1) I am so excited by early reports from Patty and Chandler Burr (see Patty’s post yesterday) about the new Dianne Brill fragrance! I remember Brill from the bad ol’ 80s, that’s her up there on the right with Andy Warhol, when she was the NY club queen with the ginormous rack who looked like a lot of fun. I haven’t thought of her since and had no idea she had a cosmetics line, and now here she is with a fragrance and bath milk. Here’s a link to her website, she’s (ahem) aged well and seems like a gal with a sense of humor.
Of course I (perversely) wanted it to be wonderful, right? And it sounds like it’s at least very good, and interesting. The packaging is a ripoff of … something, help me out — a cross between (among?) Rochas Femme, Bal a Versailles and Myrurgia Maja? Who else has that black lace bottle? Xtina? Driving me nuts that I can’t remember, and that va-va-voom bottle shape is very familiar.
2) Here’s a piece in the UK Daily Mail about perfumistas, with mentions of the Posse, and also an article in BizBash about the Scentsation with a photo of Liz Zorn showing her line;
3) Here’s a link to the new free quarterly updates to The Guide, I am soooo happy we have some new material to argue about, thanks Luca and Tania! Off the top of my head, expect drama over the reviews of Serge Noire, Heeley Cardinal and Figuier, Dolce Vita, Insolence EdP, Armani Cuir Amethyste and more… (and for anyone wondering, no, I don’t know either author and I frequently quote the Guide because it’s fun, not because I’m shilling for them).
Dianne Brill 80s image, operagloves.com, bottles from beautyhabit.com
Linky-binky parlez youz!
All good fun…thanks for every one of ’em. Goes to show you my recent illness meant too much time on my hands…the only one I hadn’t seen yet was BizBash…l-) (loser dude directed at moi…)
And I do remember how beautiful Pam Anderson was…somewhere out there is a photo of her in the stands as she was first discovered…quite a different kind of beauty from her current ethic….
I hope you’re feeling better! I sent you the BizBash link yesterday – did you not get it?
~o)+~:> (trying to make chicken soup here)
{slurp} Thankee! 😡
Aw, no link…jes’ the good talkin’. No matter– it’s good! And it talks about LZ and NM having stuff there, which was a most excellent part of the evening!
Did you get a chance to smell the LZ Antique scent again? You were rockin’ that.
I hope you get feeling better soon. ~:>
Anyone know how to spot the different between “new” and “old” DV bottles? Did the bottle change with the formula? I have a 5ml mini of the “old” and I love it and now concerned will have to locate bigger bottle. Hmm, my hoarding gene just kicked in :”>
I think the bottles are the same? The difference is the old one smells better. 😉 I don’t know, my “old” is probably not LT’s “old” but I did smell it again relatively recently and was definitely thinking it was sweeter/fruitier than it used to be, although the resemblance to Feminite du Bois is still very much there.
Hmm, then my “old” might not me old at all. Although I recall it smelling similar to my TPC sample; I wonder how old their bottle was/is? I do remember that when I sprayed my mini, it had a darker edge that I loved. I don’t wear it during the summer, and I can’t recall from memory what the edge was (musk? amber? 😕 ), I’ll have to go home and sniff.
valentino rock n rose couture has a pink bottle with black lace over it. maybe thats what you’re thinking of
Actually…. I should get paid a dollar every time I use actually…. I finally took myself to the internets for a look. The bottle SHAPE reminds me of new Femme, a bit, although vintage Femme has the black lace all over it. And as it turns out I was thinking of the Christina Aguilera fragrance, remember the photo with the black lace on her back? Tres sexy, although I don’t think I ever smelled the fragrance, and probably no great loss. 😉 You are right though Rock n’ Rose has the lace too. I think the new bottle is kind of cute.
Wow – Dianne Brill has aged *much* better than I would have expected. I’m guessing a brilliant dermatologist and/or plastic surgeon gets some credit and I’d love to know their name. 🙂 Love the title of her advice book! I am hoping I instantly love her perfume, but, if not, I am determined to continue trying until I do or find some fantastic layering partner for it.
