Hey hey Friday...huge weekend in New York for arty types with the Armory show and many other satellite things around the city for those so inclined. I'm excited about it and am planning to see as much as I can, definitely in need of a little art therapy amidst this crazy week I've had. But let's get right to it, shall we? I'm so enjoying writing these Five for Friday posts...one of the joys of being in New York is the endless loop of inspiration you can pull from on a daily basis- there's just so much to see, do, and consume- from the way NYers dress to the unique cadence of their footsteps to restaurants that offer nothing but mac n cheese, you can't go wrong. I am so excited for Springtime here, when the city transforms, an air of the relaxed pervades as the days get longer and the air gets warmer, and the layers are shed and the skin comes out. It's a fabulous thing. Oh and ps- my dear friend braved the hordes at the Marni H&M opening day and got loads of stuff, which I'll get to check out oon Monday and see what all the fuss is about. Needless to say, I'll let you know. So here are five things that I am digging on this week- hope you enjoy them:
Chantecaille Frangipane perfume- By now, you know I think Olivia Chantecaille can do no wrong- her skincare and makeup prod
ucts are simply the greatest, and her line of perfume did not let me down either. As one who is prone to what are classified as "Orientals" when it comes to fragrance, (think spicy with vanilla or some other sweetness), I'm always dubious of scents that are labeled as floral. But this one is a hybrid of the oriental and the floral and it's pretty much what Heaven smells like, I'm sure of it. It's notes are water hyacinth, violet leaf and orange, with middle notes like jasmine, incense ylang-ylang and frangipane, with sexy base notes of amber, musk, and vanilla. It's not a cheap perfume, but it's so damn good for sultry days and nights. I am in love. Oh and if too much scent in the hotter days makes you woozy, definitely check out the roll
on version, which is a lot lighter, as well as less expensive, and it lasts a long time:
http://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/chantecaille-frangipane-roll-on-fr...
Lightweight scarves from the Gap- In New York, you never know what you're going to need to survive, but a good lightweight scarf can take your outfit from blah to aah in an instant, and the well priced options at the Gap are fantastic alternatives to more spendy versions. I'm partial to this blue and white one as I've been inspired by Stella McCartney's looks for Spring that have a bit of the marine to them- blue and white is a gorgeous combination, and perfect to give your winter wardrobe a bit of a lift- tied over a white tee and a denim jacket and anything you want on the bottom is a nice way to welcome Springtime. So do.
http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=71027&vid=1&pid=902850&s...
A good blowout- Girls. Ladies. Women. Friends. Romans. Countrywomen. I'm not going as far to say that a good sleek blowout is the key to eternal happiness, but it's pretty darn close. I'm doing some freelance work close to Blow, that Valhalla of gorgeous hair in the Meatpacking district on 14th Street. I have always struggled with my tresses- I am so not good at making my hair look great, so thank the Lord above there are the kind folks at Blow that make my hair look fantastic. If you are having a crappy day, go do this. It's 40 dollars well spent. And for all of you who travel to New York for work or play, get your hair did. You won't be sorry. Screw chicken soup- blow outs are the best medicine. . Apparently there's a war going on in New York between two dueling blowout bastions, Blow and Dry Bar. Let the battle begin, because happiness is a good do. Bang bang, shoot shoot.
Oxfords in light colors- Ok I know this is a bit of the hipster, but for me it's all about mixing the ultra femmy looks of Spring (liike white cotton dresses with lace trims or soft floral printed frocks) with a more masculine shoe- just to break up the fussiness. For some, oxfords feel way too butched out, but check out the Repetto version that is fearlessly low cut and ready to embrace the girlier side of mens inspired footwear. Oh, and these are on sale. I am in love with these...a cool alternative for those not quite so ready to embrace their masculine side, but want to break in a less feminine shoe- Repetto's ballet flats are also my fav and are a classic that manages to always look just right:
http://www.lagarconne.com/store/item.htm?itemid=9560&sid=80&pid=80#
Sir Kensington's Scooping Ketchup- Yup, ketchup. If any of you know me personally, you know that I love ketchup, since childhood. I would even say I'm obsessed with it, and the thought of eating eggs without it is torI would literally put it on everything, because much like cheese, everything tastes better with it. And I've always been a bit of a ketchup purist- don't give me anything called catsup and don't even think about putting anything other than Heinz on my french fries. But it's 2012 and the world is a different place, and so is ketchup. I had brunch at Freeman's a few weekends ago, and they had this ketchup that had me at first dip. Sir Kensington's is ketchup for grownups, without icky sugar and sweetened with agave nectar and some other lovely ingredients. It's a bit more sublte, but it is so good- if what Reagan said was true (that ketchup is indeed a vegetable), I would be the healthiest girl alive because I woud put this on EVERYTHING. Plus, the packaging is nice and would look great at your first Spring bbq, perhaps with a mason jar full of your favorite blooms set up nearby.
Think that's about it for now, chickens. I'm looking forward to an art filled weekend, and hope you can either view or make some masterpieces of your own over this daylight savings weekend. Cause that's what's up this fivealicious Friday coming to you live from Gotham.
All the love. XO