Purple Lab Multi-Tasking Mavens
March 6, 10
Purple Lab is all about double duty beauty, products with multiple benefits. And the reason? I’m just thinking of all of you multi-tasking mavens – and myself.
I have talked about the fact that I have a day job before. Multiple ones, to be honest. All social media consulting for fashion and lifestyle brands. Thursday night, I worked on the most amazing. It involved this…
That’s Josie Natori at the Steinway grand piano in the music room of her apartment. Yes, her apartment.
When I was tasked to come up with an event to introduce Josie to key fashion bloggers – she has a new collection called Josie Natori Essentials, a sleek line of clean, modern silhouettes of stretchy matte jersey, all over lace, and chic knits, that are tailor made for travel (no wrinkles) and all body types – I didn’t want to do a boring session in her showroom, though it is incredibly gorgeous.
Below, The Glamourai, My Style Pill, and the girls from The Owls are not what they Seem.
Josie is the most amazing, inspiring woman. She was raised in the Philippines by a matriarchal, entrepreneurial family. Her grandmother’s words of wisdom: “Don’t be in a position to depend on anyone,” so it’s no wonder her message as a designer is to empower women.
A musical prodigy and classically trained pianist, she played the Manilla Philharmanic Orchestra at the age of 9 and Carnegie Hall for her 50th birthday (best gift ever, right?). She was the first female VP of investment banking at Merril Lynch before she created her sartorial empire that started in lingerie 33 years ago but now includes ready-to-wear, home, fragrance, eyewear.
Her apartment. NO WORDS! A modern yet welcoming mix of neutrals, contemporary art, Buddhas, sleek furnishing. She was warm and inviting, making sure every glass of champagne was full all night.
The evening was about her “essentials” for living to mark her Essentials collection. We ate dim sum (I’m still reeling over the asparagus ginger), her favorite food. And she broke out into a full-on private concert.
My intern, Ashley sang At Last (love me some Etta) and Someone to Watch Over me with her (they may go on tour). Ashley is a crooner a la Norah Jones with a throaty voice that leaves a sultry impact (she made it through two rounds of American Idol auditions – Simon must be high for not having her all the way through but selfishly, I’m glad because then she wouldn’t be at Purple Lab).
That’s Sharon, all the way on the left.
Kristin Booker of Fashion Style Beauty broke out in song as well. The girl has pipes!
Here’s Kristin and Josie.
Josie walked us through her line and styled Christine of My Style Pill in her matte jersey cacoon cardigan with fluid sleeves. I didn’t think it would wind up back on the rack!
And we received a tour of her closet. You! Have! No! Idea!
A sea of black shoes (many of which had red soles), each filled with a silk sachet, emblazoned with the Natori crest. Exotic skin bags. A shelf of fur scarves. A veritable haven surrounded by red laquer walls. It is where Josie has coffee and reads the paper every morning.
I’m coming back as her!
Mwah!
Karen
Purple Lab Creatrix
Tags: Karen Robinovitz
