Sunday This and That

What gloomy day! I awakened to fog that was supposed to burn off by 10:00-11:00 am. It's still hanging in with a vise-like grip at 1:30 pm, leaving me with no hope that the predicted sunshine will materialize.

I checked out the makeup counters yesterday. I went to Nordstrom because Neiman Marcus had almost nothing new when I was there mid-week (I did find a few new things there, but very little). I've noticed over the years that right before their annual inventory, stores hold off on receiving new makeup - I assume to keep their stock down. It has happened too many years in a row for me to ignore the phenomenon. Plus I've been given some covert suggestions from those in the know that is indeed the case.

I found the new Lancôme In Love Spring 2013 Collection at Nordstrom, and I purchased nothing. It struck me that the company had aimed this collection at a much younger age group. I hope that's not the start of a trend, but having Emma Watson as the face does make me wonder.

Look at the strange way they displayed the color block blushes  - as two, rather than one. In order to test the colors the way I'd likely use them, I had to pick up both colors from each color-block palette and blend them together to see the "end result." Both were bright and, in my opinion, garish. Péche Joue-Joue is orange, and Pommettes d'Amour is an unnatural pink. The only thing on the display that almost caught my wallet was the limited-edition Midnight Rose Baume in Love. It looks purple in the tube, but applies as a beautiful tinted lip balm.

Estée Lauder has introduced a set of fabulous new cream eye shadows. I think I purchased five. They are divine. I had hoped to get photos of them today, but the fog is getting thicker, not burning off. Definitely check them out the next time you go beauty shopping.

I learned that there are two new Tom Ford fragrances "on the way." Sahara Noir was given out at the Emmy's this year in a gift bag. It will come in 50ml (1.7oz) and 100ml (3.4oz) at the traditional price range of $105/150, however the pricing structure could change to the new $110/160. From what I've been told, it will release somewhere around Valentine's Day, although that's nowhere near concrete. The packaging is similar to that of all the other Tom Ford signature fragrances, with a ribbed box and is closer to the new Tom Ford Noir look. The box is close to a rose gold shade. Some think it's the best of the Signature Collection - although that's always subjective.

The bottle looks exactly like White Patchouli, except that its completely gold. The box is also all gold. It is will debut at Tom Ford Kuwait. The top notes are Italian bergamot, mandarin orange, violet, ginger, and basil. The middle notes are grapefruit blossom, orange blossom, tobacco, and black pepper. The bottom notes are Indian amber, Tibetan patchouli, cedar, oakmoss, and leather. A friend who was able to test it noticed a licorice note that could be benzoin. It's definitely an oriental floral and is a new direction for Tom Ford. I sure hope the patchouli isn't detectible.

The second, Shanghai Lily, will be a Private Blend. The information abut it has been hush-hush. I am told that the bottle color will not be brown like most of the line. I was given no details on notes, but apparently the marketing strategies have been revealed. It will debut at Tom Ford Shanghai with a huge launch, alone with new lip and nail colors. The focus will be on Shanghai lily, champaca absolute, and jasmin rouge as they have the strongest ties to Asian culture. It sounds lovely.

Oscar de la Renta, who has hit the ball out of the park with his recent fragrance collection, has a new introduction: Something Blue. I have a decant on the way. The fragrance, which was just launched at Saks Fifth Avenue and will also be rolled out to Bloomingdale’s. The juice, formulated by perfumer Frank Völkl of Firmenich with Ann Gottlieb, echoes the wedding theme. “It’s a white floral that’s opens with a sparkly, fresh start of linden blossom and mandarin,” de Bourbon said, adding that “the heart is stephanotis,” a white flower often called the “bridal veil” and used in wedding bouquets (courtesy of WWD). It sounds divine.

In another new fragrance, Serge Lutens has chosen to capture a city - Berlin - in a bottle. The new scent, called La Fille de Berlin, aims to conjure a thorny wild spring rose - powdery and peppery. I've ordered a bell jar from a U.S. personal perfume shopper who goes to France frequently. I hope I like it!

We're still awaiting the new Chantecaille Gel Liner Pencil in Geode, a cool, silvery pyrite that I must have. It's part of the Spring 2013 Color Collection. It will be priced at $33 and is expected any moment. The fabulous pencil, with a gel liner in an extraordinary shade at one end, with a brush at the other, is sure to please many of us. I'll tell you tomorrow about the new Chantecaille skin care.

There are several stores in the DC area that have either renovated their beauty departments or are in the process. I think the renovation and expansion trend shows the power of beauty. Neiman Marcus Tysons Galleria made way for a large Tom Ford section, with all of the makeup items available. Nordstrom will soon undergo a large renovation, adding new brands there and moving the location of others. Saks Fifth Avenue in Chevy Chase is almost finished with a huge expansion that will give premiere brands "showcase" space and add new-to-the-area brands, including Frédéric Malle (I'm very excited!). Maybe retailers finally realized that the DC area is not a beauty backwater.

iPhone photos by Best Things in Beauty and courtesy of WWD, Fragrantica, brainharmonycenter.com, and Chantecaille