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Entries tagged with 'About Last Night...'
Posted May. 9, 2008,
About Last Night... Pronovias Flagship Store Opening
By Caroline Torem Craig
Two steps into the new breathtaking Pronovias New York flagship store, I was smelling bouquets of pink roses and in awe of the six floors of dazzling wedding gowns. This party, celebrating the store’s opening, was sumptuous. Anytime there is a chef in one corner carving a gigantic lamb, a bar on each of the six floors and Karolina Kurkova, Caridee English and Lydia Hearst in attendance, you know that nothing was spared to ensure the wonder of it all!
Posted May. 9, 2008,
About Last Night... Unruly Heir Dinner at THOR
By Caroline Torem Craig
Luigi Tadini, Peter Davis, Kristian Laliberte, Timo Weiland, Leven Rambin and Alexandra Richards all came out last night to a dinner party at THOR to support clothing line Unruly Heir and celebrate its Bloomingdales debut.
Posted May. 8, 2008,
About Last Night... The Pixie Market Party
By Kat Clements
Last night's Pixie Market party, celebrating their in-store greatness and their new, much needed online endeavor, was a test of wills: Bottles and bottles of summery, sumptuous rosé just begging to be bevved upon. Smoking hot graphic bodysuits by Neurotica demanding to be bought. Awesome and ethereal spinnings by Ilirjana Alushaj of Apache Beat imploring that they be danced to. And the sparkling beauty of Miss Laura Dawson, wearing her own airy designs, insisting she be ogled.
I will have to admit, I managed to resist only one of the above.
Bodysuits can wait.
And considering that Pixie Market is now on the interwebs, I doubt that the wait will be long.
Pixie Market 100 Stanton Street, between Ludlow & Orchard and
www.pixiemarket.com
photos by Andrew De Francesco
Posted May. 7, 2008,
About Last Night... Let Them Eat Kate at Milk Studios
By Caroline Torem Craig
I am curious how much tongue-in-cheek thought was put into having Agent Provocateur's Let Them Eat Kate affair at Milk (and cookies?) Studio? In any case, let me wrap things up for you, stream-of-consciousness style:
The super-fine Kate Moss casually seated in one corner of the penthouse; intriguing Lake Bell; Vogue’s movie star and fierce redhead Jessica Joffe; Damon Dash (he told me his baby is due next week); rappers Jim Jones and Chink and the Misshapes all at once stepping off the drive-in elevator; later, Zoe Kravitz in a golden-yellow bra/halter top slightly reminiscent of Gaultier’s famous cone-shaped bra made for Madonna, dancing to DJ Jauretsi Saizarbitoria’s fabulous tunes; and Vivienne Westwood’s son, Agent Provacatuer’s principal Joe Corre at this hot, cool, sweet, fly, fashionable, swell, sexually-charged, fresh and dope party!
Posted May. 6, 2008,
About Last Night... The Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala
By Caroline Torem Craig
Clowns to the left of me, superheroes to the right, here I am wedged in the middle of a fashion fantasy! Andrew Bolton, Harold Koda, Anna Wintour, Giorgio Armani and other playful minds created a truly sensational gala at the Met last night. Swarming like bees, celebrity guests arrived on top of each other, forcing the press to make choices. “Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony are coming!! Get these B-list celebs to move on!” Rarely does New York host a celebrity mob scene like this. There was a take no prisoners attitude both in the costumes, accessories and attitudes of the guests and the press. Wham, bam, thank you, maam!
Posted May. 1, 2008,
About Last Night... Free Arts NYC's Annual Art Auction Benefit
By Caroline Torem Craig
Free Arts NYC is always a highly spirited free-for-all in the charity auction genre. Phillips de Pury supplies enough drama at the podium to squeeze fabulous and shockingly enormous, generous bids from the guests. My head started spinning when the paddle rose to $67,000 for one little item on the block, but nothing could have prepared me for the artistic statement one guest felt moved to make. Don’t ask me what putting a plastic bag over one’s head signifies. Guests in attendance included Michelle Monaghan, Erin Fetherston, Lindsay Price, Amy Sacco and Mary Alice Stephenson.
