Diamonds, Divas and Debra

The Pink Panther 2 premiere at New York’s Ziegfeld Theater was full of surprises last night. Steve Martin made an entrance by driving a Smart Fortwo car on the pink carpet (Ed Begley Jr., eat your heart out), a man in a Pink Panther suit ran amok, and Debra Winger showed up looking like the bride of Crocodile Dundee. I’m hoping there’s a reason here. For all of this.

Not a surprise was the glittering fashion from the women who starred in the caper (and it’s time to bring back the ‘caper’ don’t you think?) Emily Mortimer wore a Chloe white cocktail dress with mismatched metal accessories, including one whopper of a flower diamond choker.

Indian goddess, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, arrived wearing an Alberta Ferretti black chiffon draped gown with a traditional round diamond necklace that positively sparkled. Word has it her ‘people’ aren’t happy about her minimal role in the film and lack of placement in the marketing materials. And you thought Steve Martin was the only diva roaming the pink carpet?

The film debuts on February 13th and follows the antics of that iconic French police detective, Jacques Clouseau, in his newest mission. This time, he’s aided by a team of international detectives and experts who help him catch a pesky thief who steals legendary treasures from around the world.

See? Capers. The world needs more of them these days. I’d kill to see one starring Debra Winger. In that outfit.

Jennifer Aniston? I’m Just Not That Into Your Pants Suit.

The premiere of the highly anticipated chick flick He’s Just Not that Into You starring Jennifer Aniston took place last night in Los Angeles, and, Jen, I have to say it. I’m just not that into your pants suit.

Why oh why does one of the hottest stars on the planet have to disappoint me so with this boring fashion display? For a girls' night out with Courtney or a John Mayer concert, sure, the pants suit could be a cool “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan” look. But for the premier of the biggest chick flick since Sex and the City? C’mon! We need our fashion fix from the girl next door. And it doesn’t come in the guise of a (snore) pants suit no matter how much cleavage you show, Jen, or boring gold pendant necklaces you layer.

In fact, despite the star wattage on the red carpet from the likes of Drew Barrymore, Scarlett Johansson, and Jennifer Connelly (looking both skeletal and sequined) - no one really hit the ball out of the park on this red carpet. Let’s hope this fashion showing is not as lackluster as what promises to be a pretty funny film.











Drew Barrymore continued her ‘almost but not quite’ red carpet showing in a Lanvin dress with an awkward length but lovely pony-tailed hair, make up and diamond clusters. From the neck up, we’re a go.










And a newly brunette Scarlett J. wore a strapless Oscar de la Renta bed spread from what I can gather, yet her orange gemstone earrings and ruby right hand ring accessorized the look well.










Orange worked a bit better on Big Love’s Ginnifer Goodwin, whose flower statement necklace won the night in my book, but her mini Bottega Venetta dress didn’t photograph well, and the strappy sandal silhouette didn’t quite work.

Quick side bar: Will that strappy gladiator pump look just get buried already in the fashion graveyard along with Crocs and Ugg Boots? And pants suits at high profile premiers? Please?

He’s Just Not that Into You opens nationwide on Friday.

A Heavy Metal Showing at the DGAs

The seemingly endless awards season continued this weekend in Los Angeles with the 61st annual Directors Guild Awards, and the red carpet shimmered with metallics that marveled - and some that missed the mark.

Slumdog Millionaire helmer, Danny Boyle, came out on top as the night’s big winner, as did the star of his film, Fredia Pinto in a Zac Posen metallic mini with nary a jewel in sight. Metallic frocks always pose the problem of how to properly accessorize without venturing into gaudy-land, and Pinto’s less-is-more choice worked in my book.

Another beauty proving her ‘metal’ was Amy Adams in a silver sequined Jasmine Di Milo dress from Spring 2007 with just a splash of diamonds on the ears. And doing some heavy metal lifting was fellow Oscar nominee, Marisa Tomei, in white strapless Dior and a chunky silver statement necklace with heart details and a cuff to match. Ms. Tomei often walks the fine line between glam and gauche, and this time the look served her well.



















Not as successful was Brothers & Sisters’ Rachel Griffiths, whose champagne coloured Lanvin dress with Neil Lane jewels felt more potato sack than posh. And Virginia Madsen is usually the perfect incarnation of old school Hollywood glamour, but this metallic blue mermaid look with gold drop earrings looks like it would work better on the costume rack of a Bette Midler review. Sorry, Virginia.



















Keeping things boringly tasteful was Claire Danes in a navy Temperley London gown with big diamond hoops and Taraji P. Henson in a strapless black Kaufman Franco number that would have fared better without the awkwardly shaped diamond necklace – the bodice beading gave the look enough sparkle in that area, don’t you think?










While it’s clear some of these celebs could use a little more ‘direction’ in the fashion department, the DGAs are the perfect place to work out the red carpet kinks before the Academy Awards, where the fashion stakes are high and real gold 'metal' winner is Oscar! To be continued...