"Does Gregory Hines have a fragrance?" hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons asked us incredulously on the red carpet when we mentioned that the famous tap dancer would be hosting the Fragrance Foundation's 29th annual FiFi awards. And although Hines does not have his own scent, a few other attending celebs were there to shill their fragrances, including Nicky and Paris Hilton; Simmons and his wife Kimora Lee (whose Baby Phat clothing line is venturing into cosmetics and fragrance); and Daniela Pestova for Victoria's Secret. Award presenters included Joan Rivers, Metropolitan Opera soprano Denyce Graves, ex-Sopranos star Jason Cerbone and Mary Wilson of the Supremes. The awards show, held in honor of new innovations in packaging and scents in the fragrance industry, was open to the paying public for the first time this year.
Bestek Lighting and Staging erected a glowing set with a glittering "FiFi" logo hanging over the Radio City Music Hall stage, and shone an array of rainbow-colored lights against the backdrop--a shimmery setting for the Radio City Rockettes to do a short number at the beginning of the presentation.
After guests scrambled to collect their scent-loaded gift bags, fragrance industry heavy-hitters and award presenters made their way over to the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers for a post-show dinner gala. Phillip Haight and Nicholaus Lapp of Fiori decorated the Imperial Ballroom with gleaming fuschia bridal satin tablecloths and tall centerpieces of peonies, roses and sweet william. (We heard Kathy Hilton .php, "It's beautiful in here!"). Bestek also did the lights inside the ballroom--soft spotlights that moved throughout the room and muted room light that allowed the votives on the tables to highlight the decor.
--Suzanne Ito
See more about the decor at the dinner gala...
See our coverage of last year's Fragrance Foundation's FiFi awards...
Bestek Lighting and Staging erected a glowing set with a glittering "FiFi" logo hanging over the Radio City Music Hall stage, and shone an array of rainbow-colored lights against the backdrop--a shimmery setting for the Radio City Rockettes to do a short number at the beginning of the presentation.
After guests scrambled to collect their scent-loaded gift bags, fragrance industry heavy-hitters and award presenters made their way over to the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers for a post-show dinner gala. Phillip Haight and Nicholaus Lapp of Fiori decorated the Imperial Ballroom with gleaming fuschia bridal satin tablecloths and tall centerpieces of peonies, roses and sweet william. (We heard Kathy Hilton .php, "It's beautiful in here!"). Bestek also did the lights inside the ballroom--soft spotlights that moved throughout the room and muted room light that allowed the votives on the tables to highlight the decor.
--Suzanne Ito
See more about the decor at the dinner gala...
See our coverage of last year's Fragrance Foundation's FiFi awards...