The mothers and daughters of invention

Though big names once again head to Doris Bergman and Kathy Duliakas’s annual love fest celebrating Valentine’s Day and the Academy Awards, Elyse Glickman and Leyla Messian find goods and services from several women-owned businesses are the stars of the day

Gramma Funk


Billy Zane


Vivaca A. Fox


Sofia Milos


Mischa Barton

Elyse Glickman is US west coast editor of Lucire. Leyla Messian is a senior writer for Lucire.

A BOUQUET OF ROSES GREETED us on our special date for this Valentine’s Day. What made a lasting impact, however, were the roses were in lush liquid formats specially arranged by event co-host and Australian beauty firm Jurlique. The soft, warm rose scent made a strong first impression-enough to make Mischa Barton, Vivica A. Fox, Marilu Henner and Sofia Milos swoon as well.

However, men in attendance were just as impressed. Commented famously articulate veteran actor Billy Zane, ‘This suite is exquisite. It’s very generous. There’s a splendid array of goodies!’ Twilight Eclipse hotties Michael Welch, Bronson Pelletier and Kiowa Gordon were in agreement.

Though products and food provided equal-opportunity allure, what made the event linger in our memory was the sweet smell of success for a variety of women entrepreneurs in the spotlight. A point of pride for Doris was the attendance of Oscar-nominated costume designer Jenny Beaven, who recreated pre-World War II royal splendour for The King’s Speech. (All told, however, the dashing Dana Brunetti, producer of Best Picture nominee The Social Network was an impressive figure in his own right).

Though we just missed Café La Boheme’s five-star cuisine created by La Boheme executive chef Christine Banta, there was plenty on hand to satisfy our appetite for stylish new inventions. Our afternoon kicked off with well received libations from Waialua Soda Works, Blue Angel Ultra Premium Vodka and Vermeer Dutch Chocolate Cream Liqueurs. This was chased with a sugar rush from boutique sweets purveyors Antonia’s Nuts and new exhibitor Rubina’s Cake Shoppe. While Rubina’s bon-bon sized cakes were quite addictive, it was so fitting that her spot-on reproduction of this year’s one-of-a-kind Louis Vuitton’s it bag was aptly positioned next to Menbur point person Taura King’s candybox-like arrangement of the line’s hand-crafted evening clutches.

What came next turned out the be the ultimate “girl’s day in” on many levels, especially with so many of the products developed or marketed by savvy women. We were pleased to once again see the return of Twisted Silver, a statement making but affordable line of jewellery eco-crafted from a variety of unusual found objects as well as make-up setting miracle Model in a Bottle. Though no shampoo was to be found here this go-round, we delighted in the presence of Milani Clip-In Hair Extensions and Whirl-a-Style, which offered us new ways to remedy a bad hair day without hours of blow-drying drama. New to the scene was the new skin care line Stemulation, brought to market in part by president and CEO Laurie Nicholm, which promises to mitigate the appearance of lines, wrinkles and age spots. We brought our beauty booty home in an eco-friendly bag from Seattle-based Emilie Sloan, whose collection brings a twenty-first-century sensibility to Lilly Pulitzer style (i.e. fabrics and functionality that enable the bags to work as well at the office as they would at the beach).

Though guests looked forward to relaxing with their newly acquired Canyon Candle, others who wanted or needed instant relief got it from high tech (and miraculously packable and weightless) runners by Chung Shi and flexible (!) wooden sandals by Austria-based Wooccoli (so much cushier than the Dr Scholl’s of our teen years).

In the spirit of giving back, press and celebrities brought stuffed animals and toys to donate to Love Cures Cancer, all of which will be delivered to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles on Valentine’s Day. Love Cures Cancer is a programme of Love Cures All, a 501 (c)(3) California non-profit corporation, dedicated to raising funds for cancer research and improving the daily experience of children in treatment at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. •

Burnished gold
While Ricky Gervais peppered the broadcast with powerful, irreverent and cutting statements, many pre-awards’ events showed heart, creativity, conscientiousness and even restraint. Elyse Glickman and Leyla Messian report