Feature Feed

Plucky Behavior

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

—Celia Ellenberg

Touched by Angels

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

—Tommy Ton

Flesh Hunters

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

All hell broke loose on Houston Street on Thursday night: Barricades held back teary-eyed tweens outside the Sunshine Cinema, burly security men were not afraid to shove, and—last but not least—guests had to endure the trauma of turning their mobile telephones and cameras in before entering the theater. Why the fuss? Because the First Family of Vampire Cinema was in town, of course, here to attend the NYC unveiling of New Moon, the second installment of the Twilight series. "Robert, Taylor, and Kristen, who no longer even need last names," the film's director, Chris Weitz, said as he introduced the cast to his friends. For those who've been sleeping in a coffin for the last year, that would be Pattinson, Lautner, and Stewart.

"This might be the most beautiful screening I've been to," Weitz added. "I don't think I've ever seen a more glamorous audience watch a movie." Yes, the likes of Jessica Szohr, Taylor Momsen, and Jessica Stam all looked lovely this evening, even if all eyes were on the stars. Nearly the entire room sat swiveled in the chairs, focusing attention not on the screen but rather on a row near the back of the auditorium that was designated for the cast. And then, before the lights even dimmed in the theater, the troupe scooped up their darkened tresses and left.

Perhaps paparazzi flashbulbs act like daylight on vampires, because Pattinson and co. were still missing in action at the after-party. "Where are the bloody Cullens?" Agyness Deyn asked Alexa Chung. With Fergie, Ed Westwick, the Kills' Alison Mosshart, and Emma Roberts in attendance, there was plenty of eye candy to snack on. But that presumably wasn't enough to sustain the fans who stood outside The Box, apparently unaware of the advice of Pattinson. Earlier in the night, he joked to a friend, "Everyone knows this movie comes out in about four hours, right?" True, the first public screenings were at midnight Friday morning, but as any screaming, digital camera-wielding, die-hard Twilight fan will tell you, the movie is just the start. Pattinson may play an unusually abstemious bloodsucker in the series, but his admirers were looking for flesh.

—Derek Blasberg

Holiday 2009: Fashion Editors' Wish Lists

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Depp Charge

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Two leading men loaned their charisma to a pair of New York arts fundraisers last night. At MoMA, Johnny Depp's entrance threw guests into a tizzy at a benefit for the museum's film department that also served as a sneak preview of its retrospective of work by moviemaker (and frequent Depp collaborator) Tim Burton. Not exactly known for his love of the social circuit, Depp brushed his hair out of his eyes and darted through the lobby's Edward Scissorhands-inspired topiaries to lurk in an under-lit corner with Patti Smith—but the shadows couldn't consume him entirely. "I see him!" Brooke Shields exclaimed.

Twilight starlet Ashley Greene came in just as the pre-dinner film program (emceed by Danny DeVito) was about to begin. She'd just re-watched Burton's blood-soaked musical Sweeney Todd. "The part that sticks out in my head the most is when Helena [Bonham Carter] is making pies and there's cockroaches in them," Greene said. "I actually made my mother watch that with me on Christmas." (Wonder what she queues up on Halloween.)

Meanwhile, Alec Baldwin was doing double duty at an Artwalk fundraiser benefiting the Coalition for the Homeless. (Co-chair Richard Gere canceled last-minute, apparently to sit with the Dalai Lama in Rome.) The Emmy-winning star of 30 Rock posed for endless fan photos, bought two paintings, served as auctioneer for the evening's non-art lots, and retained a seasoned vet's sense of humility through it all. "I'm never going to compete with Johnny Depp in the magnetism department. But times are tough economically in New York, and we got a bigger crowd here than ever," Baldwin said, before excusing himself. "I've got to leave now, because I've got to make some money to pay for the paintings."

—Darrell Hartman

Going for Broken

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Pedro Almodóvar is known for his female ensemble casts, and fittingly, quite a crew of gals came out to support Tuesday night's Cinema Society screening of the Spanish director's latest film, Broken Embraces. Fergie, Mira Sorvino, and Angela Lindvall were among those who showed at the Crosby Street Hotel screening and Standard Hotel after-party. Almodóvar himself couldn't make it, which meant extra air kisses for Calvin Klein Collection creative director Francisco Costa. (The clothing company co-hosted the evening.) "But really," Costa said, "what we all want is the sort of worship that Pedro and Penélope Cruz enjoy. That man is a genius. And have you ever seen a woman like that?" Yes, sitting in the corner of the Standard's Boom Boom Room was the Oscar-winning actress herself, surrounded by her congregation, which on this night included Marion Cotillard and Precious' Gabourey Sidibe. But where was Cruz's partner in filmmaking? "Pedro called me on my way here tonight and asked me to thank everyone," she said. "We've been on a world tour with this movie, and he needs to stay home to write the next one. I'm sure you miss him. But I miss him more."

—Derek Blasberg

Taco Time

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The idea of throwing a dinner party at a hair salon might strike some people as a potential health code violation, but stylist Ric Pipino disagrees. "It's not like there's hair on the table," he joked last night at his Centre Market Place salon, which was transformed into a candlelit dining room for the evening. Pipino and his partner, MAC Cosmetics exec Jenne Lombardo, ordered in tacos from La Esquina to feed an intimate group of fashionable friends that included Rogan Gregory, Alice + Olivia's Stacey Bendet, Erin Fetherston, and jewelry designer Pamela Love.

