I’m in KonMari heaven looking at this newly opened Gabriela Hearst flagship store on Madison Avenue. The perfectly folded sweaters, the pristine reclaimed oak and marble eco flooring, the minimalist styling offset with cosy honey-and-blonde colour palette; is this not the visual equivalent of ASMR? (more…)
What do we think about no-fragrance fragrance? I’m really conscious when I wear full-bodied scents like Pomegranate Noir or Pardon that I don’t want to overpower people and at this time of year, I’m more drawn towards subtle woods and naturals. I think that might be where my musk obsession came from as well. I love smells that are like ‘skin’ scents, that you smell when you’re close to someone but it’s not trailing in their wake.
This sounds silly but I almost prefer the way my perfume smells at the end of the day, when it’s dried down to practically nothing. I think that’s where I’m coming from with the no-fragrance fragrance thing. (more…)
No make-up make-up and a red lip. I’m pretty sure I’ve gone on about it enough but in essence, it’s the look that Giedre Dukauskaite nails in the pic above. Good skin helps, but if that’s lacking, then a good foundation (applied sans trowel) is the next best thing. I’m currently using Estee Lauder Double Wear applied with the newly launched Artis Palm Brush Mini, the tiniest version of the cult brush that blends like a dream. Bypass eye makeup completely, bar perhaps a brow product of your choice, and then go as hard as you dare on the red lip.
Giedre is wearing her own shade, Neon Giedre by La Bouche Rouge, which is a very cool, very chic and – of course – very French brand. Its free-from lipsticks are also entirely plastic-free (more…)
News broke last week that Debenhams, one of the UK’s biggest department store chains, is closing 50 stores. I worked as a sales girl at Debenhams in Oxford Street during my art student years and I loved it. I worked with amazing people, liked selling and would pop across the road to the Keith Haring and Kenny Scharf exhibitions at the Anthony d’Offay gallery in my lunch hour.
I haven’t really shopped there as an adult, other than occasionally for beauty or pots and pans. I’m more of a high-end heritage shopper or I go to the minimalist stores like Cos and Arket. But it’s a serious warning sign that retail really is changing. Debenhams’ competitors like John Lewis & Partners and Selfridges have been much better at creating a modern lifestyle destination, which taps into the idea that stores aren’t only for shopping. (more…)
