Happenings

« Previous  |  Main  |   Next »

July 23, 2008

Tarina Tarantino Barbie doll launch

It's every little girl's dream to have a Barbie doll that looks just like them. Jewelry designer Tarina Tarantino saw her dream come true last week, with the launch of Mattel's Tarina Tarantino Collector Series Barbie Doll, a princessy dolly in her very own, pink-haired likeness.
Fellow fuschia-haired diva Audrey Kitching (online scene queen with armies of teenage followers and former girlfriend of Panic! At the Disco's Brendon Urie) was at the launch party, held at Tarina's store in West Hollywood. Kitching is pictured above, with her Ken, fellow "scene king", author Clint Catalyst. WWE star Maryce was there, styled by fashion designer Jared Gold, and looking just like a chic blonde 1950s Barbie. (Maryce is pictured with Tarina Tarantino)
The Tarina Tarantino Collector Series Barbie Doll is $82, purchase here.

July 23, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

Surf-bum film screening in Brooklyn

July 23, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

July 15, 2008

Brangie sees double

It's not every day that a lady drops a set of twins, you know. Well, it is actually—but not a set of twins like Brad and Angie's of course! Knox Leon (named for Brad's grandpa and Angelina's great-great grandpa) and Vivienne Marcheline (Marcheline is the name of Jolie's late mother) entered the world Sunday, with fully-fledged celebrity careers already in place. For what it's worth, the wee little humans share their birthday with Julius Caesar...and Italian DJ Benny Benassi. At 5.02lbs, Vivienne was slightly heavier than Knox (better keep an eye on that). 
Jolie gave birth at the exclusive Lenval Hospital in Nice, France, which has posted ecstatic news releases about Madame Angelina and her babies on its website. Click here if you too would like to give birth at Lenval.
Sadly, I was unable to find contact details for her OB/GY, Dr. Michael Sussman who is, we hope, taking an extended vacation after being hounded by baby-hungry media for the past few months.

July 15, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (2)

July 10, 2008

Jason Biggs and Jenny Mollen-Biggs' golf gatherings

"American Pie" actor Jason Biggs and his wife, actress and artist Jenny Mollen-Biggs are hosting Hollywood's least Hollywoodish gatherings each Wednesday night. Held at a mini-golf course in the hills above L.A., the parties celebrate the culture of all things golf-related, with golf attire encouraged and outdoor screenings of "Caddyshack" promised each and every week.
Organized with local art gallery ghettogloss, the soirees started two weeks ago and look set continue through the summer. "So far we have gotten a really unique crowd," said Mollen-Biggs speaking on the phone from Whole Foods, where she and Jason were shopping for bacon-flavored chocolate ahead of their wedding ceremony in Napa this weekend. "We get super artsy types, and actor-types, and Asian golfers and zookeepers. Seriously—we've taken over."
Twilight at the Club takes place each Wednesday from 7pm to 11pm. You must arrive no later than 10pm. Bring your clubs. Here for details.

July 10, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (1)

July 3, 2008

You can learn a lot of things from the flowers

Flowers are pretty and all that, but aren't they so much cooler when they have thoughts and personalities and...teeth?
Los Angeles fine artist Tiffany Liu is totally on message with this, and has created a world of sentient and somewhat creepy floral beings, the likes of which we haven't seen since Disney's 1951 classic "Alice in Wonderland", "The Day of the Triffids" or even "The Little Shop of Horrors".
Step into Tiffany Liu's cartoon world in a double solo exhibition at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City, where she will be showing alongside New York’s M. Mararian. Opens July 19, click here for address.
www.tiffanyliu.com.

July 3, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (5)

June 18, 2008

Eurotrash invades L.A.

Growing up in London, I learned all my values from a TV show called Eurotrash.
Hosted by Jean Paul Gaultier and the deadpan Antoine de Caunes, it dragged its viewers through the silliest, most bizarro European subcultures imagineable—against a high fashion backdrop, bien sur.
The first season, which aired in 1993, featured appearances by fashion industry icons Ellen Von Unwerth, Helena Christensen, Pierre et Gilles, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Giorgio Armani, punctuated by segments about pubic hairdressing, Alpine Hells Angels, S&M restaurants and nude golf.
I ran into Eurotrash's host, Antoine de Caunes (pictured), last week at a party at the Houdini Mansion in L.A., where around 200 guests were celebrating the birthday of flame-haired L.A. scenester and professional fag hag Lenora Claire. (pictured)
De Caunes was being followed around by a production crew from French network Canal Plus, which is filming a five-part series about American contemporary culture, scheduled to air around election time. The bodacious Lenora Claire and her friends were deemed just the right kind of sexy for the French, and she was selected to be L.A.'s representative for the night. The suited De Caunes was completely re-styled for the camera by Lenora's friend, fashionista and writer Clint Catalyst, so he could fit in with the exotic birds around him. De Caunes ended up looking like a cross between Boy George and a Thomspon Twin, with an assymetrical curly wig, airbrushed makeup and embroidered Jared Gold suit jacket.
"I miss Lolo," lamented de Caunes, when I ran in to him in the bathroom, getting his lipgloss touched up. He was referring to the late French porn star Lolo Ferrari, who had the largest breasts in the world (71 inches), and was a Eurotrash regular. "She was very, very sweet."
Also hanging around were James St. James (former Michael "Party Monster" Alig co-hort), Heatherette designer Richie Rich and impresario Kim Fowley (pictured, in yellow, who formed The Runaways with Joan Jett and Sandy West). Fowley, who looked like a cross between John Waters and Frankenstein's monster, wasted no time in getting to know me—upon being introduced to me, his first question was "tell me about the inside of your c**t. Do you f*** girls or boys? Are you a top or a bottom?" Goodness!
I told him all he neded to know, naturally...

June 18, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (1)

June 10, 2008

Uberstars at the Warhol Museum

Online is where stars are born these days, as evidenced at the "Uberstars" exhibit at the Andy Warhol Museum.
The show, put togther by blog overlord Glenn Kaino (founder of artsy social networking site Uber.com) aligns present-day cyber stars with Andy Warhol's original Superstars.
Like the Superstars (and New York's Club Kids), the Uberstars came seemingly from out of nowhere, some building enormous followings not necessarily by "doing", but just by "being".
In the exhibit, a Polaroid of nightcrawler and scruffball model Cory Kennedy (pictured, left) sits next to Warhol's photo of Brigid Berlin (!). Author, blog queen and fashion commentator Clint Catalyst (pictured, right) finds his likeness neighboring Mick Jagger's, as shot by Warhol. (No-one was deemed worthy of Edie, yet.)
All the Uberstar Polaroid shots were taken by Kaino with his Big Shot Polaroid camera (designed for portrait use only, these were originally released in 1971 and produced until 1973). Other Uberstars include artist Aaron Sandnes, pink-haired model Audrey Kitching, journalist and former Women's Wear Daily West Coast Editor Rose Apodaca, and "Project Runway" alum Rami Kashou.
“It’s remarkable to see the many close parallels between Warhol’s Superstars of the 1960s and 1970s and these glam-fab ‘kids’ of today,” says Thomas Sokolowski, director of The Andy Warhol Museum. (Although we imagine there's slightly less drug use among the Uberstars.)
The show is part of the "Transformer: The Work of Glenn Kaino" exhibit, which features a number of Kaino's enormous, futuristic sculptures (pictured: "A Plank For Every Pirate", 16'x16'x14', wood, paint, plexiglas). A catalog with the same title as the exhibition will be published by German art publishing house Hatje Cantz later this year, featuring essays by David Levi Strauss, Larry List, Lauri Firstenberg, and Thomas Sokolowski.
The exhibit continues through the end of August at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburg. Visit www.warhol.org for more information.

