HOTTER IN HOLLYWOOD

Oscars 2013: HIH's 5 Best Dressed

by Christine Cover Ferro

It’s become common wisdom that anytime Jane Fonda shows up to an event, she’s showing the twenty-somethings how it’s done. This time around, she’s in a canary yellow column by Versace. With shoulder pads. And, not only does she make it work, it’s nothing short of elegant, edgy, and, yes, fabulous. She also gets bonus point for the gold pedicure. (photo credit: Bryan Crowe / ©A.M.P.A.S.)

Lucky Naomie Harris got to wear the winning design from this year’s Red Carpet Green Dress competition. Michael Badger, a design student at SCAD was mentored by Vivienne Westwood throughout the inception and production of the intricately beaded gown. The muted gold is lovely and reminiscent of her Bond girl gown in Skyfall, and the sky-high slit ups the va-va-voom factor. (photo credit: Bryan Crowe / ©A.M.P.A.S.)

Stacy Kiebler went with Art Deco glamour in a gunmetal Naeem Acra sheath. The geometric paillette design and mesh back are both gorgeous details, and the pinned up bob caps off the retro feel nicely. (photo credit: Bryan Crowe / ©A.M.P.A.S.)

It’s not often that you can accurately describe a look as both dramatic and adorable. But then, it’s only been a couple of years that we’ve had the treat of Jennifer Lawrence on the red carpet. Her Dior Haute Couture ballgown is a New Look-inspired showstopper, with the soft pink/cream palette and floral texture bringing the pretty. (photo credit: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S.)

Oscar Wilde famously said that nothing succeeds like excess. Exhibit A: between the Schiaparelli pink and gold color combo, intricate pleating, sweeping skirt and matching pink jewelry, Fan BingBing’s Marchesa number is completely over the top, and I’m loving it. (photo credit: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S.)

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2012 OSCARS: BEST DRESSED

It’s the morning after an L.A. Christmas, but before we shake off the gold dusting and land back in reality, Christine Cover Ferro takes one last look at the fabulous dresses that will be knocked off in a prom section near you this spring...

1. Sandra Bullock (above, left) is back on our list this year with a black and white backless Marchesa gown that was like the world’s best mullet: elegant leading lady in the front, DAYUM in the back.

2. Red carpet darling, and all-around it-girl we most want to get a beer with, Emma Stone (above, right) was adorable in her floaty Giambattista Valli. The gorgeous cherry-red shade and bow gave the 30s inspired silhouette a whimsical pop that was all-too apropos for the comedienne.

3. The ladies of Bridesmaids collectively knocked it out of the park, scoring them a shout-out for best-dressed ensemble. Rose Byrne’s disco-goddess sequined Vivienne Westwood is my pick for best not-so-basic black dress of the night. Annnnd...Scorsese! Drink!

 

3. Cameron Diaz’s ivory Gucci elevated the mermaid dress (above left). It was a perfect dress to show off her fabulous figure, and the jagged sparkle trim and chiffon ruffles evoked the tides coming up a white sand beach, fitting for the sunny California girl.

4. Viola Davis (above, right) has been making red carpet magic this awards season, and her vibrant green Vera Wang was no exception. Gorgeous color, gorgeous shape, gorgeous bling, loving the newly ginger ‘do.

5. Midnight blue Roberto Cavalli fit cool blonde funny girl Leslie Mann to a T. The geometric beadwork plays off the draped sash nicely to give Grecian a new twist.

Christine Cover Ferro

HAVE YOU BEEN TO...WICKED LIT?

HIH's very own Mistress of Style, Christine Cover Ferro, has been working hard on a fabulously frightful production...and you have until this weekend to experience the paranormal activity live in the foothills of Altadena (See? Halloween doesn't have to end).

The scope of Wicked Lit is to create and produce new stage plays based on classic horror literature. Wicked Lit launched its inaugural production in 2009 at the haunted Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills and has also produced a sold-out show at the Biltmore Hotel in conjunction with the Theatre Communications Group National Conference in 2011. 

Wicked Lit 2011 (both Production A and Production B) is located at the Mountain View Mausoleum and Cemetery in Altadena, California. Patrons walk the grounds of the Mausoleum as the theatrical adaptations come to life in these two frightening new theatrical events. Our pick: Production B's Ghost Story, by Mark Twain, which has been given a contemporary (and humorous) twist.

