More Photo Ops: HP x SATC2 Media Event + Pre-Screening

Ok, just had to share these photos! I was like a giddy fan there, Myrza and I just had to walk up to these industry legends, introduce ourselves and ask to have photos taken with them! Thanks for being my photographer Myrza! Heehee!

With Vivienne Tam. She's so delicate and soft spoken, it belies how much strength and passion she has for design! She was super warm, with no airs at all. I was pleasantly surprised at how a designer this big can be so approachable! She really played an instrumental role in making netbooks look so stylish. HP said she pushed the envelope and made the impossible in computer design possible! The handy size, the rounded edges and the Chinese snuff box finish of her digital clutches (or netbooks as we know it) were the realization of her thoughtful vision.

With Fern Mallis of Fern Mallis LLC and prior to that IMG. Dear readers, she is THE person who started NY Fashion Week! She's a visionaire and a force in the fashion industry! I was and still am in awe of her! And she is just the nicest lady! I love her! Story goes that the designers used to show all over NY during Fashion/Market Week. Michael Kors was showing in a blank, empty loft, and because the music was playing so loud, bits of plaster started falling onto the models. She said Naomi, Cindy and all the "one-names" just walked on like nothing happened, they were such pros. After that, she thought New York needed a safe place to hold shows. Funny that the first ever NY Fashion Week happened in Millennium Hotel, the same hotel where this presscon was held! That was in 1993, before NY Fashion Week became associated with Bryant Park. This coming Fashion Week and thereon, it's going to be at the Lincoln Center on the Upper West Side! Don't say I didn't remind you!

With Tracey Trachta, Executive Director of Global Marketing, Personal Systems Group of HP. Speaking as a former marketing manager (yep, that's what I did before I focused on family and my writing), all I can say is OMG! This lady is a genius! 60% of internet users are women, and women actually influence and/or 70% of consumer electronic purchases. Sensing how critical the female market is to their business, she is the one responsible for promoting computers to women. So if you were one of those women who suddenly needed a netbook/digital clutch in your life, just absolutely had to have one, especially after seeing the HP x Vivienne Tam editions, she's the one to blame! Heehee!

Ok, that's it! Again, watch out for my column On the Radar! In the meantime, wait for SATC2 to show and tell me what you think of the movie once you see it ok!

HP x SATC2: No Spoilers! Just a Sneak Peek!

It's practically impossible for SATC's fans to not know that the movie they've all been waiting for is premiering today, May 27 (for folks back home in Manila, you'll have to wait until June 2).

And even if you don't care about SATC, here in New York, there are billboards of SATC2 galore, it's impossible to ignore!

These two billboards were just a block away from each other!

What most of you don't know is that a couple of HP's Spring 2010 Collection of netbooks, notebooks & PCs will debut on Sex & The City 2! Can you spot the HPs?

I was part of a group of bloggers and lifestyle journalists from various countries who were treated to the SATC experience via HP showcases and fashion installations. Of course, we got to attend the pre-screening of Sex & The City 2 too (showing May 27 in the US and June 2 in Manila) at Paris Theatre! 

Here's a sneak peek via photos. Read the full story On The Radar!

Because HP x SATC2 is all about technology and style, the media kit came neatly packaged in this blinged out USB flash (literally!) drive.

 We got to have souvenir photos taken by this spherical camera! It's like a giant webcam no?

Here's how mine looked like!

Now with Myrza of Spot.ph and Maggie of Elle Hongkong

Of course there were plenty of eye and techie candy with HP + fashion showcases to ogle at!

Vivienne Tam "Boutique"

HP x Vivienne Tam Butterfly Lovers

The digital clutch that started it all! HP x Vivienne Tam Peonies

Project Runway Design Experience

Priscilla of Boston Bridal Experience. Priscilla of Boston partnered with HP in developing technology that would allow a bride to cut down her wedding gown shopping time from 1.5 hours to 30 minutes via a program that would filter gowns based on variables (ie price, cut, fabric). A bride can also see how a gown moves on screen before actually trying it on!

