Styles & Scenes

Who showed at the LA shows?

Why was Mischa Barton at the the Bebe Spring 2007 runway show at  Smashbox? And why was she smiling?

Because she's currently the face of the U.S. fashion label, that's why. So basically, she's gotta be there, wearing a Bebe B/W silk dress.

In fact, if Keds has a runway show, she'll be there too.  She also appears in their ads.

But other than  Miss Mischa, there were very few (okay, none) of the young  actresses featured in fashion magazines as cutting-edge trend-setters at the Mercedes-Benz Spring '07 Fashion Week at Smashbox Studios. No Nicole Richie. No Mary-Kate and Ashley. No Kate Bosworth. No Scarlett Johansson. No Kirsten Dunst. No Charlize Theron, who attended last year.

And there was certainly no one shopping for an Awards Season '07 wardrobe.

Rock and Republic's show at Area, unlike last year's event which featured Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders and a real runway show (not just video of their NY event) and stars like Posh Spice and Katie Holmes, didn't even attract the promised guests like Paris and Nicky Hilton.

But it did draw Nick Cannon, Frankie Muniz, Kelly Hu, Jeremy Piven, Eric Benet, Brittany Snow, Dominique Swain, Jonathan Silverman, Elisha Cuthbert, and Paris’s party pal Kim Kardashian.

Paris, Nicky, Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz, and Eddie Murphy did turn up at Social Hollywood for the William Rast show and party. Justin, JC Chasez, Lance Bass, Maroon 5’s Adam Levine and will.i.am from the Black-Eyed Peas even performed for the packed house. It was so hot, fire marshalls even closed it down. Woo-hoo! Good times.

The Dressed to Kilt show on Saturday boasted Patricia Arquette, Thomas Jane, Linda Hamilton, Natasha Henstridge, and Kimberley Stewart. Sofia Milos was one of Sue Wong’s front row faces on Sunday night. Louis Verdad's overcrowded show also drew Alexis Bledel, Randy Jackson, and Garcelle Beauvais. Diana Ross turned up at Meghan’s collection and Angela Bassett was watching Dina Bar-El’s show.  And Daniella Clarke’s Frankie B runway show was watched by… Taryn Manning.

Kevin Hall's Thursday night show was attended by Joely Fisher, Milos and the Oscar-nominated "Sideways" babe, Virginia Madsen and Sinbad.

Sinbad?

Photo Credit: Mischa models Bebe. Why? Because she has a darn good contract with the company, that's why.
Amy Graves/WireImage

Jennifer Lopez gets miniaturized at the WIF awards

Producer Lauren Schuler Donner had a few words of wisdom for the gals at Women In Film's 2006 Cyrstal and Lucy Awards. Don't be bitter!

“Carrie Fisher once told me that resentment is like drinking a poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

Darn good advice. Not sure who gave the producer ("Constantine," "Bulworth," "Free Willy," "You've Got Mail") the slapstick notion to knock her glass award off the podium, but it was definitely a high point of the evening. "Superman Returns" producer/director Bryan Singer picked up the shattered pieces and Schuler Donner's very human nervousness got empathetic chuckles.

Other winners – song writer Diane Warren, cinematographer Maryse Alberti, Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis, Maria Bello and Jennifer Lopez – also won Crystals and Lucys for the “endurance and excellence" of their work in film and television.

Past Crystal winners include Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Bette Davis, Jane Fonda, Jodi Foster.

So...Jennifer Lopez?  Okay, there’s “Out of Sight,” Blood and Wine,” maybe even “Anaconda.”

But then there's “Monster-in-Law,” "Gigli" and (shudder) “Jersey Girl?”

Still, as hostess Edie Falco noted, “She's the only woman in the room who can open a movie and a concert tour.”

Contrary to the baby rumors (which she laughed off), Lopez didn’t look preggers with a long wavy ponytail and a black Max Mara frock, mingling in the Century Plaza ballroom with “Desperate Housewives” Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross, Camryn Manheim, Angela Basset, Jean Smart (“24”), and Leah Remini.

Not only did Jenny NOT look like she had a fetus-on-board, she looked surprisingly slender. But that may have been because she wasn't always glued to the side of her skeletal hubby Marc Anthony.

