Wild Style Pumps by Joy Bryant

When asked if I’d be interested in designing a shoe for a good cause, I couldn’t resist… The shoes will be auctioned off on StuartWeitzman.com with 100% of $$$ to benefit ovarian cancer research…. How could I not be down with that?

(Wild Stylin’ for a good cause!)

I could do anything I wanted, sooooo, being the lover of camouflage that I am, that’s what I wanted my shoe to be … (my husband likes to remind me that camo is not a color). But that turned out to be a little trickier than we all expected so instead, I decided on the next best thing: Graffiti… I was so psyched with how the shoe came out that I walked around the store with it perched on my shoulder.

(Damn, wish I had my marker on me!)

It was interesting to see what everyone else had done. From the wheels on Zoey Deschanel’s fun creation, to the feathers on Rachel Bilson’s gorgeous footwear, everyone had their shoes and personalities on display. Give a bunch of people a clean palette and see what they each come up with. I hope we raise a lot of money!

(New York Inspiration)

Walking around later that night, I was reminded of the creativity of street artists and how it sucks to drive a white truck in New York — unless your favorite movie is Wild Style…

– Joy Bryant

Dominos! Hollywood Style.

If you remember, we worked on a really fun event for charity a few months ago for Hollywood Domino. It’s a new twist on Dominos that alot of Hollywood folk like Ashton, Demi, Penelope, Charlize, and Javier began to play in their homes.

(The Domino chips. The cute “monopoly-ish” character pieces)

Hasbro has officially developed the game for anyone to buy now. The objective is slightly different that the usual Domino game. Hollywood Dominos allows players to become a Director of their own film. They choose their genre and start competing to create a “movie reel” before their competitors. With unique elements including “Blockbusters”, Sequels”, “Trilogies”, and of course, “Oscar”, it seems only the shrewdest of players can master the Hollywood politics. It’s no surprise smart cookie Charlize made it to the top of the mountain and beat everyone in the house that night (all in the name of charity!). Post + Pics are here.

Watch for the big New York event to occur November 9, 2008. Other cities that will premiere the game with celebrity tournaments are Los Angeles and London.

To purchase the game directly, go to: HollywoodDomino.com.

La Perla Does Miami

Summer in Miami is hot hot hot! And last weekend’s Swim Week festivities were certainly no exception. Kate and I traveled down to South Beach to help high-end lingerie brand La Perla launch the 2009 collection from their upscale Mare collection. The event took place at the pool plaza of the trendy new Gansevoort South Hotel, overlooking the ocean.

(Actress Gabrielle Union)

Guests sipped cocktails and checked out the New York City-inspired swimsuits, which appeared mannequins that stood on the surface of the water (thanks to some clever production tricks!). Gabrielle Union, the gorgeous actress and “Bring It On” alum, dropped by the party with a few friends and gushed over the sexy suits.

(Suzy Biszantz, CEO of La Perla North America, and Gabrielle Union check out the styles)

Click here to check out all of the chic La Perla collections!
-Lyle

Daphne Night in Paris

(Daphne Guinness speaking to press about her first Directoral effort)

I’m back in New York! Been gone for a hot minute so i’ve been truant on the blog. The good news is I come back with tales from Paris Couture Week where Starworks celebrated its first foray into New Media — The Phenomenology of Body, a simple (yet not so philosophically simple) 5 minute art piece Directed by Daphne Guinness that will forever air on The New York Times‘ T website. The video, (which was projected in large format) premiered at the Hôtel de Crillon accompanied by 12 Prints displayed in the room. Daphne describes the film in her own words here.

(POB Portraits at Hôtel de Crillon)

(Starworker Ivana with Gianluca Longo, Fashion Director at ES Magazine)

In addition to NYT’s Stefano Tonchi, the cocktail was private, mellow, and sprinkled with several influential and inspiring guests — L’Wren Scott, Andrea Dellal, Christian Louboutin, Suzy Menkes, Wes Anderson, Tatiana Santo Domingo, Margherita Missoni among others. The event was covered everywhere from WWD to FashionWeekDaily.com.

(Shelly Zander — in Marc Jacobs — playing with a dog named, um, Daphne)

I relaxed on the balcony with Phenomenology of Body’s additional producers, Brody Baker and Shelly Zander of Knowmore Productions. Newly minted Starworker Amie Witton-Wallace (who served as Alexander McQueen’s Worldwide PR Director for 12 years) attended the event as well. We’re proud to have her.

(Starworker Amie Witton-Wallace with Isobel Gorst)

(Daphne’s angels: Isobel Gorst and Michaela Cawley. A Starworker on her blackberry prepping for her Lacoste event later that night)

(Daphne — in Alexander McQueen — hosting guests on Hôtel de Crillon balcony)

(Daphne’s Private Dinner post Gallery at Caviar Kaspia)

After showing the work, it was time to sit down and celebrate. Best Caviar in Paris. Strong guest list of Daphne’s close personal friends. Can you say, “complete night”? Actually, there was just one more thing I had to do. I’d heard Santogold was in Paris playing Visionaire’s Boat party to celebrate Lacoste’s 75th Anniversary (and the release of Visionaire 54 Sport). Stage time was Midnight —– Taxi time!

