New Fragrance for 2012 - Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang

Last week I had a sneak preview of new fragrances for Valentine's Day - the two stand out ones for me being Cheeky Alice from Vivienne Westwood and Vera Wang's Princess Night.

Cheeky Alice is a follow-on from Naughty Alice and although is made of lily of the valley, rose and peony has a definite undercurrent of something altogether sexier and heavier. Perfect for Spring.
Prices start at £32.00 and it is on counter 1st February 2012.
I was working in Harvey Nichols when the original Westwood fragrance launched. Amongst the madness of queues a lovely Japanese gentleman approached me and said 'Excuse me - you have Vagina Westwing?!' Haven't looked at her the same way since.

Being unable to afford a Vera Wang dress I'll have to settle for a fragrance - which on reflection, is what clever marketing teams hope we all do with every launch. And also why famous faces make more money from fragrance than anything else.
That aside, I LOVE this fragrance. Its like a spicy fruit compote (and you thought I couldn't review fragrance! Pah!) with raspberry, watermelon, jasmine, spicy orange and the two killers - musk and vanilla. And a word about the bottle - completely encrusted and heavyheavyheavy. Love.
Prices start at £32.00 and it's on counter from 11th January.

A Family Affair

I have been in the beauty biz a long time - but thanks to the women in these two pictures below - my earliest memories are ALL beauty related...

The above is my Nana on her Coty counter in 1966.  She went on to work for Guerlain for years - leaving me with a beautiful collection of antique Guerlain perfume bottles along with all of her old certificates and mementos. She always looked immaculate and smelled fabulous.

And the big hair on the left belongs to my Mum - 1966. She went on to work for Helena Rubinstein among others right through to the 80's.  Our hallway at home was always filled with their tester units at the weekends when Mum was doing wedding make-ups. Only one of which I was allowed to sneak in to and watch. Bah.

And then we have my daughter.  Who, although she loves make-up and advises her teenage brothers on skincare - assures me that she.....

has 'no interest in doing anything except riding her Harley, marrying a Jonas Brother and getting a full sleeve on her arm' as per:  http://mothersmouth.blogspot.com/2009/11/rise-of-7-year-old.htm

What can you do?