It was a lady’s lunch all right, but not in the old school sense. Well, not completely. Sure the guests who came to the Sunset Tower Hotel’s Terrace Room yesterday turned out mostly in dresses, mostly bejeweled, and mostly in the fiercest heels. But fierce is exactly what the occupants of these expensive shoes are—writer/producer Diane English, Dreamworks talent head Leslee Feldman, ICM head Nicole Clemens and HBO casting head Carrie Frazier, among many, many more. A major tête-à-tête, for sure for a bunch of influential women who hate to admit that despite their strides, equality is still the exception in Hollywood. But the genial afternoon among these supporters of the Women in Film group was spent toasting the next generation, in this case Ginnifer Goodwin, recipient of the MaxMara Face of the Future. Goodwin, who will share the stage with Salma Hayek, Diane English and several other winners at the WIF Lucy Awards next month, charmed the crowd with her unaffected speech--delivered on stationary cheesily imprinted with puppies and kitties. "I was telling Lauren [Graham], it's the use of school supplies that I appreciate most about being an actress," she joked. The Italian mega fashion brand not only picked up the lunch tab, but ensured plenty of attendees, particularly of the photographed kind, appeared suitably attired, including Lauren Graham, Rose McGowan, Navi Rawat, Summer Bishil and Goodwin herself (in a chicly modern tie-dye silk sheath I must hunt down).
Rose McGowan
Lunch co-hosts Jane Fleming, the current WIF prez and an indie film producer Jane Fleming and Krista Smith, west coast ed for Vanity Fair, also represented. Not so Jeanne Tripplehorn, who immediately offered her beautiful vanilla Prada was a score at the Barneys New York sale. And the fabulously grand gold hoops? H&M, she dropped, without missing a beat. Now that’s fierce.
Rose Apodaca is a pop culture and style journalist and the co-owner of A+R, the design retail lab in Los Angeles, and its online sister http://www.aplusrstore.com. She consulted on and helped launch Image, the new Los Angeles Times style section, and she contributes to Harper's Bazaar, Elle, Glamour, Style.com, Paper, Preen and other publications. Her first book, Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty & Everything Glamour, an all-encompassing lifestyle guide written for celeb stylist Rachel Zoe, is now in bookstores. She is currently authoring a biography on Fred Hayman, co-founder of Giorgio Beverly Hills and marketing architect of Rodeo Drive.
A+R is located in Silverlake and now on Abbot Kinney in Venice, CA.
Rose helmed the west coast bureau of fashion-industry bible Women's Wear Daily and was a contributor to W Magazine for six years until March 2006, when she left to join partner Andy Griffith in A+R and focus on related projects. She has long championed Los Angeles and California style and design, from the streets and runways to interiors and food. She is the first recipient of the Los Angeles Fashion Awards Communications Prize for bringing global attention to the region's fashion industry and style culture. With A+R, she continues to showcase rising and undiscovered talent from around the world.
An active supporter of the arts, music and nightlife scenes, she is a co-owner of Beauty Bar Hollywood and Las Vegas, and serves on various arts organization boards. Rose and Andy, who tied the knot in September 2007, live in Silverlake.
* All photographs appearing on this blog were snapped by Rose with her Leica D-Lux 3, unless otherwise noted. Please credit all photographs accordingly.
Illustration below by the incomparable Ruben Toledo.
Rose, any idea who is doing Rick's PR? I have the usual suspects in the Dbase. Please dash me an email with the right contact this round. I think he's supremely talented. So far, he's the most under rated US designer. He's the real deal!
Hi Rose. The blog has taken over my life! Ha, I'm laughing... It is a juggling act to stay true to your page and then write/work in the active world at same time. You know it! Would love to see you in NYC when you're here, a nice Spring drink or tea? Will give the guys at Uber my private deets. I think I still have your email from three years ago,but to be sure.... See you soon. xo
Lovely Rose! It is moi, Jennifer (previously JenniFUR) Brandt Taylor, and I wanted to tell you how much I love your blog, and send lots of kisses for featuring my "Galliano Vs. Liquid Sky" entry here on Uber : ) I had a galley of my new book, Vintage LA, sent to you, and wanted to make sure you received it, as you've always been so kind to me, and such an inspiring supporter of my projects. Let me know if you didn't receive it, and i'll send another one out to you. Much love from NYC, ~ J.B.T.
Hello Susan! I've been watching your blog. Yes, I know it was CLC since she mentioned the Fortuny dress and a friend was with her Oscar night (the night she commeted). She was also sweet enough to sing my praises to Rachel Zoe, who then emailed me when they were together Wednesday night. Small world. Welcome to Uber. Best damn group of kids in the world.
Hello Old Friend! Susan Kirschbaum here from NYC... Nice to meet you again online at Uber and the hear all the good news re: store. Will stop by next I'm in LA. Please add me as a friend. (Have not figured out to do that yet...) Love the bitch fest between Corrine and Anna. I pick Corrine. Also, that really is Courtney Love on your post... I spent Xmas Eve with her at mutual friend Julie's place. Sounds just like Ms. Love. I agree you are one cool LA chick. xoxox
Heya C, Thank you for the kind words. Skipped EJ's party last night for the first time in years! Loved the white dress you turned out in (saw the pics this a.m.). The Abbot Kinney A+R store isn't as far as it might seem. I'm there mostly Thursday-Sunday. Stuff we don't have online yet that you would dig. Tracey Ross and Kathy J. have my info...
and btw Panos and me are m,aking most everything in India based on emroidery and a certain font and lyrics and i am so in awe of design and graphics something wich i just dont do well , i do lovetheD and L guys stuff an dpackaging and i dont often like skulls, i have my one Hirst with the butterflies and thats scary enough . its the only male art in my house as i tend to be more femme friendly with art. also gettng a pair of glass slippers produced in this town is the most expensive grael search ever, id ont wear labels onstage, i dont believe in it although meet my vintage dealer; Lauren, she has replaced drugs , i worship her! her prices are outragously great and i so dont want to share! 2 Fortunys IN THE BOX in one week with the springa nd winter belts.... should i slash em into mini dresses( kidding) Worths, a Vionette, its sick and shes so so cheap and makes Way We Wore look silly and as overpriced as it is, im just headingt to Edwardian presently really, maybe thats why i love the D and L genius. i love the wedding invitation font and the rare scents and the tray with the skull and the wooden boxes with the perfect plume, lovely, go to tophatshop.com if you want to see real style...mmmm.now that ive taken a peek i REALLY wantto visit your store! esp before we move to the w village.If i ever get the guts. No really im out of here for a while.
hey i follow you secretly and nominate you for one of the coolest girls in this town of incredibley uncool girls i think i saw 5 reality show stars at the chat this morning ( its 5;24 am) i hate to be a snob but this is my sanctaury ,anyway i picked up a Paper magazine ( it was my first ever press!) from Mario at the desk and wanted to just say hi, My stylist is the GENIUS Panos Yiapanis and id love to visit your store but dont get to that part of town much..... maybe send some stuff over! the only place i EVER shop in LA is Curve, she has great taste ( sometimes Niemans) so anyplace thats like a Marie Claire Enclave i am going to love wich a+r sounds like. im dyeing for MJ to send me some Spring! Menkes or NOT, i didsagreed completeltey with that review and thought i was at Couture actually. CLC