WWD articles from March 2004

WWD archives from March 2004

FOXY LADY.
March 1, 2004... MILAN -- Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana are never averse to having a bit of fun, and they did it this time by amping up the androgynous aspects of their Dolce & Gabbana collection. This season, the line was inspired by Yves Saint Laurent,...

RIDING COACH'S EXPRESS: NO SIGNS OF SLOWDOWN AS LUXE BRAND ZOOMS.
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- How long can it last? And how do they do it? Mention Coach to a fashion insider and those are invariably the questions that pop out. In the rush by American designers to develop huge accessories businesses, Coach is the lone...

CHALAYAN, ASPREY PART WAYS.
March 1, 2004... MILAN -- Hussein Chalayan's contract is up at Asprey -- and the designer is moving on. Both Chalayan and Asprey said Friday their separation after four seasons is an amicable one. "There is no drama going on," Chalayan said in a...

EU TARIFF SANCTIONS START TODAY.
March 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- The European Union begins levying 5 percent retaliatory tariffs today on some $4 billion in U.S. exports, including $100 million in annual apparel shipments -- a slow start to a trade spat that could worsen if Congress doesn't...

COMING THIS WEEK.
March 1, 2004... MONDAY: Designers & Agents, Workshop New York, New York (through Wednesday). Intimate Apparel and Accessories Market Weeks, New York. Dillard's Inc. reports fourth-quarter and year-end sales and earnings. TUESDAY: Paris...

TARGET TO MAKE RFID TAGS MANDATORY FOR VENDORS.(radio frequency identification)
March 1, 2004... BOSTON -- Closely following Wal-Mart's lead, Target Corp. is chasing supply-chain efficiencies through radio frequency identification. In a move industry watchers have expected for months, the Minneapolis-based retailer has mandated that...

IN BRIEF: CERBERUS TO BUY GUILFORD.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... CERBERUS TO BUY GUILFORD Guilford Mills Inc. has found a buyer, but at a price well-below its market value. The Greensboro, N.C.-based textile manufacturer said Friday it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by Cerberus Capital...

OBITUARY: AMY SPINDLER, FASHION'S CULTURAL CRITIC.(Obituary)
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- For Amy M. Spindler, fashion wasn't just a job, it was a passion. Spindler, who died Friday at age 40 from a malignant brain tumor after a long battle with cancer, was remembered by friends, designers and colleagues for her...

NEWTON WOMEN, ENGLISH CHARMERS AND KNIT WITS; THERE ARE PLENTY OF CHOICES FOR THE STYLISH IN MILAN, FROM YVES SAINT LAURENT-BY-HELMUT NEWTON LOOKS AT DOLCE & GABBANA TO CHRISTOPHER BAILEY'S CHARMINGLY ECCENTRIC AND HIP LOOKS AT BURBERRY PRORSUM AND THOSE DELIGHTFUL ZIGZAGS IN ANGELA MISSONI'S MISSONI COLLECTION.
March 1, 2004... Dolce & Gabbana: Oh, but those Dolce & Gabbana boys are busy, focused as they are on their company's growth, growth, growth. But might Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana have time for a little moonlighting? The fabulous collection they showed...

FASHION SCOOPS: DATE LINE...BALLY GIRL...STEELE YOURSELF.
March 1, 2004... DATE LINE: The countdown is on for Pinault-Printemps-Redoute to announce successors to Gucci creative director Tom Ford and chief executive Domenico De Sole. Although PPR has said the news won't come before Ford's YSL finale on March 7, word...

BYZANTINE GLITZ, SEVENTIES SOUL AND DESILU FROTH; FOR FALL, ROBERTO CAVALLI TRAVELED TO TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY VENICE, WHILE MIUCCIA PRADA REVISITED THE SEVENTIES FOR MIU MIU AND MOSCHINO DID THE "I LOVE LUCY" LOOK.
March 1, 2004... Roberto Cavalli: On paper, turn-of-the-century Venice might seem an unlikely source for Roberto Cavalli's inspiration. But, as you can imagine, he wasn't interested in the highfalutin bloom of the royal court. For fall, Cavalli focused on what...

