{favourite five : an interview with florist, nicolette camille}

"flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world"

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

With the promise of spring just around the corner, can not help but daydream of the perfect beauty of blossoming rose gardens and picnics in wildflower fields, afternoon teas on the terrace, overflowing with wisteria and nearly every corner of the house filled with favourite blooms . . .

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{favourite five : owner of ladurée, elisabeth holder}

No winter evening's rendezvous on the Champs-Elysées, with its glittering shoppes and glistening holiday lights is complete without a stop at our most favourite "fabricant de douceurs & gourmandises": Ladurée, in all its gilded grandeur.



In the early 1900s, Pierre Desfontaines, cousin of Ladurée's founder, Louis Ernest Ladurée, took two almond meringue cookies and joinied them with a divine ganache filling, creating the macaron as we know it.



Prior to that, macarons were simply cookies, which were first brought to France by Catherine di Medici and her pastry chefs in 1533.



These little round cakes, which made their onscreen debut in the film, Marie Antoinette, are crisp on the outside, smooth and soft in the middle, and are made every morning by Ladurée’s pastry chefs who measure precisely, the required amounts of almonds, eggs and sugar, and a touch of magic . . .



Ladurée, which began as a tea room near the Place de la Concorde in 1862, has since expanded within Paris, then to other parts of the world, including England, Monaco, Japan, Luxembourg, Italy, the Arab Emirates, and its most recent location, in New York's Upper East Side, where we met Ladurée's owner, Elisabeth Holder, who is also the sister of the Chairman of the company.



The NYC shop, located just down the street from Dior and Chloé, is a jewel box of pastel green, displaying traditional decorative accents, busts, mirrors and classical paintings, showcasing chocolates, crystallized flower petals and of course macarons, all imported from Paris each day.



Elisabeth, who began her career working in the fashion industry for the likes of Hermès, moved to New York recently to run the affairs of the newest Ladurée boutique.



Elisabeth has said that "The macaron is a grand classique of the pastry arts -- it's not an accessory. It's an experience of pleasure." And so, during our meeting with her, we just had to ask for her:

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{favourite five: sasha plavsic, founder of ilia}

"I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick."

~ Audrey Hepburn

Perhaps every girl's first makeup memory is trying on lipstick as a child, in an attempt to rush into the world of grown-ups: a whirlwind of galas and coffee dates and afternoons spent shopping -- all while donning a stunning crimson rouge à lèvres . . .


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{favourite five: entrepreneur alli webb}

Holiday galas and winter soirées await, and since we already have the glittery heels, shimmery makeup, satin manicures, and sequined party dresses, all that's left to worry about is the hair . . .



. . . but if you happen to live in one of the 12 cities with a Drybar, then chances are you needn't worry. Drybar is a blow dry hair salon created around a very simple concept: they only do blowouts, and what glamorously chic and perfectly-polished blowouts they are! Whether you opt for the straight and sleek Manhattan or the fun and curly Cosmopolitan, Drybar offers a menu of hairstyles for any occasion.



Alli Webb, founder of the ultra-stylish salons, began her career in the fashion industry working with designer Nicole Miller, as well as in public relations, working with clients such as Faith Hill and Paul McCartney. After a few years, she followed her heart and decided to pursue her true passion: hair styling. Alli trained under the expert instruction of Toni&Guy and spent several years honing her skills working for the renowned John Sahag.



Recently, we sat down with Alli to hear more about how she came up with the idea for Drybar, and found out that it all began as a result of realizing what she needed, personally, as there were no good choices in the marketplace for blowouts. She also noticed that there was no pretty, fun place to go without feeling guilty for spending so much money on a blow dry every week.



So, teaming up with her husband and her brother, she set out to create that ideal place, a place many are calling "girl heaven", complete with flat screens playing sweet, feel-good movies, hors d'oeuvres, and cozy, chic white interiors, and all at a perfect price.



And having personally visited three different Drybar locations, in New York City, California and Texas, can attest that it truly is an escape, an oasis in the middle of the chaos of the big city -- with one of the best parts being that you can be completely relaxed knowing that you will get consistently perfect results every time . . .



This week, we are excited to share a special double installment of {favourite five}, where we asked Alli, her:

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{five favourite pieces of advice for running a business:}

1. I saw what was missing in the market -- if you really, wholeheartedly believe in an idea that doesn't exist, then follow your heart! There are so many great ideas yet to be discovered, and execution can be tremendously difficult, but you could be sitting on the next great idea.

2. Have people around you to support you and that you can trust with your idea.

3. Be open to constructive criticism -- be able to hear the good and the bad; at Drybar, we send an email to each client after their blowout, and sometimes people tell us the good and the bad. A lot of business owners might get defensive, but you have to remember that you don't have same the perspective as the client, so I take feedback very seriously, and want to hear if there is something wrong.

4. Take a step back, slow down, and make sure you have all your systems in place and that you have thought through the execution of your idea. Don't run too fast into something that you aren't ready for.

5. Recognize things you are good at, and things you are not. We need people to help us grow our company. You have to know what your needs are.

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And also, [because we just had to know] Alli's . . .

{top five favourite hair styling products she can't live without:}

1. Morrocan Oil Hydrating Styling Creme
It's fantastic. I colour my hair so it often gets dry and this product is great for hydrating it.

2. Morrocan Oil Luminous Hair Spray, Flexible Hold
I'm not a big hair spray person, but I love the smell of this product! Better yet, it tames fly-aways and won't make hair look like "helmet head". I love that you can still brush through hair when using this hairspray.