Posted May. 1, 2008,
About Last Night... Carlos Miele and Vogue Rainforest Foundation Party
By Caroline Torem Craig
Is there a more beautiful shop in all of New York than the Carlos Miele store on far West 14th St.? The cocktail celebration to benefit the Rainforest Foundation hosted by Carlos and Vogue was attended by Kim Raver and Lindsey Price, stars from a neighboring jungle -- the Lipstick Jungle! Also in attendance were Patricia Velazquez, Cataline Sandino Moreno, Leven Rambin and Genevieve Jones. Pure white never looked so "colorful" as when used as the backdrop for his wildly shirred, pleated, hot orange, reds, pinks and purples -- creations practically "samba-ing" off the racks by themselves! T-shirts designed by Michael Roberts, Scarlet Johannson, Carolyn Trentini and Diana Picasso were hauntingly different in their black and white simplicity.
Posted Apr. 30, 2008,
About Last Night... Josh Schwartz and Jay McInerney Schmoozing It Up at Beatrice
By Alexis Swerdloff
Last night, I had the pleasure of attending a party for The Chelsea (the new non-gaming boutique hotel opening this summer in Atlantic City that's slated to make AC un-cheesy) at Beatrice Inn. Though I arrived a bit on the late side, I managed to have a glass of wine and stand three feet from OC/Gossip Girl svengali Josh Schwartz who was chatting it up with Jay McInerney. I overheard McInerney, Mr. Preppy McPrep-A-Zoid, talking to Schwartz about the private school boys of Gossip Girl and he said, "In my day, our ties were skinnier."
Photo above of Josh Schwartz, Jay McInerney and Curtis Bashaw from patrickmcmullan.com
Posted Apr. 30, 2008,
About Last Night... The Boost Mobile Film Lounge Hosts Finding Amanda Premiere Party
By Caroline Torem Craig
Matt Heien was the first publicist that I crossed paths with as an intern. He was so so hip and respectful of the PAPER mystique I was immediately given good access, the real name of the game to get good photos of celebrities. Alas and alack this is not always the case, and I find most publicists try as hard as possible to make it as difficult as possible! And when he switched gears and moved to Florida, his loss was worth mourning. But last night he was running the Boost Mobile Film Lounge which was hosting the Finding Amanda premiere party at 10AK and shared some good news –- he’s back in the New York scene. Tending to our ears was the most sophisticated Paul Sevigny. Everyone was looking for Matthew Broderick’s wife Sarah Jessica Parker, but me and my Canon D30 were more than perfectly satisfied with the gorgeous and friendly Brittany Snow.
Posted Apr. 29, 2008,
About Last Night... Iron Man Screening and After-Party
By Caroline Torem Craig
After the War Inc. parties and the Chanel dinner, I arrived just in time to catch departures at the private screening of Iron Man. The doors to the Tribeca Grand parted and a super slim, superstar and former PAPER cover girl Liv Tyler emerged. Hustling between the downpours (water is not a photographer's friend you know), I hit the venerable Tribeca bistro Odeon, where I caught Joy Bryant in a sexy little red riding hoodie, Robert Downey Jr. and Justin, Terrence Howard, Mamie Gummer, Zac Posen and Tracy Ullman...
Posted Apr. 29, 2008,
About Last Night... The War Inc. Tribeca Film Festival Premiere and After-Party at Tenjune
By Caroline Torem Craig
There was a little magic halo of light around Hillary Duff last night! The rain stopped and the dreary mist cleared each time she appeared, first for the premiere of War Inc. and then for the after party-at the Cadillac Lounge at Tenjune.
Posted Apr. 25, 2008,
About Last Night... Madonna's I Am Because We Are Premiere
By Caroline Torem Craig
Every element was in place last night for the contrived chaos that heralded the arrival of a superstar whose popularity and longevity rivals the Pope, the President, Elvis, Marilyn and possibly your own mother: Yep, we’re talking about Madonna. There were pens locking in the rabid photogs, someone came crashing down off a ladder, mini-arguments were taking place left and right as everyone got ready to “lock and load,” as they say in the biz. I Am Because We Are, written and produced by Madonna and directed by Nathan Rissman, exposes the plight of Malawi children orphaned by AIDS.
