Shopplr

Claudie Pierlot fall winter 2011 collection

Esme Vos — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:56:59 +0000

I love Claudie Pierlot’s modern classic French style. Subtle and mysterious, these are the clothes that confident women wear. Here are a few examples from her Fall-Winter 2011 collection. Her shop is on 1, rue Montmartre, and it is one of my favorite boutiques in Paris.

See the previous collection.

Cote et Ciel Pillow Stand iPad Case

Esme Vos — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 19:30:24 +0000

I am ever on the lookout for unusual and well-designed iPad cases. I recently bought the Dodocase which I love, but this one called the Pillow Stand iPad case from Côte et Ciel would fulfill another function which is to get the iPad to stand on my lap or bed when I am watching a video or flipping through photos. When it is closed, it can be carried around like a clutch bag or tucked away in a backpack, briefcase or tote. It costs 50 EUR and will be available starting end of August 2010.

They have many other iPad bags and sleeves, as well as laptop carriers, Mac Book sleeves, rucksacks and more. Go to Côte et Ciel.

Dodocase: best iPad case

Esme Vos — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:03:24 +0000

I love the Dodocase. I think it’s the best iPad case on the market today. Made in San Francisco. It resembles a large Moleskine notebook. Your iPad nestles in a bamboo case, protecting it from dings if you drop the case.

Dr. Alkaitis: holistic organic skincare that make the skin glow

Esme Vos — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:07:55 +0000

If you are looking for a skincare regime that uses high quality organic ingredients and does not contain nasty chemicals, consider Dr. Alkaitis. I came across this relatively new product line recently when I received a travel kit containing the purifying facial cleanser, herbal toner, soothing gel, treatment oil, day creme, night creme, eye creme and mask. Dr. Alkaitis products differ from other skincare lines in the following ways:

the products are biologically active, certified organic and are edible (indeed, I wanted to eat the mask, which contains strawberry, blueberry and raspberry, because it smelled like a strawberry shake);
they do not use chemicals or synthetic materials;
they use 100 percent certified organic Aloe Vera gel as a product base; and
they do not test on animals.

Enough of that. What are they like?

All the products smell lovely without the overwhelming fragrance that accompanies mass market skincare products. They just smell fresh and delicious. The cleanser leaves the skin feeling fresh, but not tight and dry. The toner, which I use in the morning, wakes up my face with its wonderful zingy scent. The cremes are the star products. Both the day creme and the night creme resemble whipped mousse and when applied on the skin, absorb immediately. You don’t have that greasy, slippery feel. The eye creme is also very good and does not irritate the eyes (very important for someone like me who wears contact lenses). I used the soothing gel on a couple of warm days when my skin felt a bit too oily. I used the treatment oil on rough dry patches on my elbows and that worked wonders, although if your face feels very dry and raw (after skiing or sailing), that will work very well. I use the treatment oil on dry cuticles, too. Dr. Alkaitis has other products: mascara and eye makeup remover (the cleanser does not remove stubborn waterproof mascara), body washes and shampoos, and a lip balm.

In summary, I love these products and will continue to use them. It’s difficult to find good skin care that uses organic ingredients instead of harsh, harmful synthetics, and this one actually performs well. Best of all, Dr. Alkaitis does not make any outlandish claims that his products will suddenly erase the wrinkles from your face, like the mainstream beauty brands. He just delivers very good skincare products that work: they cleanse gently, moisturize effectively, and give the skin a good healthy glow. After a week of using these products, my skin looks much better.

A good way to try out the products is to order the travel kit ($45) which contains enough product to last for seven to twelve days:

Juliette Hogan: New Zealand designer blends classic femininity with contemporary style

Esme Vos — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 23:58:31 +0000

If you’ve been reading Shopplr for sometime now, you will know that I like very feminine clothes that have a modern twist. I don’t like the overtly sexual, aggressive clothes that have taken over fashion magazines in the past few years. It seems to me that fashion editors care only about images that shock, instead of clothes that quietly seduce both the wearer and those gazing upon her.

That’s why I am so thrilled to see Juliette Hogan, a New Zealand designer, come up with a gorgeous Winter 2010 collection called “so pretty it hurts” that celebrates what she calls the “demure muse”. Check out the dramatic cape coat in lavender, the floaty dresses in dusty pink tones and the flirty corset plus miniskirt ensemble that is sexy and playful. I dare say that Hogan’s style is very French, like agnes b. and Claudie Pierlot.

