Melanie Segal of Platinum Publicity presented one of the most luxurious Gift Suite’s this past weekend in honor of the nominees and presenters of the 79th Annual Academy Awards. Celebrities and V.I.P. media, including myself and LA’s The Place Editor-in-Chief Jane Emery, were treated to fabulous gifts and treats in the exclusive Penthouse Ballroom of the Sunset Hyatt.
All this luxury was complemented by awe-inspiring floor to ceiling views overlooking the whole of Los Angeles and surrounded by the amazing Hollywood Hills homes of the stars. To set the scene, guests were serenaded by the musical stylings of world-renowned pianist George Segal, Melanie’s father.
The highlight of the suite had to be the $1,000,000 diamond-encrusted Chi Flat iron used to style celebrity hair. The security was tight around the tool – it had its own team and could only be touched with white gloves. Celebrities were also able to sign the Oscar Celebrity Board with the Celebrity Sharpie Pen – encrusted with 2,000 Swarovski Crystals.
The Chi diamond flat iron and the Celebrity Board and Sharpie Pen will be auctioned off to raise money for victims of Blood Diamonds. The Suite also raised money to save Darfur. While many gift suites benefit charities, Segal did something entirely unique this year at her suite: she gave celebrities the option of discretely and privately donating any of the products they received at the event to be auctioned off for victims of Blood Diamonds and Darfur.
When we weren’t ogling their diamond flat iron, we were ogling the great other products from Chi. Chi gifted the Chi Rocket Dryer, ceramic flat iron, hair products and Chiscentals lotion and bodywash, all in a handy duffle bag. The Chi Ceramic Hairstyling Iron is the #1 selling Iron in the Professional Beauty Industry today. This iron does it all: curl, bend, flip, spiral and even straighten hair. The CHI Rocket Professional Hair Dryer is the most revolutionary hair dryer in the industry and the latest in Advanced American Technology. The lightweight, quiet dryer utilizes ceramic technology negative ions, far infrared and low EMF. Chi products are made by Farouk Systems, Inc., a Houston based company that manufactures high quality professional hair care and spa products. Farouk Systems’ uniqueness comes from being a company owned and operated by a team of hairdressers that include over 1,500 educators in over 60 countries. www.farouk.com
For a little refreshment, Betsy Landis of Wingard USA was sampling her new liquor, V2 Vodka. Whether on the rocks or mixed with cranberry juice, everyone was clamoring to get a taste. V2 is the first super-premium vodka infused with Caffeine and Taurine. No sugar or artificial flavors are added, just a pure smooth finish with no aftertaste. This makes V2 the ultimate substitute for a Vodka and Redbull. Made by the same people who brought us Hpnotiq, now you can have the caffeine jolt in any vodka drink. For a real heart-starter, mix V2 with your favorite energy drink. www.v2vodka.com
The adorable Kelly Ozaki gifted items from Lotus 9, her line of leather jewelry. She was there with her long-time friend and public relations manager, May Tien. Together they found the perfect design and size of their signature leather cuffs for us. Ozaki also designs leather necklaces and earrings, which were also available at the suite. A native of San Diego, Ozaki discovered her love of jewelry design through her association with the theater. She took on set, costume and jewelry design projects as part of her college studies. Eventually this grew into Lotus 9. Kelly enjoys designing unique, affordable jewelry; client satisfaction is her primary goal. She also believes in supporting her community. Kelly serves on the Board of San Diego Youth & Community Outreach, and as part of her commitment to the organization, regularly teaches jewelry making to kids.
www.lotus9designs.com
Christine Price Haute Moms Rule, brought their fun and trendy line of bags and shirts all tailored-made for our favorite person: mom! Busy moms and women on-the-go today live in their designer jeans and t-shirts. That’s why they’ll love these super fun and stylish tees that allow them to express themselves in a whole new way. Wirth charming sayings like “haute moms rock” and “haute child in the city”, and with stylish detailing in engaging and fun graphics, haute moms rule! haute tees are premium designer t-shirts that will fit every personality.
