Alexis Karl’s Mythological Evolution, A Multimedia Exhibition

KICX5653

Last weekend I paid a visit to the gallery space Warehouse 623 in Brooklyn to catch Alexis Karl’s multimedia exhibition “Mythological Evolution” before it closed. I’ve known Alexis for eight years or so. We first met when she was presenting her fragrance line Scent by Alexis at Henri Bendel, and I was immediately charmed by her fragrances and her overall style.

This exhibition, which ran from May 3 through May 24, brought together Alexis’ work in sculpture, painting, video, music, and fragrance. Its conceit was an alternative theory of evolution that involved lots of ruined (and re-emerging) civilizations, hybrid beings, and otherworldly transformations.

Continue reading “Alexis Karl’s Mythological Evolution, A Multimedia Exhibition” →

Product Review: Face Stockholm Veil Lipstick in Wineberry

KICX5626

This is the third of three reviews covering products from an unexpected splurge at Face Stockholm in New York. Today’s pick is Veil Lipstick in a shade called Wineberry—you can see its silvertone case and its pink box  in the group shot above.

Face Stockholm’s Lip Veil formula offers “a sheer wash of moisturizing color,” which makes it idea for spring and summer, or whenever a slightly less-made-up-than-usual look is in order.

Continue reading “Product Review: Face Stockholm Veil Lipstick in Wineberry” →

Covet: Joya x Katz’s Deli Chocolate Egg Cream Candle

joya katz

Joya Studio is an independent, New York-based company that makes high-quality candles (often in very artistic packaging) and the occasional perfume. Joya has teamed up with other local businesses for special projects from time to time, but this latest collaboration might be my favorite yet. It’s a chocolate egg cream-scented candle—a collaboration with the legendary Lower East Side eatery Katz’s Delicatessen.

I’m not usually a fan of gourmand-fragranced candles, but I’d make an exception in this case. And just look at the box, with its vintage-style label, and the candle container, which looks like an actual drinking glass that would be used to serve up an egg cream at Katz’s.

Continue reading “Covet: Joya x Katz’s Deli Chocolate Egg Cream Candle” →

A Gilded Age Dressing Table

img029

I was just looking through the exhibition catalogue Gilded New York: Design, Fashion, and Society, edited by Donald Albrecht and Jeannine Falino (published in 2013, so it’s fairly recent!), and I wanted to share this photograph of an arrangement evoking a “Lady’s Dressing Table.” It includes a glass flask in the shape of a swan (1885-1910, retailed by the jeweler Theodore B. Starr), a dance card with a mother-of-pearl cover, a decorative vial of smelling salts, and a sapphire brooch from Tiffany & Company. The stunning silver scent bottles, dated 1886, were also created by Tiffany.

All objects come from the collections of the Museum of the City of New York.