As Hollywood’s biggest night approaches, the whole town is buzzing about who will win the biggest awards, what they’ll wear, and what they’ll say in their acceptance speeches. But the town is just as much abuzz about those fabulous gifting suites that the stars get to attend. Publicists are making calls as we speak, jockeying to get their clients on the list for the best Gift lounges in town. Which stars will get to attend, and which stars won’t? Who will get to take home the biggest tech toys, the hottest jewelry, expensive skincare, wine brands, handbags, neck massagers, and more items then they can even carry out on their own.
I got a sneak peak into what many of those exclusive gift bags contain when I attended 3 Grammy gift lounges during Grammy week in January: The Distinctive Assets Grammy Gifting Suite downtown at Toms Watch Bar; The DPA Music Lounge at the Luxe Hotel on Sunset Boulevard (not officially affiliated with the Recording Academy, however all nominees and presenters are invited); the GBK Brand Bar at the W Hotel in Hollywood (also has no direct Grammy affiliation). All of them have now shifted their gifting gears and are in full Oscar Week preparation, I’m sure. And just know, the Oscar gift lounges are on a whole other level.
Here is my experience as I was escorted through all of the gift lounges. And please note, as a journalist, and not a celeb, I was only gifted a few products. I did not get to take home any of the fabulousness but I’m happy with the few items I did receive.
Distinctive Assets Grammy Gifting Suite
Located right next to the Staples Center at Toms Watch Bar, I was greeted by publicist Molly Valtz and led around the suite. Attendees this year included: Shery Lee Ralph, Holly Robinson Pete, Jimmy Jam, Anthony Hamilton, MC Lyte, Lalah Hathaway and Terry Ellis from En Vogue and more.
Here’s some of what this suite had to offer:
Grossé, a German brand of museum quality costume jewelry. The brand boasts a six-layer precious metal plating system giving it its radiance.
The GROHE Euphoria 140 Shower head with Aqua Booster technology. Wow. A shower head called euphoria. I want one.
Davina Dermatology of Beverly Hills, specializing in the state-of-the-art XERF skin tightening system, was handing out $250 gift certificates to be used toward a treatment.
Urban Decay make up brand allowed guests to choose from their best sellers and create their own customized cosmetics sampler.
Minky Couture’s plush, warm and soft-as-mink blankets, were given away to snuggle up and watch the Grammy or Oscars with if you aren’t going.
Other items offered include: The Way Love Goes, a book by Hip Hop star DaBrat and her wife Judy; Dr. Simi x Farmacias Similares supplements; Frontera Wines from Chile; Greens First, a green powder with 49 superfoods; and California-based artist David Krovblit’s custom boxed art.
Then on to:
The DPA Music Lounge
Driving though the Hollywood Hills, and then turning into the long hidden driveway of the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel, was the perfect set up for The DPA Music Lounge. I was greeted by Nathalie Dubois of Dubois Pelin and Associated (DPA) and led through the suites. Past Attendees to the DPA Lounges have been, most notably, Angela Bassett, Danny Glover, Viola Davis and Rhianna, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Ice T, to name a few.
Here’s some of what the celebs got.
Balacia Jewelry, beautiful flawless real diamond pieces from African American jeweler and designer, Jasmine Carter.
Vie Lorie handbags. Italian artisan leather bags from African American designer, entrepreneur and Washington, DC Physician, Verniese Brown.
Siyah Organics, another woman-owned brand with 100% naturally-sourced, non-GMO skincare and beauty products as well as supplements. I was gifted a Baobab fruit skin oil that I love and will be buying more of.
Aurelie, a Tokyo-based, high-end anti aging skin care brand, gifted me their wrinkle repair rich serum that goes on smooth and gives me that Japanese glass skin look, well, almost.
Von Vemian, a fashion designer with red carpet-ready designs featuring dramatic layers of material creating pleats, gathers and swirls, was on hand to dress Grammy-goers.
Select nominees were gifted with a stay at the le Taha’a by Pearl Resorts in French Polynesia (five minutes from Bora Bora), from GarikiMot Properties.
Other honorable mentions were Naked Sundays sunscreen, Best Day Brewing, Cola Blanca Mezcal, Ele Kauai home and body products, Mallow Cookies, 28 Wishes ice cream, and the Black-owned premium mock-tail brand Medase.
Then on to the next suite.
The GBK Brand Bar
GBK Brand Bar at the W Hotel, Hollywood Boulevard.
Attendees this year included: West African vocalist Angelique Kidjo; Grammy winner Durand Bernarr; Sister-in-law to Whitney, Pat Houston; jazz drummer/composer Terri Lynne Carrington; jazz pianist Robert Glasper; guitarist Samantha Fish and Christian hip- hop artist Lecrae, among others.
Here’s what they had to offer:
Savant Company LED+ Speakers – smart Speakers that integrate with Savants home automation system.
PartyKeys by PopuMusic – smart musical instruments where people can play a song in minutes using light guidance.
TemPolor Generative AI Guitar combines traditional playability with AI generation, creating real-time accompaniment and backing arrangements for the tune you’re playing.
Lorenzi Estate wines are medal and award-winning Southern California ultra premium wines.
Noise Cancellation hi res audio headphones by Edifer with bluetooth wireless capability and extended battery life
Ibreo Shiatsu foot massager and Ibreo shoulder massagers with kneading and heat therapy.
Here, I came home with SPOOGE mineral sunscreen, cupcakes from Hansen Cakes and the book Discovering and Embracing Your Life Purpose from Paul Peters, which I intend to read.
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