In the spirit of St Patrick’s Day 2014, Jameson Irish Whiskey will release its fourth limited-edition design bottle, this time the work of illustrator Dermot Flynn.
   Flynn was inspired by the sights and sounds of Dublin, and his illustration features a pub, statues, monuments, and humorous Irish sayings.
   Jameson says the limited-edition bottle is a must-have for those who love Ireland and the Irish character. Says Kathryn Love, Jameson’s marketing manager in New Zealand, ‘In addition to its smooth, balanced taste, one of the things that whiskey fans around the world tell us they love about Jameson is its intrinsic Irish character. Jameson embodies the down-to-earth character of Dubliners so with this new limited edition, we wanted to bring that to life and celebrate the great city which inspired John Jameson to make his now iconic whiskey for the first time over 230 years ago.’
   The limited-edition bottle retails for NZ$64·99 from March 17, 2014 at selected outlets, while stocks last.

Bill Cooper

In a surprise announcement, the Royal New Zealand Ballet’s artistic director, Ethan Stiefel, has said he will leave the company on September 1.
   Stiefel has been with the RNZB since 2011. Under his artistic leadership, the RNZB has enjoyed record-breaking seasons, including 38,000 tickets sold for the Vodafone season of Swan Lake in 2013. His production of Giselle, created in collaboration with Johan Kobborg, was the subject of a feature film. The company also toured China in its 60th anniversary year in 2013, and the US last month, receiving very positive reviews. Under Stiefel, the RNZB increased its number to 36 full-time members (up from 32), while the standards have also risen. During his tenure, Nigel Gaynor was appointed musical director.
   In a release, Stiefel said, ‘Since 2011, I have enjoyed growing alongside the RNZB, and I am fortunate to have been given the opportunity to live and work in New Zealand. Despite how rewarding the experience has been, it has proved difficult on a personal level to be so far away from family and friends. Furthermore, the distance has also made it challenging to explore other professional projects that have been presented to me, without taking too much time away from the company. For these reasons, I will be leaving the RNZB on September 1st. I cannot thank everyone in the organization enough for their support, and I look forward to seeing the company continue to evolve and achieve great things.’
   RNZB chair, Candis Craven, said, ‘Ethan has made an incredible contribution to the RNZB. It was his vision and energy that most impressed us when we interviewed him for the role in 2011 and he has delivered that in spades, and so much more.’
   Programming is in place through to the end of 2015, including two world premières.
   Stiefel’s last season will feature Allegro: Five Short Ballets, which opens in Auckland on July 30. Stiefel’s fiancée, Gillian Murphy, who is the RNZB’s principal guest artist, will dance in Allegro. The RNZB says it hopes to continue its association with her in the future.
   Coppélia, now in rehearsal, will première in Wellington on April 17.
   A new artistic director is expected to be appointed by September 1.

Elyse Glickman

The rooftop of the Luxe Hotel is a genius spot to plan a pre-award show event. Once again, veteran event planners Mark and Matthew Harris of WOW! Creations and Roger Neal booked the space hoping to continue their respective winning streaks with celebrities and VIPs against a 360-degree backdrop of Beverly Hills. However, when storms blew through town, a suite with an open roof patio may not be the most inviting. That said, these event planners’ past track records are so solid that their events are still going to be must-dos on the pre-Oscar week party circuit.
   Matthew and Mark Harris had a clever edge, bringing out the kid in everybody. The entry to the suite at the Luxe Beverly Hills’ entrance in itself was an event, with balloons, a pre-packed goody bag of treats and a greeting from Hollywood clown and author Jason Lassen, opening out to a “circus” theme that was three rings of beauty, wellness, and good taste on the roof (in the literal sense, with several artisanal spirits being poured to take off the winter chill) and a sideshow in a second-floor suite showcasing more sensory delights: Vance Family Soy Candles (de-light-ful, delicious and calorie-free bon-bons), a set of Pamper Me Organically skin care products from Toronto, Canada, and for the sports fan, BubbaGlove pom-pom gloves with all Los Angeles sports teams represented.
   Melissa Fego’s delicate natural stone droplets in earring, necklace and bracelet form brought a touch of elegance and formality to the occasion as did floral-scented Brville candles, medical-grade skin care from Love My Body and sweet-smelling travel kits and a beautiful tote bag from Florida-based Pura Botanica, which raises money for the Loggerhead Marine Life Center. You could also start your post-Oscar health resolution with a month’s supply of vitamins from GliSODin Skin Nutrients.
   The setting may have been celebrities under the Big Top, including Miss California, USA and Miss California, Teen USA, legendary NASA astronaut Dr Buzz Aldrin, Steven Rice, James Dumont (my former high school classmate), and Zacary Heinz-Erg, all tied to major Oscar-nominated projects, but there was a grown-up aspect to it via the wonderful artisanal liquors, from ParaVi’s dessert wine in chocolate-covered bottles, to Four Roses Whiskey to Bainbridge Organic’s gin, to delicious cinnamon bun and vanilla vodkas by Five Wives from Ogden’s Own Distillery to a blissful sip from dairy-free Kkada Sutra Caramel Liqueur.
   With everybody in high spirits, the next logical step was to head to the Luxe Beverly Hills’ restaurant for a brimming bowl of Chef David Padilla’s tangy and soothing tomato soup and truffle fries.

