I worked the red carpet like no one’s business, but I still have to sort through all my pics and recorded interviews - so I will have those up for you later. But there is one bit of red carpet fodder that I must share with you right now - the best dressed of the evening goes to the The L-Word star Jennifer Beals in this gorgeously color graded Badgley Mischka slinky gown. I just could not stop gushing about this dress:
Photos by Dino-Ray Ramos
And no, she was not wearing a pair of leg warmers underneath nor did she perform a routine to “What a Feeling.”
Highlights of the evening:
A fierce dance routine by ceremony host Candis Cayne of Dirty Sexy Money…
William Baldwin’s (also from Dirty Sexy Money) surprisingly good role as a charismatic live auctioneer - and I’m serious about that. He was really working the crowd…
GLAAD President, Neil G. Giuliano and his flawlessly articulate storytelling abilities…
Alan Cumming’s accent…
Sharon Stone’s acceptance speech…
The trailblazing wonder that is David Mixner and Judith Light’s unbelievable verbal praise she gave him…
Mayor Gavin Newsom giving Theater Rhinoceros executive director, John Fisher a playful kiss on the cheek…
The fact that I inhaled my dinner in less than five minutes…
…I’m sure there are more moments, but I will tell you those as I remember them. Meanwhile, enjoy a list of this year’s honorees:
Golden Gate Award: Focus Features CEO, James Schamus
Pioneer Award: David Mixner
Vanguard Award: Sharon Stone
Davidson/Valentini Award: Ilene Chaiken
Outstanding Television, Movie, Mini-Series or Anthology: “The DL Chronicles”
Outstanding Talk Show Episode: “Born in the Wrong Body” The Oprah Winfrey Show
Outstanding Magazine Overall Coverage: The Advocate
Outstanding Advertising - Electronic: “Change” Levis
At every fall Fashion Week they show The Heart Truth’s Red Dress Collection. The “Heart Truth” is an anti-heart disease campaign that is showing for the fifth time at the tents in Bryant Park. Each year, the show draws celebrity participants - and this year wasn’t any different.
The show was introduced by first lady Laura Bush and set to an appropriate red carpet theme with faux paparazzi snapping photos of them at the beginning of the runway.
That said, instead of critiquing the garments let’s just enjoy this red festival of designer dresses for philanthropy.
All photos courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Veteran supermodel and “Project Runway” host, Heidi Klum rocks this little red number by Marc Jacobs
“Juno” actress Allison Janney chose to float down the red carpet runway in this halter Donna Karan gown
Since Jenna Fischer hasn’t been answering phones as Pam in the offices of Dunder Mifflin (please bring the show back!) she had time to look beautiful in Carmen Marc Valvo
“Ugly Betty” actress Ana Ortiz struts down the runway in this strapless tiered Badgley Mischka dress
“Waitress” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” actress Cheryl Hines floats down the runway in this bubblicious gown by Catherine Malandrino
Sara Ramirez sports her sexy curves in Angel Sanchez
R&B diva/actress Ashanti is sassy in this little red dress by Tracy Reese
Brit soulstress Joss Stone spills into a gorgeous gown by Max Azria Atelier
Lisa Rinna shimmies and shakes in this flapper-esque dress by Michael Kors
Berkeley native Rita Moreno danced down the red runway in a garment by another Bay area native: San Francisco’s own Lily Samii
Liza Minelli ended the show with a rendition of “New York, New York” in a beaded pant suit. Like I said, I am not going to make ANY comments.
Time for a group photo! Mistress of Ceremonies Laura Bush opted for a cream-colored Oscar de la Renta suit - I guess she didn’t get the memo.
You probably figured out that I have been back from NYC. Actually, I have been back for a couple days. I just haven’t been able to keep up with all the stuff I have to blog about because there’s so much - especially with the downpour of celebrities (ranging from A to D list) I saw while was there…
Are you tired of my blogging about Fashion Week? Don’t worry, I’ll get back to the random Dressed items that are usually on here in a couple of days - so please bear with me!
Of course, you read about my celeb sightings at the Miss Sixty, but that was only the tip of the iceberg!
