Ann Roth: Craft Queen
Some call her the doyenne of costume design, but Ann Roth herself prefers the term “broad.” Turning 80 next month, Roth may be the oldest working costumer in the business, but she’s flaunting blue toenails — not hair — and dancing to Tom Waits in the morning for inspiration. And if an Emmy for her... More
Back to School
When Hurricane Irene rained all over the planned Southampton screening of Tatiana von Furstenberg and Francesca Gregorini’s coming-of-age boarding school drama, “Tanner Hall,” the duo — best friends since their own teenage years at Brown — decided to move the festivities to Los Angeles. Pulled together in three days by Von Furstenberg, last Tuesday’s low-key... More
Authenticity Before Glamour
W hen Ann Roth was designing the costumes for 1975’s “The Day of the Locust,” set in the late 1930s, her commitment to historical accuracy made her an anomaly. “Hollywood made dream costumes” then, says Roth, now 79. “They didn’t do what I do.” Today the industry has caught up with Roth, and this year... More
Shareen Mitchell’s Rags to Riches Tale
Anyone who has set foot in Shareen Vintage, a vast downtown warehouse space lined with endless racks of sparkly cocktail frocks, gauzy, ankle-grazing hippie robes and everything in between, will hardly be surprised to learn that the shop’s owner, Shareen Mitchell, is starring in a new reality show, “Dresscue Me,” premiering Tuesday on Discovery’s Planet... More
Honoring Photographer Douglas Kirkland
This week, photographer Douglas Kirkland will receive the American Society of Cinematographers’ highest honor, the Presidents Award. In the 25 years that the ASC has been honoring outstanding contributions to the art form at its annual ceremony, it’s the first time the award is being given to a still photographer. “I still haven’t quite recovered... More
Sofia Coppola and Thomas Mars
It comes as little surprise to learn that Sofia Coppola, a filmmaker for whom music often plays a scene-stealing role, enlisted Phoenix, the French rock band fronted by her boyfriend Thomas Mars, to score her new film, “Somewhere.” What is surprising, however, is that the creative collaboration between the couple, who now have two young... More
“Kids” Sounds All Right
You won’t hear a single Who riff in Lisa Cholodenko’s “The Kids are All Right,” but the rock ‘n’ roll title fits nonetheless. As with Cholodenko’s other features “High Art” and “Laurel Canyon,” this is a story of unconventional characters: a lesbian couple, their two teenage children, and their sperm donor; and their musical tastes... More
Keeping “The Runaways” Raw and Real
In the opening scenes of “The Runaways,” Floria Sigismondi’s ode to the all-girl hard rock band, the characters played by Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning could be almost any teenage girls living in the Valley circa 1975. Fanning is sitcom-cute in a plaid shirt, miniskirt and knee socks; Stewart sports a T-shirt and jeans. But... More
Fantasy Fashion Dazzles Juliette Lewis
Backstage at the Greek Theatre, Juliette Lewis is one hot mess. After opening for the Pretenders and Cat Power, the singer-actress’ dark, choppy hair clings damply to her neck; smeared glitter eye shadow sparkles on her cheeks; and the toe of one boot (black with vaguely Victorian gold buttons up the sides) is held together... More
Restoring Sharon Tate
Her closet may have been full of designer dresses, but Sharon Tate was a flower child all the way down to her toes. Most comfortable barefoot, she used to skirt the “shoes required” laws in snooty late ’60s Beverly Hills by looping leather string around her toes and across the tops of her feet, and... More
Girl, Interrupted
Lindsay Lohan is sneaking a cigarette at a banquette by the pool of the Beverly Hills Hotel, flicking her ashes under the table. It’s the worst thing anyone is going to catch the 21-year-old actress doing these days, aside from the previous night’s 4AM binge – on cake, that is, a Duncan Hines Angel Food... More
Rebirth of the Cool
In the spring of 2006, the Centre Pompidou in Paris launched the splashiest exhibition of L.A. modern art the world has seen to date, “Los Angeles 1955-1985: Birth of an Artistic Capital,” featuring 350 works by 85 artists. L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa flew in for the opening, as did the collector and philanthropist Eli Broad,... More