Christine Price is also the creator of the innovative lifesaver for all mothers: Haute Hips baby carrier. It looks like an oversized “fanny pack” that sits on the hips, but is large and supportive enough to hold you child (from 6 months to 4 years), taking the pressure off of your back. And it looks fashionable, unlike so many other baby carriers. And Price’s handbags are really diaper bags in disguise., so o longer will you have to carry around a bulky, unsightly diaper bag again. Price has got all new moms covered! www.hautemomsrule.com
Hershey’s invited guests to explore the world of fine chocolate with the new Cacao Reserve by Hershey’s, a premium line of all-natural chocolates and drinking cocoa. The Cocoa reserve by Hershey’s line offers a variety of superior flavors, pleasing textures and exotic aromas unlike any other chocolate.
The line includes a broad range of premium chocolate products that will let consumers explore different subtleties and intensities of chocolate while learning more about the flavors they prefer. Available in single-serve and take-home bars, truffles and drinking cocoa, the line of bars include Premium Milk (35% cacao), Premium Milk with Hazelnuts, Extra Dark (65% cacao), and Extra Dark with Nibs. They also have four bars made with beans from individual countries: Java, Indonesia (37% cacao), Arriba (505 cacao), Santo Domingo (67% cacao) and Sao Tome (70% cacao). www.hersheys.com/cacaoreserve/
Guests were gifted an invitation to Bottlenotes’s Limited Addictions Wine Club. Bottlenotes is an invitation only wine club, and the only wine club service offering some of the best boutique wines from around the word customized to your personal taste. They offer different options for your level of commitment and price range. Choose a club based on your interests and budget, ten fill out a fun, quick “Personal taste Profile” to let them know your preferences. You will be able to keep track of the wines you receive in your “virtual cellar” and rate the wines to give than a better sense of what wines you truly like. You can also let friends see your wine rack, wine notes, and personal wish list. www.bottlenotes.com
Sharon Tirabasso, President of Lotion Glow, gifted her line of candles. But these aren’t your ordinary, run-of-the-mill candles; as the luxurious, 100% Pure Soy Massage Candle burns, at body temperature, it begins to melt, becoming a warm, silky liquid. The warm, pure liquid soy contains pure vegetable Protein, Vitamin E and Lecithin, well known soothing and healing properties. Exuberant actress Phoebe Price, the face of Lotion Glow, was also in attendance to promote the product. Lotion Glow exclusively uses “Premium” grade 100% pure soy as well as “Premium” grade skin safe fragrances. Premium grade fragrance provides “scent throw” excellence, and the custom blending with our premium grade soy creates a beautiful, lingering, aromatherapy experience. Your skin will thank you! www.lotionglow.com
Dirt Devil gifted their innovative new vacuum, the KONE. The Dirt Devil KONE is a cordless hand vacuum unlike any you’ve seen. Dirt Devil had famed product designer Karim Rashid create an elegant, sculptural form that can actually be left on display – on your table, shelf, or counter. That way, your hand vac will always be charged. It’s always ready when you are, can be turned on and off with the press of a button and has an easy-to-empty bagless dirt cup. And with a selection of colors like White, Champagne, Charcoal, Blue steel, Light Pink and Plum, you’re sure to find one that matches your décor. www.dirtdevil.com
Tetra Pak provided a variety of beverages, all available in their innovative packaging. Tetra Pak packages protect delicate and natural flavors and formulations through aseptic processing and a six-layer barrier. Tetra Pak packages keep food safe while ensuring freshness and great taste. Tetra Pak’s are also consumer friendly, easy to open and drink right from the carton. You can carry the product in your gym bag or purse. Tetra Pak packages are great for on the go because they are very portable.
