Celebrities turn out for Bel Bambini launch party

Last week celebrities shopped for a cause at the launch party for the posh and popular Bel Bambini boutique on Robertson Blvd. Hosted by Joely Fisher and Dayna Devon (who brought daughter Emmi, 23 months), 10% of the proceeds for the afternoon were donated to the Healthy Child Healthy World organization.

VIP Guests included celebrity parents/customers, VIP shoppers and Healthy Child Healthy World supporters including Samantha Harris, Melissa Joan Hart and her son Mason Wilkerson, Kellie Martin (daughter Maggie, 9 months, stayed home), Dr. Linda Li, Anna Getty and more. A great time was had by all. Joely’s daughters Skylar, 6, and True, 18 months, played with toys from Melissa and Doug, Melissa Joan Hart’s son Mason, 20 months, charmed everyone, and Samantha Harris showed off her bump and gorgeous glow. She is due in October — they’re not finding out the sex.

The kid friendly event featured a magician, a healthy selection of catered food and beverages from Izze Organic Soda, and several door prizes and raffles from luxury kid product manufacturers including Svan, Cariboo, Bugaboo, Stokke, Timi & Leslie, Oeuf, Nurseryworks, Lillébaby, Child, Bloom, Argington, Born Free, Litto Kids and more. Dr Linda Li was thrilled when she won one of the biggest door prizes – a brand new Stokke Xplory Stroller. Dayna and Joely also received brand new Stokke strollers in the new orange (Joely) and green (Dayna) colorways.

All the celebrity attendees received a fabulous gift bag worth more than $700, which included a Timi & Leslie diaper bag, Lil’ Dipper baby skin care, Bla Bla Kids dolls, a pair of stride rite shoes, Skincare by Monica, Besitos children fashion and accessories, Odd Rods, Godiva chocolate and more.

Bel Bambini, Italian for "beautiful baby,” is a unique and exquisite boutique where your child’s needs come first. Bel Bambini has created the largest collection of children’s fashion and furnishing in the area. This one-stop shop, located on trendy Robertson Blvd., houses the most luxurious, custom and one-of-a-kind items available for infants, toddlers and pre-teens. Past celebrity clients include Courtney Cox-Arquette, Salma Hayek, Gwen Stefani, Linda Evangelista, Halle Berry, and Mary Louise Parker.

Healthy Child Healthy World’s mission is to educate parents, and all those concerned about the welfare of children, about the preventable childhood health and developmental problems caused by exposure to toxic substances found in homes, schools and communities and to encourage the public to protect children from these toxic threats.

Emmi wears a lola et moi dress from the Spring/Summer collection, which is now on sale for $220 at the Beverly Hills Store – 310.276.LOLA, and
Target Xhilaration Jolynne rhinestone sandals in disco white ($13).  Gotta love the mixing of boutique and superstore brands!

Click below for all the full-size pics (lots of Mason)!

Comments

sounds like lots of fun…but once again celebs getting loads of free stuff! why couldn’t they just once donate all those free gift bags and raffles to regular people who may need it??

- tink1217 on August 23rd, 2007

Is it me, or does Samantha Harris stand in the exact same pose for every single photo? Ha! She always has that deer-in-headlights smile and is holding her baby belly oh-so-elegantly. If only I looked that great when I was pregnant, though really, she needs to mix it up a bit!!

- angela on August 23rd, 2007

Wow joely fisher really looks like her dad eddie fisher, I see nothing of mom connie stevens in her. Joely’s daughters look like her, and dayna devon her daughter looks like the daddy.

- gabriella on August 23rd, 2007

Lol, Samantha does seem to do that! You can tell she’s a first-timer… she is soooo gorgeous(pregnant or no). Little Skylar has momma Joely’s nose and face shape, but other than that those two little cuties must look like their poppa. Her girls seem to have grown so fast.. Dayna is her typical stunning self, and Emmi is so adorable with that look on her face and thumb in her mouth!Such a darling dress she is wearing.( love Dayna’s top too)

- Campbell on August 23rd, 2007

It’s a great cause, but it would have been great if more than 10% of the proceeds went to the charity. Perhaps they could have cut the gift bags down to allow more to go to charity. I’m not knocking the store–I’m just dismayed at this trend where 10% to charity is newsworthy–A fundraiser party should be closer to 100% of proceeds to charity IMHO. But, I’d like to see most businesses shoot for 10% of profits to charity all the time. Just my 2 cents. The pictures are very cute.

- wavybrains on August 23rd, 2007

i think it stinks that all of these celebs get free stuff when they can afford it more than anyone!

- danielle on August 23rd, 2007

I think Samantha’s “pose” is ridiculous. I wonder if anyone has ever told her that? She stands like that in every photo. I wonder how she’s going to pose after the baby is born? She might suffer withdrawal.

- TwinMom on August 23rd, 2007

Funny! Dayna Devon’s daughter’s sandals are from Target! I know b/c my daughter has the same pair! Even celebs love targay!

- Amanda on August 23rd, 2007

There’s that pose again! Lol! I wonder if Samantha read CBB?

- plannbb on August 23rd, 2007

I wish I could get this free stuff – I actually need it!

- Lynn on August 23rd, 2007

For the love of god could people PLEASE stop commenting about Samantha Harris and her poses! She’s had a beautiful pregnancy and it’s her prerogative to pose any way she chooses.

- Maya on August 23rd, 2007

Danielle – it does suck but that’s the way advertising works; you see these products on celebrities and then (hopefully) you run out and buy them…

- Maya on August 23rd, 2007

Ok Samantha, we get it. You’re pregnant! Good for you!! Now quit with the VERY obvious posing, PLEASE!!!!

- TwinMom on August 23rd, 2007

what a tacky store – - so desperate that they pull together b list loser types and just throw crappy gifts at them. who cares? do something important – - do something really charitable? how much did they really raise for this charity?

- sarah on August 24th, 2007

The thing is, simply giving items away to a shelter does nothing for awareness, and that marketing and advertising for a charitable cause costs so much more than a giveaway.

Companies give up their products and support a cause because it is good bang for marketing buck AND because they can feel good about supporting their cause of choice, getting attention for a good cause.

10% of sales is a significant portion of Bel Bambini’s profit. The giveaways, no matter how you feel about the idea of swag, are part of what draws celebs and media in to cover the event.

Many of the companies who participate in celebrity giveaways also give away a significant number of items
directly to charities. That just does not get the same amount of press!

As for the celebs, when most celebs put in an appearance to support a cause, they are not paid for their appearance. A similar “marketing” appearance or endorsement of a
commercial venture or item would normally cost big $$$.

Many of the items that celebs receive are also often donated to local shelters. Most of them don’t keep all the items.

It saddens me to see all the ire, and anger out there. Yes we’d all love to get free stuff. But we cannot all bring that kind of attention to a cause. Just like we cannot all be paid millions of dollars to act in a film.

- Ciaran, Fashion/Gear Editor on August 24th, 2007