Is the woman in that UK article pregnant? Interesting choice of photo if she is since it seems that most women when pregnant have trouble w/ wearing their regular scents or w/ wearing any at all. And why am I focusing on this? Just one of those great, insignificant things I can obsess over to avoid getting back to work. 🙂
Yeah, she looks amazing, huh? (Note to self: add “yeah” and “huh” to list of way-overused blog words.) Poking around on her website she clearly has a great sense of humor (did you see Panties in a Bunch?) and that sense of humor seems to extend to herself… maybe she’s been airbrushed for the photo but Francesca says she does/did have fab skin, I would love that skin.
IMO the woman in the UK article is wearing one of those heedious blousy things you buy mistakenly thinking they will make you look hip and give you some relief from muffin top, but you only end up looking pregnant. In fact if we are talking about the same photo what freaked me out was how terrifyingly thin she looked — check out the Skeletor arms.
I have seriously given up on trying to post coherently and not repeat words a thousand times. I’ll frequently take phone calls or go do something else while posting and come back and finish my comment, having forgotten I’d already used some word multiple times (could I *possibly* say “love” more frequently?!). Sigh.
I will cut anyone w/ a good sense of humor *enormous* slack and Dianne sounds like she has a great one. She’s the sort of person I’d want to have lunch with.
Wanted to let you know I just got Saint Natural in the mail. Fantastic feel and color! Reminds me of a much loved d/ced Clinique I wore in college. I need to try one of her pinks next. I’m not sure I could pull off one of the Sinners, however. For a natural, this has a *lot* of color. I think the Sinners would make more of a statement than I usually feel comfortable w/.
The Lipstick Queen (sheer) Rose is just lovely-and not-too-bright deep pink ; )
Thanks for the rec! I had been considering that one. You’ve given me the push I needed – off to order! 🙂
You are naughty, I want it too!
So glad you were pleased with the Saint Natural! I am fascinated by how long the color wears… yes, it does have more pigment than you’d expect, and the color manages to stay on there without doing the icky lip-crud thing heavier lippies like Bobbi Brown can do on me… even when the Saint Natural looks like it’s “gone” it’s still there. I have two Lancomes that give sort of the same effect, but 45 mins later they are — literally — gone and I am not a lip chewer. :* Now Louise has me tempted with another one! And I wish I’d paid more attention, one of the sinner colors I really, really liked.
I bought one of those blouses awhile back and took it right back to the store! I looked absurd in it. Then, in a rush, I bought yet another: this one with a sash that tied in the back:o and puffy sleeves! I am most definitely NOT a puffy sleeve kinda gal. I am an >-)
A much better look is that wholly elegant-casual black and white striped top you wore on Sunday after the Event (and you don’t even need to hide anything!!!)
You’re so sweet — I got that in a thrift store! It was a perfect fit (there was an identical make in pink/purple stripes I bought at the same time). I have a few of those loose-waist tops, I concede a bit of a muffin top.
Glad you have been playing with the alien. >-)
Oh, so sad I missed those days with Andy 🙁 But, I think Divalano is wise…not sure I would have survived the excesses. Barely did so in quiet little Oregon 8-|
Well, dern you and Patty, I already had to order samps of El Attarine and Diane Brill. I smell some purchases coming…also need to smell the new Lyric by Amouage. If it’s got the same level of quality as Jub 25, I’m sunk.
This “free” quarterly was my first exposure to the Guide. It’s a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the style and snark. But hell, what’s with the Lauder shilling? Just me, or is it sooo obvious?
Afraid I do get TS’s impression of SN-it does the same nasty dance on my skin, though it smells great on others. So, given that the Guide loves El Attarine, maybe it’ll be fab on me :d/…though, of course, skin chemistry is just an Urban Myth :). Got to verify this on Snopes.
Babe, I’ll bring the Lyrics next week. :)>- I can hook you up… they are all frickin’ rose-y oudh to my nose, much more you than me, for sure.
