Styles & Scenes

Britney as the new Bachelorette?

Even folks hanging backstage during the American Music Awards were aghast over Jimmy Kimmel’s hilariously disparaging Kevin Federline intro.

Kimmel called Britney’s soon-to-be ex “the first No Hit Wonder” and his new album "his first release  that hasn't spawned a kid." Then he staged a mock magic trick, putting a KFed dummy into a wooden box and dumping it in the ocean at Port San Pedro.

As people were still groaning, he introduced surprise guest presenter Britney Spears –- wearing a bob and a beige dress but still chewing a little bit of gum --  as "the Bachelorette."

Word is that Britney’s camp was not thrilled by the scathing intro. And they claim not to have known about it. Yeah, right. Whatever. I’m sure Federline’s camp, if he still has one, was even less pleased and definitely didn’t know about it.

Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton’s romance may be cooling. They were both at the show but Paris spent last weekend partying with Britney in Vegas. Hmmm. Do we sense a possible new player on "The Simple Life?"

More curious, Paris and Nicole were not seen hanging together backstage. Paris left early after presenting Jamie Foxx with his award. She sprinted backstage to hit the AMA celebrity freebie fest where she greeted Flavor Flav, promising to see him later on that night.

But Nicole –- in a sparkly vintage Dior -- stayed to lovingly introduce her dad Lionel Richie's pathetic act. Some in the audience wondered if his interminable rendition of “All Night Long” might actually go on that long.

Photo Credits: "I swear to god I didn't know he was gonna diss you like that, Kevin." Butterfat wouldn't melt in Britney Spear's mouth  as she presents an award  after Jimmy Kimmel's scathing jokes about her just ditched hubbie, KFed.
Michael Caulfield/WireImage

Naked girls and topless boys close Robertson

Double Grammy winner Eve turned up at the MAC Cosmetics Chinese Dress bash that closed down Robertson Boulevard to car traffic for the first (and hopefully the last) time in WeHo's celebrity-strewn shopping street's history.

The singer/actress was the most famous face among the throngs of MAC devotees who came to the boutique to see a live gallery of a dozen naked models air brushed with MAC pigments to look like they had on sequined dresses. During the um, viewing, bare-chested boys -- their pecs stamped with a Chinese design/character-- passed out Asian nibbles and fruity cocktails.

The astonishing exhibit debuted in Shanghai in 2005 and New York this spring. Next stop? San Francisco in 2007. All the airbrushed designs created by Juicy Couture, Sue Wong and Vivian Tam were variations on the Qi Pao, a classic Chinese garment.

The naked models seemed to get David Hasselhoff all hot 'n' bothered. He carefully scrutinized the girls to see if they were really wearing thongs and pasties. Memo to David: Don't wear that long frock coat again. It makes you look even creepier than those accidentally released divorce accusations/documents do.

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

Fashion Crash 'n Burns at the VMAs

There’s nothing like the MTV Video Music Awards for bad fashion guilty pleasure. And last night’s red carpet was littered with so many traffic-stopping disasters, it was hard to look away.

In case you weren't glued to the set like I was, here's a few highlights:

I'M READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP, MR AFFLECK.

Jennifer Lopez, clearly annoyed she didn’t land Diane Lane’s juicy faded starlet role in her ex Ben Affleck’s new noir "Hollywoodland," auditions anyway with a very impressive Norma Desmond impersonation.

Like they always say, it takes a faded starlet to know a faded starlet.

ICONS WALK AMONG US

Christina Aguilera channels Jean Harlow!

Again.

This time she's vamping it up in a Versace bronze chiffon halter gown platinum waves and (yawn) red lips.

When, oh when, is Miss Chris gonna grow out of the ‘30s? I think I speak for many who are bored into a coma by her constant retro glamorama show.

Besides, now that she’s dropped a few El Bees, she could pull off a decent mid-‘70s Cher.

Hey, she’s got the nose down.

OKAY, SHE'S BEAUTIFUL

I’m not gonna rag on Petra Nemcova about her dreadful wrinkled sack dress and her Pochantas hairdo. Sadly, she's proved she really can look good in a burlap bag.

But about her new beau? Sorry, he’s open season.

First Bruce Willis, now dorky James Blunt?

And ten bucks says Petra dumps him immediately after he immortalizes her in one of his sappy love songs. 

Any takers?

CLUCK OFF

Okay, ignore Paris Hilton's homage to Cyndi (Girls Just Want to Have Fun) Lauper with a white pouf dress and black ankle boots.

This is bigger news than a mere '80s fashion flashback.

Drum roll, please.