TOD'S ALMIGHTY.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... Diego Della Valle has a romantic side, and it showed up in the Tod's presentation at the PAC, Milan's museum of contemporary art. The entrepreneur tapped the renowned set designer Dante Ferretti to create his "dream garden," in which to plant...

DETAILS MATTER.
March 1, 2004... Milan -- Too bad Carrie Bradshaw has hung up her stilettos, because she's missing a great accessories season in Milan. Designers have dreamed up many ways to step into fall: round-toed pumps with chunky heels; wicked stilettos gussied-up with...

THE PRINCESS DIARIES; AT ETRO, VERONICA ETRO MEMORIALIZED ANASTASIA, WHILE GRAEME BLACK CAME UP WITH LOW-KEY, ARISTOCRATIC SPORTSWEAR FOR SALVATORE FERRAGAMO. AT KRIZIA, MARIUCCIA MANDELLI'S THEME WAS THE PRUSSIAN COURT, AND GIANFRANCO FERRE'S WENT FOR THE HIGH-AND-MIGHTY.
March 1, 2004... Etro: Remember all the conspiracy theories surrounding the disappearance of turn-of-the century princess Anastasia Romanov? Well, it looks like Veronica Etro has come up with one of her own for her fall collection. Etro's princess finds refuge...

CHARMED ONES.
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Sexy is a given when it comes to bras and panties. But this fall's freshest crop is more sweet than sizzling with flirty shapes, delicate trim and playful prints.

WHAT A PAIR.
March 1, 2004... Going separate ways has never been so good -- especially when it comes to pajama pairs.

NEW NAMES AND FASHION LOOKS PRIME HOLIDAY.
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- A rush of new brands, designer labels and fashion items are expected to bolster the importance of this week's holiday market. Among the new names expected to rock the market for late fall and holiday selling are Dolce &...

LACROIX: `SHOW ME THE MONEY'.
March 1, 2004... MILAN -- Christian Lacroix wants to set the record straight. He would like his 17-year-old fashion house to be as famous for profits as pouf skirts -- and wants more creative control in order to achieve that. And the star couturier is...

TURNING A NEW LEAF AT KENZO.
March 1, 2004... PARIS -- Antonio Marras, the new artistic director at Kenzo, dug down deep -- into the archives and his own creative well -- to understand the colorful, folkloric and celebrated universe of retired founder Kenzo Takada. "I hope that I...

KENZO TAKADA'S NEXT AGENDA.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... PARIS -- The house of Kenzo may have a new lease on life, but so does its founder, Kenzo Takada, who is making a comeback with a clothing and home line called Gokan Kobo, which loosely translates from Japanese as "studio of the five senses."...

SINGULAR (RETAIL) SENSATIONS.
March 1, 2004... PARIS -- Quirky luxury and individual style is what the newest shops here hope to deliver. Roger Vivier, the fabled shoe brand being relaunched by Italy's Tod's Group, is a prime example. Its new boutique at 29 Rue Du Faubourg...

SEWARD SOLO: REENERGIZING THE HOUSE OF AZZARO.
March 1, 2004... PARIS -- Of all the lessons Vanessa Seward took from designer Loris Azzaro before his death last November, the foremost was to beautify women. "I learned that following fashion isn't most important," says the 34-year-old designer, who...

SCENE; EAT, DRINK, BE MERRY -- AND GET SOME CULTURE IN THE CITY OF LIGHT.
March 1, 2004... NIGHT HAWKS: The mythical Publicis drugstore at 133 Avenue des Champs- Elysees has reopened after a two-year facelift. Architect Michele Saee's ultramodern glass facade now dominates the street. "Le Drugstore," as Parisians used to call it, was...

