SAG Fashion Report: Stars Shine In Strapless, Metallic

Hollywood's stylish stars got right back to their red carpet routines Sunday night, even if they'd been a bit out of practice. Glamorous gowns — especially strapless and metallic ones — dominated the fashion show that preceded the Screen Actor Guild awards.

Debra Messing literally sparkled in a beaded bronze Oscar de la Renta gown with a jeweled halter neck, and Teri Hatcher wore an oyster-colored Badgley Mischka gown with antique crystal embroidery.

Christina Applegate wore a glittering, V-neck dress covered in silver sequins by Elie Saab. "We don't know if we get to wear our dresses anywhere else," she said, referring to the writers strike that has shut down most award shows.

The Golden Globes red carpet was a victim of the strike earlier this month, so the SAGs, which normally are a less publicized event, received lots of attention and actresses pulled out dresses by top-tier designers.

"In times of doldrums, bring on the glitz," said Tom Julian, the fashion analyst for Oscar.com.

Cate Blanchett embraced her pregnant figure in a navy strapless gown by Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga, and Ellen Pompeo said she picked her sculpted silver gown by Nina Ricci from an issue of Vogue magazine.

But there also were some new fashion names making an impression on the carpet, including Juliana Cairone, who dressed Angelina Jolie. The loose shape of Jolie's mahogany-colored gown with an abstract version of the Hermes horse print from Cairone's one-of-a-kind Rare Vintage collection was sure to fuel talk that the star is pregnant again.

Angel Sanchez put Sara Ramirez in a purple strapless gown with a train. "I like the way the light bounces off the material. I've never really worn purple before except for the Emmys last year," Ramirez said.

Vanessa Williams told E! that her oldest daughter picked her bright yellow Escada gown with a black waistband, and Kate Beckinsale said she wore a tiered strapless gown in buttercup yellow to bring a little sunshine to a particularly dreary day in Los Angeles.

Rebecca Gayheart wore a bold red strapless gown by Marchesa that was made more delicate with tulle around the bustline. Sandra Oh wore a couture version of a traditional Korean dress that featured a hot pink bow as the bodice and a black ballskirt.

In the blue camp were Nikki Blonsky and Marcia Cross, who wore a turquoise gown with a floral jewel at the bustline. She took no credit for her striking look: "I just wear what my stylist tells me and walk out the door."

Jamie Lynn Sigler gave a preview of a hot spring style: colorblocking. She paired a cream-colored body suit with a bright blue skirt by Calvin Klein.

Jane Krakowski took a risk in a green Catherine Malandrino gown with a halter neckline decorated in chunky green and yellow beads. The jury is still out on the look.

Classic black dresses had their fans, too, with Nicolette Sheridan in Marchesa representing the trend particularly well. Ellen Page, 20, looked lovely and age-appropriate in a black cocktail-length dress by Zac Posen with a cowl neck. Tina Fey also went with a shorter length in a one-shoulder dress by Alberta Ferretti.

Leading the simple and stunning category were Kyra Sedgwick, in a strapless electric blue dress by L'Wren Scott, and Michelle Pfeiffer in form-fitting bronze dress.

Marion Cotillard was among the many in shades of gray. Her Nina Ricci gown had a corset-style bodice, while America Ferrera chose a darker gray Monique Lhuillier dress with delicate lace covering one shoulder.

Most of the actresses took the weather into consideration in planning their hairstyles, with many favoring loose looks that wouldn't be as affected by a little drizzle.

Harry Josh, the creative consultant for John Frieda and Pompeo's hairstylist, said she wanted to be more hip than old Hollywood.

"She wanted it to be cool and runway," Josh said of her messy side bun, "but the weather was an issue."

Eva Longoria went the opposite route, conjuring up a sexy retro look in beaded Naeem Khan dress with a cowl front and deeper cowl back that she complemented with a curly updo.

A trend that carried through the night were statement earrings, including Hatcher's darkened diamond flower earrings by Neil Lane and Blanchett's natural jade and diamond drop earrings.

Ryan Gosling might have worn the accessory that most will remember, though: a black ribbon on his lapel that he said was to honor the memory of fellow actor Heath Ledger, who was found dead last week in New York.

'Caramel' takes a sweet journey

  Love in Lebanon:  Nadine Labaki directs.
Caramel is a sweeter and more believable version of Steel Magnolias, Middle Eastern style.

The story revolves around five women, from their 20s to their 60s, who meet regularly in a Beirut beauty salon. A few work there, others are patrons. While they confide in one another, each has private moments only the audience is privy to. Foreign chick-flicks are rare animals, and this one works better than many of the more predictable American movies, largely because of its realistic characters and fascinating cultural backdrop. The secrets and obsessions of these women come off far more divinely than those of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Each of the women is in search of fulfillment, though their quests manifest themselves in a variety of ways.

