Isaac Mizrahi Explains How To Be Fabulous
When it comes to fashion, Isaac Mizrahi is a household name. The sartorial icon debuted his first fragrance last fall (we can hardly believe he waited so long!) and named it Fabulous. This month, we sent the perfume to some of our subscribers, but we wanted to get the inside scoop on what makes it so special. So we went straight to the designer and Jennifer Mullarky from The Cloudbreak Group, who worked with Isaac to develop his debut scent. Read on to find out more.
Q: What was the inspiration behind the fragrance?
Isaac: The inspiration behind Fabulous was to somehow distill the spirit of my brand, my over 20 years of work, into a scent. I think it’s one of the most emotional things that a woman wears. It’s the thing she puts on before anything else. I grew up in New York, so I was exposed to a number of very fabulous women.
Q: How long did it take to develop the fragrance?
Jennifer: The fragrance process took about six months. We worked with several different perfumers on a number of directions and then finally selected the fragrance, we felt this was the right fit.
Q: How difficult was it to find a blend of notes that worked well together?
Jennifer: When developing the fragrance, we really focused more on the entire composition of the fragrance instead of the individual notes. We wanted the fragrance to have an element of fresh radiance with underlying sensuality.
Q: When naming the fragrance, why did you settle on Fabulous?
Isaac: I always use the word and It’s a honest expletive, I never lie when I use the word Fabulous!
Q: What’s your best tip for being fabulous?
Isaac: Confidence, it’s every woman’s greatest asset.
—Meredith
We’re suckers for rollerballs. Pick up Fabulous in a truly portable size here.
Perfume can sometimes seem like a simple afterthought; a quick spritz on the wrist before you head out the door to add a little something to your outfit. But the moment you catch a whiff of someone’s signature scent—the one that captures the essence of the person immediately—suddenly you find yourself rethinking your approach to fragrance.
L.A. screenwriter and Philly-native Emily Fox tells us how the romantic, floral scent of a cult French fragrance became her reverse Kryptonite—a cure-all for bad outfits, blue days, and everything in between.
Dying to know which scent could completely turn around Emily’s day? Here’s the product that changed her life.
Here are three fresh, spring-inspired perfumes we’re psyched to wear this season.
Winter weather is still lingering here in New York, and we’re antsy for spring to arrive so there can be an end to all this dry air and parched skin. Our favorite trick to fake blooming season? Indulging in the scents of our favorite flowers with a mini pampering. That’s why we invited our community to a shindig last month with a little help from our friends at Jouer. We gave a few lucky Birchbloggers the opportunity to try the gardenia, jasmine, and honeysuckle-scented Body Butter and Signature Rollerball Fragrance. Here’s what three bloggers had to say about these spring-scented picks:
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In the 9th century, Persian women and men crushed thousands of fresh blossoms to score a few drops of sweet-smelling oil. Like these ancient beauty gurus (and early Birchbox Men), I have my own perfume ritual.
Every couple months, I rearrange my prized—and ever-growing—perfume collection and choose one bottle (and therefore one scent) to take center stage. (Dorky, I know!) But it keeps me from falling into a rut and forces me to cycle through all my favorites. This month, I’m loving Juicy Couture’s latest scent, Juicy Couture La La, which makes me feel ultrafeminine.
With bright opening notes that mellow into a body of soft floral notes, the blend is fresh and pretty without being overtly girly. It’s the perfect thing to pair with a vintage cocktail ring, cashmere sweater, and cigarette pants—or maybe just your usual jeans and tee.
Beyond the packaging and lush scent, I love that Juicy created Juicy Couture La La as an ode to fearless free spirits. Every time I wear it I can’t help thinking of the free spirit who inspired my perfume mantra: Andy Warhol. The iconic artist once explained,
“I switch perfumes all the time. If I’ve been wearing one perfume for three months, I force myself to give it up, even if I still feel like wearing it, so whenever I smell it again it will always remind me of those three months.”
What new scent are you adding to your fragrance wardrobe?
—Ally
For more scents that you have to try, check out the Birchbox Shop.
As much as I love complex scents, I find that too many fragrance notes can sometimes go from head-turning to overwhelming in a single spritz. That’s how I came to adore aerie’s soft shimmer. This chic scent is perfect for those days when you’d rather let your statement necklace be the focus of your outfit—and not your perfume.
