LIFESTYLE GALLERY: THE 54TH GRAMMYS OFFICIAL TALENT GIFT LOUNGE

Celebrating the Award Show with Treats & Trinkets in Los Angeles, CA on 02/09/12

By: Seth Shellhouse

February 10, 2012

Last week, in anticipation of the big show, Buzzine visited the Grammy's Talent Gifting Lounge. Sometimes, when we hear terms like gifting lounge, shopping suite, swag bag, or gift basket, we tend to picture extravagance, frivolities, and things that (while quite possibly totally awesome) may not prove entirely relatable to the majority of us. This year, however, the gifting suite was completely relevant. It was populated by brands that presented innovative and high quality versions of products that we all need (or want, depending on yor philosophy) in order to live good lives. Like this year's Grammy Awards in general, this year's Official Grammy's Talent Gifting Lounge reflected a return to talent over floss, substance wrapped in style, and quality before hype.

Designed by Seyie Vinuo Putsure of Seyie Design, this year's lounge was candy-themed. Beautiful, airy, and blessed with great weather, the lounge hosted a Pepsi-sponsored bar and pumped out DJ sets and live jams courtesy of Gibson.

Sponsored by Lasio -- a professional hair care line that brings salon products to the home -- the entire line-up was all about replacing the bunk items in life with the high-functioning items.    

The staple gifting suite item (sunglasses, of course) was represented by Solstice. The Solstice shades were an artist favorite. We caught Anthony Hamilton and Bruce Johnston picking some up.

The standout cause item on display was the "Sweet Touch of Hope" line by Simone I. Smith. Simone I. Smith is not only a jewelry designer and the "Dear Lover" of "Mr. Smith" (who most of you know as LL Cool J), but she is also a cancer survivor. Mrs. Smith created the "Sweet Touch of Hope" line to benefit The American Cancer Society, but beyond being well-intentioned and having a great backstory (which you'll learn when you buy one), the lollipop-shaped pieces are beautiful and fun. Please forgive the personal anecdote, but even if I wasn't the son of a cancer survivor, I still would have picked one up. I think they're lucky. 

The green company that caught our eye was Essential Safe Products. ESP provides an outlet for food-safe, reusable, BPA-free kitchenware that is hella stylish. Ubisoft's "Just Dance 3" was the high-energy, fun-for-the-kids/sexy-for-the-parents game of the day. In fashion, Belldini captured the women's contemporary/evening vibe that every Grammy event needs. And Re Fa, a personal micro-current therapy system that you simply have to feel to understand, impressed us for personal care.

As far as beauty is concerned, Red Carpet Manicure took the gold. Red Carpet Manicure also provided the gold. Besides being purveyors of the first at-home LED gel manicure system (is it weird that a straight man knows exactly what that means?), Red Carpet also treated Grammy presenters and performers (and one of my nails) to the application of "Amor 24," a legitimate 24-karat gold polish. That was pretty amazing. And I'm pretty sure you can't get any. There is, however, a consumer version of "Amor 24." It's not real gold, but it looks like it, and it will only cost you about 10 bucks. Can't beat that.

Finally, since festival season is nearly upon us here in sunny southern California, we must mention Field Candy. Field Candy is a line of legitimate, weather-ready, shelter half-shaped pup tents that are wrapped in custom prints. As far as anyone knows, they are the first-ever line of custom graphic tents. I'd go as far as to call them this year's in-the-know rave accessory.

Read Buzzine's predictions for the Grammy Awards 2012.