SPRING CLEANING WITH THE JOY OF SOAP

Spring has sprung and if you haven't gotten around to spring cleaning yet - start with yourself.  As in - your person. 

We use soap for a very straightforward purpose - to cleanse.   While bathing is a basic, universal experience - it can also be ritualistic and even spiritual at times.  Consider that most cultures and religions have similar expressions - "cleanliness is next to godliness".

This whole concept of cleanliness also has a natural connection to the world of luxury goods.  If something is luxurious, naturally it is clean, refined, and pure.COCO CHANEL CIRCA 1920

Interestingly enough, it is said that Coco Chanel herself was obsessed with cleanliness and personal hygiene, due in large part to the time she spent with nuns in her youth.  (Truth be told- so much of what is the "CHANEL" image came from the nuns.   The use of Black and White, the Long dangling chains, etc.)MERYL STREEP IN DOUBT

I started thinking about the connection when I was recently in San Francisco for a Ferragamo event.   I discovered a new collection of handmade soaps that really made my travel kit feel more like home.

The Joy of Soap is a independent company based in San Francisco that prides itself on small, handmade batches of vegetable based soaps that are gentle on the skin and kind to the environment.  The essential oils are evident the moment you hold a bar up to your nose.  The packaging- like the soaps themselves, is clean and pure.

At a time when the world is rethinking what luxury means, a daily experience of using one of these unique bars can be just that - luxurious.   A luxurious experience that is part of your daily routine and costs well under $10.   That is hard to beat!

Favorites are "Lay Me Down Lavender" & "Rosy Cheeks Rosemary".    One of the coolest is a soap for men appropriately called "Manly Man Bar".   That one has a light scent of orange with the astringent properties of tea tree oil and ground pumice stone to give the bar an exfoliating effect.  how awesome is that?

The company has just revamped their website.  Shop on the site and make this one of your go-to resources for personal items.   Also put it on your gift source list - anyone would love to receive a box of this soap in the mail!   www.TheJoyofSoap.com

VALENTINO - RUNWAY TO THE BIG SCREEN

VALENTINO GARAVANIThe name Valentino means luxury.   It means glamour, sophistication, and style.   Now, thanks to film director Matt Tyrnauer the name is also  one of the most endearing documentaries of the year - Valentino- The Last Emperor.   While watching a self indulgent fashion designer might not sound like everyone's cup of tea - the magic of the film is to see the dynamic between these two men ......  read more and see a preview- click -Valentino

MIZ AT LIZ - ISAAC MIZRAHI RETURNS

Isaac MizrahiThe New York fashion world's answer to Rhoda Morgenstern is baaack!  That's right ladies and gentlemen, Isaac Mizrahi has returned.   Valerie Harper as RhodaWhile you might remember his wildly successful collection for Target most recently, Mizrahi is returning to his fashion roots and has anchored himself with a big fashion powerhouse - Liz Claiborne.    The Claiborne label is a legend in the New York fashion world.   Liz Claiborne did for working women what Coco Chanel did for women of leisure.   That is freeing them from the constrains of "expected" wardrobing.   Coco rallied against the corset almost 100 years ago with jersey and cashmere.   Liz ClaiborneLiz Claiborne waged a war on the dowdy business suit women of the 70's & 80's found themselves marching to work  in.    Boring pants suits be gone - Liz Claiborne  had  her sights set on color, detail,  & big accessories.   Think Melanie Griffith in Working Girl!  Speaking of, no one loves a story line like Isaac Mizrahi.   If Isaac himself where in that movie- he would have been plotting with Joan Cusack just like Melanie was! 

While Claiborne has never been as upscale as Chanel - Isaac is no stranger to luxury.   The namesake collection that launched his career was famous for a high / low approach of fabulously expensive things mixed with wildly affordable pieces.   Mizrahi was also himself funded by the house of CHANEL for several years in the 90's.   Chanel pulled the plug on the luxury stable they were forming when the CC logo craze was kicking in... leaving the future of Isaac Mizrahi, Holland & Holland, & Eres is question.   Isaac went out of business, Holland & Holland evaporated in the U.S., and Eres remains the quiet stepchild of the Chanel empire.   You'll notice the small Eres boutiques quietly waiting in the wings near Chanel Mega-Stores.

Isaac recently launched his Spring 2009 collection for Claiborne - and he really nailed it.   Using words like "snappy" and "smart"  just like Liz Claiborne herself - Isaac has designed fashion that would make any women happy to wear it - and would surely make the late Liz Claiborne smile herself.

Isaac Mizrahi will be at Macy's Herald Square in New York to preview the collection Thursday, March 26th at 6pm on the third floor -RSVP 212-494-4000

You are guaranteed a good time - as Isaac never disappoints when he is on stage - and if you haven't been in Macy's in some time - the store will look better than you remembered!

SIGN OF THE TIMES?

Shopping at CHANEL  in Paris during the January sales.    

Come see the collection.. and leave off the last L for Luxury!!   Just kidding - but the L was MIA on the window at Chanel.  

To be fair this was NOT the Rue Cambon boutique - but a shop in shop at one of the big department stores.  

I guess it was SO busy during the sales - the L got ripped right off the window!