HOT ACTS: THE PHANTOM LADY

Ready to get your theater on?

X Repertory Company inaugurates its second season by bringing to life The Phantom Lady (running May 13-29), a oft-forgotten classical cloak and dagger comedy by Calderon de la Barca. The Phantom Lady is a sweeping, broad, swashbuckling comedy complete with mistaken identities, sword fights, cowardly adult men and the like - not a hard stretch from Hollywood classics such as The Three Musketeers or The Princess Bride with a dash of the Marx Brothers for good measure. 

    Artistic Director Aaron Ganz draws from a variety of physical disciplines, ballet in particular, to approach this haphazard physical comedy. In part drawing inspiration from Walt Disney’s Fantasia, which melded of two art forms: one ancient in every shape and form and one barely in its infancy, The Phantom Lady reexamines the familiar music of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, though through a very different lens: Spanish classical theatre, which, with its archetypes and gestures, blends seamlessly with the structure and poetic movement of ballet.

Utilizing the hundred-year-old structure of Petipa’s original Russian choreography, Ganz and his cast reinvestigate, reinvigorate and re-imagine Calderon’s hidden treasure and enliven the spirit of Los Angeles with this genius of classical theatre, leaving audiences waiting for the next misstep, mishap and ultimately the next laugh.

General Admission: $20. For information, directions, and box office call 213-536-4331 or visit our website at www.xrtc.org

 

EARTH HOUR IS TOMORROW!

At 8:30 PM on Saturday 26th March 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon leads a host of world and civic leaders supporting Earth Hour 2011 as a powerful symbol of a shared wish for a sustainable and secure future.

“All over the world individuals, communities, businesses and governments are creating new examples for our common future – new visions for sustainable living and new technologies to realize it,” said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. “Tomorrow, let us join together to celebrate this shared quest to protect the planet and ensure human well-being. Let us use 60 minutes of darkness to help the world see the light.”

Earth Hour 2011 has reached record participation, with an expected 1.3 billion people 131 countries and territories registered to switch off. Many countries will be officially joining in for the first time, including: Lebanon, Jamaica, Iran, Uganda, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Chad, Azerbaijan, Gibraltar, Palestine, Suriname, Uzbekistan, Trinidad & Tobago and Lesotho. - Christine Cover Ferro

OSCAR 2011: BEST DRESSED

HIH's resident stylist Christine Cover Ferro sat with us during last night's regal Hollywood ceremony and picked out her top red carpet choices...

1. Hailee Steinfeld chose the perfect dress for her Oscar debut. Her blush pink Marchesa dress struck the right balance between elegant and girly and was perfectly accessorized.

2. Halle Berry‘s perfect hourglass body is what designers dream of when they create mermaid dresses.  Her shimmery cream and silver Marchesa is gorgeous and gorgeous on her. The freeform tulle on the train adds a touch of fluff and whimsy.

3. Mila Kunis is the hottest sugarplum fairy ever in this tiered chiffon and lace dress by Elie Saab. Some serious décolletage is offset by the airy shade of lavender and soft silhouette, keeping the look as pretty
as it is sexy.

4. I wish Mandy Moore had stayed in her effervescent Monique Lhuillier arrival dress the whole night. The crystal and tulle confection evokes the sparkliest champagne flute ever. A softer up-do might have better complemented the celebratory vibe, but fresh make-up and bubbly jewelry more than make up for it.

What do you think HIHers?

OSCAR'S BEST DRESSED

Oscar (and, very graciously, Razzie) winning Sandra Bullock might have worn a self-fulfilling prophesy in the form of this shimmery Marchesa column dress. She may very well have shone brighter than LA’s favorite statue in this silver and pale gold embroidered confection.

Statement dresses are not for the rookies. Jennifer Lopez (below, right) is hardly that, and it shows. Her Armani Prive gown is a perfect combo of structure, va-va-voom and pretty. Plus, it’s reminiscent of Enchanted Evening Barbie, like a grown-up, super-glam version of a childhood dream come true.

Penelope Cruz does ballgowns. This is her wheelhouse, and she always looks lovely. Sunday’s Donna Karan took it up a few notches with an asymetric bodice and a gorgeous deep red.

