Now that all the Oscar hoopla has passed and those who took home their golden statuettes are busy reading the plethora of scripts that poured in the day after the event, Agenda Magazine has a preview of the products that made their debuts in many an Oscar-attendee gift bag.
From skin care to jewelry to island vacations to mojitos and cookies, the Pre-Oscars Diamond Lounge 2006 gave lucky celebrities and the media a glimpse of innovative products that will certainly be in great demand this year. Organized by Nathalie Dubois of DPA, the March 4 event provided vendors who converged at the Petersen Museum to display their current best-selling merchandise along with yet-to-be-released fare, a chance to garner some interest among the Hollywood community (and see the competition). While some products were appealing, others stood above the fray, poised to set a new standard in couture and body care. Several standout companies made an impression on this reporter and will likely grab A-list attention in the near future.
Isabelle Kellogg knows a thing or two about couture. The PR agent for Giorgio Visconti Finest Jewelry showcased some of the designer’s tastiest selections, including a $45,000 rope necklace piece enveloped in white gold and diamonds. Unlike many high-end jewelers, Visconti’s traditional approach retains the intimacy and uniqueness of the merchandise, which uses Italian diamonds.
“It’s a little bit different from the French, Harry Winston, American [design],” said Kellogg. “It’s from a house in Italy—Valenza—and it’s a family company like a lot of these companies are, which are from that area. And everything is made by hand. You’ll find things like ‘father and son, grandfather, grandson’—very few people in the company, but they make everything by hand.” Visconti keeps all of its manufacturing in-house, rather than outsourcing to other countries. That business practice may keep prices higher than companies that do have international labor forces, but the quality retention by keeping it local is worth the extra costs, adds Kellogg.
“You get the integrity of design, and the personal touch is one of the focuses of the company,” she said.
The unorthodox designs, with beautiful and unusual pairings of gold and diamonds, and broad, detailed shapes for necklaces, which lightly drape down the chest, pay homage to the past (dome-shaped ring) and future (rope necklace) jewelry trends. The rope necklace is a favorite among stars, including Sasha Cohen and Julie Delpy, Kellogg noted. The continuous diamond rope is popular for its ability to show a great amount of both light and shadow, as well as the heart-shaped collections, which vary with white and black diamond motifs.
If you want a little well-being with your vogue, try Energetix Magnet Therapy jewelry from Germany. Distributor Beatrice Cederstrom said that the product offers simplistic design—perfect for accessorizing, whether for a night on the town or a relaxed day at the beach—and the added health benefit of magnets, which have been known to aid in better blood pressure and respiratory function. Energetix is also registered for Class 1 Medical Devices with the European Union. With a 1,200 Gauss strength, which measures the attraction strength of the magnet metrically, the jewelry can be used to alleviate pain, stress and tension—all while sparkling fabulously against the neck, wrist, and hands. And celebrities can’t get enough of Energetix’s visual appeal and physical benefits: Allergy-free, shower-friendly Energetix has recently appeared on red carpets for the Golden Globes and (twice) for the Academy Awards.
“Paris Hilton, Paula Abdul, Oscar-nominee Terrance Howard, and Sharon Stone are just a handful of the celebrities who wear [Energetix] jewelry,” said Cederstrom, who claimed that she initially was skeptical about the jewelry’s physiological benefits. She since has experienced fewer migraines and better circulation from wearing one of the bracelets every day.
The company’s catalog features a host of bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and even dog collars, which, according to Cederstrom, offer the same amount of health benefits for pets as the jewelry does for pet owners. With an assortment of gemstones, beautiful black and white pearl designs and gold/gold-plated bands, Energetix is a pleasure to look at and even more to wear. Visit www.Energetix.tv for more information.
Jennifer Chang of Kumi Kookoon silk product makers was pleased with the response and success of their line of fine quality comforters and designer clothing. The hypoallergenic sheets, gowns, and bedclothes all use raw, hand-stretched silk that is unbelievably soft to the touch.
“Silk is actually the strongest natural fiber, so if you took the same square inch measurement of steel, the steel would break before the silk,” Chang said. “It’s also fire-retardant, so if there’s ever a fire, you can put it out with your silk blanket.”
