Styles & Scenes

How to look red carpet hot! Or not....

Poor Kathy Griffin.

Her garish clown-face at the recent Emmy Awards was a major makeup disaster that could so easily have been avoided.

If only she - and, let's be honest, a few other Emmy attendees with overdone, poorly blended makeup - had gone to the L’Oreal flagship boutique in the Beverly Center.

All they had to do was step into the store’s custom-built “immersive light environment,” aka the Light Pod, a cubicle-sized white room with mirrors and switches.

Inside, with just the flip of a flip of a switch, the actresses could have checked out their makeup in various lights, from a soft candlelit dinner to a dimly-lit club all the way to the retina-searing revelations of the red carpet.

Inside the Light Pod, any woman can instantly see how essential blending and correct color selection is for walking the red carpet. Just press the 'Red Carpet' button and prepare yourself for a shock. Every flaw, every wrinkle, every red spot (past, present and future) is visible with the flood of flash. Slightly crooked lip liner, smudged eyeshadow, harsh blush?  Your face looks like a billboard of makeup blunders.

There's no charge to use the room and check out your face. The most commonlyused settings are 'Daylight', 'Overcast' and 'Open Window.' The L’Oreal girls will even give you a how-to tour.  But if you want a makeup artist to do your makeup inside the Light Pod at a particular setting, it costs $30 and takes about an hour. Best to call ahead 310-360-6555 to sked.

But here’s the really cool part.

Say you’re meeting friends at a hip Hollywood nightspot and you really wanna look hot, like ‘Dude-I-so-gotta-get-her-number’ hot.

The L’Oreal makeup artists can flip a switch from their "Hotspots" lights such as Lucque’s, Spider Club, Koi, The Belmont, Concord, A.O.C, The Bel Age, Eye Candy or Geisha House. Then they'll make you up accordingly.

Doing a double or triple-header? You can make sure which nitespots you're guaranteed to look good in and steer clear of the rest. “No, I don’t wanna meet you at Koi. And don’t ask me why.”

Since hotspots go in and out of style faster than hemlines go up and down, new clubs are being added. And sadly, some will be deleted, depending on whether Lindsay and Nicole are still showing up.  “We’re updating all the time,” explains L’Oreal’s Erin Doolan. “We’re going to get Mood, Joseph’s Café, and I think Teddy’s.”

How does L’Oreal duplicate the light levels at these happening spots?

“They go there and use some kind of light measuring machine, and capture the light levels and then put it into a computer,” says Doolan. “Some really smart people do it.”

Let’s just hope some really smart actresses – like Tyra Banks, who stopped by L’Oreal’s Light Pod a few weeks before the Emmys – will use the Light Pod during the next Awards Season.

Photo Credits: Perhaps better lighting would have helped Kathy Griffin's harsh Emmy face.
WireImage/Jeff Mayer
Photo Credits: Clearly, Tyra Banks found the perfect light for her winning Emmy look.
WireImage/Steve Granitz

Star swag at the Indie Spirits

OK, so maybe it wasn’t quite as grand as those $100,000 Oscar winner swag bags.

But some of Film Independent's 2006 Independent Spirit Awards nominees and presenters still made time to visit the On3 gift lounge during Saturday's show for some small-scale swag: personalized Docker khakis, Ugg sandals, Invicta watches, Laura Merkin personalized bags, Dior eye shadow, Palm Treos and coupons for free laser eye surgery.

Hey, a gravy train is a gravy train and after Sunday, the swag-laden 2006 awards express is screeching to a halt. But after reading the recent CNNMoney.com story about hundred-grand gift bags possibly being considered taxable income, I predict stars may become a little more selective about swag next year.

Presenter Sienna Miller, wearing a sweet printed chiffon Thomas Wylde frock, was one of the first to pop into the lounge to snag some Three Dots racer-back tanks (with sheer chiffon straps) in brown, black and white. Spirit hostess Sarah Silverman just took one. In black.