3. L'Oréal Pomade
This is a great light pomade for a piece-y, messy and beach-y look like DryBar's "Mai Tai".

4. TIGI Catwalk Transforming Dry Shampoo by Toni&Guy
I use this product like crazy! It is a great blow dry extender.

5. Morrocan Oil Gold Glimmer Shine
This light, airy spray gives great shine that lasts.

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~ laily


p r e v i o u s f a v o u r i t e f i v e s :

* food editor & author : donna hay
* photographer : debi treloar
* painter : janet hill
* jewelry designer : suzie gallehugh
* artist: michelle armas
* jewelry designers : megan & moira flynn
* actress & writer : shiva rose
* jeweler : camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse : chloë sevigny
* floral stylist, part 1 : denise porcaro
* floral stylist, part 2 : denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator : garance doré
* interior designer & architect : nina freudenberger
* entrepreneurs : rent the runway
* designer : rachel ashwell
* interior designer : tricia foley
* photographer : romina shama
* jewelry designer : cc skye
* designer & ceramicist: reiko kaneko
* perfumer : anne mcclain
* model, author & designer : india hicks
* interior designer : kelly wearstler
* fashion designer : tory burch
* designer & stylist : linda rodin

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{images : makeup via manhattan luxury // rosie huntington-whiteley for victoria's secret // chandelier & flower via charley star // all other images via the drybar website}

{favourite five: designer & stylist linda rodin}

It's true: the fountain of youth does exist and it is overflowing with Olio Lusso . . .



[as always, more after the jump] x

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{favourite five: designer & author india hicks}

In fairy tales, humble and gallant princes defeat their adversaries, succeed to kingdoms and marry beautiful princesses -- and although India Hicks’ family legacy would suggest that to be her destiny, and even though she is very proud of her heritage -- her life hasn’t been based on Prince Charming sweeping her off her feet -- instead, she has created her own happily ever after as a a successful model, designer and author.





Born in London, India's father was famed interior decorator, David Hicks, and her mother, Pamela Hicks, the daughter to the Earl and Countess Mountbatten of Burma. As India's grandfather was the last Viceroy of India {and gave the country their independence in 1947}, she was appropriately given her name.



As the Goddaughter of The Prince of Wales {and also his second cousin}, India was one of the bridesmaids at his wedding to Lady Diana, above. Of the experience, she tells us that “riding in a horse drawn carriage in central London was rather magical . . .”



At 17, India traveled from England to Italy, meeting up with designer Emilio Pucci, and was asked to model his catsuits.



She then continued her studies in art and photography, and upon completion, moved to New York, where she was discovered by Ralph Lauren and began a successful career as a well-known fashion model of the 1980's and 1990's, modeling for the likes of J.Crew.



In 2007, India hosted the Bravo interior design competition TV series Top Design.





Now living in the Bahamas with her partner and four children, she has published an interiors book titled, 'Island Life', as well as a lifestyle/fitness/beauty book titled, ‘Island Beauty’ , and has also created a luxurious all-natural body and home fragrance line with Crabtree & Evelyn.



According to India, her “father's great design legacy has impacted me and remains a source of influence...”



And so, in addition to all of her designing achievements to date, India has also added a new fine jewelry line, influenced by her father [who once designed a line for the famed French jewelry house Chaumet], and her grandmother’s extensive and matchless jewelry collection, which included the Star Tiara of Queen Victoria [more about tiaras, here, if you like].



In light of all her many projects and accomplishments, for this week's Favourite Five, we had the chance to sit down with India to find out her:

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{five favourite tips for living a successfully balanced life:}

1. Not indulging in too much of a social life. Now-a-days I would prefer to be at home tucking my children into bed than attending a social dinner, especially as evening hours can be so productive in the home office, no phones ringing, no interruptions, no dogs needing to be exercised.

2. Keeping your body and soul in shape. I try to exercise 5 days a week.

3. Being born under the star sign Virgo. We are phenomenally organised -- we even organize piles of paper clips.

4. Not being ashamed to ask for help, for instance, having some one else cook the kids dinner.

5. Not spending too much time worrying about the little things.

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p r e v i o u s f a v o u r i t e f i v e s :

* food editor & author: donna hay
* photographer: debi treloar
* painter: janet hill
* jewelry designer: suzie gallehugh
* artist: michelle armas
* jewelry designers: megan & moira flynn
* actress & writer: shiva rose
* jeweler: camille eddera
* artist: kimia kline
* actress & fashion muse: chloë sevigny
* floral stylist, part 1: denise porcaro
* floral stylist, part 2: denise porcaro
* fashion photographer & illustrator: garance doré
* interior designer & architect: nina freudenberger
* entrepreneurs: rent the runway
* designer: rachel ashwell
* interior designer: tricia foley
* photographer: romina shama
* jewelry designer: cc skye
* designer & ceramicist: reiko kaneko
* perfumer: anne mcclain

~ laily


{images: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 - photography by patrick cline for lonny, interior design by david flint wood; 2 - domino via a previous post; 9 - via india hicks; 10 - from island life via minty; 11 - collage by this is glamorous; 12 - india hicks by british photographer jason bell for viyella autumn/winter collection ad campaigns via rdujour}

{this is glamorous in we like we love magazine}

. . . and in all the flurry of last week's activities, had not had a chance to tell you about the beautiful feature on {this is glamorous} in the current issue of we like we love . . .



{p.s.} click here to read my five likes & five loves [page 7], or, even better, pick up a strong coffee and macarons, and flip through the current online issue [there is a print version available as well]

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. . . thanks so much to alyssa for the lovely layout, extra time, and charmingly easy-going ways when even more time was needed to answer the interview questions . . .



{top image, photography by dear machine on esty via the neo-traditionalist & pinterest}