Solar Power

Fortunately for Piero Fornasetti, his fantastical art experienced a rebirth before his death in 1988. For five decades, the Florentine artist/designer decorated chairs, coffee pots and other functional items with Dadaesque architectural and sun motifs. But fans say his legacy lies with his textile prints. So debuts his first namesake women’s collection, sold only in the United States at Barneys New York stores. Its limited run, says Barneys’ spokesman Roman Alonso, “makes each item a collector’s piece.” It’s an ironic end note for an artist who loved the mass-production process.

Scent of a Woman

When Donna Karan wanted a perfume that reminded her of suede, Casablanca lilies and cashmere, her artist husband, Stephan Weiss “worked day and night” to find the scent, recalls Karan. Weiss also designed the curvaceous black-and-gold bottle that stores the signature fragrance. “It’s sort of a present to me,” she says. In their only Southland appearance, the couple will present their joint effort to the public today from noon to 1 p.m. at Nordstrom South Coast Plaza.

Shades of Soul

Steady demand for one of its retro-inspired models is making a loud buzz at sunglass-maker Black Flys in Costa Mesa. Co-owner Jack Martinez finds the popularity of their $77 shades amusing because they’re a knock-off of a 75-cent pair he bought in a thrift shop. “It’s a cool, funky style that’s got soul,” he says. “That’s why they’re (called) the ‘Soul Fly.’ ” They’re available in black, tortoise and marble.

Against Nature, for Nature

Those unhappy with their natural hair color need no longer damage their strands nor the environment with chemicals. Schwarzkopf now offers Igora Botanical, a 100% plant-base dye in eight warm shades such as rosewood, teak and bamboo. “It’s the future of hair color,” says Karen Sorenson, who advises educational technicians for the German product. Three treatments in three months and it’s permanent. “Unlike a henna, it doesn’t have a metallic base,” she adds, so OB/GYNs are recommending it to pregnant and allergic patients. Offered at only 500 salons nationwide and 20 in Orange County, an application costs $50 to $125, depending on the shop.