But some of the guys really went hog wild on men's shirts. ”Matt Dillon took eight shirts,” whispered the shirt rep. “And Billy Baldwin took 10, one in every color. Terrence Howard was so cute, he picked out a brown racer-back for his 12-year-old daughter. And Peter Sarsgaard really wanted a polo shirt for himself.”

Yeah, he looks like a polo shirt kinda guy.

Miller also started a new sunglasses trend at the Spirits.

“She’s been wearing white vintage Wayfarers for that retro '80s look," said the Ray-Ban rep. “But today she requested a pair just like the ones Tom Cruise wore in 'Risky Business.' She tried them on and said 'I have to have them!' And have them, she did, immediately slipping them on and wearing them outside in the Santa Monica sunshine.

Turns out Howard — whose future certainly looks bright even if he doesn't win an Oscar — is a big Ray-Ban Aviator fan and he fittingly chose a pair of gold framed Aviators with rose-colored lenses. When pushed, the rep revealed, “When Vin Diesel heard we had new Aviators, he said, 'New? I gotta have them!' He was all over that. And Sarah Silverman took a pair just like Diesel’s. She told me that she really needed a pair because the only ones she had, she’d found in the grass on the walk over here.”

Funny gal Silverman’s next stop was the Phyto hair booth where she picked up a bottle of hair and nail vitamins — Phytophanère. “She said her nails are always breaking,” said the rep.

It's somewhat ironic that Silverman partook in the backstage freebie fest. Ya see, during her hilarious opening monologue at the Spirits, Silverman waxed philosophical about vaginal douches. Not that she needs them, mind you. She'd like to be self-deprecating but she just can't. Not about this.

“I don’t need them because — and pay attention, George Clooney — my vagina smells like a mountain breeze.”

But Silverman admitted that she will never buy douches at a 99 Cents Only store. “I just can’t put anything inside me that costs less than a dollar,” she deadpanned on live TV, cracking up the audience.

Guess she doesn’t mind using products that are completely free.

Photo (top): Sarah Silverman hops on the freebie train with a new Three Dots racer-back tank
(Kevin Parry / WireImage)
Photo (bottom): Sienna Miller practices her Tom Cruise grin in a pair of "Risky Business" Wayfarers(Mychal Watts / WireImage)

The best supporting award goes to Victoria's Secret

So you’re all dressed up in a totally hot low-cut gown at the Vanity Fair Oscar party and some jerk comes by, checks out your décolletage, and says, ‘Hey, nice chicken cutlets!”

Don’t deck him.

He may actually be a jerk. Or he may have just heard about Victoria’s Secret latest secret weapon — what the VS PR gals call “chicken cutlets” — cleavage-creating Sensual Shapers inserts.

The VS reps at the Beauty and the Boudoir Oscar lounge at Frederic Fekkai’s Beverly Hills salon actually referred to the rubbery flesh-colored inserts as “Chicken Cutlets” because, well, that’s exactly what they look and feel like; raw chicken breasts — with nipples. And there are two Sensual Shaper sizes, the discreet one-cup increase and the vavoom two-cup increase ($28 and $48).

These VS raw materials were displayed for all the celebs who were visiting Fekkai’s before the Oscars for facials, blow-dries, mani-pedis, Botox and consults with plastic surgeon David Sayah, to touch, feel and try on.

Other Oscar gown-boosters included the VS Bare Attitude bra ($24), a backless and strapless mold that literally sticks to your chest for an advised 4 to 6 hours. Wow. If the Oscars run long and you’ve got three parties to hit, you could be in deep trouble.

On-site to explain the importance of Oscar gown support was Chantal Thomass, the legendary French fashion designer who was the first to pull lingerie out of the underwear drawer and onto her Paris runways in 1975.

Photo: No, Scarlett Johansson is not wearing Victoria’s Secret “chicken cutlets” at the Weinstein Co./Glamour 2006 Golden Globes after-party. Pretty impressive, huh?
(Albert L. Ortega / WireImage)

Follow those Oscar nominees!

Thursday was a busy, busy day for some Oscar nominees.

The Dior beauty folks hosted a late-night, candlelit dinner party graced by Naomi Watts, Kate Bosworth, Lindsay Lohan, Diane Kruger, Emmy Rossum and Joy Bryant on the Chateau Marmont patio in Hollywood, Calif.

