Few recent beauty events have made me happier than the big party on September 18 to celebrate the unveiling of the Hourglass Cosmetics Flagship Store at 1351 Abbot Kinney in Venice. This is the first brick and mortar store that founder and CEO Carisa Janes has opened, and this momentous event likewise marks the ten year anniversary of Hourglass. The store officially opens to the public today (Monday, September 22).
The architectural space is itself a significant accomplishment, and while a modern masterpiece it lacks the austerity of many contemporary interior spaces. Original brick walls and the discovery of wooden ceiling beams, hidden beneath years of Sheetrock, are ingeniously juxtaposed to undulating glass walls, and zig-zag sculptural lighting that echoes the shape of the gorgeous display unit beneath it. It is a beautiful architectural study fusing the old with the new in a stunning 1400 square foot retail space that has a wonderful loft upstairs with multiple stations for makeup application, makeup classes and other special events.
The view as one walks through the front door.
Downstairs:
Every space the you encounter is so beautifully articulated.
Despite the fact that the space was packed during the event-- it remained comfortable to navigate.
The logically arranged display space makes it very easy to find precisely what you are looking for.
Have you ever seen a more beautiful way to display makeup?
The Ambient Lighting Bar is a Flagship exclusive that allows clients to customize their own palette of Ambient Lighting Powders. Can you imagine?! Such a brilliant idea to have your favorite shades of this groundbreaking finishing powder in a single palette!
Foundations
Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tints, Illume, Crème-To-Powder Bronzer Duos and Oxygen Foundation Mineral Powder
Femme Nude Lip Stylo and Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipsticks
Obsession-worthy lipsticks
Panoramic Long Wear Lip Liners and Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipsticks
Gorgeous Calacatta Marble countertops and Onyx Quartz sides grace the sculptural structure upon which the Hourglass collection is elegantly displayed. The design is at once modern and timeless-- yet accessible in that it invites the clients to linger at each of the artfully composed Hourglass vignettes.
View of the retail space from the loft window
Light illuminates and permeates the architectural and sculptural interior, and it serves to enhance the airy nature of the elegant minimalist space. Not a single detail was left to chance in the conception and execution of this masterfully conceived space, and one feels as though they have just stepped into a modern interior sculpture garden punctuated by Hourglass jewels throughout. I can hardly wait to go back and experience the space again. In my dream house remodel I would hire Standard, the Los Angeles architecture firm who created this space, to build me a modern masterpiece!
Bird's-eye view of the first floor as seen from above.
The mirrors alone are masterpieces in craftsmanship!
The second level loft is the home of makeup classes and private services.
Makeovers upstairs in the loft:
The Makeup Artists working their magic on the many Hourglass devotees.
The gorgeous loft space:
Upstairs there was a full bar:
Projected on the wall was the recent Oscar de la Renta show at New York Fashion Week:
Oscar de la Renta himself
Gucci Westman exclusively used Hourglass Cosmetics on the models (see Press Release here)
The architectural elements in the stairwell to the loft:
Elegant modern lighting juxtaposed to the original beamed ceiling
A stunning ethereal wall composed of glass rods magically captures the light in the interior space, and the curvilinear shape arcs across the front window.
Carisa Janes
Mary is the beauty on the right.
DJ Rashida played amazing music all night long!
Coleen & Jillian
Cerre, on the left, is the Hourglass Store Manager
Coming Soon: A Limited Edition Ambient Lighting Blush Palette for the holidays featuring 3 shades: Luminous Flush, Mood Exposure, and an exclusive new shade, Incandescent Electra.
