Styles & Scenes

Keira Knightley's journey to Swag Land

Keira Knightley may not be nominated for an Emmy. But the young Oscar nominated actress is definitely hitting the Emmy swag circuit.

Yesterday the "Pride and Prejudice" star surprised everyone by showing up at the Silver Spoon Hollywood Buffet where she picked up a new pair of dangling diamond earrings by Arezzo (a mere $7,500) from the folks at the Diamond Journey booth.

The stones are arranged from the smallest to the largest to sympolize how love becomes more intense and meaningful over time.

Or not.

Keira told the diamond girls, "I love the concept of Journey because it symbolizes the exciting things that have happened in my life and how far I've come."

You have come pretty far, Keira.

But you've arrived at an Emmy pampering/shopping suite along with Tara Reid,  Ellen Barkin, Lacey Chabert, Caroline D'Amore, Jason Davis and Kathy Griffin.

Now run for your life. And save your ever-lasting soul.

Photo Credit: Keira loves her new diamond danglies from the Silver Spoon Hollywood Buffet. Wonder if she had to fight Ellen Barkin for them.
Photo by Paige Mycoskie

Ah, the Emmy Suite Life!

Seen on the Suite Scene:

"West Wing" Emmy nominee Allison Janney was spotted picking out two rings from Space Mermaid, a new line of jewelry that also got Paula Abdul’s attention at the GBK gifting/pampering suites at the newly revamped Sofitel Hotel.

Paula admired three necklaces (mother of pear/coral sea horse, gold sea horse/starfish, a long gold charm one) and a quartz crystal and copper wire-wrapped ring.

And she was so darn nice, fledgling jewelry designer Stephanie Carbone gave her all of them. "She took the time to talk, giving out hugs and encouragement. She couldn't have been any sweeter or more generous with her time."

That's probably why they call Paula "the nice one."

The GBK invite put the Gift Bag at "$30,00 and growing." But it wasn't limited to just high-end items. Although folks did seem to covet the gold-plated BizBuzz Nokia phone ($2,500) more than a bottle of Ed Begley’s eco-friendly Best Cleaning Product or the really practical dog leash with a built-in flashlight and poop bags.

Janney was spotted gobbling up several designer chocolates before stopping, telling the maker, “I still have to fit into my Emmy dress.”

In the hills, Emmy nominee Debra Messing picked out a new watch from designer Charlie Lapson at the “Iced Out” Emmy suite, held at a private home above Sunset Plaza. You remember Charlie. ALL the "Housewives" carry his fab purses and they'll love his new watches that pass as fine jewelry.

Messing also snagged a pair of Cameron Diaz’s fave super-soft jeans designed by David Kahn (you can pay for yours at Nordstrom). And she stepped out in two free pairs of Stuart Weitzman heels, one in a red/brown color recommended by stylist Vivian Turner because It matches your hair!” Yeah, that’s how I choose my shoes, too.

Nicollette Sheridan grabbed some free Weitzmans and posed provocatively wearing her spiky new heels. Larry King popped in with a bright turquoise shirt and his wife Shawn. Geena Davis got a new Lapson bag and picked out a diamond necklace from WhiteFlash, billed as a conflict-free diamond company.

What’s a conflict-free diamond, you ask? Well, according to the Diamond Industry, they all are now, thanks to the self-regulating Kimberly Process. But groups like Amnesty International aren't so sure. Trust me, you’ll be hearing more about the whole conflict-free bling business when Warner Bros.’ new film “The Blood Diamond” is released in December.

Tip: anyone who wants a conflict-free diamond is advised to do a lot of research and not simply trust a diamond company’s ad copy. 

Star suite updates: "Closer" Emmy nominee Kyra Sedgwick and Allison Janney (does this woman have time for anything but suite shopping this week?) will attend the fabulous Silver Spoon Hollywood Buffet Thursday (that's today) at a private residence in Hollywood.

And "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" Emmy nomie Mariska Hargitay is scheduled to stop by on Friday.

No, I don't know what time. And no, I’m not going to tell you where the Silver Spoon is being held. Get a life, Stalker Freaks.

Photo Credits: Debra Messing poses with jeanius denim designer David Kahn jeanius at the "Iced Out" Emmy Suite
WireImage/Katie Hawkins
Photo Credits: Nicollette Sheridan does a little lap dance on a trapped Stuart Weitzman shoe rep at the "Iced Out" Emmy Suite.
WireImage/Katie Hawkins

Stars just love their Silver Spoon

Attention, celebrity shoppers! Green light specials at every Emmy Suite.

The Emmy Suites are cranking this week as nominees, presenters, pre and post-party peeps, even stars staying home to watch the show, show up at a baker's dozen suites set up for the sole purpose of pampering (mani-pedis, massages, facials, hair-cuts and blow drys) the stars and gifting them with cool free clothing, accessories, beauty products, even fabulous trips.

So will there be any letters given out explaining tax implications to celebs arriving at Emmy Suites, the way it was done at the Teen Choice Awards Celebrity Retreat on Sunday?

Not at the Silver Spoon Hollywood Buffet, says founder Lorena Bendinskas. For one thing, not everyone comes for swag. “Some stars will simply have lunch," she explains. "Others may have a massage or a manicure and some will shop. But it’s more of a party than a gifting suite. There is no official gift bag. So it's totally up to the individual.”

The aptly named Silver Spoon, one of the biggest and most popular suites, is always held in a top-secret private Hollywood estate. And this year, "The Simple Life" star Paris Hilton, now officially a singer (!)  and on the pampering party/freebie fest/charity benefit invite list, may run right into "American Idol" meanie Simon Cowell, also on the invitee list.