I need to change my post, only the first update is free! (To whet our whistles…) and wow, you hated SN that much?!? There you go then. Yes, Urban Myth on the skin chem…. am totally distracted right this second, a crazed hummingbird is hurling himself furiously against my dining-room window screen where I am blogging. Think he can smell my Chanel Beige? 😕
No, no, no! I don’t hate SN-it hates me :((
I love SL so much, and many work out wonderfully for me…but this was so terribly bad. And so very nice on my friends. I truly believe El Attarine will make up this tragedy to me 😕
I feel badly about not being at the Scentsation after saying I would be there. I had even bought a ticket. 🙁 These things stopped me: money, my desire for some other fragrances (it was a choice between going or getting them), and my foot. Happily, I’ve gone to a new podiatrist and my foot is now better. I am going to try to start walking at least a little bit again. (You don’t know how much I’d love to get up to my former 4 miles/day so that I could lose weight.) If I can get up to it again, I would love to go to the next one if you folks would put one again. How do you feel about it, A? What are your thoughts? It sounds like it went well.
As for the articles, I wish they’d realize that it’s not the snobbery/exclusivity of our fragrances that draw us in….it’s the fragrances themselves. I can be just as happy with a $10 fragrance or a $150 fragrance (my upper limit) if the thing smells good! And has decent persistence and sillage.
I guess I need to subscribe to the free updates. Heaven knows the book itself was/is fantastic fun. Some good info too, although given that some isn’t great.
Oh, I feel your pain about the foot! I am still wearing only orthotic-friendly shoes (as opposed to my many cute other pairs) and the girls keep asking me when I can wear normal shoes again. Who knows? I am sorry you missed it only because I think you would have had a lot of fun. Anita had a great time organizing it and did a super job, but not sure she is up for another formal event — it was a TON of work. /:)
Hey, nice write-up on the Scentsation!
And what a great shot of Andy Warhol.
That was a nice write-up of the Scentsation, yes, and I cracked up when I saw that pic of Andy, which is why I picked it!
He’s got the Yatagan Look, like he really wishes that girl would put her sweaty pit somewhere else:-ss
Btw – I am such a freak that I went onto another program just so I could see the little alien pop out of the smiley face.
>-) sayin’ hey!
Letter to Hermes not written yet. Been too slammed. It’s on my list for this week, though! If any of you who were witness to it want to write a scathing note as well, have at it! I figure the more the merrier!
xo
HA, perfect, that’s exactly what he looks like!
WHoa!!! My alien just morphed, cool!!! Mozilla just updated Firefox, wonder if that’s what cleared the decks… 😕
Yes, it happened to me when LaFox was updated. I’m just so glad to know I wasn’t seeing things! It is sooooo creepy! Love it! The only thing weirder would be if it morphed out of one of the ‘human’ or animal heads! Ewwww..
xo>-)
I was a bit taken aback, too, by TS’s response to Serge Noire. Oh well, I’m looking forward to wearing it, anyway, once it gets just a little more autumnal outside. LT puts the brakes, though, on the Serge-bashing with an exceptionally poetic review for El Attarine.
The article on Chi-Cocoa Scentsation was great! Congrats. I giggled at the quotes around your names, as though you were both in the witness protection program.
Yes, “March.” Sounds like a phony name to me too. I wish they’d called me “Dulcinea” or “Mata Hari” or “Number Six.” :p
El Attarine I still have not tried, but everything washes up on these shores eventually.
Slight correction: the “Perfumes, the Guide” quaterly newsletters are not free, according to my reportage and grasp of the thing. *Only* the first one was: for the rest, we’d have to pay!
Also, as Luca told me, the panning of Dolce Vita was due to the ~apparently, because I haven’t smelled it recently myself~ appalling reformulations happening at Dior.
Now, as to what got into them and detested Serge Noire so much, I can’t say. I only know I’ve been on public record saying I loved it (and I do wear it very often with great response):d
Hey, thanks! I was *wondering* why they were doing free updates, I guess you answered my question! I should have read the opening more carefully, I thought it said free etc. And I am reminded that I need to get my hands on an older bottle of Dolce Vita, it is definitely fruitier than I remember it being.