She has a boutique in Auckland, New Zealand. Her clothes are carried in other boutiques in New Zealand (and one in Sydney).

Juliette Hogan
170 Ponsonby Road
Auckland, New Zealand
+64 9 360 9347
www.juliettehogan.com

Ormonde Jayne’s mysterious Sampaguita perfume

Esme Vos — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:47:13 +0000

Ormonde Jayne Sampaguita

Ormonde Jayne is a small London perfumery dedicated to making rare perfumes and fragrances. The one I like most is Sampaguita, the name of the national flower of the Philippines. Sampaguita (jasminum sambac) is a type of jasmine that grows profusely in the Philippines. When I was young, we had a large sampaguita plant in our garden and I can still remember the exquisite scent the flowers would give off when they are in bloom. Filipinos also string sampaguita flowers into leis and place them in the home to create a distinctive home fragrance.

If you prefer a more oriental spicy scent, try Tolu (frankincense, tolu and myrrh). For those who court danger, there’s Ormonde Woman and Ormonde Man, made with the heart of black hemlock, Socrates’s poison of choice. Ormonde Jayne’s fragrances are available in the form of scented candles, bathing oils, travel purse sprays and bath cremes.

I like getting my perfume from small perfumers like Ormonde Jayne, Annick Goutal and Parfums Frederic Malle because I know I won’t smell like everyone else. I want to support small artisan perfumers who struggle against the massive marketing machines of the multinational beauty brands and their horrid celebrity scents. These small perfumers make limited quantities and use special oils that are not used in mass market fragrances.

Indeed, going into a boutique like Ormonde Jayne in London is like stepping into another world with its black glass chandeliers, ivory stone floors and black lacquered walls. You can order online, too, but it’s not the same.

Ormonde Jayne
12 The Royal Arcade
28 Old Bond Street
London W1S 4SL
United Kingdom
www.ormondejayne.com

Eye candy: gorgeous iPad case from Vaja

Esme Vos — Fri, 14 May 2010 04:13:12 +0000

Looking for the most beautiful iPad cases? Check out the selection at Vaja. They’re cool, retro leather cases that do not make you look like a geek.

www.vajacases.com

agnes b. spring-summer 2010 collection: classic, romantic and fresh

Esme Vos — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 01:46:43 +0000

I have been a fan of agnes b.’s clothes and accessories for more than a decade. Season after season, she manages to deliver classic French style that feels young, fresh and vibrant. The clothes are timeless and feminine, never harsh or aggressive. For spring and summer, she has dreamy linen dresses, trousers, skirts and blouses that make you feel as if you’re on holiday in the Provence or on the island of Île de Ré.

I have selected my favorites from the 2010 spring-summer collection. You can find many more at agnes b. stores worldwide. Unfortunately, they closed their US stores. But it’s better to go to Paris anyway; they have a vast selection of clothes, shoes and accessories there. My favorite agnes b. stores are listed in this shopping guide to Paris.

www.agnesb.fr

Gorgeous Spring 2010 collection from Kate Spade

Esme Vos — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:34:26 +0000

Kate Spade’s clothes, shoes, bags and accessories are never timid or ordinary. The style of this design house is classic, feminine, colorful and whimsical. For spring 2010, they have a range of dresses that can take you from a lunch outdoors in Biarritz to cocktails in Ibiza. I simply love this collection because they have their own distinctive style and they don’t follow what everyone else is doing.

Spring 2010 shoes: Coach Stefanie platform is gorgeous and easy to walk in

Esme Vos — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:49:53 +0000

Coach is better known for bags than shoes. But every year the company comes out with a great line of spring platform shoes and sandals. Two years ago I bought a pair of strappy platform shoes but I need to replace them. I looked around in department stores and shoe boutiques, and concluded that these are my favorite pair. It is called the Stefanie platform and it costs $188. Although the heel looks dramatic, it is easy to walk it because of the platform. The difference in height between your heel and the ball of your foot is minimized. The hell is 4.5 inches (11.43 cm); the platform is 1 inch (2.54 cm).

You can wear these shoes with a mini- or maxi dress or jeans.