The Quest for "it"

The Quest for "It" --Oscar 2007 Wrap Up

Oscar Exclusive: Fashion Spotlight

The cremesicle trend that dominated the Golden Globes this year was still in force come Oscar 2007.  However, the romantic hue was not the favored color of Oscar nominees or presenters.  Amidst the glamour and sea of color, evening gowns were greatly mixed in terms of style--strapless, one shoulder, layered gowns.   Designers, as well, varied greatly from actress to actress and included Armani, Carmen Marc Valvo, Oscar De La Renta & Zac Posen.  The Quest for "it" casts a spotlight on actress Naomi Watts for her selection of Escada where old-fashioned glamor and grace were the order of the evening.

Naomi Watts   

Naomi is wearing a custom made empire waist pale yellow silk georgette gown with a sapphire blue satin sash accented with pleated chiffon bow and train.  The look is simply radiant, Ms. Watts was a presenter for Best Visual Effects this year.

Wrap Up

Another Oscars ceremony has come and gone.  Was it me or was this year's broadcast just a bit longer than usual, ok maybe not.  My red-carpet time  will be live in 2008  I am sure of it, and perhaps I can attest to the ceremony's length at that time.  For now, I am happy to report the following: Ellen DeGeneres, The Hollywood Film Chorale Sound Effects Choir, and my picks (and probably most of the country's pick) of Jennifer Hudson winning Best Supporting Actress, Helen Mirren winning Best Actress, and Forest Whitaker winning Best Actor. 

First Ellen DeGeneres:  Ms. DeGeneres was a breath of fresh air as far as hosts go.  A bit safer than a few in season's past,*** her comments were flawlessly delivered, save for the origin mix up on Penelope Cruz, she appeared to keep the attendees in good spirits.  Perhaps Ms. DeGeneres will make a repeat performance if not for her witty irony, but for her amazing outfit changes--there is not a host I've seen with pants suits as kick-ass as Ellen's...who was she wearing anyway?  The Hollywood Film Chorale Sound Effects Choir performance was probably the most notable of the evening as they provided life-like sounds against the backdrop of  several movie classics.  Lastly, OK well I did not do quite as well overall with my picks this year. What happened with Eddie Murphy?  HUH?  I am certain I will be dead on, come Oscar 2008  ... there's always next year right?

***-season's past include John Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris  etc...

*-photos from msn.com

The Quest for "It" --Oscar Countdown 2007-Nominations

Oscar Nominations & Picks

                     Hi!

Suffice to say that this year is a year of heavy-hitting dramas.  OK yes and no, this is the year for a lot of things none of which are any more thematic than the next.  However, the nominated films are certainly pics with heavy political connotations...no surprise there, HUH?  Unfortunatly, the Oscar buzz this year has made a very faint whisper into my ear.  Even as I type this I have yet to see one of the actual films nominated for best picture.  Admittedly, I have not been keeping myself abreast in quite the way I would have liked.  However I will say this, I am  very much a Helen Mirren fan, I am a longtime follower of Clint Eastwood, and ummm... believe it or not, I am a total Eddie Murphy-a-holic...so that said...let's have at it!

My Picks: Best Picture: Babel Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarittu Best Actor:  Forest Whitaker Best Actress: Helen Mirren Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson

Critics Picks*** are going to go to the following: Best Picture: The Departed Best Director: Martin Scorcese Actor: Best Actress: Helen Mirren Best Supporting Actor: Eddie Murphy Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Hudson

***-Critics picks...according to the Carpetbagger...David Carr of the New York Times.

The Quest for "It" --Oscar Countdown 2007-The Suites

Oscar's Celebrity Suites                                    

                                         Hello,

It should come as no surprise that every year it all just gets better and better in regards to the GOOD STUFF that surrounds the Oscars.  Just what there is to partake of and just who gets to partake  is of particular interest to The Quest for "it" this year.  Many of the HOT happenings are taking place in establishments such as the Soho House Los Angeles,*** Frederic Fekkai's Beverly Hills salon and several luxury hotels including the Four Seasons Beverly Hills, The Peninsula, The Hyatt, The Beverly Wilshire & Sofitel.  Luxurious accomodations have been set up to take care of the suite needs of VIPS at each location. 

Here's the Deal

As per the Hollywood Reporter...

de Grisogono
Monday through Feb. 24 at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
Parting the velvet ropes for: Hollywood VIPs
A la carte: The Swiss jewelry company is flying in its boisterous cocktail rings, drop earrings dripping in diamonds and other creations from around the globe, setting the week's red-carpet tone as guests peruse the stunning designs.
Suite nothings: Fawaz Gruosi, founder of de Grisogono, will host a private cocktail party Feb. 23 at Soho House Los Angeles.

Frederic Fekkai
Thursday through Feb. 23 at Frederic Fekkai
Beverly Hills Salon & Boutique
Parting the velvet ropes for: Hollywood It Girls
A la carte: Celebrity coif guru Frederic Fekkai and his beauty crew will offer blowouts, while legendary makeup artist Laura Mercier will prep guests' visages for the flashing bulbs of the red carpet.
Suite nothings: Fekkai collaborated with jeweler H.Stern to design diamond hair accessories for last year's red-carpet darlings, including Jessica Alba, who wore a $13,000 comb to the Oscars.

