Lulu Powers Party Planning

I just got back from spending a few days in Hollywood, where all work aside, I got to go to some completely fabulous parties.

Lulu Powers is one of Hollywood's premiere celebrity party planners and caterers. Her events have a very distinct flair to them, and thanks to her gorgeous book, Lulu Powers From Food To Flowers, they are also quite duplicatable.
One of the events I was at this week was a Lulu Powers inspired event. This got me thinking (over several of her famous Bambootinis) now that we are in the summer party season, that some of you may be interested in her tips for how to throw a last minute party.

Lulu Powers From Food To Flowers is my entertaining bible. I constantly pull ideas from her book, whether it is flower arrangements in my house, cool drinks to serve at my pool parties, or fantastic finger foods that keep people talking for months to come.
If you are new to entertaining, or if it feels overwhelming to you, Lulu has lists of what to keep in your pantry for last minute entertaining, timelines for how to structure your day so that everything runs smoothly, even creative serving ideas.
On her blog, amongst other things, you can find playlists to download for your party. Its fabulous!

Here are a couple of ideas for a little impromptu summer bash a la Lulu.

Flowers
Bypass fussy arrangements in favor of plants that live in your garden. Try positioning low bowls of one color flower offset with moss on tables and shelves at a variety of different heights.

Sweet and Spicy Tacos

Lulu's recipe for sweet and spicy tacos is both quick and easy, and everyone loves them! (you'll find it in her book on page 232)
She also has delicious recipes for chips and dips that are not only divine, but make your event so memorable.

Watermelon

In hot weather you can't beat icy cold wedges of watermelon for dessert.
Sprinkle with sea salt, a dash of lime and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Lulu's book has some fantastic recipes for her signature cocktails too.
I haven't put a cocktail recipe on the blog for a while, but this one is refreshing and totally perfect for a summer get together.

The Lulu Powers Key Lime Martini

1 cup pineapple juice
3 tablespoons Torani vanilla syrup
3 tablespoons sweet and sour mix
juice of one lime
1 cup vodka (I use Grey Goose)
Jolly Rancher Lollipops

Shake the pineapple juice, syrup, sweet and sour mix, lime juice and vodka in a cocktail shaker with ice.
Serve in martini glasses garnished with a Jolly Rancher Lollipop.

(or make a carafe of them and place next to a bowl of crushed ice, and let your guests pour their own!)

You can find Lulu Powers From Food To Flowers in bookstores, or for instant gratification, here is the Amazon link.
Make sure you check out her blog, Living A La Lulu

Alice + Olivia Resort '12 Lookbook

Oh this is just too fabulous!

Alice + Olivia 2012 Resort Collection Lookbook just came out.
Retro shapes and punchy saturated colors, offset with fabulous giant hats and cool glasses - who wouldn't just die to wear these cool pieces???

I love everything in this lookbook.

Too fab.

The Mint

Funny how life works.
A few months back I did a shoot with the amazing Kelly Cappelli for the W Hotel Group. It was for a new nightclub they were doing, called The Mint.
The shoot was fierce and fabulous. Kelly was her brilliant self, Will was hilarious, and I had with me for the first time a new assistant, Katie.

Fast forward to May 2011, and Katie (who by now was firmly situated as my assistant/right arm/wingman) and I were working on a movie called The Coalition. We missed the grand opening of The Mint, as it happened during the movie shoot, but came to find out that the last two days of our film would be shooting inside that very nightclub!
What are the odds on that?
Out of every nightclub in Scottsdale, our movie just happens to be shooting in the one club where my work is on the walls, sized 7 feet by 7 feet.
Quirky!

Here is a little look behind the scenes at the photoshoot.



So here are some production stills from the movie, shot in front of the Kelly Capelli pictures.

 Here's my Katie, hard at work on set

Club scene intro, take one!

Dawn Engram, Eddie Goines and from behind, the lovely Denyce Lawton. I adored working with her!

Check out the boys! Sant'e Andrews, Eddie Goines and JR Ramirez. Aren't they handsome!

Find out more about The Coalition by checking out and liking the movie's facebook page
See more behind the scenes photos from the movie on my facebook page

Anna Selezneva For Vogue Russia

This just rocks my world.

Anna Selezneva as seen through the magic lens of Mariano Vivanco for Vogue Russia, June 2011 issue.

Anna is exquisite in white, wearing Prada, Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent, Jil Sander, Chloe and Dior (amongst others)

The hair and makeup is fantastic.

