Bond 9 Bottle Signing at Saks Fifth Avenue

Join Laurice Rahmé, Bond No. 9's founder, at Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC on Saturday, December 19, 2009, from 12pm- 5pm.

There will be perfume, bubbly and signing of the Bond bottles. If you are a perfumista...take a whiff of the fragrance Laurice is wearing. Chances are she is road testing a new creation. That is how I experienced and fell in love with Chinatown, Saks for Her, Lexington Avenue, Westside and countless others. She gives good sillage.

Tell her Blogdorf Goodman sent you and that I miss her!!!! Hopefully a trip to NYC in 2010 is in my future!

The deets:

When: Saturday, December 19, 2009, from 12pm- 5pm

Where: Saks Fifth Avenue
First Floor Cosmetics and Fragrances
611 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10017

Who: Laurice, Bond 9 ladies and gents, fellow perfumistas, and Gerald. He is the dashing man who drives the Bond mobile.

Meet the Nars

Nars Appearance in NYC on October 8th 2009

In celebration of NARS 15th anniversary, François Nars will be making a special personal appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue – signing copies of his books X-Ray and Makeup Your Mind as well as the limited-edition NARS Loves New York Set. X-Ray (1999), the wildly successful photography book and collector’s item, Makeup Your Mind (2001), the ultimate instructional makeup manual featuring the world's most recognizable models and the NARS Loves New York Set containing an assortment of four classic products resurrected from the archives by François Nars specifically for the women of New York and re-named after iconic names in the city, will be available for sale at the NARS counter during this time.

A talented team of NARS makeup artists will also be offering customers in-store consultations with the NARS Loves New York Set and the Fall collection.

WHERE: Saks Fifth Ave 611 Fifth Avenue at East 50th Street
New York, NY‎
NARS Counter (212) 753-4000 ext: 2643

WHEN: Thursday, October 8th, 1:30-3:00pm

Credits: Nars

La Prairie Beauty Event At Saks

Renowned NYC makeup artist Raychel Wade is the new Colour Ambassador for La Prairie and making appearances at select SAKS nationwide to share a sneak peek of the Plumage de Nuit fall collection.
Miss Wade will kick off her partnership with the brand during Saks Fifth Avenue Annual "Brushes with Greatness" event in NYC. She will be at the store July 15th through the 16th.

The deets are as follows:

When: Wednesday, July 15th and Thursday, July 16th
12 – 7pm

**last appointment at 6:30pm

Where: Saks Fifth Avenue @ 611 Fifth Avenue (at 49th Street) in New York City

RSVP: 212.940.2142
$175 reservation fee is redeemable in La Prairie product purchased day of event; you’ll also receive a woven silver makeup bag to store your new La Prairie goodies!

Let us know if you attend!

Credits: La Prairie

Pat McGrath and Dolce & Gabbana Makeup at Saks Fifth Avenue
By Angie W and Jessica M

This weekend many lucky ladies had a chance to meet the wonderful, renowned makeup artist Pat McGrath, as she launched the new Dolce & Gabbana makeup line at the flagship Saks Fifth Avenue store in New York City. We were happy to be able to attend so that we could try some new cosmetics, meet Pat, and report back to Annie at Blogdorf Goodman!

When we arrived at the store, we were surprised to discover that the combination of the makeup launch and Pat McGrath's visit was an Event, with a capital E, complete with live models, television crews, photographers, and reporters. The Dolce & Gabbana counter had expanded to fill a large, central area of the first floor, with a giant, revolving billboard of Scarlett Johansson looming over the scene.