Pipino opened his downtown Manhattan salon back in May and it's quickly become a favorite with socialites (Fabiola Beracasa) and downtown scenesters (Harley Viera-Newton) alike. "We've always wanted to do different things in the space," the stylist said, and since Lombardo is known in their social circle for her dinner parties (at least pre-baby—she recently gave birth to the couple's third child), the event has been in the works for months. As margarita-happy guests left with a few select items from Pipino's in-house product line due out in January, Opening Ceremony's Humberto Leon gave Pipino a neighborly bit of praise: "You're on the best block in the city," he said. For both haircuts and good times, it would appear.

—Celia Ellenberg

Blue Bloods

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Will You Borrow From The Boys?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

—Laird Borrelli-Persson

2009 Fashion Fund Awards

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Just Cause

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

"If Elton had only made music, that would have been a big enough gift to the world," Bill Clinton said. "But what he and the Elton John AIDS Foundation have done is truly remarkable." The former President was referring to the fundraising and stigma-fighting accomplishments of the musician's charity initiative, which held its annual benefit, An Enduring Vision, last night. Among this year's honorees: Clinton himself, along with Sharon Stone, Lily Safra, and Evelyn and Leonard Lauder.

With the majority of the fashion world at Skylight Studios for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards, the crowd was heavy on politicos and entertainers. Mayor Bloomberg opened the night's festivities with Anderson Cooper, and after the speeches from the honorees—Stone accepted her award "on behalf of the 33 million people suffering from AIDS today"—there was a live auction. Daniel Craig bid up a William Blake print, but the biggest lots were an original Elton John song and a day with Clinton, which went for $160,000 and $300,000, respectively.

Of course, no gala is complete without a fashion crisis, and last night's belonged to Courtney Love. Arriving late, she explained that she missed the cocktail hour because her stylist "must have been kidding" when he sent a white dress with an intentional stain down the back and bangles that looked like bandages to wear on her arms. "I totally would have worn it if I didn't like the people here," she explained of her last-minute dress swap. "But I like Elton and I love Bill Clinton."

—Derek Blasberg

Model Challenge: Ping-Pong

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

If They Can Make It There…

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:00:00 GMT

The CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund—whose annual awards ceremony was held Monday night at Skylight Studios and underwritten by Cartier—is now six years old, and other countries finally seem to be catching on to the importance of nurturing young talent. There's Italy's Who's on Next; the U.K. has just launched its own new-designer competition; and in her speech, Vogue's Anna Wintour said she'd recently had a meeting with the French minister of culture about starting a similar contest in France. "And Brazil, India, Russia, and China aren't far behind," Wintour noted. But still, she argued, "New York is the place to come for young designers to show what they're capable of." For proof, look to the 2009 finalists, a far-flung group with different backgrounds and areas of interest: Of the ten nominees, at least three hail from countries other than the U.S.; two are jewelry makers; two are menswear designers; one's a cobbler (of handmade shoes, no less); and another's a veteran of sorts, having been nominated for the first time four years ago.

The diversity theme continued with Aussie Nicole Kidman, a redhead again, introducing the keynote speaker: "the visionary, incomparable Alber Elbaz." The Lanvin designer delivered one of his trademark wide-ranging speeches, touching on the perils of celebrity fashion, the dangers of becoming a producer of fashion shows rather than of fashion, and finally, the sweet smell of success. "It's like a bottle of perfume," he waxed philosophical. "You smell it, you don't sniff it or drink it."

Afterward, Kidman joined Elbaz onstage again for the announcements. The philanthropic jewelry maker Monique Péan and the menswear designer Patrik Ervell were named runners-up, each taking home a $50,000 check. The former promised, "I won't disappoint you," while the latter told the judges, "Thank you for thinking of this award. We all appreciate it." But the $200,000 grand prize went to the French-born, Brooklyn-based womenswear designer Sophie Théallet. "I'm French, so I'm going to try to do my best," she began, before concluding, "Thank you for making my American dreams come true."

—Nicole Phelps

The Shortest Musical You Will Never See Again

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:00:00 GMT

The Museum of Contemporary Art's 30th anniversary celebration in L.A. on Saturday night mixed Hollywood big shots—even Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie got a sitter for the private tour—with the international art and fashion sets. To mark the occasion, the event's honorary co-chairs, Dasha Zhukova and Larry Gagosian, commissioned a performance piece by Francesco Vezzoli. Collaborating with Russia's Bolshoi Ballet and a Miuccia Prada-styled Lady Gaga, the Italian artist cooked up a one-time-only work that consisted of a single song played live on a Damien Hirst-customized Steinway piano. It was, as Vezzoli explained, "the shortest musical you will never see again." Almost as attention-grabbing was the gaggle of swimsuit-clad models called the MOCA-ettes, who helped auction off the Hirst piano for $450,000. (In all, the evening raised $4 million.)

After the piano was rolled away and the vodka shots ran dry, the crowd moved to an abandoned store in the heart of West Hollywood for a Pop magazine party. Sure, Tom Ford pointed out the less-than-stellar lighting on the Sunset Strip, but with the star wattage on display, no one seemed to mind. And heck, at least there was more than one bathroom. (Back at the museum, there had been a single Porta-Potty for the 1,000-plus guests—it became the chicest mobile facility in the history of the world when Jessica Alba and Kate Bosworth went in there together.) In the middle of the after-party was Pop's cover girl Tavi. "Oh, I'm just meeting my personal icons tonight," she sighed, which was decidedly more glam than what she'd been doing earlier in the week. "I got a black eye playing volleyball in gym class. It's a good thing I have bangs."

—Derek Blasberg