LITTLE ROCK — You may not know - and I didn’t - that George Washington supposedly had a favorite cologne.
He did, according to this recently received blurb: “Did you know that Caswell-Massey was renowned for being a fragrance house? For more than 200 years, [its] fragrances were sought after and celebrated by patriotic Americans since George Washington selected as his favorite scent, cologne ‘Number Six.’”
Actually, I had not heard of 258-year-old Caswell-Massey, which has just released wonderful-smelling Onyx Natural Bath Soap. It’s an all-natural product with a fragrance described as “a smoky and sensual scent.”
The black, unisex soap is made from Australian black clay, known as a gentle exfoliating cleanser and as a conditioning agent. Having sampled Onyx, I’ve found that the fragrance - a combination of cedar wood,coriander, black pepper, patchouli, tobacco and incense - is alluring enough to make one want just sniff the soap, not use it. But do use it. It lathers white, so it doesn’t stain linens or tiles.
The elegantly boxed soaps cost $20 each; three-soap sets are available for $50. Onyx will soon be available at NeimanMarcus.com and at caswellmassey.com.
ATTENTION, MEN ...
This is for you - well, sort of. It’s a shopping opportunity for those of you who may be clueless as to what to get your wives for Hanukkah or Christmas.
Barbara Graves Intimate Fashions, at Breckenridge Village in Little Rock, will host its 38th annual Men’s Nights Fashion Show. The fundraiser for the Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute will be held from 7-9 p.m. Dec. 1-2 (guests have a choice of coming either night). Informal modeling of swimwear, casual wear and robes will be featured and wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Tickets are $20, which also includes a $20 coupon for items bought that evening. Proceeds will benefit the cancer patients treated at CARTI. Last year’s show raised more than $12,000 for the institute.
Reservations are recommended. For ticket information, call (501) 227-5537 or e-mail bgraves1973@sbcglobal.net.
GLAMOROUS FUND-RAISING
If you haven’t been to a Mary Kay party in a while, here’s your chance.
“Glam It Up With Mary Kay and CASA” is scheduled for noon Dec. 2 in the training room of the Juvenile Justice Complex within Pulaski County Court Appointed Special Advocates, 3001 W. Roosevelt Road, Little Rock. Danell Maulden, an independent beauty consultant, is sponsoring the event. Each guest is encouraged to bring her own lunch. Twenty percent of the money raised from this event will help foster children in Pulaski and Perry counties.
For more information and to RSVP, call (501) 340-6946.
IT’S FALL NOW, BUT ...
Before we know it, the 2011 high school prom season will be looming. And it’s sad to think that some girls may miss their proms because of financial limitations.
Happily, That Prom Girl is still in business. This is the two-woman operation that helps get prom gowns to senior high school girls in need. Once again, donations of gently used dresses are being sought.
“We are planning to take That Prom Girl to counties [in which girls] may not have transportation to get to Little Rock,” co-founder Cynthia Harris reports. To donate, contact Harris at (501) 416-0031 or Subrena Howard at (501) 416-9957.
COUNTING THE PLUSES
OneStopPlus.com, an online mega-mall for curvy women, announces its latest partnership with contemporary plus-size fashion line Torrid - “a brand inspired by fashion icons, runway shows, music and pop culture.”
OneStopPlus.com will provide more than 1,300 styles from Torrid - apparel and intimates in sizes 12-28, accessories and shoes. A glance at Torrid.com reveals that women who complain about there being no “cute” clothes in plus sizes should definitely be satisfied with these duds: clingy tube dresses; minis (including a camouflage miniskirt!); bubble hem party dresses; slinky one shoulder dresses and tops; and, yes - bustiers. For more information, visit onestopplus.com or check it out on Facebook and Twitter.
Dressing Room is published biweekly. Got fashion and beauty news? Know of any previously unmentioned Arkansas outlets for a featured item? Contact Helaine R. Williams, Dressing Room, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark. 72203, or e-mail:
Style, Pages 29 on 11/23/2010