LYRA MAG.

Text, Vivian G. Kelly Images, courtesy of HY Publicity and from www.jacquieaiche.com It’s been a tough year and a harrowing fall/winter as anyone who’s in retail and fashion is all too well aware. We can’t wait to usher out the old year and in keeping with the climate, are having a laid-back “un-New Year’s gathering” rather than “party”. That’s not to say that a little bit of WELL PRICED HAND CRAFTED BLING ISN’T IN ORDER THOUGH, and that’s just what JEWELRY DESINGER, JACQUIE AICHE provides. ABOUT THE COLLECTION Ms. Aiche offers a head-turning number of groupings that combine18 and 14 karat gold and sterling silver, precious and semi-precious gemstones; diamonds, rubies, emeralds and pink tourmalines blended with organic materials; such as minerals, rocks and fossils. Some pieces are as low as the $200 range, such as a 14k yellow gold and CZ peace sign necklace. WHAT’S UNIQUE: The designer blends elements from her Egyptian and Native American upbringing, which is present in the serpent...

Words, Judith Ecochard We braved the throngs of humans shopping the massive midtown Macy’s ---to gather a little Chrimanukah spirit of our own. And then we checked out a new fashion showroom---- which we love in this economy. One line that we found fetching was the just launched Top Secret Undercover Bodywear. (It should sell well with retail prices of$35 and up---and BTW Scoop retail chain scooped it up). WHAT IT IS : A collection of six more than just bra tops - that come in strapped and tubed versions…is available in loads of colorful fabrics and sexy lace-for day/ night wearability. The stretchy/comfy supportive Top Secret collection is meant to be seen underneath deep v-neck shirts, sweaters and jackets for gals rockin’ that Britney midriff look. Mercifully, skinny and more hefty types will love the fit. WE LOVE: How effortless the Top Secrets can really glam up an outfit. Plus we ate so much this holiday season; it’s nice we can leave a button un-buttoned, for now. PLUS: Cool ki...

Text, Vivian G. Kelly Images from the official website, www.casacasuarina.com Additional Images, VGK Although Casa Casuarina now belongs to telecommunication tycoon, Peter Loftin, and is now a Private Hotel/Club but it will forever be known as “the Versace Mansion” and it’s unlikely that tourists will ever stop posing in front of its wrought iron gates. Gianni Versace’s “Beach House” has always served as a source of inspiration, most recently when we rebuilt our house. Like Jonathan Adler, Versace believed in color and mixing together whatever he pleased – and it worked. THE NAME The mansion was named after the hardy CASUARINA tree that survived after the devastating 1926 hurricane, which wiped out much of what is now South Beach. TIMELINE: 1930: Mr. Alden Freedman builds Casa Casuarina with his son, Daniel. In the exterior courtyard, there’s a brick taken from the Christopher Columbus mansion in Santo Domingo. He originally built it as a 32-room hotel. Things have come full-circle, an...

INDUSTRY EXPERTS MARK C.L.A.S.S. NEW YORK AND C.L.A.S.S. LONDON ECO –MATERIALS’ SHOWROOMS Words, Judith Ecochard, Imgaes courtesy of Paul Gerben December 11th, 2009 Allsteel Inc. Showroom, Park Avenue South, New York “Making conscience lifestyle choices is not a fad, nor a trend, but a shared responsibility for all of us as stewards of this planet to uphold” A ‘green’ fashion industry mash-up last week- guaranteed a lively discussion on the current state of sustainable fashion- including words on the economic downturn’s impact on designers, retailers and consumer spending...and how the garment/textile industries can “create pathways towards” meaningful change. We’ve met many of the dedicated professionals at this event prior-including the moderator Barbara Kramer , co-founder of the well attended bi-coastal tradeshow Designers & Agents (that includes the sustainable trade event, the “Green Market”), Giusy Bettoni -a textile industry veteran who founded Creativity Lifestyle And Su...