I love everything about this.

Enjoy.

Elie Saab Le Parfum

From Couture to Perfume … Elie Saab incarnates the free, modern, and enterprising spirit of today’s Lebanon. His Couture House’s renown shines from Beirut to Los Angeles via Paris’ Golden Triangle - where he opened a boutique off the Champs-Elysées in 2007.

In 2011, Elie Saab’s universe continues to expand. After ready-to-wear and accessories, he now invites all women who dream of wearing ELIE SAAB to slip a touch of magic and absolute femininity into their lives with ELIE SAAB Le Parfum

Composed as an ode to light, ELIE SAAB Le Parfum celebrates the splendor and the brilliance of radiant femininity with a floral solar woody theme. The permanent exchange between flowers and wood is what gives the fragrance such captivating resonance.
With a top note of Orange Blossum, a heart note of jasmine and patchouli and a bottom note of cedar, this is a woodsy floral with a touch of rose honey.


To prolong the perfume’s pleasures

A line to reinforce and give new depth to ELIE SAAB Le Parfum’s trail, based on four feminine beauty rituals: Perfumed Body Cream, Perfumed Body Lotion, Perfumed Body Wash, Perfumed Deodorant.

 

Elie Saab Le Parfum is scheduled for a July 2011 release

Vogue Korea... swooon!!

As if I needed another Vogue to obsess over??

I recently discovered Vogue Korea. How it eluded me thus far I have no idea, but during the course of the movie I was just on I spent all kinds of down time perusing images from Vogue Korea's archives on my iPad.

Here are just a handful of the images I could weep over.

Love!!

June 2010 model Hyun Yi Lee photographed by Eoh Sang Sun

March 2010 model Han Jin photographed by Lee Gun-Ho

October 2007 photographer Kim Kyung Soo from a story about traditional costume

May 2010 pop star Hyori-Lee for Adidas

April 2010 Abbey Lee Kershaw photographed by Rafeal Stahelin

July 2010 St Tropez story.
I die.

So many great Vogues, so little time to look at them all in...

Curvy Girl's Guide To Social Events

I just read an article about how skinny women stay skinny.
When you are born curvy that entire concept is somewhat hilarious. But once you have accepted and embraced your curvaciousness (hopefully before you turn 20), you probably have no desire to even be skinny.
It makes for good reading though.

One of the concepts the article dealt with was what skinny women do when at social events and/or business functions. They all said they only drank water, or limited themselves to no dinner and 2 canapes.
Get real. Have you ever stopped at 2 canapes???

For those of us (like me) who have the desire to be a little less curvy, but possess absolutely no self control, navigating the social event doesn't take will power, it takes strategy. Fierce strategy.

So here's the curvy girl's guide to the social event.

1.) Wear the biggest lashes you have. 

Its a yin and yang thing - balance out what you've got in back with a little something special up front. If nothing else they might divert attention from your derriere (theory not quite proven, but has its merits), and lets face it - its just not a party without lashes!

2.) Wear the highest shoes you own.

Multiple great reasons for this one. The height of the shoe determines the curve of your back. In 5 inch heels you'll lean into your gait far more alluringly, will work your posture to its very best, your shoulders will stay squared, your ankles and calves will look gorgeous. And you will look damn fabulous.
On top of that you'll hardly drink anything as the mere thought of falling off those towering heels in front of the world will mortify you into submission.

3.) Take a handbag that has handles. (or that requires you to actually hold it)

A shoulder bag is too convenient, a clutch can slip fashionably under your arm, but a bag with handles will stake claim to one of your hands, and as such one of the twin devils of your demise is now out of commission.

4.) Get a drink that you don't like.

For me its Chardonnay. I don't like it at all, and I think it looks like urine. I can walk around all night with a chardonnay in my hand and not even sip at it. Champagne? That can be hard to turn down as it tastes so good, but just remember it gives everyone bad breath. Don't believe me? Go chat to a champagne drinker. Yuck.

5.) Wear a bold lipstick

Kim Kardashian in fuchsia lip

Bright, bold lips are sensational. So long as you maintain them. If you are eating and drinking they will start to break down and wind up looking hideous, so dial up a fabulous fuchsia or a bold red, keep both hands occupied and voila! Social event under control.

The other option, of course, is to just get out there, eat, drink and be merry, and start another diet tomorrow.

Or the next day.

Life's short, play hard, have fun!