Macy’s Glamorama ‘Fashion Rocks’ Event Takes Hollywood

MACY’S GLAMS UP: Macy’s Passport Presents Glamorama “Fashion Rocks” traveled to Hollywood for its 32nd annual AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) fundraiser, which has raised $32 million to date. Known for changing its theme over the years, the event morphed from last year’s carnival-esque fete in favor of a club scene at Create Nightclub. The setting might have been pure coincidence, or a deliberate plan to capture the attention of a younger generation, which has seen a spike of HIV cases. Either way, it succeeded in luring a collection of Millennials such as Emily Osment, Shenae Grimes, and Morgan Stewart to Glamorama for the first time.

Tried and true partygoers like Ross Matthews recalled the late Elizabeth Taylor, who championed for a cure for the virus saying, “This town is so frivolous 364 days a year it’s nice one day a year to do something important. I got to come back in the day for a few years when Elizabeth Taylor was here. She spent a large part of her life trying to find a cure for HIV and AIDS and we’re still carrying that torch for her.” Taylor’s granddaughter Naomi Wilding also recalled fond memories, saying, “I’ve been coming since I was a teenager. The first time I came, my grandmother made me wear this incredibly over the top Arnold Scaasi dress that had been made for her which I still have.”

Inside, go-go dancers lined the walls and guests champed at the bit to see headliner Jason Derulo. Although the singer had traveled 22-hours in flight from South Africa, he was full of energy. “I’ve been doing [Glamorama] across the country and I’m glad to be apart of it,” he said. “I think my music and how successful it’s been is amazing in itself, but the fact that I have this platform is even more important. I can do events like this to help others in need or less fortunate.” At 9:30 p.m. Derulo kept his word and took center-stage as an audience equipped with glow sticks sang along to hits “Talk Dirty,” “In My Head,” and “Wiggle.” The night also featured a presentation of collections from Tallia Orange, 2(X)ist, and music from electronic DJ Paul Oakenfold. Glamorama will complete its 2014 tour in San Francisco Sept. 12.

Beauty Nation: BeautyCon L.A.

Beauty gurus and fans gathered at the L.A. Mart in late August for the third-annual BeautyCon Los Angeles summit, showcasing a slew of emerging trends. A large number of attendees turned out with brilliantly colored hair in shades of purple, blue and pink, and equally bold-colored lips. Texture and braids made a strong statement, while body jewelry found a spotlight among a coterie of girls donning nose rings or decorating their eyebrows with gemstones. Although most beauty mavens rocked just one trend at a time, others went the extra mile combining several looks together for maximum effect.

Emmys Winners Celebrate at Governors Ball, HBO After Party

“Aren’t you sick of winning?” Gary Cole asked Julia Louis-Dreyfus. “How many Emmys is this? She’s got five more Emmys than Lucille Ball. She should be ashamed of herself.”

The exchange was a good-natured ribbing between two costars on a show, “Veep,” that has always had a good run of luck at television’s biggest night. Louis-Dreyfus has won three of her five Emmys for the show, where she plays a bumbling vice president.

This story first appeared in the August 27, 2014 issue of WWD.

Louis-Dreyfus and Cole were at HBO’s party at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles Monday night after the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, where the actress’ win was one of several that was widely expected along with those by the shows “Breaking Bad” and “Modern Family.” They were all past winners from traditional networks and they managed to hold off an insurgency from the streaming service Netflix, which had two buzzy shows in contention, “House of Cards” and “Orange Is the New Black.”

Host Seth Meyers opened the show by commenting on all the digital upstarts that are suddenly upending the television landscape, but the resounding message from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences was: The establishment still rules. At least, for now. And so, at the Governors Ball, just like at the awards, it was the network stars that dominated the Los Angeles Convention Center — Julianna Margulies, Claire Danes, Jon Hamm, Idris Elba, Jessica Lange, Mark Ruffalo, Amy Poehler and Edie Falco were all there.

“I’m starving. I want a hot plate,” said a mock-exasperated Margulies, who during her speech thanked the writers on “The Good Wife,” “who never cease to amaze me with 22 episodes a year.” It was a perceived jab at all those miniseries on cable that get away with much fewer episodes.

Elsewhere, Lauren Parsekian sat by herself while her husband Aaron Paul was still in the press room chatting with reporters about the sweep by “Breaking Bad.” Paul eventually appeared, triumphantly holding his Emmy in the air and joined cowinners Bryan Cranston and Anna Gunn. Controlled chaos broke out as fans and photographers crowded around the cast — “Can we get security around table 401?” radioed one event organizer.

“I’m feeling like I want a glass of Champagne,” said Gunn. How long did she plan to stay out? “For a while, because this is the last time to really have this celebration all together.”

