swag

Not Even Oprah Can Resist The Power Of Swag

8:35AM Defamer Hollywood | Oh, celebrities – even though US Weekly says They’re Just Like Us!, they often seem to inhabit stratospheric heights. Take Oprah Winfrey, for example. She founded that school in South Africa. Her Angel Network raised money for Katrina relief efforts. And who can forget Oprah’s Favourite Things!, when she nearly sends hordes of teachers in her audiences into cardiac arrest by giving them free cars and red velvet cupcakes. More »

Vintage Britney Tale: Behind the Hat

2:31AM Defamer Hollywood | If you’re anything like us, even breaking news on Kiefer’s freedom, Oscar noms and the snoozefest that is Sundance still leaves us aching for our guiltiest pleasure: Brit Brit updates! So when we heard Mr. Romulus von Stetzelberger, designer of the hat Britney wore in our all-time favorite shot of her, musing on his swag suite run-in with The Animal on Jonesy’s Jukebox, we had to dig up more dirt just for old time’s sake. To hear the tale behind the hat, including cameos by ex-bff-turned-traitor Alli Sims and Felicity Huffman (!), a classic diva-like performance by our girl, and gruesome details about her struggle to shimmy into a tight velvet jacket while knocked up, read on. More »

In Time Of Unrest, Swag Suites Bravely Supporting Stars’ Inalienable Rights To Receive Free Crap

8:45AM Defamer Hollywood | Even if the cancellation of the Golden Globes and its satellite parties had been precipitated by nuclear, rather than labor, Armageddon, you could be sure that a radioactive, iridescent army of swag suite staffers would still be roaming the smoldering Hollywood hellscape, distributing designer jeans, sunglasses, and coupons redeemable for full-body laser-resurfacing procedures to any semi-recognizable survivors of the blast. Though gifting professionals initially feared that the sober climate of this crippled awards season might dissuade people from turning out to collect their frivolous wares, they soon realized that the siren call of free shit would be far too seductive to ignore: “We were afraid no one was going to show up … and we almost backed out, but it really paid off,” said Cindy Lott, who was touting Xtreme Lashes eyelash extensions at another event in Beverly Hills. “There were more RSVPs because people aren’t at their stylists.” “I knew the actors would still be supporting the gifting,” said Susan Setz, who was showing her Wild Rose Tattoo Shirts at a gift suite in Brentwood, a neighborhood known for its high celeb quotient. “I looked at it as a wonderful opportunity.” [...] Like awards shows, gifting is a Hollywood tradition. Maybe the Golden Globe suites are proof the industry hasn’t entirely shut down. “Stars want to come and celebrate,” said vendor Niels Christiansen. “They support the writers, but they still want to have fun.” Fortunately, the Guild has been silent about the continuing operation of the suites, as there could be no greater solidarity-undermining misstep than to interfere with their high-profile brethren in SAG’s God-given right to collect as much freely proffered crap as their assistants can carry–there are, after all, only so many life-altering sacrifices one can be asked to make even in the name of a just cause. [Photo: AP] Globes show canceled, but not the swag [Yahoo! News] More »