Well, as usual, a day late and a dollar short. In this case, at least 48 hours late, if not more; we had wanted to include the wonderfully distinctive socks of V. K. Nagrani as a FABULOSO Father’s Day gift, but deadlines trapped us. So, we just didn’t get to post it before Sunday, in time for Dad’s big day. Shame on us. But, we also think that these socks -- in cotton and nylon blends, made in Italy and Peru -- are the cat’s pajamas, so they’re good any time, any holiday, any celebration.

A few years ago, Tokens and Coins hit upon a wonderful idea, particularly for nostalgic baby boomers: jewelry and gewgaws made from old typewriter keys. As you might guess, those “margin release” and “back space” keys struck a responsive note, and since then, Tokens and Coins has greatly expanded its line to include salvaged goodies from old Scrabble sets, watch movements, Monopoly trinkets, memorabilia from subways and from baseball parks, you-name-it. Among the best sellers are cufflinks made from old fountain-pen nibs (gold-plated sterling silver), Scrabble cufflinks, and assorted key rings. We think the coolest key rings are the ones that say "Floating Shift" -- and we’re sure that all these items are things that Dad will go for.  Prices range from under $50 to a few hundred dollars.

Dad has given us so much of his time over the years, so for Father’s Day, why not give some time back to him? We think that this desk clock from the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the perfect way to capture time and share it with dear ol' pop. It’s adapted from a 1905 art glass window by Frank Lloyd Wright, which was created for the living room of the W.A. Glassner House in Glencoe, Illinois. The $65 clock is constructed from a mineral glass panel and a solid wood base with a light cherry stain. (Measures 6 1/4" in height, 6 1/4" in width, and 2" in depth.) Available at the Metropolitan Museum of Art bookstores (800-662-3397) or online (www.metmuseum.org/store). Watch as tempus fugit with this gift!

With Father’s Day approaching, time to start thinking about dear old dad…and truth is, there are traditional gifts and then there are wacky ones. But one of the most popular gifts is alcohol, to stock up the bar, and perhaps to offer something that Dad might not splurge on for himself.

So, if you are going to break the bank, then break it with Martell’s most dee-lish and dee-vine cognac, Creation Grand Extra, which is a reinterpretation of the Martell Extra that was first conceived two centuries ago. This is the smoothest, most mellow cognac you can imagine, with a delicate nose and an extraordinary finish -- like drinking a cloud. Sheer velvet. The color alone should tell you it is magical; it’s blended from cognacs ranging in age from 50- to 100-years-old. It comes in a stunning, arc-shaped, semi-circle, crystal-looking bottle, at $299 for 750 ml. This will assuredly tell dad that he’s the number one in your book.

For those dads who fancy vodka, Stolichnaya’s elit vodka is the ticket. It’s made with a century-old recipe, in the time-honored Russian tradition (and made in Russia): distilled four times, mixed with pure spring water, and then filtered using a patented freeze, a nifty process that causes the contents inside of the barrel to ice up, leaving only the best and most delectable vodka unfrozen in the center -- and that ultimately serves up unprecedented clarity and smoothness. This is for the true vodka connoisseur. It’s $75 a bottle for 750 ml.

Last, and assuredly not least, are the prestige wines from Wyndham Estate, Australia’s oldest continuously operating winery, and originally family-owned and -operated. An émigré from the U.K., George Wyndham first planted vines in 1828 and today the vineyard is home to countless award-winning wines, although the vintner is perhaps best known for its shiraz -- and for an extensive variety of shiraz, from a modest $9.99 for the BIN 555 (which won a Critic's Award at the Critics Challenge International Wine Competition) to the award-winning Black Cluster at $35.99. The company also produces ultra-premium Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Chardonnay, among others.

If want to spring for a really special gift, you can take dear old dad to Australia to tour Wyndham Estate; the tour features a visit to the historic cellars, open fermenters, and a 100-year-old operational basket press, ensuring that guests enjoy the traditional winery experience. There is also a 400-seat restaurant where tasting and sipping are definitely encouraged; the grounds further include a stunning natural amphitheatre that plays host to a number of musical and theatrical events. Overlooking the winery from a picturesque hill is Dalwood House, the original home of George Wyndham, which has been deemed a National Trust treasure.

Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 @ 04:02 PM | 0 replies Start the Discussion

Browse: Luxury Goods | Gifts | Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

If you like fresh and romantic floral fragrances, then Summersent is for you. We know that it’s certainly for us. The heady, intoxicating fragrance is a blend of Italian jasmine, Moroccan orange blossom, cassis flower, and something called genet, not to mention some other mysterious blossoms. We’re not sure what the entire mixture is, but whatever it is, it’s so dee-vine that we are going to splurge and get some. And, we also love that it comes in bottles that are daintily embellished with Swarovski crystals, all hand-applied. (Don’t think Liberace, think Harry Winston.) The parfum is available in a diminutive flaçon, in a very elegant shape, and is $150 for .3 fluid ounces; the eau de parfum is presented in a taller, more slender vial, and is $90 for 2 fluid ounces. There is also a brand-new body crème, selling for $80 for 4 ounces, and that, too, is capped with Swarovski crystals. It’s available at Takashimaya, 693 Fifth Ave. btw. 54th & 55th Sts., 212-350-0100 and 800-753-2038.

Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 @ 03:13 PM | 43 replies View/Post Feedback

Browse: Gifts | Beauty: Fragrance

Yesterday’s deluge reminded us that we had totally forgotten to complete our April umbrella cycle! That is to say, when the April showers started coming, we suggested picking up the mini-est of mini-umbrellas, Totes’ itsy-bitsy six-incher. But we had other umbrellas to share -- not tiny and not inexpensive, but VERY cool and very special. We snagged a picture or two of the ones we are eager to put over our head on a rainy day (or any day). But then again, our better judgment tells us that even when we become the proud owner of one of these rhinestone-encrusted brollies (just waiting to win the lottery, you see), to never take it out for a stroll, because we are sure to leave it in a cab, at the dentist's, or in somebody's office. And we'd just shoot ourselves. Because not only are these umbrellas, from an Italian company called Pasotti, singular and charming and stunning, but they’re also pretty $$$ up there. Some are $450. Yeah. Hang on to your rain hat.

But the ones with the ombréed scattering or deliberate pattern of rhinestones are breathtaking. And they’re all lined in different color fabric, too…so it's like having two umbrellas for the price of one. (Well, not really. That's just a rationalization, since you really can't turn them inside out!) But, on the plus side, the handles are special and jewel-like. As you can readily see, we are trying our damnedest to talk ourselves into running out right now and getting the hot pink one with all the rhinestones, sort of strewn over the surface. We’re not saying "Rain, rain, go away," but we are hoping it never rains again, so we won't feel "deprived" when next we open up our plain black brolly (probably this afternoon) and feel like a have-not. (Oh, are we sounding like Paris now? Do you think she had to leave one behind when she entered the Big House?)

You can see a huge chunk of the Pasotti line at BrellaBar (www.brellabar.com) and can even shop online. (We’ve even spotted some Pasotti umbrellas on eBay!) Otherwise, it’s a trip to 1043 Third Ave. btw. 61st & 62nd Sts., 212-813-9530. Bring a charge card, for sure, and be prepared for umbrella madness.

Two years ago, we hit the proverbial terrycloth jackpot at the Frette sample sale, paying something like $80 for a sumptuous robe that we know would sell for a few hundred bucks under normal circumstances. Not to mention all the other little “trinkets” we picked up. (Hey, you never know when you need to give a lovely house gift -- a few washcloths, divine soaps, a set of guest towels, whatever.) Starting Sunday, June 3, through next Thursday, June 7, Frette is having a great sale at Soiffer-Haskin, at 317 W. 33rd St. (just west of Eighth Ave.). Daily Sunday through Wednesday, 9am to 6:30pm, and Thursday, 9 am to 5pm. If you don’t know Frette, you’re in for a tactile surprise, as the goods are just sumptuous, Italy’s finest. Luxurious towels, linens, bedding, and home accessories, and even delicious lounge- and sleepwear. Absolutely worth the trip. As usual, no cash, no checks; credit cards only.

Here’s another top-flight sale from Soiffer-Haskin. This time it’s Christofle, that French maker and purveyor of to-die-over silver, flatware, crystal, porcelain, hollowware -- and even jewelry. All suitable for gifts. Got any June weddings popping up? Well if so, here’s a great opportunity to find a fab present, at a huge savings. As we always advise: Go early, buy what you absolutely MUST have, and eyeball whatever else you want...then return the last day, and pray that those items are still there, 'cause if they are, chances are they will marked down further. You know the deal: Credit cards only, no kids, no strollers. 317 W. 33rd St. (just west of Eighth Ave.); Wednesday and Thursday, May 30th and 31st, from 9am to 6:30pm. and Friday, June 1st, 9am to 5pm.

