Chic Choices May 2014

FlipFlops

FLOWER POWER, MOTHER-DAUGHTER STYLE

Photographs by Bob Rozycki

Whether you wear them at some sunny vacation destination – or simply home from the salon after your pedicure – flip-flops are a go-to item of footwear, especially this time of year. Forget any thoughts of the flimsy old dime-store styles, though. Walking on Roses, a Putnam County-based company founded by Gail Fiero and her daughter Marlyse Minnich, offers quality footwear decorated with a rainbow of satin roses. The company was formed in order to offer women both comfort and style through a product custom-made by hand. Walking on Roses has clearly carved out its niche – the company is just celebrating its 10th anniversary. The name is a nod to the mother-daughter team’s love of flowers, particularly the rose. And like blooms in the loveliest of gardens, Walking on Roses offers some 40 varieties to choose from in sizes for both women and girls. So pick a pair, from “Antique Lace” to “Cotton Candy,” “Creamsicle” to the signature, “Therese’s Garden” – or have fun on the company site through its “Design Your Own” feature. Soles come in black and white (perfect for brides) and styles start at $32. In addition, a selection of styles is sold to benefit charitable causes, which gives you the chance to do good as you look good.

For more, visit walkingonroses.com.

 

TL_tray table cart 2 TL_ram head copper vase detail TL_Horsebit Bucket

INDOOR-OUTDOOR FLAIR

Photographs courtesy Tiger Lily’s

WAG was dazzled by the style of Samantha Knapp, whose family business, Tiger Lily’s, promotes savvy style through its Greenwich design studio and custom workshop (featured in WAG’s May 2013 issue). This month, Knapp has shared a selection of Tiger Lily’s newest one-of-a-kind custom creations that incorporate vintage finds. They’re “outdoor-friendly pieces,” designed, as she tells us, to “call on the old to celebrate the new.” We love the sound of that.

And here’s how Knapp describes the selections.

• Bucket with horse bit ($395) – “Equestrian in nature, this aged wood, barrel-shape bucket features a unique leather strap with an ornamental bit. Used to carry or store horse grain or treats, the bucket is both functional and decorative. It can be used to store garden items, as a serving piece or a planter to make a statement.”

• Ram’s head copper vase ($695) – “Symbol of strength with delicate carved details, this one-of-a-kind antique copper vase has a patina that only adds to its charm. Use as a planter or for fresh-cut garden flowers. The vase is a stunning centerpiece for outside dining.”

• Vintage bar cart ($1,495) – “Stripped down to its original patina, the layers of paint protected this Victorian-style bar cart through the generations. Functional and stylish, the top is removable to act as a service tray and the wheels make movement easy for entertaining on lawn, poolside or on a patio.”

For more, visit tigerlilysgreenwich.com.

 

Delamar 

PUTTING THE BEST FACE ON IT

Was it the periwinkle sitting room with the soothing tea and the peacock-decorated walls? Or perhaps the oh-so-velvety skin-care products? Whatever it was, The Spa at Delamar (as in the Delamar Greenwich Harbor hotel) had us at “Hello.” We sampled the Prime Renewing Pack facial mask (the go-to product), the Body Time Control body nourishing cream and the Body Time Control hand nutritive treatment – all from Valmont, the Swiss skin-care company. These and other Valmont products are applied at the spa with Valmont’s signature rhythmic, sweeping motion that mimics the structure and movement of a butterfly, at once relaxing and energizing the skin.

We also tried a variety of creams from the other line used at the spa, Biologique Recherche Paris, including Crème au Collagène Marin, with marine extracts for toning; Crème Aux Acides de Fruits, a renewing face cream; Crème VIP O2, an oxygenating face cream; and Masque Biosensible, a hydrating facial mask for sensitive skin.

The products were all light but luxurious to the touch, yet the proof was in a glowing complexion that put a smile on the face. Glow has its price, or prices, anywhere from $30 to $500 for Biologique products and $60 to $1,500 for Valmont. But why not let spa manager Barbara Aquino and her expert staff guide you through the choices? They’re at 500 Steamboat Road.

For more, visit delamargreenwich.com or call 203-413-3520.

– Georgette Gouveia

 

Stationery 

COUTURE CORRESPONDENCE

 

Photograph courtesy Sweet Jane Paperie 

In this day and age of texts and e-mails, there’s nothing like receiving a beautiful, handwritten note, and Sweet Jane Paperie has just the right touch and feel for that. A custom invitation and stationery studio, Sweet Jane Paperie creates luxurious handcrafted fabric notecards, richly textured papers with stitched edges that are stunning. Janine Serio Durso, a Larchmont-based entrepreneur and mother who founded Sweet Jane Paperie after years of creating custom invitations, refers to her cards as “Couture Correspondence” and hopes that her unique cards help to bring back the dying art of handwritten correspondence in a beautiful way. Certainly, Hollywood’s on board: Sweet Jane Paperie cards were included in the 2014 Academy Awards celebrity gift bags created by Hollywood Swag Bag. Sweet Jane Paperie note cards make wonderful gifts for any occasion – weddings, baby showers, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduations, promotions – while cards that are custom-ordered with names or initials make great personal stationery for all ages. The card sets – a box of 10 is $95 – come gorgeously boxed with a gift ribbon and bag. They’re ready to go.

