| EVENT REPORT 02.23.09 11:22 AM |
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Oscar Governors Ball Chooses Zen-Inspired Understatement Over Splashy Opulence
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FROM LOS ANGELES
When an economy of unprecedented lousiness met one of the the most traditionally lavish parties of the year last night, the result was a Zen-looking Academy Awards Governors Ball marked by restraint, compared with the drama of past years. The party took over the grand ballroom at Hollywood & Highland following the awards at the Kodak Theatre in the same complex.
The classic elements of air, fire, wood, and earth inspired this year's event, which Cheryl Cecchetto of Sequoia Productions produced with ball chair Cheryl Boone Isaacs. This was Boone Isaacs' seventh year as chair, and Cecchetto has worked on the event for more than two decades. "In this economy, we wanted to go with a pared-down look, but keep it elegant and beautiful," said Cecchetto, who drew some of her inspiration from a teahouse in Beijing. She characterized the look and feel as a "marriage of simplicity and beauty." Boone Isaacs added that the use of organic elements in the design was "like a breath of fresh air," and something "totally different"—an important difference from past years, you might say, in light of the glum atmosphere in the world outside the ballroom.
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RELATED TOPICS
Award Season, Oscars, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Sterling Vineyards, Patron, Ultimat Vodka, Moët & Chandon, Governors Ball |
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| EVENT REPORT 02.20.09 12:24 PM |
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Amid Eco-Conscious Touches, Essence Award Luncheon Evokes Pre-Recession Opulence
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FROM LOS ANGELES
One thing Essence magazine would have been wise to provide at its second annual Black Women in Hollywood award luncheon, at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Thursday, was stockpiles of tissues—as presenters and award winners like Halle Berry, Taraji P. Henson, and Diahann Carroll brought the room to tears on at least a half dozen occasions through deeply emotional speeches and remarks.
Apart from that, organizers behind the magazine's Oscar-week event seemed to cover all the details, creating a glittery look—including platinum carpeting, a tufted stage set in ivory dupioni, lush white blooms of ivory garden roses and hydrangea spilling from cut crystal bowls on tabletops, and napkins festooned with rhinestone buckles—that evoked pre-recession opulence.
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RELATED TOPICS
Award Season, Oscars, Essence Magazine, Lexus, MasterCard, Moët & Chandon, Coty |
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| NEWS 01.26.09 4:31 PM |
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Oscar Governors Ball Preview: Bamboo, Sushi, Bonsai Trees
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 | A Governors Ball tabletop
Photo: BizBash |
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FROM LOS ANGELES
In a year marked by tough economic times, an over-the-top, glittery, sequined Oscar ball might not seem like the most appropriate choice. That's one reason you can expect to see a Zen-looking party space inspired by the elements of water, air, fire, wood, and earth for the academy's annual Governors Ball following this year's Academy Awards on February 22.
Cheryl Cecchetto of Sequoia Productions will again produce the party—which will take to the grand ballroom at Hollywood & Highland following the awards at the Kodak Theatre in the same complex—with ball chair Cheryl Boone Isaacs. It's Boone Isaacs' seventh year as chair, and Cecchetto has worked on the event for more than two decades. "I've always wanted to work with an East-meets-West Asian theme," said Cecchetto at a press preview of the decor earlier today. "In this economy, we wanted to go with a pared-down look, but still elegant and beautiful."
Boone Isaacs added, "One of our things is that we want to make each year completely different from the last. [The use of the organic] elements is kind of like a breath of fresh air—totally different."
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RELATED TOPICS
Oscars, Award Season, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Sterling Vineyards, Moët & Chandon, Patron |
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| FRESH FACE 05.07.08 9:40 AM |
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Former Set Designer Adds Drama to Events
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 | Jonathon Beck
Photo: James Mottee |
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All the World’s a Stage: After studying set and costume design at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts—and becoming the youngest graduate of the course, in 1999—Jonathon Beck began designing sets for the Sydney Theatre Company before expanding his work abroad as a production designer for movies and television in Vienna. Upon his return to Sydney, in 2004, Beck began designing events, and his client list grew to include charity galas and parties for Wella, Moët & Chandon, and 20th Century Fox as well as film director Baz Luhrmann. “It was a natural progression from conceptual theater to what I’m doing now,” he says. “My [work] comes out of a visual arts background and is very installation inspired. It’s more than a backdrop. The idea is to enter into a world that is different from anything else.”
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RELATED TOPICS
Tommy Hilfiger, Y-3, Moët & Chandon, 20th Century Fox, Hugo Boss |
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| EVENT REPORT 12.07.07 10:47 AM |
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Moët Personalizes Bubbly Bottles at Pop-Up Boutique
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 | The dark look of Boutique Moët.
Photo: Alison Whittington for BizBash |
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For many people, a perk of the holidays is copious amounts of champagne. Playing into the season's festive drinking spirit is Moët & Chandon’s SoHo pop-up, Boutique Moët—a store where consumers can have a bottle of the brand's champagne personalized with Swarovski crystals. Tied to the French champagne house's "Be Fabulous" campaign and inspired by the limited edition of the gold Swarovski-crystal-encrusted White Star bottles, the pop-up will be in operation for most of December; it opened on Saturday, December 1, and will run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December 30.
Located on West Broadway, the small, dark space resembles a mini club (similar to Moët's lounges at Fashion Week), with black walls and carpeting accented with gold details. Consumers can bring a pre-purchased bottle of Moët here (the boutique itself doesn't sell any champagne) and have it customized it with a message (up to seven characters for $30). The bottles can then be picked up within two days, or can be delivered anywhere in Manhattan by messenger.
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RELATED TOPICS
Moët & Chandon, Swarovski, Pop-Ups |
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| GUEST QUESTIONS 09.11.07 9:05 AM |
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Tent Poll: How Do You Like the Sponsors' Booths?
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Each season during Fashion Week, some sponsor booths draw the big crowds, while others just fizzle. We went to the tents to get the reaction from guests and celebrities alike.
What do you think of the booths?
“This has been one of the best shows [pointing to the booths from Moët & Chandon and Lycra]. I’ve seen lots of lovely presentations all around.”
—Nina Garcia, fashion editor, Elle, and Project Runway judge
“This [MetLife] booth is really functional. The computers and the flat TV tuning you into the fashion shows are smart. I’ve also learned more about MetLife with these brochures. Plus, the comfy seats have drawn a lot of interesting people here as the unofficial press lounge.”
—Patricia Mosley, Patricia Mosley Enterprises
“My favorite booth is the public bathroom booth [laughs]. The Moët & Chandon vibe is the best. It's got that spirit of lounging and hanging out and drinking. I think that's what Fashion Week is really all about in the end—having a drink.”
—Robert Verdi, style expert, Fashion Police
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RELATED TOPICS
Fashion Week, Havaianas, Moët & Chandon |
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