June 10, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (4)

June 5, 2008

Flat-iron secrets, this weekend

If you, like I, have yet to master the elusive art of flat-ironing, you could benefit from an interactive event at The Doves hair salon in Santa Monica this Sunday, June 8. The new-ish salon, founded by the heads of Wella USA Sonya and Christopher Dove, is hosting  "Style Secrets", an afternoon of beauty where I'm led to believe many hairstyling secrets will be spilled. Topics will include the latest techniques for flat ironing (including how to produce curls) and the art of wig-wearing. Plus you can ask for a hair consultation, and find out about the best styles for your face shape, hair texture, skin type and the season.
The event takes place Sunday June 8 from 4:00pm - 5.30pm at The Doves Studio 2000 Main St, Santa Monica CA 90405. Tickets cost $25, with proceeds benefiting the The Peacock Foundation. To attend, sign up through "HIVING:: Parties for a Purpose" at www.hiving.net.  Referral code: DOVES
www.thedovesstudio.com

June 5, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 27, 2008

Rachel Pally...making classy comfortable

Rachel Pally's "Jersey Girl" moniker does not have anything to do with her being from New Jersey (she's not—Pally is a card-carrying L.A. woman).
Rather, it stems from her ability to take jersey knit—that soft, most agreeable of fabrics—and transform it into gowns worthy of goddesses.
Indeeed, goddesses like Angelina, Oprah and Amy Smart are all fans of the line, as is singer Eve, who wore a deceptively light-weight royal blue Rachel Pally evening dress to Pally's Fall/Holiday 2008 show at the art-deco Oviatt Penthouse in downtown L.A.
Pally's life mission, it seems, is one after our own heart—making classy comfortable.
Buy Rachel Pally here.

May 27, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

May 15, 2008

Last chance to buy tickets for "Fashion For Life" this weekend!

It's your last chance to buy tickets for Fashion for Life, the annual fashion fundraiser for Friendly House, one of Los Angeles’ oldest and most respected addiction recovery organizations for women. The event takes place this Sunday, May 18 from 2pm – 5pm at Mercedes-Benz of Beverly Hills.
The event features a dynamic fashion show highlighting seven Los Angeles designers, including Kevan Hall, Robert Rodriguez, Marc Callo, and Elsie Katz Couture. The audience will also be treated to a first look at Paige Black Label, the new collection of skirts, trousers, dresses, vests and jackets in fine fabrications created by Paige Adams-Gellar. DJ AM will spin during the show. Honorary Co-Chairs Amber Valletta, Cameron Silver, and Paige Adams-Gellar, emcee Lisa Rinna and renowned retailer Lisa Kline will be joined by fashionistas from across LA.
At last year's event, Decades boutique owner Cameron Silver (pictured, with model Amber Valetta) exclaimed that Fashion for Life was his "fashion Bar Mitzvah" when he was presented with the Vision Award for his contributions to L.A. fashion. This year’s Vision Award honoree goes to Lisa Kline.
Tickets begin at $75 and can be purchased by calling 310-929-7826, or emailing friendlyhouse@sbcglobal.net. Click here for more info.
Fashion for Life is offering to gift a Stylephile reader one of their VIP Gift Bags, containing items by Paige Premium Denim, Kol Candle, Zooey T’s, Stacie Bass Flip Flops, ghd Hair Care, Voluspa Candles, Grant Chris Rohloff T-shirts, Balance Water and a notepad from the night's  Vision Award Honoree, Lisa Kline.
To win, tell us this: how would you define L.A. fashion? The most insightful comment wins! Leave your answers in the comments section of this post, and dont forget to include your email address. Deadline is Wednesday May 21 at 5PM.

May 15, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (10)

Harmony Korine at Creativity Now conference, this weekend

Creativity is a nebulous concept, one which will be thoroughly disseected (in the hippest manner possible) at this weekend's Creativity Now conference. Organized by Tokion, the über-forward style and design mag, the conference features panels like "Fashion: Young Designers" (curated by Alex Hawgood of "T", The New York Times' Style Magazine); "Contemporary Comedy" (moderated by "Arrested Development's" David Cross) and cutting-edge director Harmony Korine in conversation with skater Mark Gonzales.
The conference takes place in New York on Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18. Visit www.tokion.com/creativitynow to purchase tickets and to see the full schedule.

May 15, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 24, 2008

Miami Nice

It's not all clingy white hotpants, blue eyeshadow and stripper heels in Miami, as proven during this month's Miami Fashion Week. The five day event drew designers from all over Latin America, many of whom now live in Miami, including Chilean Jaime Troncoso who sent a series of adorably lacey, feathered, and vintage-inspired looks down the catwalk (pictured).
Bogosse, Julian Chang, Nicolas Felizola, Ana Maria Guiulfo and Hernan Zajar were among the other international  deisgners to show at Miami Fashion Week, which was attended by the one and only Emilio Estefan, as well as America’s Next Top Model participant Anchal.

 

April 24, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

Agyness Deyn pops in to L.A.

Two worlds collided when super/über/add your own superlative model Agyness Deyn left the safe confines of London and New York to attend the launch of a t-shirt line in at Fred Segal Fun in Santa Monica.
So what was the tee shirt line that inspired the peroxide cropped style icon to grace our polluted Pacific shores?
E.VIL is the name of the eco-friendly line, a capsule collection created by Svedka vodka, with proceeds benefiting Heal the Bay, a nonprofit helping suck the nastiness out of the beaches of Southern California.
The party was hosted by TV actress Minka Kelly and New York's infamously sullen The Misshapes deejayed, causing toes to tap among the wide-eyed Hollywood crowd which included Jamie Lynn Sigler, Kim Kardashian, Rami Kashou (Project Runway), Nick Verreos (MSN Style Studio), Kelly Kruger and Perrey Reeves.
Then everyone went home, threw out their lip gloss, dyed their hair black and started cutting themselves.