Jimmy Choo
Tuesday through Feb. 25 at the Peninsula Beverly Hills
Parting the velvet ropes for: Oscar nominees and presenters
A la carte: Jimmy Choo founder and president Tamara Mellon and creative director Sandra Choi will meet with celebrity stylists to design one-of-a-kind strappy stilettos for clients to sport while skipping down the red carpet come Oscar night.
Suite nothings: Jimmy Choo's shoes put a spring in the step of Oscar darlings including Hilary Swank and Charlize Theron at last year's awards ceremony.

Melanie Segal's Platinum Hollywood Luxury Suite
Feb. 23-24 at the Hyatt
West Hollywood
Parting the velvet ropes for: Celebrities and VIPs
A la carte: Sprinklings of diamond dust will put the finishing touches on attendees' sleekly styled locks, while a chocolate sommelier will dole out Hershey's advice.
Beneficiary: Overloaded guests can donate gifted items to Save-Darfur.org when exiting the event.
Suite nothings: During the suite, a security detail will usher a $1 million diamond-encrusted Farouk Systems Chi flatiron from mane to mane before it's auctioned off to benefit the victims of blood diamonds.

The Silver Spoon Penthouse 
Wednesday-Thursday at the Beverly Wilshire
Parting the velvet ropes for: Hollywood VIPs who've called ahead
A la carte: Upon taking in the view from the penthouse's wraparound balcony, guests can keep the late-February breeze at bay with luxe Magaschoni cashmere, while a display of House of Taylor jewelry will get them in the red-carpet mood.
Beneficiary: Guests are encouraged to donate to Environmental Media in support of conservation of the environment.
Suite nothings: Now that the official Academy Awards goodie bag has been emptied for good, the Silver Spoon is inching closer to becoming the unofficial Kriss Kringle of awards season.

Stuart Weitzman
Tuesday through Feb. 25 at the Sofitel Los Angeles
Parting the velvet ropes for: Celebrities who've been penciled in
A la carte: Guests will be treated to a preview of Stuart Weitzman's red-carpet-worthy pumps and pouchettes while their pouts are painted by Elizabeth Arden representatives.
Suite nothings: For Weitzman followers already double-booked with other primping appointments, the Stuart Weitzman boutique on Rodeo Drive is available for private appointments during the week.

***- Soho House Los Angeles the temproary outpost of the London & New York hot spot that pops up perennially just for the Oscars.

Did Anyone See Oprah's Oscar Special?

                     Hey!

Last night was kind of odd for me, I  could not seem to stay awake.  I was sooo very sleepy that I almost forgot to tune in to the first ever Oprah Oscar Special.  As the Oscars are but DAYS away and I am VERY big on Pre-Oscar talk, I figured this would be the best way to begin.  So in effect, I did stay awake long enough to watch Oprah's Oscar Special, and can I just tell you?...it was DAMN GOOD!  I expected to see some Babara Walters style show (not sure why), but I mean there are not many Oscar Specials out there to set precedent so...well... DUH!  What made Oprah's special...well...special was it did not include current Oscar nominees, but rather had 3 sets of former Academy Award winners interview 3 other Academy Award winners, with very little Oprah in the mix.  The sets of interviewers (ees) included: Julia Roberts & George Clooney, Nicole Kidman & Russell Crowe, and Sidney Poitier & Jaime Foxx.  So does this sound good?...it was! Even better...things got personal!

It seems that even Oprah may not have gotten the priceless responses out of these Oscar winning favorites last night.  However, the actors were definitely able to get them out of each other in a rare and candid way.  Clad with index cards full of juicy yet thought provoking questions, Julia Roberts could not resist delving deep into the love life of George Clooney, basically poking fun at most of the reporters who on a regular basis ask just whom he is dating. "Why do we rarely see you out with anyone?"  she asked quickly and innocently like a 12 year old (sorry no offense to my pre-teen readers). "Are you dating anyone now?" George Clooney's answers were evasive and snarky, but he still managed to answer.  His questions for Julia were ummm...well, a bit more thought provoking like "What is your biggest failure?" to which she said "spending so much of her life worrying about silly things. "Ummm...Julia?  I am so with you on that."

Next was Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman, where we learned that Russell Crowe is "not as scary" as the media portrays him to be, but rather he is mis-understood. The in-depth look at how he built a small dwelling on his ranch just to recite his wedding vows to his now wife of 3 years definitely helped to humanize him.  The gripping question between this pair came when Russell Crowe asked Nicole Kidman about her country singing hubby Keith Urban, who apparently had a rehab moment only months into their marriage.  Nicole Kidman answered in brief, Russell Crowe continued on to the next question and Nicole Kidman re-directed him back to his question explaining she wanted give a proper answer...I hear that!

Lastly, there was  Sidney Poitier and Jamie Foxx who did not know each other really, but who enjoyed feeding off of each others successes.  Jamie was in awe of Sidney Poitier being the first African-American man to win an Academy Awards and Sidney Poitier was in awe of...well...life and being an amazing actor in general.  Reflections were made on Mr. Poitier's trying upbringing and on his accomplishment of self-education.  The essence of Sydney Poitier  is the same as he so eloquently described himself in character in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner,  he thinks of himself as a "man", not a black man, but as a man.  This segment also included a surprise appearance by Oprah to the studio where Sidney Poitier and Jamie Foxx were being taped for the broadcast.  The show ended entirely with a scene at the piano and Jamie Foxx singing Amen.

Well this pretty much sums it all up, this was an incredibly good way to feel closer to your favorite celebs.  I am thinking not for nothing, but Barbara Walters may wish to kick it up a notch...cause Oprah is no joke...the revolution will be televised!  Stay tuned for Oprah's After-Oscar party 2007 on Monday evening.