Demi Moore (left) takes on the nude dress, and, where quite a few ladies have tried the look the last few awards seasons and ended up looking washed out, she positively glows in Atelier Versace. Organic pleats and flamenco ruffles are a flirty bonus.

Who said print dresses can’t be formal? Maggie Gyllenhaal (right) sticks with a singularly simple silhouette and lets the bold Dries Van Noten pattern do the talking. It’s an unexpected choice that works perfectly for the offbeat beauty.

Text by Christine Cover Ferro. Pics courtesy of Corbis.

HIH'S 2010 GOLDEN GLOBES TOP 5

Text by Christine Cover Ferro. Photos courtesy of Corbis.

Tuxes and uniforms: it takes effort for a man to look bad in either. Hollywood’s leading gents were by and large looking great last night in their black tie, but Chase Crawford took it to another level, looking impossibly dapper in Dolce & Gabbana. The shawl collar made him stand out in a sea of peaked lapels, and, again, the fit made all the difference. The line of the jacket was flawless, and the trousers had the perfect break for the slim cut. 

Growing up with a grandma that gave us all grief if our shoes and purses didn’t match, I appreciate things going together: a classic, elegant beauty in a classic, elegant dress, Jennifer Garner (above, right) wears dove grey beaded Versace. The result is simple but oh-so-lovely, and the asymmetrical neckline and geometric pattern on the beadwork keep the look fresh. 

Kate Hudson’s been getting slammed left and right in the press today for her architectural Marchesa gown, and I completely disagree. She has the style and confidence to pull off this statement dress, the diamond white works beautifully with her California girl coloring, and her jewelry’s dramatic, but still simple enough to compliment, not compete with, the dress. I would have loved to have seen something fabulous and strappy in lieu of the monster platform pumps that have taken over as THE red carpet shoe of choice all winter, but everything else is working so well together that I’m letting it slide.

Olivia Wilde gave us a valuable a lesson in the importance of a proper fit, or, in her case, impeccable. Her beaded black Gucci hugs every curve, and the vote’s still out on whether the front or back view was sexier. 30s inspired asymmetrical draping soften the look and add a nice touch of Old Hollywood. Ms. Wilde may have forgone the Remember Haiti ribbons that were THE It accessory last night, but she’ll be auctioning off the dress through www.artistsforpeaceandjustice.com, with the proceeds going to relief efforts. And kudos to Jewellers Tiffany & Co., whose provided her gorgeous bling and are donating $10,000 to the charity.  

Kate Winslet’s been consistently great on the red carpet for ages, but she has truly hit her stride in the last year. Last night was no exception. Her midnight blue Yves Saint Laurent was effortless chic, and the subtle sheen on the fabric and crystal detailing accentuated her figure fabulously. She’s also one of the few ladies on the red carpet that has consistently done the one-shoulder look without ever looking anything but perfectly balanced. 

HOTTER IN...CAMELOT

HIH theater hottie, Christine Cover Ferro, is back to give y'all some scoop on a sizzling act stirring things up in...Pasadena?

On Thursday night, I had the good luck to score an invite to the final dress rehearsal of Pasadena Playhouse's Camelot. Absolutely none of the expectations I walked in with were met: I love the fluff and cheese of the old musicals, but this was not a let-down in the least. Nine-time Emmy winner and director David Lee works with a very tight palette to bring Alan Jay Lerner's words and Frederick Lowe's music into being: 8 actors, deceptively sparse set, props and costumes, and one jarring moment of nudity. In doing so, he strips down an old chestnut to the elemental: two boys, a girl, and a love that conquered all - to devastating results.

It's cheeky, sexy, heartbreaking and totally worth a trip to the 626.

Runs January 8 - February 7

Pasadena Playhouse (39 South El Molino Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101

Phone: (626) 356-7529

Website: www.pasadenaplayhouse.org

AN HIH HOLIDAY SPECIAL

'Tis the season for giving. And here at HIH we love to give back.

That's why Michael and I put together "a little something," just for you guys. We hope you like it:

We wish you nothing but the best this holiday season.

Cheers,

H & M

Photos by Oscar Rohena

And special thanks to: Beresford Bennett, Christine Cover Ferro, Evan McNary, Kathrin Eder, Melisa MJ, Wonder Bright and Kate Anthony.