Next to 6-footer Geena Davis, La Lopez looked - how can we put this - positively petite.

Photo Credits: It's all about perspective. Jennifer Lopez looks itty-bitty when paired with Tower of Power Geena Davis at the 2006 WIF Lucy and Crystal Awards.
WireImage/Lester Cohen

Angelina's awards season appearance

Dying for a glimpse of an expectant Angelina Jolie and that proud papa-to-be Brad Pitt?

You and everyone else hoping to attend the upcoming black-tie, invite-only “Circle of Passion” gala, to be held on Feb. 26 at Astra West in West Hollywood's Pacific Design Center.

The “Circle of Hope” event was initially skedded to be held in L.A. last year but was postponed and now appears on Hollywood's already-packed awards season calendar.

Jolie will be the special honoree at the formal gala which will raise funds and awareness for musicians Sheila E. and Lynn Mabry's Elevate Hope Foundation (EHF).

But she's not "confirmed," says a benefit spokesman. Bummer! She may be "supplying a video acceptance or someone else may accept the award on her behalf," explained Astrid Merget from event planner Luna Llena Productions. Like Brad?

Angela Bassett is set to host and performers/presenters include: Jamie Foxx, Sharon Stone, Nikka Costa and Prince's old flames, Wendy and Lisa.

Attending event co-chairs include Arthel Neville, Patti LaBelle, Rick and Kathy Hilton and Randy Jackson.

To celebrate the opening of his new Los Angeles fashion house, designer Lloyd Klein will show a retrospective of vintage pieces and a sneak peek at his 2006 couture line modeled by celebrities such as Natasha Henstridge, Janice Dickinson, Lucy Lawless, Vanessa Williams, Lisa Raya, Courtney Peldon and Bai Ling. Now there's a name that's a sure-fire assurance of an A-list event.

In case Jolie does show up, wonder if Klein will design a special maternity dress for her? Or perhaps the St. John fashion company will supply Jolie, their new highly paid spokesmodel, with a made-to-order mother of a gown?

Photo: Angelina Jolie keeps her bump under wraps on the Dominican Republic set of “The Good Shepherd” with costar Robert DeNiro on Jan. 12, 2006.
(James Devaney / WireImage)

It's Oscar time for Terrence Howard

If you thought the Screen Actors Guild Awards was star-jammed on Sunday, you should have snuck behind the scenes to Karen Wood’s Backstage Creations SAG Talent Retreat.

That’s the lavishly decorated celeb-only room where the stars gather before, during and after the show to chat, have a glass of bubbly or just relax from the awards pressure. Of course, another major reason to do the retreat is to get lots of free stuff from merchants displaying star swag in the room.

"Matador" star Pierce Brosnan admired Amouage fragrance from an Irish perfumer. The handmade bottles are so cool they’re the only perfume bottle in the Smithsonian. Marcia Cross and Eva Longoria (hanging on squeeze Tony Parker) loved Shu Uemura cosmetics, also used on the “Desperate Housewives” set. “Entourage” star Jeremy Piven picked up some Phyto hair product for his limping locks. “This is good stuff,” he pronounced. Yeah, baby. Hug it out.

“Crash” star Terrence Howard, looking hot in his D&G duds, felt so at-home that he hung out in the retreat until his category was called. Then he ran out, helped picked up the award for best ensemble cast and returned with “Crash” costar Don Cheadle, who was limping from an unexplained foot injury. Cheadle took a seat on a cream colored sofa, holding the carved wooden cane he’d bought in Kenya.

After picking up a blue Le Vian watch to match his suit, Howard, nominated today for a best actor Oscar for his lead role in "Hustle & Flow," tried to buy the B&W photos by Wall Kandy for his new house. Then he got so excited about a free trip to the Starwood Resort — the St. Regis on Bora Bora — that he announced he was booking his trip the very next day. Better wait until after the Oscars on March 5, Terrence. Angela Bassett drooled over the Bora Bora beach trip too but Ed Harris and his wife Amy Madigan were the most enthusiastic. And impatient. Harris suggested, “Let’s leave tonight!”

Take me with you. Please.

Photo: Terrence Howard synchronizes his free watch and Angela Bassett plans her next vacation at the Backstage Creations SAG Talent Retreat.
(Jesse Grant / WireImage)