The broadcast network veteran Allison Janney, who won the best supporting actress award for the sitcom “Mom,” her second Emmy this week, was still soaking up the moment. “I’m pinching myself,” she said, but that didn’t mean she planned to live it up for too long. “I could stay here for a little bit and then go to the HBO party because it’s on my way home. Or I could just go back. I want to get home to my dogs.” She must have gone home to the dogs because she was nowhere to be found at the Pacific Design Center. Besides the cast from “Veep,” some of cable’s other best-known faces were there, including Lena Dunham, Allison Williams, Amanda Crew, Judd Apatow, Anna Chlumsky, Peter Dinklage and Natalie Dormer, as well as one Netflix interloper, Kate Mara, though technically her character was killed off in the second season of “House of Cards.” Elba, a nominee for “Luther,” screamed “Cary, Cary, Cary” after Cary Fukunaga to congratulate him for his best director win for “True Detective.”

“I’m over the moon,” Fukunaga said. “People tend to say they don’t care about these awards — Emmys, Golden Globes, Oscars or whatever. I think everyone wants to be recognized for the work they do. Whether it be their boss, their parents, or recognized in their industry.”

And, as everyone knows, “Peer recognition is the highest form of flattery.”

Gia Coppola’s ‘Palo Alto’ Screens in L.A.

After screenings in New York and San Francisco, Gia Coppola’s new film, “Palo Alto,” made its way to Los Angeles with a premiere, sponsored by Farfetch, at the Directors Guild of America Monday night. Named after James Franco’s collection of short stories, the film draws viewers into a dark teenage world fueled by misguided love and self-discovery.

Although her family name clearly gives her cred, the script wasn’t exactly handed to Coppola on a silver platter. “I had her do what I do with a lot of my film students,” said Franco, who also stars in the film, of Coppola’s directorial debut. “I had her shoot a 45-minute test and once she showed me that, I just knew she had it. She did things that I never would have done. Like the way that she tied them all together, she gave it an overall unified arc.”

Although there is heaviness to the movie, shooting, apparently, was quite light. “It was like one big summer camp,” said Emma Roberts. “It was like one of those casts that happens a couple times in your lifetime. It was really just lightning in a bottle with everybody and it just worked out perfectly.” Castmate Zoe Levin echoed the sentiment: “We all reminisce about the one party scene in the movie because we were like, ‘This is the best party we’ve ever been to.’”

Before the lights dimmed, Coppola joined Franco onstage to tell the crowd in her delicate voice, “It’s super exciting to be here in L.A. where I was as a teenager. My friends and family [are] here. I want to thank James for believing in me.”

Shortly after the end credits, there was a swift procession to the Chateau Marmont down the street where revelers — Rachel Zoe, Rodger Berman, Demi Moore, Rumer Willis, Rose McGowan, Nathalie Love, Elijah Wood and Johnny Knoxville — shimmied to tunes from DJ Myles Hendrik on the balcony of the hotel’s sixth-floor penthouse.

Hollywood Turns Out for Race to Erase MS Benefit

RACE FOR A CURE: Hollywood brought the star power to the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Friday to fete the 21st anniversary of Race to Erase MS, which raised over $1.6 million for Nancy Davis’ Center Without Walls. This year, media mogul Dean Singleton took home the Medal of Hope award saying, “Being diagnosed [with multiple sclerosis] is depressing until you meet Nancy Davis. Now, I have a chance to walk again.” Guests then enjoyed a performance by CeeLo Green, who sang hits like “Crazy,” followed by a set from Natalie Cole and finally Steven Tyler. “Honestly every time I see him I get very star struck. He’s a legend,” said Carmen Electra of the Aerosmith lead singer, who performed a duet with Cole. Tyler then asked, “Where’s my new girlfriend, that beautiful blonde?” before serenading Davis with her favorite song, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”

H&M Celebrates Latest Exclusive Conscious Collection

H&M’S ECO EVENT: H&M welcomed a slew of starlets to Eveleigh in West Hollywood Wednesday night to celebrate the launch of its third Exclusive Conscious collection. Kate Mara, Emmy Rossum, Sophia Bush and Pamela Love were among those who turned out to the restaurant in pieces that they handpicked from the line.

Of her white lace dress with an overlay collar neckline, Bush said, “I just love it. I saw the photographs of the collection and said, ‘Please tell me no one has taken this yet because that’s what I want to wear.’”

This story first appeared in the March 24, 2014 issue of WWD.

While aesthetics were obviously key, the idea of sustainability was, too. “What’s kind of shocking to me is how intricately made these clothes are,” said Camilla Belle. “You would never look at it and think that it’s made out of sustainable material. I think it’s really wonderful what H&M is doing, promoting to a society that can do that, be more eco-conscious, and make clothing that can look like this.”

Amber Valletta, the face of the collection’s campaign, added, “I love that I know these clothes were made responsibly and sustainably. To me, it’s kind of what’s on the horizon. It’s the biggest trend that we’re going to see that will not go out of style.”

