Amy Adams took the mic at the Costume Designer Guild Awards. (photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
Wednesday before the Oscars, I got a preview of the Architectural Digest-built Academy Awards greenroom. David Rockwell did the design (think a hip suburban loft) and Susan Sarandon curated images for a Samsung media wall. Meanwhile, a full week of back-to-back soirées made everyone, stars and myself included, sleep deprived and jittery by Oscar Sunday.
The 19th Annual Costume Designer Guild Awards
At The Beverly Hilton Hotel for the Costume Designer Guild Awards, Blue Jasmine costume designer Suzy Benzinger won the contemporary film award. Talk about a great omen for Cate Blanchett. Benzinger told me that Blanchett fit the Fendi sample size like a glove, no alterations. Apparently that is the first step to become a glamour icon.
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Trish Summerville got a nod for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, naturally. Her gown was sleeveless and she was showing fab tattoos on her forearms. Meanwhile, at the podium, Amy Adams thanked the Guild. “You’ve taught me to not lie about my measurements,” she said. “Also, I don’t complain about my 5:45 call time, because if I’m there at 5:45, you’re there at 3:45. Also, you’ve taught me to always wear undergarments to a fitting.” Superb point.
Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts held court together at the Bulgari Decades of Glamour party. (photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Bulgari Decades of Glamour Pre-Oscar Party
Bulgari took the glam factor up a big notch by hosting a fête at Soho House in Los Angeles, which has the feel of an enchanted garden. Kate Hudson wore short white skirt, yellow Pucci blouse, and big Buglari medallion. Also spotted: Naomi Watts (who co-hosted the affair), Jessica Biel, and Olivia Munn, all sparkling with gems. The gift bag packed a pair of Bulgari sunglasses in a glittering cylindrical case.
Vanity Fair Campaign Hollywood Party
Youngish Hollywood turned out at a fab bar with a speakeasy-style entrance (down stairs behind a bookcase) called No Vacancy. Vanity Fair and Fiat, the hosts, had to open up an easier entrance route to squeeze everyone in. The crowd included Nick and Joe Jonas, Kellan Lutz, Kate Mara, and Kiernan Shipka, from Mad Men, who suddenly appears all grown up.
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Global Green Pre-Oscar Party
During a downpour at Avalon Hollywood, Malin Akerman (who speaks Swedish, by the way) busted a move while Moby and The Silver Lake Chorus rocked the “zero-waste” fête for Global Green. Celebs arrived on an emerald ersatz turf carpet; auction items included a trip to Turtle Island resort in Fiji; and a Cadillac ELR plug-in hybrid vehicle was parked on a platform out front. I spotted Twilight buds Kellan Lutz and Ashley Greene.
Lupita Nyong'o introduced her mom to fellow nominees like Jared Leto at the Indie Spirit Awards. (photo: Randall Michelson/Getty Images)
IFC Film Independent Spirit Awards
Host Patton Oswalt kept everyone in stitches at the IFC Film Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica. FIJI Water kindly invited me to their table, with hundreds of bottles of their water lined up behind us. Oswalt kidded that Bruce Dern had come to the event just to see the ocean one last time, adding that Dern was old that he wanted to ask him about the making of Nebraska—the state.
One award envelope was flown out by a drone, which accidentally dropped the parcel in the audience. Later, Oswald came out with a blood-stained shirt and cautioned us from ever getting too close to a drone.
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Oscar weekend it girl Lupita Nyong’o won the Spirit award for best actress. She was there with her mother and mentioned that it was her birthday. Big day, but not as big as Sunday…
Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon
Lupita Nyong’o foreshadowed her Oscar look by wearing a jeweled headband to the Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel. She had been honored by LoveGold at Chateau Marmont the day before. Close but not quite gold, Oprah wore lemon to the Essence fête. The most painful moment was when an older well-dressed woman spent 15 minutes stalking Danai Gurira, from The Walking Dead. She wormed into a photo with her and then I heard Gurira say, “But I’m not Lupita!” She said she’s been getting that a lot. Ouch.
Rumer Willis sang to the crowd at Hollywood Domino. (photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Hollywood Domino for Artists for Peace and Justice
The annual Hollywood Domino party sponsored by Bovet jewelry at Sunset Tower felt homey. Rumer Willis crooned Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" beautifully, and she later got up onstage yet again, after pledging to give the charity which is building schools in Haiti $2,500 per year for several years, saying, “What is that, shoes and a dress?” To be fair, her dress that night probably would have cost a good deal more than that. Nick Jonas, in a snappy tux, walked right into me on his way into the room where the auction was taking place, and while he wasn’t talking to press that night, he did offer a kind apology. It could have been my fault.
Dom Perignon Honors Twenty Feet from Stardom
As a rainstorm broke and the threat of mudslides loomed, I broke out the tweeds and headed to Chateau Marmont for the heady Dom Perignon lunch in honor of Twenty Feet from Stardom. I was seated with the producers of the documentary who would take the Oscar on Sunday evening. Darlene Love was at the center of the table, next to André Balazs, and at the far end, Jacqui Getty and Derek Blasberg. We tasted 2002 and then 2004 Dom Perignon. Yum.
June Squibb, Lupita Nyong'o, Cathy Schulman, and Helen Mirren popped bottles at the Women in Film Pre-Oscar Party. (photo: John Sciulli/Getty Images)
Women in Film Pre-Oscar Party
Estée Lauder's John Demsey and MAC Cosmetics sponsored the annual Women in Film fête at Fig & Olive. Helen Mirren got woozy on the carpet and had to sit for a moment and suck a cocktail before she came back to chat. I also met June Squibb, who was so funny in Nebraska.
Sony Picture Classics Oscar Nominees Dinner
Sony Picture Classics graciously invited me to their bubbly dinner presented by Moët & Chandon at STK. Cate Blanchett attended in a black, one-shoulder Stella McCartney jumpsuit. She told me she’d be wearing an Italian designer on Sunday and I correctly guessed Armani. As the event was held on the eve of the Oscars, guests, including myself, were backing off on the Moet and sucking down FIJI Water instead.
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