When the temperatures drop along with the leaves, it’s time to warm up our beauty routines. Not just makeup and hair color,  it’s also a time to shift our perfume choices to something a little heavier and sexier. I am a huge fan of light fragrance, but when I pull out the scarves and gloves it seems right to wear a warm, cozy scent. Earthy, floral notes that echo the smells blowing around in the cool, fall wind. Dirt, earth, foliage,the last flowers of the season.

As I layer my clothing, I layer my perfume. Instead of my staple Eau d’ Hadrien perfume, I use the moisturizing creme and layer Chanel Sycomore or Beige from the Les Exclusifs line . I also love to pull out the more classic perfumes that are simply too heavy in the spring and summer months. Like Guerlain L’Heure Bleu, a lovely oriental aldehyde from a time gone by. Impossible for me to even look at when the temps are up, it’s mystery and  elegance speak to me in the brisk air.

Chanel No.5 is hard for me to wear, but I adore it. So in cooler months I use the velvet milk bath with epsom salts and enjoy the iconic fragrance in the tub without committing to wearing it.

I love Le Labo Iris 39. It seems to capture the fall season for me. Just right with a glass of red and a warm sweater. Kind of a dirty floral that finishes with a touch of powder and ends clean. Reminiscent of my childhood, buried in a pile of leaves with the street lights coming on, jumping out of a twilight childhood daydream, brushing the leaves off and running home into the clean, fresh house.

Perfume conjures up powerful feelings and memories. What are some of your favorite perfumes for fall? How do they make you feel?

A HOUSE OF THE HEART

” In 1994, while riding my motorcycle at random on the roads of Provence, I discovered a house standing amidst lavender and olive trees. I made it my anchoring harbour, my home, before deciding to open it to others. It has always had this very special place in my heart, and it still has today… “ 
Alain Ducasse

This September I was fortunate to be able to get away and take a much needed vacation. Jeff and I  chose to travel to France. I had never been to the South of France, so we decided to start in Paris and then tour Provence. It was absolutely the best trip I have ever taken. And when we reached Moustiers-Saint-Marie, and checked in to La Bastide De Mousiers, I knew was in heaven.

This is a very special place conceived by the famous Alain Ducasse. He wanted to create a place that felt like a private home. And that is exactly how it felt. Warm, relaxed, private, like a home. A home with impeccable staff.

We stayed here for three nights and never wanted to leave. We explored the gardens. Smelled the lavender and olive trees. It was a place to relax and catch up with thoughts and dreams. For some reason I felt transported to my childhood. Or a time when lying in the grass and staring at the sky was considered constructive time management.

The restaurant was the best I have ever had the pleasure of dining in. Most of the food comes fresh from the garden or close by in the region. It was fun to stop by the kitchen and be welcomed in. They couldn’t have been warmer, encouraging a look at the menu. I was so blown away by the food, I literally got a little weepy at times. Fresh pumpkin soup with chestnuts. There was a corn chowder that I could have eaten everyday for the rest of my life….

I hope to return soon. We met a couple from New York that comes every year. And this was the second time this year. Lucky ducks!

For now I will just keep the memory fresh by sharing it with you and looking at photos from our time spent there.

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Do you remember the last time you got a fantastic haircut? One that made you feel like your best most beautiful and stylish self. A haircut that made you appear taller, thinner, younger, or more sophisticated.

A haircut that works everyday and looks great with your features and wardrobe is always the best accessory you will wear. And you wear your hair every single day.

You must find a stylist that you feel a certain connection to. You have to have confidence in their skills and willingness to listen. They must understand your hair texture, your personal style and your lifestyle. And they need to be consistent in these qualities.

You must trust them completely.

If you love long hair and your stylist insists on chopping it off, you will never be satisfied, or feel beautiful. There is always a compromise. Layers can create a shape in long hair that gives you just the right lift and movement. If you want a drastic change and your stylist is hesitant,  ask yourself if they are hearing you. If you know them well, maybe they aren’t seeing you in a fresh light anymore.

Every time I see my clients, I am observing and listening. How they carry themselves, how they are dressed, what they are into, who they are listening to musically, where they are eating and going. What is inspiring them? I do it in a way that is organic and perhaps unbeknownst to the client. If you listen and observe you can find out so much about a person. This is just the way I have always been. It is often intuitive.

From that point, I then determine the health and shape of the hair . Then we can discuss what direction you are thinking of going and we can come up with a perfect cut for you. Perhaps a big change is in order, or maybe trying bangs is enough.

Often it is just time for a trim. The style you have is working. This does not mean my job of listening is over.

Hair should be cut every 2 to 3 months depending on the style. Short hair more often. 4 to 6 weeks.

Hair that is over grown in all the wrong places will never do what you want. It is all about weight distribution. A great cut can make fine hair seem fuller. A great cut can enhance shine. It can make thick hair manageable. It can help define curls. And it enhances great color.

Be open to suggestions from your stylist when you feel like you have found the one you believe has your best interest at heart. We want you to look and feel your best. It’s what keeps me going.  That moment when I can reveal a woman’s beauty and she feels incredible and confident. I love to hear that my clients are stopped in the street  by people to tell them they have great hair. Slightly ego, but I truly feel so fulfilled that she has a little extra confidence and skip in her step. Makes me very happy.

These are photos of Elizabeth. Notice how a few inches and the right layers enhance her beautiful hair and hair color. Notice how her expression changes from beginning to end.

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