Ladies and Gents, we finally have a  new champion in the Best Swan Imitation category.

Thanks to Paris’s amazing jutting chicken neck and the  bird's nest on top of her head, she’s stolen Bjork’s long held title, awarded to the Icelandic singer at the 2001 Oscars.

Wow. Seems like only yesterday. I still remember where I was when she dropped the egg on the carpet.

CURL UP AND DYE

Blonde, black, blonde and back to brunette again.

Does Nicky Hilton have nothing better to do than change her hair color every other week?  Doesn't she have a clothing line or something to keep her busy?

Trust me, Nick, you look better blonde so quit experimenting. And don't listen to Paris's hair color critiques. She's just trying to Gas Light you.

And by the way, this bat-wing sleeved floaty Stevie Nicks number isn’t fooling anyone.

We've all heard the Kevin bun-in-the-oven rumors.

I guess if Nicky stops coloring her hair, we'll know the rumors are true.

JESSICA SUCKS

What's that giant sucking noise? It's not a Hoover, it's Jessica Simpon responding to snarky criticism of her post-divorce pounds by sucking in her stomach and sticking her chest waaay out in an unspired skintight black minidress.

I.. am.... so.... not... fat!. Whew..

Wonder how long she can hold her breath before turning blue.

Guess we'll find out, won't we?

Photo Credits:
WireImage/Dimitrios Kambouris

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

Stars get waisted at Prada party

With the Emmy awards and Emmy parties on the horizon, it’s no surprise so many stars turned out for Miuccia Prada’s “Waist Down” exhibit of her artistic skirts at her Beverly Hills boutique.

Ben Kingsley, Dustin Hoffman, and Joaquin Phoenix  gave a heavy-weight acting awards feel to the super-chic skirt-loving crowd that included Angie Harmon, Heather Graham, Molly Sims, Eva Mendes, Michelle Trachtenberg, Patricia Arquette, Michelle Rodriquez, Paris and Nicky Hilton along with skinny-mini Mary Kate Olsen, looking tres goth, smothered up in black with ruby red lips.

Also at the party: Hilton's main social antagonists Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie. Perhaps their angry rifts are cooling due to some kind of Hollywood nuclear weapons disarmament treaty. Or maybe it was the free frocks.

Richie arrived before Lohan and was seen briefly eyeing the huge seafood buffet before deciding against sustenance and heading upstairs to the VIP area with melted green plastic walls that looked like they were stolen from the set of “Aliens.”

But even though she resisted a jumbo shrimp, Richie is not, I repeat, not anorexic. She probably wasn't hungry because she'd just eaten dinner the night before.

Other stars simply couldn't resist the  sea-faring temptation. Surprise-surprise, Courtney Love made a lengthy pit stop at the seafood bar to refuel with handfuls of jumbo shrimp, lobster claws and giant crab legs. TV fashion pundit Steven Cojocaru was also eating high on the hog and looking eerily more like his idol Joan Rivers every minute.

Longtime Prada lover Lyle Lovett came with a young girl who looked she could be his daughter but was probably his fiancé, April Kimble. “I love Prada, especially the techno pants. I wear them on stage when I perform,” he revealed.

Former supermodel-still-turning-actress Amber Valletta gleamed in a gold Prada lace top and gold satin short-shorts. "I think her hot pants-wearing days are done," whispered one onlooker.

The big question of the night was: will we see mucho Miuccia Prada at the Emmys?

“I really don’t know,” answered Prada prone supe- stylist Rachel Zoe, who arrived at the same time as some of her Prada-clad clones, er girls, including Joy Bryant, Richie and Lohan.

“Miuccia is very specific about who she dresses so we’ll just have to see. But it would be very fun!”

The Rem Koolhaus-designed boutique is a perfect party pad with skyhigh ceilings, low white sofas, and a wide sweeping staircase up to the second floor where you can peek down and check out which guy is a potential Hair Club for Men client.

The Prada skirts exhibited - full skirts splattered on walls and spinning suspended from the ceiling - sure made for fun festive décor. Not to mention all the plasma screens showing past fashion shows. By night's end, none of the small Prada skirt souvenir pins scattered around the store were left. Guests, stars and even stylists were lining their Prada purses with handfuls of the party souvenirs.

One source thought that there just might be an Emmy party in the works for the special store.  But another insider made mock of that idea, “Miuccia would not allow a party to be held here that she was not totally in charge of.”

So we’ll just have to see. But, like Zoe said, It would be very fun. And the marvelous "Waist Down" exhibit will be on display until, fittingly, August 27, the night of the Emmys.

