“I loathe narcissism, but I approve of vanity.” ―Diana Vreeland
The holidays are here! In New York, giant snowflakes adorn Fifth Avenue, the leaves are at their golden and crimson height, windows are being dressed, and soon snow will transform Central Park into a winter wonderland.
There are more visitors than usual in Manhattan during this time of year. Inevitably, I will be asked for directions to Sephora or Glossier.
I’ll point my beauty comrades in the right direction. But I’ll also tell them about a few of my favorite places where they can find a new shade of lipstick for the New Year, a shimmery highlight for festivities, and nurturing skin care for the cold months ahead.
Barneys New York, Downtown
101 7th Ave, New York, NY 10011
@barneysny
Time has a way of dulling the patina placed by any hype machine, especially in New York. The difficult retail environment here makes it difficult for many businesses to remain consistent.
With that said, I am happy to say that, Barney’s is still an exciting place for fashion and beauty.
Barneys’ beauty section is more streamlined than other department stores, but their selection is always ahead of the beauty game. On a recent visit I got to try makeup artist Gucci Westman’s makeup line, whose highlighter is sure to be a hit. I also picked up a lipstick from L’Oreal’s collaboration with Isabel Marant.
Most importantly, I had a wonderful experience. I spent nearly an hour talking with the consultants here. Many are makeup artists who know the store’s products and the beauty industry inside and out, and are a whole lot of fun!
Chanel SoHo
139 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
@chanelbeauty
The onslaught of sugary launches and celebrity lines shows no sign of stopping. If you need a break from eye shadow palettes inspired by peaches, mermaids and gingerbread, Chanel is the place for you.
At first, it may seem intimidating to go into a Chanel boutique for a tube of lipstick. Rest assured, at the SoHo boutique, you will be treated kindly.
I lean towards the classics: lipstick shades in Mademoiselle and La Fascinate and perfume in No. 5. Everything is wrapped so beautifully with Chanel’s signature Camellia. It’s a great gift for one’s self.
Post Script: From time-to-time an elegant pop of color is necessary. For this, I will visit makeup artist Elisa Rae at the Bloomingdales location for advice, as she one of the most patient and honest makeup consultants in the city.