(Top photo: Minka Kelly (R) shakes hands with Agyness Deyn.
Bottom photo: Agyness Deyn with The Misshapes.)

April 24, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 22, 2008

Blonde Venus: The essence of glamour

For many, Marlene Dietrich's iconic performance in 1932's "Blonde Venus" set the glamor standard forever more. Whether she was parading around in a shimmering white top hat and tails, bedecked in feathers and ruffles wih an enormous 'fro, or even swimming nude, she commanded the screen with her style, creating a visual blueprint that would inspire the world of fashion for decades. This coming Sunday, April 27 at 5.30PM you too can revel in the sheer decadence of Dietrich, when the Art Directors Guild presents a Screening of "Blonde Venus" at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica.
Directed by Josef Von Sternberg, the film sees Dietrich play Helen, a former nightclub entertainer who is forced to return to the Paris cabaret to support her family. The costumes were designed by Travis Banton, who helped mastermind Dietrich's famously androgynous look.
I recently visited the marvelous Berlin Film Museum where you can see the original costumes worn by Dietrich in "Blonde Venus" and many other movies, plus rare home video footage of Marlene and her many lovers. Worth checking out...if you happen to be in Germany, that is. 
Click here for full details on Sunday's screening.

April 22, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 21, 2008

Billion Dollar Babes in New York

You don't need a billion dollars to be a Billion Dollar Babe—quite the contrary. RSVP for the Billion Dollar Babe Spring Sale in NYC this coming weekend, and you'll be set to save up to 80% off on designer threads by the likes of Marcello Toshi, Kate and Kass, Dolce and Gabbana, Tibi, Oliver Peoples eyewear and many more. The sale officially opens Saturday April 26  at 9am, or there's a VIP preview sale the day before. Visit their website to find out how you can get in early!

The sale tales place at The Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011.

April 21, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 9, 2008

Euro-phile: Wanna meet a Norwegian polar bear?

Do you have a penchant for furry, fluffy man-eaters? 
Then luxury travel firm Abercrombie and Kent is offering seriously intrepid travelers a unique opportunity.  
With their experieinced guide Mats Forsberg (who has guided BBC production teams into the region's polar bear habitat), you can venture into Norway's Arctic wilderness and follow the trail of the polar bear. The plan being to actually find one. 
This vacation is not for the faint of heart—weather conditions are hardly balmy (think 17 degrees and high winds on a clement day) and you'll camp for at least one night. But it's way more interesting than a week in Orlando. 
Here's how one adventurer described the experience: "We ski to a ridge with views of both the den and the ocean pack ice, and we wait, absorbed by the sparkling silence. Soon the mother polar bear emerges, nosing the air and scanning the surrounding empty pack ice. She then belly-slides headfirst down the snowy slope. Two cubs follow, tumbling and rolling into a furry heap at their mother's feet. She ushers them toward an iceberg, moving them gently along with her massive paws. It's time for a hunting lesson."
 You'll ski, snowmobile and camp your way through Spitsbergen, the last protected natural polar bear habitat. With a bear population of 4,500, chances of sighting one are supposedly excellent. (As are the chances of freezing your boobies off.) Once in bear country, you're entirely dependent on yourself, your equipment, and your guide's knowledge and experience. If you make it home alive and uneaten, you'll have enough dinner party stories to last a lifetime. 
The company is booking departures for March 2009, with prices at around $14,490 per person. Click here for more info.

April 9, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

April 1, 2008

Warhol-Hirst-Levi's-wearable-art-pop-up-shop

April 1, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 31, 2008

Diamonds are for puppies

March 31, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 27, 2008

Solar eclipse of the art

There's nothing quite as romantic as a candlelit dinner—but a candlelit art show? This weekend's forthcoming Dark Fair, a "subsersive and experimental miniature art fair" will take place in New York, without the use of any natural or electric light. How very Bram Stoker of them.
Eschewing the traditional head-ache inducing strip lighting, all artworks will be ulluminated through the use of candlelight, flashlights, oil lamps, glow in the dark, light sculpture, and batteries only. Dozens of American and international galleries will be represented, including Air de Paris from Paris, Galerie Guido W. Baudach from Berlin, Marianne Boesky Gallery from New York, and Karma International from Zurich. "In this cavernous underworld of exchange, visitors will experience art in completely new ways," say the organizers,  who are the folks behind the Milwaukee International Art Fair.
Even if you're scared of the dark, you should consider going—fashion designer Benjamin Cho, supermodel Erin Wasson and United Bamboo will also be presenting a fashion show at the event. Runway + models + pitch dark = comedy.
Oh, and don't forget to check out the gramophone DJ.
The event takes place at the Swiss Institute / Contemporary Art, 495 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10012. Tel: 212.925.2035. Dark Fair hours are Friday, March 28 from 6pm to 12am, and Saturday March 29 from 12pm to 9pm.

March 27, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

March 6, 2008

Gen Art kicks off L.A. Fashion week tomorrow...wanna go?

When it comes to giving fresh new talent a helping hand, the folks behind Gen Art are the masters, handpicking young designers and giving them exposure they deserve. Gen Art has been launching careers for more than ten years now, (Louis Verdad, Zac Posen and Michelle Mason are all Gen Art alumni), and tomorrow, they kick off L.A. Fashion Week with an installation show by three exciting new fashion designers as part of their “New Guarde” event, Friday March 7 at 7PM.
And here’s the best part—you can be there!
JMARY, Jesse Kamm, and Le Sang des Betes by Trang Chau are the talented threesome being showcased. They may be “emerging” but each has already built a following. JMary has been creating custom pieces for Maxfield for some time, and counts Winona Ryder, Dita Von Teese and Karl Lagerfeld among her fans.
Le Sang des Betes by Trang Chau (pictured) has a grisly name (“the blood of beasts”) but the designer uses only natural fabrics, mainly cotton and wool, in designs inspired by the vaulted ceilings of Gothic cathedrals. Jesse Kamm, whose signature hand-printed textiles have been showcased in Elle, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Paper magazines, is a favorite of Liz Goldwyn, Ellen Pompeo, and Kazu of New York art band Blonde Redhead.
Their designs will be shown on models in large-scale vignettes from 8-10pm, conceptualized by each designer and produced by set designer Keith Greco. Then, there’s an after-party celebrating all things fresh and new!
So if you're in L.A., go to this show, and meet the fashion faces of tomorrow.
The presentation is at the Park Plaza Hotel (607 S Park View St., between Rampart and Alvarado St). VIP Tickets are $90/ person and $75 for Gen Art Members and include early entry to the show pre-reception and access to all VIP areas. General Admission Tickets are $50 / person and $40 for Gen Art Members. Gen Art LA Associate Producer Members receive two free VIP tickets and Gen Art Platinum Members received two free General tickets.  Tickets can be purchased by calling (323)782-9389 or by visiting www.genart.org.