One of the best features about silk products is that, because it is a natural fiber, the proteins within it are good for both the hair and the skin, said Chang, adding that silk proteins are about the closest to proteins naturally found in human hair and skin. The products—from pillowcases to pjs—come in a variety of colors.
Kumi Kookoon products are also perfect, regardless of the season.
“If you wear it in the winter, it will keep you warm,” said Chang. “However, if you wear it in the summer, it will keep you cool.”
Desperate Housewives stars Teri Hatcher and Eva Longoria are fans of Kumi’s wares, as well as Oscar winners Adrian Brody and Halle Berry—all without any publicity.
“We’re all word-of-mouth—we don’t do any advertising,” said Chang. “I would say the quality speaks for itself.”
It certainly does. Visit www.kumikookoon.com for its online catalog.
When it comes to the high-end palate, you can’t get any better than Scott Briggs’ Studio Bakery. Perfectly positioned across from the Mojito Empire Inc. booth (where they served a steady queue of thirsty and curious guests with a delicious spin on the spirited favorite), Studio Bakery provided a fantastic assortment of cookies, only one of its specialties. The pastry designing company is featured in both Costco and Gelson’s supermarkets. For the Diamond Lounge, Briggs displayed a variety of fruit- and cream-filled, soft and flaky delicacies, which, unlike most packaged baked goods, are moist and chewy. And Studio Bakery’s talent is not going unnoticed in the Hollywood community, either.
Fans of the company include Beverly D’Angelo and a host of others who were lucky enough to snag a sample package, which included a selection of cream cheese- and strawberry-filled cookies.
Lamar Lindsay doesn’t do skin care. He doesn’t do fine linen. He doesn’t even do specialty baked goods. But he certainly does know quality fashion. The 20-something designer enlivens the men’s division of Snac, the “color blind clothing line” from artist/entertainer Macy Gray. T-shirts, jeans, jackets and the like are a staple of the cutting-edge style, with a nod toward urban but a definite grasp of the current trend in commercial, high-end fashion.
“We’re just marrying the two worlds,” said Diane, the account manager for Snac and the larger Macy Gray clothing line. “Right now, we’re selling to Scoop in New York, Fred Segal in Los Angeles, Hard Rock hotels . . . they’re starting a whole new retail in their stores which feature designs and high-end fashion from artists [and entertainers].”
Certainly a designer who will catch the eyes of everyone from Tinseltown to Broadway is Amanda, the creator of Phoenix, Arizona, based Ting Bling, a custom-adornment company that’s been featured on Fox News (among other national media forums) and creates unique, exemplary crystal work for cell phones, shoes, candles, clothing and even iPods!
“I can customize any wireless accessory that you want. You just send your item to me and I’ll get it done and FedEx it back to you—all over the world,” said Amanda.
Angela Bassett, Sasha Cohen, Paris Hilton, Kevin Nealon, Daryl Hannah and other celebrities have taken a liking to Ting Bling-erie, which can be found online at TingBling.com. The Hardware Collection immediately grabs your attention, with its use of bolts, nuts, and screws to fashion some of the most stunning jewelry and accessories. There’s also a velvet slipper collection, belts, men’s and women’s rings, flip-flop decoration, chocolate candles, vases, and chandeliers made out of actual tiaras. Amanda still believes in the hands-on method to designing, creating, and applying the decorations, as well as distributing them, herself. And, best of all, no two are alike.
“Everything is custom. It’s 100-percent original, so if you see these somewhere, you’ll never see them recreated,” Amanda said. “You may see something similar, but I never create the same design twice. And it’s just me; I don’t have a sweatshop or anything like that.”
Strangely enough, it was an innocuous child’s toy that introduced Amanda to the world of crystal work and jewelry.
“It was a Bedazzler that my parents got me when I was 16, and I was Beddazling everything—you know, lampshades, clothes,” Amanda said. “And then I moved into the whole crystal thing, I kind of graduated with it. I should really thank the Bedazzler people because it kind of launched me.”
