Getting Candid about Zadig & Voltaire

Mr. Z and I

I know, I look serious but pinstripes are not to be taken lightly.
At the newly opened Zadig & Voltaire store in Fashion Island wearing the navy pinstripe Volly Bi blazer.

Lena Camouflage sock-style bootie.

Zadig & Voltaire shopping bags.

Phlame Deluxe leather pants & Amber Bis "Fever" slogan sweater.

 Risty Jac silk deluxe dress with Jacquard guitar print and feminine lace.

Crinkled soft t-shirt style Rollins Deluxe leather dress.

Poetic style easy to wear Tink shirt.

Buttery soft Jaden silver lambskin leather skirt, perfect for the party season and beyond. 

I'm stylishly sandwiched between celebrity stylist Mark-Alan Harmon and store director Melanie Eon of the Zadig & Voltaire store on Abbot Kinney.  Melanie was in Fashion Island for the opening and spoke to me about the appeal of the French brand from her hometown (Paris) but is thrilled to be working in Venice, L.A. after being with the brand in N.Y.C. It's possible that Mark is not only a celebrity stylist but a mind reader, because when I asked him what he'd dress me in, he picked out the pinstripe jacket that I'd had my eye on for weeks. I'm an internet stalker kind of girl. You can be too: zadig&voltaire.

I rarely have any fashion secrets. But once in a while, I come across a brand that I want to keep all to myself. That’s been the story of Mr. Z and I. He’s been my French bit on the side, for some time now. I haven’t kept him hidden from my inner circle but I haven’t been entirely vocal about him either. With the recent opening of the Zadig & Voltaire store at Fashion Island, that’s all about to change.

Zadig & Voltaire (I call him Mr. Z) is not an exclusive or under-the-radar brand (they have several locations in L.A., N.Y.C. and elsewhere) but until now there hasn’t been a presence in O.C. In Europe they're pretty much everywhere and in some places you’ll find two locations on one high street. But here, it's been relatively unknown (something that I've relished) and so it's been my little secret.

My first encounter with the brand was in Paris where the brand hails from, years ago but as far as I can remember, it wasn’t eventful. My relationship with Mr. Z was the slow simmering kind. The kind where you discover one piece of clothing at a time (that I wanted to wear over and over again). So, I kept going back for more.

Founded in 1997 by Thierry Gillier, who comes from a family with ties to the Lacoste empire, the brand is named after the French Enlightenment writer Voltaire and his book Zadig ou la Destinée (Zadig, or The Book of Fate) with Zadig the protagonist, a philosopher in ancient Babylonia. Voltaire's best known book Candide is a delight and after writing this review I'm intrigued about the lesser known Zadig. (If you haven't read Candide I highly recommend it because once you read it, you’ll never quite forget it).

With a name that could be just as suited to a bookstore as a clothing line, it’s not surprising that there’s a familiarity even a “classic” appeal to this ready-to-wear collection, evident in the founder's love for the arts. But at the same time the brand is modern, with a rock and roll vibe. Their signature use of cashmere and leather transition easily from day to night; dressed up or down. I suppose it's still very French, but with a little attitude and an understated cutting-edge style. Wearing Zadig & Voltaire allows me to feel comfortable in my own skin. I'm not pretending to be someone else since the clothes allow me to be who I want to be and not the other way around. Perhaps like all great relationships, it brings out the best in me.

Although it stings my heart a little to know that soon I may be sharing Mr. Z with all of you, I know there’s room for all of us to enjoy him. But promise me that when he grows on you, you won't brag to me about how you've "discovered" a new French beau and hopefully you'll remember that it was here, that you heard about him, first. 

Zadig & Voltaire

Fashion Island

(949) 759-1978

Getting Personal with Victoria Christian

The Scent of Royalty 

Just as the kitchen is the heart of a home, the beauty department is at the heart of a department store. And that's where the two worlds of Clive Christian collide.  Known for creating bespoke interiors and furniture, the British designer was one of the first to bring the crystal chandelier into the kitchen. So it's no surprise that his namesake perfume company is synonymous with using the finest, exotic ingredients to create exceptional perfumes, showcased in the most luxurious bottles and flacons.

