Wakefield and York ~ City Chic In "The "Burbs"

With the holidays rapidly approaching, it's time to start thinking about making our lists and checking them twice, and when it comes to shopping, especially this time of year, I prefer to stay local. The nice thing about shopping the small boutiques is that there are fewer crowds, more parking, and you can take your time shopping in a more peaceful and personable environment without having to feel rushed. 

A few weeks ago, I was invited to attend the grand opening party of Wakefield and York, located in beautiful Upper Montclair, N.J. and judging by the large turn out for the event, they won't be going anywhere too soon! Martha Fava and Michelle Gettings are the dynamic duo behind the already successful contemporary women's boutique, and together, they have combined their strong backgrounds in fashion and interior design, as well as their business savvy, to bring something a little different to "the "burbs." They have buying "on trend" pieces, down to a science, and believe me, they know what they are doing, because by the end of the evening, their racks were half full, and we all left feeling like rock stars! Isn't that how you should feel after making a great purchase?

The staff at W&Y will always give you their honest opinion because they care about how you look in their clothes, and they get just as excited as you do when you find something you love! It's like having your own personal stylist, and I guarantee that your purchases from W&Y will always be your favorite go-to's. So, Whether it's a gift for someone special, a new wardrobe, or a unique piece to add to your already existing fabulous collection, W&Y has got you covered for all of your holiday needs.(literally). 

On a personal note: I have known Michelle Gettings since our days working at Ethan Allen. When Michelle decides to do something. She just does it! She continues to inspire me, and has been one of the biggest encouragers of Fabreview. I wish Michelle and Martha much success with their new venture. xo

Happy Holiday Shopping!

Martha and Michelle

Martha, Deniz (store manager), Michelle

Michelle and her beautiful daughter Gwen

These ladies know how to host a party

Like mother like daughter

The Art Of Perfume

It never crossed my mind that perfume could be considered a form of art , until I attended a Master class with renowned perfume designer, Francis Kirkdjian. He is no stranger to the industry, and has worked for, and collaborated with many well known designers and fragrance houses. He is extremely passionate about what he does, and that is very evident in each one of his scents.  He believes one should have a perfume that fits each moment of their lives, from casual to couture. For Francis, creating a scent is just as personal as choosing one, and that is why he doesn't believe that a person has to have a "signature scent" (thank goodness, because I have about 10 signature scents!)

THE PROCESS:
Francis gets his inspiration from the people he meets and the cultures he is exposed to as he travels.
He starts with a general idea and once he thinks of the name, he begins to think about how the scent relates to him personally. For example: Aqua Universalis, one of his scents, reminds him of laying in the sun, and the smells in that moment (fig trees, water). He experiments with his raw materials until he comes up with what is in his head.

In the Master class, he broke down the notes in a women's(féminin Pluriel) and men's fragrance,(masculine Pluriel) and had us experience each scent on it's own, and then the combined notes in the final fragrance, and voilá! a masterpiece is born!

He compared spraying his fragrances to starting a race. Some notes are faster than others. The first to appear, are the top notes( first 5 min.), then the mid notes(mid-day), and then the trail note (the trail that you leave in the air, that Francis says,  is like "the melody of a song that you can't get out of your head." I love that! Why wouldn't we want to leave a trail of loveliness behind us as we move through through our busy lives? You can experience Francis's full line of fragrances at Neiman Marcus stores or on his website.  I can't get enough of the Aqua Vitae, and I know you are going to fall in love with his fragrances. Enjoy!

**Disclosure: The opinions expressed herein are those of Fabreview and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of the Maison Francis Kurkdjian brand.

Hope you're having a beautiful week!

Intimacy (the bra fit stylists)