Skip to main content

Dress Well and Be Well with Norma Kamali

In Norma Kamali's world, wellness and fashion go hand-in-hand.  But Kamali has always been ahead of the curve. 

She rose to fame in the '80s and her glam swimsuits, classic evening and sportswear, and signature sleeping bag coats are still must-haves for any uptown girl's wardrobe. Budget fashionistas everywhere can also shop her affordable Norma Kamali for Walmart line (stylish swimsuits are $20 and under).


The designer (above photo), known for her trademark sunglasses, recently re-launched her Wellness Cafe where she sells her favorite olive oils from Italy, Spain, and France; olive-oil based skincare products and massage oils; Intelligent Nutrients anti-aging products by Horst; and fitness videos by Physique 57.


I spent an afternoon at the inviting, stark cafe, which offers visitors a chance to nosh on healthy snacks including yummy kale chips and tasty, fresh fruit and vegetable juices at the Organic Avenue juice bar.


"Organic Avenue is 85% of my daily diet," says Kamali.  "It's a great way to be trim, fit, and healthy."


Kamali originally opened the cafe in 2007 out of a desire to provide a healthier place for she and her neighboring retailers to eat.  Since she's given up her daily morning bagel for a diet free of non-processed food and rich in plant based products and olive oil, she's reached her desired weight and looks half her age.


Check out Ms. Kamali's blog and stop by the Wellness Cafe at her multi-level flagship store:


OMO Norma Kamali
11 W. 56th Street near Fifth Ave.
(212) 957- 9797


Image credit: Tracy Hopkins

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Conway Discount Clothing Chain Closing in New York City

(Tracy E. Hopkins) It's the end of a budget shopping era. Conway discount stores are closing in New York City . As of this weekend, a sign on the sole Herald Square location (34th Street btwn 7th and 8th Ave) says the store will close in "7 Days." Before I relocated to the Big Apple, I was introduced to the discount chain while on a bus trip from Baltimore.  I recall the first time I saw Conway's signature pink bags carried by hurried shoppers in midtown. And Miss Foster, the trip organizer and a bargain hunter from way back, took me to the store for the first time. Conway store in the Fulton Mall./Tracy E. Hopkins When I moved here in 1994, my love affair with Conway continued.  I furnished my first apartment with discount knick-knacks and home goods from the store.  And much to my chagrin, in hindsight, I curated most of my wardrobe for my first full-time job from the long-shuttered 42nd Street and Third Avenue store. One regretful ensemble: Lime green and

Giveaway: Thank Your Friends with Merci Chocolates!

National Friendship Day was August 4, 2013, but Everything She Wants has decided to continue the celebration with a giveaway from merci fine European chocolates . While some friendships are for a season or a reason, other friendships are built to last a lifetime.  I’m fortunate to have two best friends: Cindy, whom I’ve known since junior high school and Deanna, who started out as my amusing intern.  Besides my mother and my husband, these girlfriends are my greatest confidants.  They’re like the sisters I never had and we’ve supported each other through personal trials and triumphs. So what better way to say ‘thank you’ to your friends than with merci chocolates?  One lucky reader will win a ‘Friendship Kit’  that you can either keep to reward yourself for being such a great friend or share with a deserving comrade. The kit includes: $25 Target gift card (yay!) 7 ounce box of merci chocolates A picture frame to display a photo of you and your friends A choc

Probiotics Do a Body Good: Vitamin Shoppe Tips to Trust Your Gut

You've heard about probiotics.  But what are they and what do they do? We asked the Vitamin Shoppe's on-staff nutritionist Brian Tanzer for the skinny on the benefits of these good bacteria that help keep your gut healthy. Why you need probiotics? I f you eat a lot of processed foods, excess sugar or refined carbohydrates, the bacteria in your digestive tract might have a hard time staying in balance.  And probiotics   inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, promote good digestion, boost immune function, and increase resistance to infection. Tip:   You can find them in  capsule , tablet,  powder  and  chewable  forms. When you should take a probiotic? If you are looking for a probiotic to  take every day, try a multi-strain probiotic starting with 5-10 billion CFU,  and see how it works for you. CFU's, or  colony forming units  are used to measure probiotics potency. CFU’s can range from 1 billion up to 100 billion.  The best time to take a probiotic supplem