The Pretty Connected brand has evolved so much over the past decade from when I first started as a beauty blogger/reporter 10 years ago! I was helping brands like NARS, Kiehl’s, Jurlique in marketing and grow before getting into the blogger world, with no idea blogs/social/influencers would explode to what they are now. Now we’ve expanded the content range to include fashion, travel, lifestyle and beyond and the doors Pretty Connected(™) has opened to major campaigns, magazine features, TV appearances and beyond still blows my mind. In 2014 we added, Share Your Beauty, an amazing non-profit program we started with Family-to-Family to help donate beauty products to women’s shelters and now we’re in a new chapter, my Pretty Connected accessories line.
Our multi-purpose straps have grown such a cult following, almost as big as our BOSS rings, which have been worn by so many powerhouses from Drew Barrymore, Patricia Field to Chloe Kim!
I recently launched with Urban Outfitters and our online store has grown so much to include bags, reusable straws and cell phone jackets, that we needed a party to celebrate and properly launch my little brand that could.
Since the House of Pretty Connected (should I start calling it that, lol!) has so many parts I wanted to take guests on a journey through the Pretty Connected World and my brands evolution over the past decade! We made passports for their trip and had each gifting stations gave them as a stamp as they traveled through my story.
The journey began with…
LeSportsac: Guests started at LeSportsac where they picked out their travel bag for our journey through Pretty Connected world!
Pretty Connected x LeSportsac HISTORY: LeSportsac runs my charity and since 2014 has helped me bag (in their bags!) over 130,000 beauty products to donate to women’s shelters, I’ve also literally traveled the world in their luggage and bags.
Essie: Next they headed to Essie for manicures (because you need a mani on your trip!) and enjoyed shades from the new Spring collection!
Essie x Pretty Connected HISTORY: Essie was one of my first major campaigns (in 2012) when they put me in a BaubleBar x Essie campaign). We’ve also enjoyed many fashion weeks together, and was honored to have Alicia Torello (@aliciatnails) who leads their fashion weeks and who I’ve been backstage with covering her nail looks for years!).S
Sunglass Hut: Next stop Sunglass Hut, because you can’t not travel without the chicest sunglasses. From top brands including Ray-Ban, Prada, Versace, Miu Miu and more, Sunglass Hut has everything to fit your style, and convenient locations, everywhere, which when you’re a girl on the go, like me you appreciate. My obsession with sunglasses is no secret so it was truly special for me to share them with my guests. Our History: I’ve done several TV segments and spokesperson work for Sunglass Hut and they have been apart of major milestones from doing Extra at Universal Studios in LA with Mario Lopez, to being streamed across Times Square for interviewing Sophia Bush on her top sunglass picks, this a brand I truly cherish and love to promote!
Stila Cosmetics: They next headed to Stila Cosmetics, for a makeover (you have to look good for your passport photo), and were gifted the new Beauty Boss lip gloss (I’m wearing shade “in the red” in all my photos). After the amount of beauty awards I’ve judged from Glamour’s to ICMAD and beauty boss features I’ve had in Heath, Elle, Marie Claire, New Beauty and beyond, you can appreciate my excitement over a Beauty Boss lip gloss. Stila was also the first liquid eyeliner I fell in love with and we’ve enjoyed a long history of launches and fashion weeks together.
Erno Laszlo: The brand that introduced me to charcoal before it became an ‘it’ ingredient and constantly pushes innovation (their Exfoliate & Detox Hydrogel Mask will change your life). Erno Laszlo generously gifted their new Hydra-Therapy collection (Serum + Foaming Cleanser), Pore Cleansing Clay Mask and the new Multi-Task Eye Serum Masks (you know how obsessed I am with eye gels – these were a life saver for my sleep deprived, puffy eyes!). Literally everything you need to keep your skin plump and get photo/travel ready!
White Honey Photo Studio: White Honey is the top studio for photography and go to for top beauty brands from SkinCeuticals, Chanel, Kiehl’s, L’Occitane, SuperGoop, Marc Jacobs beauty (I could go on all day, check their work out HERE). OUR HISTORY: When I launched the website for Pretty Connected Shop, they did the photoshoot and have been my amazing partners for this next chapter and handling my product photography. They also shot some of my favorite beauty campaigns and excel in lifestyle, flat lays, head shots and product shots — so basically everything.
For the event White Honey offered 3 photoshoot rooms for all the guests photo needs. We had a Passport Shoot (jk we were doing headshots but for the sake of the theme lets call it passport shots). We also had a flat lay station, and a lifestyle room which Nourison, one of my favorite interior and carpet brands designed. The throw pillows, the poufs (which are a steal for $90!) and carpets are all from them! And so are the carpets in my apartment. I’m so glad they came on board to help re-create my home (although it’s a bit of fake news for me to pretend my living room is this organized and epic!). I love them because they are affordable and have so many amazing styles. You can also find a lot of their products on Overstock for an absolute steal!
Williamsburg Pizza: It’s no secret I’m a HUGE fan, I’ve been with them since their first opening in Williamsburg and now several locations later (Williamsburg, LES, UES, Clinton Hill, 310 Bowery Bar and soon to be Union Sq!), I’m so proud to be apart of their story as much as they are apart of mine. Over the years from when I hosted Patricia Field’s showroom party to other events which they have sponsored the pizza for. They are my one true addiction and favorite vice. They are also the first brand I did a Pretty Connected collaboration straw with and their iconic “Fresh” logo. Check them out HERE.
The trip ended with a Pretty Connected shop DIY bar where guests could customize their straps with charms and a BOSS ring bar to get them fitted for their rings. Our Boss club is growing and I can’t tell you the joy it brings me to see my rings on so many powerful, smart, beautiful women (and men!).
We then through an epic 150+ person launch party with Bumble Bizz filled with brands, pr/TV peoples and friends who are the reason I get to do what I do! I’m a super networker, and while I planned this party and did all myself, it was my partners that made it possible. Bumble Bizz app, is the app version of who I am. It connects you with business professionals to fill the skills you need to grow your business and network. It’s such a gift and I wish I had it when I started out 10 years ago in this blog and brand world. Now it’s an even bigger gift as I get ready for my next launches (you didn’t think I was stopping here?). Grow your network friends, you never know who you’ll meet that will change your life.
Also thank you to Fotocare for the equipment rental. Pura Still (spiked still water!), Gin Lane 1751, Q Mixers, The Kohas Agency, Thalassa Restaurant, Tsantali wines for the drinks! And Coterie Party for the cups, plates and for the balloons and party decorations. And special thanks to my sister Renee, Makeda of Glamazon Diaries / Glamazon Photo, and Lorna from The Fabulous Report for helping me run the show. I could not have done this without you.
Now for the fun! Coachella is coming up and all of our products are epic for music festival season, enjoy 20% off discount this month with code GETPRETTYCONNECTED on prettyconnected.com/shop
I hope you enjoyed the ride! I consider all of you a part of my journey.
Every reader, supporter… If you’ve liked a photo of mine on Instagram or read any of my articles, then you’ve been a part of my growth, and for that I can’t thank you enough. Ten years is a long time to be blogging and as I’m still a one woman show, I really owe it my friends and supporters for being able to pull everything off!
Speaking of which our handles are @prettyconnected / @prettyconnectedshop.
xoLara