Photo Credits: Angie Harmon fixes Lindsay Lohan's hair when she arrives late at the Prada party. What are friends for? Limos can be so  hard on the hairdo.

Photo Credits: Molly Simms and Eva Mendes get cozy for the cameras in fabulous free Prada dresses.

Photo Credits: Rebecca Romjin and Courtney Love share  - hopefully - some diet tips. Bottom's up, girls. Let's also hope that's just sparkling water in Love's champagne flute.

All from WireImage/Michael Caulfield

Young Hollywood turns out for T-Mobile

Well, now we know.

Here's why Eva Longoria, from the award-winning show "Desperate Housewives," was in such a mad rush to get her hair done Tuesday evening at Jordan's Enchanted Cottage in West Hollywood.

She was headed straight to the T-Mobile Sidekick 3 party held later that night at the Hollywood Palladium.

The place was packed with the usual celeb suspects such as the Backstreet Boys, LA club empresario Brent Bolthouse, Donovan Leitch, Serena Williams, Jaime King, Rachel Bilson, "Crash" director Paul Haggis, Taryn Manning, Amanda Bynes, Haylie and Hilary Duff, Jessica Simpson, Mischa Barton with beau Cisco Adler, whew, and those still  battling ex-BFs Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton.   

And in case you were wondering, yes, all the attending celebs got a free Sidekick 3 for their time and trouble. 

Richie was spotted inside flailing her pipe cleaner arms while dancing with Mario Lopez. With her new long blonde hair extensions, she really does look like a Paris Hilton clone. But she's getting so darn emaciated that we're gonna start calling her Auschwitz Hilton.

Meanwhile, Paris has cleverly figured out a way to really stand out at parties. Bring brunette friends! She spent most of the night posing and partying with her new bookend brunette sidekicks, Caroline D'Amore and Kim Kardashian.

Photo Credits: Jessica Simpson and Eva Longoria put their perfectly coiffed heads together to figure out the new T-Mobile Sidekick 3. Good luck, girls.
WireImage/Gregg DeGuire

Photo Credits: Whoa, watch where you wave those buggy whips, little lady. You could poke someone's eye out! Nicole Richie shows off her moves with Mario Lopez at the T-Mobile Sidekick 3 bash.
WireImage/Chris Weeks
 

Paris caught kissing a new bitch

Remember back when Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie were regularly seen kissing - each other - at Hollywood parties?  Ah, those were the days.

Now they don’t even appear onscreen at the same time on the surprisingly amusing new season of “The Simple Life: Til Death Do Us Part.”

But Paris was caught on camera smooching another little bitch at the Idols of Gay Hollywood exhibit at the Hollywood Museum. Not that seeing her PDAs are any big whoop anymore. But the paparazzi went nuts when Paris's kissing partner’s wet pink tongue whipped out and licked off her lip gloss.

Here’s the scoop: Paris’s new kissing bandit is Junebug, just one year old. And at 1 lb. 10 oz., she weighs just slightly less than Nicole. And, apparently, less than Paris’s now portly pooch, Tinkerbell.

“Oooh, she is just the cutest, can I hold her? That’s how small Tinks was when I got her,” cooed Paris when she spotted the fashionably attired mini-pooch (black coat/white fur collar) with her companion/owner Jake Dynnis.

Dynnis is fiercely famous in Hollywood as the designer behind the canine line Jackrocketwear, sold at trendy puppy tog boutiques such as Doggie Styles in Beverly Hills.  And she’s already stitched up several couture (made-to-measure) outfits for Paris's former constant carpet accessory, Tinks.

But Paris may order smaller outfits soon. Maybe even in time for the Emmys.

Still clutching the teeny-tiny Yorkie, Paris looked at her mom, Kathy Hilton, with pleading puppy dog eyes. “Mom, this is what I want. A tiny one just like her.” Then they got Junebug's breeder information from Dynnis.

Wow. Poor Tinks. That's pretty harsh. Maybe she should try to drop a few ounces so Paris can lug her around again.

Photo Credits: Hey! No tongue! Paris's brand new kissing partner - Junebug - at the Hollywood Museum's "Gay Idols of Hollywood" exhibit.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images/Karl Walter.

Paris and Nicky's "Entourage" night out

“Wow, this is a lot different from the last premiere,” Adrian Grenier whispered to HBO honcho Carolyn Strauss at Thursday’s premiere of “Entourage.” “Last time it was just three guys with Instamatics.”

The Emmy-nominated series about a hot young Hollywood actor and his squabbling posse of hangers-on has officially caught on.