Shimmer is a lightweight fragrance blend featuring some of my favorite notes (vanilla, bergamot, peony), and the pretty frosted glass bottle is a fun addition to the growing perfume collection on my ever-crowded vanity. And if you’re still on the fence about switching to a pared down fragrance check out what some of our savvy customers have to say:
Daydreamer256 says: ”I’m quite picky about fragrances, but I really loved this one. It’s light and fresh. It could easily be worn to work without overwhelming the office. I would definitely consider this as my new perfume when I run out of my current one.”
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For as long as I can remember, I’ve been an “on-the-go beauty” type of girl. About 95% of the beauty products I own are small, light, and very purse-friendly. Huge eyeshadow palettes? No thank you. Sample-sized mascaras and lipsticks? Love them. Which is why whenever it’s time for me to invest in a new fragrance, I’m always faced with the same dilemma: what size do I buy it in?
Purchasing the largest size of any product is always the best bet in terms of cost—the smaller the amount you buy, the greater the cost per ounce. But there’s the part of me that cries out for a rollerball in my evening clutch, not a bulky bottle that looks fantastic on my vanity but can’t go anywhere.
But then I received this Flo atomizer, and it’s a complete game-changer. Simply add some of your favorite perfume into the super portable case and your fragrance is now TSA-ready. Unlike other atomizers, which often require you to mess with funnels or pipettes, this one is ridiculously easy to use, and can work with literally any type of perfume bottle. Read on to see how it’s done!
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For as long as I can remember, my vanity has always been a work in progress, but my prized perfume collection is definitely a permanent fixture. When it comes to selecting a scent, a perfume has to pass the initial sniff test—but the bottle’s lovely details (or lack thereof) determine whether it will ultimately win a spot on my vanity.
That’s how I came to amass a trio of Juicy Couture perfumes among my vintage trinkets and flea market finds. I’ve previously gushed about the brand’s scents, but you might be surprised to know it’s the elegant heavy-cut glass bottles and cute accents that have turned me into a sworn convert.
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![Marchesa’s Braided Crown, Anne Hathaway’s Custom Vegan Boots, and More
A step-by-step guide to recreate the braided crown updo from the Marchesa spring 2013 runway. [Refinery29]
The crazy Tom Ford bondage boots Anne Hathaway wore to the Les Miserables New York City premiere were custom-made and vegan. [Fashionista]
A look at the indiscriminate use of the term “curvy” to describe women of all sizes from 2 to 22. [The Cut]
Learn how to do a jewel-toned smoky eye—just in time for all of your holiday parties. [Beauty High]
Is copper the hot new anti-aging ingredient? Check out this list of products that contain the metal and learn how it can help skin retain its youthfulness. [NYTimes]
Accidentally doused yourself with one spritz too many of perfume? Here are a couple of tips on how to remove unwanted fragrance. [The Cut]
(Photo: refinery29.com)
—Hallie
Have you checked out our awesome holiday gift sets yet? See what we’re eyeing for our friends and families (and ourselves)!](http://24.media.tumblr.com/0987dd82247c5ec8fa06d1f129a6e88f/tumblr_mewna9oIxt1qbz3xno1_500.jpg)
![Beyonce and Pepsi, Les Miserablés Makeup Transformations, and More
Beyoncé just signed a $50 million partnership with Pepsi. That’s quite the paycheck! [USA Today]
Chloé is expanding its collection of fragrances to include a perfume for its diffusion line, See by Chloé. [WWD]
A remarkable behind-the-scenes look at the hair and makeup transformations for Les Miserablés. [The Cut]
Twitter and Instagram officially part ways—and Twitter is releasing its own set of photo filters before the end of the month. [Fast Company]
Did you know that hair-saving argan oil can actually be damaging to your strands if used incorrectly? Learn how to make it work for you. [BellaSugar]
Gilt’s $450 steel Starbucks gift cards sold out in a matter of minutes and now the cards are listed on eBay for more than double the original price. [Racked]
(Photo: nytimes.com)
—Hallie
Have you taken a look at our latest Birchbox Beauty Pulse Survey, the Holiday Edition? If not, check it out now!](http://25.media.tumblr.com/fcb2a3698a72fe776c05c488545c7e01/tumblr_meua7dKzim1qbz3xno1_1280.jpg)
