Night Before Oscars

Can I tell you...about the "Night before the Oscars"? A few months ago the fabulous folks at Target asked me if I was interested in designing some exclusive bags for a party they were helping sponsor for the night before the Oscars, hosted by Dreamworks. I instantly agreed. The bags would be given only to celebrities and guests at the party, and would not be available at the Target stores. How chic is that? They wanted me to design with 'travel' in mind and to do a set for men and another for women. I knew exactly what I wanted to do and since working with them on my previous projects was such a breeze, this was going to be a walk in the park.

They flew me over to LA and set me up in a luxe suite at the legendary Beverly Hills hotel. While I was waiting for the room I grabbed a salad at their 'diner' and was seated beside Dominick Dunne of Vanity Fair. At that moment, I knew I was going to have a blast. The woman seated on the other side recognized me from the bags she bought at Target. I guess I'm a celebrity in my own little way. I blushed as she gushed. The afternoon before the party, I was chauffered via stretch limo ( a free service to guests of the hotel) to trendy Robertson Boulevard to check out celebrity hangouts Kitsons and the Ivy. I have to say stepping out of a stretch limo in my jeans and sneaks felt a bit surreal and a tad ridiculous. But I'm a New Yorker who doesn't drive. Nobody seemed to care in any case. Phew!



The party was absolutely incredible. Where do I begin? They covered the pool and turned it into a huge lounge with 2 bars. There was food everywhere courtesy of Wolfgang Puck and Mr. Chow. The drinks were flowing, the music was blasting courtesy of a live DJ ( of course) and the celebrity turn-out was beyond impressive. I got to chat with Cameron Diaz, who remembered the first Rafe bag she owned. Laura Dern admitted to swiping a bag intended for Demi Moore at her agent's office, Lucy Liu loved her clutch, Rosario Dawson loved her Rosario bag and wants more, Serena Williams can't get enough gold-snake-anything, and Eva Longoria said she was 'all out' of her Rafes. The boys were out in full force as well, with Clive Owen, George Clooney, Hugh Jackman, Mark Walberg, Eddie Murphy, Will Smith, Eric Danes, Jerry Seinfeld, Leonardo di Caprio, Clint Eastwood; and the list goes on. Everywhere you looked you saw people you recognized: the cast of Heroes, Grey's Anatomy, Brothers and Sisters, Will and Grace and the Finisher. This was one night I didn't want to end. My only disappointment was that nobody was dancing. Apparently, last year Jamie Fox got everybody shakin' and groovin'. Boy, did I miss him tonight.

By the end of the evening, everybody was walking around with their Rafe for Target gift bags and I really wished I had a camera. Even Tony ( Ellen de Generes' DJ) tried to score another set, he loved the bags so much. Unfortunately this party was a cell phone and camera free party. Can you just imagine how many photos I'd be posting otherwise?! You can log on to http://www.variety.com/ to see who else showed up.

Target was obviously the hit of the evening. The Rafe booth was the coolest (you knew I would say that, but it's true!). They turned the orange patent travel clutch into this huge bar counter and hired a model to pose in a set built-in reclined chair, reading Variety all night like she was in an airplane. It was really cool. They even made fluffy Rafe travel slippers. Talk about traveling in style! This was truly an unforgettable evening and right at the heels of my birthday. Who could ask for more?

On my last day I'm having breakfast at the famous Polo Lounge and in walks Katie Holmes with Suri and entourage, sans Tom. She's gorgeous and tall! You could see everybody in the restaurant trying very hard not too look. I left that evening after viewing the Oscars at my cousin's house in Brentwood, along with my classmates who I haven't seen in 20 years. What a fun packed weekend!

I'm off to Paris to show the collection during Fashion Week. Stay tuned.