SHOW CALENDAR; THE FOLLOWING IS THE FALL READY-TO-WEAR RUNWAY SHOW CALENDAR. IT IS CURRENT AS OF PRESS TIME; ATTENDEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONFIRM TIMES AND LOCATIONS.(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... Monday, March 1 3 p.m.: Naco, Atelier Renault, 5 Avenue des Champs-Elysees, Paris 8th. 5 p.m.: Enzuvan, Le Trianon, 80 Boulevard de Rochechouart, Paris 18th. 6 p.m.: Undercover, La Cigale, 120 Boulevard de Rochechouart, Paris...

REHEATING LEGWARMERS FOR FALL.
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Until a Nineties revival no longer seems premature, the Eighties will remain the choice decade for inspiration -- which means legwarmers are not going anywhere. At this week's fall legwear market, many brands are expanding...

NEW MOVEMENTS AT VERSACE.
March 1, 2004... MILAN -- With 100 percent growth in the U.S. over the past year, Versace's watch business is booming and the company is capitalizing on the momentum, opening to a selection of prestigious jewelry stores and supporting the division with...

KMART: WHO GETS THE CASH?
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Kmart may be out of bankruptcy, but it is still mired in intrigue. The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago last week determined that the old bankrupt Kmart company should not have paid $367 million to certain former...

JOHN EDWARDS RALLIES TO KEEP JOBS IN U.S.(Interview)
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- "I do not think we should lift the quotas on Chinese textile imports." As the race for the Democratic presidential nomination hits a critical week, candidate John Edwards outlined a clear stand on domestic industrial issues...

MARY KAY: HUMAN TOUCH MEETS HIGH TECH.
March 1, 2004... DALLAS -- Mary Kay envisions itself a high tech company with a human touch. David Hall, president and chief executive officer of the 40-year-old direct-selling firm, said that 90 percent of its U.S. orders are now placed online, up from...

TERRY LAY TO HEAD VF'S $2.7B JEANS BUSINESS.(appointment of vice presidents.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- VF Corp. on Friday unveiled a major management shakeup, shifting the duties of four top-level executives and naming Terry Lay to head the company's $2.7 billion jeans business. Lay, formerly vice president and chairman of the...

STUDY HALL.(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... School can be so cool with the right accessories, which put jazzy twists on the utilitarian, traditional and serious-minded. The Star Report Tumi's Travels Everyone Says "I Do"

SCENE.
March 1, 2004... ABRACADABRA! Call it fashion's quick fix. Fashionistas, on a budget and not, will get a kick out of the buy-one-get-two trend that's been sweeping through Italy. This spring, accessories morph visibly or subtly thanks to small details such...

STUDY HALL.(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... NEW YORK -- Who say's you can't be smart and sexy? This season's fresh new crop of eyewear, watches and bags is for the intellectual girl who feels that style and brains go hand in hand. The practical side of things -- rich tweeds and felted...

TUMI TAKES OFF LONG CONSIDERED THE ARCHETYPAL TRAVEL BRAND, TUMI IS NOW EMBARKING ON A DIFFERENT ROUTE.
March 1, 2004... Talk about journeying to different shores. Where once Tumi was considered a top-notch brand for black ripstop nylon and napa leather luggage, it's quickly becoming a destination for women in search of fashionable business cases, functional...

CHARM'S WAY.(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... Nothing like a charm bracelet to let a little of your personality shine through, and these days, the charm is hotter than ever. But why stop at bracelets? Now, charms can be found on earrings, necklaces and even zippers.

WINNING DESIGNS.(Illustration)
March 1, 2004... Sporty frames aren't just for Olympic endeavors anymore. The fashionable set is now embracing them for everyday purposes. Here, tinted shields by Adidas. Sunglass Wars That Square Feeling Designer Shades

EYE DRAMA; THE DESIGNER SUNGLASSES BUSINESS IS AS CATTY AS THE BEST DAYTIME SOAP OPERA.(Industry Overview)
March 1, 2004... The small mountain valley town of Belluno near Venice may seem like an unlikely battleground, but lately it's served as a backdrop for some of the eyewear industry's most intense bidding wars over lucrative licensing agreements with designers....