We began by sitting down with two makeup artists, Spencer and Javier, at adjacent stations. Since Angie wanted to focus on experimenting with several lip colors, Spencer began by applying Devil, a vibrant siren red that Angie loved right away. (Think L’Oreal Drumbeat Red with a richer, creamier, long-lasting formula.) However, Spencer had just wiped off the Devil when Pat suddenly swept in and grabbed Angie’s hand, telling her that with her beautiful, pale skin she needed red, wine, and rich rose shades. Angie was only slightly mortified that she was meeting Pat with just-wiped-off lips. She felt she looked like the Master in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," Episode 1. (“You have punch mouth!” – that’s for Annie!) Angie tried three colors: Devil, the much-coveted Dahlia -- which Pat specifically recommended for Angie's pale complexion -- and Ruby Sheer. In the end, she settled on Devil. The lipsticks are available in two formulations, Classic or Shine, and Devil is one of the Classics. Spencer had also paired Angie's Ruby Sheer lipstick with Nude blush and the Stromboli eye shadow duo (a shimmery nude as an all-over wash, with smoky black used as liner).

Meanwhile, Jessica was consulting with Javier about an eye-makeup look that would be soft but sophisticated. Javier went straight for the eye shadow quad called Nude, to enhance her dark brown eyes. Jessica was surprised for a second, because the Nude shades looked warmer than her usual colors, but then she was glad that she had trusted him. The orangey shade turned out to be a flattering, shimmery peach on her pale skin, and the medium brown blended into her eyelid crease with a velvety finish. Javier accentuated her lash-line with eyeliner in Coffee, a rich brown spiked with gold sparkles; it was a little bit edgy, but in a subtle, under-the-radar way. (Angie actually thought that of all the products we tried, the Coffee eyeliner was the most outstanding product in the line because its bronzy shimmer was so gorgeous.) Javier finished Jessica's look with Coffee mascara, which really did an amazing job of lengthening and emphasizing her lashes without the dreaded "spidery" look. A sweep of Nude blush and a coat of semi-frosty peach lipstick named Soirée were the final touches.

We were both dazzled by all the gold packaging and the flashing cameras, but we still managed to sight Pat McGrath a few times as she circulated from station to station. Pat was wearing all black: a flowing outfit, flat sandals with delicate straps, and a chunky, woven clutch. Her hair was long and sleek, and her skin was incredibly beautiful. Of course, the most noticeable thing about her was her warm, vibrant personality. She took time to touch up the makeup on a few customers, and to speak and shake hands with many more women around the room. It was easy to see how much these women admired her.

One of the more interesting aspects of our visit was a conversation with a New York Times reporter who asked us why we had come to the event. When we both immediately identified Pat McGrath as the main draw, the reporter was thrilled because we had confirmed her idea that Pat's celebrity status was the cause of the great enthusiasm for the event, rather than the Dolce & Gabbana brand itself or Scarlett Johannson's participation as the "face" of the products. Angie and Jessica both admire and respect Pat for her entrepreneurism, her artistic vision, and her many collaborations (including her design of the Armani cosmetics line and her involvement with Cover Girl, Max Factor, and other brands). We were sure that most of the other women in attendance were there for the same reason: to meet a woman who is a role model and unique artist.


For more information, see http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/
and http://www.dolcegabbanamakeup.com/
The phone number for the Dolce & Gabbana makeup counter at Saks is (212) 940-4949.

Pat McGrath Appearance:
Dolce & Gabbana Cosmetics debut at the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship location in New York City

When: Saturday May 16, 2009
One-on-one consultations by appointment only: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

What: McGrath and her team of fashion week artists will conduct personal consultations with customers to illustrate beauty tips and application techniques focusing on the naturally enhancing and transformative elements of Dolce&Gabbana The Make Up, as first seen on the runway during Milan Fashion Week.

Where: Saks Fifth Avenue
12 East 49th Street at 5th Avenue
Dolce&Gabbana The Make Up Counter, First Floor

Contact: Customers may schedule an appointment by contacting: 212-940-4949

What Blogdorf Goodman is thinking: OMG
Someone...anyone...take pictures of her or her makeup trunks. She is my hero. I heart her.

Today has been designated by the city of New York as CHANEL N°5 Day in celebration of the fragrance and the newest campaign. CHANEL and Saks Fifth Avenue have partnered for this significant occasion during which a portion of Fifth Avenue is being renamed AVENUE N°5 for the week of May 2 through May 10.

