Inside the GRAMMY Style Studio

Before all the big award shows, celebrities, stylists and industry people are invited to different suites to view the latest designs and accessories from new to established fashion and lifestyle brands. The goal is that chosen items will potentially be worn on the red carpet and of course seen in resulting photographs. The items are either gifted to the celebs or loaned out for the weekend from a designer purse to ornate jewelry.

For the year's GRAMMY Awards®, I was able to visit the GRAMMY Style Studio-- The Recording Academy®'s official styling event. Hosted in a downtown building on the 51st floor with 360 degree views of Los Angeles, the GRAMMY Style Studio was only three minutes from STAPLES Center and within walking distance from my apartment. Each brand had it's own room room or area with displays of their latest products. The following items are the ones that stood out for me:

The oversized watches by Netherlands' company TW Steel. The bold black and gold men's watches were stunning, sleek and sporty all in one. I also admired their white woman's watch. After all, white watches are still all the range thanks to Sandra Bullock and Oprah.

Another eye catcher was Charlie Lapson's stunning clutches. I was able to speak with the designer himself and he said that since paparazzi like to photograph the whole outfit now, it's just as important to select the right purse as it is the dress. He also said colorful bags and clutches are a popular way to help make a dress pop and allow a starlet stand out more on the red carpet. Thus, his popular bags that have been worn by almost every celeb from the looks of his flip book of photos that included Eva Longoria, Lisa Kudrow and Paula Abdul. They are also soft to the touch and each one is an original with painted leathers that add just the right shine.

Here is musician Doug Robb of the band Hoobastank in Charlie Lapson's Grammy Style Suite.

To complete the celebs look on the carpet, Fake Bake was also there offering product and spray tans for that California look sans the harmful UV Rays. I've never had it done before, but thought I'd take a chance and try it. No modesty is allowed in the application process, but it was worth it as I was left looking sun-kissed and feeling confident. There's just something about looking tan and feeling better about how you look. I didn't have any streaks (Fake Bake doesn't have dyes so you won’t get streaks, dark spots, or turn that ghastly orange), just a nice tan line. I liked it even more so the following day after I showered and although some of the color dissipated, I was still quite tan looking. I was also pleased to find out that their products have ingredients that dramatically soften your skin as well as contains anti-cellulite ingredients, anti-oxidants, and anti-aging ingredients such as peptides, all of which have never before been utilized into self-tanning products. Fake Bake is also organically-based and Paraben-Free! I only wish I had the foresight to have taken before and after pics ahead of time.

All of the fashion and accessory brands featured in the Grammy Style Studio this year were: Bagstill, Gypsy 05 (always a fan!), Sydney Evan, Alana Hale, Kanvis, Lloyd Klein, La Femme, Charlie Lapson, Brian Lichtenberg, M. Cohen, Lisa Michelle, Marchon Eyewear, New Era hats, Marmol Radziner, Chelsea Rebelle, Jill Reno, Spectacles for Humans, TW Steel, and Brett Westfall. There were also beauty sponsors including Epicuren (loved their After Bath Kukui Nut Coconut lotion) Fake Bake, and Pop Beauty and beverages and food from: Anti Aging, Banzai Sake, Dry Soda, Neuro, Heineken, Stoli and STK.