely heart-shaped) and my taste level (extremely glamorous).

It was wonderful having personalized service and being introduced to eyewear collections from the most coveted designers from around the globe. I ended up choosing a pair of wayfarer style glasses from the latest Chanel glitter collection (which by the way the Chanel boutique didn’t even carry). ILORI is sunglass shopping the way it’s meant to be: Personal, exclusive and perfect.

Book your ILORI experience today via: http://Ilori.com

ILORI

138 Spring Street
New York, NY 10012-3854
(212) 226-8276

Open Mon-Thu 10am-7:30pm; Fri-Sat 10am-8pm; Sun 11am-6pm

Ladurée Arrives Stateside

Polish off your berets, slip into a pair of ballet flats and grab your favorite Chanel bag because it’s time to head off to the first outpost of the famed French bakery (and fashion obsession), Ladurée, set to open on August 22nd on 864 Madison Avenue.

Ladurée brings the finest authentic French macarons presented in the outmost beautiful boxes along with its collection of chocolates, candies, teas, ice-cream macaroons, perfumed candles and fragrances. All of which make delightful gifts and perfect self-indulgences.

The Madison Avenue Location of Ladurée is decked out in the style of a private French home, offering customers a warm and welcoming yet glamourous atmosphere where the scent of pure sweetness and the most delectable confections can be purchased as well as enjoyed.

The boutique is broken up into two distinct areas. One room is for sales and decorated with neoclassical touches such as paintings, Barbedienne lamps and plaster medallions featuring cameos. The second room is decorated in refined furniture including antique chairs upholstered in 19th century fabrics and is reserved for conversation and order taking.

According to David Holder, the chairman of Ladurée who purchased the brand in 1993, Ladurée will open an adjacent tearoom where patrons can indulge in the full range of Ladurée products.

Ladurée opened its doors in 1862, as a little bakery which was named after it's owner on 16 rue Royale. It was Pierre Desfontaines, the cousin of Louis Ernest Ladurée, who, in the mid 20th century, had the idea to stick macaron pieces together, and inject them with different flavors. "This small and pastry that is crunchy from the outside and melting from the inside, is prepared with extreme delicacy. Almonds, eggs, sugar, and a pinch of a unique know-how are necessary for their cooking, ensuring that every macaron reaches the delicate balance between flavors and textures," says a Ladurée spokesperson.

Every season, Ladurée creates a new flavor, in honor of Defontaines. More than a century later the fabulously French bakery will keep to this heritage and alive for millions of chic customers excited and anxious for the stateside launch.

Ladurée New York/ 864 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10021

Monday to Friday 9 AM – 6 PM /Saturday 9.30 AM – 6 PM / Closed on Sunday

Tentative Opening: August 22 2011

Sole Searching With Christian Louboutin

Every woman who has donned a sexy pair of Louboutin heels and every man who has admired her choice of footwear knows of the strong seductive power and passion a pair of red bottoms can induce. Christian Louboutin, the man who redefined shoes and transformed them into a symbol of glamour, status and eroticism has teamed up with publishing house Rizzoli to capture the world of Louboutin into a hardcover book, Christian Louboutin, which will be released this October.

The extravagant volume that is just as heavenly as one of Louboutin’s creations, features a five piece fold-out cover, binding made out of faux pink leather, a magical interior pop-up and gilded pages. Five chapters —A Life; The Shoes; Fetish; The Places; and Twenty Years—chronicle the designer’s background, inspirations and fantasies through direct narrative from the designer, candid images as well as vivid still life photos of Louboutin’s most iconic heels by famed photographers David Lynch and Philippe Garcia.

The reader gets a chance to learn the history and manifestation through anecdotes
on selected styles. From the classic Pigalle shoe from the Fall/Winter 2004
collection which was inspired by the arch of a dancers foot to the Maralena shoes
via the Fall/Winter 2010 collection, a transparent peep toe pump encrusted with
blue glitter and Swarovski crystals which was inspired by the transparent showgirl
costumes of Marlene Dietrich there is a story behind each coveted red lacquered
heel and it is a delight to uncover each tale.


The pages are filled with candid photos of the designer, his shoes, the factory just
outside of Milan and photos of iconic women including Dita Von Teese and Diane
Von Furstenberg, posing next to the shoes that were created in their honor and
likeness.

The last chapter concludes the volume with a catalogue of 20 years of Christian
Louboutin's collections. This book is a must have in your fashion library, a great gift
for a shoe lover and a great way to indulge in your in your shoe fetish.

Savage Beauty

On February 12, 2010, the fashion world stopped turning after news spread quietly that the legendary designer Alexander McQueen was found dead in his home in England. A little more than a year later, the Metropolitan Museum of Art located in New York City is resurrecting the heart and soul of McQueen through a dramatic and spectacular exhibit, ”Savage Beauty” which captures the unparalleled world of McQueen.

The exclusive exhibition which will run through August 7th is curated by Andrew Bolton of The Costume Institute who expresses that "the title 'Savage Beauty" very much epitomizes the contrasting opposites in McQueen's work. Polarized opposites, whether it's to do with life or death, lightness or darkness, predator/prey, man/machine."