LET'S GET PHYSICAL; ONCE WORN BY THE ACTIVE FEW, SPORTS FRAMES HAVE NOW ALSO BECOME DE RIGUEUR WITH THE FASHION SET.
March 1, 2004... Forget fluorescent wrap frames. Sports eyewear is now taking it to the streets in style. Once only seen on surfers or snow bunnies, eyewear from labels such as Bolle, Oakley and Vuarnet is proving popular as everyday wear for urban...

NEW VISIONS; IN TIME FOR THE INTERNATIONAL VISION EXPO EAST EXHIBIT, WHICH RUNS MARCH 26-28 IN NEW YORK, DESIGNERS AND FASHION HOUSES ARE SETTING THEIR SIGHTS ON SUNGLASSES.
March 1, 2004... TOMMY REINVENTS THE CLASSICS Tommy Hilfiger knows an American classic when he sees one -- his first pair of sunglasses were Seventies Ray-Ban aviators. "They set the standard for cool, and I felt great in them," the designer recalled....

SCENE.
March 1, 2004... Mini Mania The new version of the fabled Mini Cooper car is as hot as it gets in Europe, where streets are notoriously narrow and congested. It comes as little surprise then that parent company BMW Group wants to bank on the red-hot...

THE WEDDING PARTY THE BOOMING BRIDAL BUSINESS HAS MAIN-FLOOR ACCESSORIES COMPANIES SAYING, "I DO.".
March 1, 2004... Thanks to couples like the Bachelorette's Trista and Ryan, gone are simple ceremonies among family and friends. Bring on the Ecuadorean roses and network sponsorships. Weddings these days have reached astronomical proportions -- and...

THE FAME GAME; ROLL THE DICE. IN HOLLYWOOD, IT'S ANYBODY'S GUESS WHICH SUPERSTAR WILL GET INTO THE BIZ NEXT.
March 1, 2004... This just in. New York has announced it will add some movie-star clout to Seventh Avenue's Fashion Walk of Fame. Well, not really. But these days it seems a likely scenario, what with everybody from Jennifer Lopez to Pamela Anderson, who just...

BLUE NOTES; LATELY, JEAN COMPANIES HAVE GEMS ON THEIR MINDS.
March 1, 2004... When Esprit's New York flagship opens in the Flatiron district later this year, shoppers will not only be able to try on sleek suits and shrug into boots, but can complete the look with sterling silver earrings or necklaces. Jewelry is...

THE GATHERING.(Christopher Bailey)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... MILAN -- Christopher Bailey designed his delightful fall collection for Burberry Prorsum with charmingly eccentric English girls in mind. He provided them with classics and more offbeat pieces, which included trenchcoats and little capelets,...

THE MILAN COLLECTIONS: BUYERS PRAISE STYLES, LAMENT LIMPING DOLLAR.
March 2, 2004... MILAN -- Retailers hailed the Milan collections as a commercial bonanza -- but at what cost? With the dollar trading at about 80 euro cents, buyers were forced to bridle their enthusiasm for embellished sportswear, furs and...

LEVI'S '03 LOSS HITS $349M.(Levi Strauss and Co)
March 2, 2004... NEW YORK -- Levi Strauss & Co.'s continuing operational and financial missteps hit the company's bottom line hard in the fourth quarter, leaving the company $245 million in the red. Levi's officials disclosed late Monday that the fiscal...

WAL-MART BUYS SUPERMARKET INCREASING PRESENCE IN BRAZIL.(Bompreco S.A. Supermercados do Nordeste)
March 2, 2004... BOSTON -- Boosting its presence in South America's largest economy, Wal-Mart said Monday it has purchased Bompreco S.A. Supermercados do Nordeste, Brazil's third-largest supermarket chain, for $300 million from Dutch supermarket giant Ahold...