Elyse Glickman

Earlier in the week, Roger Neal and his team treated VIPs to a variety of on-site treatments such as SunLounge Studios spray tans, designer gowns by the Netherlands’ Addy van den Krommenacker and loans of red carpet jewellery by Erin Fader. VIPs were sent home with a bag of skin care product by G. M. Collin and hair styling tools by ISO Beauty. There were also hair care products by Olez Hair, integrating apple stem-cell technology in all their products, Muchachomalo hand-painted underwear and leggings, and pants and camis by Marena made with medical grade compression fabric. A former presidential chef was on hand with comforting German and Austrian fare. (Who knew a knish could be so gourmet, or so welcoming on the eve of a big storm?)
   Although her suite was moved from Circa 55 (where we later enjoyed an incredible dinner) to the Bar 210, the unflappable and ever resourceful Debbie Durkin charged forward with a more intimate version of her stalwart “eco” Oscar event. While Voss Water and Maya Tequila provided liquid refreshment, New Zealand-based lighting company WakaNine (with US distribution through its Austin, Texas office) set the tone and the cool mod-style for the space. The soul of the event was the Say Yes to Hope charity. Vendors showing their wares included local boutique LA + Jo, classic Will Leather bags, Eye by Panoptx glasses, and to bring it all home, BeautiControl skin care and a handy tote bag with millions of pockets (love!).—Elyse Glickman, US West Coast Editor

Elyse Glickman

Top Lupita Nyong’o in a Prada silk georgette gown accessorized with Fred Leighton gold jewellery. Above Lupita Nyong’o on the red carpet.

The tension over the 86th Academy Awards ended as 12 Years a Slave was awarded Best Picture on Sunday, though Gravity managed a tally of seven (including Best Director for Alfonso Cuarón) and Dallas Buyers’ Club took the two male acting gongs for Matthew McConaughey (in the lead) and Jared Leto (supporting). Cate Blanchett won Best Actress of Blue Jasmine, while the most talked-about celeb of awards’ season, Lupita Nyong’o, won Best Supporting Actress for 12 Years a Slave.
   Host Ellen DeGeneres’s Twitter photo with Bradley Cooper and other celebrities broke a record, being re-Tweeted over 2·3 million times (at the time of writing) since it was put on the social network.
   Below are the remaining winners from this year’s Oscars.

Best Original Screenplay: Spike Jones, for Her
Best Adapted Screenplay: John Ridley, for 12 Years a Slave
Best Animated Feature Film: Frozen
Best Documentary Feature: 20 Feet from Stardom
Best Foreign Language Film: La grande bellezza (The Great Beauty)
Best Visual Effects: Tim Webber, Chris Lawrence, Dave Shirk and Neil Corbould for Gravity
Best Film Editing: Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger for Gravity
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki for Gravity
Best Costume Design: Catherine Martin for The Great Gatsby
Best Make-up and Hairstyling: Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews for Dallas Buyers’ Club
Best Production Design: Catherine Martin and Beverley Dunn for The Great Gatsby
Best Sound Mixing: Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead and Chris Munro for Gravity
Best Sound Editing: Glenn Freemantle for Gravity
Best Original Score: Steven Price for Gravity
Best Original Song: ‘Let It Go’, from Frozen, music and lyric by Kristen Anderson-López and Robert López
Best Animated Short Film: Mr Hublot, directed by Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigares
Best Live-Action Short Film: Helium, directed by Anders Walter and Kim Magnusson
Best Documentary Short Subject: The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life, directed by Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed

Red-carpet arrivals

Glamour on the red carpet

Baby bumps on the red carpet

Jennifer Lawrence trips again

Oscars 2014: all about the selfie

Jared Leto wins Best Supporting Actor

Lupita Nyong’o wins Best Supporting Actress

Cate Blanchett wins Best Actress

Matthew McConaughey wins Best Actor

12 Years a Slave wins Best Film

Highlights

Above Ellen DeGeneres’s Twitter photo with Bradley Cooper in the foreground, which had been re-Tweeted over 2·3 million times.

Award-winning writer Carolyn Enting (left)—whose work has graced our pages—has published her first novel, a labour of love called The Medallion of Auratus, now available at Amazon.
   Years in the making, Enting’s children’s book takes the reader on an other-worldly journey, already acclaimed by Meg Matthews of the Brancott Estate World of Wearable Art as ‘beautifully written and gloriously descriptive’ and ‘utterly engaging and believable’ by Weta’s Kate Jorgensen.
   ‘Enting takes us on a riveting journey that’s a mixture of Jules Verne and a Greek hero myth. It’s an intelligent read loaded with classical references that come to life for young readers,’ says journalist Patrick Rose.
   Its main character, Sam Donnelly, and his best friend, Jackson Brown, discover a magical gold medallion on the beach during the summer holidays. The pair must return the medallion to the Golden Tower in Auratus, in another realm which they had thought existed only in legends, or this world will be ruled by the evil Sea Lord, Sceleratus.
   Enting’s first draft was written as a teenager. Now 43, she completed the novel during her annual leave breaks while working as a full-time journalist over the last decade. She is now associate editor of Mindfood.
   The 65,000-word adventure is targeted at the seven- to eleven-year-old group but Enting says it equally appeals to adults.
   She says that the fantasy element is a logical step from her fashion coverage over the last decade and a half. ‘A big part of world of fashion, in particular haute couture, is pure fantasy,’ she says.
   Enting intends the book to be the first of an Ocean Quest series.
   In November 2013, Enting received the Star Beauty Outstanding Contribution to Beauty Journalism (New Zealand) award at the Beautydirectory Star Awards in Sydney.

