And so the week continued with a trip the next day to a so-called awards-season gift suite and an opportunity to live the life of a star vicariously. Inside the Peninsula Hotel, the scene was all abuzz with press and camera crews heading down to visit Nathalie Dubois’ DPA gift suite, which was filled with booty galore just waiting to be taken home by celebs.
Making sure that this wasn’t dished out to the press by mistake, we were given giant necklaces to were with the word PRESS written in luminous green. In previous years, even journalists would have had these companies throwing things at them to take home but here too the effects of the recession could be felt. This year, it seems we were to be satisfied instead by, in one case, a label from a cool Army-style shopping bag, which I gazed at longingly before the rep ripped off the packing and said here you can have this instead! Even the sweet Danish girl from goodluckhorseshoes.com, the latest thing in Bling – think an original Danish horseshow smothered in 24 carat gold, which is hung on a chain- like necklace fit for any rapper – held on tightly to her gear.
Still, the good luck clearly wore off on me. After discovering the vegetable-infused cocktails on the terrace at circa 11.30 a.m. and taking a few sips of the Cabana Cachacha rum mixed with St Germain liquor, I figured the best way forward was to ditch the pass.
And so I entered the pampering suite sans detection, wearing my finest black suit, and got to play at being a movie star for a rather enjoyable hour. I had my nails done and learnt all about the Minx organic nail polish from the manicurist Nettie Davis. Then it was on to the celebrity make-up artists Anastasia’s stand where someone just waiting to dish love on to a passer by kindly did my brows. The girl from MD Lash Factor handed over a black velvet pouch with a potion one could apply everyday to raise the length of one’s eyelashes and then the ever-so-sweet rep from the skincare label Kerstin Florian went to far as to hand me some Kaviar to smear under my eyes! was on a roll. Outside, the beautiful tea blends from Bird Pick were presented by another friendly face and I was even invited to their grand opening this Saturday in their Culver City mall store. Then I fell gratefully into the arms of two young masseurs from the innovative company Massage Express, which will come to your home, office, or set with their table and chair, and had all of my worries smoothed out through my suit. Back inside, the girl from Brazilian Blowout spotted my pass and declared that she had already spoken to me, then handed over a tube of their signature hair smoothing cream before declaring wistfully that she too needed a massage. Back on the terrace, the reporters from Turner Television glared at my seven bulging bags of “research items” (they only had one), and I wolfed down a tuna sandwich and sauntered out. When I got home, I realized that I had risked my reputation as a stand-up reporter for less than $150 worth of gear and consoled myself with the thought that it was all done, as I am telling you now, strictly in the name of the story.
+ Please note that all items were dropped off at a charity store on the way home.
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