Rhonda Shear at the 19th Beauty & Culture Suite. Photo by Glen Lipton
Roger and Lynn Neal who are responsible for making designers like Stuart Weitzman, Katherine Bauman, and Jelly Belly household names, presented their 19th Beauty & Culture Suite in honor of the Academy Awards at the Luxe Hotel on where else, but Rodeo Drive.
Among the stars in attendance were famed composer Diane Warren and actors Eric Roberts, Paul Sorvino, and Scott Takeda from the Oscar nominated film “Gone Girl.”
Another famed name in the designer world is Rhonda Shear. You must catch her intimates collection on Home Shopping Network! The former comedian and host of USA Network’s “Up All Night” (where I performed for many years) earned world attention for creating designs for “Women With Curves.” She debuted her new collection, Shear Couture Evening Wear, at the Neal’s Suite, and created a Red Carpet collection (with built in body shaping) that will flatter those of us beyond a size 0!
Some of the other exhibitors included celebrity hair guru, Kim Kimble, Madeline Beth Handbags, Renee Taylor’s Face Love, and Jeannie Bottle (the original signed prop from “I Dream of Jeanie”), which was auctioned off, with proceeds going to Hollygrove, an organization that provides mental health and social services for children and families in crisis.
Their main campus is in Hollywood, and provides assistance to more than 720 children each year. Did you know that Norma Jean (aka Marilyn Monroe) was a resident of this facility in 1935?
A few weeks later, Jakks Pacific, a leading designer of toys, sponsored their 4th Annual Norma Jean Gala, and presented a special tribute to actress Busy Phillips for her continued involvement with the organization.
Some of the celebs in attendance included actor Ian Ziering, Lindsay Sloane, Becki Newton, and Diane Ladd to name a few. Hollygrove alumni Cesar and Cesar, Jr. took to the stage, moving the audience with their personal experience at Hollygrove, and their continued volunteer support today.
The best news is that more than $310,000 was raised for at-risk-children.
For information on how you can become involved, check out their website at www.hollygrove.org.
