55 Secret Street : 55 Spring Favorites: Natori Essentials

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I can hardly believe that Josie Natori almost opened a chain of McDonald's franchises instead of becoming a designer, but it's true. Even after becoming the first female Vice President of Investment Banking at Merrill Lynch in the 1970s, Josie was anxious to take on an entrepreneurial venture in the tradition of her grandmother, a venerable businesswoman in her own right.

The result is Natori, her now 32-year-old success story. The label began with lingerie and has since expanded into fragrance, home, eyewear and ready-to-wear.

I was very excited meet Josie at her home to on Manhattan's Upper East Side, thrown by yet another entrepreneurial diva, The Creatrix of Purple Lab cosmetics, Karen Robinovitz. The occasion was to introduce her new collection, Natori Essentials. Social Media evangelist that I am, I was thrilled to see that Josie was so enthusiastic and interested in jumping into the new media world! While her staff maintains @NatoriCompany, Josie maintains a blog, Josie's Thoughts, and tweets herself at @JosieNatori. She even commandeered my BlackBerry so I could show her a few new tricks on Ubertwitter!

The designer herself wore this one-shoulder jersey top and pants for the evening. She also thrilled us by playing the piano!

A concert pianist by the age of nine, she once rented Carnegie Hall for a private concert.

Josie really went out of her way to make everyone feel welcome in her home. As if serenading us on her grand piano and serving the most delicious dim sum weren't enough, she even gave us a tour of her closet! If you need a tour of anyone's closet, it is hers: a soigné red oasis of wall-to-wall black shoes filled with red sachets, elegant clutches and the requisite to die for wardrobe. There was also a desk and chair in the closet where she takes her coffee in the morning. I asked her if I could move in. With a straight face. I am so serious about that...

My mother would have a love/hate relationship with these pieces because she knows they are very me. The item in the picture above is appropriately named, the cocoon. I love timeless, elegant, wearable, uncomplicated clothing - in black! Mom's not thrilled with all of the black either, but I love it. I also love the attainable luxury of it all (the prices range from $150 to $500) and the fact that the line goes all the way up to XL - extra large. Essential indeed...