Richly rewarding

continued

The lord of the bling conquers the Hotel California
Ken Robinson, New Zealand’s most innovative fine jeweller and a longtime friend of Lucire magazine, has been on a quest to get his gravity defying designs in diamonds and precious gems into the hands and ensembles of top Hollywood talent. This journey led him to join forces with the equally innovative and savvy event planner Anita Talbert (another friend of the Lucire family) for her thorough, and thoroughly international Oscar Suite of 100 Stars pre-Oscar celebration at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel (the Hotel California).
   In some ways, our beloved Ken followed in the footsteps of fellow Kiwi Sir Peter Jackson, as he headlined this show and was a real-life Lord of the Rings, as well as earrings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets, and other stellar offerings—forged into rainbow hued skulls, whimsical animals, flora, fauna and a few sparkling butterflies that looked as if they came right out of the mind of Mariah Carey (in fact, Ken had her in mind when designing those exquisite sparklers). He scored points and enchanted such luminaries as Natalie Cole, Jason Ritter, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlene Tilton, Alex Trebek, Martin Landau, Nikki Reed, Kaley Cuoco, William Shatner, Lorenzo Lamas, Bridget Marquardt, Vale Bloom, Sasha Jackson, Lou Ferrigno, Josie Davis, Jamie Hilfiger, Natalie Cole, Linda Thompson, Candy Spelling, Alexa Vega, Fred Willard, Hope Dworzyk (the new Bond girl), Doris Roberts, Chris McDonald, Antonio Sabato, Jr, Amy Yasbeck and John Heard. Cole was so smitten, in fact, that she purchased and put on a pair of his fine-crafted diamond earrings on the spot.
   While Ken Robinson’s star shined bright in the land where Harry Winston once roamed the earth, others were on the rise, from Australian LA-based couturier Kelly Ann Swartz (who will be outfitting Bridget Marquardt and Mrs William Shatner, among others) to delicate earthy gold and silver creations from Taber Studios to “hot-fired” borosilicate bold glass–silver treasures by Leslie Belcher’s Accessoreez and casually-dressy bling from i-Catcher by Vanessa Swarovski Piedra (granddaughter of Daniel Swarovski). Completing the many looks were the supple Gucci-inspired bags from Cape Cod Leather (back from their triumphant appearance at the Distinctive Assets Grammy party) and swanky selection from our friend Charlie Lapson and socially conscious vegan carry-alls from Montréal-based CherryBerry.
   In a dreamy setting arranged by award-winning designer, Debi Bodinus of D’Bodinus Eco-Luxury Collection, other trendsetters were ready for their close-up—eyewear from Italy’s Oberti (a sensational, futuristic line whose offices are Miami-based), sexy body conscious sportswear from Cristofer Smith’s Green Apple Active and Bejeweled, ShoeDazzle (Kim Kardashian’s new shoe-of-the-month club), Kathy Wilson Atelier’s modern formal-wear, high-tech travel hair tools from Hai-Elite, and elite European skincare lines Yon-Ka and (event sponsor) Pevonia Botanica. Semental’s fine tequilas and Italian Suio Water poured. However, the cherry on top for this sweet affair for gadget lovers was a cinematic karaoke machine from Yoostar , a fantastic personal green screen system sure to give Rock Band a run for its money and keep movie buffs entertained until the 2011 Academy Awards!