They are also environmentally-friendly. The packages are made from a renewable resource and also require less packaging than traditional bottles and take up less pace during transportation, conserving fuel during shipment. Tetra Pak provide the packaging for French Rabbit Wine, Three Thieves Wine, AQUA2GO, Muscle milk Light, EAS Advantage, Horizon organic Single-Serve Flavored Milk, Silk Soy, LightFull, Dreamerz, and others. www.tetrapak.com
AquaMantra helped us get in tune with the powers of our own positive thinking. A new line of bottles water, Aquamantra is energy enhanced natural spring water that resonates with the energy and frequency of well-being. So besides being refreshed, you are alos renewed mentally. AquaMantra delivers powerful messages to you through the mantras, I AM HEALTHY™, I AM LOVED™ or I AM LUCKY™. The thoughts inherent in those words permeate the liquid, influencing the taste and beneficial properties of the water. If you are drinking ‘I am Healthy’ for example, you will resonate with the energy to be healthy. I am Loved will allow you to feel loved and I am Lucky will make you feel prosperous and Lucky! Each bottle features custom created artwork inspired from local O.C. artists and a portion of the revenues from each mantra, are reserved for a variety of charities. www.aquamantra.com
Colorescience Micronized Mineral makeup gifted their line of healthy makeup. Colorrescience is an amazing breakthrough in natural color cosmetics. Founded by Diane Richardson Ranger, Colorescience products come from the earth’s natural minerals. The mineral pigments reflect light so that the color seems to come from within, softening features, giving the skin a youthful glow. Colorscience products are formulated for all the skin types and have a positive effect on the actual condition of the skin. With the use of the patented ingredients and nanotechnology, Colorescience claims “looking good is now good for your skin” Cameron Diaz swears by their powder Sunscreen, which provides powerful sun protection without clogging pores and creating breakouts. www.colorescience.com
Casio gifted watches from their new collection. Casio’s corporate creed is “creativity and contribution.” It expresses the company’s commitment to contributing to society by offering the kind of original, useful products that only Casio can. Products with innovative functions assist people in their daily lives and keep society moving forward. They also bring joy to people and help to create new culture. When even a single new product is widely adopted, whole new markets develop, and this in turn fosters growth in related industries. This is the story of Casio’s contribution to society-innovative products enhancing people’s lives. www.casio.com
Pro Vina gifted gift certificates toward their innovative WinePod, a state-of-the-art tool for small-lot artisan winemaking in your own home. The WinePod integrates fermentation, pressing, and ageing in one elegant unit, yet it is simple and easy to use . The WinePod controls the heat of fermentation and maintains appropriate ageing temperature using electronically controlled thermoelectric heating and cooling. Your wine ferments and ages in a variable-capacity stainless steel tank with an integrated wine press. The WinePod collects and transmits fermentation and temperature data wirelessly to your PC, where their software offers winemaking guidance and manages your processes and records. www.winepod.net
BWell Clinic, a new wellness center in Los Angles, gifted gift certificates for massage and acupuncture as well as cute blue sandals. BWell Clinic is a truly integrative wellness center founded on the principles of clinical and laboratory evaluation, functional medicine and scientifically proven treatments. No two people are the same, so their wellness protocols are designed to suit each individual’s body and requirements.
They provide Metabolic, Detoxification, Age Management & Prevention, and Optimal Health programs all based on specialty laboratory testing. BWell programs integrate every clinical modality necessary to achieve optimal health: Toxicology and Internal medicine, Naturopathic and Chinese medicine, Movement Therapy and Bodywork. What’s great about the BWell team is that each member works together to create a wellness program that best suits your unique needs. www.bwellclinic.com
Guests were also able to choose from a selection of trendy shoes from KangaROOS. KangarROOS have been around since 1979, and are still made with the same quality and attention to detail. Crated by Architect/Designer/Avid Runner Robert Gamm, he found his niche by building pockets into his shoes to hold keys and change while out on a jog. He called them KangaROOS and patented an energy return technology that was researched and tested by NASA. Today KangaROOS are better than ever. Form classic kicks to sleek new racers, every shoe still has a pocket. Ever inspired by their roots in authentic performance, ROOS is dedicated to the fusion of fashion, color and athletic style. www.kangaroosusa.com
Guests at Melanie Segal’s were also gifted a gift certificate for a shave at The Art of Shaving, Samsonite luggage, Corduroy cologne by Zirh Intl., Tarte mascara, and a Samantha Mollen CD.
The Platinum Hollywood Luxury Suite was open to celebrities and media VIP’s on Friday, February 23 through Saturday February 24. The 79th Annual Academy Awards were held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Sunday, February 25.
