myretroperspective

What happens when three girls who love to travel, shop and dine find themselves on the same trip to the United Kingdom? They map out a plan to venture north of London to find all the Haute spots! New York City shoe designer Hillary Latos and Visit England’s Emma Thomas and I made Leeds our first stop. Shopping in Leeds Leeds offers some of the “hautest” unique boutiques and high end designer shops in Victoria Quarter. This shopping and dining destination has been dubbed the “Knightsbridge of the North.” Here you’ll find international designers like Louis Vuitton, Prada and Vivienne Westwood snuggled next to cute little independent shops carrying jewelry, clothes, shoes and other little trinkets that make fashionistas swoon. Even if you want to window shop through Victoria Quarter… you’ll find it delightful with the stain glass roof and breathtaking architecture mixing a little bit of history with modern touches. It’s simply haute! Dining in Leeds There are plenty of little cafes and d

American Airlines may extend their non-stop daily service out of New York to Manchester, England. It appears that the NYC flight AA 211 out of JFK International Airport to the UK is haute! Although the service is offered through summer in business and economy class… it could come back year round next year pending a review of the service. So far the flight loads are pretty full—people love it!   On a recent trip to England, American Airlines hosted my air travel and offered a business class seat on my return flight thanks to Lead Passenger Service Agent Paul Smith. I loved the level of service and relative short flight to England and back to the states. I was also pleased with the reclining seat and the heavier blanket, unlike the thin one on other airlines. The menu offering were also great. My dinner selection—Scallops with Lime Champagne, complimented by a mushroom and asparagus sauté and rice pilaf with leeks. Plus, you can dine upon request and spend the first hour sleeping if you

When it comes to beauty on the go there’s nothing better than waking up to smooth skin and silky hair. And thanks to my new complimentary Sharmooz satin travel pillow cover and eye mask, I wake up with silky hair free of tangles and smoother skin no matter where I am. Beauty industry-insiders and celebrities have known for years that sleeping on 100% Charmeuse satin helps to reduce dryness caused by sleeping on cotton leaving your hair in a “matt” state and depleting your skin of hydration. Sharmooz satin can be washed unlike silk and it’s completely travel ready offering cooler nights and a more beautiful rest. When you wakeup, you’ll find that your hair falls right into place and your skin feels softer offering a more youthful appearance. To learn more visit http://sharmooz.com/ What do you think about Sharmooz?

It was 10 years ago that I made my way to Paris to buy my very first Chanel handbag. I remember walking through the boutique doors at 31 Rue Cambon and setting my eyes on all things Chanel. This is the flagship boutique where the double C logo makes you believe that starting your collection of haute Chanel handbags, shoes, clothes and jewelry is not just a shopping experience but a lifestyle! As I entered the main area of the boutique it is customary to greet the sales team with a “bonjour” after all when in Paris… you make it a point to greet the shop keepers. As I browsed the amazing collection, I could feel the presence of Mademoiselle Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel. Her influence and philosophy about fashion is timeless. I had to purchase the classic shoulder bag with the gold chain and lambskin leather. I paid a pretty penny for it, but the dollar was strong at that time so it was less than it would have been had I bought it in the US. Today, the bag has appreciated in value and costs ab

When it comes to relaxation and restoration there’s no place like The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta to offer some ImmuniTEA from the insanity of life. Every travelista knows that in order to keep her sanity so she can globe trot with the jet setters, she must first capture that elusive “she-time” as often as possible. I’m no exception and I’m drawn to a great spa treatment like a moth to a flame! So when my friends at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta invited me into their haute spa to sample their new exotic TEA-inspired massage, it didn’t take much for me to jump into my car and head into town. Once at the spa, I was surrounded by peace and tranquility. I couldn’t wait to slide out of my city gear and into that plush robe that’s hanging in my locker just a stone’s throw from the calmness of the relaxation room where a cup of tea and Park 75’s signature honey from the rooftop bee garden was beckoning me. I love the fact that the new enhanced spa treatments feature a facial and massag