Lalique… the gift you give yourself!

Lalique Perfume (about $300), Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique Perfume (about $300), Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique, Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique Humidor, Beverly Hill, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique Humidor (About $8,000), Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique Bar, Beverly HIlls, Photo Romi Cortier
Lalique Bar (About $51,000) , Beverly HIlls, Photo Romi Cortier

Lalique… the Gift you give yourself!  

In the event that Santa didn’t bring you everything you were hoping for this holiday season, there’s still time to make things right. For as little as $300 you can head to Lalique in Beverly Hills and pick up one of their new Fragrances in a gorgeous black bottle. There are 5 fragrances in this new line, each named for a special year that is important to the company’s  history…  1977 got my vote.

Also new in the store, which drew me in from the street, were the stunning  new Midnight Blue Crystal pieces.  Remarkably deep and sensuous, they’re the perfect color for the guy who wants to collect Lalique. Masculine. Moody. Elegant. And the matte finish just begs to be touched.

And for the man, or woman, who has everything, there’s a collectable humidor that comes in 4 variations. The one featured above is part of a numbered collection and holds up to 100 cigars. From what I was told at the boutique,  gold is used in the making of the crystal, which accounts for the red color of the dragon. As you view the dragon from various angles, the tonality of the red crystal shifts.

The ultimate show stopper in the boutique was this stunning black lacquered art deco inspired bar.  I was speechless when I laid eyes on it. Part of their new Lifestyle Brand, Lalique Maison features numbered pieces such as this, as well as the humidor, and an array of other goods for the ‘savvy shopper’ who appreciates refined craftsmanship. Lalique recently unveiled a new show room on Manhattan’s lower 5th Avenue within the historic 19th century building that also hosts the company’s headquarters. Available by appointment only, the showroom features everything from linens to beds and chairs, to couches and tables. I’d love to see the showroom the next time I visit Manhattan, but I’m wondering if a credit check is required to gain entrance.

Romantic Paper Cut-Outs at Tiffany & Co. Rodeo Drive

Tiffany & Co., Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Tiffany & Co., Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Tiffany & Co., Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Tiffany & Co., Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Tiffany & Co., Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Tiffany & Co., Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Tiffany & Co., Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Tiffany & Co., Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Tiffany & Co., Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Tiffany & Co., Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier

The Miniature Romantic Paper Cut-Outs at Tiffany &  Co. on Rodeo Drive are exquisite, and are part of a larger global advertising campaign that’s very captivating. I love that they’ve  created a seasonal video for  youtube, which is also available on  the main page of their web site. It features New York landmarks from Time Square to Rockefeller Center to their own 5th Avenue location, lush with their iconic jewelry.

When I look at these terrific little cut-outs, it makes me think of the  artwork of James Rizzi, famous for his 3-D Multiples. They’ve made the most of the depth of their windows boxes, enticing the viewer to step right into their world. I suppose you might call these little works of art Doll Houses for grown ups. And who doesn’t want to step into the world of Tiffany & Co. and play dress up. Have you been to their 5th Avenue store? Floor after floor of goodies for shoppers at every price point. And lets not forget about  the Tiffany Yellow Diamond on display in the main showroom of their 5th Avenue store.  It’ll stop you in your tracks at 128.54 carats. In 1961 it was temporarily set into a Ribbon Rosette necklace to be  worn by Audrey Hepburn in publicity photos for the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Tiffany & Co. has been wowing shoppers since it was established in 1837 as a “stationary and fancy goods emporium”. In 1853 the company decided to focus solely on Jewelry, opening their flagship store on Fifth and 57th Street in Manhattan in 1940.  With many locations around the world, they maintain a consistent  image that dazzles women and men from all walks of life. These fantastic Cut-Outs charm and enchant the viewer with a vintage quality that is both warm and familiar.  You’ve still got a few more days left to shop for Christmas….

 

Dior Window Display on Rodeo Drive

Dior Window Display Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Dior Window Display Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Dior Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Dior Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Dior Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Dior Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Dior Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Dior Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Dior Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Dior Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier

The holidays are in full swing at Dior on Rodeo Drive. I just love the oversized ornaments in their window displays, as well as the smaller ones in the above window inset. However, enquiring minds would love to know more about where they came from and how long it took to have them made. From what I understand,  major corporately owned stores have departments dedicated to ‘visuals’ where they plot and plan out the look for all of their window displays. Therefore, they’re able to keep visual continuity in their seasonal window displays from coast to coast.