For more, call 917-273-1009 or visit sweetjanepaperie.com.

– Ronni Diamondstein

 

 Aquaponic

RESTFUL, PRACTICAL, WATERS

Photograph courtesy The Aquaponic Source

Close your eyes. Imagine the calming sounds of gently flowing water. Such restful waters don’t have to have just a single purpose, as Aquaponic Source shares. The Colorado-based company’s new Living Fountain series is designed to help those who want to grow their own plants year-round either indoors or right outside, perhaps on a patio. The company’s new Ambiance series, shown here, includes the largest Living Fountain available. The hand-woven, weatherproof wicker creates a light, durable fountain that can hold 45 gallons of water. It’s perfect for a larger diversity of plants or those who want more fish. The fountains, available in chocolate or silver, are $795.

For more, visit theaquaponicsource.com.

 

SantaTeresaRum

A near-religious experience

Photograph by Bob Rozycki

A sip of Santa Teresa 1796 Rum might be likened to something spiritual. It’s transporting, an experience that takes you out of the everyday. WAG was introduced to the handcrafted sipping rum from Venezuela at the recent Architectural Digest Home Design Show in Manhattan. It certainly fit into the stylish surroundings. The award-winning complex blend is aged first in American oak barrels from four to 35 years and further aged in French limousin oak barrels through the Solera process. Its promotional materials talk about “Aromas of chocolate covered nuts and dried fruits. Fruity-yet-dry medium-full body fills the palate with a silky sensation of toasted wood with a long warming finish.” All we know is, we agree with its slogan: “Tasting is Believing.” Priced from $45 for 750ml bottle.

For more, visit Santa Teresa Rum on Facebook or @SantaTeresaRum on Twitter-Instagram.

 

Gucci 

THE SCENT OF A MAN

Photograph by Bob Rozycki

Gucci Made to Measure is said to be a fragrance “tailored to make a lasting impression.” Designed for the man who demands the best, this spicy Oriental fragrance is crafted from the finest ingredients that are layered like the most stylish of suits. (It’s Gucci, after all). Just listen to what’s gone into this blend – top notes of Calabrian bergamot, Tunisian orange flower, French lavender and anise seed combine with heart notes of Sri Lankan nutmeg, water lily, juniper berry, plum and cinnamon and base notes of Cistus Labdanum, patchouli, leather and amber for something truly unforgettable. And may we add that having James Franco as the face of Gucci’s male fragrances since 2008 doesn’t hurt either. The 1.6-ounce eau de toilette is $68.

For more, visit macys.com

 

 AeropodEnzoDoublePrint

EYE-CATCHING ARTISTRY

Photographs courtesy AeroPod

Dean Jackson’s booth in the prestigious MADE section of the recent Architectural Digest Home Design Show in Manhattan was the place for double takes. His AeroPods were certainly creations making showgoers take a closer look. His trademarked designs, sparked by a visit to a 2002 classic car show, have been likened to both classic automobiles and Fabergé eggs. It’s a nod to both the streamlined designs and the luxurious materials (rich burl woods and decorative metals) the Toronto artist and furniture maker uses to craft these “rolling treasures.” A limited-edition series of 49 sculptures, the AeroPods range in purpose from liquor cabinet to humidor to jewelry chest – and beyond, as custom orders are welcome (and Jackson has already fitted one model with a working waterfall). The AeroPods, which take some 200 hours to complete, come in colors such as British Racing Green, Ferrari Red and Alfa Romeo Blue. Prices start at approximately $20,000.

For more, visit aeropod.ca.

 

 

 

Photograph by Bob Rozycki

TASTES GOOD, DOES GOOD

Photograph by Bob Rozycki

We’ve all been there. You try a healthy drink that may be good for you but it just doesn’t taste, well, very good. Don’t worry, though, when it comes to Youthy Forever. This on-the-go thirst quencher is 100-percent natural, a non-GMO fruit juice made with pear, pineapple, passion fruit and prickly pear – and it tastes as delicious and refreshing as it sounds. Adding to the attraction – a bottle contains 30 mg of resveratrol, a natural antioxidant found in plants, and 40 mg of grape-seed extract, which has been recognized when it comes to heart health. A 10-ounce bottle of Youthy Forever sells for $3.49 in places such as Whole Foods Market. Stock up.

For more, visit youthyforever.com.

Written By
More from Mary Shustack
ARTFUL LIVING, INDOORS AND OUT
Photographs by Bob Rozycki and Tim Lee From the moment you drive...
Read More
Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *