Styles & Scenes

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...

A Jeannie in Felicity's family tree?

It may be time to check the branches on "Desperate Housewives" star Felicity Huffman’s family tree.

There could be a genie hiding in there.

“Transamerica” writer-director Duncan Tucker recently bumped into Barbara Eden, the star of the hit '60s sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie,” at a Los Angeles restaurant.

“I am so thrilled to meet you,” Tucker told the actress. “I just wanted to introduce myself and to thank you for all the joy and light you’ve brought to my life and to all our lives.”

Eden thanked him and after a few minutes told him she was dying to meet his Oscar-nominated “Transamerica” leading lady. She explained that not only is she a fan, but her real name is Barbara Jean Huffman and she thought it possible that they might actually be related.

So Tucker happily took Eden over to the other side of the restaurant to meet Huffman. And guess what? The actresses both have family in Indiana, where Eden’s dad is from.

Gosh, maybe they're long-lost cousins. After all, TV sitcom success does seem to run in the family.

Photo: Talk about wish fulfillment. Duncan Tucker dances with his very own genie, Felicity Huffman, at the November 2005 AFI Fest "Transamerica" screening.
(Steve Granitz / WireImage)

Felicity thinks she's getting Punk'd

Felicity Huffman looked fiercely fit in a tight white Randolph Duke dress at the Palm Springs International Film Festival awards gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Saturday night.

All eyes were definitely on the blonde actress, in part because of the dress and in part because she was one of the few Oscar-hopeful honorees — other than Terrence Howard and last minute-arrival Shirley MacLaine — who walked the PSIFF awards red carpet and spoke to waiting press crews.

Huffman freely admitted that all the attention she’s been getting for her disparate roles — a working wife and mother on ABC’s “Desperate Housewives” and a man having a sex change operation in The Weinstein Co.’s “Transamerica” — is a bit overwhelming.

“I just keep waiting for Ashton Kutcher to jump out and yell “Punk'd!,” she confessed.

Accepting her breakthrough performance award onstage, Huffman acknowledged, “This film would not have been seen by anyone without Harvey Weinstein and Harvey wouldn’t have seen it if my husband (William H. Macy) hadn’t called him and convinced him to come to a screening.”

She also thanked “Transamerica” writer-director Duncan Tucker for his “love of humanity, his desire to unify and heal and his unfailing allegiance to the truth.”

She summed up the controversial film — about a transgender man about to have a sex change operation who finds out he’s fathered a son — for the predominately conservative Republican community: “I think this film proves: That which unifies us outweighs that which divides us. It’s a big world and there’s room for everyone.”

Huffman’s gonna be a busy gal this week. Next stop, tonight’s Critics Choice Awards at the Santa Monica Civic Center where she’s up for the best actress award (“Transamerica”). Then she flies to New York to pick up the best actress award (for “Transamerica”) from the National Board of Review at Tavern on the Green.

Next Monday, Huffman will be at the 2006 Golden Globe Awards where she’s up for three: one for “Housewives,” the other for “Transamerica” and don't forget best ensemble cast for “Housewives.” Finally, she’s set to attend the Screen Actors Guild Awards later this month, where she’s again up for both roles and for best ensemble cast.

Wow. This has gotta be the most elaborate “Punk'd!” Kutcher has ever pulled off.

Photo: Felicity Huffman in a Randolph Duke gown at the Palm Springs International Film Festival awards gala.
(Eric Neitzel / WireImage)

Let the party-planning begin!

The big Golden Globes after-parties, all to be held in the newly renovated Beverly Hilton, are now locked and loaded. Some 6,000 guests are expected to make the rounds of five bashes, right after the televised awards show wraps on Jan. 16, 2006. And here's where everyone's headed.

Universal, Focus Features and NBC will celebrate in high style with a party on the hotel's parking garage roof. And with 22 nominations — including "Pride & Prejudice," "King Kong," "Munich," "The Constant Gardener," "Brokeback Mountain" and "The Producers" — well, you do the star count. This see-and-be scene, held in a large but lavish outdoor tent, will definitely be a hot ticket. So plan your party-going carefully. As with most things in life, timing is everything.

"Last year the body count for that space was 800 and we'll stick close to that number this year," says Brian O'Connor, the Bev Hilton's PR director. When that roof gets full, fire marshals won't let anyone else up there. The same is true of all the parties, natch. And better bring a wrap too. There will be lots of heat lamps in the outdoor spaces but they don't really warm shivering shoulders. They just sizzle brainpans.

InStyle and Warner Bros. will celebrate in the newly renovated space called The Oasis, formerly the Palm Court, with a multilevel entertainment and seating area including tented outside space. This is officially the largest party of the night with 1,000 guests expected. Look out for George Clooney and Charlize Theron, neither of whom are very hard on the eyes.

HBO, with 17 nominations, will have their usual packed pool party at the newly renovated Aqua Star Pool. And, as in years past, the network bash will also take over Merv Griffin's restaurant. The night will also be a farewell party for the restaurant, which will be gutted immediately afterward to create an as-yet-unnamed new "fine dining experience" in the hotel.

Expect those adorable "Entourage" boys, "Curb Your Enthusiam" curmudgeon-creator-star Larry David, maybe "Warm Springs" stars Kenneth Branagh and Cynthia Nixon, "The Girl in the Café" cast, some "Rome" names and maybe even Paul Newman, who is nominated for "Empire Falls."

The Weinstein Co., as reported on "Styles and Scenes" on Nov. 2, are officially back in Harvey and Bob's former Miramax party spot, Trader Vic's. They will also have a tented outside space with seating, bars and plenty of room to mix and mingle, suck up and eat crow. Expect "Transamerica" switch-hitter Felicity Huffman, "Matador" leading man Pierce Brosnan and "Mrs. Henderson Presents" costars Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins.

Rumor was Showtime was going to take over the Stardust Room for their first very big Globes party. But at the last minute, Fox jumped in and made the eighth floor suite their den of festivities to celebrate potential wins (or mourn losses) for "Walk the Line" and "24." Keep an eye peeled for Kiefer Sutherland, Reese Witherspoon, and maybe even that toad-sprouting sweetie, Joaquin Phoenix.

Everybody's a winner in Palm Springs and Santa Barbara

Wanna hold a film festival that will draw scads of A-list stars? Simple. Just give everyone awards!

The  upcoming 17th annual Palm Springs International Film Festival and the 21st annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival will be major star-studded events. Both fests are growing in stature thanks, at least in part, to prominent actors and filmmakers who pop by to pick up an award and get a nice visibility boost in the weeks leading up to the Oscars.

Golden Globe nominees David Cronenberg (“A History of Violence”), Jake Gyllenhaal, (“Brokeback Mountain”) Felicity Huffman (“Transamerica”), Terrence Howard (“Hustle & Flow”), Charlize Theron (“North Country”) and Shirley MacLaine, (“In Her Shoes”) will all be honored on Jan. 7 at the PSIFF Gala Awards. The fest runs Jan 5-16.

The SBIFFl (Feb-2-12) has announced the most impressive talent roster in its history. Receiving honors during the fest: Golden Globe nominees George Clooney ("Good Night, and Good Luck," "Syriana"), Heath Ledger ("Brokeback Mountain")", Naomi Watts ("King Kong"), Philip Seymour Hoffman ("Capote"), and James Cameron. Who? Cameron. Remember his Oscar speech, "I'm king of the world?"

Curious about what award goes to which star? Thought so.