Paris is always a good idea!

~ Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina

 

I haven’t been to Paris – yet! But Madora Kenya and luxury French cosmetics brand Lancôme have brought a little bit of a Parisian feel to Nairobi. Yes, Café Lancôme is here! It is the prettiest little pop-up outside of the Madora store at Westgate Mall designed to look like an al-fresco café on the streets of Paris. Café Lancôme brings two of my favourite things together: coffee and cosmetics. It’s supposed to be a leisurely experience where you can get your face dolled up a-la Lancôme via the Madora makeup artists, shop for your cosmetics and enjoy some treats like coffee (I was hoping gourmet or at least freshly brewed), cupcakes and other treats like macarons, cookies and marshmallows. C’est bon!

Madora invited me for their Café Lancôme launch yesterday and it was about time that I made return to Westgate Mall after not being able to since the attacks a few years ago. I was amazed at how the same yet different Westgate looked and felt, but that’s another story . . .  Café Lancôme had its global debut in Dubai last year. The Nairobi launch was nice and sweet with a minimal number of people present.The pop-up itself consisted of a lovely little café table and chairs as the center piece with a few other white garden style chairs in the mix (for the event), a Lancôme cart that looked like it would typically be hosting pastries but instead had perfume (so darling) and a Café Lancôme parasol/umbrella that I legit wanted to take home with me. There was a dresser type table as well with the vanity lights and some beautiful chocolate cupcakes, a vintage looking Lancôme suitcase makeup station with a Lancôme branded canvas “director’s chair” where the Lancôme makeup artist for Kenya, Sam, was glamming guests up, and they even had street lights! Oh la la!

I got to chit chat with some of the other attendees and catch up with Kamlesh, the Madora MD, get my face done by Sam and spent some time trying out different scents and makeup from the other brands in the Madora store like Dior, Chanel, YSL, and Guerlain which is always a thrill for a beauty and fragrance lover like me (read about my Madora makeover here). I learned a few tricks of the trade from Sam and got some good life advise on makeup from Carole Mandi. Café Lancôme will be around for the next few weeks so make your way there for a little bit of delicious glam and fun.

 

xo