By Marina
1861, the new fragrance by Xerjoff, is meant to celebrate Italian unification and to embody, with its top, middle and base notes, different climatic and natural beauties of various parts of Italy. Which is a respectable if a bit cliche inspiration. To me the perfume is more evocative of Italian fashion.
The fresh, breezy citrus is Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2011 RTW, almost all white, broderie anglaise, virginal and still somehow over the top sexy. The heart notes, which are supposed to be lily of the valley and rose, but in fact smell to my nose of Xerjoff's trademark sumptuous orris, is Gucci...not circa Tom Ford, with the cut-outs, provocativeness and 1990-ness....it is more in Frida Giannini's style, almost lady-like in parts, but still obviously, unapologetically glamorous.
The base, which, with its luscious, dark amber, musk overdose and suggestive earthiness of patchouli, is to me the most appealing part of 1861, is Roberto Cavalli's animal prints...and, of course, Versace's overall dramatic ideology of more is more.
Not surprisingly, therefore, 1861 is one of those perfumes that make one feel vestito a festa, no matter what one is wearing. I love that.
If you would like to try a sample of 1861 and a couple of others by Xerjoff, let me know if you have any items with animal print in your wardrobe. Winner will be chosen randomly, regardless of the answer. :)
I always say every woman should have leopard-print capris. I have those, a little jacket. shoes, and a pink leopard cardigan. Oh, and a black top with a leopard collar.
ReplyDeleteI've never cared for animal prints in clothing - but in accessories, just a touch does the trick. I have a leopard-print belt and zebra print Manolo sling backs.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I can't publish this under my google account without being prompted to join Blogger. I'm not a blogger myself and don't want to join blogger, so allow me to sign here - Kym
I've got a lace-trimmed zebra stripe camisole in my closet...it doesn't usually get worn out anywhere but once in a while the hubby likes to see it... :) I agree with Kym up there - I'm more an accessories girl when it comes to animal prints (and few at that).
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I had had a piece of almost all kind of clothes with animal print before I decided to reduce it slightly because of age-caused inappropriateness (that means from the boots and pants up to hat, LOL). I still love animal print on my clothes, though. Thanks for entering me. Alica - alica@cleis.net
ReplyDeleteMarina: I had no idea you were so well-versed in fashion, I'm impressed! I've not tried a single Xerjoff scent yet, so please do enter me in the draw. Thank you!
ReplyDeletep.s. No animal print anywhere in sight over here.
I am surprised to say I have no animal prints! Time to shop.
ReplyDeleteI love animal prints, but don't own any. I would love a tiger-striped maxi dress.
ReplyDeleteWow, I have to admit I haven't worn anything with an animal print since I was in Garanimals as a kid. :) It just isn't "me." Hopefully I can still pull off a Xerjoff. :) -Katherine
ReplyDeleteI sleep on leopard print sheets, does that count?
ReplyDeleteI collect scarves and have some gorgeous animal prints that I love to wear. Also have a giraffe print bathrobe :)
ReplyDeleteI was going to say I have no animal print in my wardrobe but then I remembered I have 2 bras. :)
ReplyDeleteBut nothing that is actually visible to the wide world. I'm just not really the type to wear it I'm afraid.
I would definitely love to try the Xerjoffs though.
Btw I wouldn't mind owning that dress. :)
Animal print; I guess an orange goldfish-print blouse (although Italian design) doesn't quite fit the bill. I thought there would be some 90's leftovers in the closet, but no, no animal print in my closet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great draw, have never tried any of the Xerjoffs, and am curious as a cat:-P
I've got a turquoise & grey leopard-print cashmere jumper - sounds garish but is v v elegant...
ReplyDeleteFor me personally animal prints are just working in a small doze like a scarf or shoes!
ReplyDeleteI have a blouse with whole zebras! Does this count? :)
ReplyDeleteI only have a shirt with zebra print :)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have more animal print clothes, however.
I'm a bit old for allover animal prints, but I have a hand-dyed scarf with a zebra pattern. Oh, and some leopard-spotted winter gloves for fun. And I would love to be entered in the Xerjoff 1861 drawing!
ReplyDeleteI haven't bought an animal print in years, but I still have a long chiffon snake-print scarf I bought in 1968! It's fab!
