February 2004

February 23rd 2004
Florence, Italy

To all of you who’ve used the opportunity to apply for our Director of Finance position (see Feb 19) while simultaneously applying to be a “HOLLYWOULD Bachelor” (see Jan 19), we like your thinking.  Why not send in a photo with the resume, and answer the Bachelor questions below while you’re at it?   We still need more Bachelors for upcoming weeks, and still need more resumes for the Director of Finance, so keep ‘em coming.  (By the way, girls are welcome to apply for our “Director of Finance” position too, as we do not discriminate and know that women are just as smart as men.  Duh.)

Speaking of men… As promised, we have a new Bachelor:

BACHELOR #5

• Age:  24
• Height:  6'0
• Occupation:  Professional Polo Player
• Residence:  Palm Beach / St. Louis
• Education:  Choate Rosemary Hall, University of Virginia
• Hobbies:  Working on polo skills; playing with dog, Cooper; traveling in US for various polo seasons; eating out 
• Religion:  Protestant
• Music:  I guess you could say I like good music and might have leanings towards country but not pop country more alt country and maybe add a twist of good old rock and roll along with a hint of soul.
• Sports:  In addition to polo: Tennis, Squash
• Email Contact: sorthweinjr@hotmail.com  

HOLLY’S NOTES:

• C’mon girls, the photo says it all.
• This Bachelor has many connections to HOLLYWOULD.  (1)  He played polo with my brother, (2)  He is friends with Maggie, who works here, (3)  I think he is my cousin.  Are you my cousin?  I think we’re like 4^th cousins twice removed, but cousins nonetheless.

And, if you’re wondering why we’ve posted that adorable photo of those fabulous candles, it’s to let those of you who aren’t yet in the loop know that we now have our very own HOLLYWOULD Candles!  Even dainty, chic girls sometimes have feet that smell up a store, so I decided to create two fragrant candles based on two of my favorite scents:  (1) “Via Mizer”, which is tropical and smells like Palm Beach, and (2) “Elizabeth Street”, which smells like our favorite Nolita garden in the spring.  The candles are fabulous for your bedroom and make great gifts for friends.  Feel free to drop by the store and take a whiff, or you can contact us in Palm Beach or Nolita, and we would be happy to mail them out to you!

February 19th 2004
Florence, Italy

ATTENTION ALL GENIUSES:  HOLLYWOULD is HIRING!

We have 2 positions available, and would love qualified resumes at jobs@ilovehollywould.com!

HOLLYWOULD Director of Finance – New York City

Director of Finance - HOLLYWOULD, Inc.

• Prepare, negotiate, maintain and control annual budget, providing analysis and recommendations that contribute to corporate financial and strategic decision making
• Drive long-term budgetary planning/forecasting and cash flow management systems that will ensure sufficient working capital
• Manage all financial operations and transactions, including inventory management, accounts receivable and payable management
• Process all financial transactions related to vendors, customers and banking institutions
• Maintain relationships with all finance-related entities
• Manage benefits and human resource functions
• Create and implement policies and procedures to improve management decision making, control, financial and operational efficiencies
• Complete 90% of daily accounting for company
• Work with accountants, lawyers and other business advisors on tax issues and legal matters pertaining to business
• Responsible for maintaining, updating and amending company business plan as needed
• Oversee part-time bookkeeper

 Qualifications

• 3+ years of relevant professional experience
• CPA or advanced degree in business
• Solid understanding of accounting principals and strong business acumen
• Management experience in financial management and administrative operations
• Experience developing budgets
• Adept at problem solving, project management and implementation
• Ability to plan, organize and think strategically
• Proficiency with Quickbooks accounting system or other similar accounting software essential
• Strong written, verbal, presentation and negotiation skills
• Ability to thrive in a start-up environment
• Fashion/luxury goods, fund-raising experience a plus

Please email your resume to jobs@ilovehollywould.com, subject line Director of Finance.

Thank you!

 HOLLYWOULD Retail Store Manager – Palm Beach, Florida

Job Description:

• Customer service to in-store and phone order clients
• Store operations, including daily reporting, loss prevention, store display and appearance
• Marketing and promotion, creating and maintaining client book, planning & hosting special events.
• Inventory control, shipping & receiving
• Personnel Management  

Qualifications

• 2+ years of retail experience
• Fashion/luxury goods experience a plus
• Education: B.A., B.S., or equivalent
• Friendly and polite personality and polished appearance
• Computer proficient; knowledge of Quickbooks, Microsoft Excel and Outlook a plus
• Managerial skills or experience
• Ability to thrive in a start-up environment
• Detail oriented person a must!

This position is in Palm Beach, Florida. Currently, there are no openings at our New York boutique.

Please email your resume to jobs@ilovehollywould.com, subject line Palm Beach Store Manager. Thank you!

