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THOUGH THE EARLIER-THAN-USUAL
AWARD SHOW SEASON HIT Hollywood after the holidays like a
surprise birthday party—as did rains of biblical proportions—we
were impressed with the warmth that surfaced at pre-award festivities
that normally focus on both American entertainment royalty and the
luxuries that get them through their average day. Though charity
has always played a role in the raison d’être
of pre-award gifting events, A-listers, guests and vendors were
genuinely more focused on what they could give back. As she always does so brilliantly, Nathalie DuBois-Sissoko
transformed a large section of the Peninsula Hotel Beverly Hills
into a retreat for nominees and A-listers. Though many of her featured
lines have their hearts in the right place in regards to charity,
Nathalie was particularly passionate about the fact that her 2010
Globes’ Suite had a very specific charitable focus in the wake
of the Haïti earthquake that took place just days before, especially
as one of her staff and some of the regular attendees were personally
and directly impacted by the tragedy. At the check-in table, you
could find brochures drawing attention to Jimmy Jean-Louis, one
of the stars of NBC’s Heroes.
Though Jean-Louis founded Hollywood Unites for Haïti (www.hufh.org)
long before the quake to help raise money to improve living conditions
and create educational opportunities such as a boys’ and girls’
club, Nathalie wanted to be sure the organization’s urgent
call to action was heard. The call was heard, with several of her attendees opening their
hearts and wallets for the cause. While Nathalie did point out to us this was one
of her most charity-focused events, she also departed from her usual
format of a luxuriously eclectic market-place for the best of the
best. Each room had a focus, one being a fashion studio and the
other being a full-service spa that has every corner of the body
covered, from Massage Express and Sphatika’s wonderful skin
care, to some of the top lines of cosmetics in the world, including
Sisley Paris Cosmetics’ vibrant summer colours, to Kerstin
Florian, Brazilian Blowout’s hair taming, Anastasia Beverly
Hills’ brow works and Nettie Davis manicures—possibly
her most A-list beauty line-up to date. DuBois-Sissoko’s fashion and accessories line-up was also
flawless, from Eva Varro’s travel-ready dresses and tops and Marchon eyewear’s Robert Schienberg being the consummate showman,
to sparkling Swarovski crystal and silver Micalla Jewelry (www.micalla.com),
Tucker Paisley’s eco-friendly accessories (www.tuckerpaisley.com),
Geisha Fabulous hair accessories (www.geishafabulous.com),
Dianna DiNoble’s architecturally wondrous
Starkers! Corsetry and others who make it their business to support
several charities through some of their proceeds. The Peninsula Hotel event also offered food and
drink for thought, including Steaz Teas, Bird Pick teas, Garrett’s
Popcorn (a Chicago institution) and Chokolinis (chocolate-covered
dried apple bits). Spirit sponsors Cabana Cachaca, St Germain Liqueur
and Crystal Head Vodka were spun into cocktail art by mixologist
D. ‘Max’ Maxey. And what would Nathalie’s delightful
spread be without an escape to a real paradise for the upper eschelon
of talent? Le Tahaa (a private island) and the St Regis Bora Bora
took centre-stage in her travel area. In the wake of the Haïti earthquake, even as
the party happened around them, Madison & Mulholland’s
hosts and planners discussed ways they could extend themselves further
with special fundraisers to help with the relief efforts via Help
for Orphans International (www.helpfororphans.org),
the headlining charity for the event (dedicating proceeds for this
event to aid for Haïti) along with the popular Clothes off Our Back
(www.ClothesOffOurBacks.org).
While celebrities got the opportunity to give back through the
creation of gift bags for auction on that site during the gifting
suite portion of the day, a centre-piece night-time cocktail party
enabled people to give of themselves in other ways via a chance
to buy wardrobe-building accessories from our  favourite
Hollywood accessorizer Charlie Lapson and the event’s other
vendors. High rollers could bid on treasures from Picasso, Chagall
and Van Cleef & Arpel in a silent auction. Individual vendors at Madison & Mulholland’s
events were, refreshingly, not just supporting the charities with
their presence, but raising awareness for their own causes. Kellee
W. Peer, for example, brought back a favourite ’80s accessory
(the hard case folded magazine clutch) to create Clutch for Cures
(www.clutchforcures.com),
with custom designs dedicated to a myriad of charities, while Beth
Nonte Russell promoted her moving book Forever Lily, a companion
fragrance and GoodTrueBeautiful.com,
which outlines the mission of the Golden Phœnix Foundation,
which aims to end child abandonment around the world. A pair of
teen titans, Ariel Stern and Anjelica Mantikas, were showing off
a pert line of active wear drawing attention to their charity One
Is Better than None. After a day (and night) of giving and exchanging
ideas, the guests’ other senses were rewarded with velvety
smooth martinis courtesy of the prolific bartenders representing
Shaker’s Vodka (excellent when mixed with Herbasway’s
lusciously flavoured and nutritious elixirs), Adult Chocolate Milk,
Joe’s Pizza, Eagle Castle Winery’s wines and hors d’œuvres,
Hansen’s always-popular cakes and insanely gorgeous cheeses
hand-selected by the Beverly Hills Cheese Lady and her daughter.