Text, Vivian G. Kelly Images of Oribe & product, VGK Images of Oribe's fashion shoots in W, V Magazine, and Vogue Italia from respective magazine websites and Nytimesmagazine.com Yes, we’ve had to wait a while for this line to come out, but it’s true that “good things are worth waiting for”. THE OLD We liked the old product line, Oribe had in the nineties – the impossible to get out glitter colored hair pomades and the pink pomade remover in pepto bismal pink that came in a dish soap container. All the products had fun cartoon-y labels of Oribe by New York based artist, Alvaro, on them, making them collectibles. [We still have ours – in green, and black in our medicine chest]. Alvaro's gorgeous oversize fantasy paintings of Oribe and JLo and other nymphs as well as superhero cartoons of Oribe and friends are an integral part of the decor of the Miami salon. WHAT’S NEW A whole new color line with packaging that's a cross between Hermes and Gianni Versace. THE CONCEPT “Qu...

SEASONAL: AN AUSTRIAN-GERMAN RESTAURANT AND WEINBAR THAT MORE THAN PLEASES THE FIVE SENSES Words, Judith Ecochard While strolling down an unremarkable stretch of Midtown Manhattan’s West 58th Street –lined with small scale townhouses and office buildings… we were thinking about how little we knew/expected from Seasonal , a new Austrian-German restaurant and weinbar…spatial and cuisine wise. Well we had a ‘wow’ moment as soon as we walked into the elegant, somewhat art gallery vibe (but warm and inviting) establishment. Because the gleaming white walls adorned with striking artwork, softly illuminated with ethereal lights in the shape of branches, the cozy white and brown leather banquets, a (full) wooden ‘wein’bar that inhibiters will want to linger at, a barely heard ambient music soundtrack, and the beautifully ‘accessorized’ settings of clean, contemporary tableware and linen…was an oasis . At once calming… and buzzing with the excitement of an insiders’ enclave. We recommend the ge...

EFFECTIVE INSIDER CURES FOR HEALTHIER HAIR AND SKIN Words, Judith Ecochard Viviscal MAX and Hemp Oil’s Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids We are like a deer in headlights when it comes to the gazillions of over-the-counter products that claim to improve and restore our hair and skin. And call it ‘hope in a jar’ now available---but it seems like every week there is a new cream, lotion, serum, or mask (skin/hair) that’s costs plenty---hitting the market. It got us thinking…what we ingest has got to be as important, if not more critical to a quest for eternal youth than anything we can slap on our locks and visage. Viviscal MAX is a natural nutritional supplement that got a major buzz when the flaxen hair beauty, actress Gywneth Paltrow ‘fessed up to the wonders of taking these tablets. Allure and Vogue magazines have had clips on the supplement too. Made with an exclusive AminoMar C Marine Complex that provides the essential proteins needed to decrease hair loss and encourage...

Words, Judith Ecochard Much like the quintessential James Bond flicks playing on the discreet flat screen panels installed throughout the revamped Beekman Bar and Books , a love of a good cigar is never ending. On a corner (First Ave. and 50th) that draws in office execs, fashionistas, and casually dressed locals-Beekman Bar and Books- is one of the very few Big Apple establishments where one can legally fire up and savor a stogie. On a recent snowy December night, we visited and indulged…in an aged scotch (Hine Antique) - selected from an exhaustive drinks menu, and snacked on light fare - a generous cheese and Charcuterie plate and club sandwiches. Our primo spot- in front of a crackling warm REAL fireplace … helped melt away the day’s stresses and the night’s frigid temps. But the real treat for us was found down a discreet hallway: -the inside sanctum of the smoking lounge. Even non-smokers will want to check out the space. Our experience----we were gamely puffing away on a Nicara...

Scott Harrison A PACKED HOUSE TURNS OUT FOR A GREAT CAUSE Metropolitan Pavilion, NYC December 15th, 2008 Words, Images Judith Ecochard Can this crowd get any hotter ? Zac Posen's Attire WE KNOW IT’S THE ‘IN’ EVENT when caring celebs like host Adrian Grenier (Entourage’s main dude) blends in with the crowd…literally, he stayed still the end. Scott Harrison , the founder of Charity:Water is a dedicated professional-with a high tech version of a who’s who rolodex. It’s a rare evening when our random conversations with festive attendees serve up tidbits like “we came for Scott…the cause is so worth it…I feel like I’m making a difference.” And maybe that’s the key. Because even a donated $20, an amount many urbanite caffeine junkies spend on a week of Starbucks lattes, makes a huge difference for a fresh water deprived individual--- living in a developing nation that span the globe. Lisa Seiffert, Model Wearing Migeulina We don’t know Harrison personally----but we guess it’s combo of h...