CAMP LUXURY
No glamping here! We’re talking about style, not tents… But if you had to Google the term “camp” to get some clarity on the pop-culture reference, don’t feel bad—you aren’t alone.
First published in the 1909 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary, the term denoted a then-popular word association, meaning: “ostentatious, exaggerated, affected, theatrical…” Over the years, the term has evolved to mean the aesthetic embodiment of one’s true self. “Camp is art that proposes itself seriously, but cannot be taken altogether seriously because it is ‘too much,’” American writer Susan Sontag explained in her book Notes on “Camp,” published in 1964. Camp, essentially, is fashion.
The stage, flanked by 9.5-foot flamingos and digital screens (which rotated sponsorship logos) outlined in live foliage.
What does CVLUX camp look like? We’re all about flamingos big and small, giant tropical leaves, and bold black and white this year. Gold accents are a given—obviously glitz is mandatory here… Now, let’s break it all down.
Grass is green and the sky is blue—most people prefer it that way. But when there’s pink in the clouds, it’s difficult to look away. Pink in nature has a way of reminding us that time is fleeting, as it tends to make us reminisce about the most special of moments and memories. To see living, breathing, feather-clad pink is simply beyond. Behold, the flamingo. Ours graced the program cover, greeted guests upon entry, cornered the dancefloor, stirred everyone’s cocktails, and stood 9.5 feet tall while flanking the stage.
Ever dreamt of being cooled by the gentle strokes of a giant fan held by a beautiful human on a balmy summer afternoon? Few of us will ever get to experience such luxury. Yet, you could probably have made that happen with the tropical leaves at this year’s party. We actually had a couple people ask who our faux floral connection was. They were real. Every. Single. One. Yes, they looked that perfect. There were hundreds, in several varieties, framing the bar and stage screens, and atop every table. One could argue that it was wastefully extravagant to let such perfect folium sacrifice their lives for one mere night…
A place setting, namely featuring the program, bow napkins, and gold flatware.
Bottle service, set upon round mirrors and complete with flamingo stir sticks.
A tall centerpiece illuminated by base candles.
Draperies obviously require a lot of yardage. What “hung out” for the night was excessive (lining the outdoor car tent, entranceways, and interior banquet hall), the simplicity of its black and white color scheme seeming almost ironic, yet cleansed the palate. Because of the monochrome backdrops and carpeting (totally forgot to mention that the step-and-repeat and stage were also carpeted in B&W stripes), the lavish décor was truly allowed to shine through unobstructed.
Familiar with the “gild the lily” idiom? It referrers to the elusive process of adorning or embellishing something that is already beautiful or perfect. As if the flamingos and the leaves and the stripes weren’t over the top enough, everything left was gold. Come on, what’s more decadent than eating with gold flatware? Maybe being spoon-fed with gold flatware? We digress… Besides, guests were also seated upon gold chairs.
CVLUX and the Luxury Awards help to maintain California’s luxury vibe as one of the Golden State’s benchmarks. Luxury is the name of our game, and we always win. From print to party, we invite you to come experience all that CVLUX has to offer. Welcome to Camp Luxury!
Managing Editor Lauren Barisic