I saw many celebs at the Badgley Mischka show, but there was one that I really wanted to see: former boy band star of Nsync, JC Chasez. If I saw him, I would’ve performed my rendition of “Tearin’ Up My Heart” for him.
Photo credit: Getty
Speaking of boy bands, while I was waiting in line for the Buckler show. There was this boy standing in line that looked so familiar and I couldn’t quite remember him. Then like a bolt of lighting it hit me - it was Ashley Parker Angel from O-town. Remember? It was that boy band group created on MTV’s “Making the Band” when boy bands were at its apex!
Don’t remember him? Well maybe this will help. He’s the very first one who sings about his “Liquid Dream”…
Ashley is to O-town as Justin is to Nsync - except a lot lower on the boy band totem pole.
But Ashley is doing well for himself. He’s starring in Hairspray on Broadway and he cleans up nicely:
Isn’t he pretty?
I wish I would’ve take a picture and sang a couple of lyrics from “Liquid Dream” with him.
At Max Azria glimmering beauties like Ivanka Trump, R&B diva Ciaraand American Idol Carrie Underwood (who I also saw getting off the elevator at the Bryant Park Hotel) lit up the rows of the runway and I thinkNicole Richie was there. Maybe she faded into the background because she was so skinny - but isn’t she pregnant?
Nicole hides her baby bump behind Max Azria’s scarf
Ivanka Trump is gorgeously sleek in white
Ciara glams her “Goodies” up
Carrie Underwood may be a country girl, but she looks unbelievably cosmopolitan in this chocolaty dress
All photos by Getty
The Tracy Reese show also had it’s fair share of celebs…
Model Veronica Webb, designer Tracy Reese and soul diva Deborah Cox
Look! There’s star Star Jones. Exciting right?
I would love to see Julie Newmar in her old Catwoman outfit…
What better person to have in your audience for a fashion show than Ivana Trump:
Other folks who like a hearty helping of Badgley Mischka were:
Actress Alison Janney
Emmy “always a classy lady” Rossum
Badgley Mischka cover girl Teri Hatcher
And now for the show…
Photo credit: IMAXTREE
The perfect hybrid masculine and feminine Mark Badgley and James Mischka continue illustrating downplayed glamour with a collection of coats, dresses and trousers that range has femininity encasing touches of masculine tailoring.
Who is this woman? This woman is the type who is confident enough to yell at her CEO, yet sexy to seduce him as well - but she never uses her femininity as a weapon. She can bake cupcakes and then draft a business plan for a successful fortune 500 company. She knows style. She knows her body. She knows how to work what she has.
Color palette Neutrals and blacks act as a canvas to lemons, violets and blush.
There were a couple of things I loved…The airy and breezy movement of a violet, white and chiffon gown made me swoon, while a powerful Grecian gown of chiffon purity graced its way down the runway. Even the first look grabbed my attention - the white raffia jacket with the black washed shantung trousers were, like many of the looks, ready to wear right off the runway.
More things I loved… A indigo denim jacket paired with a chocolate and black silk twill camisole was a poofy delight. AND I loved all the high-waisted trousers; not to mention the birch shantung jumpsuit - it was very reminiscent of Katharine Hepburn.
Some things that I didn’t love… Besides the unnecessary blaring music, there was this black rayon tapeknit sweater worn over a string bikini - it looked like retirement home macrame project. There was this black/nude tulle gown that I would’ve liked, but the model didn’t sell it to me.
Ready for the red carpet: Two gowns caught my eye that would be PERFECT for one of those glorious events where the red carpet means more than the actual awards show…both were white: one a white cellophane & chiffon gown, the other an eyelash-print chiffon gown. Simply heavenly.
So The Invasion comes out this weekend. I just saw it and can I just say that this is how the world would be if everyone stuck to a monochromatic color palette - they would have glassy eyes, lack emotion and vomit on each other every now and then.
I know I am totally behind on this, but I just now jumped on the whole StyleMob.com bandwagon. It’s a site where you can rate how stylish people are and more. It’s kind of like that site, HotorNot.com, except less trashy.
