I’m going to start this by saying I’m not big on scents. I never wear fragrance beyond what my hair conditioner, lotion or deodorant provide, and I dunno, maybe it comes with age - but times it seems, they are a-changing. I recently had the opportunity to check out a few different fragrance collections and was pleasantly surprised to find that my super sensitive nose was stimulated in ways I’d never thought possible, and my brain didn’t react with the headache that usually follows when I overuse my smeller. Cereus Femme is a fragrance collection that comes following the success of the sleek and sexy color-coded and numbered Men’s collection Cereus Pour Homme, which was created under the direction of Bill Rosenbaum, who had previously headed the fragrance department at Abercrombie and Fitch.

The scents are light, yet edgy and “like her male counterpart, the Cereus woman is the emblem of modern femininity, strong yet delicate, the picture of modern sensuality.” My personal favorite of the three scents is #12, which I found fruity sweet, but not cloying - cut with a slight woodsy or musky note. After the jump, I’ve got some precise descriptions of the three scents, and some pictures of the sleek packaging that features sewn leather-bonded bottle tops, reminiscent of your favorite pocketbook or leather traveling case.
Cereus Fragrances are available at exclusively at Barneys in New York, San Francisco, Beverly Hills, Dallas and Las Vegas, and retail for $125 for 50 ml / 1.7 FL. OZ.

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Lanvin has teamed up with Acne Jeans to launch a denim capsule collection this November at Barney’s and Bergdorf Goodman.  The collection includes the ubiquitous “jean” as well as “dress, tuxedo jacket, belted trench, [and] blouson,” as well as accessories, including “denim bags, stilettos, earrings and even medallion necklaces.”  When asked how it was to work with Acne, Alber Elbaz the designer of Lanvin stated:  “I was very pleased when I started working with Acne. They’re just young, energetic sexy Swedes and our partnership really wasn’t about signing hardcore contracts, it was really just about creating about something that was mutually fun and creative.”  As you can imagine, the collection is pricey.  Jeans are over $500, coats start at $1200 and accessories start over $1500.  Start putting away those pretty pennies for the drop in November.

Images & Info: FWD

More photos after the jump . . .

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Patricia Field is one of “The 50 Most Powerful Woman in NYC� according to the New York Post (jun.3). She landed at #24 but in my heart she is always #1, so much so that when I use to work for Barneys New York many celebrities would come and go. However, it was not until I was in the presence of Patricia Field that I had to do the impossible, get her autograph (Hey! it was all I could do at the time). We as employees were not allowed to do such a thing, because we could loose our jobs. What’s a girl to do? I am from the Bronx N.Y. and we invented the word Sneaky, enough said! Check out this Current T.V. interview on Pat. Field.

P.S. If I ever go back into retail as a job the Patricia Field Boutique is going to be my 1st choice. In the mean time I am accepting gift cards. Hint Hint!

Patricia Field Boutique: 302 Bowery St. New York, N.Y.

You can view the video here.

Finally, a fashion read with a sense of humor! A couple weeks ago, I attended the Barneys book signing of Eccentric Glamour, written by the store’s fabulously eccentric Creative Director, Simon Doonan.

Simon Doonan’s Eccentric Glamour is written as a guide from a fashion insider’s perspective to help one cultivate his or her own sense of personal style. He classifies eccentrically glamorous persons into three categories: The Gypsy, the Socialite, and the Existentialist, all having the ability to share overlapping characteristics, quite like the principles of the Ayurvedic dosha, the classification system based on body types, personality traits, and lifestyle preferences. Simon can help you discover your long lost fashion dosha, so it’s well worth the read.

Part self-help, part autobiography, the book not only includes incredibly valuable style, fashion, and beauty tips, and living and past examples of glamorous eccentrics, but is delightfully funny as well, and most importantly, is bluntly honest about what works and what does not work in the world of good eccentric fashion. His candor and general concern for the future of fashion is inspiring and most respected. I met Simon briefly at the Barneys book signing and was impressed with his ease; he didn’t seem stuffy or pretentious like some other fashion folks, and I was smitten cause he liked my glasses.

“Call me crazy, but I believe that there just might be more to being a woman than prancing around dressed like a Stepford blow-up doll. Non? In my experience you girls are highly idiosyncratic creatures whose true essence is riddled with subtlety and nuance. Your sizzling sexuality is only one aspect of a complex and intriguing picture.�

Simon said it. And I agree. So now go find your eccentrically beautiful self and get Eccentric Glamour!

REVIEW:
Price: $16.32 - $24.00
Value: Moderate
Accessibility: Moderate
Where to buy: Barneys Stores, Barneys.com, Amazon.com

Enjoy and stay posted for more beauty tips and picks to come next week!

Barneys New York is having their Summer sale started yesterday, May 30th, save up to 40% on regular priced (selected items) clothing, shoes and accessories! Oh yeah, there’s complimentary shipping too! Woohoo, shop on!

> Shop the Summer Sale!

For those that still want a piece of Kate Moss Topshop, Barneys CO-OP just restocked their site with a few items. Cop ‘em quick they won’t be there for long!