I was shocked by their Serge Noire pan. I loved it too, the first SL that really captured my heart in quite some time. I did one of those “all is forgiven” posts. I disagree so entirely with their description that it makes me wonder about their sample. And FWIW in the court of pop appeal in Chicago, our perfumistas loved it.
You’re welcome sweetie. Makes sense, rather, doesn’t it? I can’t blame them, is what I am saying, I guess: they need to make this pay after all.
I put big faith in the pop appeal of Chicago: they can’t all be swayed by the Lutens brand desirability, can they? /:) Yeah, thought not.
Nah, Serge (and El Attarine too!) are the best Lutens to come out in a long time: very rich, very different from one another, very Lutensian as well.
OMG that photo of Andy is priceless. Priceless!
Yep. Hoping someone comes along and IDs the two ladies, I have no idea.
I was suffering from a bit of Late Thirty-Something Malaise earlier this week and this morning’s picture made me realize just what the doctor ordered. A night out on the town, inappropriately dressed and immature in actions, a night of big, festive fun generally reserved for twenty-year olds. Or maybe I’ll just stay in my jammies this weekend and sniff stuff. Perfume, that is. God bless Dianne Brill; she’s great and I hope her scent does well. I wonder if it’s at the mall yet…
Dude, what’s up with TS and Serge Noire? Ouch! I wasn’t expecting that kind of harshness.
Yeah, the Serge Noire, no idea what that’s about. But it’s part of the fun of reading, I get to think, wth?!?! 😮
Yes, you need to get out more. :d And wouldn’t Dianne Brill have been fun to hang out with?
Heyyyy that BizBash article doesn’t say ANYthing about the way the wheels of commerce at a *certain* Chicago boutique were too stuck up to turn at all. Snicker.
And yah, I was nowhere near as fabu as Ms Brill in the 80s but I was in the clubs, I wore the fishnets & let me tell you, I give 3 rousing cheers for anyone who made it out of those days alive, well & sane. Even if the juice ends up disappointing I think it’s cool that she’s out there reinventing herself.
Yeah, seriously, three cheers for Dianne. Even back in the day she struck me as someone who had more going on than just her stunning figure, and I’m happy to see she’s alive and well and looking gorgeous. And according to Francesca up there her skin really is that good.
I wonder if Anita will hear back from Hermes? I think she was going to send them a lil’ letter.
I’d love to hear about the letter, if one comes. It was an outrage, especially given that people were already interested in buying things. Are they in the business of selling? :- :-< Exactly how does one have to look and behave to be privileged enough to buy their merchandise? Because obviously the money was there.... It makes me regret having the Jardins.
We looked plenty privileged to me, not that it should matter. And Robin at NST has pointed out that the Sniffa group goes into Hermes there and doesn’t get booted out!
Get out your barf bag, March. LT raved about Hermes’ Mousson in the update. I know how thrilled you are. :d
I have to get my hands on a bottle of Dianne Brill. It’ll be my “apartment warming” present to myself. How’s that for a rationalization?
Yeah, I woke up at 3am remembering that. I must have blanked it out to protect my psyche. 😉 Um, needless to say we will have to disagree on that one.
Yes, the packaging does remind me of Maja. Dianne Brill did a book with my company c. 1990, and she had the most gorgeous skin, and the designer she worked with said she was really nice and a lot of fun.
I’ve already ordered a few samples from TPC based on L&T’s Guide updates–Knize Ten was a big hit at my house.
I was looking at her photo on her website and (granted, it might be retouched) she looks amazing! A little like Pam Anderson before she got so terrifying. btw have you ever looked at an older picture of Pam? I’d forgotten how pretty she used to be before she became a rubber sex doll.
Cannot decide about Knize Ten. I smelled it in Vienna. I try to love it, but it will not love me back. 🙁
Knize 10 is more widely available again, isn’t it? I keep thinking I almost really love it, maybe enough to buy. And then, then I don’t again. I best make up my fickle mind before my tiny sample is gone.
I really want to try this one.
Yes, apparently. I remember years ago they always had it at the Caswell-Massey store (oh, those fascinating catalogues) and the name always intrigued me. I haven’t tried it on myself yet. I bought the little decant for my husband, and it smells wonderful on him.