62nd Annual Golden Globes: HBO Luxury Suite

You know you’re in the heart of Beverly Hills at the height of the Hollywood awards season when you walk through the lobby lounge of the ultra-chic Peninsula Hotel and the sight of Mischa Barton and her boyfriend Brandon Davis brunching in the lobby lounge goes virtually unnoticed. That’s because half the hotel was about to be filled to the brim with stars descending on the uber-pampering HBO Luxury Lounge, two suites full of elite fashion, beauty and lifestyle items that the high-class cable network assembled for its stars to sample in preparation for their trip down the Golden Globes red carpets. “Everything’s great!” said The Sopranos actress Jamie Lynn Discala of the treasure trove of goodies. “It’s like a really fun, girly day…It’s exciting to be introduced to all of these products, and also a lot of people are in from out of town. My cast, a lot of them live in New York, so to have them all out here, because I live in L.A. now, it’s nice to see them and hopefully celebrate something.” (I wondered if her co-stars caught her for tips on the best places to party when the hit L.A. “Not really,” she giggled. “We always have our place that we go. Our cast goes to Ago, and always looking into a bar when in doubt!”) The stars that stopped in on Saturday’s debut day included a mix of Hollywood’s hot list: Debra Messing has become a regular, Ray‘s Regina King, Law & Order: SVU‘s Mariska Hargitay, Crossing Jordan‘s Jill Hennessy, singer Sarah McLachlan, Access Hollywood‘s Pat O’Brien and Meet the Fockers‘ Teri Polo made the rounds. And there were the HBO stars like Robin Williams, The Sopranos‘ James Gandolfini, Six Feet Under‘s Freddy Rodriguez, Sex and the City‘s Evan Handler, Entourage‘s Adrian Grenier, Debi Mazar and Globe nominee Kevin Dillon,Carrnivale‘s Nick Stahl, Carla Gallo and Clea Duvall, and Curb Your Enthusiasm‘s Jeff Garlin. I made the tour as well, with Hollywood.com’s beautiful blonde video host Margi Blash, who sampled everything, including a relaxing mani-pedi from the Rescue Hand and Foot Spa, which also painted the tootsies of Desperate Housewife and Globe winner Teri Hatcher. “After 20 years in the business it is nice to be remembered by being pampered this way,” said Teri, while Lost‘s Evangeline Lilly got down to business: “What can you do for me in three minutes?” she asked the manicurist. “This nail is damaged from saving Jack in a rock slide.” The other luxe presences at the HBO escape included: LESLIE GREEN
Jewelry designer Leslie Green herself was on hand to show off her latest jewelry, which has become a favorite of such stars as Nicolette Sheridan, Katie Holmes, Sarah Michelle Gellar and especially Debra Messing. Debra recently asked Leslie to come to L.A. to privately showcase her baubles for the actress and her co-star Megan Mullally. Green’s also created exclusive baby charms with children’s initials on a necklace for recent moms Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon and Debra. This year Leslie gifted all the HBO attendees with a gorgeous medallion created especially for this year’s Golden Globes, the one Messing wore last year only not dripping in diamonds like Debra’s. “These earrings make me crazy. I have to wear these to my movie premiere in January.”–Debra Messing
“Oh, this is beautiful. I got my first piece of jewelry from my husband and my second from Leslie Greene. I think I am going to cry.”–Teri Polo CITIZENS OF HUMANITY JEANS
The hip, hot celeb favorite introduced a new group of basic jeans at the lounge- the “Supermodel” jeans: with familiar names like Elle, Kate, Linda and Naomi. On display for the stars were the Elle (a boot-cut) and the Kate (trouser style). “I am a disciple of Citizens Of Humanity jeans.”–Jill Hennessy
“I love these jeans. They’re the only ones I wear.”–Debra Messing BANANA REPUBLIC