Tara Ink and Ballentines: sharing the love
Though the most connected and popular were spirited to showy pre-show fashion extravaganzas such as Distinctive Assets and the super exclusive Style Lounge, LA PR firms Fingerprint and Tara, Inc. took a less-is-more approach to award season prepping and primping, making for events that were small and very sweet.
   In an intimate suite at the London Hotel in West Hollywood, serious style mavens such as Mya, Ke$ha, Marcia Cross, Jessie James and Brooke Laren focused upon the eclectic Belle Cœur jewellery collection of Jamie Jo Harris (a favourite of Elton John), the elegant flowing resort wear of Canadian-bred, Hawaii-based Maggie Coulombe and the colourful cosmetics and fragrances of Texas native Michael Marcus.
   Ballentines PR, meanwhile, felt hard-working women in media deserved to be rewarded and awarded for their efforts at a unique Valentine’s Day Event featuring Tamie-tinis made with Pinky Vodka inspired by Shangri-La’s inspirational female owner, Tehmina Adaya. Also on display were Edward Avedis’s diamond accoutrements from 5th Generation Readers Fine Jewelers, rainbow roses from It’s a Blooming Business mini-skin care services and consultations from the Ko’an Center, and all kinds of sexy organic soaps and lotions from Hugo Naturals. We were also inspired by the passion of chef and artisan chocolatier Susie Norris, whose Happy Chocolates made people very happy. Karma rewarded Susie for her God-given gift to womankind, as she won a diamond necklace from Avedis in the raffle.
   Ballentines’ girls night out also may have marked the end of reign of the cupcake as a pop cultural phenomenon. Gotta Have S’more, one of Ballentine’s woman-owned business clients, not only reinvents the summertime campground favourite in a dainty gourmet form, but reinvent it as S’muffins, available in all kinds of incarnations including Milk Chocolate, Caramel, Dark Chocolate, Cookies ’n’ Crème, Crème de Menthe, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate with Caramel, White Chocolate with Blueberries, Dark Chocolate with Cranberries, Chocolate with Peanut Butter—and the list goes on.

Getting organized
Though not every award show devotee knows (yet) about the Los Angeles Organizing Awards, many reality show fans are familiar with programmes like A&E’s Hoarders and other series that provide real people a real service—how-tos on how not to let your stuff own you. Staged at the historic Raleigh Studios (just across the street from the equally historic Paramount studio lot), the proceedings got a star quality boost from comedienne Kim Coles and Oprah show stalwart and organizing expert Peter Walsh, along with recognizable figures from Hoarders, Julie Morgenstern, and a slew of other industry leaders leading who effectively preach the gospel of “less is more” in their day-to-day work. The impressive show leaves one wondering, ‘Do these folks do house calls, and how soon can they come over?’
   Those whose vanity or bathroom cabinet needed organizing could get a few ideas from a Five Nights Before Oscars party at the Spa at the Beverly Wilshire. Besides yummy tangerine mojitos and bite-sized cuisine, you could also find plenty of inspiration to replace old, off-code lotions and potions with samplers from NuFace, Kate Somerville, DayNa Decker, Christopher Drummond Beauty and Lea Journo.
   Beverly Hills brow artiste Anastasia Soare, usually no stranger to the pre-awards primping scene, sat out other people’s suites to stage some pre-Oscar fun at her new full-service salon in neighbouring Brentwood. Anastasia, omnipresent veteran fashion editor Merle Ginsberg, and celebrity jeweller Kimberly McDonald (pioneer of the red-hot geode and precious gem trend), hosted the city’s top fashion and beauty editors and writers. While getting scoop on the new services, such has precision cuts and hair colour, most invitees took advantage of the opportunity to get their brows movie-star ready for a weekend circuit of parties.

