THE CURATED LIFE

Alexander Wang’s Pristine New Flagship Store
Opens in New York

The oversized fur hammock and black calla lilies on display are slightly incongruous with the distressed t-shirts and studded leather handbags for sale at Alexander Wang‘s newly opened store on Grand Street in Lower Manhattan, but the luxe surroundings serve to create a rarefied shopping atmosphere for the American design darling’s first retail outlet. Here, you’ll be able to find goods from Wang’s runway and
T lines, as well as new “test” products such as jewelry. On a recent visit, we found models and civilians alike browsing through the just-arrived Spring 2011 collection in the 3,500-square-foot space, which was full of covetable knits and supple leather jackets for the downtown scenester in all of us.
103 Grand Street

PRETTY WOMAN

3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2011

We missed the Phillip Lim show last month for the first time in years, due to a scheduling conflict, and couldn’t wait to inspect the collection up close and personal at the designer’s press Open House, held last week in New York City. In a palette of dusty neutrals and soft pastels, the season’s stand-out pieces are sharp silk blazers, a top covered in tiny leather paillettes, and sheer silk organza blouses and dresses matched with slouchy knits. This was Lim’s first season showing his own shoes (he has collaborated with Christian Louboutin in previous seasons), and the wood and leather platform sandals pair beautifully with the clothes and Lim’s compact suede and leather totes. Spring ahead, we say!

FASHION WEEK, C’EST CHIC!

In preparation for Paris Fashion Week, we enlisted StyleStoryboard.com editor Jordan Porter to take us through all her fashionable favourites from the City of Lights. Merci, Ms. Porter!

Hermès, Chanel, Lanvin oh my! Paris Fashion Week starts September 28th and I’m already dreaming of the perfect, Carine-worthy look to wear, shopping Stella and YSL for a cause (all profits from this chic boutique go to charity) at Merci, rubbing shoulders with Karl at Cafe de Flore and dining next to Marc Jacobs at the beautiful Christian Liagre designed La Societe Restaurant (another hot spot from the owners of Hotel Costes), sipping cocktails among the fashion eds at the quirky and oh-so Parisian Derriere, and taking in the views of Sacre Coeur from my gorgeous suite at Hotel Le Particulier. Am I going to Paris Fashion Week? Nope, but I’ve got a seriously chic imagination.

1. If you can’t get to fashion week, treat yourself to something fashionably fabulous. Limited edition Style.com tee, $66, by Proenza Schouler (other limited editon tees by Lanvin, Rodarte, and more – Anna Dello Russo was spotted in the Balmain version) @ Colette
2. Carnelian Ring, $195, by Elizabeth & James @ Shopbop
3. Dress, $375, by A.L.C @ Net-a-Porter
4. While across the pond, why not go big and hit all the major fashion cities? 272-page European shopping guide, $58 @ Saks Fifth Avenue
5. Smell like Les Tuileries all year round. Hermessence Rose Ikebana perfume @ Hermes
6. It seems to be every editor’s bag choice, so sport this baby and you might just sneak into the tents unnoticed. Vintage tote, $3925, by Chanel @ SSense
7. Leather Jacket, $599 @ Danier
8. Thank heavens for the comeback of the reasonable heel! Mid-Heel Pump, $620, by Isabel Marant @ Net-a-Porter
9. Derriere Restaurant and Bar, 69 Rue De Gravilliers
10. Merci Boutique, 111 Blvd. Beaumarchais 8 Hotel Particulier, 23 Avenue Junot, Montmartre
11. La Societe Restaurant, 4 Place Saint Germain

DERMALOGICA IN SOHO

In a city where peculiar beauty treatments involving everything from caviar to chocolate are commonplace, it’s better to keep those items on the menu at a restaurant than on your face. In the heart of one of our favourite neighbourhoods sits Dermalogica in Soho, a concept space which functions as both a store and salon, which provides customized skin treatments.

