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Red Carpet Events LA Fun at the Hyatt Regency Century City while benefiting the SPCA LA and AMF

Translating Grammy glamour to year-round enjoyment

The Grammy Awards and the party scene were back in a happy place this year, with good cheer and upbeat fashion finds, reports Elyse Glickman

Clockwise from top left Distinctive Assets’ 10-year-old DJ performed. Keep America totes. Plosion from MTG of Japan, a manufacturer of health and beauty devices. Jäger Iosonic.

A year after Whitney Houston’s ironically timed final curtain, the Grammy Awards were back on their game, mixing grand spectacle and quirky events. For example, Taylor Swift’s real-time, Cirque du Soleil-inspired commentary on her mercurial love life, Jennifer Lopez’s and Katy Perry’s fashion choices, tributes to Bob Marley and Levon Helm, Goyte’s multiple wins and the forever-young antics of Fun (the band). Indeed, Grammy’s weekend was fun again. Of course, the revelry was not limited to the stage or the telecast.

Distinctive Assets’ Grammy pre-event once again provided a lively scene backstage at the Staples Center Downtown, thanks in part to some assists from event planner Pam Morrison and interior designer Seyie Putsure. While casual sportswear has always been a Distinctive Assets staple, alongside stalwart sponsors Gibson Guitars and Solstice Eyewear, American-made brand Locally Known/Globally Grown added a philanthropic twist to this year’s mix of innovative style and grooming essentials. Created in tandem with the Starkey Hearing Foundation, 20 per cent of profits from the line’s sales benefit educational programmes and procedures that can potentially stave off premature hearing loss.

Simone L. Smith Jewelry returned with its whimsical Sweet Touch of Hope lollipop pendants, which raises funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society. For cancer survivor Smith, the lollipop represents her journey back to health and desire to help other survivors. A new unisex silver and crystal bracelet was showcased alongside sparkling lollies in mouthwatering new colours.

Distinctive Assets’ do also featured live entertainment from up-and-coming talent, including a 10-year-old female DJ, as well as frosty special edition cans of Diet Pepsi. However, the product line-up of this Distinctive Assets suite offered up some cool items where style and function definitely harmonized in all kinds of ways.

With spring and summer on its way, designer Dayme was on hand to show off these playful and roomy 4 Leaf Clover canvas and leather totes sold at KeepAmerica.com, spotlighting American-made goods and small artisanal businesses specializing in apparel and accessories for men, women and children.

Though white pants and jeans are not deemed fashionable in the US until Memorial Day, there is no denying white, healthy teeth never go out of fashion. Though having a good electric toothbrush is essential, the Jäger Iosonic Toothbrush and Teeth Whitening System brings the household must-have to a new level with additional tooth whitening and brush sanitizing functions. It also does not hurt that the appliance is available in cool pink and black models.

Our favourite eye-style expert Eden Wexler, representing Solstice Sunglass Boutique, showed us several models that marked a return to more subdued frame hues and sophisticated silhouettes, even with the ’70s and ’80s æsthetic still in place. She was particularly excited about new “folding glasses” options, as well as the launch of Polaroid Plus Sunglasses. Celebrating its 75th anniversary, Polaroid Eyewear introduced the new collection, which combines the latest results in polarization technology with a brand new style designed for a minimal and urban look. Every pair of sunglasses features the Polaroid UltraSight.

How could you not love a line of dark Chakalates developed by Grammy winner Chaka Khan? However, don’t indulge too much as you’d want to fit into Brazilian-inspired D’Milikah 2013 Swimwear Collection, offering a range of silhouettes suited for everyday real women of all sizes. The line also includes casual wear, dresses, and accessories.

The suite headliner was MTG, a Japanese manufacturer of innovative beauty and health devices that make practically any brand of moisturizer or firming serum work more effectively. Celebs received Glalent Platinum Portable Ion Mist devices, though other devices (which could pass for modern art) were demos and not yet available outside of Japan.

Clockwise from top left Belle Étoile jewellery. A. J. McLean at Jorg Gray watches. Tia Carrere. Another Jorg Gray watch.

