Styles & Scenes

Milan sez Feed Starving Models

Madrid government officials, in an effort to put more meat on starving models, has banned skeletal string beans from the Madrid Spring '07 runway shows, which begin on Monday.

They're actually forcing fashion designers to calculate the BMI (body mass index) of their catwalk crawlers to make sure the models meet healthy standards in an effort to stop the emaciated images that help promote anorexia in young women.

According to the World Health Organization's standards, "healthy" means that a woman - 18-22 -  who is 5' 8 1/2" tall, cannot weigh less than 121 pounds.

Omigawd, are they kidding? That's like a size 6!

Apparently, their scheme is working so well that Italy may follow suit.

Milan Mayor Letizia Moratti has announced plans to meet with designers to talk about beefing up the babes modeling in the Milan Fashion Week runway shows from Sept 23-Oct 1.

Perhaps Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger can enforce this BMI rule in Hollywood?

C'mon, Ahnuld. If anyone can "pump up" Keira Knightley, Kate Bosworth and Nicole Richie, it's you.

It's time we all worked together to help feed starving models and actresses everywhere.

Photo Credits: If Governor Schwarzenegger calls for a BMI test in Hollywood, Keira's gonna have to do more a lot more lunches.
WireImage/Ferdaus Shamim

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

Scarlett Johansson fleshes out new Reebok role

What do Scarlett Johansson, Allen Iverson and Donovan McNabb have in common?

Inexplicably, the four-time Golden Globe nominee (“Match Point,” “A Love Song for Bobby Long,” “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” “Lost in Translation”) will join the Philadelphia 76er and the Philly Eagles quarterback in endorsing Reebok.

Okay, guys. Who made this brilliant marketing call? And who was the runner-up, Patricia Arquette?

No question the talented buxom blonde actress oozes sex appeal onscreen. Just ask Scarlett's "Match Point" director Woody Allen. Their second film, “Scoop,” opens July 28 and he told reporters last year that the pillow-lipped starlet is so divinely sexy that she’s been “touched by God.” 

But let’s face it. Johansson's voluptuous image is way more bedroom than weight room. She just doesn’t fly as a fitness role model. Certainly not when compared to buffer babes like "Charlie's Angels" Cameron Diaz, "X-Men"s Famke Janssen, "Fantastic Four" femme fatale Jessica Alba or even Tomb Raider Angelina Jolie. 

Miss Scarlett won’t be appearing in Reebok's "When Did I Know" campaign or in the “I Am What I Am” campaign which has featured the equally uninspiring and unathletic-inclined actresses Maggie Gyllenhaal and Christina Ricci.

Wonder if Reebok knew that a few years ago Ricci's former Hollywood trainer - who shall go unnamed - fired her, making her the only actress client he's ever dumped, because she smoked cigarettes between workouts and missed her morning training sessions due to late night partying.

Come to think about it, the only Reebok poster actress who made sense was Lucy Liu. She'd at least been a believable kick-butt babe in films like “Charlie’s Angels” and “Kill Bill” and looks like she might wear Reebok sneaks and duds somewhere other than a photo shoot.

Anyway, Miss Scarlett's multi-year contract will have her posing for "Scarlett “hearts” Rbk," a "fashion-forward athletic-inspired footwear and apparel collection" aimed at the international sportswear company's young female customers. The line will debut in spring 2007 in high-end department stores and boutiques.

According to new prez/chief executive officer Paul Harrington, Reebok will make marketing changes after being gobbled up by Adidas earlier this year. So expect fewer music figures like Nelly, Jay-Z and 50 Cent and more pretty Hollywood faces like Johansson.

There is one consolation to their latest choice.

At least Reebok chose a healthy-looking actress with a body fat level over 10% and didn't sign up one of Team Anorexia's bony babes Nicole Richie, Kate Bosworth, Mary-Kate Olsen or Keira Knightley.

Photo Credits: Woody Allen admires Scarlett's astonishing athletic achievements at the LA "Match Point" premiere.
WireImage/Eric Charbonneau

Photo Credits: Wonder if Reebok saw Scarlett's graceful sprints on the set of "The Nanny Diaries" before they signed her to a multi-year contract?
WireImage/James Devaney

Keira's not starving. No, seriously.

At the London premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” Keira Knightley told reporters thats she’s not, we repeat, not, not, absolutely not anorexic.

She told People that she knows she’s not suffering from the common eating disorder because her grandmother and great-grandmother suffered from it.
Um, o-kay, but can't this eating disorder thing run in the family?

The fact that Knightley’s skimpy backless gold Gucci gown showed off her bony ribs, sharp shoulder blades, bird-thin arms, protruding sternum and spine did absolutely nothing to feed all those preposterously silly, silly rumors. How does this viscious gossip spread, anyway?

Hey, at least the London press got to actually speak to her about something. Not to mention getting actual sound bites from her “Pirates” co-stars Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.

Fat chance the hundreds of press who waited for 5 ½ hours at the Disneyland “Pirates” premiere had to get her to talk about anything.

