The “green” trend has been haute couture in Hollywood for quite some time, but it has transcended into gifting pretty much full stop, as well as “themed” gift suites, which are now more of an event in an interesting venue, than a gift bag extravaganza.
This year, the 85th Annual Academy Awards was old-school "hollywood glam," rich with great film, fashion, music and Broadway moments. It seems that the gifting suites were also rich with stars and great eco-products.
So let’s start with Roger Neal’s Style Hollywood, 17th Annual Beauty & Couture Academy Award Suite at the L’Ermitage Hotel. RNSH has become the place for stars to get pampered, select gowns, shoes, handbags and jewelry for the Oscars.
From the top, I enjoyed speaking to Renée Taylor (The Nanny), about her “Face Love” - created by Renées makeup artist Cindy Cohen. This face serum lifts without surgery. Everyone, whether or not they wish to go under the knife, should be in love with this product.
The stylists from Olez were on hand to style and straighten. Olez Advanced is a safe, formaldehyde-free, straightening solution treatment that is effective on all hair types. Inception Argan & Pracax Natural Oil Spray were given to guests.
Valeroso Cigars bestowed hand-rolled cigars that will be available in Spring 2013. Another great thing for guys was Muchachomalo, the hottest newest line of underwear and t-shirts, from the Netherlands. I enjoyed chatting with the producers Dan Janvey, Josh Penn and Michael Gottwald, in from New York who created Beasts of the Southern Wild. The film was nominated in four categories.
Erin Fader, a young jewelry designer - who is a star herself, creates chunky layered chains, and signature big baubbled jewelry using fair-trade gemstones, conflict-free diamonds and ethical metals. Her favorite vintage periods are deco and disco.
Onto more beauty from Lanza - a leading manufacturer of quality hair care products and is the only company offering products that heal, seal and protect the hair. Here is what was in the bag - Healing Color Care, Healing Style Molding Paste, Curl, Zero Weight Gel and Keratin Healing Oil Hair Treatment. Ionix handed out Diamond Drops with Argan Oil. The leave-in serum relieves frizzies and eliminates static electricity, while protecting against heat tools and environmental damage.
Debbie Durkin choose a more intimate venue, a private residence in Beverly Hills. Guests were whisked in and served cocktails in conjunction with a Jamaican lunch and live music by the pool. The Palace Ballroom, hit their guitars and drums playing what they call “Break Up” Rock. Their new album “This is the Plan” is great driving music and full of emotion.
Lifeway Foods featured a “Dessert Bar” complete with toppings and gift certificates for free pints of frozen Kefir. A delicious way to get your probiotics in, gluten and lactose free.
For my little Shih Tzu I picked up John Paul’s Pet Grooming Pack – so cute and useful! 30 years ago John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of Paul Mitchell Systems, revolutionized the professional salon industry by banning animal testing for his line of hair products.
Michael Greene & Co., celebrity jeweler was on hand gifting nominees & VIP’s an exclusive gift card. Stefanie G. Fine Cosmetics at Juan Juan Beverly Hills was shaping brows and plumping lips, gifting her Spring 2013 Make-Up Palettes. I was glad to meet her and made an appointment at the salon for hair.
Hugrz fitted women and girls for sustainable boot wraps, with accessories to match this year's hottest faux fur, fringe, animal print and sweater boot styles. Argan seems to be the "miracle ingredient" this year. L'Arganium gifted 3 different scents of argan oil.
Rock and Vine shared a lovely new coffee table book that reveals the lives and innovations of next generation change makers in California’s wine country. Just in time for tasting this spring.
On hand were Oscar nominees Reginald Hudlin (Best Picture: Django Unchained); Sam Fell & Chris Butler (Best Animated Film, Paranorman); Malik Bendjelloul (Best Documentary, Searching for Sugarman); Seamus McGarvey (Cinematography, Anna Karenina) among others.
Last year, Greenpeace threw down the gauntlet to the 15 top Italian and French luxury fashion brands, challenging these companies to clean up their products by agreeing not to use toxic chemicals and to ensure their leather and packaging wasn't causing deforestation.
Valentino was pretty much the only brand that has met the mark so far. Many brands that are not as well known to us are still being discovered. Gifting is a great way to reach influencers. So maybe gifting suites are not all so bad afterall. We still have awhile to go with “eco-gowns” as witnessed by Helen Hunt’s fail-attempt to woo on the red carpet with an H&M dress.
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