Igor Spektor

In a very friendly, relaxed and airy Stardust Penthouse atop the Beverly Hilton, guests of Debbie Durkin’s 2015 edition of the Eco Luxe Oscar Style Lounge could receive posh perk-ups, including blow-drys, organic spray tans and make-up touch-ups by OC Hair & Makeup. Celebrity pets were treated to eco-friendly goodies from Canadog and other vendors.
   Choices Recovery was the very timely charitable focus of the event, and reps from the organization were on hand to educate and raise awareness of the options that exist for those struggling with substance abuse. To set the mood, Durkin’s team joined forces with innovative company Under Canvas, known for its retreat packages to such healing destinations in the US as Moab, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. The hotel penthouse was transformed into a glamorous camping-style escape (hence ‘glamping’) with stylish hunting lodge-chic décor. Élan Event Rentals, LBPS Events and Frances Lynn Creative Florals provided beautiful assistance in setting the mood for both the day- and night-time festivities (hosted by Real Housewives of Orange County cast member Gretchen Christine Rossi and Chris Booker of AMP Radio).
   Attendees included nominees and winners from the crews of films such as American Sniper, The Theory of Everything, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Hobbit and Whiplash. They included Ben Wilkins (Oscar winner, Whiplash, for best sound mixing), Elise Robertson (Oscar nominee, American Sniper), Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou (Oscar nominee, Guardians of the Galaxy, for make-up and hairstyling), Jason Canovas (Oscar nominee, The Hobbit, for sound editing), Lisa Bruce (producer of The Theory of Everything), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), philanthropist Nancy Davis (Race to Erase MS), Carolyn Hennesy (Revenge), Ken Davitian (Borat), Christian Oliver (Alarm für Cobra 11: die Autobahnpolizei), Amanda Adrienne, Claudia Wells, Kelly Perine, Jillian Murray, Craig Scime, Cassandra Michaels, Daisy Jacobs, Suzan Brittan, Adina Porter, May Wang, Andrea Bogart, and our friends Donna Spangler and Richie Benveniste.
   Daytime guests stopped by for make-up, spray tans and hair touch-ups from nationwide mobile company OC Hair & Make-up, stocked up on pet gear from CanaDog and KD Pet Protector, and canine babysitting services from Gardena-based Camp Run-a-Mutt. VIPs left with gift bags containing gift certificates for dog collars by Let There Be Collars and complimentary services at Animal Healing & Wellness. Humans got certificates for free candles at Sugar Mint Candle Co. and complimentary sessions at Body & Brain Yoga in Burbank.—Elyse Glickman, US West Coast Editor, and Leyla Messian, LA Correspondent

Igor Spektor

Israel David Groveman

Above Night Fox by Kate Finley was the jewellery stand-out at the Oscar edition of the Secret Room Beauty Bar & Luxury Lounge this year.

Depending on how you see it, an Oscar event staged in a small courtyard and an adjoining room can either read as “exclusive”, “intimate” or “scaled down”. While the roving day spa-and-boutique complexes staged on sprawling estates of 2005 have found their place in Hollywood lore, in 2015, they are pretty much replaced with self-contained pocket-sized lounges whose live vendors support the theme of an event’s charity of choice. And sometimes, less really can be more.
   This go round, Rita Branch and Amy Boatwright’s Secret Room Beauty Bar & Luxury Lounge trumpeted the organization Fashionomics Live!, which offers high school students an engaging career exploring process behind the scenes at businesses and events. The group’s Tour Stop and Pop-Up internship programme helps students embrace the process of exploring multiple professions and careers in fashion and other industries with the intention of helping them become better prepared for their college years.
   Tony & Guy took over one corner of the W Hotel Westwood’s courtyard (where Red Carpet Events staged their pre-Grammy celebration), treating VIPs to with spa, beauty, massage and hair services, while those waiting could sip on new branded coffees from Guy Fieri and the Cake Boss and snack on decadent ice-cream-flavoured yoghurt from German company Müller or sip BrainToniq energy drinks. Ancestry.com was also on hand to provide a perspective on the unique things that made the guests (literally) what they are today.
   After those nifty touch-ups press and celebrities could stock up on fat blockers by Calorease, vitamin gummies from Fiber Choice for immunity and metabolism boosts, heartburn relief from Gutsy Chewy, brow boosters from Revitalash, and fantastic wine from Argentine and Chilean producers. Silver Jewelry by Night Fox by Kate Finley was the fashion highlight of the event, with its rough hewn elegance offset by semiprecious and precious stones. Kate’s pieces are hand-crafted from recycled sterling silver and gold using techniques such as Torch fusion (connecting metal without solder) reticulation (surface of the metal is heated to melting point and then quickly cooled) and lost wax casting.
   Bags reserved exclusively for celebrity guests included vouchers for vacations at some of the world’s great resorts (including Anantara, Waiakea, Old Bahama Bay, West Glow Resort & Spa and the Aria Hotel in Budapest) as well as fashion and accessories from LeTarte, Elizabeth Jane, Huit, Paula Callejas and Uzurii Swarovski-encrusted flip-flops.—Elyse Glickman, US West Coast Editor