Speaking of obsessions, a good substitute to fill my Project Runway void has been The Fashionista Diaries on Soap Net. It’s a reality show (what else would it be?) about six young fashion mavens working in three aspects of the industry that doesn’t involve actual design: beauty, journalism and PR. I am already hooked and jealous at the same time - why do these kids get to be all fabulous in NY? Why can’t it be me? WHY?! WHY?! Ok. I’m not bitter or anything.
First the Backstreet Boys make a comeback, now the Spice Girls are floating to the top of pop culture with their greatest hits album and their exclusive tour! This is so 1997! Check out their swanky bejeweled CD cover.
So is anyone else excited as much as me to see those bubbly gallivanting tweens and teens in High School Musical 2?….Anyone? Anyone? Am I the only one who will be watching it over and over again to learn the dance routines? Anyone? Anyone? And finally, does anyone else think that Zac Efron is REALLY tan…I mean, REALLY TAN.
Desperate housewife, Teri Hatcher is makin’ it hot as the new face of Badgley Mischka. She ain’t lookin’ like no housewife to me:
Speaking of cover girls, Suri Cruise has been contracted to be the poster child for Baby Gap later this year. Ain’t that cute? She’ll be making more money than me in NO TIME!
She’s spicy! She has an equally hot husband! She’s a mother! She says “MAYJAH!” a lot! Now, she writes! In her new book, That Extra Half an Inch: Hair, Heels and Everything in Between, Victoria Beckham gives some fashion advice. For instance, she will tell you how to NOT smile every time you pose for the camera and she will also tell you why you will never be as fabulous as she is.
Remember when there were really fun and happy hip-hop songs like this? It seemed so long ago…
One of my other reality show obsessions has come to an end - So You Think You Can Dance announced the winner on Thursday night and it, unfortunately wasn’t me, but it was one of my faves of the show: Sabra Johnson! She hip-hopped, jazzed, paso doble’d and contemporary danced her way to win the most prestigious titles in the WORLD! Ok…not really, but from the moment I saw her fancy fro, I knew she would win! And might I say…I was one of the first fans to ask her to be my friend on MySpace. Congrats Sabra!
The Kitson boutique in Beverly Hills had a moment of rumbling chaos this past Thursday - no, it wasn’t an earthquake - it was something better (or worse, depending how you look at it) Paris Hilton launched her new clothing line! It was reported that customers started to riot, mountains started to crumble, the seas boiled and even the four horsemen of the apocalypse started to get irritated because they could snag a pair of her new jeans.
Ummm…Amanda Bynes launched her clothing line, Dear the other day. It’s cute and all, but does she think she’s a fashion icon? If so, someone lied to her.
Oh dear me..the Fort Mason center in San Francisco will be busting at the seams come March 15. Fashion Week Live! announced even more designers and models that will make an appearance on the runway in addition the the ones posted here.
Adam + Eve
Alexandre Herchcovitch
Anne Klein
Badgley Mischka
David Chu
Heatherette
John Bartlett
John Varvatos
Jovovich Hawk
Naeem Khan
Nicole Miller
Tracy Reese
Tuleh
It’s official – with all of the Grammys she snagged last night, Mary J. Blige is the queen of R & B. I am so in love with her – and she shimmered in this Michael Kors gown cinched with a elegantly sporty wide belt – and I think the tattoos give her that “Blige” attitude that we have all grown to love.
Ok, I’ll be honest. I do not like Christina Ricci as an actress – but I hope her upcoming film Black Snake Moan will change all that. She did, however, garner extra points with me last night. I absolutely ADORE this gown she wore on the red carpet. The print is whimsically appropriate and the draping train flatters her petite figure. Well done Wednesday Addams.
Soft-spoken songstress, Corrine Bailey Rae showed up in a simple strapless dress – shimmering with all the angelic pleasure associated with her voice.
I swear, if I hear that song, “The Hips Don’t Lie” one more time – I am going to bore my eyes out – but if I did that, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy this lovely Carolina Herrera gown that Shakira wore as she belly danced her way down the red carpet.