SUPREME COURT RULES FOR RALPH IN MAURITIUS FLAP.(Polo Ralph Lauren Corp)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- The Ralph Lauren saga in Mauritius is over. Supreme Court judge Paul Lam Shang Leen last week ruled that Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. had proven sufficiently its ownership of its trademarks and declared that the...

IN BRIEF: BCBG BAGS...ONE FOR WET SEAL...WORTH JOINS AMEREX.(Read Worth has joined Amerex Group)(BCBG Max Azria has launched a signature handbag collection)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... BCBG BAGS: Revving up the luxe, Los Angeles-based BCBG Max Azria has launched a signature handbag collection for spring, a higher-end offering complementing its five-year-old handbag line. The three tote and clutch styles use oil calf leather,...

CORRECTION.(Correction Notice)
March 2, 2004... Stories that ran on page one, March 1, and page 2, Feb. 24, should have read that analysts estimate Coach's 2004 sales and diluted earnings per share to be $1.27 billion and $1.21, respectively. Last year's sales and EPS were $953.2 million and...

NOW, MOTHER-OF-PEARL SKIN.
March 2, 2004... PARIS -- Robert Wan believes mother-of-pearl beautifies not just jewelry, but skin, too. The expert -- who is a pearl supplier and designer -- plans to launch AquaPerla, a 10-unit skin care line in Paris's L'Eclaireur concept store...

KANARICK'S ART HITS SWEET SPOT.
March 2, 2004... NEW YORK -- Craig Kanarick's art almost looks good enough to eat, which shouldn't be surprising considering his subjects. Kanarick, who in a previous life was a co-founder of the briefly high-flying Internet agency Razorfish, spent both...

DE LA RENTA TO BUILD BRIDGE.(Apparel Group International, Oscar de la Renta Ltd, Kellwood Co)
March 2, 2004... NEW YORK -- Oscar de la Renta is on the lookout for a new bridge partner. The firm recently terminated its apparel licensing agreement with Apparel Group International for the Oscar by Oscar de la Renta bridge line, signed in 1995. ...

PAPER NAMES NEW EXECS.(Paper Denim & Cloth)(Chris Gilbert, Ken Girouard, Alix Gilbert Gaines)
March 2, 2004... NEW YORK -- The owner of premium jeans line Paper Denim & Cloth has shaken up management. Dick Gilbert, president of Mudd Inc., which owns the New York operation, said Monday that his son, Chris, has been named chief operating officer,...

MEMO PAD: BULKING DOWN...ALL KARL, ALL WEEK LONG...CHOW DOWN.
March 2, 2004... BULKING DOWN: When the Audit Bureau of Circulations clamped down last summer on the rising tide of magazine subscriptions sent to beauty salons and doctor's offices that were being passed off as individual readers, circulation executives...

INDUSTRY AWAITS PRESIDENTIAL OUTCOME.
March 2, 2004... SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Apparel executives are caught in a conundrum this year, as the election-year debate on trade, the economy and jobs on the national stage creates uncertainty in boardrooms across the country. It's not just China and...

DO THE WHITE THING.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... MILAN -- From traditional coachman numbers to minis with fake-fur collars, fall is a strong coat season. And some of the best come in a top color of the season, winter white.

THE FINER THINGS; AS THE MILAN FALL COLLECTIONS WOUND DOWN, TOP FUR AND LEATHER HOUSES AND OTHERS WERE STAKING THEIR CLAIMS TO SOPHISTICATED, STYLISH LOOKS.
March 2, 2004... Trussardi: Beatrice Trussardi knows more than a thing or two about luxury leathers, since she grew up in the family business. For fall, she and her team shaped meters of luscious hides into sleek coats and sporty pieces, some using unusual...

RICH EXPERIENCES.(fashion appreciation)
March 2, 2004... Fashion at its best is egalitarian, alienating no one and providing enough choice for the spectrum of tastes. Whether it's a dash of spunk, a quirky tickle or some sporty tendencies, designers offered up fall collections that could engage...