By selecting the Taglyan Complex, just across the street from the Motion Picture Academy Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study, planner and fellow journalist Kathy Duliakas assured her pre-Oscar gathering would be a hot ticket for celebrities and journalists. However, with a mix of intrepid entrepreneurs, a civilized lunch, a relaxed atmosphere and a significant charity’s new initiative benefiting thousands of disadvantaged American children, she created a daytime “pyjama party” that was both thoughtful and memorable.
   Invited celebrities, entertainment professionals and press were strongly advised to donate to the Pajama Program, overseen by founder Genevieve Piturro and LA chapter president Lindsay Smith, to jump-start the new 1 Million Good Nights campaign, to attain a million sets of new pyjamas and books by December 31, 2015. To further accelerate the campaign, Carter’s, America’s leading brand of young children’s clothing, agreed to donate a brand new pair of pyjamas to Pajama Program, for every celebrity who attended the event and another 1,000 pyjamas for each and every social media post about the event. (Naturally, we were on board with our Tweets in force).
   Attendees heard the call and responded, as the one-day event generated nearly 550 Tweets and garnered over 5,100,000 timeline deliveries, which will result in some very deserving children given a brand new pair of pyjamas.
   Duliakas responded in kind, noting that in the heat of awards’ season, ‘We all get caught up in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, but it’s very important we remember there are those in need. It’s heartwarming to see the overwhelming support that I’ve received from the celebrities who attended my event.’
   The various new and returning vendors were also caught up in the spirit of generosity that far transcends products and services. One of the more inventive sponsoring products, Circuelle, a luxury lotion that transforms the practice of breast self-exams into a more pleasant experience, was so inspired by Carter’s pledge that they wanted to donate one mammogram to an underprivileged woman for each celebrity who stopped at their table. As a result, Circuelle donated 50 mammograms to the Conejo Free Clinic in Thousand Oaks, California.
   Our favourite stalwart lines helping out several suites this season were back: Twisted Silver, with more of its new natural stone pieces and modern cameo necklaces, sleek cocktail attire from Single by Galina Sobolev, and Maleku Jewelry with extraordinary rough precious stone statement jewellery that would have you rethinking diamonds as your best friend. Other casual clothing lines that focused on comfort include New Orleans-based Prêt-à-Porter Designs, Wear Luck yoga wear from Dallas, Texas, and BAM Bags, which seemed to have the audience seeking non-leather handbags zipped up.
   New and compelling indulgences for the body included skin care from event co-sponsor Zensation, state-of-the-artlight therapy from Dream Spa (now available in Studio City, Calif.), sensual new couples’ delights from Kama Sutra, organic body care from Herban (including the coveted Sugar Mud facial scrub) and Yuki Sharoni’s hair care (one of the pioneering salons bringing Asian hair straightening to Hollywood).
   Besides the sumptuous Mediterranean fare from Taglyan’s Divine Food & Catering, there were other treats that included KAH Tequila, Zing Vodka, non-alcoholic Skinnygirl Sparklers and insanely delicious hand-crafted chocolate from Ze Chocolate Lady that brought some of the biggest trends in gourmet chocolate from Europe to southern California, but in her own all-American way.
   Celebrities having a good day, and helping children attain better nights in the future included Kelsey Scott and Ashley Dyke (Oscar-nominated for 12 Years a Slave), Emily Bergl (Oscar-nominated for Blue Jasmine), Dustin Kerns (Oscar-nominated for The Wolf of Wall Street), Craig Borten (writer for the Oscar-nominated Dallas Buyers’ Club), Crispin Struthers (Oscar nominee, Best Editing, American Hustle), Helen Hong (Oscar-nominated for Inside Llewyn Davis), Cas Anvar (Diana, Argo), Brighton Sharbino (True Detective, The Walking Dead), Marilu Henner, Gia Mantegna (Empire State, The Prince) and Lyndon Smith (Parenthood).—Elyse Glickman, US West Coast Editor

Karen Ray

In a way, it was fitting that the turnout for the Wounded Warrior Project Style & Beauty Suite at the historic Avalon Hollywood on February 28 was most impressive, even with biblical flooding and other karmic payback for the too-nice weather southern California enjoyed. However, by the looks of things, it would take a little more than a little rain to hold back hearty, deserving people who have weathered bigger storms in the Middle East and their return to the homefront.
   Boy band IM5, Amy Jean Davis, Angelique Cabral, Carlos Bernard, Elliott Yamin, Gloria Loring, Griffin Gluck, Jake Pavelka, James Kyson, Jen Lilley, Jenifer Lewis, The Voice’s Katrina Parker, Kate Flannery, Kate Linder, Kenny Lattimore, Marisa Coughlan, Nestor Serrano, Sabrina Bryan, Vincent M. Ward, and Wendy Davis were among celebrities attending the Wounded Warrior Project Style & Beauty Suite, organized by (the aptly named) True Heart Events founder Amy Malin. However, in this forum, the celebrities were there as much to give as to receive. It was truly wonderful to witness veterans and their families getting the royal treatment from salons, spas, clothing designers and representatives from companies producing fantastic household products as well as get to tell some of their stories and how Wounded Warrior Project helped them move forward.
   Servicemen and women, along with their spouses and children, were outfitted with chic clothing from IIJin, gorgeous and eco-friendly designs from Ali’s Collection out of Chicago (featuring sparkling druzy stones, crystals and agates) and Mujus (refined Peruvian palm tree seed jewellery in yummy, mouthwatering colours). Oscar Blandi, whose fantastic products are sold at Sephora boutiques, offered hair touch-ups and samples of their latest hair-thickening products. PackIt’s beautifully made and affordable lunch bags were not only stylish, but can be frozen so food stays fresh for extended hours out in the field. Accessorizing those bags were BKR San Francisco’s silicon-coated glass bottles, which are currently the rage among yoga fans and sold in the US at Anthropologie stores.
   The pampering was also a focal point. Facials and massages from Spa del Rey were top issue, as was a men’s grooming station using products from SheaMoisture, Zumer Sport’s carryalls (also featured at Matthew and Mark Harris’s fantastic WOW Creations’ Oscar Suite), made from recycled baseballs, basketballs and other sports equipment, was a lovely way to wrap the day up for families in attendance. US Vietnam veteran Allan O’Donovan, owner of Burbank’s Ciao!Cristina, meanwhile, fed the troops and boosted morale with his traditional, homestyle Italian cooking, served by young, enthusiastic Iraq War veterans.
   Commented Malin, ‘We think it was really special that we had an older veteran helping to honour the next generation of veterans. We are so excited to be working once again with the amazing team at Wounded Warrior Project on another meaningful event. The mission of Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is to honour and empower Wounded Warriors.’
   Mission accomplished? Yes, sir!—Elyse Glickman, US West Coast Editor