Fileena Bahris is one who can appreciate the art of fine jewelry. A native of San Francisco who since has moved to Maui, Hawaii, Fileena, as she prefers to be called, has traveled the world, gathering inspiration and researching and working with dolphins and great white sharks.
“I did the official Star Wars charity necklace that we donated to AIDS for South Africa,” said Fileena. “I’ve been designing jewelry for about 10 years, but I’ve only been doing celebrity jewelry for film and television for about a year and a half. I just fell into it. I call it ‘very lucky.'”
With a nod toward her experience with marine life, Fileena’s most popular pieces use a great deal of coral designs. The Shooting Star collection features rubies, diamonds, sapphires, and Tahitian pearls. Tanzanite is also one of her most in-demand lines. Similar to Ting Bling, Fileena also offers matching items for pets and their owners. To view some of this amazing work, visit Fileena.com.
After a dizzying spin around this room, Agenda headed over to the next lounge, where even more vendors were sporting some innovative products that are sure to take the fashion world by storm (and unexpected booth by Biotene oral care products, which displayed a variety of mouthwashes, toothpastes and gum for adults, children, and yes, even pets.).
DermaNew Professional Skincare Collection will invigorate the spa world this July with a complete microdermabrasion system that refreshes and exfoliates for perfect skin health. Featured in magazines such as In Style, Cosmopolitan, Allure, and Stuff, DermaNew’s home microdermabrasion system provides a way to keep your skin enriched, smooth, and beaming without having to make constant visits to a salon. “You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars getting these spa treatments all the time,” said Lisa, a representative. “The CEOs were both working in the spa called the Dean Rhoades Salon and a lot of the clients were saying, ‘I love these results you’re giving me. Is there a way I can maintain it?’ And so they started developing this microdermabrasion crème, followed by creating the applicator.
“Matthew McConaughey was using the product because his (then) girlfriend Penelope [Cruz] was using it, and he kept taking it from her. Finally he called the company and said, ‘I need my own.’ And so we hand delivered it to him. A couple weeks later we were in People magazine because his skin looked so good.”
The company has won several America’s Best Beauty Industry Efforts awards for its revolutionary patented skin care system that has allowed clients to achieve the same beautiful skin in the comfort of their homes —and without excessive spending. To get more information or to order DermaNew products, which also include cleansers, exfoliating crèmes, and moisturizers, visit DermaNew.com.
Industry makeup artist Veronica Lenz from Beauty Blender was just as noticeable as the product she represented and created with her associate and fellow makeup artist Rayanne Silva. With an eye-catching purple bob and flawless skin, she was the perfect advertisement for a makeup applicator that will soon trump the current offerings.
“Beauty Blender is a cosmetic applicator that is the first one designed that’s three dimensional without any edges,” Lenz said. “It helps put on a smooth layer, gives a nice, air-brushed finish. So it helps the average woman get a professional finish.”
After cutting the edges off traditional makeup sponges, Lenz and Silva realized the potential of creating an applicator that was already rounded, providing better control and coverage. The light pink egg-shaped sponge is great for applying any brand of cream, liquid or powder foundations and blushes from Armani to Cover Girl. Eye shadows and finishing powders are also a breeze with the BB, which can be reused with a simple washing with its included soy-based cleanser, Blender Cleanser. Plus, there’s a benefit to throwing away your brushes and flat sponge applicators and switching to Beauty Blender.
“You know, she’s not going to last forever—it depends on how much you use her and everything,” Lenz said. “Once she’s flat and she doesn’t spring back as much anymore, send it back to us at the Blender Center Program and we recycle her into carpet fiber. So we take care of it from the cradle to the grave.”
Beauty Blender, which launches this year, will appear in Victoria’s Secret catalogs and is available online at BeautyBlender.net.
Perhaps one of the prettiest displays was that of Xtreme Lashes. Not your ordinary extensions, Xtreme offered individual lashes that required a three-hour application period. However, the waiting would be worth it—the look lasts for months!
The lashes come in a variety of colors, from simple black to black with purple, blue, red and white highlights, just to name a few.