Hoping to hit it big with the male contingent of the red carpet scene, Banana Republic was on hand with three styles of men’s suits: brown pinstripe, black and white chalk stripe and gray sharkskin. Once the stars settled on their style and preference for two or three buttons, the famed retailer also displayed a multicolored collection of shirts and ties in different prints and patterns. Among the fans of the Banana Republic styles created by former Burberry designer Deborah Lloyd: Globe nominee and Phantom of the Opera co-star Patrick Wilson; from the femme set, Renee Zellweger recently wore a Bananana Republic wrap dress to a premiere. “I’ll take these striped shirts. Anything with vertical stripes will help.”–Jeff Garlin
“My husband will look so good in this tomorrow night. It will compliment my pearl satin gown beautifully.”–Regina King
“Babe, your ass looks so good in those pants.”–Teri Polo L’OREAL PARIS
We watches as the beauty artisans of L’Oreal provided an amazingly quick and spectacularly effective makeup makeover and hair curls to a beauty writer from In Touch magazine, transforming her from working journalist to jaw-dropping glamour girl in mere moments. “Can you fix me? Thanks for the makeup.”–Jill Hennessy “I love that you have dark tones.”–Regina King “OH! Are you giving out the colored juices? I love these!”–Evangeline Lilly SPRINT and SAMSUNG
Gadget loving celebs were giddy over the Sprint and Samsung camera phones and three free months of cellular service that the phone maker offered: the Sprint 740’s full-color screen features a screensaver slide show comprised of scenes from Sex and the City (slides from other HBO properties like Six Feet Under and The Sopranos are downloadable content or you can put your own photos into a slideshow). At Emmy time, Sarah Jessica Parker got a Sprint phone and when Kristin Davis came in she said “OK, where’s the Sprint table? Sarah Jessica told me that the phone was really great and I need that Sprint phone!” Meanwhile, a top-secret Desperate Housewives star is going to take backstage photos at the Golden Globes and Hollywood.com will have the shots! “This Sprint phone does everything but make my coffee.”–Shelly Morrison of Will & Grace MYSTIC TAN
The newly ubiquitous UV-free Mystic Tan, beloved by both Jessica Simpson and Paris Hilton, not only offered on-site tanning appointments at the Peninsula, reps doled out free passes for tanning spots in L.A. and New York, as well as skin creams, exfoliants and moisturizers designed to improve the quality of your tan. “I’m kind of white…so yeah, I’d love to try it.”–Freddy Rodriguez [PAGEBREAK] JACQUES LAMANS
The three decade-old, Geneva-crafted elite watch brand Jacques Lamans is known by discriminating timepiece fanciers but is only now making a big push in the US market, hoping that a little exposure on the wrists of Hollywood stars will help introduce customers to its collection of watches, with styles that are sporty, spunky, classic, gold, silver, and frequently come with interchangeable straps. “I have a band, and I like to rock. This watch is total rock and roll.”–Adrian Grenier
“I’m a watch whore.”–Debra Messing WHITE + WARREN
Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Susan Sarandon and Marisa Tomei are some of the celebs who fashion the super-luxurious cashmeres of White + Warren. In the brand’s first Luxury Lounge appearance, stars had their pick of turtlenecks, hat, gloves and scarf combos, the new line of mens sweaters, and the extremely popular large, cozy travel wrap that came in a bright palette of colors. “Do I have enough time for cashmere? I think so.”–Jill Hennessy
“I don’t know what my limit is, but can I have 4 of these?”–Adrian Grenier PLAYSTATION
HBO’s Nick Stahl and Brad Dourif (Deadwood) found something for the guys at Activision’s Playstation set-up, where they could try out the latest video games like “Shrek 2” and “Call of Duty.” “We’re a big Activision supporter. We bought all the games for Christmas. ‘Call Of Duty’ is a great game.”–Robin Williams
“We had to put our PS2 under lock and key because we weren’t getting anything else done.”–Debra Messing L’OCCITANE
Who isn’t a major fan of L’Occitane’s enviable line of skin, scent and body products? Alicia Keys loves the candles, Halle Berry loves their best-selling hand cream, Kate Hudson and her mom Goldie Hawn are multigenerational aficionados, and Johnny Depp “spread the word” on his favorite products. Now everyone from Benicio Del Toro to Justin Timberlake to Leonardo DiCaprio to Britney Spears keeps L’Occitane around the house. “Great. I forgot my shaving cream. I’ll definitely use this one tonight.”–James Gandolfini