Posted on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 @ 01:48 PM | 4945 replies View/Post Feedback

Browse: Gifts | Home Accessories | Luxury Goods | Sales/Sample Sales | Tabletop

Malo is one of Italy’s finest cashmere producers, and along with Brunello Cucinelli, among our favorites. (O.K., yes, we admit, and we put it into print a week or so ago, we still lust after that TSE pullover that got away from us 18 years ago.)  But there is almost nothing in the Malo line we’d turn down. So that’s why we’re thrilled there’s a Malo sample sale, starting Sunday, with goods for men and women -- mostly cashmere, but some silks, too. It’s another Soiffer-Haskin sale, taking place at the company’s site, 317 W. 33rd St., just west of Eighth Ave. It goes from Sunday through Wednesday, the 20th through the 23rd, from 9am to 6:30pm daily, except the last day, Wednesday, when it closes at 5pm. You know the drill by now: NO cash, NO checks, just credit cards. NO KIDS, NO STROLLERS.   

Regardless of what you are buying for mom, or where you are taking her to celebrate her special day on Sunday, pop the cork first on a bottle of the newest prestige vintage from Perrier-Jouët, its 1999 Fleur de Champagne. This prestige cuvée is blended exclusively in years that are marked by perfect weather conditions and a flawless harvest season. Since the 1964 vintage (which was released in 1969), only 17 subsequent vintages have been deemed worthy successors for the brand’s standard. This new vintage benefited from near-perfect harvest conditions in 1999: a cold but frostless winter followed by a moderate spring season, a warm and sunny summer, and capped off by a cool August, culminating in a flawless weather trifecta. Et voilà! The resulting Chardonnay wines are delicate, with heady, fruity aromas, while the Pinot Noir wines are light, bright, and fruit-driven. The resulting Fleur de Champagne is an elegant signature blend from Perrier-Jouët, and of course, delivered in the classic green, anemone-covered bottle.

It is one of the most delicious Champagnes you’ll taste and certainly perfect for Mom. It has a crisp and clean taste on the palate, with the slightest hint of almond and nougat, and a very long finish. Inhale its intoxicating scent and you’ll find that there are notes of white flowers (think gardenias and paper narcissus), a touch of honey, and a mind suggestion of a toasty brioche. It is just heavenly. The 1999 Fleur de Champagne retails for $125, and as the L’Oreal commercials suggest, your mom is worth it. 

Just about the time last month that we were telling you about that "sneaky" Loehmann's opening on Broadway and 73rd Street, another stealthy retail debut occurred nearby, one that we have been meaning to write up and share with you. The shop is called Just Birdie, with homage paid to golfers (as its name implies), but its merch is not solely for duffers at all; "civilians" will find the stock alluring enough (and prices compelling enough) to make this shop a destination. And indeed, it's a darling, jewel-box-size store with wonderful cashmere-and-silk-blend sweaters, all of which would look very spiffy on the golf course. (The exterior of the shop is decorated with little vignettes picturing St. Andrews, and plaid seems to be the major design element on the interior -- so Scotland and golf are definitely part of the company's inspiration.)

Started in France in 1996, the company has five stores in Europe and the one here at 2047 Broadway btw. 70th & 71st Sts. is the first in the U.S. There are well-priced styles for both sexes, and classics include turtle-, crew-, boat-, and V-necks, zip fronts and traditional cardigans, polos, T-shirt styles, and much, much more. Prices range from $89 to $165 for men, and from $79 to $165 for women, but there are accessories, wraps, and scarves in the store that are lower-priced. There are nearly three-dozen rich colors in the company?s yarn palette, ranging from delicate violet to deep russet.  

And just in time for Mother's Day, the shop is offering 10% off your purchases (if you mention that you read about it here), and considering that these are such well-priced sweaters to begin with, it?s a steal. So, forget scoring a birdie -- the shop is a hole-in-one!  

For Proust it was it was the petite madeleine, for us it was a blush-pink, exquisitely simple yet lavishly knit TSE cashmere sweater. It was showcased, front and center, on a table with its confreres (maybe we should say consœurs, since it was such a feminine sweater, but we’re sure that is a word that exists in our mind’s eye only). At any rate, it was showcased on a lovely merchandise table in the old Bendel’s on West 57th Street. We can still remember walking into the shop and seeing it straight ahead of us, that luminous pink yarn beckoning. The detailing, the intricate basket-weave knit on the entire upper part of the garment (and not just on the front side -- always a sign of a cheap manufacturer, cutting corners).  That rich basket-weave gave way to an equally intricate horizontal knit of some type around what was the hip area, for this was an extra long, snuggly sweater. It was a work of pullover art. And in 1989 or 1990, at $300, it was an unaffordable work of art. We used to go by Bendel’s constantly, watching it, caressing it, waiting for a sale. And we wondered, who is this TSE company, and why had we never heard of these fantastic designers before? Alas, that pink sweater remains “the one that got away,” but we assure you that if we had ever snagged it, we’d still own it.  Heck, we still have an Irish fisherman’s sweater mom bought for like $7 in 1902. Good quality wins out and lasts.