March 6, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (1)

February 21, 2008

Robert Evans' sunglasses bring sexy back

Hollywood OG Robert Evans has been doing his PhD (pimping hos daily) for over a hundred years. So it was a delight to witness the man work his legendary mojo in person, at a luncheon celebrating his collaboration with eyewear firm Oliver Peoples.
The event was at his home in Beverly Hills, and in the flesh, Evans rocked my world, resembling a cross between Don Corleone and a 1970s porn director. He wore a pea-green polo neck sweater, neck pulled up high, with some heavy metal hanging low from his neck à la Mr. T. His luxurious gray velvet lounge pants languidly brushed the floor, as if to say "I'm Robert Evans, I'm chillin in my house". His tan was deep, thoroughly developed, and real. All that was missing was a cigar. And some hos.  Evans' high profile guests, including Russell Simmons, Tamara Mellon, Linda Evangelista, Perry Farrell and er, The Stylephile, milled around looking fabulous and sipping champagne.
The party was pure Hollywood glam—synchronized swimmers splish-splashed in his pool, Van Cleef and Arpels diamonds dripped from bonsai trees, and a screen looped the noirish, steamy film trailer Evans had filmed to promo his Oliver Peoples eyewear collection. His co-star was a hot young blonde, of course. (You can watch the promotional video here, which was shot in Evans' home.)
The sunglasses themselves are rather beautiful, the design simple yet powerful, with heavy dark frames that are imposing enough for any aspiring movie mogul. One pair is called, simply, The Robert Evans.
I've always been a fan—the man who produced "Rosemary's Baby", "The Godfather" and "Chinatown" boasts one of the best Hollywood success/excess stories of all time (rent the movie of his life story "The Kid Stays in the Picture" to realize that some of us really are born with a destiny). Plus, he used to make shoes (I own a blue pair of Robert Evans pumps). What's not to love?
Snoop, Dre, Tony Soprano—all y'all could learn a thing or two from this gangsta.
Find out more about the Oliver Peoples/Robert Evans sunglasses here.

February 21, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (2)

February 20, 2008

Why don't we appreciate costume design?

Under-appreciated, unnoticed and oft unsung, costume designers suffer from a chronic (and inexplicable) lack of recognition in the popular media.
It makes no sense—their creations, especially in some period or fantasy productions (think "The Tudors", "Atonement", "Elizabeth", "Edward Scissorhands", "Sweeney Todd"), often convey more emotion, more story, than the most sumptuous of red carpet or catwalk gowns. And yet I can count on one hand the costume designers whose names are known outside film industry circles.
Why?
Is it because costume designers, unlike some red carpet stylists, actually avoid outshining their clients? Is it because costume designers themselves tend to dress (in Amish terms) somewhat plainly?  Or is it because their world—the world of early hours, long shoots and budget-juggling—is simply less glamorous than the worlds of fashion design or red carpet?
Who knows.
But last night, the costume makers had their moment. The 10th annual Costume Designers Guild Awards were attended by some of the biggest stars of today—Anjelica Huston (who was Mistress of Ceremonies), Kate Holmes (all grown up now, she's killed off Katie), Geena Davis, Christian Bale, Natasha Henstridge and many more.
Anjelica Huston was decked out in a spangly red creation that would have gone well with Dorothy's ruby slippers. It was made by Bob Mackie and Ray Aghayan, and is being sold to benefit the Clothes Off Our Back charity. Mackie presented the Career Achievement in TV award to the Yoda-like Ray Aghayan, whose life's work  is surely the envy of every gay man over 50—he dressed Judy Garland, Barbara Streisand and Diana Ross in many millions of sequins, in a career spanning more than 50 years. (Aghayan and Mackie won the first ever Emmy Award for costume design in 1963.)
Kate Holmes presented United Artists head Paula Wagner with the Swarovski Presidents award, the first time a studio head has won such an honor. "Her impeccable personal style defines how she works," said Kate, whose insufferable Stepford Wife delivery was offset after she mispronounced "epitome", reading it phonetically from the autocue. (It's OK Katie—I mean Kate—I remember saying "paradigm" in all its phonetic glory in front of my English lit class.) Wagner, Tom Cruise's longtime business partner, stepped up to the podium wearing a beautiful floor-length gown, with stiff architectural flourishes and regal in midnight blue. It was stunning, one of my favorite looks of the evening, alongside Lena Heady's (aka TV's new Sarah Connor) mink stole and nude vintage gown.
Brit costume designer Ruth Myers, who came to America upon the urging of Gene Wilder and went on to work on "The Woman in Red", "The Addams Family", "The Accidental Tourist", "Emma", "LA Confidential" and "The Golden Compass", was honored with a Career Achievement Award for film. She also picked up the statuette in the Best Fantasy category, presented by the ever-Amazonian Natasha Henstridge.
Marion Cotillard, looking stunning and about 12 years old, had filmed a touching message in memory of the late Marit Allen (pictured), who was inducted into the Costume Designers Guild Hall of Fame this year. A former UK Vogue staffer and David Bailey model, Allen had costume designed more than 40 productions, including "Eyes Wide Shut", "Little Shop of Horrors", "White Mischief", "Brokeback Mountain", "Love in the Time of Cholera", and "La Vie En Rose". She passed away late last year after suffering a brain aneurism.
Christian Bale refused to follow the autocue, paying tribute to director/producer team James Mangold and Cathy Konrad in his own charmingly ad-libbish way, with several shout-outs to costume designer Arianne Phillips, who has been nominated for an Oscar for her work on "3:10 to Yuma".
Christian Bale, Anjelica Huston, Geena Davis, Kate/Katie Holmes—how much more star power will it take before the masses finally take an interest in the art of costume design?

February 20, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (1)

January 27, 2008

Red carpet reborn

Yay for the SAG Awards—not only did they rightly recognize Daniel Day Lewis' performance in "There Will Be Blood" as most awesome of the year, they also allowed the star-starved red carpets of Hollywood to savor the sweet spike of a Louboutin heel once again. Cate Blanchett, who is pregnant, glistened in a strapless Balenciaga gown the color of Fool's Gold. Angelina Jolie opted for a diaphanous, marbled brown strapless gown by red carpet newcomer Juliana Cairone, owner of Manhattan boutique Rare Vintage. We saw Marchesa on Nicolette Sheridan (in black) and Rebecca Gayheart (in red). Sandra Oh played prom queen  in a full skirted black and hot pink number, while Ryan Gosling wore a black ribbon on his lapel, in remembrance of fellow actor Heath Ledger.

