Photo: Giafrese
It’s rare that a rainy Monday can produce an elegant evening, but this is New York and all sorts of things can happen here. In my Gotham, anything and everything is quite possible, including impossibly chic moments can happy on, yes, a rainy Monday.
The rain-splattered view of Central Park from the 41st floor of Hearst Tower. Photo: Giafrese.
Two weeks ago on such an evening, I was invited by Harper’s BAZAAR (subscription since Liz Tilberis was the EIC, thank you very much) for a wine and fragrance pairing for the newly-launched fragrance, Donna Karan WOMAN. Anyone who’s ever read this site knows of my lifelong love for Donna Karan. We don’t need to go there again. Let’s suffice it to say that combining two of my favorite things in an intimate setting atop the Hearst Tower (aka “mecca”) is a sure fire way to get me all dolled up and out of my cozy apartment on a rainy New York Monday night.
Photo: Giafrese
The evening was sheer perfection. We were treated to a wine tasting of City Winery wines paired with individual notes of the Donna Karan WOMAN fragrance (my designated drinker friend was thrilled with the selection.) We also had small bites to accompany each wine, all vegan to reflect Donna’s lifestyle choices. I’m saying it now: I need all the recipes.
(L-R) Avril Graham, Stephanie Johnson and Trudi Loren lead us through the event. Photo: Giafrese.
Led through the event by BAZAAR’s Executive Fashion + Beauty Editor Avril Graham, we were treated to an explanation of each note by Trudi Loren, Vice President Corporate Fragrance Development for Estee Lauder and Stephanie Johnson, Wine Director of City Winery (who kind of looks like Charlotte Rampling, in my opinion.) Each note was explained in full, along with the wine that would accompany the note. It’s quite smart, if you think about it: that kind of experience allows you to “experience” each note, making it more memorable.
The menu at the Harper’s BAZAAR + Donna Karan Woman wine + fragrance pairing. Photo: Giafrese
Donna worked through muliple rounds with expert perfumer Anne Flipo to craft this latest fragrance and it’s exquisite: Italian vetiver, Orange blossom, and Sandalwood are the notes combined for a fragrance that completely evokes what I believe Donna is all about. It’s sexy without being overtly so, with feminine notes that have strength – vetiver gives the fragrance a solid heartbeat, white floral notes whisper of our delicate nature, then the fragrance dries down to a warm sandalwood, wrapping the entire fragrance in a soft blanket of earthy strength. It’s a gorgeous fragrance for a sophisticated woman who knows exactly what she wants.
The view of Midtown Manhattan from Hearst Tower at the end of the event. Photo: Giafrese.
As we departed the fragrance pairing, night had fallen on beloved Gotham. This photo captures one of those moments for which I believe Donna Karan’s creations are made: strong women on top of the world, peering down at New York City, glittering in all its glory and ripe with possibilities.
Et voila…the fragrance in the bottle designed by Zaha Hadid. Photo: Giafrese.
Donna Karan WOMAN is available now nationwide via Saks Fifth Avenue and via ShopBAZAAR, the newest online shopping offering from Harper’s BAZAAR. Love what you see? Great. Shop from the pages and the iPad app as you see fit.