ReplyDeleteI do have one leopard print piece. It is an A-line skirt that comes away from the body in a 1950's way. I like to pair it with a much more conservative top, sweater etc. to avoid clashing and tone it down a little. It get compliments though...
ReplyDeleteWould love to try some Xerjoffs! As to animal prints - I have nada!
ReplyDeleteI have a cheetah bracelet that was my mother's but I don't wear it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a sweater that looks like it should be an animal print (it has brown swirls) but it is not.
Mrs. Honey (LaraJanine@exicite.com)
I have a pair of LLBean pajamas pants with lobsters on grren and white stripes. Definitely for indoors. Definitely not Versace.
ReplyDeleteYup. I have a pair of leopard flats, a sweater with leopard trim, and a pair of leopard pjs. Oh, I still have a leopard sweater dress in my closet, but I don't wear it any more (too worn, and . . .too much). Probably more if thought about it. Love Xerjoff Iriss--would love to try this.
ReplyDeleteI own leopard print shoes, snakeskin shoes, zebra stripe shoes... ok, so I like shoes!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the draw. :)
Hmmm....a watch, a wrap and some lingerie is all the animal print I own. I am so OK with that! Thanks for entering me.
ReplyDeleteI have leopard print flats. Please enter me in the draw!
ReplyDeleteanimal print bras. ;)
ReplyDeleteI have never tried Xerjoff before, very interested.
ReplyDeleteThe only animal print that I now have is a chiffon leopard print scarf that I've owned since 1998. It hasn't been out of the drawer in a very long time either, hmmmmm...
I have a black tunic with zebra print on sleeves & hem...very retro...wore it as a mini with white gogo boots for a 60's cabaret! Please enter me in the drawing.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I've got some animal print underwear. I love prints, so this is a hole in my (outerwear) wardrobe.
ReplyDeleteHave to confess to silky pyjamas which are a kind of silvery leopard print...
ReplyDeleteThanks for entering me
Oh, I'd love to try this. Love those earthy musk-amber scents. I also love leopard prints, but ususally only spend on them for accessory pieces... I got a great pair of vintage open-toed pumps for a couple of buck last week, and am a sucker for leopard print scarves. Please enter me in the draw.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Geordan
Yes I have a jacket with Shih Tzu's on it, I have 3 of the dogs. Their names are Gia, Beaudette, & Tippi. I would like to be in the draw.
ReplyDeleteAs a child of the 80s, I adore animal prints. In the day, I had leopard ankle boots (super high heels) they were ridiculously awesome! I'd love to try 1861. Thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteFinding as I get older that the animal prints are becoming restricted to accessories: a number of scarves in leopard and one in zebra, black gloves with leopard trim and leopard ballet flats. Would love to have a pair of vintage leopard pumps such as Geordan found. Coincidentally, on today's Advanced Style blog (no affiliation) is a very elegant 90 year old modeling her perfect touches of leopard.
ReplyDelete-- Lindaloo
haha! i'm a freeze baby so I love footie pajamas! My current pair is Zebra striped!
ReplyDeleteAnimal prints? Moi? Let's see: zebra flannel PJs, leopard underwear, blouses in both leopard and tiger (much harder to come by!), leopard camisole, leopard t-shirt, leopard faux fur vest, I used to have some leopard shoes but they fell apart, and the fabric to make a leopard dress and some stretch to make leopard leggings ala Peggy Bundy.
ReplyDeleteEverything from leopard scarf, snake print balerinas, zebra print tunic, I used to wear jaguar print stockings.I even have a bra in I think leopard print....
ReplyDeleteI've got a zebra print blouse and a leopard print somewhere tucked away from way back when.. err the '80s I think! Makes me chuckle to think of wearing them :)
ReplyDeleteNo I really don't like animal prints . I love Tigers and Panthers and most cats in their fur . It doesn't look right to me unless maybe someone could make a pure silk Tiger fur like textured fabric.
ReplyDeleteAnimal prints? Nay! I'm a boring dresser.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I'd love a sample! I don't any animal print... yet. My husband's 80-year-old grandmother is an animal print fanatic, though, and keeps threatening I'm getting some for my next birthday! :)
ReplyDeleteI have many animal print sweaters, camis and scarves. They're fun and add a little pizzazz to my mostly tailored (and sometimes kind of boring) outfits. Thank you for the opportunity to enter the drawing - the fragrance sounds lovely!