February 16th 2004
New York City

We have just been informed that I have been listed as one of “NYC’s 100 Most Eligible Bachelorettes” by Gotham magazine in their new February issue.  This is just a nice way of pointing out that I am indeed single, which would explain why I spent my Valentine’s Day drinking trough-sized daiquiris with the girls.  At least the other “bachelorettes” on the list include Uma Thurman, Ivanka Trump, and Linda Evangelista, so I’m in good company.  Thank you Gotham!

Speaking of being single… Girls, we have a new HOLLYWOULD Bachelor.  We actually have five bachelors, but I have decided to post a new bachelor every Monday so you don’t have boy overload.  If you’re wondering why I don’t just steal one of these fine gentlemen for single myself, it is for the simple reason that today I leave for Italy for six weeks, making it impossible to date anyone stateside.

As you can see, Bachelor #4 is a fox and you should email him immediately. Just to give you a heads up so you check the diary each Monday, Bachelor #5 is a professional polo player, Bachelor #6 is a professional baseball player etc, so you’ll need to stay tuned…

BACHELOR #4

• Age: 24
• Height: 6'
• Occupation: Research Associate at a hedge fund
• Residence: NYC, Upper East Side
• College: UVA - B.A.s in Economics and Art History
• Hobbies: travel, entertaining, cooking, rocking the casbah
• Religion: Optimism
• Music: 80s hair bands
• Sports: squash, golf, binge drinking (ha!)
• Email contact: hollygetsmedates @ hotmail.com

Holly’s Notes on Bachelor #4

• This is yet another fine friend of my younger brother, and any of you who have ever attended a HOLLYWOULD kegger have seen him in action as the Lady Killin’ Dancing Machine. 
• You must ALL email him now, because even if you’re not lucky enough to marry this fine fellow, you should at the very least try to become his friend.  Note his email address.  He rocks.

February 14th 2004
New York City

Happy Valentine's Day!  Love is certainly in the air today around Nolita!  I must have recieved 20 cat-calls on my short walk to work, and although I would love to think that they were all due to my own natural beauty, I'm afraid that every single man who hollered mentioned something about my boots!  I've never had so many men yell *Hot Boots!* in my life, and one little Indian man came up to me and whispered, *I like your feet* in a way that actually made me blush.  The boots in such hot demand happen to be our Cream Legwarmer Boots pictured right (now 50% off!), which I have chosen to wear with a simple knee-length skirt and cream sweater.  As I dashed out the door this morning I feared I might look a bit dowdy, but apparently these boots are men magnets! 

Speaking of men magnets, there is a gorgeous photo of Elle cover girl Paris Hilton in this week's People (Drew Barrymore cover) wearing a pair of satin HOLLYWOULDs and gorgeous Tracy Feith dress.  Paris, you look fabulous dahling.

February 13th 2004
New York City

I’m never, ever drinking again.  I know I promised to post Party Pics, Bachelors, etc, but after last night’s drinking binge my head hurts too much to even begin.  In brief, I will tell you this:

The party began chez HOLLYWOULD with a little soiree we threw for our favorite charity FREE ARTS for Kids.  Thank you all so much for coming to support this awesome cause.  Party photos will post on Monday at the latest.  The party was great, but we had devised a drink called “Love Potion” which was a vodka cranberry something that turned out to be lethal.  So after 5 cups of “Love Potion”, I decided to head to the Calvin Klein dinner with my pal Sparrow.

Calvin’s party, as you can imagine, was excellent.  It was held at the hot new restaurant “Bottega” at the Maritime Hotel.  With free flowing booze and delicious food for a room full of 300 of Calvin’s nearest & dearest, Sparrow and I had no complaints.  I ended up sharing a bite with none other than the beautiful Bush cousins, Lauren & Barbara.  Yes, that’s right, Lauren Bush and her cousin Barbara Bush, also known as GW’s daughter.  Girls, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, the Bush girls are beautiful, quality gals.  Being the President’s daughter or niece is no walk in the park, and those two manage to pull it off with class.  Even last night they were catching some flak from strangers, and having to deal with that every single day, all day, must get a bit boring.  Can you imagine what poor Chelsea Clinton must have suffered?  It’s amazing the poor girl survived with such grace!  So, a note to all readers:  When you run into the President’s kids, don’t talk politics or sex scandals.  They deserve to have fun and enjoy life like everyone else in the room.

There were too many other fashionable people at Calvin’s party to begin to mention, so from there I headed off to Lotus.  For those of you that don’t know Lotus, it is a huge, tacky nightclub in Manhattan’s meat packing district.  During fashion week it is usually packed with underaged supermodels and Arabian men, but I was there for Bay Garnett’s party.  Unfortunately, since it was past 1am, Bay’s party had been invaded by the masses, so we quickly sole a taxi from Vincent Gallo (it’s true) and headed to Bungalow 8.

