Escapism Rocks Oscars 2009
I dashed to the airport after the Today show on my way to LA, just as I do every other Friday. As I sat and waited for the flight attendants to call us on board, I realized there was a tangible energy in the room. This wasn't a normal flight. This was the Oscar Express. As my section was called, I walked toward the jet bridge with my trusty wheeled suitcase. I felt someone tapping me on my shoulder, so I glanced back to see who it was. It was Eva Mendes. She was warning me that I had money falling out of my back pocket. She looked much more beautiful than I have ever seen her. Everything about the woman looked like a movie star. Her clothes, her walk, and her million-dollar smile.
First class looked like the front row of the Oscars. I was almost expecting to see Hugh Jackman acting as the MC. The plane was full of journalists, industry people, and tourists who would whisper, "Did you see ...?," as they walked back toward their seats in coach. Oscar fever was clearly in the air.
Driving into Beverly Hills, it was obvious that this was not a normal Friday night. The celebrity restaurants were all manned with armies of paparazzi flashing their pictures. Mr. Chow's looked like there was a fireworks display every time a celebrity silhouette sprinted from a Cadillac Escalade or a Lincoln Navigator into the restaurant. The Peninsula Hotel driveway was backed up with traffic into Santa Monica Boulevard. Valets and porters were running nonstop to keep their VIP clientele happy. The pace was frenetic.
I sauntered into the Salon on Saturday at 7 a.m. expecting my first appointment about thirty minutes later. In my mind I was going to have my breakfast at the coffee shop in the building before the day would begin. Little did I know that my clients would all arrive early and want to be out ASAP. Their last minute "to do list" had them all in panic mode. I did my best to make their color beautiful so they could get to their last-minute spray-on tan and eyebrow-shaping appointments. My work day lasted until well into the evening. In retrospect, it's all a blur but everyone's hair color came out beautifully.
First class looked like the front row of the Oscars. I was almost expecting to see Hugh Jackman acting as the MC. The plane was full of journalists, industry people, and tourists who would whisper, "Did you see ...?," as they walked back toward their seats in coach. Oscar fever was clearly in the air. Driving into Beverly Hills, it was obvious that this was not a normal Friday night. The celebrity restaurants were all manned with armies of paparazzi flashing their pictures. Mr. Chow's looked like there was a fireworks display every time a celebrity silhouette sprinted from a Cadillac Escalade or a Lincoln Navigator into the restaurant. The Peninsula Hotel driveway was backed up with traffic into Santa Monica Boulevard. Valets and porters were running nonstop to keep their VIP clientele happy. The pace was frenetic.
I sauntered into the Salon on Saturday at 7 a.m. expecting my first appointment about thirty minutes later. In my mind I was going to have my breakfast at the coffee shop in the building before the day would begin. Little did I know that my clients would all arrive early and want to be out ASAP. Their last minute "to do list" had them all in panic mode. I did my best to make their color beautiful so they could get to their last-minute spray-on tan and eyebrow-shaping appointments. My work day lasted until well into the evening. In retrospect, it's all a blur but everyone's hair color came out beautifully.
I stopped at the supermarket on my way home to buy my 97% fat-free
popcorn and Crystal Light ice tea. My Blackberry was charged and in
hand. I knew it would go off the hook the minute the first pre-show
began. I was ready for show time and feverishly waiting to see my first
glimpse of this year's Oscar contenders.
Well the world may be in a recession, but it wasn't obvious at the 2009 Academy Awards. The gowns were the most grand and glamorous of any award show in recent memory. The jewels were regal and perhaps the evening's most important fashion accessory. Oh yes, I guess I should mention the hair. Glamour continued to reign supreme. Most of the hair was simple, elegant, and worn up and off the face. This is a flattering style for most face shapes. It creates cheek bones, accents eyes, and almost always creates the illusion of grandeur.
Some of my favorite up
do's were worn by Diane Lane, Natalie Portman, Marion Cotillard, Frieda
Pinto, and Vanessa Hudgens. Hair worn down looked finished and
polished. Angelina Jolie looked the most beautiful of all her award
show appearances. In her elegant black Elie Saab dress, her hair worn
up and off her face and cascading down her shoulders, she created a
most ravishing image. Kate Winslet's hair, worn down, resembled a Grace
Kelly style of perpetual elegance. I must give kudos to Jennifer
Aniston's braided bangs. She looked modern, savvy, and red-carpet
ready. By the way, I thought Taraji P. Henson looked like perfection.
Her simple hair, gorgeous necklace, and Roberto Cavalli tiered frock
made her one of the most glamorous women of the evening.
I am convinced that Hollywood will become even more glamorous in the coming year. The "real" world is more than a bit dreary at this point in time. Escapism and the fantasy of films have never had more appeal. Just a few short years ago, fashion and beauty came from the streets. This year it might come from streets again, but only from those in the 90210 zip code.
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Well the world may be in a recession, but it wasn't obvious at the 2009 Academy Awards. The gowns were the most grand and glamorous of any award show in recent memory. The jewels were regal and perhaps the evening's most important fashion accessory. Oh yes, I guess I should mention the hair. Glamour continued to reign supreme. Most of the hair was simple, elegant, and worn up and off the face. This is a flattering style for most face shapes. It creates cheek bones, accents eyes, and almost always creates the illusion of grandeur.
Some of my favorite up
do's were worn by Diane Lane, Natalie Portman, Marion Cotillard, Frieda
Pinto, and Vanessa Hudgens. Hair worn down looked finished and
polished. Angelina Jolie looked the most beautiful of all her award
show appearances. In her elegant black Elie Saab dress, her hair worn
up and off her face and cascading down her shoulders, she created a
most ravishing image. Kate Winslet's hair, worn down, resembled a Grace
Kelly style of perpetual elegance. I must give kudos to Jennifer
Aniston's braided bangs. She looked modern, savvy, and red-carpet
ready. By the way, I thought Taraji P. Henson looked like perfection.
Her simple hair, gorgeous necklace, and Roberto Cavalli tiered frock
made her one of the most glamorous women of the evening. I am convinced that Hollywood will become even more glamorous in the coming year. The "real" world is more than a bit dreary at this point in time. Escapism and the fantasy of films have never had more appeal. Just a few short years ago, fashion and beauty came from the streets. This year it might come from streets again, but only from those in the 90210 zip code.
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