The chilling exhibit is broken up into six galleries each with its own theme inspired by the different reoccurring themes McQueen explored throughout his career in fashion from his deep interest in fine arts to exotic inspiration from India and Japan.

The exhibition begins with the "Romantic Gothic" gallery that was designed to reflect the raw concrete decor of McQueen's first Atelier in Hoxton Square, where McQueen established his house and ends with the Plato's Atlantis gallery which features the last collection McQueen designed before his death in February 2010.

McQueen's sartorial expertise and dark poetic mind is captured not only through his one-of-a-kind fashions but through haunting suspended videos, two-way mirrors, low-lighting and rotating mannequins and quotes from the designer himself. One feels as though they have stepped into the world of McQueen where viewers are able to not only explore the thought processes and ideas behind McQueen's creations but also do introspective on their own sartorial inspirations.

For those of you who cannot make it to the groundbreaking exhibit can experience it through this exclusive video produced by The Met. (http://blog.metmuseum.org/alexandermcqueen/about/)

ELIE SAAB Le Parfum

The visionary Lebanese couturier Elie Saab has decided to put the splendor
and femininity of his stunning gowns into a bottle. ELIE SAAB Le Parfum,
is the designer's first foray into fragrances, created in partnership with Beauté
Prestige International, the Paris-based subsidiary of Shiseido Co. Ltd.

Born in Beirut in 1964 to a family with absolutely no connections in the
fashion industry, Saab dreamt of escaping to fantastical faraway lands. He
was barely nine-years-old when he created his first dress for his younger
sister. At 18, the prodigious designer opened his own couture house which
employed more than a dozen seamstresses. Following his first Beirut fashion
show, the country's "golden boy" won over affluent Middle Eastern clientele
ranging from socialites to royalty who became his faithful followers. Today,
his eminence in fashion spreads from Beirut to Los Angeles via Paris’s
Golden Triangle where he is now based. He invites all women who dream of
wearing an Elie Saab creation to discover ELIE SAAB Le Parfum.Created by world-renowned perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, ELIE SAAB
Le Parfum is based on a floral, solar, woody theme. Known for his deep
interest in design and architecture, Saab conceptualized a glass bottle with a
simple yet elegant shape that played on light, brilliance, and transparency. “I
wanted something simple. Straight lines, the rigor of a cube, and the
sensation of an object made to be held in the hand, but with the density
of beautiful objects.” says Saab. “And as always, light as the overarching
theme. For me, light is eternal strength.”

The collection will be available this September at fine department stores
worldwide.

Cantamessa Fifth Avenue Boutique Launch

Last Thursday, Cantamessa, the internationally renowned Italian high–end jewelry line with over 70 years of history hosted a lavish soiree to commemorate the opening of their Fifth Avenue Boutique in New York City.

The event was attended by the likes of, supermodel Irina Shayk, actress Susan Sarandon, model Carol Alt, Miss USA Rima Fakih, music mogul Damon Dash, Miss Universe 2002 Oksana Fedorova, New England Patriot’s safety Brett Lockett, celebrity hairdresser Frédéric Fekkai, restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow, among other distinguished guests.

The swank party took place at the Manhattan Motorcars Showroom in NYC and was sponsored by top luxury brand including Bentley, Lamborghini and Christie's auction house.

Irina Shayk, Susan Sarandon and Carol Alt were decked out in over $5 million dollars of jewelry and in over 6,000 diamonds. They showed off the latest Cantamessa designs to the crowd as they walked the showroom’s floor and posed for photos.

The brand already has a very strong foothold in Europe, Asia and Russia. The new boutique on Fifth Avenue will be the brand’s first venture in to the States.

Cantamessa features designs for both men and women. The company boasts over 100 elaborate, proprietary designs that are inspired by flora and fauna. The jewelry collections include necklaces, earrings, brooches, rings and bracelets; each piece is customizable with an array of precious stones set in gold or platinum.

Lord Of The ‘Rings’

Audi has decided to up the ante and give its rivals a kick up the backside with launch of the new Audi A6! Set to make it’s debut in early 2011, the new A6 will definitely be an extremely smoochy sedan sporting a light body, agile chassis and packed with a wide array of new assistance and multimedia systems. The A6 will be a few millimeters shorter and lower than its previous model so you can expect an overall road-hugging sporty feel. Apart from this, the optional S line exterior package gives the car an even sportier look, with more prominently featured bumpers, grills on the air intakes, and diffuser insert. Audi is launching the A6 with a choice of powerful, sophisticated, and highly efficient four- and six-cylinder powerplants: two gasoline engines and three TDI units.The most powerful gasoline engine in the A6 family is the 3.0 TFSI V6 engine that produces 300hp at 310 pound-feet of torque and covers 0 to 60 in just 5.9 seconds with a top speed of 130 mph. Besides, it’s interiors get top notch luxury treatment with wood decorative inlays in the dash, center console and door panels, power-adjustable heated leather seats and a Bose Sound System with 13 high-performance speakers placed throughout to create a dynamic stereo experience.The base price for the 3.2FSI engine is $ 45, 200*. Perhaps, this is Audi’s way of kicking the butt!