Artist Michael Habicht: Star Party Planner Is Oscar Ready

Michael Habicht and his cutting-edge company, iii designs, thrive in overdrive these days as the holidays give way to a slew of rarified red carpet events. In particular, the upcoming Oscar revelry is especially on the mind of this maverick, who has become an expert on how to do up this particular occasion in the style to which devotees of the annual Academy Awards have collectively become accustomed.

- Jane Lasky

As in years past, Habicht promises a night to remember for eager clients who depend on him to deliver a new exciting product come 2017. But this savvy planning purveyor, who oozes artistic prowess and who provides endless attention to infinitesimal details, designed his first Oscar party in 2003 at a private Beverly Hills estate.

The driving theme was based on the hit movie Chicago, which was slated to win best picture that year (and it did!). Habicht and his team went all out for the desired effect, starting with designing invitations that included instructions on what to wear (“dress to walk down the red carpet”) and a reminder to those lucky enough to receive said missive that the tag line of the movie (“If you can’t be famous, be infamous”) doubled as the order of this highly crafted evening of fun.

The result was something akin to a dazzling party given by the Great Gatsby—only better. Donning the best of Roaring ’20s regalia, gussied-up guests were immortalized by a gaggle of photographers on hand to capture the essence of this over-the-top do. Hors d’oeuvres worthy of Wolfgang Puck were passed around as the newly transformed beautiful people soaked up the splendor that came courtesy of iii designs. To say this Michael Habicht Oscar party, and all the ones that followed, was a huge success is an understatement.

As an expert, Habicht delights in giving a history lesson on the many parties that have long swirled around what has been dubbed Hollywood‘s biggest night. He recalls the first Oscar shindig—which dates back to 1929 and which took place in the Hollywood Roosevelt’s Blossom Restaurant Room—a sit-down banquet affair with the award-giving as the entertainment portion of the evening.