Hourglass is also launching their very first skincare product, and it is an otherworldly serum that I had the pleasure of trying at the event. Equilibrium Biomimetic Skin Active Serum is a nighttime anti-aging treatment serum that specifically targets cellular regeneration. It employs cutting edge technology that was described to me as one that utilizes a "micronized oil-in-water emulsion" that intuitively works with the needs of the skin and that triggers epidermal renewal. Hourglass posits that, "it relies on a bio-identical Phosphatidylglycerol, the youth lipid that occurs in high concentrations in amniotic fluid, which is found to normalize skin growth and reduce the signs of aging." It is a anti-aging powerhouse that is sure to become the serum. I will say that it left the backs of my hands so soft and supple that I can hardly wait to try it on my face. It has been in the making for the last two years, and the beautiful condition of Carisa's skin is the only selling point that I need!
Equilibrium is among the store's exclusive items.
Carisa Janes is such a gracious hostess that she provided each guest with a lovely gift bag
...and what a lovely gift, indeed!
Ambient Lighting Palette and N° 28 Lip Treatment Oil
If you live in the Los Angeles area it is very worth your while to visit the gorgeous Hourglass Boutique.
Location: 1351 Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice, CA. (310) 392-3409
Hours:
Monday through Thursday 10-7
Friday and Saturday 10-8
Sunday 12-6
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Oh God, I am SO SO jealous I don't even know what to say now!!! An Hourglass store??? That's like a dream come true! Would so love to customized my own Ambient Lighting Palette, and I hope they'll eventually make it happen for the blushes as well!
ReplyDeleteOh, Sunny-- how I wish that we had gone together! It was amazing! The space is gorgeous, and I can hardly go back to see it during the day when it isn't packed with people. It's an extraordinary space that befits such an extraordinary line! It's basically makeup heaven! I'm losing my mind about the LE blush palette and the new serum, and I can't wait to get my hands on both of them! I can already tell that it is going to be mad love! :-)
Deletelol that's exactly what i was thinking! maybe they can go two step further and let us combine lighting and blush into one palette!
Deletep.s. i'm jealous too! that serum sounds very interesting!
That would be an AMAZING combination, and I wouldn't be at all surprised if it eventually became available. My bet is that the LE blush palette will be so wildly popular-- just as The Ambient Lighting Palette has been that they may choose to make it permanent and customizable! FINGERS CROSSED!!!!!! The serum is at the top of my list of things that I must try!!!!!
DeleteDitto what Sunny said, lol. And customizable Ambient Lighting Palettes - I droll in anticipation of such a possibility. :-)
DeleteIt was definitely a truly amazing event! The customizable Ambient Lighting Palettes is just ingenious! Hourglass gives us so many reasons to drool over their exquisite products, and their gorgeous new Flagship Boutique definitely befits the beautiful brand! :-)
Deleteso i guess the only question is wait for the possibility that we can eventually customize both or get the limited edition blush palette when it comes out :P
DeleteOh, that's easy enough-- get the LE Palette when it comes out since that definitely happening! While it would be amazing if they eventually did the same thing with the blush palette-- who know if they will. That blush palette will probably sell out fast-- and I for one don't want to miss out on getting it. Sephora VIB Rouge people are able to buy it early! I think that this is going to be another cult status palette! :-)
Deleteprobably. i tried diffused heat on the other day and really loved it! sadly that's not part of the palette. maybe i'll see if i can make do with the palette first and see if i really need diffused heat after :P
DeleteDiffused Heat is definitely a gorgeous shade. I think that's a smart plan since the palette is LE and one of its shades is exclusive to the palette. It looks as though mixing the far left and center shades might come close to Diffused Heat-- in which case you wouldn't need to buy it as well. Then again, if you are madly in love with the palette then you might find yourself wanting more shades! Ethereal Glow is one of my most reached for blushes-- it's such lovely quality and such a pleasure to use! :-)
DeleteHello
ReplyDeleteWhat a great event to attend-,,lucky girl -looked like lots of fun-do u know when the new serum will be available on other stores??-thanks
It was a really special event, and I am so grateful to have been invited! The Equilibrium Serum is an exclusive to the Hourglass Abbot Kinney Boutique. I don't yet know if it will be available on the Hourglass website. There will be certain products, like the serum, that will remain boutique exclusives.
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