On a recent visit to Manhattan, we took a break from shopping on a hot and humid day and indulged in the signature Dermalogica Skin Treatment (60 minutes, $110 USD). We were taken to the back of the store and into a treatment pod, which was fully equipped to provide a multi-sensory experience. After changing into the terry clothed treatment attire, we were tucked up under a blanket while the colour lighting changed from cool blues, greens and reds. Soothing music channeled through the treatment pod, but visitors also have the option to pop in their own iPod or iPhone if they prefer.

Dermalogica’s Skin Treatment is customized for each client to accommodate any particular skin concerns and needs. Thus, each treatment begins with a through zone-by-zone face mapping analysis, which examines each area of the face and conditions that may be related to that particular zone. This helps to determine how your treatment will proceed and which professional products your Dermalogica Skin Care Therapist will use. Typically, each treatment includes a double cleanse, exfoliation, high frequency or Galvanic modalities (which helps the skin with product penetration), extractions, zone specific masques, eye pillow, an arm and hand massage, toner, and moisturizers and sun protection. During the treatment there is also aromatherapy involved, with the scent of eucalyptus and lavender wafting through the air.

Additional Touch Therapies (15 minutes, $15 USD) can be added on to your Dermalogica Skin Treatment to give extra attention to any issues of concern. The Touch Therapies are focused on stress relief for the back, aroma-point for face, deep tissue for face and shoulders, reflex point for feet or nap time for all over. If your busy schedule doesn’t warrant a full hour, stop by for a MicroZone treatment (20 minutes, $35 USD) which focuses on a specific area of concern and can act as maintenance between regular Dermalogica Skin Treatments.

Near the end of the treatment we felt as if we may fall asleep at any moment and our face felt the best it’s ever been: fresh, hydrated and soft. Prior to exiting to expose myself to the hot streets of New York, my skin therapist goes over the state of my skin as I rehydrate with a few glasses of water.

Dermalogica in Soho is located at 110 Grand Street (at Mercer), New York City, NY, 212.219.9800.

THE WEEKENDER:Los Angeles

The first few times that one visits Los Angeles, following the star-studded Hollywood trail is a given—Disneyland, Rodeo Drive, and the Walk of Fame are top on our list. But, what to do if you’re looking for a few days of sun and find yourself in La La Land? Here, our guide to a low-key beach weekend in
the LAX.

Where to Stay: There are so many great hotels in the Santa Monica area, but we have a soft spot for the Viceroy Santa Monica, which was decorated by superstar designer Kelly Wearstler. The plunge pools and cabana area are as lovely as the Pacific Ocean views.

The Sights: Get your people-watching fix at the Santa Monica Pier, and indulge your inner child by riding one of the carnival rides on the pier. Then, grab lunch at the country-chic Brentwood Country Mart—we spotted supermodel Amber Valetta eating Barney’s Burgers the last time we ate in the Courtyard, and the tacos at Frida Taqueria are pretty delicious. Try to give yourself an hour to browse through the Country Mart’s boutiques—which includes The Monocle Shop (as in Tyler Brûlé’s post-Wallpaper publication) and the adorable kids’ shop Poppy Store. Finish up your afternoon on the sandy beaches and tattoo-filled boardwalk of Venice Beach, where you’ll find Muscle Beach regulars competing with skater boys for your attention.

Street Style: Don’t leave Venice without checking out the area’s cutest street, Abbot Kinney. Within a few short blocks, there are enough lovely floral shops, restaurants and boutiques to occupy you for an entire morning. Grab a coffee from Intelligentsia, and browse the modern minimalist wardrobe at our newest retail obsession, Guild.