Posted Apr. 24, 2008,
About Last Night... The Creative Time Benefit and Baby Mama Premiere
By Caroline Torem Craig
Between Baby Mama and My Bedtime, there was Creative Time at Guastavino's. My evening began at the Ziegfield, with the premiere Baby Mama, which opened the Tribeca Film Festival. The film stars our favorite lunatics Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Does anyone else see a similarity between Tina Fey and Diane Keaton?
After quite a bit of crosstown traffic, we arrived at the Creative Time gala honoring Beth Rudin DeWoody. The event screamed PAPER with the likes of Francesco Clemente, Casey Spooner, Kembra Pfahler, Hunt Slonim, Cindy Sherman, Jake Shears and head Talking Head David Byrne and attendance.
Interrupting Byrne’s conversation with Cindy for a photo, I cracked him up with the admission that I’ve been on “the road to nowhere” for quite awhile now!
Posted Apr. 23, 2008,
About Last Night... Vanity Fair's Tribeca Film Fest Party, La Reve: Indulge the Dream and Helmut Lang's Sloane Crosley Book Party
By Caroline Torem Craig
The Vanity Fair party, which traditionally kicks off the Tribeca Film Festival, has become almost a déjà vu happening, in that every year “the regulars” attend. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a shabby guest list, starting with the likes of Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower, Martha Stewart, Iman and David Bowie, Diane Von Furstenberg, Jane Rosenthal and Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld. I thought I spotted a new face, one that could launch a thousand ships, among the arriving guests, but then I realized Zoe Kravitz had attended this party before, with her dad Lenny.
Over at the Puck Building, La Reve: Indulge the Dream, a benefit for Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, took place. Folks like Samantha Cole, Ricki Lake and Mya, dressed to the nines, lent their support.
Helmut Lang threw Sloane Crosley a glitzy book party for her essay collection, I Was Told There’d Be Cake at their Meatpacking District store. Literary types (Jonathan Ames and A.M. Homes) and fashion world heavyweights (Meredith Melling Burke and Gilles Mendel) were present and accounted for.
If I write a book I am going to title it I Was Told There’d Be a Goody Bag!
Posted Apr. 22, 2008,
About Last Night... La Fille Du Regiment Opening Night at Lincoln Center
By Caroline Torem Craig
There was more than one comedy last night at Lincoln Center: Donizetti’s opera La Fille du Regiment sponsored by Yves St. Laurent… and the slightly demented madness that played out on the red carpet. The event’s tip sheet promised the presence of Naomi Campbell –- a rare public appearance, considering she's known these days for her flagrant and now infamous temper. The suggestions of throwing a cell phone at her, and worse, reached the publicists, who warned us to “be nice -- this is the opera!” There was really no cause for concern as she is pretty well-liked and understood by this crazy bunch, who really see through all the phony B.S. Oh! And everyone, Eva Mendes, Elettra Wiedemann, Rinko Kikuchi, Ginnifer Goodwin, Emmy Rossum and Diane Kruger, looked really nice!
Posted Apr. 21, 2008,
About Last Night... Amanda Lepore DJs at W Whiskey Lounge in LA
By Linlee Allen
Amanda Lepore raised an eyebrow or four late last week as part of her guest DJing stint at the Vinyl Vixen Thursdays party at L.A.'s Whiskey Blue Lounge at the W Hotel.
Posted Apr. 17, 2008,
About Last Night... "Take Home A Nude" Art Auction and Party at Phillips de Pury
By Caroline Torem Craig
One thing I can say for sure, many would gladly have taken home Dita Von Teese last night at the charity art auction held at the Phillips De Pury Gallery, aptly titled “Take Home a Nude.”
I asked Dita (who embodies that uncanny combination of past and future, modesty and tawdriness, sweet and spicy) if she worked with her hands in any artistic way, like drawing, painting, knitting, etc. and she replied, “I only paint my face.” With a perfect, ready-made canvas, why not! She arrived at the event with PAPER’s favorite hair magician Danilo.
