MTV Gifting Suites 90210...
Yesterday, I was invited to attend several of those fabulous Gifting Suites in lieu of the MTV Awards--Because of my hectic schedule, I could really only get to one, Melanie Segal's Platinum Publicity Red Cross Prepare LA Trend Lounge at the Luxe Hotel in the heart of Beverly Hills, on Rodeo Drive. As you may know, these "Lounges" are PR and Marketing to events held in LA during Awards Season to, highlight brands and show off anything from beauty products, clothing, liquor, make-up treatments, shoes, jewelry, tooth whitening and spa treatments, super-flossy resort vacations ,the latest-and-greatest in technical gadgets, to well, even cup cakes!
The point is to get Celebs to come, check out the products, pose and take a photo with the product so the vendor gets something for their Publicity/PR page, and hopefully, the invitee gets a "gift" of a product as a "Thank You". The bigger the Celeb, the bigger their "gift", as you can imagine. The scene at this Platinum Publicity "Lounge" at the Luxe Hotel Penthouse (above photo) was, appropriately enough, lounge-y. This was the first day and guests/Celebs were just trickling in as I arrived. Sometimes it's a bit odd to come to these events--for several reasons, including the fact that you might have to deal with that dreaded "And You Are???"--but it's always nice when immediately, the "Door Girls" recognize you and are UBER sweet...as they were here to me. There was a "red carpet" section for photo-ops, a DJ playing fun "Lounge-Club-Pop" tunes and immediately you were "drawn" into the various vendor tables. Usually you are escorted by one of the Gifting Suites pr people who leads you from table to table to check out all the fun...
Platinum Suites had everything for everyone: Manicures from Bellacures (I got one!), Ed Hardy tees and hats, Artá Tequila, Wine Tasting, DDF Advanced Eye Firming Concentrate Cremes, Paciugo Gelato (I had a cup!)... Great tanks and vintage-inspired clothing from UniqueVintage.com, great printed shirts from Nuco Clothing, Dulcerama Lingerie (Thongs anyone?) to NeilMed Sinus Rinse products. This last one I was excited to find out more info. since I had just returned from San Antonio Texas and had a bad case of that city's infamous Cedar Pollen Allergies. As soon as I said "hello" to the NeilMed Sinus Rinse booth people (above photo), they were above-and-beyond excited to see me! I guess they are BIG Project Runway fans and well, before I knew it, I spent half an hour giving them DISH on the show and all the behind-the-scenes stuff! My "handler" was so over me that she done left me! During my stay, I spotted the beautiful actress/singer Samantha Mumba (I LOVED that song of hers, "Baby Come On Over" back in the day!) but in the end, I had to hightail it back to my studio and run my business and make some dresses... But of course, I couldn't leave without stopping by two particular "booths": First, the Friandise Pastries, where I picked up some DELICIOUS macaroons, cupcakes and cookies. And finally...
I had to stop by MyMixedNuts.com--I love their to-go bags of nuts and they were so kind to give me one "for the road", as well as for my many travels on a plane--they're perfect for that--and perfect for when I don't get that Upgrade and get seated waaaay back in Coach! Thanks Melanie Segal and Platinum Publicity for another fun Trend Lounge. event.

My highlights of the entire Emmy's Weekend were:
--Attending the Kate Somerville Spa and Gifting Suite, where I surveyed the PaigePremium Brand jeans all the stars are wearing (they make your butt look amazing!), Ajne Parfumerie and Apothecary, a company that creates custom perfumes out of the most precious ingredients for actresses like Reese Witherspoon and Hilary Swank (their bottles look they were found in the elegant bathroom of a Romanian castle!), and Frette sheets, maker of the most sumptuous bedding in the world. Last but not least, here I got a chance to meet Kate Somerville and speak to her about her famous products, especially the Quench Hydrating Serum, which actress Catherine Bell of "Army Wives" confided in me, was like a "skin miracle".

--I also attended Kari Feinstein's Emmy Style Lounge, where we had to drive to the highest hills of Hollywood and then be shuttled to a "secret location" where the suites were located in a private mansion. Now, this was the flossiest-flossiest lounge I had ever been to. There was a Reebok room where they had some of the coolest looking sneakers I had ever seen (the Voltron line is super-colorful and my favorite). Laura and I even filmed a PSA for Rockand Republic's "Rock The Cure" campaign while actors Seth Green and Andy Milonakis looked on. Laura kept saying how her kids would be SO jealous if they knew she was there with them! I saw so many stars file out of there with so many bags of stuff, my jaw just remained at dropped position the whole day! My half-full bag looked like a bad poor stepchild compared to theirs.