Cultural rites and societal expectations clash with personal desires and a nascent sense of rebellion. But, interestingly, no mention is made of the violence that has ravaged the country. While the interconnected sagas of these Lebanese women are involving, some are more compelling than others, and a few are not sufficiently developed.

Perhaps the most poignant story focuses on the last chance for love for a seamstress (Sihame Haddad) caught up in daily struggles with her mother, who is suffering from dementia. And the travails of the thirtysomething character (director Nadine Labaki) and the love she finds with a shy police officer are filled with yearning.

The title refers to a hair removal process that uses sugar, which, when warmed, becomes caramel. The honeyed tones of the sugar as it's applied on the skin are an intriguing framing device.

(source:usatoday)

'Hannah Montana' Movie: How Huge?




Hey, it's Super Bowl weekend, sports fans! So who ya got in the big game, the Pats or Big Blue? Me? I'm going with my man Tom Brady. You know, we University of Michigan alumni with super-hot girlfriends need to stick together.

Oh, and speaking of predictions, who ya got in the box office race? Me? Erm, tough one this week. Why? Well, it is Super Bowl weekend, which means that many regular filmgoers will be staying home and watching football and all related TV shenanigans. (To be sure, if the Super Bowl were a movie that people bought tickets to watch, it would gross — get this, I'm not making this up — approximately $600 million this weekend. Seriously, that's how big it is.) Film studios, therefore, have had to get creative how they program opposite an event that pulls so many people away. In years past, horror movies have worked well on this weekend — scary movies have been No. 1 for three years running — and that's why The Eye should do nicely. But there is a major upset in the offing: The Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus concert film is poised to steal the whole thing. Sure, that would be an impressive turn of events somewhat akin to the Giants beating the Patriots, but I think it's going to happen.

Anyway, I'll make my picks below, but I invite you to head over to EW.com's Box Office Poll to cast your vote for the film that you think will score the most touchdowns at the multiplex.

THE (LIKELY) TOP FIVE

Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert

Walt Disney · G · 683 theaters · NEW

I've been agonizing over my choice here for days, and have decided to go with my gut: It may have one of the most ridiculous titles in the history of cinema, but this tween-oriented concert flick, featuring one of the most popular entertainers around, will take the trophy. Truly, I can't think of a demographic less interested in the Super Bowl than young girls, so that's a definite plus. But even if we weren't talking about it as pure counter-programming, HM&MC:BOBWC would be a formidable film. It's showing in 3-D. It's playing for a single week only. It comes with a huge, I mean humongous, fan base. For about a gazillion young ladies out there, this is the real Super Bowl. So how well will it do? That's where this call gets even tougher to make. For one thing, some $18 mil in tickets for the film were pre-sold. What's more, while the movie is playing in only 683 locations, you'd have to imagine that it's the kind of phenomenon that will earn more than $30,000 per theater. (A comparable situation was when Borat opened to an average of $31,607 in 837 venues.) And from there, it's mere math.

Weekend prediction: $24 million

The Eye

Lionsgate · PG-13 · 2,436 theaters · NEW

Consider this a do-over for Jessica Alba, whose previous horror release, Awake, tanked two months ago, debuting with just $5.9 mil. The Eye has a better pedigree — it's based on the 2002 Hong Kong horror hit about a blind woman who regains her sight and starts seeing scary things — and it's opening on Super Bowl weekend, which, as I mentioned before, has been very good to fright flicks. Last year at this time, The Messengers bowed to $14.7 mil. The year before, When a Stranger Calls banked $21.6 mil. The year before that, Boogeyman brought in $19 mil. I know, I know, who even remembers any of these movies? But still, you get my point.

Weekend prediction: $14 million

Rambo

Lionsgate · R · 2,764 theaters · 2nd weekend

Sly Stallone's sequel, which almost won its first weekend, has been holding strong during the middle of the week, earning more than a million bucks per day. In fact, it's a minor hit so far, with more than $22 mil in its pocket. All of which is good news for me, because the success of Rambo and all those other recently resurrected action franchises — Rocky, Die Hard, etc. — means that I can still hold onto a thin slice of hope that they're going to make a sequel to the Greatest Movie of All Time, Top Gun.

Weekend prediction: $9 million

Meet the Spartans

Fox · PG-13 · 2,643 theaters · 2nd weekend

This spoof has barely been out for a week and already it ranks high (or, I guess, low) on the IMDb's poll of the worst movies of all time. Ouch! Not that that'll deter people from going to see it, of course.