As usual, Bungalow 8 was a blur.  It seems I never make it to Bungalow while I’m still sober, and this was no exception.  So, despite the fact that my favorite pals Hope Atherton & Sparrow were there, when I looked at my reflection and noticed that my eye make-up was smeared in every direction, I decided to head home around 3am.

Like a true champion, I was at work, still drunk, by 9am this morning.  I swear this is the last time.

February 12th 2004
New York City

Have just returned from Palm Beach where I’ve been playing hookie for the last few days.  My decision to skip town was completely unplanned, and occurred when a friend of mine called on Monday to invite me to the Marc Jacobs fashion show and afterparty. I had to make a decision: Did I want to (a) spend my evening fighting crowds to see a fashion show, attend a star studded afterparty in sub-zero temperatures, and wake up hung over, or (b) take the quick flight to Palm Beach, ride my bike, get a suntan, and watch The Westminster Dog Show with my fabulous grandmother?  Call me crazy, but I chose “b”.  I’ve never been one to pass up a party, and my decisions to take it easy lately have made me fear that I just might be…. losing my mojo?  I mean, who on earth watches The Westminster Dog Show?  But don't worry, since “losing my mojo” would be detrimental to my party girl lifestyle, I have promised the girls in the office to do my best to get back on the party train tonight at our event.  Watch out world. 

Speaking of the PARTY … it is tonight is at our Nolita store from 6pm-8pm and everyone is welcome.  Yes, we will have booze, but the purpose of the party is actually to raise money (by shopping!) for Free Arts for Kids, which provides art programs for the cutest kids in America. I worked with them in Harlem this past weekend and trust me, they are seriously the cutest kids around.  So c’mon down and shop for kids!

And, while you’re shopping you may want to check out our World Famous Legwarmer Boots which are now ON SALE for 50% OFF!  These are the boots that make everyone green with envy, and since we only have a few pairs left you should probably call our store pronto if you want your size & color.

More tomorrow with news from the party and as promised, Bachelors #4 & #5!

February 9th 2004
New York City

Girls, I am so sorry I have been incommunicado for so long!  My computer suddenly came down with more viruses than.....hmmm... the only analogies I can think of would upset my mom.  Anyway, it’s been impossible to post diary entries until now, and it's good to be back!

I have so much to tell, I don’t know where to begin.  In case you didn't hear, HOLLYWOULD was supposed to be featured on Good Morning America last week, complete with Diane Sawyer interviewing Yours Truly.  Well, despite the fact that I had flown back from Italy for the interveiw, the producers called the night before the big show to tell us that our segment was bumped by “the breaking news about Janet Jackson”.   Yes it’s true, HOLLYWOULD was bumped from GMA by Janet Jackson’s right boob.  That’s the way love goes.

Speaking of Janet, we are all ooohhing and aaahhhing today over Justin Timberlake's performances last night at the Grammys.  Justin, you are definitely our HOLLYWOULD heart throb.  And Beyonce?  Amazing.  Outkast?  To-die-for.  Pharell?  2 hot 4 TV.  Sean Paul?  Smokin'.  My only complaint with the Grammys was the lack of horrible outfits.  Now that everyone has a stylist and advice-giver when it comes to clothes, no one is turning up in see-thru body suits and feather head-dresses a la Cher.  Thank God for Lil' Kim.

As much as I dislike the idea of personal stylists, I do need to give you this tip: If you don't yet own one of the shoes pictured to the right, you really need to get a pair pronto.  Any of these shoes look great with a little black dress, and they will all add some zing to your oufits this spring.  We are sold out of most sizes in our New York and Palm Beach shops, so your best bet is to order online at www.neimanmarcus.com, which is the only place to buy HOLLYWOULD on the web.  They won't be there for long, so make your move while you can!

Oh!  Oh!  Oh!  I forgot to mention that we are having a PARTY this Thursday at the HOLLYWOULD shop in Nolita!  It's a charity shopping event to benefit Free Arts for Kids and we will be serving booze.  You will need to RSVP to 212.343.8344 (x.2) and bring your $$$ and be ready to spend.  Proceeds will go to provide art programs for abused or at-risk kids, and kids are cute, so c'mon down.  We'll be taking photos, so wear something Valentines and you may be posted on this very diary!

• HOLLYWOULD 
• Free Arts Shopping Day & Nolita Valentine Window Competition
• 198 Elizabeth Street (between Prince & Spring)
• Thursday, February 12th 6pm-8pm

Last but not least, we will be posting Bachelors #4 and #5 later this week (see Jan 19).  They are two dapper lads who you've really got to see, so stay tuned...

February 2nd 2004

temporarily unavailable - see previous entries for more info