The Emperor's New Movie

What would entice some of Hollywoods hottest divas to spend an evening in a museum? Designer clothes and a movie of course. Blondes, brunettes and razor thin silhouettes turned out in force to honor the last Emperor of fashion and catch a movie premiere.

Special effects be gone - this one was all about the clothes..... Valentino's clothes. The documentary, Valentino: The Last Emperor, debuted in New York last night at the Museum of Modern Art with an audience of hard-core fashionistas, wanna-be fashionistas, muses, critics and the seriously beautiful.

Valentino is renowned for his penchant for all things - well all things extravagant. He's never been one to nod in the direction of minimilism. The septuagenarian designer, with his perma-orange tan, is known for his outlandish sense of more is more and less isn't by any means more. The movie, (which has been receiving mixed reviews - depends I suppose on where you stand on the more or less side of the scale) shows the man's six pugs on board their master's private jet, having their teeth brushed and being adorned with diamond earrings.

Doggy diamond earrings, now there's a thought (that should be banished).

Last night it was a diamonds on divas - not dogs that were causing a rucus. Surprisingly not as much bling as one would expect in an evening devoted to the Emperor himself.

Madonna, Gwyneth, Anne and Agyness were on hand to bow before the Emperor. Madge sporting a knuckleduster ring and looking as ageless as ever. Gwyneth in her signature black - and Ms. Hathaway knocking 'em all for six in a stunning white dress and just the right amount of bling.........

Score one for the brunettes last night....way to go Anne.

Vince Vaughn - Celebrity Engagement Ring Sighting!

Funny man, Vince Vaughn, might keep moviegoers in stitches, but he is all kinds of serious about his diamonds. The 38-year-old actor proposed to his Calgary realtor girlfriend, Kyla Weber, on Valentine’s Day, and the engagement ring made a glittering debut this weekend.

Vaughn was introduced to Weber in May by a mutual friend. Since then, the two have been inseparable.

The happy couple took the four-carat diamond stunner to the movies in Santa Monica over the weekend, and hovering paparazzi got a good look at the rock - which is worth a reported $125,000.

"It's magnificent," fellow realtor, Sylvia Smith, told, Sun Media. "It's a great big diamond surrounded by other circular diamonds."

No wedding date has been set but Weber, 29, recently relocated to L.A.

"They're both very excited," adds a source close to Vaughn. "He's a simple, Midwestern, good guy and she's very down-to-earth, which is exactly what Vince is all about."

With Brad and Angelina dominating the Oscars, John Mayer bailing out yet again, and now Vince Vaughn's pending nuptuals - you gotta think - this just isn’t Jennifer Aniston’s year.

PIE!!!

jessica alba is just hot, even more so when she is pregnant
RAWR

Diamonds and Divas Debut at The Met

Diamonds, gold and gorgeous fashion were all on display at last night’s glittering gala celebrating the Metropolitan Opera’s 125th anniversary.











The Opera (with a capital “O”) is NOT the place for the pants suit, and I’m happy to report nary a one could be found as stars like Brooke Sheilds, Patricia Clarkson and Juliana Marguiles lit up the runway with tasteful diamond looks and gowns galore by the evening's sponsor, Yves Saint Laurent.











Big Love’s Gennifer Goodwin looked lovely in a YSL printed dress with black diamond earrings and metallic cuffs, and supermodel Claudia Schiffer opted for a similar statement on the wrist with a series of silver bangles to go with her basic black.



















Other red carpet highlights included Kanye West’s main squeeze, Amber Rose, in icy diamond studs, Becki Newton and Diane Kruger keeping the bling to a minimum with gorgeous strapless gowns – both by YSL – and Zoe Saldana in verdant green with diamond drop earrings.



















Fashion misses included Parker Posey in a burgundy bolero and layered gold chains, Emily Mortimer in an unflattering maroon sequined YSL number with minimal bling, and Mary Kate Olsen, whose right hand rings and black kimono dress would have worked better without the Elvira make up and bed- head hair.

Not to be missed, however, were the amazing gala performances, which included a tribute to Placido Domingo and a star-studded sampling from The Met’s upcoming season. Clocking in at over three hours, the jam-packed program perhaps gave the crowd a reason to root for the ‘fat lady’ to sing. But regardless of the singers’ stamina, a diamond-filled, pants suit-less night at the opera is a glowing success in my book.

