Health & Fitness
Pre-Emmy Style/Part 4: It's a Wrap!
My final rounds for Emmys 2013 took me back to some familiar places (the W Hollywood and the Pickford Estate in Hancock Park) to see what was new in terms of familiar brands and products, and new goods and gadgets worth recommending.
Debbie Durkin, once again transforming the Pickford Estate’s garden into a celebrity playground for her 7th Annual Eco Emmys, was built upon the theme of "Empowering Women,” supporting the charitable organizations Women in the Arts (wiaf.org), and WOW Voices (With Our Words, Inc., withourwords.org), a youth development nonprofit from Stockton, California allowing at-risk teens channel their creativity into spoken word performance and poetry inspired by eco-themed ideas from stars in the entertainment industry.
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One of the more compelling vendors, Deborah Gaspar (www.deborahgaspar.com), was actually vending—selling her high-end silver, gemstone and costume jewelry line to celebrities to raise money for Durkin’s charities of choice. Without ceremony and with refreshing candor, Gaspar noted that celebrities who have everything and then some should support her jewelry collection, not only by making a purchase, but also sharing their good fortune with the charities being featured at the event. Gaspar’s designs are exquisite and fashion forward, but her moxie and pragmatism also make her a designer worth checking out. Bravo to Debbie Durkin for having Gaspar on site and doing more than give her talent away to make a name for herself.
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Celebrities who have it all in Hollywood, are also widely known for the way they pamper pets, and it is no surprise that Canine Caviar (www.caninecaviar.com) had some choice food for dog owners in attendance (and cat food available on request). However, it was nice to see that they were showcasing how the Canine Caviar products had a very positive effect on a variety of rescue dogs.
Other excellent essentials for well-traveled celebrities being showcased here Traveler’s Choice hard shell luggage and carry-ons (Although I never saw myself as a “Barbie Girl,” I am absolutely ecstatic to be able to try out their pink model on my forthcoming trip to Spain, not only because of its functionality but also because of the ease of finding it on the baggage claim carousel) and larger-than-life duffels for the guys. It was also fun to see an old brand from the 80s, Serengetti Sunglasses, revived and made relevant and chic for a new generation of wearers. While the glasses meld function and fashion (the signature photosensitive and protective lenses), there is also a Made-in-Italy chic to many of the styles that shines through.
New products of note include Maya Tequila (TequilaMaya.com), which is not only delicious, smooth and beautifully crafted, but also artistically packaged in a way that completely gets that women are the primary consumers of spirits in most households. Their anejo is extraordinary. Former model Marjorie Kinay of Miami (marjoriesbazaar.com) also goes the artisanal route with her Marjorie’s Bazaar line of hand crafted casual shoes in buttery leather and a full spectrum of on-trend colors. CoCo Libre’s superb cocoanut water (www.cocolibreorgnic), and a selection of vegan ice cream made from cocoanut nicely tied the day together.
In his seasonal takeover of the W Hollywood, Gavin B. Kiley and the GBK event team (gbkproductions.com), opted for simple and home-spun with their vendor selection, which really allowed this go-round’s charities (spcaLA, www.spcala.com, Lambda Legal, www.lambdalegal.org, and The Creative Coalition, www.TheCreativeCoalition.org) to take center stage and get word out about the good work they are continuing to do with the help of the greater Hollywood community.
In the usually dog-dominated world of the suites, it was wonderful to see cats have their day, thanks to Presenting Sponsor NEW Tidy Cats® LightWeight 24/7 Performance®, a much-awaited product for us cat owners who have long craved the luxury of lighter cat litter that functions in a heavy duty way. For every celebrity guest who “tosses” the new-and improved litter during the two-day event, Tidy Cats donated $100 to spcaLA, up to a maximum donation of $10,000.
Given current events, Lambda Legal’s presence was very welcome, given their continuing commitment for achieving civil rights in America. In support of Lambda Legal, fashion-forward, cause-driven hats were donated by Gratitude Couture, a local company focused on supporting non-profit organizations intent on eradicating hate and bullying.
Always a highlight, THE ARTISAN GROUP® (www.theartisangroup.org), was back on the scene with their always-fun grab bags showcasing the work of designers, artists and entrepreneurs. I was delighted to find beautifully crafted baubles from Andrea Wysocki (www.andreawysocki.com), Bead Lovers Corner (www.beadloverskorner.com), and Shady Lady Chic (shadyladychic.etsy.com). Helzberg Diamonds (www.helzberg.com), meanwhile, bridged the gap of casual and fine jewelry with their INFINITY X INFINITY jewelry collection inspired by ABC Television’s primetime hit series “Revenge.” I was also pleased to reconnect with the people from TC Intimates (http://www.cupidintimates.com/tc-fine-intimates) who, in my opinion, offer some of the most comfortable and best shapewear on the market. I look forward to sampling my new set, made from lighter, silky against the skin material.
After getting sustenance from Ike's Love & Sandwiches LLC, a tiny sample of low-cal hummus from Oasis Mediterranean Cuisine (www.omcfood.com), and a glass of Sequin Wines (www.sequinwines.com), I learned about Planet Eco, a new social networking site dedicated to environmentalists (www.WallOfCare.com), and literally threw some of my support to spcaLA as a tribute to my cat, Pepper, a cuddly and contented rescue.