As I was leaving, I caught Andre Balazs and Nicole Miller and I had to ask Andre if he was talking “handsome pills.” He really looked that good!
Posted Apr. 14, 2008,
About Last Night... Trophy Bar Pre-Opening Party/Andy Salzer's Birthday
By Kat Clements
Friday night was double trouble over Williamsburg-way, with a party celebrating the pre-opening of Trophy Bar (Brooklyn's newest late-night hideaway and the opus of the trio behind Stay Gold Gallery) as well as Andy Salzer's birthday (he of Yoko Devereaux and dapper man-about-town fame).
Trophy's speakeasy ambiance had folks like Thomas Meus, Dustin McSwane and Devotte's Nancy Kim feeling totally tops and it was the perfect setting to showcase the debut of the Penny Dreadfuls: a DJ duo featuring the Scissor Sisters' Ana Matronic and filmmaker Seth Kirby on two real, live Victrolas (one, I hear was on loan by PAPER’s own Drew Elliot.) What better way to celebrate the classic birthday boy than with timeless tunes and sturdy drinks!
MORE PHOTOS AFTER THE JUMP>>
Posted Apr. 11, 2008,
About Last Night... The Glamourpusses Flock to Celebrate the Opening of the New Christian Lacroix Boutique
By Mickey Boardman
No name says glamorous French fashion like Christian Lacroix and the designer, who is rarely in New York, thrilled locals last night with his presence at the opening of his chic new 57th St. boutique as well as a dinner at the Gramercy Park Hotel. Lacroix, who first catapulted to style stardom in the '80s designing for Patou, is in his prime, better and happier than ever. How's this for a glamour sandwich? Lacroix with Diane von Furstenberg and actress Sarah Jessica Parker.
More devastating chicness after the jump!
Posted Apr. 9, 2008,
About Last Night... Shane and Shawn Store Opening Hosted by Bijou Phillips
By Caroline Torem Craig
Wild Child Becomes Her!
I asked Bijou Phillips if that could be the title of this blog and she said, "Sure, you could say that!" She looks so fresh and spirited and beautiful these days. And while she readily admits that she has raised some kind of hell with the best of them, no one can deliver close-ups like this one. No frown lines, no wrinkles, no unnaturally puffy lips, no baggy eyes -- what’s up with that?
This little party, to mark the opening of the Nolita Shane and Shawn boutique (Shane and Shawn are pictured above flanking Mr. Mickey and Bijou), was jumping all over the place. After a whole lot of maneuvering through the crowded store, I found my way and stepped down into a genuine, secret Moroccan-style hideaway Shane and Shawn have created… far away from the maddening crowd.
Posted Apr. 3, 2008,
About Last Night... PAPER's Annual Beautiful People Party at Hiro Ballroom
By Caroline Torem Craig
Apparently, New York City ranks fourth in the world in terms of population density, and it felt as if the whole city was crowded together at PAPER’s Beautiful People party held at the Hiro Ballroom last night! Californian crooner and BP cover girl Joanna Newsom performed for the throngs of rabid fans. All in all, it was a great, young, crowded, fun, laid-back party, but then all of a sudden the pressure was ON when Bjork, notoriously anti-photographer, arrived. It was my mission to document her iconic presence at our party! And I fought like a Nimiean lion to do it. I got four frames -- pop, pop, pop, pop -- just like the champagne served that evening, courtesy of Nicolas Feuillatte. The icing on the cake? H&M provide a PAPER + H&M T-shirt for all guests which read “I am a beautiful person.”
Party people; Bjork!
Posted Mar. 28, 2008,
About Last Night… APrivateClub.com Party at Hotel on Rivington Penthouse
By Caroline Torem Craig
Aprivateclub.com co-founders Justin Belmont and Kloe Korby held a posh and spicy black tie party at the penthouse and rooftop of the Hotel on Rivington to benefit the New Museum. There were no doors separating the bathtub and living area, which afforded some fabulous, voyeuristic photo ops!
