Trendspotting April/May 2001

Traci Bingham just doesn’t want anyone to forget she once pranced the beaches of Baywatch in prime time, which may be the reason she’s wearing an outfit that looks like a wetsuit. Unfortunately, she’s more prepared for Jell-O wrestling on the Fourth of July than for saving lives at the FHM party.

–L J

First, a little background. I once had a Barbie doll, as did many young girls, I suppose. My grandmother taught me to sew clothes for my Barbie doll. I once made a top very similar to the one Kimberly Stewart (yes, Rod’s daughter) wore to the FHM (For Him Magazine) party. I made my Barbie’s top out of an old pair of underwear. ‘Nuff said. Can’t argue with the total package, though, which comes off in that funky/cool vintage way so many of us love and so few of us can wear.

–L J

God, why does everyone have to keep wearing stuff that I would have killed to wear to the junior prom? Heather, call me. I’d love to borrow it for my reunion.

–L J

I’m really starting to dislike Dolce & Gabbana. First Shaune Bagwell’s lingerie fiasco, now Jennifer Lopez (shown here with Cris Judd) at the Angel Eyes premiere. It’s all so, so…Stevie Nicks, somehow. Maybe lace just isn’t my thing, but I’m fairly convinced that J. Lo would have looked better in just about anything else.

–L J

With her reputation as an extraordinary clotheshorse, hotel heiress Paris Hilton can wear just about anything. But even she’s pushing the envelope at Maxim magazine’s “Hot 100” party in this ride ’em cowgirl Heatherette (that’s right–sounds like Leatherette) shredded getup. Gotta love Patricia Field platforms, though (hey, she coulda worn her Dingos).

–L J

Soon-to-be-superstar James King, who does all her own styling, creates an eclectic look that-shocker-actually works. Only a true guru could take that sleek, French mime top by Imitation of Christ, pair it with a vintage Chanel scarf, top it all off with a vintage hat (a bargain at two bucks, according to King’s publicist), and get away with it. Guess that’s why King was given this year’s New Stylemaker Award at the Movieline Young Hollywood Awards.

–L J

Shaune Bagwell, an up-and-coming actress and model, once wrote an article for a fashion Web site, so she must know a little something about getting the perfect look. Though we’re not sure she’s achieved that goal with this lacy Dolce & Gabbana exclusive, Bagwell scores points for daring. “I put it on and it was the most fabulous, sexy outfit that I’d seen,” she said. “I knew that that’s what I wanted to wear.” You go, girl.

–L J

Gabrielle Union was named one of the Ones to Watch at the Movieline Young Hollywood Awards, and if this tasteful Armani wrap dress is anything to go by, she’s going to be one to watch on the fashion scene as well. The understated, subtle look of the little spring dress gets a nighttime kick from a metallic shimmer, a plunging neckline and a slightly longer then expected hem.

–L J

Riding the, um, growing, trend of flowery prints, draping fabrics and sparkly accents, Patricia Velazquez’s Christian Dior manages simultaneously to bring back memories of Grandma’s bathtub, the junior prom and that horrible appliqué look you get from a glue gun and some sequins. Granted, this gown was a risky choice-you’ve got to admire the bravado-and with her dark good looks Velazquez almost pulls it off. Almost.

–L J

Wow! Is that
the shrieking banshee from that show about the kid?

It’s amazing what
an elegant strapless gown can do. Jane Kaczmarek, the raging mom on Malcolm
in the Middle, looks positively demure at the American Comedy Awards. The
shimmery wrap is a stunning, if perhaps a bit dated, accessory. All in all, the
Beast Mom has turned into the beauty.

–L J

Part of knowing how to dress is knowing what to wear for the occasion, and comedienne
Judy Tenuta has got that part down pat. Slightly off-kilter in a trendy animal
print dress she designed herself, with feathers at the neckline and hem, she’s
perfectly dressed for a night out at the American Comedy Awards.

–L J

She makes strapless seem so easy

Despite the fact that wearing a strapless gown can make some women, present author included,
look like a stuffed sausage with breasts, Lara Flynn Boyle‘s effortless elegance easily made her the best-dressed woman at the
Blockbuster Awards in this shimmering
strapless creation from Donna Haag. Bold makeup and accessories (yes, those are
Swarovski crystals) keep the fair-skinned Boyle from disappearing against the
pale gown and her dark hair caps the drama of the look perfectly

–L J

“Nobody knows who you are.” Oh, OK, everybody knows who Tyra Banks is, and let’s
face it, she looks great in just about anything. But her Roberto Cavalli gown’s
resemblance to a costume that disappeared from the set of Spider-Man earlier
this month has us singin’ the Spidey theme song. She’s definitely super-sexy with
that plunging neckline, and we’re calling her a superhero for being brave enough
to pull the look off.

–L J

Christina Aguilera’s, ahem, gown, by Mara Hoffman, is velvet. It’s maroon in color and-aargh–’80s inspired. Oh, forget it. I can’t be nice, and I can’t keep quiet. Do ya think she sliced
that thing up herself? Maybe she should’ve thrown some bleach on it while she
was at it just to make sure that ’80s ripped-jeans allusion was really clear to
everyone. Sometimes, it is possible to be too trendy. Afro, anyone?

–L J

When the young
stars came out to cruise the red carpet at the premiere of Driven, it was
painfully clear that while the ’70s linger, the ’80s are back in full force. Estella
Warren provides a prime example. From her neck to her toes, Warren was trés chic
in an Armani pantsuit-she looked fantastic. But her slicked back ‘do and heavily
kohl-rimmed eyes were a tribute to an MTV generation raised on the anthem “Get
It On, Bang a Gong” and the accompanying video, which, you may recall, featured
razor-thin models with, well, slicked back ‘dos and heavily kohl-rimmed eyes.

–L J