Weekend prediction: $8 million

Over Her Dead Body

New Line · PG-13 · 1,977 theaters · NEW

Here we have a high-concept rom-com about a woman (Eva Longoria — sorry, Eva Longoria Parker) who dies on her wedding day and then haunts the new psychic girlfriend (Lake Bell) of her former husband-to-be (Paul Rudd). Uh...FUN!

Weekend prediction: $7 million

THE OTHER NEW RELEASE

Strange Wilderness

Paramount · R · 1,208 theaters · NEW

This raucous comedy about a ratings-strapped nature program is from Adam Sandler's Happy Madison Productions and has quite a cast — Steve Zahn, Jonah Hill, Justin Long, Jeff Garlin, Robert Patrick, Harry Hamlin, and, yes, 91-year-old Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine. So why does Paramount appear to be kinda burying it?

(source:ew.com)


TFI's 2008 New Labels Fashion Design Competition semi-finalists

Toronto Fashion Incubator New Labels CompetitionIt's that time of year again, where we get to see Canada's
It's that time of year again, where we get to see Canada's newest design talent competing in the Toronto Fashion Incubator's 2008 New Labels Fashion Design Competition. The semi-finalists have been announced and six designers will go head to head to win at $25,000 prize package from ELLE Canada. This years contest has brought talent from across the country and half the contestants are based outside of Toronto.

Adrienne Butikofer (Toronto) is known for her quirky Caninja winter accessory that can be found at Magic Pony. Adrienne has been producing accessories since 2003. I haven't seen much of her clothing and I'm eagerly anticipating its debut.

Krista Ozolins (Toronto) started Plush in 2006 and currently has a small line of that has focused on cute wool coats. It will be interesting to see her design influence on other garments.

Lara Presber (Calgary) was a finalist in last years New Labels competition. She is an Architect and you can see the structured influence in her clothes. It will be interesting one to watch, will she have an edge because of last year.

Oriol Swaan (Saskatoon) is a complete unknown to me and the all mighty Internet didn't provide many details either. This is a wildcard. Who knows what to expect.

I'm familiar with Ashley Rowe (Toronto) because I blogged about her spring 2008 collection on I want - I got. She has extensive experience with the business side of the industry. The spring 2008 collection is the debut for the newly started Miss Rowe line. I'm biased a little, but she is my fav so far.

Eugenia Leavitt (Montreal) studied Fine Art and Fashion design. She started her label Eugenia Designs in 2005. I felt her spring 2007 collection showed off her Fine Art background better than her fall 2007. I hope she brings that artistic flavour back for fall 2008.

TFI's 2008 New Labels Fashion Design Competition will be held on April 24, 2008 at the Direct Energy Centre. I'm looking forward to the new venue as I didn't like the runway presentation at The Carlu last year.

Fashion Bites: January 28 - February 4, 2008

20080128_Christobel.jpg

Welcome to Fashion Bites, a weekly roundup of fashion news in Toronto.

Toronto bloggers Henna Singh of Canadian Beauty and Danielle Meder of Final Fashion will be hitting up the tents at Bryant Park next week for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NYC. I'm extremely jealous that I can't attend this season, but am looking forward to reading all about their adventures at what is one of the largest fashion week events in the world.

Two Toronto boys, Arthur Mendonça and Jeremy Laing, will be showing their Fall 2008 collections at this year's event. It will be Arthur's first time in NYC. Check Final Fashion for updates, as Danielle has invites to both shows. Good luck to both of Arthur and Jeremy -- I'm excited to see your latest collections.


Chrys Ioannau Designs has just opened an online Etsy shop. Her jewelry prices are equal or better to the ones found at her home sales. Inventory is updated daily.

Innovator Lida Baday created a brilliant all-season coat for the homeless. Newspapers can be stuffed into pockets in the jacket for insulation.

The Star catches up with Kendra Francis, designer and former Project Runway Canada contestant.

Cosmo TV is coming to Canada in February. We have Corus Entertainment to thank for it, though the channel is currently only available to Bell ExpressVu subscribers.

The TFI members' meeting will take place on Feb 4, 2008, at GOSSIP Restaurant (50 Prince Edward Island Cres., Exhibition Place). Members are required to RSVP via phone or email.

L.C.'s Birthday Suit -- Oh So Close

Lauren Conrad -- and her dress -- needed a little help staying up after a night of partying for her 22nd birthday.

LC

Carnival marks 42nd plastic surgery for Brazilian model



BEIJING, Jan. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- To get ready for dancing nearly nude at the head of a 300-person drum corps during Rio de Janeiro's five-day Carnival blowout in February, Brazilian model Angela Bismarchi is having her 42nd cosmetic surgery — closing in on the Guinness World Record of 47 surgical procedures held by 52-year-old American Cindy Jackson.

