ALL BOTTLED UP
What do you get when you take a dashing French parfumeur and pair him up with the greatgranddaughter of Henri Matisse (RIGHT)? “L’Oeuvre Noire” in Colors by Sophie Matisse takes Kilian Hennessy’s luxe, sexed-up scent collection and houses it in 50 bottles and 50 boxes, all hand-painted by artist Sophie Matisse (bottle and box, $1,500). Fifteen of Matisse’s brightly hued, abstract creations will be on display (and available for purchase) in Bergdorf Goodman’s windows through this month. Available at Bergdorf Goodman, 754 Fifth Avenue, 212-753-7300.
COUNTER CULTURE
If necessity is the mother of invention, then Chanel is the mother of reinvention. The venerated fashion house knows, perhaps more than anyone, the benefits of starting over, something it manages to do season after season and often to game-changing results. Locally, Chanel turns its attention this autumn to the complete overhaul of its massive beauty counter at Saks Fifth Avenue. Measuring 850 square feet, the new space houses separate areas for skincare (a sector in which the company is looking to gain market share), makeup (with a private consultation room with proprietary lighting technology), and fragrance (Saks is the exclusive retailer of the house’s newest launch, Beige). Starting over never looked so chic. Saks Fifth Avenue, 611 Fifth Avenue, 212-753-4000.
OLDER AND BETTER
Those of us on the, ahem, mature side of 30 know well the benefits of incorporating an antiaging product into our skincare regimen—but how many of us have also given thought to using one on our hair? It’s sad but true that hair, just like skin, is affected by the passage of time; the concerns are similar, too: loss of luster, dryness, and changes in texture. Thankfully, Frédéric Fekkai has created Ageless Crème Luxe Hair Treatment ($75)— something he calls “the fountain of youth for tired tresses.” What it actually is: an intense conditioning treatment that helps hair retain moisture and promotes shine. It may also be one of the bestsmelling products I’ve tried lately, which takes a little of the sting out of the fact that I’m using this because I’m getting older. A little. Available at Frédéric Fekkai salons citywide.
FRAGRANCES OF THE MONTH
Despite its name, Tom Ford White Patchouli (1.7 ounces, $92) doesn’t conjure images of dirty hippies and dorm rooms. Instead, Ford updates the earthy-smelling herb by blending it with floral notes (rose, peony, and jasmine) and bergamot to give it a more contemporary feel. NB: It’s Tom Ford—it’s still plenty sexy. Available at Bergdorf Goodman, 754 Fifth Avenue, 212-753-7300.