“L’Occitane is my favorite stop in here. I love L’Occitane. I am a real bath girl.”–Mariska Hargitay
“I already buy this stuff on my own. I am so happy you are here.”–Teri Hatcher JACADI
Movie star moms Catherine Zeta-Jones and Kate Hudson looking to decorate their babies’ room turned to the soft, sophisticated styles of Jacadi, which offered a huge nursery line including eight collections of plush toys, blankets, decorations, etc. “This is my favorite table of all. This is going to blow my son’s mind.”–Debra Messing
“Hopefully soon Jacadi will be the first to know. I can’t wait to do my baby registry here.”–Mariska Hargitay GODIVA CHOCOLATIER
The world famous chocolatier offered a delicious assortment of hand-decorated, hand designed chocolates just in time for Valentine’s Day, with amazingly exotic fillings including such offbeat edibles as PB&Jam chocolate and Apple Pie. Debra Messing, Sarah Jessica Parker and Virginia Madsen are among those with a sweet tooth for Godiva. “I’m a pretty traditional girl, I like caramels, peanut butter, coconut. My dad loves chocolate covered cherries. I’ll take some home for him.”–Teri Hatcher
“These are great. Perfect for me as my birthday is Valentine’s Day.”–Pat O’Brien LISA CURRAN SWIMWEAR
Former Gucci and Prada buyer Lisa Curran noticed that the high-fashion swimsuit market seemed stuck designing for A-cups, so she came up with her own adorable line in a full range of sizes that crossed a 1940s retro feel with a 21st Century edge, becoming a hit with beachwear babes like The O.C.‘s Mischa Barton and Rachel Bilson “My husband just made fun of me. He says, “You have been wearing the same swim suite for seven years.’ He will be more then pleased with the new selection.”–Debra Messing
“40’s and 50’s bikinis…just my style.”–Debi Mazar
“We are going right upstairs to try that on.”–Kevin Dillon to his lady friend KENNETH COLE NEW YORK
It’s no surprise that the Sex and the City cast would take a shine to the chic footwear on display at last year’s Emmy lounge, but who knew the men from The Sopranos had a collective show fetish? According to our sources, all the goombahs from the Mafia-themed series met up for drinks in the Peninsula’s manly bar, and each one had on the Kenneth Coles they snagged earlier in the day. It definitely beats cement overshoes! “I really should get heals, but who am I kidding? These flats are amazing.”–Sarah MacLachlan
THE SPORTS CLUB/L.A.
The Sports Club is the place where stars gather to sweat themselves into six-pack shape for their roles, and thus the celebs were happy to gather free one-month bicoastal memberships to the swanky gym. Previously Christina Applegate, Eric McCormack, Megan Mullally and Blair Underwood have memberships, which they can now use at the just-opened Beverly Hills outpost, which also features a hip new restaurant from sizzling chef Mario Oliver of Link fame. One of the most popular perks at the Peninsula was the body massage by the club’s CitySpa, to help relieve the stress of trying to find the right shoes to match that red carpet gown. Jeff Garlan was so relaxed, he walked into the hotel hallway in his underwear and encouraged photographers to snap away. “That was the best massage I have ever had!” —Teri Hatcher BEIJA BRAZIL
Sometimes, it’s what’s under your outfit that matters–and the new, colorful, high-end intimate apparel brand Beija Brazil has taken the U.S. by storm with his bright, comfy fabrics straight from Rio De Janeiro. Designed to be worn as a complement to outer wear like jeans, the cotton and mesh lines are cute, spunky and make a statement. Paris Hilton, Rebecca Romjin and Jamie Lynn Discala prefer Beija Brazil’s underthings, and you’ll soon see them adorning the Desperate Housewives on TV, plus there’s a newly launched kids line of pajamas and such, perfect for sleepover parties. “I’ll be having a lot of sex tonight, and once I am pregnant I will be giving you a call to get some more underwear.”–Debi Mazar
“Yeaaaaaaahhhhhh…and you can quote me on that!”–Evangeline Lilly