On a discreet side street in Beverly Hills, a white bungalow blends in with all the other houses on the block. Inside, however, it’s another story entirely. Shelves brim with Raven Kauffman clutches, and rooms hold garment racks full of Lanvin gowns. It’s the offices of Bismarck Phillips Communications & Media (BPCM)—the must-go spot for every top stylist and It Girl in LA.
Founded in New York by Vanessa von Bismarck and Carrie Ellen Phillips, BPCM is one of the biggest players in the fashion PR world. They opened their LA outpost in 2004 (Paris and London followed two years later), bringing on veteran publicist Ali Taekman-Froley to expand the agency into the burgeoning Hollywood market. “Vanessa and Carrie are strategic,” says Taekman-Froley. “They saw the celebrity-dressing game starting to take a turn.”
BPCM represents everyone from global brands such as Christian Lacroix and Aldo to hometown favorites Current/Elliott and Simone, and their comprehensive focus relies on a customized process. “We never want to be that big machine,” explains Taekman-Froley. “Every client—big or small—has the same amount of people allotted, and we tailor something just for them.”
For her part, Taekman-Froley is deft at translating BPCM’s approach to the West Coast. “Seventy-five percent of what we do is celebrityrelated,” she says. This means Taekman-Froley and her team help align stars with fashion houses and guide their look both on and off the red carpet. (The residential location allows actresses and stylists to remain incognito when visiting BPCM’s showroomlike offices.)
Despite changes in the media and economy, Taekman-Froley insists the LA market is more relevant than ever. “The one thing that has not diminished is the demand to know what celebrities are wearing,” she says. “Who’s wearing what. That’s what it comes down to.”