ReplyDeleteThe only animal print I own is a on a bottle of Dolce amd Gabbana "By Man."
ReplyDeleteI have a leopard print thong for those special occasions. You asked LOL!
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in the win.
ReplyDeleteYes, have animal prints! Pj's and a 3/4 length top....also a top with animal prints on the collar and cuffs....and a winter "headband' with it too....:-)
Animal prints... no, i dont. but i think i need to fix this!
ReplyDeleteAnimal print shoes and a long coat that work nicely for those business meetings! Thanks for allowing the opportunity to play :)
ReplyDeleteI have a blouse in small-scale natural leopard print and also leopard print flats ($8 Gap Outlet).
ReplyDeleteDoes the zebra-print box for Guerlain Vol de Nuit count? Thanks for the chance to be in the draw.
Being an animal lover, oh baby, do I have prints. Mostly in accessories, such as giraffe handbag, zebra wallet, tiger shoes and an elephant scarf :), and none of them "real". I do have a leopard-print top that I love because it gives me the waist I never had. Pairing it with a red scarf really makes the print pop. Thanks to Tama, I now have to score leopard capris.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite hoodie is a long Japanese leopard print one that I bought at the local thrift shop. It's very subtle, with black on dark brown, but definitely animal print. I also have a pair of leopard print tights that I wore as part of a costume in a play. I would love to be entered in the drawing for the Xerjoff 1861.
ReplyDeleteI have a zebra print end table which I painted to match the zebra couch which I haven't finished covering. I wear leopard prints from time to time and use the zebra more for decorating. Please count me in!
ReplyDeleteNever had, never will. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI have a top with a zebra skin print. I would love to try a Xerjoff scent or two---Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteI don't have any animal prints in my wardrobe... come to think of it, animal prints aren't common in menswear. Have to say that I love the Xerjoff bottles.
ReplyDelete2 years ago I would have said that pricey frags are a rip off, but I've completely come around, thanks to mdci. Somehow I haven't tried any xerjoff but am dying to. I've read great reviews and love the bottles that remind me of squid.
ReplyDeleteI used to wear tight fake snakeskin shirts sometimes on fancy dates. But I sort of retired those since getting married. Oh, the good ol days. Ha
I love to wear leopard print undies. I agree with others that animal prints are great to accessorize with. If I had a little more fashion sense, I might try it!
ReplyDeleteNo animal print for me-I'm more of a romantic floral print (cabbage roses, sigh), but I would love to sample some Xerjoff. I even hesitate to sample since I can never afford to purchase, but what the heck!
ReplyDeleteMy mother always told me that animal prints were trashy and unladylike. I have a an animal-print jacket, shell, shoes, scarves, undergarments...no I don't wear them all at once. Sorry Mom....
ReplyDeleteI don't have any animal prints in my wardrobe but I do have a zebra print pillow! :)
ReplyDeleteI love animal print but haven't worn anything in it in the last ... Many years. But I have an umbrella with a leopard pattern.
ReplyDeleteYep...leopard cotton light shirt and...leggins..oh and warm cozy winter flannels with a purple ribbon (sooo nice) would love to enter in the draw! thanks
ReplyDeleteAnimal prints are fun, in small doses. I have a pair of strappy sandals that are a python print that I wear all the time in summer - and in the winter, I have an ocelot print cashmere wrap sweater that's pretty gorgeous. But my favorite animal prints are two pairs of PJ's - one are a warm cozy fleece pair and the other is in a lighter material, both very fun to wear. This new Xerjoff fragrance sounds really nice and thanks for the opportunity to give it try! :-)
ReplyDeleteDo I have animal print in my wardrobe? Oh boy, I'd say every other piece is animal print. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating, but I am partial to zebra stripe prints.. I'll grow out of is someday
ReplyDeleteI have a fun pair of leopard-print platform boots. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnimal prints? Only on the cuddly toy of my little son. Thats the way little tigers should look like.
ReplyDeleteI don't like animal prints, I'm sorry. I don't like them in clothing, nor sofas, nor blankets...
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'd love to try 1861. Thank you! :)
I have a couple of casual clothes with animalic prints or similar, but I'd love to have at least a wonderful little dress with zebra or leopard prints.
ReplyDeleteIt would be funny :)
Thanks for this prize draw.