Posted Mar. 28, 2008,
About Last Night... Serge Strosberg’s “Paris to New York” Opening at KiptonART
By Caroline Torem Craig
Serge Strosberg’s paintings were all about the Seven Deadly Sins (you know, greed, gluttony, lust, etc.) and lo and behold, in a dark corner near the fire escape, I spotted Jason Preston with a fresh-faced new beau...
Posted Mar. 20, 2008,
About Last Night... Kimora Lee Simmons and Coty Launch Baby Phat Fabulosity at the Palace
By Caroline Torem Craig
With hundreds of faux marquisites dripping from the trees in the gorgeous Madison Room just off the courtyard of The Palace, a perfume was launched last night: Baby Phat Fabulosity. Conceived of by the one and only Kimora Lee Simmons, she answered queries as to whether “fabulosity” is a noun, a verb, or a what, with a firm, “it’s a statement, a feeling and a noun!” The bottle is lovely and luxurious, in the shape of a diamond. Kimora gave some wonderful perfume placing tips, like make sure to spray your hair, that way the pillow cases and bed sheets will absorb the scent by proxy!
MORE PHOTOS AFTER THE JUMP>
Posted Mar. 19, 2008,
About Last Night... The Versace Menswear Launch at Barneys
By Caroline Torem Craig
There was no fancy food and not to much to drink last night at the Versace menswear launch at Barneys -– it didn't matter. All that was important was the superstar that is Donatella Versace!
It was like a receiving line in a glorious wedding. As soon as anyone came in the door, they politely waited their turn to speak and perhaps pose with the Real Italian Madonnatella.
The room was sweltering and packed, but Donatella stood ramrod straight in sky high heels and graciously welcomed everyone for what seemed like an eternity, answering the most ordinary questions (I caught the answer to one question, and her answer was “I saw Atonement today.”)
Guests in attendance included Patti La Belle, Woody Allen, Soon-Yi Previn, Busta Rhymes, Tinsley Mortimer, Kiera Chaplin, Amanda Hearst, Mickey Boardman, Alan Cummings, Leighton Meester, Stephon Marbury.
Posted Mar. 12, 2008,
About Last Night, London Edition: Fashion Fringe 2008 Launch Party
By Zandile Blay
If London is currently renowned for its amazing young designers, then Fashion Fringe deserves at least part of the credit. Since its inception in 2004, the organization has discovered and nurtured some of London's haute-est designers including Erdem, Basso & Brooke, Sinha-Stanic and Gavin Douglas. The winner gets over $200,000 towards his or her label and funding to show his or her collection during London Fashion Week. Despite the much-needed cash, what's really priceless is the chance to build relationships with industry leaders, says fashion historian and Fashion Fringe founder Colin McDowell. "Our real job is to mentor these designers and that's what we do," he said at the Fashion Fringe '08 launch party last night at the posh Claridges Hotel.
Finalists sipped champagne and snacked on tempura while hobnobbing with A-listers like Manolo Blahnik, Roland Mouret and Agyness Deyn. Of course, the belle of the ball was Donatella Versace, who was recently announced as the new honorary chairwoman for Fashion Fringe, taking over for Tom Ford who just finished a two year stint. "I feel very honored and very excited," she told me at the event, "I think I connect with the finalists a lot. I can't wait to start."
Posted Mar. 10, 2008,
About Last Night, London Edition: Jodie Harsh's Circus Party Featuring Pete Burns
By Zandile Blay
The Soho Revue Club, Soho's first topless bar, is certainly a fitting venue for Circus, the weekly party held by London gal-about-town Jodie Harsh. The magic happens on a dance floor surrounded by burgundy velvet couches, heavy matching draperies and mirrored walls. Topless pole dancers showed their skills, while resident DJs Knights of Sound spun a sick mix of hip-hop, dance and techno music. The party this past Friday was more decadent than usual as the legendary Pete Burns, London's gender-bending "music personality" was on hand as guest DJ. Of course, he played his trademark 1985 chart topper, "You Spin Me Right Round." As soon as he entered the DJ booth the audience which had been happily dancing and drinking promptly stopped and -- you guessed it -- spun right round to stare and take photos of Burns. You couldn't blame them, but from my point of view, the partiers, an eclectic mix of south London boys, dainty socialites, drag divas, and nu rave kids, were just as interesting to watch as the guest of honor. See some of them below.