A Lucire special promotion

‘If a man suddenly gives you flowers, that’s Impulse,’ has been one of the most famous catch-phrases of the last generation, since Fabergé introduced it in South Africa in the 1970s. Variations on the theme have come and gone, and in 2015, Impulse moves to a new generation with Bambi Northwood-Blyth—one of Lucire’s newsmakers of 2013—and her husband Dan Single, formerly of Ksubi, fronting its latest campaign.
   Northwood-Blyth has been securing campaigns, including fashion label Ba&Sh, because she somehow taps into the Zeitgeist. She also has her own fashion line, B.BAM, and her sense of style and levity have made her more real and endearing to her fans. At Impulse, she joins former Lucire cover girl Zippora Seven and Erin Heatherton and was even placed in charge of the brand’s Instagram for one week.
   The new video, which broke for Valentine’s Day, is not just about the day itself, but embracing love, life and friendship every day. It’s unusual in featuring a real-life married couple who are very much in love, and Northwood-Blyth’s popularity among fashion cognoscenti, plus her social media following, bring it right into the mid-2010s. Gone is the “flowers” theme in favour of the couple on a getaway, and emphasizing that true love isn’t just about that initial “impulse” that drove the original, and perhaps dated advertising. It’s about a real partnership between a couple, in everything they do.
   Like Northwood-Blyth’s other appearances, there is a genuine feel to it, even though the Impulse campaign is more stylized than her own social media, which have shown more behind-the-scenes material. It’s bound to earn her even more fans, while helping to reinvent Impulse as less fanciful, and more part of a real, lasting, romance.

Post sponsored by Unilever

Dan Lecca

Above Lie Sangbong’s autumn–winter 2015–16 looks, which also feature in Lola Cristall’s forthcoming New York report.

Our final clips before Lola Cristall’s Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week report for the fall–winter 2015–16 collections are below, with videos from Michael Kors, Jenny Packham, Zang Toi, Lupe Gajardo, the Art Institutes, Bibhu Mohapatra, Lie Sangbong, Francesca Liberatore, Leanne Marshall, Thomas Wylde, Anna Sui, Erin Fetherston, Iijin, Malan Breton, Tokyo Runway, Sergio Davila, Dorin Negrau and AmFAR.
   Our London Fashion Week live player is currently on our home page. On the main part of the site, NYC beauty editor Jamie Dorman has her picks for skin-like foundations, while publisher Jack Yan samples the Peugeot 308 Allure Blue HDi in our ‘Living’ section.