Victoria Christian daughter of Clive Christian holding the Nº1 perfume case at Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island. Nº1 is known as "the most expensive perfume in the world." Nº1 perfume spray for women by Clive Christian, 1.6oz, $865 available at Neiman Marcus. Photo by Sabrina Azadi. 

I was first introduced to the Clive Christian fragrances, by his daughter Victoria Christian many years ago. To this day the process, reminds me of my olfactory innocence. The fragrances weren't like anything else I had inhaled or anything else on the market. Unlike the fad fragrances that are fashionable for a season, there is a longevity to these fragrances, and that's because you have to love them to wear them. You'll never just "make do" with a Clive Christian fragrance because like a great love, they're to be admired, pursued and cherished.  

If you're looking for instant gratification these fragrances are not for you. As with all absolute perfumes, wearing them means embarking on a journey, one without a compass (or a GPS) not knowing where the final destination will be. It's best to spritz the fragrance on your skin without rubbing it, so as to not bruise it, and then allow it to settle. The next step is to do nothing. You have to be patient, and give it time to develop. One spritz or a drop is all you need and depending on your body chemistry and your environment, each layer that's unveiled will hold a language of its own, that's unique, to you. Unlike many fragrances on the market, these fragrances are not going to reveal themselves to you immediately, like a fine wine that's sipped slowly, enjoy them sparingly. They're also worth the wait, because once you've discovered your match, it's unlikely, you'll stray. It's also rare to find anyone else wearing them, which is a novelty I like, and if you do, it feels like a secret shared, between friends and connoisseurs.

The Crown Perfumery, first established in 1872,  has a rich history, which is why it appealed to Clive Christian when he decided to purchase and revive it in 1999. Queen Victoria had given her seal of approval to the company. And now, another Victoria, the daughter of Clive Christian, along with her father at its helm, are taking it forward, into a new era.

My interview with Victoria Christian

Victoria Christian was recently at Neiman Marcus, Fashion Island, where I had the chance to sit down and chat with her about the past, present and future of this brand that holds the coveted title of being "the most expensive perfume in the world." I also had the opportunity to get a spritz of the soon to be launched Neiman Marcus exclusive, a limited edition; 1872 with a twist of Mandarin, which is sublime.

SA: We met almost 10 years ago at the Neiman Marcus in Miami, where you introduced the Clive Christian perfume collection to me and I had the pleasure of interviewing you, over coffee. We meet now at NM Fashion Island, how has your luxury brand evolved over the last 10 years?
VC: How time flies! And how lovely to be meeting after so many years on a different Coast and yet still celebrating this historic perfume house! What a testament to the quality and timelessness of the perfumes that they are still enjoyed by so many across the country!
Since we met my father Clive has released six new perfumes - three pairs - from his Private Collection. 'C', 'L' and 'V' perfumes all wear the same amber color glass bottle which was the color of the private commission perfumes in the archives of the Crown Perfumery and the Collection has a distinct personal feel. The more masculine versions of the pairs all carry a precious Oud wood at their base which brings a hallmark smokey, woody, confident complexity to the perfumes and the more feminine versions of the collection are a celebration of some of the most prized notes from the Victorian era - 'C' has an operatic note of Tuberose which was the Victorian symbol for voluptuous, forbidden pleasures and yet has a quiet, sensual finish and the 'L' has the unusual Davana, reminiscent of green, lush rain forest leaves and has a feeling to me similar to when sunbeams land on your face it is so bright and delightful! 

A display of some of the Clive Christian perfume collection, for men and women.