IMAGE BANK: THE MILAN COLLECTIONS.
March 2, 2004... (photos only)

FASHION SCOOPS: NEW GUY IN TOWN...RUNAWAY SUCCESS...STEALING SOZZANI.
March 2, 2004... NEW GUY IN TOWN: It looks like Guy Leymarie, the former chief executive of Cartier, has said "I do" to another jeweler: De Beers LV. Sources said he will succeed Alain Lorenzo as chief executive of the joint venture between the diamond company...

LAUNCHES PUSH INNOVO INTO RED.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... NEW YORK -- Despite thrusting sales skyward, the cost of launching two major brands ultimately pushed Innovo Group. Inc. into the red for the fourth quarter and the fiscal year. The fourth quarter proved to be the hardest hit with heavy...

LEIBER SIGNS INTERNATIONAL DEAL.(Judith Leiber LLC, International Bonded Warehouses.)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... NEW YORK -- Judith Leiber LLC has signed a multiyear partnership for international wholesale and retail distribution with International Bonded Warehouses, part of the Miami-based Falic Group, a travel retail operator. The agreement will...

JANE ENGELHARD DIES IN NANTUCKET.(Obituary)
March 2, 2004... NEW YORK -- Jane Engelhard, philanthropist and mother of Annette de la Renta, the wife of Oscar de la Renta, died Sunday on Nantucket. Further details could not be learned. Engelhard was the widow of Charles W. Engelhard Jr., a precious...

VALVO JUST GETTING STARTED AT 15.(Carmen Marc Valvo )
March 2, 2004... NEW YORK -- Early on in his business, it was the beach shack that kept Carmen Marc Valvo going. Fifteen years later, it has been paid off and renovated many times over. "When I started out, I had just bought a house in the Hamptons....

HELEN WANG TAKES ON THE ELEMENTS.
March 2, 2004... NEW YORK -- Helen Wang is layering up with her first outerwear collection. Inspired by faded Hollywood stars, the designer has named each simple, classic style after actresses such as the Audrey, a fitted style with a fold-up collar...

RICHARD TYLER IS ALL ABOUT EVE.
March 2, 2004... DALLAS -- Richard Tyler is filling his sandwich of brands with a nighttime treat. Called Richard Tyler Eve, the new bridge-priced eveningwear collection launches for fall with retail prices mostly under $1,000, significantly lower than...

PV'S SPLIT PERSONALITY.(Premiere Vision )
March 2, 2004... PARIS -- To tweed or not to tweed. That was just one of the questions at last week's Premiere Vision fabric fair. The abundance of highly colorful and textured summer tweed looks had some buyers moving in a quieter direction where...

GUARDED APPROACH AT TEXWORLD.
March 2, 2004... PARIS -- Exhibitors at Texworld forecast business would improve for the upcoming spring-summer 2005 season. But they remained cautious, citing the fast-changing international climate. In turn, buyers said they planned to place more...

MOD'AMONT SEES UPTICK.
March 2, 2004... PARIS -- Luminous colors, retro styles and versatile materials were the main fashion messages at Mod'Amont, the supplies and trimmings trade show held here Feb. 25-28. The show, which ran concurrently with Premiere Vision, featured over...

IFFE-BOUND VENDORS UPBEAT.(International Fashion Fabric Exhibition )
March 2, 2004... NEW YORK -- With hints of a better economy and spring in the air, the International Fashion Fabric Exhibition is gearing up for another outing next week. Sponsored by Advanstar Communications Inc., IFFE will run March 8-10 at the Jacob...

QUOTA WATCH: BANGLADESH.(textile industry)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... Trade analysts, pundits and government officials contend Bangladesh could be severely hurt by the World Trade Organization mandate to eliminate quotas on apparel and textiles at the start of 2005. As developing countries brace for the expected...

GARDENS OF DELIGHT.(Spring 2005 IFFE Show)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... NEW YORK -- The best part about spring is all its glorious blooms. So expect a delivery of flowers -- bold or subtle, bright or pale -- at the Spring 2005 IFFE Show, March 8-10 at the Jacob Javits Center.