Michael Kors

Jenny Packham

Zang Toi

Lupe Gajardo

The Art Institutes

Bibhu Mohapatra

Lie Sangbong

Francesca Liberatore

Leanne Marshall

Thomas Wylde

Anna Sui

Erin Fetherston

Iijin

Malan Breton

Tokyo Runway

Sergio Davila

Dorin Negrau

AmFAR

KVR Creative/courtesy Doris Bergman

Even if seasoned Hollywood PR pro and impresario Doris Bergman asks for feedback on her events, the truth is that with her Oscar-Valentine and Emmy events, she consistently “knocks them out of the park” (as we say in the baseball-crazy USA). Once again, West Hollywood’s Fig & Olive restaurant played host to the Seventh Annual Valentine Romance Oscar Style Lounge & Party, and the vibe was friendly, appetizing (lots of fresh-from-the-oven goodies from F&O’s kitchen) and quite stylish for both the celebrities and attending press.
   Seven, however, proved to be particularly charming for Doris, not only with her mix of guests and products, but also lots of surprises. While her roster of talent (including Rosa Blasi, Sofia Milos, Deidre Hall, James Kyson Lee, Lisa Vidal, Lisa Ann Walter, Kelsey Scott, Carolyn Hennesy, Rénée Taylor, Joe Bologna, and Greg Grunberg) enjoyed this favourite family reunion of sorts, the icing on the Valentine’s Day cupcake was a visit from LA’s enduring designer Sue Wong. While her selection of dresses for the A-listers dazzled, it was a whole other matter when the belle of the ball strolled in to witness for herself celebrities falling in love with her artistry all over again.
   As Sue and Doris greeted each other, it suddenly hit me that both women have a lot in common, including making every invited guest to their soirées feel welcome, accepted, well fed and fashionable. The motherly love exuded at the event provided a perfect backdrop for official charity Wednesday’s Child. KTTV Fox 11 News’s Los Angeles presenter Christine Devine was present to support and answer questions about her signature cause beyond her weekly local broadcasts. Celebrities were encouraged to bring new, unwrapped gifts, including clothing, accessories, electronics, sporting equipment, monetary donations, etc., for a post-holiday gift drive for teens currently living in foster care.
   The returning and still fabulous perennials filling out the Fig & Olive garden included MDSun USA skin care, Silvana K Designs jewellery, Arbonne Essentials’ nutrition products, Spongelle bath products, Kama Sutra, Twisted Silver by Debra Mitchell, Single by Galina Sobolev, Telic (with new bling accessories), and Model in a Bottle (now with a sensitive skin formula).
   Although Samiah appeared at a certain Golden Globes event a few weeks ago, and in spite of the fact that the mercury hit 30°C (86°F), the bespoke coat designer showed her presence could stand up to a seasoned veteran like Sue Wong in both her artistry with fabric and her ease with guests from all walks of life. Shangri-La of Luxury helped clear the air for prosperity with delicious home and body fragrances, as did candles from the new Burbank boutique Shoppe 815. Beauty mavens could rejoice with an opportunity to test out all-natural hair care from Pura d’Or and the Kelley West Microderm360° Dermabrasion Tool and skin care line. Another motherly touch: the rep encouraged guests to use it responsibly and check out special demos at microderm360.com/ before putting this Home Shopping Network best seller to work.—Elyse Glickman, US West Coast Editor

KVR Creative/courtesy Doris Bergman

The GHD Aura is the latest professional hair-drier, with the soft of innovation that we have come to expect from the British company.
   If you’re thinking a hair-drier is just a hair-drier, think again. GHD’s Aura has two patented technologies, called Cool-Wall and Laminair, where you can direct the air flow for greater precision and control.
   Laminair ensures that the hair is more evenly heated at the same temperature, aiding styling and leaving hair smoother and shinier. It also helps align hair in a single direction. Cool-Wall creates a ring of cool air around the hot air, so the casing and nozzle remain cool—allowing you to get the drier closer to the scalp for more volume and root lift.
   It’s received award-winning hairdresser Sara Allsop’s endorsement, as she uses the Aura at her Auckland salon, Dharma. Allsop says the GHD Aura is quieter and more powerful.
   GHD has released two DIY videos showing techniques you can employ to get your hair smooth and polished, or extra, glossy volume.
   Retail price in New Zealand is NZ$300. For stockists in New Zealand, call 0800 880-209 or visit www.ghdhair.com/nz.