She's gonna have to hotfoot it back from Japan where she's promoting her album to make it to Silver Spoon. But if she does, will the tireless self-promoter give Simon a copy of her new CD?  I wouldn’t risk it, Paris. He can draw blood.

And frankly,  I’d steer clear of Joan and Melissa Rivers, also slated to attend, unless you’re feeling up to fierce fashion snipes about that Heidi Ho costume you wore in Toyko earlier this week.

This year the SSHB benefits Tom’s Foundation, which provides much needed medical care, school supplies and shoes to children around the world. With just a $35 donation, stars can make sure that children in poor villages in Argentina will receive a new pair of shoes.

Okay, $35 won't buy the tykes Uggs or Jimmy Choos. But apparently in poor countries, shoes are more than a fashion statement. Footwear actually prevents many horrible diseases contracted through bare feet. Wow. Who knew? Would weekly pedicures help too?

The pampering party may also draw invited TV stars like "NoTORIous" Tori Spelling, who is probably still reeling over getting her inheritance ripped off by Mommy Dearest after her dad Aaron kicked the bucket. Now she like really needs free stuff!

Also on the list David Spade and Jesse Metcalfe; who has about 3 seconds more fame time left after his movie “John Tucker Must Die” died at the box office.

Also sure to stop by: Jerry Ferrara, Constance Zimmer and Kevin Dillon (“Entourage”), Lisa Rinna and Rachel Hunter (“Dancing With the Stars”), Eric Balfour (“Conviction”), Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag (“The Hills”), Ryan Cabrera (Ashley Simpson’s former kinda beau), Terry Crews (“Everybody Hates Chris”), Mya and almost last but definitely not least,  the perpetual party girl Tara Reid (“Taradise”).

Photo Credits: Paris looks like she could be in St. Pauli Girl beer commercial at her record signing party in Toyko. Hope she changes before hitting the Silver Spoon Hollywood Buffet this week
WireImage/Jun Sato

Photo Credits: Allison Janney lugs her loot at the 2003 Silver Spoon. She started her swag hunt early this year, hitting the GBK Suite at the Sofitel Wednesday to meet Kerry Simon, the hotel’s new chef, get free chocolates, Space Mermaid jewelry and anything else that wasn’t nailed down.
WireImage/Lester Cohen

Do Hollywood Swag Addicts need an IRS intervention?

It's okay. You can all relax. Looks like Oscar presenters, performers and nominees won’t have to pay back taxes on their past gift baskets, after all.

According to a release from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, they've reached a “mutually satisfactory agreement” with the IRS settling the tax obligations on gift bags up until 2005.

What a relief. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been losing sleep about this ever since I heard rumors that Academy swag bags filled with goodies, fabulous trips, services, designer stuff estimated at $75-100 grand, might be dubbed additional income and could cause a slight tax hike for celebs.

Because I’m sure these poor stars who make $10-50-100 million per movie don’t have accountants who can hide a gift basket or find a charity contribution to offset a measly hundred grand. I've also been worried about what the elimination of goody bags might do to the Hollywood re-gifting habit when all that unwanted swag is handed out on birthdays/holidays to loyal servants, maids, gardeners, hairdressers, personal trainers, manicurists, stylists, pet-sitters and yes, even friends.

C’mon, guys. You know you do it.

But gift bags will continue. And the recipients of the Oscar gift basket given at the 2007 awards will be issued appropriate informational tax forms by the Academy and will be responsible for satisfying their income tax obligations.

“We appreciate the Academy’s leadership on this issue,” IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson says in the release. “The gift basket industry has exploded, and it’s important that the groups running these events keep in mind the tax consequences.”

“We are happy to have reached an agreement with the IRS which works to the benefit of the gift basket recipients and the Academy,” said Academy president Sid Ganis.

Ganis said that it was unclear as to when the practice of thanking Academy Award presenters and performers with baskets began, but that it was well established by the early '70s.  The major stars who present awards on the show are not paid for that service, and the performers receive only the minimum union payment.

Over time these so-called “thank-you gifts” – call them incentives - became more elaborate as hotels, resorts and high-end clothing lines vied to associate their services and products with Hollywood’s most famous names.

In April, the Academy Board of Governors voted to discontinue the practice of thanking Academy Awards presenters and performers with gift baskets.

And publicity about the baskets led Everson to issue a press release three days prior to the 2006 Academy Awards broadcast which focused on gift baskets and pointed out that “movie stars face the same tax obligations as ordinary Americans.” 

“The Commissioner worked some movie titles into his reminder that gave it a humorous spin,” Ganis said, “but the basic message was clear:  the contents of the baskets, however much we may have been inclined to view them as mannerly thank-yous, in fact constitute taxable income.  And since we didn’t want any of our presenters to get hit retroactively for a gift we had given them, we asked the Service if there was a way for us to take on the tax obligations and they were very willing to work with us.”

Whew. Well, at least that’s over with. But somebody should tell IRS Commissioner Everson that this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is more work that must be done. He may not realize that the Oscar gift basket created a virus of freeby fests that sprout up all year round in Hollywood.

And trust me, it’s reached dangerous and toxic levels...

Photo Credits: Hollywood life imitates "Sopranos" art. Michael Imperioli makes off with his goody bag stash at the VHI Big in 2002 Awards. Bet Tony doesn't want it!
WireImage/Jeff Vespa