(DJ booth during Santo show, Visionaire/Lacoste event. Pics on VMag.com)

I managed to arrive to the docks for Part 2 of the night. The party was on climax mode. Lacoste Designer Christophe Lemaire was spinning on the turntables before the show. Parisian hipsters sauced up. Banging dancefloor. Semi-nude women in hottubs. Inflatable animals and couture outfits on the roofdeck. The room looked like a French version of a Misshapes party. As I turn my head, Leigh Lezark (speak of the devil) was walking right towards me in the way you do when you see another New Yorker in the room — with a smiling sigh. Always a pleasure to catch up with the downtown muse. In the midst of the sweaty high energy mess, Leigh’s dress and hair perpetually look tight. It kind of amazes me. Geordian (who launched their digital identity online) emerged out of the woodworks too. The lights went down.

Finally, Santo came on stage and won over the crowd. As much as we’ve heard the album on heavy rotation at the Starworks office, I tell ya, each song sounds better and better upon each listen. Her live performance however has 1 extra dimension — two backup dancers. A mash-up of dancers past, but with flavor of its own. Think Public Enemy’s militaristic strong pauses and then synchronized twirling like soldiers to a beat. Think also Robert “Addicted to Love” Palmer women but with an indie-electro feel and the same intriguing blank faced sex appeal (video here). Now add colored Raybans, gyrating hype-man movements, spanking outfits, and some soul. It was good to see New York blood “hold down” the stage tonight.

(Close-up of Barack Obama patch on DJ bag)

Standing next Santo’s DJ, I peeped his backpack under the tables, and noticed a Barack face staring right at me with a graphic that says “Hope”. After a few days of hanging out in Paris and discussing the future of our nation to Europeans, I closed my eyes and made 1 wish to the tune of a deafening dance party. Here’s to November 08!

(View from the Boat)

Last but not least, my friends —- this was the view of the the Eiffel Tower on this spectacular night. What was the occasion? The tower was dressed up in honor of celebrating France’s rotating presidency of the European Union (EU). There were 12 stars mounted on the tower to look like the EU flag. The Blue color will continue to glow through the end of the summer (Click here to see the first moment it turned blue). Glorious.

Also, the first 10 minutes of every hour, special little sparkly lights get turned on for that extra “oomph”.

Au revoir!
J

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All photos by Jauretsi

Battle in Seattle

Victory for Battle at Malibu Film Fest

(Writer/Director Stuart Townsend with Producer/Honey Charlize Theron)

On Sunday, June 29, W Magazine sponsored an intimate & exclusive screening of Battle in Seattle at the Malibu Country Mart. Stuart Townsend wrote and directed the intense political drama. Townsend’s girlfriend for life Charlize Theron (who plays a lead role in the film) and Jennifer Carpenter of Dexter (one of the leads) came out to support the first time filmmaker!

Said Townsend: “This film was six years in the making and Charlize was with me every step of the way!” Other big stars showed up to support, including, Matthew McConaughey (with fiancé and mother-to-be Camilla Alves), Michael C. Hall, Amanda Anka & Jason Bateman, Peter Berg (director of Hancock), Dita Von Teese (in Catherine Maladrino), Alexis Bledel, Gabrielle Reece (and her adorable new baby girl), Steve Tisch, stylist Estee Stanley (looking radiant and pregnant), etc.

(Jason Bateman with wife Amanda Anka, Steve Tisch, and Charlize)

E!’s Ben Lyons moderated an informal Q & A following the film with Stuart Townsend and Jennifer Carpenter, while Charlize affectionately harassed the director from her seat. The film was many years in the making for Townsend who assembled an impressive cast in under a week (Ray Liotta, Andre Benjamin, Woody Harrelson, Channing Tatum). The film focuses on five days in 1999 as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest the WTO talks.

(McConaughey with a final look at pregnant fiancé Camilla Alves. The baby is now born!)

Following the screening guests took over locale fav, Tony’s Taverna for dinner. CIROC provided the cocktails and co-sponsor Tommy Hilfiger strategically placed surfboards against the wall to keep the paparazzi out.

(Gabrielle Reece with new baby girl, Charlize)

Back in September last year, Jauretsi reviewed the film at the Toronto Film Festival (Read here). The film also acts as an informative bookmark for American history in relation to news and events happening in the world today regarding protests and “people power” in the making (Read here). The film finally opens September 19 in NYC, and September 26th in LA.

GO SEE IT! WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

For more info, go to BattleinSeattleMovie.com.