Elyse Glickman

Red Carpet Events LA

While the products and inventions featured at Grammy pre-award parties tend to focus more on fun and funky in comparison to offerings at Golden Globe, Emmy and Oscar events, leave it to Roger Zamudio and his Red Carpet Events LA to create an experience that is as earthy and real as it is upscale.
   Celebrities on hand included 2015 Grammy nominees Antonique Smith, Adam Ellison, Charlotte Huggins, Jason Rabinowitz, Jo-El Sonnier, Manny Marroquin, Mindi Abair, Stephen Trask, Adam Ellison, Nimrod Antal, the Order, and Palo as well as actors Sean Kanan and Kelly Perine.
   The benefiting charity was the Los Angeles-based African Millennium Foundation (AMF), whose mission is to eliminate and mitigate poverty, hunger and disease in African countries by assisting African women and children with attaining the necessary tools for achieving self-sufficiency. The strategic non-profit and non-governmental organization got word to attendants about their commitment to the social and economic empowerment of African women and their families. It is especially fitting that Ancestry.com was one of the main attractions and sponsors of the Grammy get-together.
   The event returned to the W Hotel Westwood in West Los Angeles, a little bit away from the fray, with a cozy courtyard setting with interesting innovations and inventors from the US, Germany and Canada—many of them affordable. One thing that was most welcome was ice-cold Zico coconut water in natural and chocolate flavours, given a spring-like spike in the temperature. Returning vendors included down-to-earth wellness purveyors Nuwati Herbals and Tikkun Holistic Spa (on hand to show off their expanded line of made-in-LA Karen’s Products by Karen Chae). Even pampered cats and dogs got a little something: savoury snacks from I and Love and You (whose cat treats had Lucire contributor Leyla Messian’s cats standing up and singing for their supper).
   As this was a pre-award show event, there had to be a couture purveyor on hand to dress VIP women. That firm was Clarisse, Inc., whose designs did not skimp on pomp or circumstance. The guys, meanwhile, could bask in the glow of a 641-horsepower McLaren 650S at the door of the W Hotel Westwood. The state-of-the-art supercar—with its brand’s New Zealand heritage—employs motorsports technology and over 50 years of racing know-how to deliver the fastest, most dynamic and most efficient specimen of its kind on the market. Grammy nominees and presenters got a charge out of a speed test drive.
   In contrast, most of the fashion and beauty offerings were quite approachable. Several of them even had their key designers or creators on-site. These included Canada-based costume jewellery line Artizan by Robin Barre, Geek Eyewear by Alena Lehrer, Sweet North Babe handbags and accessories by Yvonne Begemann, and the founders of the Java Coffee Infused Skincare collection, made with coffee as the main ingredient.
   There were also very lavish hair care products from Arganesse and salon line Jonathan Product, which is under new ownership and features a new range of goods. Victoria Duke featured her new make-up setting spray. The crew from Joy and Mario espadrilles were back with a new collection that includes fashion forward high black canvas wedges as well as a seriously cool leopard spot design available in April. Even with that, the stock cleared out quite early in the event.
   Some of the best things at the suite, meanwhile, could be found in the take-home bags, which were closed tightly to ensure we would wait to open them at home. Goodies included a full collection of Hipsy hair bands (which stay in place even temperamental hair textures like mine and Leyla’s), Pretty Woman nail polish and a certificate for a pair of Australia-based Octavia shoes. I was particularly intrigued as I noticed the line was small and quite specific, focused on very traditional New York basic, sling-back pumps and fashion-forward Versailles and Osaka variations with wedge heels.
   Elizabeth Zielinski, creative director and founder, who has worked with Red Carpet Events previously, notes that while celebrities and professional women want styles that complement their individual look, the primary emphasis is on quality materials and comfort, especially with the wedge designs. These are brought to life by a fourth-generation shoemaker family in the countryside of Guangzhou who Zielinsky says demonstrates traditional skill and art form with exquisite attention to detail.
   ‘Our focus is to celebrate women and share their excitement for life, people and fashion,’ she says. ‘We are very proud supporters of Care Australia, where $5 from every pair of shoes sold from the website goes to supporting social and economic empowerment. Care is an international humanitarian aid organization fighting global poverty, with a special focus on working with women and girls to bring about lasting change to their communities,’ right in line with the charities Red Carpet Events LA supports.—Elyse Glickman, US West Coast Editor

Elyse Glickman

Red Carpet Events LA

Elyse Glickman

Red Carpet Events LA; above right by Elyse Glickman

Red Carpet Events LA

Vivien Killilea/Getty Images

Park City, Utah is where all the action takes place in January as the Sundance Film Festival vibe takes over. While film is the main topic of interest during the week, discreet places allow invited guests to relax as they discover innovative products in the midst of a cozy and warm atmosphere. Kari Feinstein’s Sundance Style Lounge presented by Aruba last weekend was the highlight on the prominent Main Street. Celebrities including Nikki Reed, Gina Rodriguez, Hailee Steinfeld, Toni Collette, Sarah Silverman, Amy Willerton, Emile Hirsch, Avan Jogia, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Shannon, and many more indulged in electronics, clothing and cosmetics. Netgear featured their chic Smart Home Security Camera, stylishly discreet and useful for home safety. Innergie featured their portable charging stations. Eb5 had their skin and body treatment on display; the Third Piece revealed their fashionable hand-knit winter accessories, while Coolway added to the stylish feel with their utmost classy shoes.
   Many other hotspots stole the spotlight during the much-awaited time of year. We will shortly bring to you other events that made their way to the Sundance Film Festival before we turn our attention to Paris where the elegant haute couture fashion week has been unveiled in the French capital.—Lola Cristall, Paris editor

Vivien Killilea/Getty Images