Red Carpet Events LA provided a stellar primping and accessorizing celebration of its own at the Hyatt Regency Century City Plaza Hotel. Costume, fine jewellery and accessories were in the spotlight. Texas-based Tasha R.’s stock-and-trade is delicate gold, diamond and platinum pieces. There were also some attention-getting and covetable Frey Wille-reminiscent sterling silver and enamel pieces from San Francisco-based Belle Étoile as well as clever interchangeable pendants from Dutch company Quoins. Wellness jewellery fans could also have their pick of magnetic pet collars, bracelets and pendants from Shuzi USA.

While Jorg Gray watches have made the rounds in Hollywood at awards time for several years now, the company is still riding high on the popularity of its iconic and classic men’s watch sported by President Barack Obama (the Presidential) in some of his most memorable and historic moments in office caught on camera. As demonstrated at this event, however, the brand offers other visually striking timepieces that run the gamut from classic to contemporary. Though the line is designed for and strong enough for a man, the reps mentioned women like them and wear them, too.

Also on hand was Dermaesthetics skin care, mineral cosmetics line Couleur Caramel and Boîte à Savon (love the apothecary-inspired design). Shoe enthusiasts also had their pick of shoes too pretty to wear, hand-painted stilettos from Taylor Says Shoes or good-enough-to-eat pumps by Chocolate Creations by Chara. Thigh-high stockings by Kix’ies, meanwhile, not only complete a look but also donate a portion of their proceeds to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Charities that got the red-carpet treatment in terms of getting their message out included Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA LA, which believes that animals, as living creatures, have value beyond economic measurement, and are entitled to legal, moral and ethical consideration and protection) and the African Millennium Foundation (AMF), seeking to target poverty, hunger and disease at its very root by providing African women and children with the necessary tools for achieving self-sufficiency.

Above Celebrities at Doris Bergman’s suite—showing them how it’s done.

Although smaller suites (the Rock Out Pre-Grammy Celebrity Gifting Lounge, staged in a car dealership) made for interesting diversions the day before the big show, Doris Bergman showed other event planners how it’s done mid-week with her always strategically staged Valentine’s Day–pre-Oscar celebration, which, as usual, had top-tier talent, both in entertainment and product vendors.

‘This party is amazing!’ said former Oscar winner Martin Landau. ‘Such love and warmth—amazing gifts, delicious food, a wonderful ambiance, (and) I am very happy to be here!’ ‘This is marvellous!’ added Django Unchained’s Dennis Christopher, who also was rubbing shoulders with Sexy Liberal comedian Hal Sparks, Dyan Cannon, Anne-Marie Johnson, Estella Warren, Kevin Eubanks, Obba Babbatunde, Lisa Ann Walter, Rosa Blasi, Deidre Hall and Ken Davitian.

In the spirit of giving back, guests donated new and unwrapped gifts for children ages 16–18 for a pre-Valentine’s Day gift drive benefiting Wednesday’s Child, a weekly segment airing on Los Angeles Fox TV, with news presenter Christine Devine. Wednesday’s Child highlights “harder to place” children in the LA County foster care system in need of adoptive families. According to social worker William Wong, over 35,000 children are receiving welfare services. Bergman herself spread a little extra love and joy by inviting two foster children to join in on the festivities and experience what it felt like to get the “star treatment”.

Highlights of Doris’s always-anticipated annual event included designer Charlie Lapson showcasing his latest evening bags and accessories, Nature’s Flavors’ sensory and savoury products for the kitchen and the rest of the home, Twisted Silver’s fashion-forward pieces mixing reclaimed materials and vintage jewellery pieces, Qmadix’s ’60s graphic-inspired covers for the Iphone 5 and cordless mini-speakers, supple leather totes and wallets from Lauren & Luca, Kelly Nishimoto’s tastefully sexy, booty-lifting lounge pants and the newly launched Whitening Lightning Dial-a-Smile Zero White made from a new compilation of natural ingredients.

The intimate Rock Out pre-Grammy celebrity gifting lounge, benefiting the American Heart Association (perfect timing, as February is National Heart Awareness Month in the States), had a few items we fell in love with. The one-of-a kind Karen Mark handbags not only had great personality, but also reasonable price points, considering the work put into them. Sparkly, Grammy-inspired nail colours and top coats from Wonder Beauty were the perfect counterpoint for the LA-based designer’s bags with their collage-y mix of colour and shapes. PureFX demonstrated its new botanical based products, while Xocai’s chocolate and superfruit products offered to do the same with their nutritious drinks, candy and vitamins. •



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Elyse Glickman is US west coast editor of Lucire.