SA: What's the different aspects of working with your father, Clive Christian, and being the only sibling in the business?
VC: I am the eldest of three girls and have always had a strong connection with my father, Clive. We share the same humor which is always a great foundation for a relationship of course! I feel very lucky to have been raised by a gentleman who has a deep appreciation for life - I have learned to take time to enjoy a sunrise and a sunset, and perhaps most importantly to listen to my heart and to make decisions based on integrity and a feeling of love rather than a monetary motivation. My father has taught me this and I believe it is evident in his work, his designs and his creations. I feel very fortunate to represent my family business and to have the opportunity to work alongside a great British designer who has been recognized by Queen Elizabeth II for his contribution to British luxury. 

The Clive Christian coat of arms awarded to him in 1999 by The Royal College of Arms. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2012.

SA: Tell me about your first fragrance memory?
VC: My father has always kept beautiful rose gardens in England and the scent of natural English roses after the rain has such a delicate captivation - a little like you might imagine Turkish delight. I was and still am transfixed by this perfume and we harness rose in its absolute form at the heart of many of our perfumes - in particular the 1872 for women which carries the beautiful May Rose at the heart and requires 170 of those roses for every single drop. 

The 1872 perfume spray for women a floral, fruity, citrus fragrance perfect for summer days and nights. (100ml $495). 1872 is the year The Crown Perfumery was established.

SA: Is it true that the Clive Christian perfume is the most expensive perfume in the world? And if so why?
VC: Yes - when Clive created The No.1 Perfumes it was his wish to design a pair of perfumes that were simply the best - the No.1. He wanted a perfume that harnessed the rarest and most precious natural ingredients in their purest form - the absolute - the notes that most fragrances do not use due to their high cost and low yield. Rare Indian Sandalwood aged from 30-50 years and Madagascan Vanilla which takes six months to crystallize - he was not expecting for the perfumes to become the most expensive in the world - however when The Guinness Book of World Records announced this we decided to embrace it and to use this recognition to help us to reignite the conversation of what it takes to create a true luxury perfume and all the stories of what goes in to creating each complex drop. 

Victoria Christian hosts a private reception at NM Fashion Island.

SA: The perfume house has a long history, heritage and even a royal crown, tell me about that and how it has influenced your brand.
VC: Queen Victoria granted the image of her crown to this perfumery in 1872 and it had held a very special place in her Royal court and within her marriage to her husband Prince Albert. They had perfumes commissioned for various special occasions in their life and these perfumes were greeted as a matched, complementing pair - so they were united, connected invisibly through their perfumes. Clive Christian has maintained this tradition and all the perfumes in our collections are presented as matched pairs - however today, in this modern world our boundaries are so different - nowadays I find our clients are connoisseurs and many wear the pairs together - for example a spritz of No.1 for women and spritz of No.1 for men - it brings a third element to the perfumes - rather like two wings of a butterfly. 

A sealed original bottle of lavender salts from The Crown Perfumery from 1800's which has inspired the current perfume bottles. The Crown Perfumery was the perfume available on the first class cabins of the Titanic.

SA: With the thousand of perfumes available, tell me about the people who choose to wear your fragrances and what makes them want to wear the very British, Clive Christian brand?
VC: It's true that every year over 1000 different fragrances are launched and sadly it is true that over 90% of these fragrances have been discontinued within two years of their launch. Each perfume launch within the Clive Christian Perfume Collections is considered and curated by Clive so that they will not date and will remain a timeless addition to your perfume wardrobe. I have been wearing X for Women paired with X for Men for almost 15 years and each time I am complimented on my perfume - which invariably brings a spring to my step! And it does help that with every drop you are connected to a piece of great history from a perfume house that was so adored by our Queen Victoria that she granted the image of her crown! Nothing better than feeling like Royalty! 

Victoria uses a fan to introduce each fragrance as was the custom in Victorian England.

SA: You're surrounded by perfume in your professional life, but what fragrance do you like to wear when you're not at work? 
VC: To quote Confucius, "make your passion your profession and you will never work a day in your life" - I do not really consider what I do to be work - I love perfumes and it is an honor to represent this historic perfume house - my perfume wardrobe is fully stocked with the Clive Christian Perfumes and they are my invisible accessory for every day of my life and every occasion - on my wedding day in 2014 I wore No.1 for Women and my husband wore No.1 for Men (1+1=3!) and now this perfume holds a very special memory of the most wonderful day of my life! 

