We couldn’t let the day pass without showing you some of the Oscar gowns. These images are courtesy Giorgio Armani, who dressed many of the celebrities at the 82nd Academy Awards last night.

   As previewed yesterday in Lucire, Jennifer Lopez’s Giorgio Armani Privé iridescent icy pale pink silk organza evening gown was much talked about by the public, especially on the Tweetstreams. ‘The dress features high-tech, futuristic fabric with a revealing front slit and a crescent-shaped bustier that cascades into a dramatic side train accented by Swarovski rock crystals. The mermaid silhouette gown is part of the 2010 Privé collection inspired by the romance and mystery of the moon,’ says the company.

   Amanda Seyfried wore a Giorgio Armani Privé soft green silk strapless princess ball gown, again with high-tech materials. The gown has a geometric bustier encrusted with Swarovski crystals and a full skirt accented with mesh panel overlays.

   Academy Award winner Hilary Swank attended the Vanity Fair party wearing a Giorgio Armani Privé black gown with Swarovski beading. Swank can get away with a plunging neckline without looking trashy, and continued her smouldering style with a cut-out back on this dress.

It’s easy to forget that the Oscars were not the only awards for the Hollywood set over the last few days. Last Friday, Film Independent had its 25th Spirit Awards, championing independent film at an awards’ ceremony where the word Avatar was not uttered. (Interestingly, The Hurt Locker was in the running last year.)
   While our article has some photographs, the video below supplied by Piaget has even more celebrities, including Mariah Carey and Pierce Brosnan.

Giorgio Armani has shown a drawing of the dress it has supplied for Jennifer Lopez at the 82nd Academy Awards tonight.
   Lopez will present wearing a Giorgio Armani Privé iridescent icy pale pink silk organza evening gown, says the label. ‘The dress features high-tech, futuristic fabric with a revealing front slit and a crescent-shaped bustier that cascades into a dramatic side train accented by Swarovski rock crystals.’
   Other celebrities that Armani is dressing include Amanda Seyfried, Hilary Swank, Eugenia Silva, George Clooney, Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker), Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds), Steve Martin, Samuel L. Jackson, Sean Penn, John Travolta, Robin Williams and Lawrence Bender (producer, Inglourious Basterds). Apolo Ohno, Adrien Brody, Cory Montieth, J. C. Chasez and Jordi Mollà will attend Oscar-night parties wearing clothing from the Armani labels.

Tony Barbera/Disney Enterprises, Inc. Used with permission.
Above Avril Lavigne in Abbey Dawn for Alice in Wonderland, on the set of her music video.

The Abbey Dawn by Avril Lavigne label will roll out a limited-edition range of apparel to tie in with Disney’s Alice in Wonderland film, directed by Tim Burton. Both the film and the range début on March 5, with the clothing exclusively in Kohl’s stores across the US and on kohls.com.
   Graphic Ts and denim form the core of the range, in line with Lavigne’s rock image. The White Rabbit’s watch and sayings such as ‘At least we love each other’ appear on Ts; the range also includes boyfriend jeans with suspenders and black jersey. Prices range from US$28 for the printed Ts to US$54 for denim.

Top Ken Robinson gets to showcase his designs in Beverly Hills. Above Robinson with Jason Ritter and his girlfriend.

Ken Robinson of Robinson Designer Goldsmith, New Zealand’s most innovative fine jeweller and a long-time friend of Lucire, has been on a quest to get his gravity-defying designs in diamonds and precious gems into the hands and ensembles of top Hollywood talent. This journey led him to join forces with savvy event planner Anita Talbert (another friend of the Lucire family) for their dazzling precursor to Lozzi’s landmark Night of 100 Stars Oscar night viewing party at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
   In some ways, our beloved Ken followed in the footsteps of fellow Kiwi Sir Peter Jackson, as he headlined this show and was a real-life Lord of the Rings, as well as earrings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets, and other stellar offerings—forged into rainbow hued skulls, whimsical animals, flora, fauna and a few sparkling butterflies that looked as if they came right out of the mind of Mariah Carey (in fact, Ken had her in mind when designing those exquisite sparklers). He scored points with such luminaries as Natalie Cole, Jason Ritter, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlene Tilton and others.
   While Ken’s star shined bright in the land where Harry Winston once roamed the earth, other, others were on the rise, from LA-based Aussie couturière Kelly A. Swartz to the classic earthy gold and silver creations from Taber Studios, to art glass and silver treasures by Florida-based Accessoreez and casually dressy bling from i-Catcher by Vanessa Swarovski (granddaughter of Daniel Swarovski), to the supple Gucci-inspired bags from Cape Cod Leather (back from their triumphant appearance at the Distinctive Assets Grammy party), and swanky selection from our friend Charlie Lapson and vegan carry-alls from Montréal-based CherryBerry.
   Anita also beckoned some other fabulous cast members, including stunning architectural eyewear from Italy’s Oberti (whose offices are Miami-based), sexy sportswear from Green Apple, Beach Bunny and Bejeweled, ShoeDazzle (Kim Kardashian’s new shoe-of-the-month club), Kathy Wilson Atelier’s modern formal wear and top European skin care lines Pevonia and Yonka. The cherry on top for this sweet affair was a cinematic Karaoke machine from Youstar, a fantastic personal green screen system sure to keep movie buffs entertained until the 2011 Academy Awards and their home version of Night of 100 Stars.—Elyse Glickman

Above Kelly Ann Swartz, the Los Angeles-based, Australian-born couturière.