Posted Mar. 7, 2008,
About Last Night... Amanda Hearst + Luigi Tadini + TIBI Host Riverkeeper Benefit at Hearst Tower
By Caroline Torem Craig
Last night, TIBI, along with PAPERMAG blogger Luigi Tidini and Amanda Hearst hosted a soiree at the eco-friendly Hearst Tower to benefit Riverkeeper, whose mission is to “safeguard the ecological integrity of the Hudson River.” Folks-about-town like Marissa Bregman, Liam McMullan, Kristian Laliberte, Peter Davis, Alexandra Richards, Emma Snowdon Jones, David Lauren and Lauren Bush all stopped by to sip cocktails, do some dancing and admire the lovely views in order to show their support for a good cause. A dazzling affair!
MORE PHOTOS AFTER THE JUMP>
Posted Feb. 29, 2008,
About Last Night... The Bailey House 20th Anniversary Auction
By Caroline Torem Craig
The Bailey House 20th Annual Auction and party held at the Puck Building was swarming with great looking men of every age! Seriously, there were at least four men to every woman! One could raise their paddle for dinner for two at the Chateau Marmont ($150 value, which kind of shocked me -- what a bargain!); two weekend nights at a W Hotel in New York, and a private consultation with Tim Gunn (value = priceless); a Nicholas Ghesquiere designed Balenciaga crocodile bag (valued a cool, $16,000); and lunch with the sky-blue-eyed cutie Anderson Cooper (also priceless). One of my favorite photos of all time was Anderson, Amanda Lepore and Jake Shears at a PAPER party taken a few years ago. I couldn’t resist this eclectic threesome, nor the quartet of handsomeness -- hosts Simon Doonan, John Bartlett, Tim Gunn and Anderson Cooper -- that I snapped last night.
Posted Feb. 15, 2008,
About Last Night... The (RED) Auction at Sotheby's
By Caroline Torem Craig
The (RED) Auction, conceived by Bono and Damien Hirst, and held at Sotheby’s last night, is designed to raise money for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Some of the world’s leading artists donated their works to the cause, like Jeff Koons, Jasper Johns, Matthew Barney, Richard Prince and Takashi Murakami. Others there to show their support included Queen Noor, Christy Turlington, Ed Burns, Roberta Armani, Bobby Shriver and Ziyi Zhang. I asked PAPER friend Michael Stipe why he was on crutches and he replied “a go-cart accident!” So much for sitting in a corner losing your religion!
Posted Feb. 13, 2008,
About Last Night... The Best of the Best of New York Fashion Week, Part 2
By Caroline Torem Craig
Here's the second half of Caroline Torem-Craig's Fashion Week Highlights... Enjoy the eye candy!
Karen Elson and Sarah Sophie Flicker; Andrew Leon Talley and Vivica Fox
Posted Feb. 12, 2008,
About Last Night... The Best of the Best of New York Fashion Week, Part 1
By Caroline Torem Craig
10 years X 2 per year = 22 Fashion Weeks 4 PAPER!
It’s exciting stuff covering backstage, front of house, runway and the parties. One needs to train, like for a marathon. The stamina needed to deal with four different kinds of "lists," to travel to and from the tents and off-site venues, to fight with hundreds of manic-panic foreign and domestic photographers and videographers for a 12-inch square of space for 20, 30, 40 different shows is incredible. Sometimes there are actual fights like the Italians vs. the Japanese or the New York Times vs. The New York Post. It can be both hilarious and/or upsetting. When the lights go down and the first model struts the catwalk, it is concentration time... OH!! To get the perfect shot! There can be a gasp of appreciation as a tiny perfect breast escapes from the fabric or a moan of sympathy as wobbly legs in 6" platforms lose control or a hush when the ighting, music, clothing and the model blend together to make a sweet magic moment, hopefully captured for TOMORROW! Some of my favorite photos this season show “recognition,” not just for me but for the magazine I represent -- PAPER. Everyone loves PAPER. They show it in their eyes, their smiles and they even say it out loud! Here are some of the best moments of Fashion Week that I captured.
