If you tune into FX’s “Damages” on Wednesday night at 10 pm for its second episode of the season, you’ll see something we saw on the first episode: that the clothes have improved a thousand percent. Now, you don’t really expect lawyers – whether they’re young, like Rose Byrne, or middle aged, like Glenn Close – to be wearing thousand dollar dresses or Dior bow blouses with pencil skirts – or, in the case of Close, three thousand dollar Armani suits. Even if they do take on multi-million dollar cases and class action suits in New York City. But since got such great reviews for its first season, and Glenn Close won an Emmy in September 08 for her role, the production values have increased. Close has much longer hair (extentions? wigs), and the clothes are practically Vogue-worthy. And the ladies spend a lot of time at charity fundraisers, wearing gowns. We knew it was a great show to watch for the plot – but now it’s also a great show to watch for the clothes. The costumer is Frank Fleming, who also costumed the movies “August Rush,” “The Kite Runner,’ “Stranger Than Fiction,” and “Monster’s Ball.” And one of the producer/writers is Daniel Zelman, who happens to be the husband of Debra Messing. We wonder if Debra is helping out at all. – Merle Ginsberg 

Tags: Daniel Zelman, Debra Messing, Glenn Close, Rose Byrne
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Well, not really. The late great king of New York designers has been dead since 2004, but his career in fashion spanned four decades, and he dressed the likes of Ladybird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Nancy Reagan, Faye Dunaway and Glenn Close – and was friends with every major NY socialite from the sixties till the day he died of pneumonia in 2004. Now, Kim Hastreiter – one of the editors of Paper Magazine – has penned a book about the late, great Beene called “Geoffrey Beene: An American Fashion Rebel,” published by Assouline. Kim will do a signing on Monday November 3rd at Decades from 6 to 8, and since Paper gives such great events in L.A., we know she’ll attract a fascinating crowd of fashion people, art people, architecture peeps, etc.

You can also pre-order a signed copy today by clicking on info@decadesinc.com or calling 323.655.0223 – Merle Ginsberg

Tags: Faye Dunaway, Glenn Close, Ladybird Johnson, Nancy Reagan, Pat Nixon
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Attention: The Emmy’s are this Sunday: do you know where your gown is? Inside word is it won’t be the most glam Emmy’s of all time, for several reasons: 1/ the economy, and 2/ many of the female nominees are of the older variety, i.e., Sally Field, Glenn Close, Holly Hunter, Diahann Carroll, Ellen Burstyn, Judi Dench, Candace Bergen, Jean Smart, Holland Taylor, Eileen Atkins – and these ladies are not fashion fixated. But of course, The Desperate Housewives will be there, so will the casts of “Ugly Betty” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” and Tina Fey, Christina Applegate, Mary-Louise Parker, Vanessa Williams, Susan Sarandon, Debra Messing, Rita Wilson, Mariska Hargitay, Rachel Griffiths, Kyra Sedgwick, Cynthia Nixon, Laura Linney and Anjelica Huston will all be on hand, too. At least Heidi Klum will add some fashion glam as one of the seven hosts of the show. We know she’s wearing Giorgio Armani on the carpet – but she will probably have at least six changes. Her stylist Maryam Malakpour is NOT talking, that’s for sure.

Once you’ve got the dress (Barneys has the fall Dries van Noten collection in the window), start thinking parties: The hot ticket party is of course the HBO after party, at the Pacific Design Center on Sunday night. That’s where the casts of “Entourage,” “John Addams,” and “Bernard and Doris” will convene (Ralph Fiennes at an Emmy party? Well, there’s a -   for everything), and no doubt, more stars, writers, and directors. The other hot party is the joint effort between Entertainment Tonight and People Magazine at the Disney Hall, which will have Jason Bentley as deejay, and Billy Idol as musical entertainment. (A step down from Prince and Duran Duran, who’ve performed in years’ past -  but from the same decade as they are, anyway.) TV Guide’s party has the hippest entertainment: new band MGMT and The Bravery will play. Twentieth Century Fox and Fox Broadcasting cancelled their usual post-Emmy soiree, blaming on the economy. Yes, we know Rupert Murdoch is hurting bad, right?  - Merle Ginsberg

Tags: Anjelica Huston, Applegate, Billy Idol, Candace Bergen, Cynthia Nixon, Debra Messing, Diahann Carroll, Eileen Atkins, Ellen Burstyn, Emmy Awards, Glenn Close, Heidi Klum, Holland Taylor, Holly Hunter, Jason Bentley, Jean Smart, Judi Dench, Kyra Sedgwick, Laura Linney, Mariska Hargitay, Mary-Louise Parker, Rachel Griffiths, Rita Wilson, Rupert Murdoch, Sally Field, Susan Sarandon, Vanessa Williams
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              The Emmy nominations were announced this morning, and while “Mad Men” and “Damages” and HBO lead the pack for actual nominations, here’s FASHIONRULE’S NOMINATIONS for which female nominees will be best and most interestingly dressed:

     THE FASHIONRULES RED CARPET NOMINATIONS:

      MOST LIKELY TO LOOK AMAZING AND CHIC ON THE EMMY RED CARPET:

-           Heidi Klum – working with stylist Maryam Malakpour for the last few years, she hasn’t appeared in a look off or on tv that hasn’t been traffic stopping and flattering. If she doesn’t win for “Best Reality Show Host,” she’ll nab this honor for sure

-           Christina Applegate – the star of “Samantha Who?” – nominated for Best Comedy actress – can’t look bad. But we hope she won’t wear sequins and stick with something sleek, since her face and figure are so fab.

-           Mariska Hargitay – when she overdoes it, it’s not good. But when she stays chic, she looks better than anyone.

         - Anjelica Huston – nominated for best actress in a drama series for “Medium”, she always turns out in something unusual – usually by pal Michael Kors

      MOST LIKELY TO UNDERWHELM:

-           She may be one of the cleverest and funny women alive – but Best Actress in a Comedy star Tina Fey – always plays it safe on the red carpet. Tina, lose the glasses, and vamp it up a little.

-           Laura Linney – the great actress, nominated for Best Actress in a Mini – Series for “John Addams,” is always nominated for an Emmy, an Oscar or a Globe – but she tends to play it down fashion wise. Laura, let Miuccia Prada put you in some of that fall lace – that would take it up a notch – or two.

-           MOST LIKELY TO SURPRISE EVERYBODY:

-           At last year’s Emmy’s and Globes, “Ugly Betty” star America Ferrera showed how NOT ugly she can look, and appeared practically unrecognizable in sleek gowns in flattering but strong colors. Let’s see what stops she pulls out this go round, nominated for “Best Acrress is a Comedy.”

 -           Glenn Close – nominated for an amazing acting in “Damages” (Best Actress in a Drama)  - the mature actress is having a comeback “moment” – let’s hope she takes advantage of it fashion-wise.

MOST LIKELY TO OVERDO IT

       - ‘American Idol” is nominated in the reality category, so we can’t wait to see what Paula Abdul shows up in.

SEX AND THE CITY ON THE RED CARPET RETURNS

       Cynthia Nixon was nominated as “Best Actress in a Drama Series” – that being “Law & Order, Special Victimes Unit.”  She may not LOVE glamming up – but fans of “Sex and the City” will be wishing she does. Let’s hope she lets Pat Field dress her for the big night.

Tags: America Ferrera, Anjelica Huston, Christina Applegate, Cynthia Nixon, Glenn Close, Heidi Klum, Laura Linney
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