Pink wore this keyhole number by Herve Leger. I like the dress, but her little faux-hawk thing murders the femininity of the entire look. It looks like she’s about to kick some ass in this dress – but I guess if she’s going for that tough femme look – then it works. And if Pink is actually reading this – please, don’t beat me up for criticizing your dress.
Wow. There’s finally another American Idol who has won a Grammy – but Kelly is still my favorite. Nonetheless, Carrie Underwood was an absolute knockout in this nude-colored Badgley Mischka. It doesn’t matter that I don’t know a single song by her (except for that rendition of Heart’s “Alone” she did whilst in A.I. competition – I have that on repeat on my iPod) – all that matters is that she looked SO sexy in this gown.
Yeah, yeah, yeah…you bought sexy back – big deal. I really liked the song the first time I heard it. Then the second time I was still bobbing my head – then by the hundredth time, it sounded like a droning synthesizer demo of a wannabe Prince track – but I digress. Despite my scathing commentary on the overplayed SexyBack, I like Justin Timberlake’s cleaned up sleek, Euro, “I am a serious artist” look – but I am growing tired of the whole vest trend (even though I have a couple). This gray Prada suit is something I would definitely steal from J.T. if I were his personal assistant.
Ummm. Ok. This is like some freaky “Eyes Wide Shut” kind of fashion. I would like personally thank OK Go for giving me nightmare material.
Ooooh girl! Mandy Moore be lookin’ a little rough! She ,may look like she just rolled out of bed, but the dress, despite some Mrs. Roper qualities, is fairly decent.
It’s rare that I see gentleman standout on the red carpet. When they do, I get really excited because it’s really appreciative when these male celebrities look like they put thought into their wardrobe - Ludacris being one of them. He looks positively dashing in this three-piece Yves Saint Laurent suit. I especially like the wide-leg trouser, which are wide, but not too wide. The splash of color via the pocket square and tie is a great way to change the male red carpet color palette of black and white.
I love the music of Imogen Heap- but there is no excuse for this crack-induced Mary Poppins get up she wore on the red carpet. None at all.
Ciara looked really adorable in this Roberto Cavalli baby doll dress – and when I say adorable, I don’t mean it in a “gag-inducing girly” kind of way – I’m saying it within in the context of “youthful, elegant and fresh” – and those shoes! Those are definitely a pair of “GOODIES.”
And the winner for look of the evening is…Christina Aguilera! Ever since she traded in her buttless chaps for vamping Hollywood glam gowns, she has impressed me over and over again. She has truly transcended the boundaries of a popstar and is nothing but BEAUTIFUL in this Ungaro gown. Even so, her new look has gotten me a little bit scared. For her next image metamorphosis, will she do another 180 and go back to her “dirrrty” ways? One can only guess. But whatever - I am an Xtina-ite till the day I die.
Because there are so many collections for fashion week and because I am so overwhelmed to the point of couture spasms, here is a rundown of some collections in lighting round form:
And as always, all photos are courtesy of NYMag.com and click on the pictures to view the full collections:
Sexy anal retentive art professor at an Ivy League university who everyone loves to hate; but at night she turns into a man-killing diva whose prey of choice are unassuming Wall Street millionaires.
A group of Parisian free-spirited college students on autumn holiday in America – but don’t let their goody-goody, preppy demeanor fool you. They are party animals that come home at 7 in the morning sloshed out of their minds.
Refugee glamazons – a group of ladies that are escaping the dangerous world of commercialized fashion and acrylic fabrics. They loathe outlet malls, high-end discount stores, warm weather and would die if they were caught in clothing that is more than one season old.
A group of Generation X’ers that are transported to the year 2055, where Yohji Yamamoto is the only designer in existence and the only way to make a living (and to get decent clothing) is to compete in a deadly game of high-impact speedball, a game involving a spiked bowling ball, electromagnetic hockey goals and, of course, robotic panthers.
A group of women who worship the mod era decide to alter and transform their Chinese restaurant uniform and use it as battle gear to overthrow their manager, a powerful tyrant of a Chinese food empire.
A “Polly Anna” type that has just moved to New York City in search for a new career in architecture. She has done a complete 180 in her life and has chosen severe cut garments with strong dominant features, but she still knows how to dress like a girl without compromising her femininity.
