MOVERS AND SHAKERS: Colin Cowie, Authority on Living with Style!
Colin Cowie
Colin Cowie Lifestyle
Respected around the world as an arbiter of style, Colin Cowie is widely known for throwing the most spectacular celebrations across the globe. Colin Cowie is an authority on living with style; he’s the author of 8 books, a celebrated television personality, and designer. He is the ultimate Mover and Shaker!
With an international clientele that reads like the guest list at the Academy Awards, Colin’s client list includes Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, Jenny McCarthy, Sela Ward, Don Henley, Kelsey Grammer, Kenny G., Lisa Kudrow, Charlie Sheen, Sugar Ray Leonard, Paula Abdul, Michael Jordan, Hugh Hefner, HRH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani. Colin’s corporate clients include Audemars Piguet, Davidoff of Geneva, Warner Bros, CBS, The Whitney Museum, Architectural Digest, Kerzner International’s One and Only Hotels, Cosmopolitan Magazine and InStyle Magazine. Some of the spectacular events designed and produced by Colin Cowie Lifestyle include Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball, Oprah Winfrey’s 50th birthday celebration, John Travolta’s 50th birthday celebration, the Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar parties, Quincy Jones’s 71st birthday celebration, the grand opening celebrations the Atlantis Royal Towers in Paradise Island, the 40th Anniversary of Cosmopolitan Magazine, the grand opening of Palm Island, Dubai and the Atlantis Hotel on Palm Island.
Colin Cowie is the author of seven best-selling books including four wedding books (Colin Cowie Weddings, For The Bride, For The Groom, Extraordinary Weddings), two entertaining cookbooks (Effortless Elegance and Dinner After Dark) and a book on the art of living with style (Colin Cowie Chic). Colin’s most recent book Wedding Chic, was released December 23, 2008, is a reference book with over 1001 wedding images and ideas.
Colin hosted his own television series for 5 seasons, “Everyday Elegance With Colin Cowie” on the Women’s Entertainment Network. He is currently the host of Lifetime’s daily television show Get Married. Colin also appears as a much-in-demand guest on many national television shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Live With Regis and Kelly, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and Extra! Colin has been profiled and quoted extensively in periodicals ranging from The New York Times Magazine, Time Magazine, 0 - The Oprah Magazine, O at Home, People Magazine, US Weekly, Architectural Digest, Bon Appetit, In Style, Town & Country, Readers’ Digest, New York, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Travel & Leisure, USA Today, Women’s Day, TV Guide, The Los Angeles Times, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, Biography Magazine, The Daily News, Bride’s Magazine, Modern Bride, The New York Post, and The Chicago Daily Herald.
As an interior designer, Colin is currently completing the renovation of the Miramar Hotel in Hong Kong with 600 guest rooms, 2 restaurants, the ballroom and all common areas. Residential projects include homes in Los Angeles, Miami and New York, a banquet space in Los Angeles, a bar/nightclub in Los Angeles, and a beach club in Acapulco. Colin has also has a line of home products sold on HSN including tabletop china, glassware, linens, outdoor furniture and accessories. From 1997 – 2001 Colin was a national spokesperson and designer for Lenox with his signature line of china, crystal and silverware sold in more than 500 retails stores. Whom You Know love love LOVED meeting Colin recently at Williams-Sonoma and Peachy Deegan interviewed Colin Cowie!
Peachy Deegan: Did you think you would go into this field when you were a child growing up?
Colin Cowie: ACTUALLY I HAD MY HEART SET ON BECOMING DR. COWIE, BUT HAPPY HOW IT TURNED OUT.
What were your birthday parties like as a kid?
INVENTIVE - I GREW UP IN CENTRAL AFRICA ZAMBIA. MANY OF OUR TOYS WERE HOMEMADE AND WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME DOING ACTIVITIES AS A FAMILY. BEING THE YOUNGEST, THERE WAS NO LIMIT TO ATTENTION!
If you could have a dinner party with 10 people living or dead, who would they be and why?
NELSON MANDELA, THE GREATEST LIVING MAN [I HAD LUNCH IN HIS PRESENCE ON FRIDAY LAST WEEK], WILBUR SMITH, AN AMAZING AFRICAN HISTORICAL NOVELIST, PRINCESS DIANA - THE MOST GLAMOROUS HUMANITARIAN, BARBIE [SHE JUST TURNED 50], OPRAH WINFREY [SHE PROBABLY KNOWS ALL THE OTHER GUESTS], BARAK AND MICHELLE OBAMA, JACKIE KENNEDY [SHE WOULD GIVE A FEW POINTERS TO MICHELLE [NOT THAT SHE NEEDS ANY] AND CARY GRANT.
What would be the seating arrangement at it?
WE WOULD ALL BE INTIMATELY SEATED AT A 60" ROUND TABLE, MADIBA ON MY RIGHT OF COURSE.
What is the best event you have attended as a guest (you didn't do any work on the event, not even as a consultant) and what did you like about it?
MY FRIEND HEATHER KERZNERS 40TH BIRTHDAY 2 WEEKS AGO IN LONDON AT THE DORCHESTER WITH DONNA SUMMER SINGING LIVE!!!!
JUST WHAT WE NEED A BIG GLAMOR-TONIC IN DOWN TIMES.
What are the biggest mistakes people make when they plan an event?
THEY TRY TO DO TOO MUCH OR THEY DON'T KEEP IT MOVING ALONG. NOTHING WORSE THAN A COCKTAIL HOUR THAT LASTS TOO LONG OR A DINNER WITH OUT AN END IN SIGHT.
What is your favorite place to be in NYC?
MY APARTMENT. I TRAVEL MORE THAN 200 DAYS A YEAR AND BEING IN MY OWN HOME, COOKING, RELAXING AND ENTERTAINING DOES THE TRICK FOR ME.
What is your favorite shop?
THE VINEGAR FACTORY - ITS THE BERGDORF GOODMAN OF FOOD IN NEW YORK CITY.
What is your favorite drink?
ON A FRIDAY IT'S TEQUILA - DON JULIO 1942.....DURING THE WEEK ITS A GOOD GLASS OF RED..........IN THE SUMMER, ITS ROSE AND CHAMPAGNE WORKS AT ANY CELEBRATION!
What is your favorite restaurant?
PIGALLE - ITS A PORTUGUESE SEAFOOD RESTAURANT IN CAPE TOWN - MY ALL TIME FAVORITE IS TO DINE ON PERI PERI MOZAMBIQUAN QUEEN PRAWNS AND LANGOUSTINES.
COLIN COWIE LIFESTYLE
New York: 212.396.9007
Los Angeles: 310.286.9600