The press line outside the Cinerama Dome was so long that the screening was delayed by 45 minutes as stars Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Debi Mazur, Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Dillon and the incorrigible Jeremy Piven (typecast as the smarmy Ari Gold) hugged it out and coughed up well-rehearsed sound bites for TV crews and rag reporters.

Adding a surreal quality, perennial Party Girls Paris and Nicky Hilton showed up and strolled the carpet.

Apparently Nicky’s still dating (and this has gotta be a Hollywood record) Connolly, despite the fact that the extra-tall blonde makes the already diminutive actor look like a Hobbit.

But the really surreal aspect was....

Photo Credit: Nicky Hilton towers over Kevin Connolly at the "Entourage" premiere.  Who practices their poses more, we wonder? 
WireImage/Gregg DeGuire

Who are you wearing? Marchesa by Weinstein, of course

As Harvey Weinstein swept through HBO's pre-Globes bash at the Chateau Marmont, he screeched to a halt to say a big bonjour to famous French fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier.

“Patrick, I want you to meet my girlfriend,” said Weinstein, gesturing to his slender, striking brunette date, Georgina Chapman, who has been dating the recently divorced former Miramax movie mogul, 53, for a respectable amount of time.

But little did Demarchelier know that this young woman was about to cause major red carpet burn this awards season.

In suspiciously swift record time, Chapman, a British model-actress-designer, and partner Keren Craig have hit big time celebrity pay dirt with their new Marchesa clothing line.

The line's name is an homage to eccentric clotheshorse and party girl Italian aristocrat Marchesa Luisa Casati — (1881-1957), who sounded a bit like a proto-Paris Hilton when she intoned: “I want to be a living work of art.”

Anyway, let's play connect-the-Marchesa-dots. First, Renée Zellweger wore a Marchesa creation to the “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” London premiere. Zellweger (remember these connections because there may be a pop quiz) happened to star in "Cold Mountain" and "Cinderella Man", both linked to Miramax for production and distribution. Then Cate Blanchett wore a Marchesa sari to the Rome premiere of "The Aviator,” a film that Miramax helped produce and distribute in the U.S.

Are you with me so far? Good. Next up, Scarlett Johansson — soon to star in "The Nanny Diaries," a new Weinstein Co. production — wore a Marchesa design on a red carpet. Then came Penelope Cruz, who starred in the 2000 Miramax film "All the Pretty Horses", wearing a pale pink Marchesa at the 2006 Golden Globes.

For a grand finale, Felicity Huffman — star of "Transamerica," Weinstein's big post-Disney/Miramax-muddle hit — wore a white Marchesa frock to pick up her best actress Globe at the show and dance the night away at the after-parties.

“Harvey asked those actresses, including Felicity, to wear his girlfriend’s dresses to their premieres or to an important awards show,” sniffed one longtime Hollywood style insider. “And it was a ‘favor' that Felicity really couldn’t refuse.”

True or not, Huffman certainly felt she owed Weinstein one. Accepting her Breakthrough Performance Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala in early January, a Huffman doled out heartfelt thanks.

“This movie wouldn't have been seen by anyone if it were not for Harvey Weinstein. And Harvey wouldn't have seen the film if William Macy (Hoffman's husband) hadn't called him up, got him on the phone and convinced him to come to a screening the next day. That’s a good boyfriend to have, huh?”

Interestingly, hubby Macy also starred with Cruz in "Sahara." Hmm. Did a Macy call to Cruz return Weinstein's "Transamerica" favor? Was that how Cruz, who favors Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta, discovered the fledging Marchesa line?

We may never know. But the fashion fairy tale is far from over. Spotted at Marchesa’s recent fashion show at the Rainbow Room during New York’s Fashion Week: Josh Hartnett (who is, ahem, dating Johansson), Anne Hathaway, (she voiced a character in Weinstein Co.'s animated film, "Hoodwinked") Huffman's "Desperate Housewives" pal, costar Nicolette Sheridan and Marchesa-in-the-making Nicole Richie.

Not that the lovely Marchesa gowns don't deserve attention. But the line's success has come so fast that it's making other designers — who've struggled for years to get stars to wear their gowns — turn chartreuse with envy.

Photo: Have you met my fashion designer girlfriend? Glamour mag editrix Cindi Leive (left) and Georgina Chapman talk with Harvey Weinstein at the Weinstein Co./Glamour 2006 Golden Globes after-party.
(Lester Cohen / WireImage)

Will an actress wear a Marchesa to the upcoming Oscars? Probably. But the big question is: who? And the answer may lie in the Weinstein Co.'s 2006-2007 movie slate. Could the next Marchesa model be...