But thumbs up for that new disheveled short bob, Keira. It makes your absolutely not anorexic hollow cheekbones look way full and healthy.

Photo Credits: Keira Knightley is not suffering from anorexia. She’s just incredibly, incredibly skinny. And anorexia runs in her family. Now leave the poor girl alone, people! 
WireImage/Ferdaus Shamim

Keira Knightley takes the plunge

One of Oscar nominee Keira Knightley’s fave British designers - Jenny Packham - will have a special fashion show in Los Angeles in October, just in time for  2007 award season shopping. The show will be sponsored by BAFTA/LA.

Packham, who usually parades her wears on London and Paris runways, has been dubbed "the first lady of partywear" by British Vogue, who certainly should know.

No doubt a few of her fervent fans like Nicole Kidman, Mandy Moore, Kate Moss, Mena Suvari, Brittany Murphy, Heidi Klum and Scarlett Johansson, who just wrapped the new Woody Allen film "Scoop" in London, will show up for Packham's show.

Knightley and Packham just worked together on a photo to aid Fresh2o, a campaign to promote WaterAid, which provides African and Asian communities safe domestic water supplies. In this eerie underwater shot by aquatic photographer Candice, Knightly (gulp) manages to hold her breath beautifully in a frothy cream Packham gown.

Just so you know, Knightley, who walked the red carpet wearing white Chanel at Saturday's premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest" at Disneyland, flew back to jolly old England the very next day to keep filming Ian McEwan’s “Atonement,” which has, to say the least, an impressive female cast.

On the "Atonement" roster: Emily Watson, Brenda Blethyn, Vanessa Redgrave, Kristin Scott Thomas and... Betty White.

Yes, that Betty White, best known for playing sexually voracious Sue Ann Nivens on the '70s TV series “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and for her loveable ditzy Rose on the early ‘90s  hit series, “Golden Girls.” Who knew?

Photo Credits: Keira is a bathing beauty for charity in a Jenny Packham gown.
Courtesy of WaterAid.

"Pirates" premiere is a wild carpet ride

The most popular ride at Disneyland Saturday was the red carpet for the world premiere of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.”

And the longest. The red carpet was over 1,000 ft. long, rolling down Main Street, snaking by Fantasyland and ending at Adventureland. But for hundreds of international TV, radio, internet and print reporters and thousands of fans who'd come to see “Pirates” stars Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, the carpet ride became pretty disappointing by the end of the night.

Fans staked out coveted spots along the carpet when the park opened at 6:30 a.m. The press arrived at 3 p.m. to prepare for celebrity arrivals from 5-6. But by 6:30, only a few non-famous guests came wandering in.

Since the premiere invite stressed ‘pirate garb,' there were more eye patches, head bandanas, gold earrings, skull 'n crossbones, puffy shirts, and pirate hats - not to mention dark sooty Jack Sparrow eyeliner - than you could shake a saber at.

Early on, the throng of fans – most wearing Disney's pirate mouse ears (gold hoop earring in one ear) – were hopeful and enthusiastic, shouting, screaming, holding up banners and photos of Depp and Bloom and ‘We Love You Johnny!’ posters. They were only too happy to jump and scream to create B-roll color for the camera crews and applaud the professional Disneyland pirates who were singing, playing accordions, juggling balls and knives and walking on stilts up and down the carpet.

There was a pre-party with grog and grub at the Blue Bayou and Café Orleans for  the premiere guests. They could also ride the new Pirates ride that features characters from the film (Jack Sparrow, his nemesis Captain Barbossa and the squid-faced Davy Jones) and then fill three huge red, yellow and green bleachers to view the film scheduled to be shown on an outdoor screen at around 9 p.m.

But by 7:30, the fans out on the carpet were getting hungry and hoarse, children began whimpering and even the seasoned press was turning surly.

“We’ve been standing here 5 hours and we’ve not seen a single lead actor from the film,” groused a KTLA reporter. “This is insane. Why would they make us stand out here this long?” Even a befuddled German reporter asked, “Is this normal?”

“Is Johnny here?” reporters pestered the nervous Disney publicists. “Where’s Keira?” "Has anyone seen Orlando?” "Will they talk to us?”

“They’re here,” one publicist promised. “Johnny’s doing the new Pirates of the Caribbean ride and they’re taking photographs. But he’ll be here. Just be patient.”

So reporters relaxed and chatted up non-Pirate people to kill time. “Entourage” star Kevin Dillon told press that his fans scream “Drama!” and “Viking Quest!” wherever he goes. Director James Cameron, who has a cameo on “Entourage,” plugged his new film “Avatar,” a sci-fi flick set on another planet that will be released next year in 3-D HD.  But he admitted he’d probably do better with a real “Aquaman” since it’s gotten built-in buzz from the show.

Jon Voight stammered when a reporter asked if he’d seen his new grandchild. The answer was “No” but he’s, um, “very proud of Angie and all the work she's doing.” And he hasn’t sent a baby gift. And he’d really rather not talk about it, if you don’t mind.