Top left Charlene Tilton models Accessoreez jewellery. Top right Lou Diamond Phillips. Above left Bejeweled shirt line rep. Above right Main sponsor Pevonia Botanica.

Meet Antonia Marguerite, a San Francisco-bred designer who, upon meeting, will have you sweetly inspired just from her eclectic exterior. She describes her sartorial style as rock ’n’ roll meets “vintage junkie”, wearing high-waisted skinny jeans, an oversized top, and old costumed jewels draped on her neck. She hasn’t been on Project Runway (yet), but she’s already running her way to the red carpet. A true believer that hard work does pay off, Marguerite recently jetted off to Los Angeles to live in the land of the seen and be seen. What else was an aspiring Hollywood designer to do?
   Marguerite attended the Art Institute of California—San Francisco, dedicating time to develop her fashion style and technique. During her Bay Area experience, she participated in San Francisco Fashion Week, which allowed her to create mini collections as a local talent. After graduating art school in SF, she moved to LA to obtain her bachelor’s degree in fashion design.
   I was taken by Marguerite’s modesty when asked to talk about her most recent creations. She’s already dressed Katrina Graham from the TV series The Vampire Diaries, America’s Next Top Model’s Brittany Markert, and Ambre Lake from VH1’s hit show Rock of Love, just to name a few.
   Her designs reveal a skilled mind; every piece made is clearly the subject of a character inspired by Marguerite herself. The clothing is like reading your favourite book. In one wear your body inhales the vision and setting for the first chapter. With each step that you take, you become engrossed in the seams that turn page by page.
   Marguerite’s garments not only tell a story but take you into a fantasy world of whimsical stitches. I think it’s the way she uses the human body and how the design marries to her initial concept of capturing her clients’ needs. She takes the body and divides it into layers with fabric so that each layer has a unique æsthetic. Afterward, the fabric is cut and shaped, creating a piece to be remembered. The tale ends with you completely satisfied and immediately wanting the next edition.
   What are people wearing as they walk down the streets? Well, if they’re about to transform themselves into avant-garde splendour, in the streets of SF or LA, they could be wearing Antonia Marguerite.
   ‘Design-wise, I’m haute couture, dark rock royalty. Since, I can’t be a rock star, I want to dress them,’ says Marguerite. Although these garments aren’t for the ordinary person, anyone can order custom-made pieces.
   So, what’s next for this progressive designer? Maybe it’s the theatre or music videos but, for now, she’s focusing on her next collection and various editorial photo shoots. At the moment, Marguerite is working on a collection, which just might have you saying, ‘That’s Gaga worthy!’
   If you haven’t heard of Antonia Marguerite yet, I think that you absolutely will very soon. The only question is, from which media outlet?

To order you can contact antoniamarguerite@hotmail.com.

Giorgio Armani SpA

Above Penélope Cruz and Jodie Foster in Giorgio Armani gowns. Below Camilla Belle and Sophia Loren.

Among the major labels, Giorgio Armani was the quickest off the bat this morning in getting information on who wore its brand at the Golden Globe Awards in Hollywood last night.
   Penélope Cruz wore a Giorgio Armani Privé black lace gown with a dramatic neckline beaded in a floral pattern, horizontal ribbon striping and fitted sleeves. The hemline flares into a tiered mermaid silhouette. The gown was featured in Armani’s première Privé collection in 2005.
   Jodie Foster presented wearing a Giorgio Armani black strapless gown that is highlighted with a high slit and an exaggerated black satin band.
   Sophia Loren presented in a Giorgio Armani Privé black evening gown.
   Camilla Belle attended the InStyle Golden Globes Viewing Party in a Giorgio Armani iridescent teal beaded cocktail dress. The fully encrusted outfit features an abstract geometric floral pattern and origami pleats at the neckline. Her handbag is a blue metallic leather clutch from Emporio Armani.
   Martin Scorsese wore a Giorgio Armani one-button peak lapel tuxedo with satin lapels, complemented by a classic spread collar evening shirt, bow tie and formal vest. Scorsese is the recipient of the Cecil B. de Mille Award.
   Leonardo di Caprio wore a Giorgio Armani Made-to-Measure two-button peak lapel tuxedo, with a matching microfibre vest and a classic white evening shirt and black bow tie.
   Robert de Niro and Harrison Ford wore Giorgio Armani tuxedos.


Giorgio Armani SpA

Mert & Marcus

Above Megan Fox is the latest celebrity to front a fashion label’s campaign.

In the main part of the Lucire site this week, Samantha Hannah makes her first 10 style picks for ’10, for the southern summer in New Zealand. Elyse Glickman, meanwhile, discovers there’s more to choosing jewellery for the bride, and investigates.
   Likely to be the biggest article of the trio is one tied to a celebrity, in this case, Megan Fox, from the Transformers series. While we’ve already featured Karen Elson for St John Knits this week, along with Georgia May Jagger for Versace, Armani has decided it would not be outdone and released many of its spring–summer 2010 advertising images featuring the heart-throb actress.
   We have to admit to being surprised by Fox’s choice; she is, nevertheless, someone with the high profile that Armani enjoys. The Tennessee-born actress’s appeal, we thought, was limited to teenage and 20-something young men, and our very quick, unscientific poll of a few indicates she’s not considered by women to be in the same league as some of the more familiar models—or, for that matter, another curvy, high-profile actress, Scarlett Johansson.
   However, if it’s headlines Armani wants, Megan Fox will deliver them.