So, all that is a prelude to telling you that TSE -- very much a known quantity now, some 18 years later -- is having a sample sale starting Sunday the 6th. Do not miss it, or you’ll have stories to tell the grandchildren about the sweater that got away…

The sale runs through Thursday, May 10th, 9am to 6:30pm daily, at Soiffer-Haskin, 317 W. 33rd St., just west of Eighth Ave. Cash and credit cards only, and if you’re a regular reader, then you know already, no tots, no strollers. Expect discounts to be as hefty as 80% off retail. 

Do not miss this sale, as there will be goods for women, men, babies, home, and not just in the company’s signature cashmere, but also in cotton and fine wool. We will be there, still thinking about that beauteous sorbet-colored sweater. 
 

The teachers from the design and art/craft departments at the Jewish Community Center on the Upper West Side are holding a sale of their works next week, just in time for Mother’s Day. It will take place in the lobby of the JCC building on May 8 and 9, Tuesday from 11am to 8pm and Wednesday from 11am to 6pm. We’ve written up the instructors’ December holiday sale before, and know from first-hand experience that they showcase beautiful goods for reasonable prices (ranging from $15 to $500). You’ll find handmade jewelry (gold, silver, glass, and beaded bijoux), ceramics, scarves, pillows, and much more. Shown here is a handmade, one-of-a-kind, show-stopping necklace from artist Melissa Terman. If you’re on the Upper West Side those days, stop in, as you will not be disappointed…and hopefully, your mom will not be, either!  The JCC is located at 334 Amsterdam Ave. at 76 St.  (Cash, checks, and credit cards accepted.)  

Twelve more shopping days 'til Mom’s special day. Have you made a list, checked it twice? Oh, dear, that’s the wrong holiday. But actually, it’s not, as we are eager to get you to write something...and to use that instrument as a jumping-off point for a gift for mom. Russell + Hazel has just come out with (they’re so new, you’ll be able to get them ONLY at the Web site, www.russellandhazel.com, but soon, they’ll be in stores) the world’s most magnificent pencils. Sleek matte black, they’re crowned with a brilliant, luminous Swarovksi crystal. Oh, O.K., we know: “Hasn’t’ the world seen enough Swarovski crystals?” you’re sneering. But no, it's never enough…and you’ve not seen them like this, anyhow. Besides, we really love sparkly things (we wouldn’t turn down a tiara, you know) and we’re sure your mom will just adore these sparkly things, too. Big deal -- so you can’t get her the Kohinoor Diamond, or the Hope, but get her a basket of these beauties. And, by the way, they’re not that cheap, either; she won’t think you chintzed on her gift. Three pencils are a mighty $20, but they are ever so worth it. They come in three different colorways -- the orange-y/red group is nice, we think, but the celery/light blue group is even nicer, and then there’s the orchid/pink group that is just splendid. Oh, they also come in gold!

O.K., before the rains come again and we have to start talking about umbrellas (and I did promise you two more fabulous umbrellas), and while it’s really spring-like -- or should we say summer-like? -- let’s continue accessorizing for the warm weather. So here’s the latest from Tommy Bahama, a perennial favorite of golfers and bons vivants everywhere.  It’s a fragrance called Set Sail, St. Barts. What could conjure up warm weather more than that? Available for both men and women, it’s packaged in nautical blue and white. The men’s is very citrus-y with notes of tequila (hmmm….) and tropical musk. The women’s is quite floral with a hint of fresh lime. They’ll both make you think you’re sailing somewhere into the azure blue, instead of on black asphalt. Both the men’s cologne spray and the women’s eau de parfum spray are $52.50.  They should just be pulling into port at Macy’s any minute now.

“Tax Day” needn’t be harrowing this year. Ameliorate the pain by getting yourself a lovely little cashmere thingie -- sweater, scarf, shrug, blanket, slippers, whatever -- including bolts of cashmere for suits, coats, and…well, just to stroke against your face.  Starting Sunday, Apr. 15, and continuing through next Thursday the 19th, the deluxe Italian cashmere company Loro Piana is featuring a grand old sale, with goods for men, women, and the home.  Daily, 9 am to 6:30pm, at Soiffer Haskin, 317 W. 33rd St. (just west of Eighth Ave.); credit cards ONLY.