To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.

Albert Evangelista

Buck Lewis

Karen Reuter

Albert Evangelista

Buck Lewis

Karen Reuter

Igor Spektor

Igor Spektor

Karen Ray

When I was a little kid, Jaime Sommers, a.k.a. the Bionic Woman, was my idol. Although we all cannot be Jaime Sommers (and in reality, may not want to be), we can all be Vionic women, as I learned upon an invite to visit the West Hollywood fitness studio of celebrity trainer Juliet Kaska to view the complete line of Vionic shoes and go home with a pair of “red carpet” red walking shoes. The sandals and loafers, for lack of a better pun, are flat-out fabulous. Lots of nice designer details, from leopard prints and patents in attention-getting colours, to silhouettes that promise to keep you comfortable all day without looking as if you looted your hippie aunt’s stash of Birkenstocks and orthopædic oxfords.
   The cheerful red walkers everybody went home with did have a fun, street-chic vibe to them. I wore them to work the next day, and was delighted that my feet, and the rest of the legs, felt pretty good from 7.45 a.m. to 3 p.m. The job literally keeps me on my toes, and the way it is padded (like a several hundred dollar orthotic built into a shoe), felt particularly good.
   The science behind the style can be traced to Australian podiatrist Phillip Vasyli. The Vionic Innovation Lab (VIL) is an unparallelled collaborative of world-renowned authorities with a common vision: to enhance foot health and advance affordable, innovative technologies that help feet and legs function at their very best. Over his years in practice, Vasyli has witnessed the biomechanical effects of overpronation (the excess rolling of the outside of the foot to the inside). To address the problem, in 1987, he introduced the Vasyli custom heat-mouldable orthotic, a fast, low-cost solution and vast improvement over previous—and more expensive—treatment options. This led to the 1991 invention of the globally acclaimed Orthaheel, the world’s first and only true orthotic available without a doctor’s prescription.
   Orthaheel orthotic inserts and sandals quickly expanded through Australia and the UK, and the company’s 2007 US market introduction was received with great enthusiasm and commercial success. It also did not hurt that Dr Andrew Weil, integrative medicine guru, and Juliet Kaska have advanced its cause. To bring it further, the red-carpet shoe press event also served as an official kick-off to the third annual Walkabout Campaign, where those who attain the shoes and make a pledge to attain better health will receive 28 days of fitness tips from Juliet Kaska and healthy recipe ideas from Dr Weil. The contest is open to the public, and a grand prize winner will be selected at the culmination of the campaign, based on participation, to win a Red Carpet Ready weekend where they will be flown to Los Angeles to train with celebrity trainer Juliet Kaska at JK Zen Fitness in West Hollywood. The winner will also receive Vionic footwear, athletic wear and fitness gear to begin their personal health journey.
   For more information, or to sign up, visit www.vionicshoes.com/2014-walkabout-signup.—Elyse Glickman, US West Coast Editor

Nicole Greenberg