Holly Robinson Peete was very popular with press because she actually knows Depp from his “21 Jump Street Days.”  “Who would you like to have a pirate adventure with?” queried a TV reporter. “Well, not Johnny. He’s a friend. Unlike every other woman in the world, I just don’t feel that way about him,” Robinson-Peete explained.

Marilyn Manson – dressed not like a pirate but like Marilyn Manson – was also a hot interview once word spread on the line that he actually knows Depp, who may star in a movie he’s making about Lewis Carroll.  “I’m just here to see Johnny. He’s my friend. He’s a real pirate. I’ve got absinthe in my boots and I’m a pirate, too.”

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed autographs, talked to a few TV reporters and tried to ignore the smattering of loud “boos” from the crowd. Inexplicably, his wife Maria Shriver wore a Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt emblazoned with Michelangelo’s David wearing a sequin fig leaf.

Finally, around 8 p.m., a few actors who actually appear in “Pirates” made their way down the press line. Bill Nighy, who plays the octo-pussed Davy Jones, said it was  surreal having to play piano with his face tentacles. Vanessa Branch, who plays the wench Giselle, revealed how much fun she had slapping Depp in all three films.

All three? ...

Photo Credit: Keira Knightley faces what Disney called the longest red carpet in the world.
WireImage/Lester Cohen

Photo Credit:
Johnny Depp signs autographs for fans at the Disneyland premiere of "Pirates."
WireImage/Lester Cohen

Photo Credit: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver walk the  "Pirates" plank.
Wire/Image/Gregg DeGuire

Vera Wang curries fashion favor at the Oscars

Now that the Oscar dust has settled, which designer was the most popular on the red carpet?

You could call it a tie. Dior dressed two big names: presenter Charlize Theron and the adorable first lady of the evening, best actress Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon.

Theron’s forest green silk gown with a benign tumor-sized shoulder bow didn’t win over most style seers. But Witherspoon’s honestly vintage 1955 beaded Dior frock was a major thumbs-up, despite criticism that the gown was "too much dress" for the petite actress.

But Vera Wang also dressed two important ladies — both best actress nominees — and both of her creations were wildly hailed. "Brokeback Mountain" nominee Michelle Williams wore a Wang curry-hued '30s-inspired chiffon gown. And "Pride & Prejudice" nominee Keira Knightley looked to-the-manor-born in Wang’s fishtail hem burgundy gown.

And here's a surprise: Versace, usually deemed a bit too racy for the Oscars, came in third, designing for three presenters: Jessica Alba's gold gown, Salma Hayek's blue wrapped gown and Hilary Swank's strapless black number.

Other fashion forces at the 2006 Oscars:

Photo: Michelle Williams won fashion favor at the Oscars for her curry-colored Vera Wang chiffon gown.
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)

The virtual Vanity Fair Oscar bash

What? Your Vanity Fair Oscar bash ticket still hasn't arrived? Dammit!

No worries. You can still catch all the insider glitz and glamour — George Clooney, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams, Jake Gyllenhaal and whoever, Terrence Howard, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Charlize Theron, Keira Knightley, Reese Witherspoon, etc., etc. — at the venerable bash held at Morton’s in West Hollywood, Calif., on Sunday night.

This year Vanity Fair’s gala will be webcast live from the restaurant starting at midnight. Woo-hoo!

So set your alarm and then click on this link to see who’s chatting up whom, making deals and carrying big gold statues. Actually, this is way better than having to get all dressed for the night, trust me.

And if you want to read VF honcho Graydon Carter’s secrets to throwing the world’s most famous Oscar gala in an excerpt from his book "Oscar Night," just follow this link and take notes.

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)

Dior gives Gwyneth and Keira their Golden glow

Those fabulous designer gowns worn by Gwyneth Paltrow and Keira Knightley to the Golden Globes?

Priceless.

At least as far as most women are concerned.

But their makeup?

Not drugstore cheap, but somewhat affordable.

So here’s the scoop on what made those actresses look picture-perfect on Globes night.

To compliment Paltrow’s Balenciaga ruffled gown, Dior’s makeup artist Pati Dubroff used:

DiorShow Mascara in Black
Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in A Lick of Taffy
DiorShow Powder in Spotlight Peach
SkinFlash in Candlelight

To accent Knightley’s white strapless vintage Valentino gown, makeup artist Kate Lee used:

DiorSkin Pure Light in Medium Beige
SkinFlash in Candlelight
5-Colour Eyeshadow in Moonray
Kohl Pencil in White
DiorShow Mascara in Black
Dior Addict Lipstick in Analogic Brown
Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in A Lick of Taffy
Brow Gel

Photo (left): Gwyneth Paltrow is aglow in Dior cosmetics and a ruffled romantic Balenciaga frock.
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)

Photo (right): Keira Knightley pouts prettily in Dior makeup and a white strapless Valentino gown.
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)