Iconic cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse have inspired everything from T-shirts to sandals, so could home decor be far behind? The Walt Disney Company is moving into the home furnishings business with the spring 2006 launch of a line inspired by the animated classic Alice in Wonderland. The company celebrated with a lavish tea party attended by fashion-forward celebrities Naomi Campbell, Nicole Richie, and Kidada Jones.
Jones is one of the designers of Disney's new lifestyle brand, so the event was held on the tented tennis court and surrounding gardens of her father Quincy's new manse in Bel Air. Working with Disney's consumer products marketing executives Dennis Green and John Gong, Tony Shubert of Event Eleven fashioned a fanciful, Alice-inspired setting designed to showcase the new line. "In short, it was all things Alice," Shubert says. "Disney really gave me an open book, but I also had strict guidelines. Every time I wanted to veer off, they reeled me back into Alice's world. It was a lot of fun."
To create his Wonderland, Shubert digitally printed the walls of the tent with images from the 1951 film. Oversize playing cards dangled from the ceiling on four mobile chandeliers that were five feet long. The Mad Hatter tea party took place around a custom-made 40-foot-long table laid with tabletop pieces from the new line, which included Maya Romanoff's sparkly placemats and coasters embellished with intricate beading and jewels.
Nestled next to the table was a brightly hued assortment of Drexel Heritage chairs in different shapes reupholstered in Wonderland patterns. Other reupholstered pieces added more comfort and color to the partyscape: skirted ottomans, tufted leather furniture with fabric insets, and upholstered seats with supertall backs. The seating was topped with Kidada's elaborate pillows made from knit cashmere and vintage cottons. Below stretched InterfaceFLOR carpet tiles in "Queen of Hearts" and "Tea Party Garden" patterns.
Guests grazed on Mad Hatter specialties prepared by Akasha Richmond and spun the "Wheel of Fun" in return for a $10 donation to Step Up Women's Network, which provides mentoring and raises funds for women's health care. If the wheel stopped at "Wear me," "Drink me," or "Happy Birthday," revelers took home items from the line. But gift bags with jewelry, a T-shirt, Goldie cosmetics, and a Cheshire cat figurine were had by all.
—Irene Lacher
Photos: Nadine Froger Photography
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Jones is one of the designers of Disney's new lifestyle brand, so the event was held on the tented tennis court and surrounding gardens of her father Quincy's new manse in Bel Air. Working with Disney's consumer products marketing executives Dennis Green and John Gong, Tony Shubert of Event Eleven fashioned a fanciful, Alice-inspired setting designed to showcase the new line. "In short, it was all things Alice," Shubert says. "Disney really gave me an open book, but I also had strict guidelines. Every time I wanted to veer off, they reeled me back into Alice's world. It was a lot of fun."
To create his Wonderland, Shubert digitally printed the walls of the tent with images from the 1951 film. Oversize playing cards dangled from the ceiling on four mobile chandeliers that were five feet long. The Mad Hatter tea party took place around a custom-made 40-foot-long table laid with tabletop pieces from the new line, which included Maya Romanoff's sparkly placemats and coasters embellished with intricate beading and jewels.
Nestled next to the table was a brightly hued assortment of Drexel Heritage chairs in different shapes reupholstered in Wonderland patterns. Other reupholstered pieces added more comfort and color to the partyscape: skirted ottomans, tufted leather furniture with fabric insets, and upholstered seats with supertall backs. The seating was topped with Kidada's elaborate pillows made from knit cashmere and vintage cottons. Below stretched InterfaceFLOR carpet tiles in "Queen of Hearts" and "Tea Party Garden" patterns.
Guests grazed on Mad Hatter specialties prepared by Akasha Richmond and spun the "Wheel of Fun" in return for a $10 donation to Step Up Women's Network, which provides mentoring and raises funds for women's health care. If the wheel stopped at "Wear me," "Drink me," or "Happy Birthday," revelers took home items from the line. But gift bags with jewelry, a T-shirt, Goldie cosmetics, and a Cheshire cat figurine were had by all.
—Irene Lacher
Photos: Nadine Froger Photography
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Endeavor Brings Indoors Out for Pre-Emmy Party