Posted Feb. 7, 2008,
About Last Night... A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi and UNICEF at the U.N.
By Caroline Torem Craig
The Gucci-sponsored, Madonna-conceived event, “A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi and Unicef,” was held in a tent (close to the size of Bryant Park) on the lawn of the United Nations last night. It was covered by a very exclusive pack of photogs and reporters, so we were pleased that PAPER was given the OK!
Judging by the sheer magnitude and pulchritude of the celebrities that walked the “black carpet,” just about everyone of Madonna’s friends invited showed up! There were no tattered jeans here. Some of the guests stood out for obvious reasons. Like Jennifer Lopez, who is ridiculously beautiful but oh my GOD, it looks she is carrying a team of Budweiser horses! Like Madonna, who has an iron will to keep doing whatever necessary to be a star and not a fizzling comet! Like Katie Holmes, who is beautiful and incredibly well put-together, but has the most unnerving stare! Like Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, who no longer seem like an odd couple! And like Gwyneth Paltrow, who thought it was a junior prom event or a baby-doll pajama pary…
As Kimora Lee Simmons, who clung tightly to her boyfriend Djimon Honsou, would say: “Fabulosity!”
Posted Feb. 1, 2008,
About Last Night... The Factory: an Underground Park Avenue Party
By Caroline Torem Craig
At Marissa Bregman's mysterious invite only “Factory” party, About Last Night stepped into a luxurious Park Avenue apartment that was filled with rooms where songs were being written by award-winning writers, arranged and sung by Grammy-garnering singers and god knows what else –- these artists are re-thinking the music industry and throwing some seriously sick private parties! (Pictured above are Dan Keyes (Young Love) and the lovely Marissa Bregman)
MORE PHOTOS AFTER THE JUMP >
Posted Feb. 1, 2008,
About Last Night... amFar’s 10th Annual Gala at Cipriani
By Caroline Torem Craig
The American Foundataion for AIDS Research (amFar) event the Cipriani 42nd St. was what we in the biz like to call MAJOR.
Julian Schnabel, Carine Roitfeld and Bobby Shriver were honored for their outstanding efforts to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS by a bevy of models, designers, TV stars, reality folk, singers, directors and magazine editors clad in black tie and ball gowns.
There was even a special performance by Barry Manilow. All my life I have made fun of his songs, but as he stood there before me I silently said I was sorry cause he has somehow transcended hoki-ness. You know, if you can’t fight it join it!
The crowd screamed for Roberto Cavalli, but that could have been because there were molte Italian camera crews in town for Fashion Week. When Bobby Shriver spoke, it was with the Kennedy/Shriver eloquence. Inside Edition was on the scene asking everyone about Britney Spears' recent predicament. Evidently, Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin, who live near Spears, saw the helicopter swoop down to take her away. They expressed their concern and seemed genuinely horrified about what has happened to her and said she was a great role model in the past for their kids. I told them I overheard two young girls ask their mother over lunch the other day if they could still like Britney!
Jennifer Esposito and Charlotte Ronson
Posted Jan. 28, 2008,
About Last Night... The Viennese Opera Ball at the Waldorf Astoria
By Caroline Torem Craig
The Viennese Opera Ball, held yearly for 53 years at the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria, is a soirée that has to be seen to be believed -- especially, when a horse-drawn carriage emerges from the elevator to canter across the dance floor amidst the ball-gown-clad debutantes!
Last year the hostess was the Duchess of York and this year’s co-hosts were Carol Alt and Stephen Baldwin, Celebrity Apprentice participants. What!!!?? When PAPER asked the bubbly Miss Teen USA Hilary Cruz whether she thought pageants were a worthwhile part of today’s society, she kindly refrained from yawning and smartly said, “YES!” and that none of the girls were mean, jealous, tricky or two-faced. I forgot to ask about the mothers!
Meanwhile, further down the red carpet the stunning Miss Universe Riyo Mori, who was enthusiastically telling a reporter how she hated flying... and planes... Oops! I was hoping she’d be talking about hating something worse like Donald Trump... KIDDING!