Victoria talks to me about the soon to be launched limited edition 1872 with a twist of Mandarin and 1872 with a twist of Vetiver.

SA: What's next for your perfume collection and the Clive Christian brand and what are you telling us here at Neiman Marcus Fashion Island?
VC: I am very excited to share a preview of our newest launch which will be exclusive to Neiman Marcus - the 1872 Limited Edition with a Twist! This new launch takes the heart of the classic and well loved citrus perfume pair 1872 and adds a new dimension to their invigorating complexity - the 1872 with a Twist of Mandarin adds a burst of joyful Mandarin for a bright body and the 1872 with a Twist of Vetiver brings a clean, fresh finish and a subtle glow. Each bottle is individually hand numbered 1/1000 and signed by Clive. They are incredibly vibrant and perfectly capture the feeling of Californian sunshine! 

Victoria and I after the presentation. Also seen here is a bottle of the Nº1 perfume. Clive Christian was also commissioned to create a unique presentation of a matched pair of the Nº1 perfumes, a his and hers for Prince William and Katherine (Duchess of Cambridge) for their wedding. Their perfume bottles were hand-cut crystal with a brilliant-cut diamond solitaire embedded in them, and their initials etched in gold. A gift fit for royalty.
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Getting Personal with Michael Aram

Michael Aram will be at Neiman Marcus Fashion Island for a signing event on Wednesday October 28th from 1-4pm

After a rush to get Cameron out the door and off to preschool and getting the gardener to stop using the loud leaf blower (at least for a while), I sat with a cup of coffee in hand and waited for the designer Michael Aram to call moi. I didn’t have to wait very long. At exactly 10 a.m. my telephone rang. I answered with a high-pitched Peppa Pig like voice saying “hello!” knowing very well who was going to be on the other end. He sounded exactly as I had imagined him: warm, friendly and as his name implies; soft spoken. He spoke with me from a ferryboat, with his children playing in the background. I assumed he was taking a ferry ride along the Hudson River and was admiring Lady Liberty up close, as I had done with my son when I was in New York City. It didn’t occur to me, to ask.

What I learned about the man, renowned for his beautiful metal serving objects, is that there's a level of integrity in his life and work. A trip he made to India when he was in his early 20s changed everything. He was so impressed by the craftsmanship he saw there, that he decided to create a handful of metal objects, mostly for his own pleasure and returned home with the hope that others may like them too. The rest is history. His creations are now available across the globe, with a flagship store in NYC. He’s forged together the worlds of art and business seamlessly. Aram’s creations are often my go to items when I’m shopping for a hostess gift. Even though his creations translate as the perfect gifts for the home, I know that the most important kind of generosity is not just about the items we buy or give but it’s the generosity of spirit. It’s what we share of ourselves, with others that counts. And he was both generous, with his answers and his time. 

Michael, the twins - Anabel and Thadeus and his partner Aret, during the ceremony of the unveiling that took place on October 6th 2015, of his first permanent sculpture, entitled "Migrations" that Michael designed to commemorate the centennial of the Armenian genocide, as he is a descendant of genocide survivors. It has been permanently installed at the plaza of St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in NYC. 

Here’s what we chatted about while I sipped, my re-heated, morning cup of coffee:

SA: Tell me about your family life:

MA: Well, we have the most incredible four and half year old twins. They are girl/boy twins (Anabel and Thadeus) they’re certainly the light of our lives. My partner and I, Aret, we’re both Armenian, and we’ve been together for 8 years now. The kids have changed everything for me. As much, as I love my work and as much as I love what I do, it’s all for them now. And they certainly come first in our lives.

SA: Are you aware that Iranians consider you as one of their own?

MA: I’m aware of it and I’m so grateful for it. It’s always so sweet when I’m at personal appearances and people come up to me asking if I’m Persian. I tell them, I’m actually Armenian, but we are neighbors and linguistically and culturally there’s so much similarity. I love my connection with the culture, language and food. I’m glad they feel a connection to my work, and to me, and they assimilate me into their lives the way they do.

