Winter came to southern California, and with it much needed rain and chilly air. Tents went up, covering the storeyed courtyard of the SLS Hotel, making the Secret Room Events’ Golden Globe Style Lounge an actual room filled with sponsors focused on healthy treats, sustainable and wearable style, natural products and, of course, animal activism and rescue.
Given many celebrities are vegetarian or vegan, Farm Sanctuary had a fantastic opportunity to turn their message into a cause célèbre. This unique organization operates three shelters in New York and California providing lifelong care for nearly 1,000 rescued farm animals. While the animals are rescued from abuse and starvation, the organizers hope their practices will change the way society views and treats farm animals, and encourage compassionate vegan living.
Hope For Paws, meanwhile, hopes to accomplish a similar mission with cats, dogs and other homeless pets throughout California, North America and elsewhere via widely circulated videos as well as encouragement of pet adoption events.
Platinum sponsors Derma E and Big Slice were predictably a huge hit among the diverse talents in attendance. Big Slice, a family-owned company, transforms baked apples into luscious, nutritious snacks, integrating everything from tropical fruits to sesame, chocolate and other healthy indulgences into a healthy packet that goes from the kitchen to practically anywhere. Derma E bills itself as food for your skin, through a series of vitamin-rich, high-performance antioxidant skin care products that are 100 per cent vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and GMO-free.
Other natural, and naturally appealing products for body and hair, included Younique, RX Clinical Cosmeceaticals, Body & Soul Natural Haircare, Bellivita Body and Haircare, and Ioma Paris.
DelGrosso Foods’ pasta sauces and Heat Holders’ thermal socks provided warmth for guests on that chilly Friday while Stella Carakasi allowed VIPs to select a toasty sweater from their current winter and spring lines. There were also some nice little items perfect for the frequent fliers in the room: the B Belt, created by Nelson, New Zealand native Becky Larsen, is the perfect carry-all for women who want their hands free. The sash-like belt holds mobile phone, Ipod, money, ID or even a compact. Though the name Golden Girl may spark memories of the 1980s television show about sprightly and sassy seniors, Montreal, Canada-based Golden Girl Clothing’s jean leggings appear to be designed to flatter women of all ages and shapes.
While Dallas-based Kathy Fielder is best known and loved for her interior design accents, she’s successfully broken into fashion, with chic faux fur vests, fabric handbags and eye-catching lace infinity scarves with a jewellery-like feel. Australian jewellery designer Jennifer Reeves, meanwhile, showed that natural stones could be as flattering and fashionable as opals and other precious gems.
Celebrities attending included Adina Porter (True Blood), Ashley Argota (The Fosters), Jason Ritter (Parenthood), Jenji Kohan (Orange Is the New Black), Josh Brener (Silicon Valley), Mark Feuerstein (Royal Pains), Mekhi Phifer (Divergent), Neil McDonough (Suits), Omar Dorsey (Selma), Beau Casper, Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz (both nominated for Gett: the Trial of Viviane Amsalem).—Elyse Glickman, US West Coast Editor
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