--At the Platinum Suite in the Luxe BeverlyHills Hotel , we were escorted to the Penthouse Suite and I got to stand near(but not too close to), $40 million worth of diamonds and platinum designed by various jewelry houses. It's just incredible that they are lent out to stars. I guess somehow actors wearing them and mentioning their name makes some (very rich) folk run out and feel like want to buy a $50,000 necklace. There has to be a reason, right? I just wore my $100 Nixon steel-plated watch--which I bought myself! Here, there was a La Prairie counter, offering a "taste" of why their skin caviar is the best skin cream in the world. The jar that was hidden in my "goodie bag" was larger than a jar of Jiffy Peanut Butter! Trust me, I ain't complainin'.

--I was invited to attend the Gersh Agency Dinner and Party for its Emmy nominees, given by Frederic Fekkai, to celebrate the opening of his eponymous salon on the exclusive Melrose Place street. There, I gossiped about fashion with Lilah Schechner, West Coast Editor of Elle Magazine. Leave it to the two fashion "queens" to hone in on each other and hang out for two hours and discuss fashion--at a very "A-list Hollywood Industry" non-fashion party!

--David and I attended the Entertainment Weekly Party and saw such A-listers as Vanessa Williams, most of her costars from "Ugly Betty", "Entourage's" Jeremy Piven, my friend and his on-screen assistant, Rex Lee, and Heidi and Seal. I had a lot of fun, sampling the hors d'oeuvres and drinking the yummy Margaritas. A notable absence was Tim Gunn, who was supposed to have shown up, but due to the fact that his car pick up NEVER arrived, he opted to just remain in his hotel and rest up for the big event. I missed him because we would have had "private time" to dish before the Emmy Awards the next day.

--Emmy Awards:
My favorite moments were meeting the GORGEOUS Padma Lakshmi, hostess and judge of Top Chef--looking divine in a white stretch silk Dolce and Gabbana siren gown, Tom Colicchio, also of Top Chef, "Ugly Betty" actor Christopher Gorham, who's a big fan of Project Runway. My best moment was meeting actress Patricia Heaton. I delicately pulled her to come to be interviewed for my MSN piece and once she recognized who I was, she literally began jumping up and down screaming. She was like "Oh my God, Oh My God, you're Nick from Project Runway!!!!" I returned the favor by also screaming "Oh my God, you're Patricia Heaton..and I am a big fan! And can I design a Gown for you next time???" Check out the MSN Emmy video to see what she had in her purse. It's the best! Click HERE to watch the video of Laura and I going through the Stars purses!

--I attended two Emmy's after parties: One for DIVA, Diverse and Inclusive Visionary Artists/Hector Monserratte at East West Lounge where I ran into Survivor star and Janice Dickinson model, JP Calderon. The 2nd party was for Magical Elves, the producers of Bravo's Top Chef and Project Runway, among others. There, I had a great time chatting with Bravo's Andy Cohen and seeing my old friends at Elves, especially the sexy Michael Rucker, looking like a British aristocrat with his tuxedo tails, skinny pants and flower pin. Here, I also ran into model Amanda Fields and several of the chefs from Top Chef well as the over-the-top Bobby Trendy(go figure!). They were still viewing the awards show that I had just ended up attending. Unfortunately, I arrived right as they were announcing Amazing Race as the winner of Reality Competition Program. There were lots of booos in the party.

-- Two Interesting Observations regarding the Emmy Awards:
I always somehow thought that the WHOLE theater/auditorium was always FILLED with stars--all of its 6,000 seats were somehow occupied by "famous people". When, in fact, it is quite the opposite. Maybe 5-10 % of the seats are filled with famous people while the majority of the seats are "other" industry folk--producers, writers, costumers, grips, agents, managers--not so famous.
The other observation was more of a fashion one. A lot of the women attending looked like they were going to the Miss Tennessee Pageant Finals, instead of the Emmy's. Beaded polyester satin Leg-o-Mutton sleeved gowns with front thigh-high slits would not have been my choice of a gown to wear to the Emmy's. And I saw SEVERAL! Ah well, all I can do is continue to offer advice and encourage women to "DRESS LIKE YOU MEAN"! Click HERE to watch video of Laura and I giving advice on dressing for your body type.