(Long Island, N.Y.) Designer and TV Personality Malik So Chic, formerly of the CW Network Reality TV Show “High Society,” launched his stylish and very glamorous handbag line “Pampered Royale” for a select few invited guests including celebrities, fashionistas, press and buyers from Lord & Taylor’s Department Stores. Malik is the latest of Manhattan’s club kids to make it big in the “Big Apple.” The designer’s handbag brand “Pampered Royale” is a creation of whimsical luxury purses and totes perfect for glamorous gals posing for a photo-op on the red carpet.
A miniature display featured the “Pampered Royal” brand of luxury totes available in two sizes, small and large. “Explain to my audience about the line,” I asked Malik. “I tried to start a new trend. Instead of doing clutches for evening I did totes. I thought that was kind of clever. It has never been done before. I used all specialty leathers, a lot of ostrich feathers, embossed vinyls, glazed leathers, ultra suede’s, embroidered sequin and embossed leather. I am not using any skins or real furs because I am trying to be animal friendly,” revealed Malik. “Any celebrity you would like to see wearing the line,” I inquired. “I would like to see Kim Kardashian or any Los Angeles socialite wearing my handbags,” confessed Malik.
The “Pampered Royale” collection was inspired by the Manhattan social scene combined with the downtown nightlife scene. The collaboration of textures and prints represent the chaotic mixture that incorporates Manhattan’s most influential style. Malik So Chic is quoted as saying “The world is still obsessed with all things exotic -and there is no more sophisticated way to channel the trend than with a chic bag in rare, exotic leather, ostrich feathers and quirky combinations.”
Born and raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio, his father is a retired sports attorney who represented professional baseball players and competitive sports fisherman and his mom is retired as one of the directors of the Cleveland Board of Adult Education.
In high school he was voted as “Best Dressed”, a title he still carries today. Famous for his oversized rhinestone glasses and over-the-top clothing he was offered to co-star on “High Society,” the reality TV show with socialite Tinsley Mortimer.
Malik arrived in Manhattan four years ago. He was employed as an assistant to stylist Patti Wilson and V and Visionaire magazines. Later he met Amy Sacco who hired him to host parties at Bungalow 8. At an event at Bungalow he was introduced to Tinsley, her sister Dabney Mercer, and fellow socialite Paul Johnson Calderone. The show found him via his regular appearances on the society blog Guest of a Guest. “I’ve been offered to do a lot of reality shows before just based on my look, but this seemed to be something of substance, something fashion-related, that seemed unique and different,” he explained. “I was afraid of the editing and all that, but I had nothing to lose. And of course, I’ve always wanted to do TV.”
Celebrities who attended included Max Tucci, Fashion Designer Farah Angsana, Joey Arias, Tia Walker, Rosemary Ponzo, Andre J, Lauren Rae Levy and Rachel Heller. Malik’s parents, Dr. Dorothy Hendricks Wren and Attorney Howard Thomas Sterling made the special trip from Ohio to make their son’s red carpet debut.
The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming!
Manhattan and Brooklyn Russian hotspot, Rasputin Restaurant & Cabaret, celebrated International Women’s Day by hosting With Love.A Russian Soirée. Owner Marina Levitis of the fabulous cabaret, Rasputin, entertained her celebrity Russian guests with a glamorous fur fashion show highlighting emerging European designs and furs from Pologeorgis Fur and a live auction hosted by Boris Glickstein and his beautiful wife Russian radio host Renata Krumer.
The gorgeous couple is working together with Owners Michael and Marina Levitis of Rasputin on the latest franchise of reality TV “Brighton Beach,” a detailed docu-reality TV show based on Russian-Americans living lavishly dripping in diamonds and furs. The docu-reality show has been picked up by the Lifetime network.
While “Brighton Beach” was conceived as sort of a “Jersey Shore” for the vodka-and-borscht set, the Lifetime version will be suitably feminized, revealed Michael Feeney, a spokesman for the network.
“It’s a multigenerational women’s story about life in the community,” Mr. Feeney confessed. “It’s about their dating life, their work life, their relationships together and their external relationships. It characterizes a community; it’s not a bunch of people put in a house. It’s done in the Lifetime voice, not in the MTV voice.”
This opportunity for a reality TV show appeared so Boris and Renata jumped on it. Boris is Renata’s manager and of course has her best interest at heart, the Russian celebrity couple is working on several projects besides the reality TV show including an image consulting company, Outstanding You (www.outstandingyou.com).
Radio personality Renata will closely analyze your current style and the style you would like to emulate. Based on your personality and goals, their image consulting company will help you develop a unique and original look. Not only will you get to experience a personal transformation but you will also learn the art of mixing and matching, time-saving tips, color coordination, and easy, affordable ways to create an outstanding look that would certainly add to your confidence and personal power.
Throughout the evening, celebrity guests including reality TV Star Diane Passage and Celebrity hairstylist Angelo David of Angelo David Salon were treated to an array of different Russian fares.
All proceeds from the event benefited the OR Movement. Auctioned items included a $3,000 Michael Kors fur from the Pologeorgis Fur collection, $500 gift certificates from make-up artist DEX New York and celebrity hairstylist John Sahag and jewelry from Rina Limor retailing for $1,500.
The auction item that garnered the highest winning bid was an expensive elegant dinner for ten people at Rasputin Cabaret for a whopping $1,000, Rasputin’s owner Michael Levitis will also include a bubbly extra for the winning bidder, an expensive bottle of Cristal Champagne!
After the celebrity auction guests made their way to the dance floor as The Rasputin Band took the stage. The event was sponsored by APM Model Management, The Nexus Townhouse, DEX New York, Sweet Blossom Designs, Kila Enterprises and The House of Faith N Fashion, the brain child of Tobi Rubinstein Schneier. Tobi is in the process of expanding the brand into lifestyle products, exploring all aspects of faith, fashion, family and love.
I was lucky enough to be invited to attend the lavish soirée by socialite Tobi Rubenstein Schneier. Ms. Scheier is the founder and creator of The House of Faith N Fashion. Tobi was brought up in an orthodox Jewish home. She attended FIT and has had over 30 years of merchandising and licensing ad ownership in such high profile brands as Nicole Miller, Crunch Gyms, Victoria’s Secret, JC Penney, Jennifer Lopez, Ecko and more. Always a fashion visionary and ahead of her time, Ms. Rubenstein started the first mass market hip-hop brand that debuted at K-Mart called Chedda which was voted one of the 50 most important labels in Vibe Magazine.
Rasputin Restaurant Mike Levitis and Cognac Wellerlane
She’s gorgeous, articulate, witty, utterly charming and real, believing wholeheartedly that faith and fashion are a happy marriage meant for all of us to enjoy. This is the true balance between materialism and spiritualism.
This fashionably, faithful, fusible idea is how Tobi brings faith statements into fashion trends that result in products that people of all faiths can embrace and enjoy. For more information please visit www.thehouseoffaithnfashion.com.
Family owned for the past four years, Rasputin Restaurant & Cabaret has become known for its modern, traditional “Tsar” décor and fusion-style Russian cuisine. Well known in the Russian social community, owner Marina Levitis has established a venue that offers patrons a Russian experience from start to finish including cocktails, dinner and dancing.
For more information about Rasputin Cabaret please visit www.rasputinny.com.