A showcase of HP's Spring 2010 Collection

There's a netbook/digital clutch to suit every taste and personality:

Of course, the highlight of the media event was the design panel discussion facilitated by Tracey Trachta, Executive Director of Global Marketing of HP. The panel included Fern Mallis (formerly of IMG), Kimberly Minor (Priscilla of Boston), Project Runway's Emilio Sosa, Vivienne Tam, and Sandie Cheng (senior industrial designer of HP). What they talked about? It's On the Radar!

And yes, yes, I saw the movie in Paris Theatre! Such a cheap thrill to watch the movie right here in Manhattan. You know, seeing it on screen and then stepping out of Paris Theatre with Bergdorf on my right and the Plaza right across!

Plus, lots of treats from HP to munch on! Yeah, I'm low maintenance like that!

Plenty of models, socialites (Olivia Palermo!), designers and industry bigwigs attended the pre-screening too, so that was fun. Oh! And I saw Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner walk out of the movie midway (yeah, I saw them, they were just a few seats in front of me). And here's a geeky techie trivia. While HP partnered with the producers of SATC, Carrie still used her Mac in the movie.

But like I said, I'm saving all the juicy bits and will do the storytelling on The Radar! Watch out for it ok!

HP Celebrates "Spring Collection" and New Line Cinema‘s Much Anticipated Film ― Sex and the City 2!

NEW YORK, May 25, 2010 – HP today unveiled a global marketing collaboration with Warner Bros. Pictures that spotlights ― tech couture and celebrates HP‘s spring collection of products through its association with New Line Cinema‘s Sex and the City 2, which premiers in U.S. theatres on Thursday, May 27 and in the Philippines on June 2.

By collaborating with this world-renowned film series, HP extends its relationship with and commitment to fashion trendsetters, inspiring people worldwide with its stylish computers.

HP has been at the forefront of fusing fashion and technology since unveiling the HP Mini Vivienne Tam notebook on the catwalk of Tam‘s 2008 fashion show at New York‘s Fashion Week in Bryant Park. The introduction of the world‘s first ―digital clutch ignited global fashion-forward efforts for HP, which led to this collaboration with ―Sex and the City 2.

"HP is increasingly recognized as a brand synonymous with breakthrough style and design", said Tracey Trachta, executive director, Global Marketing, Personal Systems Group, HP. "As a trend-setting phenomenon, Sex and the City 2 is a natural extension to celebrate fashion and our stylish spring 2010 collection of computers with people worldwide."

The film‘s lead actress and one of its producers, Sarah Jessica Parker, will be showcased as the "achiever" in the next global "PC is Personal Again" commercial from HP, which is part of the company‘s campaign to demonstrate how technology has become truly personal and relevant. The commercial features Parker as herself – a sophisticated, energetic woman who uses an HP computer to manage the multifarious roles she is playing in life, from mother to designer to movie producer, with endless style.

Global campaign 

Leading up to the highly anticipated film debut, HP will be hosting a series of global events to showcase its spring collection and celebrate tech couture with "Sex and the City" enthusiasts.

This includes a combination of the "Computer Is Personal Again" commercial; local pre-screenings of Sex and the City 2; in-store events and window displays; exclusive VIP parties; interactive web experiences; online sweepstakes; and, a Trunk Tour to visit fashion fairs, shows and events in top markets across the Americas.

Sex and the City 2 also will celebrate HP‘s spring collection of products, which merge premium technology with style for women and fashion-savvy men, and will be seen in the film.

— HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition made its runway debut at New York Fashion Week as part of Tam‘s spring 2010 collection and combines premium PC technology with Tam‘s stunning Butterfly Lovers design. Available now at www.hp.com/viviennetam.

— HP TouchSmart PCs feature a sleek design that integrates a stunning high-definition widescreen display with a multitouch-enabled screen. Serving as an integral part of the creative process throughout season seven of Lifetime Television‘s Project Runway, the PCs enabled designers to create fabric patterns in a design-challenge first for the hit series.

— HP TouchSmart tm2 notebook PCs featuring convertible, touch-enabled screens were given to Project Runway designers to function as their digital sketchpads, allowing them to draw, sketch and take notes with near limitless options for colors, brushes and effects.

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world‘s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.