Fashion: January 2007 Archives

By SANDY COHEN

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Barbra Streisand. Cher. Elizabeth Taylor. Sharon Stone. Each made style history at the Academy Awards. Who can forget Streisand’s seemingly see-through sequined pantsuit at the 1969 Oscar show, or the certainly see-through sparkling creation Cher wore in 1988? How about Taylor’s 1970 periwinkle chiffon gown that matched her eyes, or the Gap T-shirt Stone built an outfit around in 1996?

These red-carpet contributions — and those of two dozen other stylish female stars — were recognized Tuesday at the film academy headquarters with ‘‘A Celebration of Oscar Fashion,’’ a retrospective of iconic Oscar wear. The private runway show, curated by Andre Leon Talley of Vogue magazine, was designed to inspire this year’s nominees and presenters to express their personal style and ‘‘create their own memorable moment’’ at the Oscars, said telecast producer Laura Ziskin. ...

By JOELLE DIDERICH

PARIS — Paris couture may be reserved for a handful of wealthy clients, but Giorgio Armani on Wednesday gave the whole world a glimpse of his exclusive creations by becoming the first designer to broadcast an haute couture collection live on the Internet. ‘‘Now through the democracy of the Internet, we can provide a front row seat for everyone,’’ the 72-year-old Italian said in a statement.

The Armani Prive display capped a week of extravagant catwalk shows, signaling the start of a frenzied campaign by top fashion houses to dress Hollywood stars for the Oscars. ...

Sun-Times columnist Paige Wiser has been watching the red carpet tonight. Here's her report, and see the photos right here, right now and in tomorrow's Showcase section ...

By SANDY COHEN

LOS ANGELES — With Hollywood’s awards season under way, fans will see plenty of stunning gowns, sculpted bodies, flawless skin and camera-ready coifs on red carpets around town.
What they won’t see are the industrial-strength girdles, silicone nipple covers, fake hair and skin treatments beneath those flawless facades.

Stylists work overtime during the six-week stretch from the Golden Globes to the Oscars, and it typically takes a team to ready stars for their stroll down the red-carpet runway. Some of Hollywood’s most-coveted image experts took time out to share their best style secrets: ...

By SANDY COHEN

LOS ANGELES — One dress is not enough for Oscar producer Laura Ziskin. Even 30 of the most iconic dresses ever worn on Oscar’s red carpet are not enough. Ziskin wants more.

Not to wear, but to share.

Ziskin is transforming the annual Oscar fashion show, which typically forecasts what styles might grace the red carpet on the big night, into a retrospective of memorable outfits from the past five decades of Academy Award galas.

‘‘A Celebration of Oscar Fashion’’ will feature dozens of groundbreaking gowns for a private audience of press, stylists and stars on Jan. 30. But Ziskin and the show’s curator, Vogue editor-at-large Andre Leon Talley, still hope to collect a few other pieces. ...