A longtime celebrity haunt and home to the Golden Globes since 1961, The Beverly Hilton’s name is synonymous with Hollywood and red-carpet glamour. On Friday, August 21, the iconic hotel threw a retro-themed pool party to celebrate its 60th diamond anniversary. We joined a slew of invitees for the night and enjoyed an evening of food, drinks, live music and celebration.
As we arrived, we were welcomed by warm smiles and friendly greetings from a large number of hotel staff who were lined up on both sides of the red carpet. It was a charming introduction to the night’s lavish affair. At the pool, hanging chandeliers hung against blue backdrops while flowers rested in the pool up against the overwater stage. Poster-sized black-and-white vintage photographs took guests back in time to the hotel’s early years.
Hosted by Neil Lane, jeweler to the stars, the soirée featured a retrospective showcasing a hand-picked collection of his pieces worn by various celebs. The heavily-guarded exhibit showcased accessories donned by A-listers including Madonna, Rihanna, Lorde, Catherine Zeta Jones and Charlize Theron.
Attendees were treated to six food and cocktail stations, which offered a glimpse into the property’s past with decade-specific drinks. Fulfilling our sweet-tooth needs, Sprinkles cupcakes were on hand and scattered throughout the venue in regular and bite-sized samples. A large-scale replica of the hotel was made into a cake, which was later served to guests. Smashbox was on-site offering complimentary makeovers paired with Moët & Chandon Champagne, sweet treats by Sugarfina and photo booth pics.
In attendance was The Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting in a romantic Valentino dress and Neil Lane jewelry with husband Ryan Sweeting in Tom Ford. Also making an appearance were Ali Fedotowsky (Bachelorette) with beau, TV host Kevin Manno; Devious Maids‘ Dania Ramirez; actress Amber Stevens-West with her mom; UnREAL‘s Arielle Kebbel; and actor Topher Grace.
Serenading the crowd towards the middle of the night was Grammy-nominated singer Gavin DeGraw. The vibrant artist was all smiles throughout the night and had his audience dancing and singing to some of his older, chart-topping hits. Synchronized swimmers, the Aqualillies, also performed as a throwback to the Beverly Hilton’s opening in 1955 when Esther Williams inaugurated the pool. VIP guests were invited to a meet-and-greet with the Chariot singer following his performance. DJ Michelle Pesce, a four-time DJ for the official Grammy after-party, followed up DeGraw on the turn tables.
As an LA staple, The Beverly Hilton has seen its fair share of glamour throughout the years, and the chic event was a beautiful celebration of that history. Cheers to another 60 years and more red carpet soirées!
