Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Fashion and Fragrance - The Elegance of Armani Privé

Cate Blanchett has never looked more beautiful - and she always looks fabulous - than she did at the Academy Awards Sunday night. Dressed in a seafoam Giorgio Armani Privé gown that complimented her pale complexion beautifully, she was stunning. That Tiffany starfish bracelet was the icing on the cake. Every time Mr. Armani dresses a superstar for the Academy Awards, he leaves us talking.

I find it hard to believe that fashionistas are arguing over this dress and whether it was worthy of its coronation as one of the best of the night. It was perfectly created to showcase her beautiful body, without revealing too much skin. The effect on television was one of pure Hollywood royalty. 

This past weekend I tested Privé Vert Malachite ($310), a new Armani fragrance that was introduced this year. A sweet friend at Neiman Marcus in Las Vegas sent me a sample.

One of two in a unisex collection called Les Terres Precieuses, Vert Malachite is a tribute to the countries and cultures that have inspired Mr. Armani. Vert Malachite is a celebration of Russian culture. It's full of light, extremely delicate yet resistant. White lily accord, at the heart of this enchanting creation, is infused with luscious sambac jasmine and ylang ylang essence, offering a sensual and unique signature.

Fragrantica says the nose behind this fragrance is Fabrice Pellegrin. The top notes are bitter orange and petitgrain. The middle notes are ylang-ylang, jasmine sambac, and pink pepper. The base notes are lily, benzoin, and vanilla.

The moment I sprayed Vert Malachite on my arm, I was struck by the dry, sweet composition of some of my favorite notes. At first, this fragrance makes its presence known, so one spray should be enough. As it dries down, it cuddles closer to the skin. The reward? Twelve hours of wear!

I have to have a bottle of Vert Malachite. It's expensive, but I'll wear it for a very long time. My friend also sent me a sample of its partner in the collection, Rouge Malachite, which I haven't tested yet. That's a project for later in the week. I like to spread out my rewards.

Photos courtesy of Vogue and Giorgio Armani Fragrances

4 comments:

Annie M said...

A very good morning Charleston Girl! Yay - I was actually hoping you would put up a post about the Oscar fashions as I was beside myself with awe at Cate Blanchett and that unbelievable gown! Glad to see someone else singing praises. I simply could not get over it. I think Cate radiates class and elegance and her gown absolutely showcased these. What an excellent choice in both style and color.

Cheers and Happy Wednesday!

QuietDawn6 said...

For me she and that dress were the stunner of the night.
Simply beautiful.

Christina said...

I was confused as well that she had made the worst dress list on some people's list. I think she looks stunning in it! The colour is beautiful against her complexion, and, like you said, it is tailored exquisitely to her figure. It's not riske, avant garde, or "modern," which is why I think some people don't like it, but it's a classic silhouette that's feminine and elegant. It's a ball-gown! I love the floral applique on it. Of course, I might be biased, as my taste is quite feminine and my wedding dress had similar details on it, but I don't think you can ever go wrong with this type of dress. There's a reason why so many designers like Armani and Elie Saab keep pushing them out on the runway every season. They're just beautiful, period.

Eileen said...

We all know that Cate loves taking a risk when it comes to fashion and most of the time she strikes that perfect balance where the avant garde is stunning rather than silly (We'll save silly for the Grammys!). Personally, I thought her dress was gorgeous and so evocative of the sea. She was Venus rising from the waves. Her cool elegance is beautifully suited to Armani's fashions.

As for the perfumes, I haven't tried them yet, but I'll undoubtedly get around to it.