It’s always a highlight in the days leading up to the Emmy Awards—and always a highly-sought after invite.
The DPA Pre-Awards Gift Suite once again turned the Luxe Sunset Boulevard Hotel into a sun-dappled slice of Hollywood Sept. 12 and 13, bringing together TV talent, entertainment insiders, luxury brands, philanthropists—and plenty of people who clearly knew a good gift bag when they saw one.
Hosted by DPA founder Nathalie Dubois, the invitation-only event continued her more than 20-year tradition of creating celebrity gifting experiences around Hollywood’s biggest weekends. But this was about more than just walking away with swag. Nominees, presenters, producers, cast members, influencers, executives and media guests mingled with the people behind an eclectic collection of beauty, fashion, wellness, travel, food, beverage, pet and lifestyle brands.
Among the familiar faces stopping by were Adina Porter (The Copenhagen Test, AHS), nominee Alex Warham (Ocean with David Attenborough) and Arlan Ruf (DTF St. Louis). Also making the rounds were The Beast in Me producer-writer C.A. Johnson and actress Natalie Morales, who appears in the series.
Pluribus was represented by Carlos Manuel Vesga and Soledad Campos, while Corey Hendrix (The Bear) also joined the festivities.
Other television favorites included Fiona Dourif, Tina Ivlev and Irina Dubova (The Pitt), along with actress K Callan (Widow’s Bay) and guest actor nominee Kim Estes.
The guest list continued with Oscar Nuñez (Miss You, Love You), author Rufi Thorpe (Margo’s Got Money Troubles), Russell Griffin (Leanne) and producer nominee Sabrina Mohfouz (Beef).
Of course, the gifts were only part of the fun. A major theme this year was international craftsmanship, with Dubois, who was born in France, bringing a particularly French touch to the proceedings. Perfume houses L’Entropiste and Betenoir, along with Masqly, offered up some très chic French beauty and fragrance finds, introducing guests to brands that aren’t exactly staples of the usual Hollywood gifting circuit.
DPA and DPA Japan also welcomed Nursery, whose Japanese-inspired presentation brought craftsmanship, heritage and beauty culture to the suite. The company’s CEO personally greeted guests, making the experience feel more like a personal introduction than a typical celebrity gifting stop.
There was plenty for the fashion and sustainability-minded crowd, too. Auli’I Polynesian Fine Jewelry showcased a new collection of precious Tahitian pearls, while EcoPersona offered alpaca scarves, upcycled denim jackets and pineapple tote bags. Mozi Wash proved that even laundry detergent can get the Hollywood treatment, bringing its elevated scents and “better laundry detergent” concept to the suite.
And then there were the vacations. The Bloody Mary’s Bora Bora Hotel, set to open Oct. 1, and Le Taha’a by Pearl Resorts gave guests plenty of reasons to start daydreaming about French Polynesia—particularly useful inspiration when awards-season exhaustion inevitably sets in.
The four-legged members of Hollywood weren’t forgotten. The DPA Hollywood Dog Bag, curated for celebrity pups and approved by DPA favorite Orson Petit Coeur, was packed with goodies ranging from nutrition and treats to toys, grooming products, accessories and lifestyle items.
The participating pet brands included Stella & Chewy’s, Charlee Bear, Natoo Pet Foods, Backyard Balcony, Jolly Pets, Loving Pets, 3 Dogs Bakery, BetterBone, PuppyFades by Homeboy, Kim Alexander and Earthbath.
And this year’s doggy haul came with a purpose: one DPA Hollywood Dog Bag was donated to Hollywood Huskies for auction, with proceeds supporting huskies in need.
The culinary and beverage lineup was just as eclectic. Guests discovered Black Château, featuring author William Bernhardt’s Superman Wars; Waterloo; Books That Make You; Haize & Honey; Moda Mocktails; 28 Wishes Ice Cream; and Fat and Happy Beverages, along with Ararat Akhtamar VSOP and Mark Sevouni Chocolate.
The discovery tour continued with private chefs Mathias and Julie, Oshri Hakak, Fazit, Davos Coffee, Marcela’s Sweet Company, Naked Sundays, Blanco Endermologie Beverly Hills, Shabana Markar, “The Mercy Queen,” CHC Candles and Homegirl Café.
And because a Hollywood party is always better when it has a purpose, DPA also put the spotlight on organizations doing meaningful work. Homeboy Industries, known for its gang rehabilitation and re-entry programs; The Plumery, which supports abandoned, neglected and abused parrots; and the American Diabetes Association were among the organizations represented.
The weekend also included heartfelt support for those affected by the recent tragedy in Nepal, with attention given to former DPA partner Sadhguru’s Isha Foundation and the community dealing with the ongoing crisis.
By the time the final guests made their way out, the DPA suite had accomplished what it has been doing for more than two decades: mixing Hollywood, discovery, international style, a generous dose of glamour and a little philanthropy into one very busy pre-Emmy weekend. For the lucky invitees, it was a chance to catch up with familiar faces, discover something new—and, naturally, leave with a few things they didn’t know they needed.