"I always was vain,” Bismarchi, 36, acknowledges at the medical clinic near Rio where her plastic surgeon husband has operated on her 10 times. "And for carnival, you have to feel especially pretty. I consider myself quite timid. I'm just a little girl grown big."

Just days before Brazil's Feb. 2 to 6 carnival begins, Bismarchi will have nylon wires implanted in her eyes to give them an Asian slant, in line with this year's theme of her samba group, Porto da Pedra: the centennial of Japanese immigration to Brazil.

Bismarchi's passion for plastic surgery has made her a celebrity in this image-mad country, where even the poor get surgical enhancements on the installment plan. Brazilians see no shame in touching up their bodies, which are routinely exposed at carnival and flaunted on the beach in thong bikinis so tiny they're called "dental floss."

Born poor in Rio, Bismarchi had her first cosmetic surgery in 1992 after her daughter was born. She was just 21, but said she was depressed after nursing caused her breasts to sag. So she had them lifted, adored the results, and became so fascinated with cosmetic surgery that her next two husbands were plastic surgeons.

"I put in a prosthesis and loved it. I was beautiful and sensual again," Bismarchi said, a striking figure at 6 feet — taller in white high heels — with long blond hair flowing over her white minidress.

She first made headlines in 2000, when police tried to arrest her after she paraded partly nude with the Brazilian flag painted on her body.

A wardrobe malfunction at last year's carnival put Bismarchi back in the news — when her G-string broke and dangled from her waist, Porto da Pedra was threatened with a penalty for total nudity, forbidden under parade rules. But the resourceful Bismarchi hid from the judges behind the drum section, changed her tiny "sex cover" and finished the parade.

Today, Bismarchi promotes an exclusive line of sexy lingerie, gives beauty tips and responds to the 500 to 700 letters and e-mails she receives each day. To care for her famous figure, she does two and a half hours of exercise daily, takes dance lessons and spends hours tanning on the beach.

(Agencies)



Madrid Pasarela Cibeles fashion show

A model displays an outfit by designer Amai Rodriguez during The EGO of Pasarela Cibeles fashion show in Madrid Jan. 31, 2008.


A model displays an outfit by designers La Casita de Wendy HAPPY during The EGO of Pasarela Cibeles fashion show in Madrid Jan. 31, 2008.

A model displays an outfit by designers La Casita de Wendy HAPPY during The EGO of Pasarela Cibeles fashion show in Madrid Jan. 31, 2008.


A model displays an outfit by designer Menchu Mora during The EGO of Pasarela Cibeles fashion show in Madrid Jan. 31, 2008.


A model displays an outfit by designer Amai Rodriguez during The EGO of Pasarela Cibeles fashion show in Madrid Jan. 31, 2008.

"Most desirable woman" -- Katherine Heigl

"Grey's Anatomy" star Katherine Heigl recently posed for Vanity Fair.

BEIJING, Feb. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- "Grey's Anatomy" star Katherine Heigl is named the "most desirable woman of 2008" by AskMen.com, the lifestyle Web site, media reported Friday.

Heigl, 29, won a supporting actress Emmy, U.S. television's highest honor, for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on hospital drama "Grey's Anatomy," and was nominated for two Golden Globe awards for the same show.

The site, which boasts seven million readers a month, said it polls users annually for a list of 99 women who best embody the qualities of an ideal girlfriend or wife.

Heigl also starred in last year's hit comedy movie "Knocked Up" and currently is in theaters with romance "27 Dresses," playing a woman who is always a bridesmaid but never a bride until she finally finds love.

Rounding out the top 10, in the following order are:

2. Alessandra Ambrosio

3. Kate Beckinsale

4. Eva Mendes

5. Jessica Alba

6. Scarlett Johansson

7. Jessica Biel

8. Rihanna

9. Marisa Miller

10. Adriana Lima

(Agencies)

Alesha Dixon stages comeback with dazzling new video

Alesha Dixon has just film a new video clip for a remix version of her single" 4 U I Will."

BEIJING, Feb. 1 -- Alesha Dixon danced her way back into the spotlight last year after winning Strictly Come Dancing, now she's preparing to relaunch her singing career.

The star has just shot a glamorous film clip for a remix version of her single "4 U I Will," as part of a new campaign for the latest Ford Focus.

She appeared right at home on the Essex set, where she showed off a series of dramatic sparkling gowns.

It is, after all, familiar territory for the 29-year-old, who had her first taste of musical fame as part of the garage/R&B girl band Mis-Teeq.

They released two successful albums - Lickin' On Both Sides in 2001 and Eye Candy in 2003 - and had several hit singles, including Scandalous and Can't Get It Back.

The band broke up in March 2005 and Dixon married Harvey three months later but filed for divorce this year after he admitted an affair with Javine Hylton - his co-star in the West End musical Daddy Cool.

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn/Agencies)

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