SA: Did you know your (middle name) Aram means gentle? And is that a characteristic you think you possess?

MA: Yes, because of all the Moghul influences in the Hindi language, Aram means the same thing in Hindi. It’s something we always tell our craftsmen in India, we tell them in Hindi, “do it with Aram,” meaning create it, with peace. There’s definitely a sense of peacefulness in my work.  It’s like slow cooking; when you do things that are handmade, there’s always a vibration and you only get that through each hammer mark and each file mark. You do get the sense of something being a labor of love. In my own personality, I’m a peaceful guy and I think that might have translated into my work. 

 

Michael in his workshop in India with a few craftsmen and the makings of the Orchid Collection.

SA: What are your golden rules when it comes to entertaining?

MA: I believe that there’s a sacredness when it comes to hospitality and your guests are your blessings. When I entertain I use the saying, “open heart, open door.” I’m not someone who gets uptight when I entertain, I think the gift of having someone in your home is just to be hospitable to them, no matter what. I think it’s important to let go, a little. When you decide that you’re going to have fun, then “the more, the merrier,” it’s never going to be a strain. And you’ll open your last bottle of wine, if you have to.

SA: If you had to choose between paper plates and plastic cutlery what would it be?

MA: (Chuckles) You’re putting me on the spot. I don’t know whether you know this, but we make plastic cutlery and paper plates. 

SA: No, I had no idea.

MA: If you’re by your computer type in MADHOUSE by Michael Aram and you will see the most incredible paper plates, paper napkins and plastic cutlery. I’m very proud of the work. We try and execute things at the highest level of design and the highest level of materials for the category. They’re just exquisite. We’ve interpreted our twig cutlery, into clear plastic and we’ve created sculpted melamine plates that look like porcelain. We use them everyday with the kids. 

SA: The best dinner guest is…. fill in the blank for me:

MA: I like guests that feel absolutely at home and relaxed in my home and they treat my house like it’s theirs. I have so many friends that make me feel at home when I am their guest, and so I like guests that get up and pitch in, then it feels like they’re family.

SA: What’s the most recent meal you’ve cooked?

MA: I made Eech, it’s an Armenian cold salad, made with bulgur wheat, fresh mint and parsley. It’s like a tabbouleh but it’s made with bulgur grain. That’s the last thing I made and we’re eating it today, on the ferry ride with the kids.

SA: What are you reading right now?

MA: I’m proud to say, I’m reading a variety of children’s books for my kids. That’s what I read every evening.

SA: What’s your favorite children's book?

MA: Anything by British author Julia Donaldson. She has written books like The Gruffalo and Room On The Broom which is charming. We own everything she has ever written. The stories have this British sense of humor which I really appreciate, they’re also poetic and there’s a little dark side to them, so there are things that boys and girls like. 

SA: You’ve lived in India on and off, over the last 25 years, do you have the hang of the Indian head shake, with its multitude of meanings?

MA: (He laughs) Yes, I’ve even mastered it! My Indian friends don’t consider me non-Indian, after all these years, I’m one of the few foreigners and there’s only a handful of us in New Delhi, who are really committed to building a company, building a home and having a life there. We are not just in and out of the Embassy or the company but we’ve established ourselves there. I feel very much part of the landscape and I feel very much at home there.

SA: You have a home in New York and one in New Delhi, do you travel with your partner and kids to India?

MA: My partner has been there several times with me. The kids haven’t been there yet. We feel they’re still a little young for the trip. I really look forward to the day they travel there. My son, Thadeus, (named after, the patron saint of the Armenian church) looks like a Punjabi boy, he has dark olive skin with long eyelashes. He looks like all the boys in North India and I keep thinking when he finally gets to go to India he is going to feel, so at home.

SA: When you go to India what do you miss about Amercia?