Best actress Oscar nominee Keira Knightley — staying in the Chateau — even popped down briefly with some pals. But the “Pride & Prejudice” beauty was a bit hard to recognize because she was suddenly sporting very long, thick hair. Hmmm. Extensions? Seems very likely.

Couldn't tell if she was also wearing the new brand new H. Stern right-hand diamond ring that she picked out and took home from the Diamond Aquifer Retreat at Soho House the day before. But probably. Wouldn't you?

O-nominated "Brokeback Mountain" couple Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams noticed a few flashes from their Marmont penthouse suite high above the party and called downstairs to get the camera scoop. They were later seen picking up a car down in the garage, sans their baby daughter, Matilda.

Earlier, Oscar nominee Amy Adams — star of “Junebug” — was beaming at the Independent Spirit nominees reception at Casa del Mar in Santa Monica. Adams has a darn good reason to look so happy: she's also nominated for a Spirit best supporting actress award. Spirit nominees “Brokeback Mountain” Oscar fave Ang Lee and his producer James Schamus and their “Capote” Oscar rival, director Bennett Miller were also at Thursday's reception.

The Spirits, being held on Saturday in Santa Monica, mirror the Oscars more closely than ever, causing some folks to wonder: What’s the point? Host Sarah Silverman, that’s what. The show promises to be shorter, less scripted and oh, let’s just say it, waaay more fun than Sunday’s Oscars.

If you want to catch some possible Oscar warm-up acceptance speeches from Terrance Howard, Felicity Huffman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ledger and Williams, George Clooney and/or Paul Haggis, tune in to the live awards broadcast on the IFC Channel at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Also on Thursday, “North Country” Oscar-nominated best actress Charlize Theron wore a slinky black Dior dress to host Vanity Fair’s Amped for Africa benefit at Republic restaurant. By the way, it's official. The actress will be wearing a Dior couture gown to the Oscars. "She doesn't have to wear Dior just because she has a beauty contract with us," revealed a Dior beauty rep. "She just fell in love with the gown."

Miller, his “Capote” Oscar-nommed pal Philip Seymour Hoffman and “Crash” best supporting actor, Oscar-nommer Matt Dillon hit Jason Binn's Los Angeles Confidential pre-Oscar party Thursday night at the Sky Bar in West Hollywood.

And a shockingly sexy Armani-clad Jodie Foster — you are correct, she’s not nominated for anything, just making sure you’re paying attention — attended the U.S.-Ireland Alliance honors for acclaimed directors Jim Sheridan, Neil Jordan and David Holmes at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles.

Seen out of town: The Constant Gardener” Oscar nominee Rachel Weisz was still at home in New York but she turned up at Bloomingdale’s to help launch a new women’s fragrance for Burberry.

Photo Credits:
(Top right) Naomi Watts at the late night Dior private dinner at Chateau Marmont.
(Donato Sardella / WireImage)
(Top left) Oscar nominee Keira Knightly models her new long hair and H. Stern right-hand diamond ring from the Soho House Diamond Aquifer Retreat.
(Lester Cohen / WireImage)
(Bottom) Oscar nominee Charlize Theron hosts Vanity Fair's Amped for Africa event.
(Lester Cohen / WireImage)

Scoping out a Grammy party soundcheck

The ballroom in the newly renovated Beverly Hilton was rockin’ Monday afternoon during the sound check for tonight’s seriously star-studded annual pre-Grammy Clive Davis dinner party.

So far, Clive's stellar list includes "Hustle & Flow" Oscar nominee Terrence Howard, Kevin Spacey, SAG winning "24" star Kiefer Sutherland, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, Missy Elliot, Mary J. Blige, Salma Hayek, Dave Chappelle, John Mayer, Val Kilmer, David Spade, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson, Randy Jackson, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, the Dixie Chicks and Willie Nelson.

Howard is really making the music scene this week. He was also spotted with India.Arie at a MusiCares benefit honoring James Taylor on Monday night.