January 27, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 23, 2008

Living jewels, ordinary world

Insects, creepy crawlies and anthills aren't annoyances, they're inspiration, at least according to jewelry designer Jennifer Herwitt, whose diamond-encrusted necklaces and rings emulate the delicate forms of spiders, scorpions, and even lowly ants.
Entomology-obsessed Herwitt isn't the only one who thinks there's beauty to be found in a hornet's nest—Jessica Alba, Dita Von Teese, Pink, Anne Heche and Marg Helgenbergeris are all fans of her art-meets-nature science designs.
Herwitt is one of several creatives taking part in "Ordinary World, Finely Wrought", an exhibit of "conscious design" being held at the Thatcher House in Venice, CA, this weekend to benefit UNICEF Water & Sanitation Programs.
Actress Lucy Liu together with Warner Bros exec Courtenay Valenti are co-hosting the opening night party tonight.
As well as progressive art, photography and furniture, the Thatcher House itself  is being sold off as part of the benefit. It features eco-touches like radiant floor heating, solar photovoltaic panels for electricity and solar water heating panels. The event opens up to the public on Saturday January 26, from 10a.m. to 5p.m. Call 213 784 2003 for more details.

January 23, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

January 14, 2008

Jimmy Zoo

I arrived at the Jimmy Choo store opening on Rodeo Drive on Friday night only to be greeted by the sight of hundreds of paparazzi and, even worse, a line to get in. The PR woman in charge calmly informed me that fire marshalls were about to close the party down, so they simply couldn't let anybody else in.
I pressed my nose up against the window of the store, and tried to soak up the atmosphere. I saw Tamara Mellon (pictured, right, with Rachel Zoe) the British socialite who founded the Jimmy Choo empire. I spotted Lisa Rinna, Debra Messing, Lisa Kudrow, and an assortment of Choo-heeled Beverly Hills ladies. There was my friend, style writer and consummate fashionista Linlee Allen, sipping from a glass of Veuve. Fashion editor Merle Ginsberg was interviewing the party goers. AndrewAndrew, the creative design duo were there, wearing identical outfits and looking Awesome in Argyle. And there was the beautiful actress Shiva Rose. Sigh.
And then Harvey Weinstein showed up.
The movie mogul is financial backer of the newly re-launched Halston label, with Jimmy Choo's Tamara Mellon helming, Versace's former head of couture Marco Zanini designing and stylist Rachel Zoe on board. Weinstein's new wife (they married last month), the very pretty Georgina Chapman, is herself a fashion designer (for Marchesa).
As Harvey Weinstein strolled forth, the seas parted and as you'd expect, he achieved a clean entrance into the party. He may be a large-ish fella (and therefore most definitely a fire hazard), but in Beverly Hills, there's always enough room for Harvey.
(PS: The Stylephile was allowed in a few minutes later. Grrr.)

January 14, 2008 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 18, 2007

Seen at the Matthew Barney opening

I met Alia Raza, pictured here with her friend Alex, at the Matthew Barney opening at Regen Projects in L.A. I complimented her on her dress which she informed me was made by her friend Magda Berliner, who just happens to be one of L.A.'s most talented fashion designers (find out where to buy her stuff here). Turns out Berliner is providing costumes for a short film  that Raza will start shooting in January. It is based on a short story of Miranda July's, and stars Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond, Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, fashionista Liz Goldwyn, and OK Go's Damian Kulash.
Fashion designer Jasmin Shokrian, Melissa Coker of Wren and Juan Carlos Obando are also donating and making clothes for the short. all are working under the direction of costume designer Lauren Tafuri. Meeting Raza was one of the highlights of the opening, which was attended by Barney's lady, Björk. A video of Barney's recent performance art piece—you know, the one where the girls pee and the bull tries to mate with a truck—was screened in a back room.
Read more about it here.

December 18, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 17, 2007

Grey Ant pop-up shop in Chinatown

On Saturday I swung by the first night party for avant-garde L.A. label Grey Ant's new collection at the New High (M)art, a pop-up shop in L.A.'s Chinatown. The New High (M)art originally opened up as a gallery space earlier this year, with my boyfriend Eric Layer and his ex-girlfriend, the very awesome Erica Garcia, in charge. The art world not being quite what they expected, they handed the space over to former magician and graphic designer T-Rik and his partner in fashion, style consultant Miho Ikeda, and thus the New High M(art) was born, providing designers with a temporary space in which to showcase their collections. The space launched a couple months ago with a collection by West Coast wünderkind Brian Lichtenberg, with Grey Ant's Grant Krajecki taking over on Saturday night. He had filled the store shelves with his signature high-waisted jeans, some one-of-a-kind Nike/high heel hybrids (inspired by the mass suicide of the infamous Heaven's Gate religious cult in 1997, who were all wearing Nike shoes at the time of their deaths) and t-shirts saying things like "I'm Not Fat". And in the corner was a mannequin with the biggest boobs I have ever seen.
T-Rik told me she was made by a company called Voluptuous that specializes in curvaceous clothes horses. I marveled at how with just a little weight gain, she had become instantly attractive. Added to that, she was wearing an Adidas bustier and, ahem, a large dildo. I cut it from the picture for modesty's sake, and am sure it will cause much wonderment among the elderly Chinese ladies who walk by the store during the day.

December 17, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (1)

Liz McGrath art opening

L.A. underground darling Liz McGrath's art opening at the Billy Shire gallery in Culver City was a dark fantasy playground straight off the pages of a Brothers Grimm nightmare, featuring elaborately "tattooed" snow deer mounted on walls with ship rigging among the antlers, large rodents with trailers in their bellies and a family of slow-nodding "death metal reindeer" in the center of the room, head-banging to a Metallica song that only they could hear.
The artist herself was a Gothic Victorian vision, in plaid toy top hat with crimson feathers and ruffles. "I'm exhausted," she admitted, adding that she has not touched a drop of alcohol in some months, as she had been so focused on finishing the pieces for the show. McGrath was once a set designer, working with heavy metal music video directors for some time before her first solo art exhibition, in 2000. She is currently working on a
collaboration with fashion designer Jared Gold, a limited edition
"Liz McGrath for Jared Gold" line. Stay tuned!
Her good friend Winter, a long-time staffer at LA's infamous Trashy Lingerie boutique, wore an eye-catching tartan corset dress with toy hat that she had made herself. There was even an evil Santa Claus, dressed all in black with heavy-lined eyes and lamb-chop sideburns, daring people to sit on his lap.