LONDON FASHION WEEK PARTY BUZZ

Despite a somewhat somber start to London Fashion Week, with the shows always come the parties. The week’s after-hours festivities kicked off with Naomi Campbell’s second fundraiser of fashion month, a party that attracted London’s fashion glitterati including Kate Moss, Sir Philip Green and muse to the late Lee McQueen, Annabelle Nelson. The celebrities continued to celebrate fashion throughout the week at the Mulberry Party in The Orangery at Kensington Palace, where editors and tastemakers danced the night away with Alexa Chung, Amber Le Bon, and Olivia Palermo – all of whom were noticeably absent from the next morning’s 9am show. Claire Danes, Kristen Stewart, Kate Hudson, Sienna Miller, Peaches and Pixie Geldof, Courtney Love and Janet Jackson all made front row appearances but it seemed model fundraisers were the place to be this week. On the final night, Natalia Vodianova hosted The Love Ball to benefit her Naked Heart Foundation, which attracted everyone from model Jaquetta Wheeler to designers Carolina Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg and Matthew Williamson.

*Sarah Joynt is a Canadian fashion writer living in London. She has written for TheFashionSpot.com and TCHAD magazine.

LONDON FASHION WEEK: FALL 2010 HIGHLIGHTS

If there’s one thing London Fashion Week is known for, it’s talent, energy, and unambiguous trendspotting. This season was no different and the rainy city showed that it still has a few surprises up its sleeve. The biggest buzz went to the relatively unknown 37-year-old Turkish designer Hakaan. The new master of chic body-con, Hakaan drew Paris Vogue editor-in-chief Carine Roitfeld and Kate Moss to his front row; a move that shocked and surprised attendees on the very first day. Another fan-favorite show was Canadian-born designer Erdem Moralioglu, who presented a collection of attention-grabbing dresses and separates in warm autumnal colours and prints. It is no surprise though that the biggest and most exciting show of the week was Burberry. The large scale, A-list filled show was extremely notable because, really, nothing could be better for fall than shearling jackets, aviator overcoats, and chic winter boots.

*Sarah Joynt is a Canadian fashion writer living in London. She has written for TheFashionSpot.com and TCHAD magazine.
*Images courtesy London Fashion Week.

CALLING ALL STYLE LOVERS:

Send FrontRowMag.com a shot of your favourite outfit, or a pic of one of your fabulous friends, and you could be featured on our weekly Street Style post. Don’t forget to tell us where you’re from, what you’re wearing, what you do, and what you love most about your outfit and fashion in general. Send everything to info@frontrowmag.com.

We can’t wait to see how stylish our readers really are!

xoxo FrontRowMag.com

SPRING SNEAK PEAK

Celebrating 30 years of Paloma Picasso and Tiffany’s

A renowned artist in her own right, Paloma Picasso is celebrating 30 years of designing for Tiffany & Co. this year by launching three gorgeously themed collections, available this spring. A handful of Toronto-based journalists, FrontRowMag among them, were given the opportunity last week to be among the first in Canada to see each collection close up.

The Marrakesh collection, with shapes and colours inspired from her home in Morocco, is stunning in its intricate detail, a stand out being the 18k gold bangle. (Marrakesh collection, $305 – $20,000CDN)

There is also, perhaps our favourite, the truly inspired Dove collection. Paloma, Spanish for dove, was named after a drawing Pablo Picasso, her father, did that would later become the symbol for the 1949 World Peace Conference. Wanting something beautiful, but not reminiscent of her fathers work, Paloma designed a dove that also looks like an angel when held at a slightly different angle. (Dove collection, $180 – $5,450CDN)

Working with hammered metals for years, Paloma brought her expertise to a fashion forward, yet accessible line of silver, yellow gold and rose gold circular necklaces, stackable rings and earrings for the Hammered Circle collection. (Hammered Circle collection $150CDN – $11,100CDN)

Available at 800-265-1251, tiffany.ca

CALLING ALL STYLE LOVERS:

Send FrontRowMag.com a shot of your favourite outfit, or a pic of one of your fabulous friends, and you could be featured on our weekly Street Style post. Don’t forget to tell us where you’re from, what you’re wearing, what you do, and what you love most about your outfit and fashion in general. Send everything to info@frontrowmag.com.

We can’t wait to see how stylish our readers really are!

xoxo FrontRowMag.com