LUCY BARNES STAYS OFF THE BEATEN PATH.(clothing store)
March 2, 2004... NEW YORK -- Not one for pretenses, Lucy Barnes is at ease with being the only clothing store on the block on Manhattan's West 14th Street. Her new nontrendy neighbors -- a church and a funeral home -- suit her just fine, as does the...

PALE GODDESS.(Academy Awards)(Nicole Kidman)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... HOLLYWOOD -- Bumping up the Academy Awards a month may have intensified the buzz to deafening levels, but when it came to fashions on Sunday the tone tended toward more of a whisper. Nicole Kidman, who collaborated on her celadon green Chanel...

ALL GROWN UP.(Oscar Awards)(dressing gowns)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... Oscar gowns may have been decidedly more grown-up this year, but they were also tamer. It seems that when actresses quit channeling their inner teenyboppers (thank God), they lost some of the carefree spirit that makes red carpet-watching such...

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK.(Oscar Awards)(fashion)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... Oscar night might be the most-watched fashion spectacle of the year -- but many of the greatest hits are increasingly happening off the main drag at the lavish post-bashes around town. With a ticket inside these events for A-listers becoming...

ROCKING OUT; STARS PROVED THAT WITHOUT ANY BLING THEY DON'T HAVE A THING.(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... No longer content to take a backseat to the gowns, accessories are seeking the limelight more aggressively than a starlet with a Maxim cover to promote. While Charlize Theron kept it light in linear Chopard earrings, she was in the minority....

MODERN GLAM; IF RED-CARPET STYLE WAS RETRO, BEAUTY LOOKS WERE ALL ABOUT TODAY.
March 2, 2004... With so many flashback fashions on the red carpet, the beauty brigade skewed their celebrity clients' hair and makeup to more modern interpretations. "Because Charlize's Gucci dress had a Thirties feel, we didn't want to go too retro with...

NEW BEST FRIENDS.
March 2, 2004... As soon as the final statuette was doled out, Hollywood put on its party shoes and escaped the Kodak Theater into a starry night. Since Hollywood wallet tightening meant fewer post-Oscar bashes this year, party perennials Vanity Fair and In...

INDEPENDENT'S DAY.(Independent Spirit Awards, Oscar Awards)(dress codes)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... It may be the Oscar's dressed-down sister, yet the IFP/Independent Spirit Awards Saturday afternoon is always the showcase of true Cali style: colorful, casual and cool. What else would the dress code be under a big top, oceanside on Santa...

COMMON CENTS; EVEN THE DESIGNERS WHO STAND TO PROFIT ARE CONCERNED THAT CELEBRITIES MIGHT BE PLAYING IT TOO "SAFE.".
March 2, 2004... They looked perfect. Or perfectly boring. With nary a stylistic misstep on Oscar's red carpet on Sunday night, the Monday morning fashion quarterbacks have found themselves less interested in chastising Samantha Morton for her vintage...

THE DAILY GRIND; WORK OR PLAY, THE COUNTDOWN TO THE OSCARS WAS A SCHEDULE SO PACKED WITH CAMPAIGNING FOR RED-CARPET PLACEMENT THAT IT WOULD'VE WIPED OUT EVEN THE MOST GUNG-HO OF PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS.(academy awards)
March 2, 2004... MONDAY, FEB. 23 4:10 p.m.: Hollywood is barely recovered from Sunday's Screen Actor's Guild Awards, but Oscar week is in full swing. At the Four Seasons, the Estee Lauder suite -- well, an entire wing -- is open to TV crews before the...

LAST WORD.(American actresses)(Brief Article)
March 2, 2004... "This was like a paint-by-numbers night -- way too predictable. We knew everyone that was gonna win." Jennifer Coolidge at Vanity Fair party Sunday night "Anyone who takes too long with taking pictures is bad. You know, a lot of...