December 17, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 11, 2007

Wrapper's delight

December 11, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (1)

December 9, 2007

Jared Gold's big love in Utah

Until Friday, I had never attended a fashion show where shivering attendees wore an inch of virgin snow on their heads, because they had been lining up outside for hours.
Where was this frozen fashion frenzy? New York? Moscow perhaps? Actually, Utah, known for its Big Love polygamists, stunning rock formations and utilitarian approach to style (think Tevas, mullets and snow boots).
The only time fashion becomes anything more than a minority pursuit in Utah is when Sundance hits Park City. Or, as I discovered, when Jared Gold puts on his winter fashion show.
Gold upped sticks and moved from Hollywood to Salt Lake City four years ago. Why on earth would a fashion designer leave L.A. for the style-barren plains of Utah?
Gold, a Mormon with investors based in SLC, had his reasons. He set up a factory and opened four of his Black Chandelier-brand boutiques in Salt Lake City, with plans to open dozens more around the country. "It is my belief that fashion should be democratic," said Gold when I chatted to him just before the show, held at the historic Union Pacific train station building in the heart of SLC.

 











I met Gold during LA Fashion Week last October through our mutual friend, the writer Clint Catalyst. When Gold invited me out to Salt Lake City to attend his show I was thrilled to step outside my bi-coastal box for once.

Democracy and accessibility were themes that permeated the show, inspired by Scandinavian Belle Epoque design. Belle Epoque icons from Rimbaud to Ibsen, from Cezanne to Oscar Wilde, were contemptuous of the bourgeois snobbery that plagued their times. It's a sentiment that Gold echoed, right down to his choice of models, 40 or so Amazonian locals with some colorful special guests flown in from LA and New York. They were stars of reality TV (Lisa D'Amato of "America’s Next Top Model" fame and Nyabel Lual from "Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency") and internet celebrities, like pink-haired alterna-babe Audrey Kitching, blue haired New York club diva Racquel Reed and the talented Stevie Ryan (pictured, in green cardigan), beloved of Crispin Glover and one of the biggest stars of YouTube. Gold told me he feels these women represent the democratization of entertainment, and for that reason, they fit perfectly in his vision.
The 1,600-strong audience was a motley crew, ordinary-looking folks mixed in with green-haired teenagers, drag queens, tattooed vixens and even a Marie Antoinette look-alike, complete with towering powdered wig (all that was missing was some cake).
“But Jared,” I protested, “you know some people won’t approve of this populist approach? To them, fashion’s air of exclusivity is what makes it magical.” His response? "I don’t care." And what of the clothes? The collection, called Caspian, featured items from his ready-to-wear collection mixed in with some magnificent one-of-a-kind pieces. Blue-feathered drop-waist dresses with mandala motifs. Tangerine, azure and brown prints. An enormous gray over coat looked like the offspring of a felt factory and a rubber dingy, the collar towering above the model’s head. Updo's were romantic and gossamer-like, with East L.A. Chola influences evident in the dark-lined lips, heavy black eyeliner and giant hoop earrings sported by the models.
And then Lisa D'Amato got her bum out.
Well...not on the runway, exactly. But at a teeshirt-signing the next day, the rambunctious model amazed shoppers at a Salt Lake City mall by offering up her rear end for Sharpie autographs. She had been up most of the night with new friends made at Salt Lake City nightclub the Trapp Door where she had performed songs from her new album after the fashion show.
On the flight back to Burbank Lisa, who is launching a music career with the help of producer Cisco Adler, reminisced about her time on "America's Next Top Model." "The other girls hated me on that show,” she said. “Especially after I peed in a diaper on national TV."
Whaaaa???
"Life's too short,” she said, explaining how she stumbled upon the diaper and then decided to use it for what it was made for. “The other girls thought it was trashy.”
We suspect Lisa, who recently signed a six-figure recording deal with a Geffen subsidiary, will enjoy the last laugh.

December 9, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (2)

November 29, 2007

Never too much--the Luther Vandross estate sale

The multi-day extravanganza, called "Elegance on Stage, Elegance in Life", is being put on by auction house Dawson & Nye, with Mrs. Ida Vandross as host.
Vandross, known for his trademark moustache, loved to wear monochrome suits (purple and orange were favorite colors), without a tie. Pieces from his home and wardrobe will be exhibited from Sun, Dec 2nd, with auctions on December 5 and 6.
Click here for more information.

November 29, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

Want your own style empire?

November 29, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

A feast for the senses

November 29, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

Rachel Pally sample sale

Sample sales go on all this time, but Rachel Pally's is one you should not miss. Her soft, flattering jersey-knit dresses, skirts and tops are feminine yet practical, allowing your body to breathe beneath the gentle fabric. I own a couple of her dresses, including a stunning teal halterneck number that somehow makes my shoulders look toned and sexy. Pally is also one of the few name designers who considers goddesses of all shapes and sizes—her stylish plus-size collection was recently featured on Oprah.

Did I mention she's also one of the smartest gals I know? A Berkeley grad, Pally reads obsessively, is an architecture buff and has, through sheer talent, hard work and personality, single-handedly built her thriving jersey knit empire.

The sale features new merchandise plus items from her previous collections, all at 50-90% off. It starts today (10a.m. to 6 p.m.) and runs through Sunday at 2001 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Suite F, Los Angeles, CA 90021, on the corner of  Santa Fe and 15th. Call 818-512-9472 or 818-512-9575 for more information, or email info@rachelpally.com.

November 29, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 28, 2007

Red carpet fashions, Brit-style

Red carpet fashions can be frustrating to critique, with Actresses/Models/Whatevers often drawing from the same bag of camera-ready tricks, time after time. Not so in London, where arrivals at the London Fashion Awards delighted us with their freshness and originality.

Pop star Lily Allen was cute as a Sugar Plum Fairy in her strapless baby pink corseted cabaret dress. Model Agyness Deyn looked like a younger, friendlier version of Brigitte Nielson in sheer black haute couture. Dame Vivienne Westwood looked like an electrified punk rock granny. A glammed-up Kelly Osbourne reminded us of a young, super curvaceous Liz Taylor. And model Erin O'Coner pulled a Medusa in her diaphanous, serpent covered silk gown. Sssssexy.
















(For those of you who are interested, Stella McCartney won "Designer of the Year" this year, following in the footsteps of previous winners Hussein Chalayan, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood.)

November 28, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 26, 2007

Shopping "intervention"

We hear that All Purpose, the avant garde men’s boutique in Los Angeles’ Third Street shopping district, has agreed to a week-long "intervention", starting on Tuesday, December 4th with a cocktail shopping event.

Jimmyjane, CITIZEN:Citizen and the house menswear label Filius are confronting "retail addiction and holiday overdose" this season  by transforming the store into a temporary "brand pharmacy" called INTERVENTION.


CITIZEN:Citizen will be featuring classics from its range, including the indulgence collection (recently acquired by the SFMOMA’s permanent collection), its Bullet-proof Rose (to be worn over the heart, made of ballistic nylon and featured in this year’s "Vogue" holiday gift guide) along with its just-launched matte black ccPhone.


Jimmyjane will feature its iconic 24k gold vibrators, exotic fragrances, silk blindfolds and provocative massage candles.