I recently came up with the idea to decorate my black artificial christmas tree in a tuxedo motif, a la shades of black and white. I used three different kinds of ribbon: shimmering sheer white ribbon,  black and white pinstriped ribbon, and lastly silver gray and black striped ribbon.  The finale items needed to complete the ensemble  were some simple white matte ornaments. Easy, right? Not really. I went to nearly every store I could think of in search of white round ornaments, and the only place I could find a handful of them,  was in a mixed box at Target. This box included white, matte silver and sparkling silver. I’m so tired of the whole glitter factor when it comes to holiday decor, a little goes a long ways. And I think those folks in China must think that us crazy Americans like everything dipped in glitter. I call it ‘Christmas throw up’. If it sparkles it must be fabulous, right? Wrong. I don’t want my home to look like a beauty pageant. I want it to ooze understated elegance. Ultimately I’m happy with how the tree turned out, but it was surprisingly difficult to accomplish. And, in case you’re wondering, all of those Bernardaud boxes around the bottom of the tree are empty. I’ve been collecting fine china from Bernardaud for over a decade, and those boxes are just way to cool to toss. Besides, they’re really handy to have if I decide to resale any of my items (not likely).

So, I hope your holiday decor came together as planned, and I hope the magic of the season fills both your heart and your home with gifts beyond your expectation.

Black Christmas Tree, Photo Romi Cortier
Black Christmas Tree, Photo Romi Cortier

Louis Vuitton Holiday Windows

Louis Vuitton Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Louis Vuitton Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Louis Vuitton Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Louis Vuitton Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Louis Vuitton Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Louis Vuitton Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Louis Vuitton Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Louis Vuitton Window Display, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Mens clothing LV 2015, Image Courtesy www.fashionbashon.com
Mens clothing LV 2015, Image Courtesy www.fashionbashon.com
Louis Vuitton Resort Wear 2015, image Courtesy wwd.com
Louis Vuitton Resort Wear 2015, image Courtesy wwd.com

It looks the Holiday Windows at Louis Vuitton on Rodeo Drive are a nod to the color trend  of the coming 2015 season. Pure saturated tones of Red, Yellow, Orange, Fuchsia, Green, and of course the classicism of Black and White. Yet at the center of the window display are classic Louis Vuitton Handbags like the ALMA MM, and MARLY BB.

I also get a sense of something very modern with the porcelain balloons in their windows that make me think of Jeff Koons. I feel like I’ve seen an artist with similar works at the Palm Springs Art Show. Was he or she hired to create these? I can only imagine how much work must go into fabricating these items. The beautiful flowing bows on the frames are  total works of art in their own right. Do they end up in some warehouse for discarded display items to be recycled at a later date, or will they be sold to consumers? Whatever the case, these windows certainly are a show stopper. They’d be amazing hanging in a loft as an art installation, or on a patio to be used as a super chic bird perch. Whatever the case, I hope you find a little Louis Vuitton under your Christmas Tree this season.

Baccarat Chandeliers are back on Rodeo Drive

Baccarat Chandelier Installation, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Baccarat Chandelier Installation, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Baccarat Chandelier Installation, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Baccarat Chandelier Installation, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Baccarat Chandelier Installation, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Baccarat Chandelier Installation, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Baccarat Chandelier Installation, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Baccarat Chandelier Installation, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Baccarat Chandelier Installation, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier
Baccarat Chandelier Installation, Rodeo Drive Beverly Hills, Photo Romi Cortier

Yes, it’s true, the Baccarat Chandeliers are back on Rodeo Drive! The  $1 Million Chandelier Installation marks the 250th Anniversary of Baccarat and also the Centennial Anniversary of the City of Beverly Hills. Sixteen Chandeliers are now lighting up the 200, 300, and 400 blocks of one the most famous streets in America. Even the bases and poles that support the Iconic Chandeliers have been installed specifically for this event. Additionally, there are nearly 150,000 lights as part of the holiday celebration, along with hundreds of vibrant red poinsettias.

This luxurious installation puts Los Angeles on par with the Parisian installation at the Grande Galeries at the Petit Palais, as part of Baccarat’s global celebration. If my late mother were around to see this remarkable site, I have a feeling she’d be inspired to hang chandeliers in the breezeway of her home between the garage and the front door. If there’s a will there’s a way, and with such an inspired installation of luxury, I’m convinced resourceful women everywhere will be hitting up their local resale stores to reclaim crystal treasures for patios, gazebos and pergolas. Crystal chandeliers are like diamonds and they can be used just about anywhere. What’s more lux than wearing diamonds with jeans… they’re one of those things that never really go out of style.

 

A Design Diary by Romi Cortier