January 10, 2012 by Simone
I can’t stop thinking about a gift I put together for a client not so long ago. For a gentleman’s birthday, I created a shoe wardrobe; a selection of amazing shoes that covered the bases for this sartorialist’s particular lifestyle needs. Not only that, the gift included the option of having custom shoes created as well. Something every girl wants for themselves, right?! Through my man-shoe travels, I kept noticing how many of pairs I would have loved to have for myself. There’s something to be appreciated within the parameters of men’s style. Menswear design pushes the boundaries from a pretty tight frame work – the framework of function, fabrication, tradition, and simplicity. Let’s call if mindful efficiency. What about you? Do you dabble in the gear for the boys? I’m feeling the love for all of these below….
And how great is this ‘College Shoe Care Kit’ by TURMS? Clever little play on the penny loafer, wouldn’t you say? There’s something nostalgic about shoe shining – taking the time to care for the pairs you love. A self contained kit is a great gift for the guy who takes pleasure in taking care of his goods.
And I couldn’t resist posting about this luxurious accessory from long ago. Yes, it’s true – it’s a solid gold Tiffany & Co. shoe horn from the 1920′s. Can you imagine needing something as fine as this today?
here, here, here
Tags: grooming, luxury gifts, men's gifts, men's shoes
Categories: beauty+groom, fashion+style, gift ideas, just because, our projects •
February 28, 2011 by Simone
Sometimes there comes a scent that you just cannot get enough of. Sanae intoxicants are just that. I took a little visit to Sanae’s studio the other day, where she anointed me with her all natural, chemical free ‘Smoking Rose’ oil. The scent is to die for, combining a mix of rose with sandalwood, balsam of Peru and geranium with a touch of lavender. Lightly sweet but balanced with perfect edge of smoke, the masculine/feminine essence works together perfectly. Lightly drizzled in the scent, I walked outside and literally was stopped 3 times. No joke. Sanae crafts her scents in small batches, only making 5-10 bottles at a time. The process is labor intensive, so you may have to be wait listed for your scent. You’ll be in good company,however – her new scent on the horizon was custom crafted for Bonnie Prince Billy, simply titled Bonnie Billy. Be prepared to be stopped on the street….
here
Tags: sanae intoxicants
Categories: beauty+groom •
January 26, 2011 by Simone
I’m a fan of grooming kits in general, but when I came upon this gorgeous shoe shine collection by TURMS, I had a jaw drop moment. I have one of these fine kits coming to me for a client and I cannot wait to receive! I’ll be monogramming the leather patch inside, for sure. TURMS, a family run business revered for creating wooden shoe lasts, is based in Montegranaro, one of the main shoe production cities in Italy. Interestingly enough, in Etruscan mythology, TURMS was the god of trade and played the role of “messenger god” - hurrying info between the common folk and the gods. In Greek mythology, he was also known as HERMES. Is it just me, or is this whole name game starting to feel a bit coincidental?
Oh! And do take a look at how far we’ve come – let’s give a nod to this humble folk art shoe shine box, circa 1900. Do you love?
here & here
Tags: american primitive, shoe shine, the bureau belfast, TURMS
Categories: beauty+groom, treasures •
October 14, 2010 by Simone
All the fall necessities for a relaxing weekend….
1. Cinnamon, clove and Chinese herb incense.
2. Turkish towels approved by the Ottoman Empire.
3. A gorgeous copper Turkish bath bowl to dress up your bathroom.
4. Handmade soap assortment by Bambu Earth.
5. Chai spice kit for those chilly autumn days
Tags: abmbu earth, cahi spice, etsy, handmade soap, incense, turkih towel
Categories: beauty+groom, thank you,etsy. •
October 7, 2010 by Simone
MCMC Fragrances creates original perfumes made with only the best ingredients, something we especially love over here! Each fragrance is formulated by Anne McClain in her Brooklyn studio. Anne studied natural perfumery and aromatherapy and even lived in Grasse, France in order to gain an in depth experience of the history, techniques, and practices of modern perfumery. Hmm, Grasse – reminds me of this book we posted about a while back. What we love most from MCMC are their custom fragrance options…Anne will make a unique fragrance just for you, for a wedding gift, or his and hers even. She also offers a seasonal collection – a scent for you for each turn of season. Love that. Check out her site for an extensive idea of her work. Lovely!