“It’s literally like—it feels more weightless than mascara because it’s applied hair by hair,” said Norma, the training director. The lashes are custom-made and available to licensed cosmetologists across the country. For additional information or to get a glimpse of these gorgeous lashes, visit XtremeLashes.com
Darren was perhaps the most enthusiastic representative there, having prepared Blu for an official launch this year. Blu is a retail spa company with enticing beauty products (for both men and women) that, at the time of the Diamond Lounge, were not yet available in the United States. The items have established wide popularity through Internet sales and across the United Kingdom. From spray-on rosewater toner to anti-shine daily cream, the products they offer will find an anticipatory audience in Hollywood.
“It’s about beauty from the inside out,” Darren said about their merchandise, pointing out a natural fruit drink with antioxidants, which, with just one shot of juice per day, can deliver healthy skin. The assortment of day creams, facial masks, and gentle cleansers was enormous (requiring the entire back wall for the display), and the crowd couldn’t help but notice the wonderful but subtle aroma of the items. The company even developed a special lip gloss for the Oscars, with only 200 made.
The matting cream was especially nice, and well suited for the Hollywood crowd. Applied under or over makeup, it continuously absorbs oil throughout the evening, keeping the face shine-free but nonetheless radiant. Also available is an inexpensive skin care system called Anatomicals, whose slogan is “We only want you for your body.” It offers all-natural cleansers and creams for acne treatment, anti-aging, and sun protection. (It also has a hilarious statement on the bottle––in lieu of ‘how to use’ directions–––but you’ll have to order one to see!) Giving Good Head is a shampoo under the Anatomicals line, just so you get the idea. Visit Blu-Shops.co.uk for more information.
And finally, Dallas-based Christi Harris Products displayed a variety of items for both the body and home. From skin treatment to hair products to professional makeup to anti-aging to home products, CHP provides a comprehensive one-stop shop for beauty and beautiful living. President and CEO Harris, whose son Hunter manages the business side, decided to take a different approach for her Diamond Lounge booth.
“Well, at first we were going to showcase our makeup and cosmetic lines, but with all the vendors here doing that, we wanted to stand out a little bit more,” Christi said. “We are here to do hair for the celebrities tonight, and about 25 will be using our gel for the red carpet.”
Anti-aging and hair care products were the main items that the Hunters chose to display, as well as a linen spray that was absolutely fantastic while not overpowering. Her Volumizing Gel with its pleasant fragrance and amazing uplifting qualities is already making many celebrities happy. The gel is currently offered with a seven-piece hair treatment kit available at Victoria’s Secret and Nordstrom.
Experience has paid off for Christi, who also does national beauty seminars that offer tips for those who want to look better and for those who make the stars look stellar. For more than 30 years, she has been sharing her expertise and perfecting her professional-grade cosmetics throughout the United States. Her hair care line has been featured on television, including E! Entertainment Television, Inside Edition, and the 2005 International Emmy Awards and the 2006 Academy Awards official gift bags. For additional information about the CHP lines or to find locations to purchase, please visit ChristiHarris.com.
Well, that was a quick wrap-up of the 2006 Academy Awards Diamond Lounge Retreat that Agenda felt privileged to cover. While we profiled some standout vendors, listed below are others that kept the party moving, the celebrities happy, and are sure to make a mark this year on the fashion scene:
Mojito Island, “World’s Finest Mojito Mix”: Non-alcoholic flavored mixes available in regular and Blackberry. MojitoIsland.com (This url no longer belongs to this company).
Lucy B. Cosmetics, “The natural alchemy of beauty and healing”: All-natural, anti-bacterial, hypoallergenic beauty products made from fruit, flower, and herbal extracts. LucyBCosmetics.com.
Orientalism Los Angeles, “Furniture, Lighting & Accessories” provided the beautiful throw rugs, couches and sculptures featured at the vendors’ booths. OrientalismDeco.com (This url has moved.)
By Natalie Martin
Every year at this time you start thinking about the great holiday dilemma. What do you buy the person on your list who has everything? Well, no one really has everything, but some people may be hard to shop for because no gift seems personal or general enough. Books are the perfect balance between personalized and universal, fun and intelligent. Your gift recipient doesn’t even have to be a book lover to love the book you give, as long as you put some thought into selecting just the right one.
