I received an invitation from Norma Kamali to visit her new Wellness Café. Located at the Norma Kamali flagship store on 56th Street, I was no stranger to the café considering I used to work around the corner. Tucked in the back of her store, it was an olive oil haven. Filled with all types of pastries and snacks (all olive oil based); I was a sucker for the lavender shortbread.
I had heard during New York Fashion Week Norma made some adjustments to her life and was adding more raw and vegan elements into her diet. The café is an extension of Kamaili had thus evolved with her. I was excited to see the changes to the café, and even though I knew the olive oil base would always prevail, I had a feeling this would be the demise of my beloved shortbread.
As some of you know I’ve been on an oil kick for sometime now, olive oil, macadamia nut oil, argon oil, coconut oil, essential oils . . . you get the point. What began as something I only used on my body has now fully been integrated onto my face and hair as part of my regiment. I’ve also been on a recent health kick (or at least trying to be), the downfall of months of traveling and abiding by the ‘there’s no calories on vacation’ rule. And to that all I can say is it’s all fun and games until bathing suit season. So perfect timing for this invitation, I would be in good company, and I can use all the inspiration I can get!
So through the entrance, past the mannequins to the back of the store I go. Aesthetically it’s still very much the original café, however