An élite group of guests were extended invites to Paris (via
Paris Luxe Apartments) and Antigua. REUSE
Jeans was one of our favourite clothing line discoveries of
the weekend, not only because of their exceptional fit (eat your
heart out, True Religion!), but the fact that every inch of the
comfortable denim is fashioned out of reconstituted cotton made
up from scraps collected from the floors of garment manufacturers.
Also impressive was a line-up of behind-the-scenes beautifiers from
TC Fine Shapewear to Verragio’s
affordable secondary line (made with conflict-free Diamonique stones)
which is virtually  indistinguishable
from its high-end fine jewellery line, to Sakura Silk, Keratin Complex
hair care (made with organic ingredients sourced from New Zealand),
Dex New York Mineral Make-up, Keratin Complex hair care and Laguna
Greenworks’ ActiveIon Pro Ionic house-cleaning device (because
we all know a green, bacteria-free home is always in style). GBK hosted its always-multi-charity
event at the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood, with its requisite
mix of returning favourites and hot new lines. One noteworthy returning
vendor was Okobos Footwear’s
Tom Juza, who not only offered new styles from the line’s ultra-comfortable
collection, but also new interchangeable shoe accents and greater
awareness for their prolific charitable Partners Program, which
donates $15 of every pair sold online to a partner charity and $10
to the Okobos Foundation, benefiting children in need. We also were
pleased to see Dr Garth Fisher, who not only created the fantastic
CellCeutical Biomedical skin care line, but also introduced us to
a new sunscreen extension we hope to try once the rains yield back
to California’s usual sunshine. We also delighted in a wonderful array of new
jewellery lines, including Cool Jools by Martha Calvo and Paragon
of Design by Skrocki, which forged Middle Eastern, east Asian and
mediæval design elements and new materials together to end
up with lines that stand out and make a statement, down to some
of their recycled components. Hip and Hippie’s candles were
just plain adorable, as was Hard Candy cosmetics’ line retro-fitted
with new packaging and economy-friendly pricing. Croton Watches
was back on the scene with art-déco-influenced-feminine styles
with and edgy Unisex watch silhouettes. We also washed down dessert
with Celsius, a tasty calorie-burning energy drink. Keeping everybody focused on the higher cause were GBK’s
Golden Globes quartet of causes: Donate Life (onelegacy.org),
GLAAD (www.glaad.org),
City of Hope (www.cityofhope.org)
and A Source of Joy Theatricals (theatre and culinary arts, www.broadwayinthehood.com).
Dr Tracie Battle of Great Expressions Dental Center and Dougherty
Laser Vision were on hand to not only promote services for A-listers
but also medical and philanthropic services they provide on the
side for people in need.
Though there were other Globes’ suites keeping
people entertained, such as the popular mother-and-child-slanted
Boom Boom Room, the élite suite Stuff You Must and
that other uncomfortable shindig crammed into the tiny  corporate
space occupied by Zune MP3 players,
the most powerful statements were made by the various charities
and the sight of celebrities actually giving back and being present
in the moment. Legit (from film and series TV)
celebrities, nominees and executives making the rounds included
Evan Handler, Jordin Sparks, comedienne Carol Leifer, Kate Flannery
and other cast members of the US version
of The Office, Neve Campbell, Jordana Brewster, Jennie Garth,
Bill Maher, Jaime Pressley, Golden Globe winner Jane Lynch (Glee),
Thora Birch, James Kyson Lee, Gary Cole, Eva LaRue, stylist George
Blodwell, Ashley Greene, Rob Riggle, Leslie David Baker, Eric Roberts,
Eli Roth, Edie Falco, Beau Bridges, Christopher Lloyd, Julie Benz,
Isabelle Fuhrman, Busy Philipps, C. C. H. Pounder, Thomas Jane,
Melora Hardin, Joe Mantegna, Thomas Calabro and more. Finally, during a time where any watch over $1,000
makes little sense, we were happy to discover Ice Watch, a hot new
line from Belgium that combines a great price (US$85–US$250),
couture watch styling and practical materials in a rainbow of colours.
Though we weren’t privy to the Globes’ shindig they partook
in, we are sure that this line (whose existing fans include Christian
Slater), were a hit among bona fide, rising and reality TV
stars in attendance. •
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In the wake of the Haïti earthquake, Madison &
Mulholland’s hosts and planners discussed ways they could extend
themselves further with special fundraisers to help with the relief
efforts
 
 
 
 
Above, from top Eva La Rue. Evan Handler.
Eric Roberts. Edie Falco. Thomas Jane. Ashley Green. Ashley Jones.
Melora Hardin. Billy Zane and Charlie. Gilles Marino and Janet.
Inset, from top Beau Bridges. Ashley Jones in a corset. Joe
Mantegna.
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For a good cause Madison & Mulholland’s Golden Globes’
suite benefited victims of the Haïti earthquake.
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