Filus will issue limited-edition shirts, knits and accessories to commemorate the INTERVENTION.

Sounds like some serious immersion therapy to us?


We especially love the invitations to the INTERVENTION press preview, which look like a bottle of your favorite meds.

The store is located at 144 South Flores Street in Los Angeles. 

November 26, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 20, 2007

Wanna be a Thanksgiving volunteer?

If you're considering volunteering this Thanksgiving but haven't figured out a plan yet, you better get on it. Soup kitchens are popular places to be at this time of year, and many volunteer lists are already full.

I plan on servicing my acute bourgeois guilt by showing up at The Echo nightclub in Echo Park on Thursday morning, bearing my famous sweet potato gratin, which will be donated to Gobble Gobble Give.

Food On Foot in Hollywood has six sponsorship postions remaining for its big Thanksgiving Day celebration. Yes, that's right, these days volunteering is so popular, you get to pay to do it. For $150 per person, you get to particpate in their Work for Food awards ceremony, and will distribute food and back packs to over 300 homeless and poor individuals. 110 year old Jessie Fairbanks will be in attendance. The event will be held at 1625 N. Schrader in Hollywood and parking is at the site. 

In New York (where the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade will go on, even though it is scripted, because its writers are not WGA members), there are plenty of ways you can give. Visit the New York Coalition Against Hunger's website, or Volunteer NYC.
For national volunteering opportunities, visit the altruists' dating service, Volunteer Match.

November 20, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 19, 2007

Date-saver: Decadestwo Chanel Event

We found this listing on the ever-awesome shopping site, TopButton.com:

 "Decadestwo is holding its semi-annual Chanel spotlight and sale. Decadestwo has acquired a tremendous selection of Chanel goodies including clothing, accessories, and handbags from the mid-1990’s to 2007. TopButton members are invited to attend the VIP special preview on Tuesday, November 27th, from 6:00-8:30 pm. The Chanel event opens to the general public on Wednesday, November 28th, at 11:30 am and goes through December 5th."

You know where Decadestwo is, right? It's on Melrose. It's one of the best contemporary designer re-sale stores in the galaxy.

Hey, does anyone remember Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld's diet book? It came out in 2005 after the designer lost a mountain of weight. Did you read it? What were your thoughts?

November 19, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

7th on Sale black tie gala dinner

The 7th on Sale black tie gala dinner in New York drew plenty of camera-ready looks from the A-listers who attended. 
Dita Von Teese wore this spectacular Marchesa Spring '08 gown. Mary Kate Olsen looked like a pristine diaper in Giambattista Valli with patent leather stripper heels, also by Valli. Kate Moss wore items from her eponymous Top Shop line which, while elegant, were nothing to write home about. We enjoyed Elle MacPherson's simple but stunning one-shouldered black satin look. Even more striking was Valentino's day-glo complexion. Singer Eve's coined Marchesa dress worn with black tights was a little too disco for our tastes. Michael Stipe simultaneously charmed and creeped us out with his  "Flasher Professor" get-up.

November 19, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 16, 2007

Like father, like son

Evan Yurman, son of famed jeweler David Yurman (whose line is beloved by socialites across the nation, especially in Texas), has designed his own collection of baubles for the family firm.

Here's Evan, director of David Yurman Men's Jewelry, pictured with mini-human Ashley Olsen at a party celebrating his collection.

Held at the haunted Paramour Mansion in Los Angeles earlier this month, the bash was attended by hundreds of LA's younger hip-stars. They sipped bubbly and jived to the sounds of tie-wearing music men, The Bravery.

Plexiglass towers outside encased Yurman's diamond and ruby-encrusted bling, while above it all the ghost of former resident Daisy Canfield Danziger looked on. (Daisy, shown here with her husband, silent movie star Antonio Moreno, died in a tragic car accident in 1933.)

Yurman, FYI, is no dilettante—he has forged pieces for various designers including Nom de Guerre, As Four and Alife. He also custom-made a poison ring for Kate Moss, made from a 40-carat moonstone and a 60-carat onyx grasped by two tiger claws.

Poison rings, for the non Wiccan among you, have hinges that open and close, and were used  by terrible people to dump poison or aphrodisiacs into their victims' drinks, without their knowledge. We wonder who Kate had in mind when she bought hers?

November 16, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (3)

Tarina Tarantino's Tokyo Hardcore

Lucite-loving jeweler Tarina Tarantino launched her sexy "Tokyo Hardcore" collection last night with a bash at her store on Melrose. And what a colorful soirée it was...

Obnoxious celeb blogger Perez Hilton was there, sporting some very blue hair, à la Marc Jacobs.

America's Next Top Model runner up and Skelly Oil heiress Lisa D'Amato was there (pictured, right), sporting some sexy turqouise eyeshadow to match her shiny azure and gold jacket.
Tarina herself (pictured, middle) looked gorgeous, her black tunic dress offsetting her trademark fuschia 'do.

And then there was some guy in a very loud baseball cap (pictured, left).

The key to L.A. style, in case you hadn't noticed, is to make like you're colorblind. Like, duh.

November 16, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (3)

7 For All Mankind store opening

Luxury denim brand, 7 For All Mankind, opened its first retail store on Thursday night with new paparazzi-friendly digs on Robertson Blvd. The store carries sportswear, handbags, shoes, kids clothes and of course, their signature jeans.

The evening began with a private cocktail party hosted by stylist and accomplished calorie-counter Rachel Zoe, and gave way to a packed party filled with Hollywood's young 'n sexy (Rashida Jones, Christina Milian and director Jason Reitman).

DJ Samantha Ronson provided the bumping soundtrack, and the tequila and wine flowed in abundance, leading to some enthusiastic under-the-influence shopping by party-goers. Dangerous...


(Thanks to Mia McNiece, Variety "V Page" Editor, for supplying this story!)

November 16, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (41)

November 12, 2007

Liz Taylor's sparkly addiction

If there were such a thing as BAA--Bling Addicts Anonymous--you know Elizabeth Taylor would be a gold star member.

What shoes did for Imelda Marcos, diamonds do for Liz, whose personal collection includes a 69.42-carat, $1.1million Cartier diamond bought for her by Richard Burton. For her 40th birthday, Burton had the Taj Mahal Diamond, which dates back to 1627, giftwrapped for her. What a guy!

It came as no surprise when human magpie Taylor launched her own jewelry line, House of Taylor in 2005, through the same company that has created jewelry collections for Elton John and Celine Dion.

Taylor unveiled her latest House of Taylor collection on Saturday at Geary's on Beverly Drive. The looks are Crown Jewel decadent, best reserved for royal weddings, Coronations and other such blue-blood soirees.

Some one-of-a-kind couture pieces in the line are priced at more than $1 million...where's my Richard Burton when I need him?

