Oscar Viewing Party - Tribute to Academy Award Fashion

And the winner is... By now you know you know who took home the Oscars and who ate the most pizza.  Ms. Fabulous and the Lounge at Hudson View Gardens hosted a fantastic Academy Awards viewing party in Northern Manhattan.

Home to a diverse community of creatives, the fête brought together writers, cinematographers, sculptors, interior designer David Thiergartner and Broadway star Ted Keegan (top).

The theme this year was Celebrating Hollywood Fashion.  There was an exhibit of original gowns by some of Ms. Fabulous' favorite designers. Oprah Winfrey ' s gold dress from the 2012 Academy Awards by THEIA, Janet McTeer's David Meister red Oscar dress from 2012 and Angela Bassett’s  black and gold dress by Byron Lars from the Independent Spirit Awards were on display.   COTY (now CFDA) award winner George Halley, a Hudson View Gardens resident contributed one of his vintage Hollywood glamour looks from his collection to the exhibit as well.

Guests sipped on Prosecco and gold-rimmed “Oscar-tini”cocktails  made with Zico coconut water. Snacks included celebrity-healthy Pop Chips and a artisanal cheese selection.  Sweet treats included chocolate dipped statuette cookies covered in gold glitter and mini red velvet cupcakes. 

Being a trivia wiz paid off at this event. Guests won prizes ranging from Birchbox gift sets, Macy’s gift cards to iPods for their knowledge. Observant viewers also won prizes for checking off custom Bingo cards for the party with squares naming “Drunk Celebrity” “Best Photo Bomb” or “Trips on Dress” early in the evening.

East or West Coast, North or South, the Academy Awards can be a good time for all.
Photos by Mark Manley, Mariana Leung

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Community Oscar Party - Pop Chips Giveaway

 Who doesn't love getting dressed up and walking a red carpet?  I teamed up with the community at Hudson View Gardens to host an Academy Awards party.  It started as a small, local event but the planning team turned out to be the A-list of volunteers... We had a lighting designer from major event venues, an event/floral designer, a media company who brought in the step and repeat and red carpet.

Zico Coconut water, Pop Chips and Raw Revolution provided healthy, glamour-friendly treats for all of the guests.  Hudson View Gardens is an amazing community of creatives and professionals.  There are retired TV execs, composers, cinematographers, past awards winners of Coty Awards (fashion design awards before the CFDA), Pulitzer award winners, past Oscar nominees.  Guests at the party included Guests included several fashion peeps and also Ms. Fabulous contributors, Mdivani Monroe and Fab Ritzy. Our Hollywood connection was temporary neighbor Lance Guest. He starred in several films in the 1980's that I remember watching at birthday parties (The Last Starfighter, Halloween 2, Jaws The Revenge...)

I got to work in a little "tribute" to Mdivani, the former senior designer at St. John who worked on special projects and celebrities by posting an old advertisement of Angelina Jolie in his St. John gown as the women's bathroom sign.  He didn't appreciate it as I thought he would.

I wore a Byron Lars wool and sequin brocade dress with a little tulle shrug.  Other guests came in tuxedos, couture, or their Sunday street-style best, (they were my fashion peeps after all).

For food and drink, I have to say, it was rather difficult to come up with a nominated film-inspired menu. I couldn't exactly serve Raisin Bran (Silver Linings Playbook). Serving a "Skyfall" martini was a no-brainer.  I served up some Kool-Aid and asked guests to drink it (in tribute to the cult theme of "The Master"), but no one seemed to get that one. I did serve up some teddy bear decorated cupcakes labelled "Ted's Munchies" and blueberry pie tartlettes for "Life of PI", (Again, I don't think anyone got these references either).

 It was really fun to host a community event that bridges several generations to enjoy a common love of movies.  (It also doesn't hurt to put everyone's attention on a 20 foot screen in high definition.)

Here's the good part for YOU... Want your own swag?  Tell me your favorite Oscar moment or Academy Awards red carpet look in the comments below by March 15, 2013.  I'll pick one at random to win a One Month Supply of Katy Perry's Kettle Corn chips (the ones served at the party).  

Good luck!

Disclosure: Product was provided by Hello La Mode, Pop Chips, Zico, Raw Revolution for this event.

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