Tags: Anne McClain, mcmc fragrances
Categories: beauty+groom •
September 30, 2010 by Simone
St Helena Olive Oil Co. is passionate about living a life of quality- the preservation of body, mind and soul, and we certainly couldn’t agree more over here. By using only the highest quality ingredients, the company focuses on experiencing what goes into your body – be it with health, cooking, or eating and communing around the table with family and friends. And for current and future fans alike, the homegrown company recently launched a lavender bath and body line using only the same fine quality ingredients. Beautiful!!
“good food, cooking, wine, family, friends, the table, earth, sun, eating, dancing, playing, laughing, health, happiness, work you love, faith, respecting yourself and others…giving back. “
Tags: napa, sholiveoil, st helena olive oil co.
Categories: beauty+groom, clean & green •
August 23, 2010 by Simone
I think one of the best gifts you can give is one of beauty & knowledge. Have you read, No More Dirty Looks? We can easily forget how the products we put on the outside of our bodies directly effects our internal health & well-being. No More Dirty Looks shares what products to avoid , offers suggestions for decoding confusing ingredients labels and helps you find a way to safer & healthier alternatives. We live in lucky times with options for almost everything in organic or eco-friendly version these days. For a charming gift pair some clean cosmetics with these organic canvas makeup bags and a copy of No More Dirty Looks….
organic makeup bag, no more dirty looks book, organic argan oil, rms beauty cream eye shadow, hevea lip balm, suncoat eco-friendly nail polish & organic soy nail polish remover
Tags: argan oil, eco-friendly, hevea, lip balm, no more dirty looks, Organic, organic soy nail polish remover, rms beauty cream eye shawdow, suncoat mail polish
Categories: beauty+groom, clean & green, gift guides •
August 6, 2010 by Simone
Speaking of scents, we mustn’t forget Patrick Suskind’s Perfume. Have you read it?
Given the general stench of 18th-century cities, good perfumers were held in high regard. However, Grenouille the misfit, scorned by society throughout his life, hasn’t the heart to create pretty perfumes for society’s elite….
Perfume or cologne can make a sublime, subtle impact when the scent complements the wearer. I lean towards natural oils – effervescent tangerine mixed with a woodsy cedar, or something along those lines. But, oh, when in NY, I love a trip to the lovely Aedes de Venustas. Have you been? They offer a selection of rare international fragrances – and for $15 they’ll send you samples of five fragrances of your choice.
I also love Le Labo. As stated on their site – when you wear their perfumes, you’ll realize instantly how different they are from traditional perfumes. I agree with them! Their scents are made to order, allowing the composition to stay fresh, with the essential oil concentrates staying separate from the alcohol until the absolute last moment. They have a wonderful selection of scents that can go either way – masculine or feminine. That part is my favorite. What’s better than sharing a bit of your scent with your sweet one?
Tags: Aedes, le labo, Misto Bosco, Mure et Musc, patrick suskind, perfume, scent, Shalini
Categories: beauty+groom •
August 6, 2010 by Simone
I’m thinking of starting a new collection – antique perfume bottles. The art nouveau green lotus cameo beauty is from France in the late 1800s, made by Eugene Michel. How gorgeous are those colors? The two below are also from the late 1800′s, and were made by Thomas Webb & Sons, a company noted for their high quality of cameo glass. In 1889 at the Paris Exposition, Thomas Webb & Sons were part of the Tiffany & Co. exhibit – certainly a stamp of approval for the highest quality of craftsmanship. Which is your favorite? My collection may not start with these rarities, but yes – they do inspire….
via here
Tags: 1800s, antique perfume bottles, art nouveau, cameo glass, craftsmanship, france, leo kaplan, paris expo, Thomas Webb & Sons, Tiffany & Co, treasures, vintage glass
Categories: beauty+groom, treasures •
June 29, 2010 by Simone
Okay readers! You may have seen my post from a few days ago on the Edun + Sephora collaboration. I promised you a follow up ingredients review from the clean beauty patrol over at No More Dirty Looks, and here it is. I’m quite aware of what I goes in my body, but understanding the on my body part can be a daunting task – often just simply understanding what the ingredients actually mean. Thanks to smart ladies such as Alex & Siobhan, getting to the nitty gritty on all of this is much easier. What products do you use? Do you check the ingredients on your beauty and grooming products?
Tags: edun, natural beauty, no more dirty looks, sephora
Categories: beauty+groom, clean & green •
RSS Feed