(Photo: DeGuire/WireImage)

November 12, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 8, 2007

Armani builds Tokyo fashion palace

Et voila! Cate Blanchett flipped a switch and illuminated Giorgio Armani's 10-story shopping emporium in Ginza, Tokyo's most upmarket shopping and entertainment district.

The tower includes floors for the first Armani spa, an Armani restaurant and plenty of room for his men’s and women’s collections of clothes and accessories.

The top floor of the steel and glass fashion palace is taken up by a penthouse. Not for Mr Armani, but for the man who owns the land that the structure was been built on.

As Giorgio Armani knows--it pays to keep your landlord sweet.

(Photo: Jun Sato/WireImage)

November 8, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

Look, no models!

Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal was the venue for a most unsual runway show this week...one which used holograms instead of models.
Target held what it called "the world's first model-less fashion show" , used a high-definition video projection to show off  the latest clothing collections for Target from Isaac Mizrahi, Erin Fetherston, Liz Lange, Mossimo, Keanan Duffty, plus jewelry by Dominique Cohen and shoes by Hollywould.
The virtual show was staged in the terminal's Vanderbilt Hall, where commuters seemed intrigued by the spooky fashion spectacle before them.

November 8, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

L'Oreal ladies reprazent

The multi-ethnic, age-representative Ladies of L'Oreal took up arms in the fight against ovarian cancer at a glittering silent aucton and benefit in L.A. last night. Eva Longoria, (who is Latina), Andie MacDowell (who is white), Kerry Washington (who is African American) and Diane Keaton (who is bespectacled) all showed their support. The event was held at the mahogany-floored, red crystal-chandeliered Murano restaurant on Melrose Ave., which is owned by Sandy Sachs and Robin Gans, lesbian nightlife mavens and founders of the Dinah Shore ladies' weekend.

We spotted Rita Wilson, Kyle MacLachlan, Jaime Pressley, Brittany Murphy, and Harper's editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey (the late Liz Tilveris, who was editor-in-chief of Harper's, was head of the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund).

The Stylephile was there, sipping on a kir royale and inspecting the items up for auction, which included a beautiful dusky pink Carolina Herrera chiffon gown and photography by Raymond Meier and Greg Sorensen.

Visit www.ocrf.org for more information about ovarian cancer, which kills more than 15,000 women every year in the United States.

November 8, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 6, 2007

What's your true religion?

Scoop up some L.A. cazh (that's "casual", to the uninitiated) classics at the fem LA shopping event on November 17. You'll find up to 60% off on items by L.A. Fashion Week designers like Voom by Joy Han, Tart and Single, plus denim by Hudson, J Brand and True Religion.

The VIP Preview Access ticket ($15) offers two hours (Noon – 2pm) of VIP-Only shopping, and a VIP lounge with complimentary cocktails and mini spa services. General admission shopping ($5) is from 2:00pm-5:00pm. There will be a runway show at 2p.m. and 4p.m.

For more information and to purchase tickets, log on to www.gotofem.com. At Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90405, Saturday November 17, noon - 5PM.
(Photo: Mike Guastella/WireImage.com)

November 6, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

RIP House & Garden

Just the other day, I was flipping through the pages of House & Garden, reading the feature about Gwyneth Paltrow's home in the Hamptons, and trying not to hate myself for not having her life. *Sigh.*
Such are the extremes of emotion inspired by the magazine. So, it came as a surprise to learn that after 106 years House & Garden will be shut down, with no more issues to be printed after this December.
The news came as a shock to many stylish friends of mine, who worship at the altar of Dominique Browning, H&G editor since 1995. Her predecessor, Vogue's Anna Wintour, had injected a heavy dose of fashion into the magazine during her tenure, causing some to dub it "House and Garment".
In spite of its fabled past, the magazine was simply "not a viable business investment", according to Conde Nast CEOs.
Apparently, H&G only had around 800 advertising pages, rather than the 1,000 it would have needed to be profitable.
And because of that, a little piece of American good taste died.

November 6, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 5, 2007

Badgley Mischka wrist candy

This is the moment we have been waiting for...Mark Badgley and James Mischka are debuting their glam new watch line this week, with a launch party at Lotus in New York on Tuesday November 6.
The couture designers have created a bejeweled collection of whimsical timepieces--think thick leather cuffs, eye-catching adornments and totally unnecessary baubles. (We, of course, love unnecessary baubles.)
Each piece will range between $350 and $1,200, and while you won't find any in the stores for the holidays (boo hoo), a retail launch will take place in Spring 2008.
Make sure you're on time for that one.

November 5, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (2)

Phyllis Diller, meet the hipsters

Paper, the New York style magazine, is taking up residence in Los Angeles for its annual five-day cultural marathon this week. And this time around they are looking to the past for inspiration, with co-editor and founder Kim Hastreiter (the subject of a lengthy New Yorker profile not so long ago) bringing veteran comedienne Phyllis Diller into the fray.
Diller will show a number of her own paintings at Paper's "Cultural Storefront", a Barbara Bestor-designed gallery space on 233 S. La Brea Ave, on Wednesday November 7 from 5p.m. to 8p.m. The show will also feature polaroids taken by local eccentric Henny Garfunkel. Both Diller and Garfunkel will be on site.
Other Paper events in L.A. this week include a Michael Jackson dance off co-hosted by Parisian ultra-boutique Collette, with dance floor tuition given by fashion designer Jeremy Scott. This is not a joke. And for the marginally less energetic, there's a backyard party at the Venice atelier of furniture and ceramics designer Elizabeth Paige Smith. Unlike the Phyllis Diller art show, neither of the latter two events are open to the public. So if you have strings, we suggest you pull them.
For more information visit www.papermag.com.
(Photo: WireImage/CohenArchv)

November 5, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (0)

November 1, 2007

Rachel Zoe book signing at Kitson

Size zero stylist Rachel Zoe will be signing copies of her book "Style A to Zoe" at her spiritual home Kitson (where else?) on Saturday. Bouncing back from her messy Nicole Ritchie breakup, Zoe has collaborated with former WWD West Coast editor Rose Apodaca to write the tome, which contains contributions from Diane Von Furstenberg and Michael Kors, among others. Apodaca's sister Bianca provided the illiustrations. "It's her first book and is selling incredibly well," Zoe's rep told us. "Kitson seems to be the right place to be holding this signing. It is her crowd."
She'll be holding court at the store (115 S. Robertson Blvd.) from 12 – 2pm. We wonder if Zoe will find time to pop in to Rose Apodaca's second A+R design store, opening in Venice on Friday? 

November 1, 2007 in HAPPENINGS | Permalink | Comments (2)

Costume Ball

Celebrities got into the Halloween spirit last night. Over at the Hollywood hotspot Green Door, Heidi Klum hit the cat walk