Julia Is Back in Basic Black

Julia Roberts is back on the red carpet promoting her film, Duplicity, after a long hiatus. And while it’s great to see the Pretty Woman back in action, the Hollywood A-lister is clearly not taking any big risks in the fashion department.

Roberts wore a (yawn) black pants suit with yellow gold hoops on the carpet in London and a Lanvin LBD with classic diamond drops in gay Paris. She looked stunning, of course, but here’s hoping she takes it up a notch once she makes it back states-side.



















While Julia Roberts is arguably the most bankable leading lady working today, it took a bit of coaxing from co-star Clive Owen to get the mother-of-three out of semi-retirement.

"I [took] her out for lunch and told her that I'd read a script that was dynamite and it would be great for the two of us to do it," he said at the premiere. "She was actually pregnant, so I had to wait another year before she finally read it and said yes."

And even though the superstar made noise to red carpet reporters about wanting to work in the London theater, she isn’t making any big plans in the near future.

“I’d like to do it when by kids are a little bigger. It’s a big transplant to come over here, though, and it would take up a lot of time. But a girl can dream!”

Maybe she'll get used to the spotlight again and start taking more risks - in front of the cameras and in the fashion department (a girl can dream). But, for now, I'll take classic Julia while I can get it.

Spikes, Stilettos and Soda Can Chic

Alexander McQueen may be the only designer in Paris who refused to bow to the conservative malaise blanketing the fashion industry like a lingering rain cloud. Words like ‘sensible’ and ‘accessible’ had no business on his runway yesterday, folks.

Instead, McQueen dazzled the crowd with chain mail suits, lampshade hats, shiny hooded dresses and soda can accessories that screamed to the world, “You can take your economic woe and shove it!”

Think Grace Jones on ‘shrooms.


















According to Style.com, the crowd got in a heated debate after the spectacle – the older folks felt the ‘blow-up doll make-up’ and uncomfortable ensembles were misogynistic. The younger crowd – tired of all the sense and sensibility - couldn’t get enough.

Yet despite the over-the-top headpieces, unwalkable stacked heels and spikey jewelry, there were some incredibly made clothes on display.

Boxy jackets, airy dresses and fiercely tailored coats made a glittering appearance, and biker jacket chic and big shoulders also made an impression.



















But it was the sheer bravado of the line that made the program such a show-stopper. You have to wonder how many seamstresses were needed to make all the feathers and soda cans combine into this freakish display.

We may not see another runway quite like this for a while – so regardless of your sartorial sensibilities – perhaps we should get while the gettin's good.

What do you guys think? Would you wear any of this - or is that not the point?

Pantone Speaks: Iron Is the New Black

Now that jilted Bachelor star, Melissa Rycroft, is making her much-deserved comeback on Dancing With The Stars, we can all go back to our normal routine of OctoMom judging and fashion hunting. To that end, jewelry hounds, I give you the eagerly awaited Pantone 2009 Fall Color Report.

Who cares if it’s only March 10th?

Each season, Pantone surveys the designers of New York Fashion Week to collect feedback on prominent collection colors, color inspiration and color philosophy. The information is then used to create the Pantone Fashion Color Report that serves as a reference tool throughout the year for fashion enthusiasts, reporters and retailers alike.

"The fall 2009 palette is more unique and thoughtful than the typical autumnal hues of years past," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

"Designers recognize the desire for fundamental basics that speak to current economic conditions, but also understand the need to incorporate vibrant color to grab the consumers' eyes and entice them to buy."

Fall 2009 brings us a “true red” in American Beauty, which is said to go with all skin tones. Purple Heart continues the hue’s trend as a must-have in your wardrobe, and the more subdued Honey Yellow provides an interesting contrast. Iron as the new Black will make traditional basics more interesting, and the season’s signature color, Burnt Sienna, brings back earthy oranges into our color lexicon.

So what jewelry should we wear to make the Pantone people proud? Yellow gold continues to be a hue that compliments the earth tones hitting the runways, and gemstones like amethysts and orangey citrine can add the right color combo to a basic look. And it goes without saying, but diamonds, of course, defy any Pantone prediction.

While you might not care that Crème Brulee is the new White or Majolica Blue is the new Navy, it’s always fun to see what the fashionistas are crowing on about this time of year. And here is a look at the Spring 2009 Pantone colors in case your concern for Melissa’s happiness has overshadowed your interest in what’s really important.