Carmella Label Debuts With L.A. Party

Nestled just beneath the hills of Hollywood, Petit Ermitage drew in starlets to its rooftop Thursday night for a private candlelit dinner to fete the debut of label Carmella.

The Los Angeles-based brand is a result of a classic love story between former model Katheryn Rice and the silver screen. “The line is named after my grandmother Carmella,” she said. “We shared a passion for watching old films together. Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire — those were the first stars that I loved. The fashion, the way things draped across the body, I loved it.” While Rice attributes aesthetic inspiration to film, her modeling career was the perfect platform to transition into design. “I really paid attention when I was modeling to quality, wearability and how the clothes made me feel,” she said.

This story first appeared in the March 24, 2014 issue of WWD. 

Her efforts did not go unnoticed as the evening’s host Margot Robbie recalled her introduction to the brand through stylist Cristina Ehrlich. “When I first tried on a few Carmella pieces, I didn’t know it was a new brand. I literally was just like, ‘Oh, this is perfect, it fits me perfectly. It’s the kind of thing I like to wear.’” She continued, “It’s comfortable, which is a big one for me. I just don’t like wearing uncomfortable things for too long. It’s a very feminine feeling, but it’s not too girly. I’m not a girly girl.”

Shortly before dinner was served, Jessica Paré said hello to Rice. “We’ve had a chance to chat,” the actress said. “She’s such a lovely person. I really do appreciate her attention to detail. It’s something that really appeals to me. I guess that’s sort of obvious, though. Who likes the designer who doesn’t care about details?”

Caudalie Fetes West Coast Flagship

CAUDALIE’S GRAPE ADVENTURE: Beauty-loving Angelenos spilled onto the patio of the grape-hued Caudalie boutique on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice to celebrate the opening of its West Coast flagship Wednesday. Over a glass of wine from their personal vineyard in France, founders Mathilde and Bertrand Thomas welcomed guests such as Rashida Jones, Melonie Diaz, Jena Malone, Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Julianne Hough to their boutique spa. After embracing Mathilde with a hug and showering her with compliments, Jones said, “I love Caudalie, I spent some time in France last year and kind of went nuts in the pharmacies. I bought so many of their products. They smell delicious and they’re effective. They make me feel like I’m a French old woman in the best way possible.” Although the new store bears similarities to its New York counterpart, including the Beauty Barrel Bar, 10-minute facials and custom scrubs, the Los Angeles store has its own charm. “It’s the only store where you have a patio on the outside where you can have organic grape juice or organic herbal tea. People can hang around, you have this cool vibe that you don’t have in New York because everyone is stressed there,” Mathilde said. 

Art of Elysium Hosts Annual Heaven Gala

On Saturday evening at Los Angeles’ Skirball Center, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp, Kate Bosworth and Michael Polish, James Marsden, Anna Kendrick, Ashley Madekwe and Camilla Belle took a respite from all the awards campaigning to honor a good cause, the Heaven Gala for the Art of Elysium, an organization that encourages entertainers to spend time with critically-ill children. Topher Grace has been to the last six galas.

“The whole thing is full of incredible memories,” he shared. “I have some pen pals that remain friends of mine till this day whom I met in the program.” Receiving honors from the foundation Saturday were Linda Perry, Ali Larter and Hayes MacArthur. A vegan dinner prepared by Jay Perry was accompanied by musical performances from Rain Phoenix, The Smoky Knights, Steven Tyler, and Evan Rachel Wood, who garnered a standing ovation after singing a cover of “High And Dry” by Radiohead.

Acne Studios Fetes Los Angeles Store

The bottom floor of the iconic turquoise Eastern Columbia Building was packed on Tuesday evening to celebrate Acne Studios’ opening in downtown Los Angeles. Guests were greeted by men donning pajamas in the Stockholm-based brand’s signature pink hue and offered lemon meringue treats that were fashioned after a giant mushroom installation found in the store.

While some previewed clothes, others found themselves lured by sounds of the L.A. band Allah-lahs to a cafe inside the store that will bring Swedish culture to customers with an assortment of tea and coffee. Shortly after 8 pm, it was time for dinner at the rococo Ace Hotel, another new addition to downtown a block away from Acne Studios’ store.

Christina Hendricks, Geoffrey Arend, Kiernan Shipka and Mena Suvari were among those who joined the brand for the meal. Before it commenced, the spotlight was given to Acne Studios chairman Mikael Schiller who encouraged everyone to down schnapps and sing Helan Går, the popular Swedish drinking song. On choosing the downtown site for his brand’s store, Schiller said, “It’s really weird, we’re opening up a store where there are no fashion stores. So hopefully they’ll come, time will tell.” Sophia Amoruso already committed to returning to the store saying, “depending on the shoes, it’s walking distance from work.”