MACY’S PASSPORT PRESENTS GLAMORAMA 2012!

 

As I predicted in my preview last week, the Macy’s Passport Fashion Show was once again the fashion event of the season. And I was also correct in promising many surprises and lots of celebs. I’ll tell you all about it, and then please remember to mark it on your calendars for next year, or perhaps contribute to their great causes this holiday season. (Link at the bottom.)

Even though I’m jumping out of my skin to tell you of my conversation with Robin Thicke after the show, you know my linear-thinking mind has to go in order.

The show itself was downtown, at the venerable Orpheum Theatre, which just oozes style. There were ladies dressed in blue walking around the lobby handing out Luna Bars pre-show, which was good because some of us had been too busy to eat earlier, and were too hungry to wait for the party.

We fashionistas mingled with each other and a few celebrities, like Cheryl Burke from Dancing With The Stars, American Idol‘s controversial Pia Toscana, and…are you ready for this one?…Diddy!!! His presence there was big, and was because his Sean John clothing line was represented on stage; it was fun to see him walk right by me in the lobby. (But I feel that he should have dressed-up a bit for the occasion; he was there in a striped polo shirt and jeans, while the rest of us were stylin’.)

The on-stage show began with Sharon Stone reminding us that we there to benefit two very deserving organizations, AIDS Project Los Angeles and Project Angel Food. She did it in her usual classy fashion, and I was glad to see her looking gorgeous again, almost like she did way back in the day when she was in one of my all-time favorite movies, Irreconcilable Differences.

Terry J. Lundgren, who is Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Macy’s, Inc., (can he leave just one of those jobs for someone else?,) also introduced Nicole Richie, who’s clothing line was being featured. (More about that, and a deal for you, at the end of this column.) I can’t believe she grew up to be so accomplished! That gives me hope for so many others in this town, (including me!)

The show this year was entitled British Invasion: The Music Then, The Fashion Now! That was a fun theme because most of the music was ’60s English rock from the likes of the Beatles and the Stones. Really upbeat and fun. And most of the backdrops were of England. I loved all the old school-looking ones.

As usual, each designer got a different presentation, and each section was a surprise. When Madonna’s retro Material Girl line (that looked like her clothing from the ’80s,) was featured, for example, it was modeled by all dancers, including a chick who spun on her head for the longest time ever! (My assistant whispered to me something like, “They don’t look like models,” and then they all busted out a move, proving she was correct.) I love when they use dancers instead of models; it’s surprising and excellent. And this time it revved-up the atmosphere in the theatre.

They had the same little kid dancers as last year, and I once again loved that little guy, Bailey Munoz. (You can read about him, and the whole production from last year, here: www.itsnotaboutme.tv/news/2011/09/28/fashion-event-macys-passport-presents-glamorama-2011.)

In the middle of the show, the music duo Karmin performed. I wasn’t a big fan, but I noticed that I perked right up when they did their most-known song, Brokenhearted. And I never stopped from there!

The highlight of the fashions for me (and it seemed like for the rest of the audience, as well,) was the men’s underwear from Diesel. The show seems to always have a male underwear section, but this year’s presentation was the best!!! They each came out in a semblance of some traditional British attire, like Beefeaters, but with the attractive colored briefs. It was so entertaining!

But guess what? That wasn’t even the highlight of the show for me! It was actually Robin Thicke! The surprising thing to me is that I wasn’t a fan when he first had a hit a few years ago, but now I love him! Maybe that’s because I found him so charming and fatherly on Duets this past season. But I now love his music, too, and even the weird way in which he snaps his fingers. That guy can really perform. I get such a kick out of him. And when the whole audience got to join him on Lost Without U, I probably sang it with the most gusto of anyone. (Sorry to the people around me.)

So, he closed the show, backed by the whole gang going crazy, which was fabulous, and then we were off to the after-party a block away at the California Mart, (where I used to help put together their directory when I was much younger, by the way.) I bumped into Robin on the way there, and got to tell him how much I enjoyed him that night. He was as charming as I had thought he would be. I told him of my mirth when, on Duets, he told pregnant Jennifer Nettles that she was “dropping it like it’s hot, even with a bun in the oven.” He laughed as hard as I originally had, to be reminded of it! So, both our nights were made with that one story. It just added to our already-buoyant mood.

And that was the exact sentiment shared by all the party-goers. There was so much to take in that no one knew where to start! The British theme carried over to the soiree, in terms of décor, music, and most importantly, food! There were passed hors d’oeuvres and several stations with varied fare. Vanessa’s a vegetarian so she was thrilled with the Indian curry and rice, while my favorite was the mini brisket sandwiches and welsh rarebit potatoes.

And everyone went nuts over the gorgeous dessert bar, whose mini teacakes would have been perfect for an afternoon tea, (which was the idea, of course!) But the table with wrapped See’s candies, that was perfectly stationed by the entry/exit doors, seemed to be the pièce de résistance for most guests. And the presentation of them filling giant blue-and-white English teacups was just brilliant!

In addition to all the comestibles and cocktails, the guests could also play dress-up for a “flip book” of their night there, get make-up touched-up, have their pictures taken with rock band accoutrements, or relax on couches on the back patio. And the best part of being out there this time was that they asked the guests to not smoke! It was a pleasure to sit out in the evening air this year.

We each left with a Union Jack-adorned bag of goodies. And a song in our hearts, and warmth in our souls.

Okay, here’s the news for you: even if you missed this wonderful evening, I have a bonus for my readers; the first 100 people who line-up at Macy’s at the Glendale Galleria this Wednesday, September 12th, will receive a Macy’s gift card to shop the Nicole Richie for Impulse collection. And you don’t even have to whisper, “Karen sent me!”

For more information in general, and ways to donate to the charities, please go to www.macys.com/glamorama