Elsewhere in lounge-land
Even with the distractions of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin’s road show, and a police chase ending at the doorstep of venue Interior Illusions, Silver Spoon founder Lorena Bendinskas and publicist Ben Russo did a fabulous job keeping attendees’ focus on where their hearts should be—fundraising on behalf of the International Red Cross’s efforts on behalf of Haïti. While the food and clothing featured were classic, American and comfortable (Perry Ellis, C&C California, Bota Organic Wine, Fatburger sandwiches, Coca-Cola and sophisticated cupcakes by Polkadots), this edition of the always popular “beauty buffet” was an intercontinental affair, from KooKoon bedclothes and TY KU cocktails (representing Asia’s finest), to Wembe’s all natural soaps from Paraguay, to Scandinavia’s Aiaiai earphones and Skagen watches, to Bloom.com, featuring a line-up of cosmetics from practically everywhere. A revitalized Unite hair care product line and Lash Food products in new packaging were also welcome guests at the party as were Brittny (a former Lucire cover girl) and Lisa Gastineau, who debuted their new jewellery line, Très Glam. We also loved Bandals and the Lilly Pulitzer-inspired stationery offered by the Card Store. It was quite fitting the samples handed out to most guests were thank-you notes—a genius move that would hopefully remind press and celebrities to give thanks on many levels.
   Debbie Durkin also rallied the celebrity troops on behalf of Haïti, American children, and the planet for her well-attended Red Carpet Lounge and Green Suite (it is here I will print an apology, as I did not give her proper credit for her superb sister event for the 2009 Emmys). The headlining event was a photo shoot, Hollywood Icons for Haïti, with celebrity photographers Ryan Forbes, Ron Newkirk, Scott Nathan and Robert Sebree working their magic, with autographed works donated for auction to benefit American Red Cross Haïti Relief. The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (spcaLA) and PS. I Love You Foundation (dedicating funds and developing programmes to empower, inspire and educate at-risk children) also made a stand.
   When not being enlightened by Jennifer Christi’s psychic readings or nourished with healthy cuisine from Chef Alex Fioroni, Durkin’s guests stocked up on such favourites as Single by Galina Sobolev dresses, Ton Savon’s organic French milled soaps, Pure Heat by Hai travel hair tools, MakeUp by Norma Blaque and Prep Couture sportswear. Michael Rady (Melrose Place), Jason Whyte (Avatar), Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives), Patrick Gallagher (Glee), Roma Maffia (Nip/Tuck), Samm Levine (Inglourious Basterds), Sofia Milos (CSI: Miami) and Booboo Stewart (Twilight) attended.
   The Andaz Hotel West Hollywood (the former 1970s ‘Riot House’, thanks to Led Zeppelin and other marauding rock star guests) was now a haven house—Haven 360, to be exact. The invitation-only event, co-sponsored by Elle and benefiting the Creative Coalition, was a great place for top Hollywood talent (stylist Phillip Bloch, Ryan Cabrera, Audrina Patridge, Alan Cumming, Precious director Lee Daniels and screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher, Sari Lennick [A Serious Man], Hayden Panatierre, Evan Handler, Serena Williams, Kathy Joosten, Richard Kind, Joe Mantegna and US Olympic silver medallist Jared Peterson to toast their successful years with a glass or two of Johndrow Vineyards’s wines. Beaming owner David Johndrow stayed close to the bar in his steadfast efforts to help celebrity wine lovers ‘find [their] happy place.’ A Backstage Creations room brought back some suite favourites, including Croton Watches, Marchon designer sunglasses and high-tech beauty tools from Japan’s MTG. OPI (debuting the flashy and sassy Hong Kong-inspired colour collection), Olay and Elle jewellery spoiled both day- and night-time guests, but ultimately people kept gravitating back to their happy place with Johndrow’s Clarity White, Cabernet and Reserve.
   The most exciting element of GBK’s Oscar gathering was seeing the lobby of the opulent W Hollywood Hotel in its red-carpeted, widescreen glory. While the vendor list included a plethora of exotic Asian and European skin care lines and supplements enriched with Resveratrol and other rumoured healing or anti-ageing compounds, the real treat was seeing some of our favourite things again for the final encore: REUSE jeans, Amate Tequila, Help for Orphans International (still working hard on Haïti) and Hollywood Unites for Haïti, RevitaLash and Extreme Lashes’ extraordinary eye beauty innovations, and Hansen’s gravity-defying cakes.
   Finally, what would the Oscars be without the annual visit from Stuart Weitzman? At Gordon Ramsay’s London Hotel West Hollywood, Weitzman and his wife presided over the legendary shoe designer’s annual Red Carpet collection, where a small group of well-heeled women could select a pair of shoes to match their gown. Lucky souls included Regina King, Brooke Burns, Izabella Miko and Abigail Spencer. Across the hall, press and celebs received the VIP treatment from the artists at Joico and LORAC Cosmetics. •

Elyse Glickman is US west coast editor of Lucire.
Leyla Messian is a senior correspondent with Lucire.

Five Nights Before Oscars, Spa at the Beverly Wilshire



Tara Inc. at the London Hotel



Jamie Jo Harris with Ke$ha, Mya and Isabella Miko. Photographs by Tony Di Maio/Star Traks Photo

Silver Spoons


Lucire cover alumna Brittny Gastineau, and items at the Silver Spoons

Main Event Red Carpet Lounge and Green Suite

Kayley Gable, granddaughter of Clark and an aspiring actress


Boo Boo Stewart


Kethy Joosten

That’s the spirit
With the help of Piaget and Jameson Irish Whiskey, Hollywood celebrated independent film on the eve of the Academy Awards in downtown Los Angeles last Friday
photographed by Jordan Strauss/Getty Images and John Shearer/Getty Images