From May 2 through May 10, Saks Fifth Avenue’s New York flagship will pay
homage to the legendary scent by dedicating an extraordinary visual presence on the exterior and interior of the store. The 17 windows along AVENUE N°5 will
display a thematic journey into the world of CHANEL N°5 inspired by the Train de
Nuit film as well as selections from the current CHANEL Ready-to-Wear collection.
The fragrance will be prominently displayed on the main floor and in outposts
throughout the store. A full cinematic presentation of Train de Nuit will take place
on the main floor.
“We are honored to partner with the city of New York and Saks Fifth Avenue to
name May 5th ‘CHANEL N°5 Day,” says John Galantic, President and COO of
CHANEL, Inc. “We are pleased to share the excitement of this iconic product with
New York on this symbolic day in our brand’s history.”

Calling all NYC readers....Can you get us a picture of the windows or the street sign?
I would love to see this!!!!

Dolce & Gabbana Cosmetic Collection
Launches in June at Saks Fifth Avenue in NYC

Just when I thought that it was time to say goodbye to my Vogue subscription, an article by Viki Woods catches my eye and fills me with glee. Apparently the dynamic duo at Dolce & Gabbana have been working on a cosmetic line with Pat McGrath. The line boasts 27 cream lipsticks,12, semi sheer lippies, 12 glosses, 14 eye palettes, and a gaggle of blushes, bronzers, wet & dry foundations, nail lacquers and mascara. McGrath states "We used the strongest and the best pigments and the most modern technology. We looked for the lipstick that lastest the longest, had the best texture, felt the most comfortable, the most luxurious; it was just all encompassing. And obviously, we tested for months, on team members and models. That's what we do."

Everything from the color choice to the pale gold packaging is from the minds of Docle & Gabbana. The star of the entire collection, the Dahlia lippie, is a quite gorgeous looking red. Very Merlot-like in shade. The added touch to this lippie is the engineering. With each swivel of the lipstick, a puff of powdery rose fragrance is emitted. The boys wanted the smell of a vintage smelling cosmetic. I am not sure how the kids will feel about this trick. On makeupalley's fragrance board there is always a throw-down when "grandma perfumes" are mentioned. It appears that there are some generations that do not appreciate or understand the classics. They want to smell like cupcakes. I personally love a powder with a rich rose scent or adore the science behind the satisfying click of a compact. I am excited to see a team bring back the old glamour of cosmetics. The influences for the collection range from Rome's Cinecitta in the fifties and the boys own gardens.

One of my favorite parts of the article is a quote concerning Pat McGrath. "Pat has known us a long time; she knows why we like red, gold. She understands exactly what I mean when I say "Black"-she knows I mean black from Stromboli. It is not a sad black". Gabbana says, drawing with the eye pencil, "it's a volcanic and sparkling black."
Other products described are eye palettes. There are blues inspired by Portofino and a nude shade was inspired by the dresses worn by Jean Harlow.

According to this Vogue article the makeup collection will launch in June at the Saks Fifth Avenue's flagship store in NYC. If you have any more information or deets please post in the comments. Patti and I currently planning a NYC summer trip and I would love to coincide our trip with the launch. I want to see the Dahlia lippie in person.

Credits: Vogue, Silvana Mangano as Circe in Mario Camerini's Ulysses
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinecitt%C3%A0

Estee Lauder's Precious Parfums Holiday Set

This set features 1/2 oz Baccarat bottles of pure parfum.
The parfums are Beyond Pleasures, Beautiful, Pleasures and the Lauder classic Youth Dew.
The limited edition set retails for $350 and is available at select Saks stores. If you are a perfume junkie that owns everything or just a Lauder fan, please contact my local Lauder boy, James Boyd at 216-292-5500 to splurge on this set.
Mention to James that you saw it on Blogdorf Goodman.
It took us several tries with the lighting and my camera.

Credits: Blogdorf Goodman