Posted Jan. 17, 2008,
About Last Night... The Chanel "Night of Diamonds" Dinner at the Plaza
By Caroline Torem Craig
The black and white affair held in homage to Chanel’s signature colors last night was the first to take place in the historic Grand Ballroom of The Plaza since it closed for renovations in 2005. Way back in 1966, Truman Capote hosted his legendary Black and White Ball at The Plaza, so it all felt very full circle. Madame Coco, herself, must have waved a magic wand over all the beautifully turned out guests! How could each outfit be more understated yet spectacular than the last! Trust me, they were "sans faux pas" and the accessories, brilliant and blinding. After all, this celebration was held in honor of the U.S. debut of 20 one of a kind diamond pieces from the Chanel archives and the Vendome Collection.
Celebrity, diamond-adorned guests included Selma Blair, Ellen Pompeo, Christy Turlington, Ed Burns, Barbara Bush, Julia Stiles, Josh Lucas, Candace Bushnell, Blake Liveley and more, more, more.
Barbara Bush and Candace Bushnell
Posted Jan. 16, 2008,
About Last Night... The National Board of Review Gala
By Caroline Torem Craig
All the various Ciprianis evoke glamour and a little bit of Roman grandeur. So the Corinthian columns in the background coupled with the Cipriani ballroom’s gold lighting at last night's National Board of Review Gala brought a certain propriety to the overall scene… or maybe it was just the fact that I got to photograph George Clooney that's gotten me all poetic! Unforunately, he looked like he was auditioning for a part in The Exorcist, his head spinning to the chants of “Look this way, George! George, look at me!” Sarah Lawson, his date, ignored everyone and simply looked at him –- and why not? And as if that wasn’t enough torture for the girls, in stepped Denzel Washington! It was also quite a thrill to see the beautiful Julie Christie, who recently won a Golden Globe for her role in Away from Her. Amid the sea of black dresses, Jennifer Garner stepped up to the plate with a blue number, for which we applaud her. Evey year, this terribly sophisticated event takes place in New York, and this year, in the shadow of the ongoing writers strike, we were really thankful to be a part of it!
Kate Winslet and Jennifer Garner
Posted Jan. 14, 2008,
About Last Night... The Jimmy Choo Boutique Opening in Los Angeles
By Linlee Allen
Choo Me!
Harvey Weinstein, Debra Messing, Shiva Rose, Angie Harmon, Andrew Andrew and the West Coast contingent of ladies with a-grade taste in fancy footwear gathered in Beverly Hills on Friday night to celebrate the opening of the new Jimmy Choo boutique on Rodeo Drive.
Tamara Mellon, president of Jimmy Choo
Posted Jan. 10, 2008,
About Last Night... The Business of Being Born Premiere at the IFC Center
By Caroline Torem Craig
The Business of Being Born, directed by Abby Epstein and produced by Ricki Lake, is a documentary which explores the question: should most births be viewed as a natural life process or should every delivery be treated as a potential medical emergency? As soon as Ricki spotted me, her face lit up and she said, "I love PAPER! Where is Kim? And Dennis Dermody? I love him! With that warm welcome, I gave myself permission to note that Ricki “had" her first baby in my favorite movie, in the back seat with Johnny Depp driving! That would be in John Waters' Crybaby, y’all!
Posted Jan. 9, 2008,
About Last Night... The Repetto 60th Anniversary Exhibition
By Caroline Torem Craig
The dainty shoes were the stars of the evening last night at the Max Lang Gallery for the Repetto 60th Anniversary Exhibition. Also in attendance was the perfect, immaculately groomed and polite Jessica Stam along with socialite types Leven Rambin, Kristian Laliberte, Genevieve Jones, Kate Schelter, designers Thom Browne, Charlotte Ronson and artists Karen Kilimnik and Tobias Wong. But back to the shoes: Proenza Schouler’s Molten Gold, Brigitte Bardot’s sexy red-checkered flats, Matt Creed’s open-toe cuties, Tobias Wong’s liquid 18Ks, Vanessa Paradis’ pair that read, sweetly, "Happy Birthday / Joyeux Anniversaire Repetto!" and Vanessa Beecroft's bloody beauties.