USA: Celebrities prepare for annual Golden Globe awards in Los Angeles with diamonds a monkey and lots of expensive gifts

Celebrities, stylists, and the Hollywood elite are out and about in Los Angeles in preparation for the Golden Globe ceremony on Monday (January 16). In Style Magazine Hosted the 5th annual Awards season diamond fashion preview where actresses like Jessica Alba enjoyed a couture fashion and were able to pick from 40 million dollars (USD) of diamond jewelry on display to choose to wear to the Golden Globe ceremony. "This is a unique piece -- this is a diamond shake necklace. its from Renee Lewis, who is a New York designer. Hillary Swank is a big fan of her jewellery, Jennifer Lopez so we are expecting to see some Renee Lewis on the red carpet -- she is a new designer it is very exciting. This is the piece de resistance is this beautiful 85 carat Martin Katz diamond pendant. This necklace is valued at 9 million dollars," said Kelly McMahnon, entertainment marketing director for the Diamond Information Center. Some of the designers on display include Cartier, Chanel, Fred Leighton, H. Stern, Tiffany & Co., Van Cleef & Arpels and Chopard, who lent Actress Charlize Theron a lucky diamond ring. "This diamond right hand ring was worn by Charlize Theron to the Oscars when she won it and it's a big accessory in Hollywood. Stars love to have a diamond ring for when they are holding that award. The collection that we have here today is worth 40 million dollars it is from the world's leading jewellers and it is a preview of the awards season so everyone came and picked their diamonds," said McMahnon. Models adorned over 30 leading designers for woman that are either nominated for a Golden Globe or need inspiration on what to wear to the big show. "Jessica Pastor is my stylist so she has brought fifty dresses and I am just trying things on. I will figure out that day what I feel good in,' said actress Maria Bello, from "A History Of Violence," who is nominated for a Golden Globe in the best performance by an actress in a motion picture category. "I will show up at my stylist's house on Saturday and she will say 'this is what you are wearing' and she will be right on and we will be done," said actress Ginnifer Goodwin, who portrays singer Johnny Cash's first wife in "Walk the Line," a Golden Globe nominee for best motion picture- musical or comedy. The buzz in Hollywood is what will the stars wear and who will be the trendsetter for the evening. Famed jeweller Neil Lane, who is a favourite of Oscar winner Renee Zellwegger, says that layering is hip. The more diamonds the better. "People know glamour it is here today and it exists and we are going to see it. it is going to be different forms. It may not be a tight choker it will be layered looks. Layers of diamonds, stackable bracelets but feminine and youthful," said Lane. One of the best perks of being a celebrity besides a large paycheck and endless travel is all of the free clothing, jewels, vacations, beauty products you get. The hot spot of the day is'Silver Spoon' Hollywood Golden Globes buffet, where nominees and stylists are pampered with free gifts and procedures. "I am a product whore I am the first to admit. I am a product whore, I love beauty products and that is how it all began and from there it became the Hollywood buffet and it is everything from jeans, to Ughs, to monkeys, and vodka. You name it it's in here," said Melissa Lemer, founder of 'Silver Spoon' Entertainment Marketing and the Hollywood Golden Globes celebrity buffet. Celebrities walk around to various booths holding a bag that vendors fill with everything from spa products, clothing, hair accessories, and even a vacation getaway to ''Safari West' in Northern California. "Well this Montreal based line we have, Lady Dutch women and Dutch Camp for men. It is very European inspired. We dressed a lot of celebrities, we dressed Nicole Richie, we dressed the likes of Beyonce, The Killers, a lot of musicians. We came here because we want to saturate the L.A. market and we thought that the Golden Globes is the best to do it. We have a couple of artists come by and its going great and they love our line," said Katia Piccolino, the marketing director of Lady Dutch clothing. Julie Willgera, the owner of Knitwit, handed out pink and green cashmere sweaters with sayings like "Kiss Me" valued at 300 dollars. "Mischa Barton, I am trying to think of who else we have Cameron Diaz, Elisha Cuthbert, Jessica Simpson, Cacee Cobb," said Wilgers. High end vendors try to reach celebrities because they know that once a star is photographed in their line then it becomes a global phenomenon. "The buzz right now is Paris Hilton coming? That is how it starts -- somebody like her wearing it and all her friends. There is really a process everyone says send your stuff to the celebrities but they get an onslaught with so much stuff that half the time they do not even open the boxes or they give it away to people. Here is a opportunity their stylists can come and bring it back to them as it is discovered," said Joe Paris, owner of Inkslingers clothing. "Everyone wants to wear what the celebrities wear it, is as simple as that. They drive the same car they want to wear the same," added Dan, owner of fashion retailer Europemoda.com. Celebrities at the event included Paris Hilton and her mom Kathy, actress Terri Hatcher from "Desperate Housewives", and Shaun Toub from the film "Crash" a Golden Globe nominee. "We were at the Silver Spoon pre Golden Globe gifting party. It was fun a lot vendors, good food, gifts. Oh my God how cute was that monkey. It was really like looking at a human being," said Toub. Though celebrities have whatever they want at their disposal there some things you can not put a price on like a hug a from Kobe the monkey wearing an 'X-rated fusion liqueur' top.

ITN Source | January 19, 2006

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