MA: I miss things that are not nice to say. What I love about America is there is great commonality with everyone. We can look, at each other in the eye. There’s something that’s easy here socially, and you can interact with everyone in every spectrum of society and across genders. In India there are, all these layers of behavior. There is little in the sense of class and no sense of caste here, but that still exists in India. I live in a home in India, that was built in 1945 and even the architecture of the home shows signs of the caste system. The bathrooms, all exit directly into the garden, because the person cleaning your bathroom could not enter the rest of your house.

SA: Have you seen any improvement over the years?

MA: Yes, it’s certainly getting better. My friends tell me that even from the time of their parents’ generation, things have changed a lot.

SA: When you come here what do you miss about India the most?

MA: I miss the fact that my friends are very integrated in my life in India. They use this expression “land up,” they land, up at your door. Usually, even before I arrive, my friends would have called my house, the week before, and asked my cook “when is Michael saab coming?” When I arrive my phone is already ringing and my friends are asking when are we going to get together.  There is such a bond between us there. There’s not a sense of formality. I often joke and say that in India nobody needs a shrink since we talk to our friends. In India “lets meet” means let’s meet and talk. We all depend on one another there.

SA: What’s your favorite gift to take with you when you visit someone’s home?

MA: My favorite gifts are more like combination gifts. Sometimes I feel a bit shy about just taking my own work, because people will assume that I’m not making any effort. If I take a cake stand I will usually take a home baked cake with it. If I don’t have time, then it’s a bottle of wine and some coasters. I like this idea that there should be something to celebrate and something to leave behind, as a reminder of the beautiful evening you’ve had.

The Palm Collection (Fall 2015) inspired by the beauty of the windswept palm tree and the perfectly imperfect shapes of woven palm leaves and fallen fronds.

 SA: What’s the best hostess gift you’ve ever received?

MA: Great question. I love this question, because it’s really makes me think… I remember when I had my first apartment in New York, my mom and dad came to visit me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers in a vase that belonged to my grandmother. I love objects that have a meaning, they’re heirloom pieces. You treasure them in a way that you could never treasure anything else.

SA: I love your mermaid bowl. It’s on my lust list. Tell me a little about it:

MA: I made that piece probably about 18 years ago and we brought it back as part of our commemorative collection, at that time all my items were just individual pieces, nothing was a collection. I love it for a variety of reasons; you can fill it with ice and place Champagne bottles in it and use it as a beautiful party ice bucket. We’ve arranged flowers in it, you can use it as a punch bowl or a centerpiece bowl and since it’s stainless steel, you can serve food it in too.

The whimsical stainless steel Mermaid Bowl is part of the 25th Anniversary Commemorative Collection, $895.

SA: Your objects are decorative yet functional and many of them are inspired by the elements in nature, tell me about that:

MA: I like to show the different phases of life and even decay. I believe there is beauty to be seen in imperfections. I’m fascinated with the idea of how we fit into this world, with all its phases of life and decay.

The Joshua Tree collection, for Fall 2015, is inspired by a trip Michael made to Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California.

SA: What’s your favorite item of clothing?

MA: All I ever wear, and I mean this; are blue jeans and checkered shirts.

SA: Do you have a favorite pair of blue jeans?

MA: I wear Gap jeans. I’m not super fancy. But I do like nice shirts. I love wearing pocket squares. It’s really rare to see me in a tie, so it might make up for that. My kids love to pull out my pocket squares, every morning, before I go to work.

SA: What’s the most challenging part of parenthood?

MA: (Laughs) Right now my daughter’s tugging at me, while I’m on the telephone.

SA: What’s the best thing about being a father?

MA: Getting a sense of unconditional love from them and feeling the unconditional love for them. 

SA: You have a furniture line, jewelry collection, candles, porcelain and even stemware. What’s next for Michael Aram?

MA: One area that we are looking into is textiles and perhaps rugs. I also really enjoy creating one of a kind art sculptures.

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The Michael Aram collection is available at Neiman Marcus Fashion Island and at www.michaelaram.com. Michael Aram be at Neiman Marcus on Wednesday, October 28th, from 1- 4pm. RSVP to 949-467-3327.