Starting off Monday's sound check, Heather Hedley filled the ballroom with her big voice, belting out a tune from her new album, “In My Mind.” After her first rehearsal, the vocal powerhouse told the sound techies, “I can’t hear myself over the bass. Can you bring me up a little bit? I think that’s all.”

After listening to this major talent, all we can say to Clive’s guests is bring earplugs. This Tony-winning singer who had the lead role in “Aida” on Broadway sounds fantastic — but she’s incredibly loud. What? I can't hear you!

Photo: India.Arie hangs with Oscar nominee Terrence Howard at the MusicCares benefit honoring James Taylor. What's next for Howard, a Grammy?
(Kevin Mazur / WireImage)

Warming up after Hedley:

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)

Getting pretty fast

It’s never too late to look your best, even the middle of the Hollywood awards season.

Say you weren’t invited to (or nominated for) the People’s Choice, the Golden Globes or this weekend's Screen Actors Guild Awards. You've still got time to do an about-face if you're invited to the upcoming Grammys, or the Independent Spirits and Oscars in early March.

According to the folks at the M Aesthetics Spa on Sunset Boulevard, famous folks now wait until just weeks before a big event to fill in wrinkles, erase brown spots, plump and tighten saggy necks and jowls and flush out the nasty toxins that keep them from looking fresh for the cameras. And surprise, Beverly Hills dentists report a deluge of patients asking for teeth-whitening this time of year too.

All you need is two weeks. And a Visa, MasterCard or American Express card. Or all three.

“We were jammed with stars who came in for treatments just days before the Golden Globes,” reveals Angela Nice, M’s paramedical aesthetician.

Like who? Asking for names is frowned on. But I managed to get a few: Paris Hilton (semi-permanent faux eyelashes, air-brush tanning and endermologie body sculpting treatments), Daryl Hannah (endermologie), “Entourage” agent Jeremy Piven (You name it. "He practically lives here,” says Nice.), deceased “Lost” (on the show) cutie Maggie Grace (again, those hot semi-permanent lashes) and comedian Kathy Griffin, unfortunately still alive.

Natch, Botox is big. “You need to come in about two weeks ahead of the event,” says Marc Mani, M’s in-house aesthetic plastic surgeon. You may have seen him on The Learning Channel's series, "Body Work." Actresses who aren't spring chickens flock to Mani to banish wrinkles and scowls and to eliminate those annoying upper lip creases. He even gives men and women what he calls a temporary (four month) brow lift with a bit of Botox under the eyebrow. Cost? $17 a unit, which translates to roughly $300-$500.

No time to have your posterior fat sucked out and injected in your forehead furrows? No worries. Restylane is still the fast filler of choice to plump up forehead lines and naso-labial crevices. “Again, you should allow two weeks to let any slight swelling settle down,” Mani cautions. $550 per syringe. Some folks need two or three. Ouch.

The spa's hottest new treatment is the Titan, an infrared light-based contraption that blasts the skin with pulses of light that heats up collagen deep in the dermis, causing collagen to rejuvenate. The skin then tightens with no post-treatment 'down time' (otherwise known as days and weeks spent hiding at home so no one will ask what on earth you had done.)

“The Titan is instant gratification,” says Nice. “It tightens faces, necks, jowls. It works instantly and the results get better over the course of a month. It seems to work better on men, no one knows why.” But it’s pricey. $2,000 for the first treatment, $1,000 for the next two.

And M spa's Red Carpet pièce de résistance? A lymphatic drainage massage combined with endermologie, using a machine that uses vibrating suction to literally draw out toxins and extra fluids trapped in Hollywood’s hardest partying people. “It’s a great fast way to get into that designer gown that’s still just a tiny bit snug,” says Nice. “We call it the zipper magic.”

Eyelashes like Paris Hilton’s will set you back $100 for upper, $300 for upper and lower. But they last three whole weeks! Long enough to do several award shows if you plan well. And oh, don’t forget that all-important awards season golden glow with the M spa’s airbrush all-over tan. Just $45 for one session, three for $120.

Hey, even I can afford that.