We haven’t seen the stunning Ms. Pinto of “Slumdog Millionaire” fame on the red carpet in a while – and she always looks the picture of perfection. She arrived in NYC to the premier of M. Night Shyamalan’s new major action adventure which opens today: in which a child avatar has to defend his people against the four elements – with her boyfriend, Dev Patal, who’s in Shymalan’s new movie. The two Indian actors became a couple sometime during the making of “Slumdog Millionaire,” in which they played lovers. In NY, Freida turned it out beautifully in this green Oscar de la Renta dress, so elegantly fitting her – so ladylike. She paired it with a Roger Vivier Prisme Pochette and Open Toe pump, and it takes our breath away. It’s a lot of millonaire, and no hint of slum or dog.

Is Cameron Diaz dating A Rod just as baseball season kicks in? Well, we only know what we read on that score. Is she playing the field or is she up to bat? That’s the question on everybody’s mind. But THIS we do know: Cameron has separate looks for New York and L.A. Check her out at the premier of “Shrek Forever After” at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York: a very chic slim cut black dress, over the knee – her hair pulled back, she’s the picture of ladylike cocktail attire. A Manhattan sophisticate, who looks like she grew up in Connecticut. BUT – on the red carpet at Universal City for the Hollywood version of the movie’s premier, she did a total 360, wearing a poppy red Oscar de la Renta mini dress. We have a feeling that dress did NOT start life that way – Oscar, the perfect gentleman, would NEVER cut a dress that short. It sort of looks like Cameron borrowed a pre-teen’s dress. But isn’t it interesting that Cameron looks like a total California girl here – long blond hair, mini dress, lots of leg, and big lips. She clearly understands regional dressing. – Merle Ginsberg

Fergie was out and about this weekend at the Santa Monica Red Cross Red Tie Affair Fundraiser Gala wearing a floral print mini cocktail dress by Dolce & Gabbana – very cute. We love a classic Dolce print in bright florals for warmer weather. We already showed you two great dresses at the ACM Academy of Country Music Awards this weekend – Nicole Kidman in L’Wren Scott and Faith Hill in Kaufman Franco. These ladies were defining chic on the red carpet, in a sea of old looking gowns. But our ABSOLUTE FAVORITE dress of the weekend awards activity in Los Angeles this weekend – while a volcanic cloud kept any stars from going to Europe, and is putting the “Iron Man 2″ premiere here in L.A. at the end of this week, since now Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow can’t get to London for it – was Drew Barrymore in a pink chiffon Oscar de la Renta with pink and silver pailette embrodiery. at the GLAAD Awards at the Hyatt Regency Century City Saturday night. She accepted the 2010 Vanguard Award for increasing visibility and understanding of the gay community. During her acceptance speech, (more…)

We are wavering on Cameron Diaz’s Oscar look this year. She usually goes messy and undone, with messy hair – or very very sexy. This is her image – hot chick with hot bod. So for her to suddenly emerge in “princess” mode – in the biggest, most old-school ballgown of the Oscars, by Oscar de la Renta – with red lips and perfectly waved hair – well, it was too much of a shock. We couldn’t even see her figure, let alone imagine it. It was like she was angling for something – to suddenly be seen as a good girl or a young mom? Then she did double duty (as just a few other stars did – like Jennifer Lopez) – changing for the Vanity Fair party into a same-color cocktail dress, also very demure for her: not short, not low cut. What’s up with Cameron Diaz’s grown up act? We get the feeling she’s trying to be taken “seriously” – and going a little too far. Cameron, bad girl suits you MUCH better – even if it’s only a stylistic choice. And is it US, or was her hair suddenly MUCH longer for the VF party at the Sunset Tower Hotel?

If you happen to be getting married this coming summer – or if somebody pops the question to you this Christmas or New Year’s Eve – you can get a jumpstart on looking for a dress when the bridal trunk shows start at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills after the New Year. You have to make an appointment, and we have the info here. We’re not listing all of them, but here are the ones we think are worth checking out. If you do shoots with wedding gowns you may also want to check these out. And stylists know this trick: any bridal gown can be dyed to wear for the Golden Globes, SAGS or Oscars. Halle Berry once wore a Reem Acra wedding gown dyed blue to the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and it was a big hit. (more…)

If you are a shopper who likes to get a jump on the next best thing – or just love to window shop in person, check out these events at Saks Fifth Avenue on Wilshire this week:

Wednesday, November 11 through Friday, November 13 from 10 to 5
Oscar de la Renta spring 2010 trunk show – our favorite looks from the spring 2010 show are pictured here Designer Salon on Three in Saks East

Friday, November 13 from 11 to 5, by appointment only
Dior Beaute’ Personal Appearnace by Everett Suttle – Dior’s makeup artist and skincare ambassador
Cosmetics on One in Saks East

Thursday, November 12 through Saturday, November 14
Vera Wang Bridal Trunk Show
10 to 6, by appointment only
Bridal Salon on Four West

There have been all kinds of rumours about Chloe opening a new boutique in Los Angeles - but no one, not even their PR firm in NY, KCD, would confirm. Finally, Fashion Rules scoped it out on our own – their windows are in full view with the spring collection on the avenue peaking out of 8448 Melrose Place, between Temperley and Oscar de la Renta. WWD is shooting there today (looks like we scooped them ooops! – and the official opening is this Wednesday.

The store is all bright white, and built in a T shape. The window smaller front room of the boutique is filled with fabulous shoes and bags (in taupe, mustard, browns, earths, tans) in gorgeous leathers. The larger, length-wise second room, off a long narrow courtyard, is stocked with spring clothes – in sienna browns, leaf greens and off whites – looking extremely chic and L.A. like. The store manager, named Sherry, reports that there will be an opening party in April, that KCD in NY will coordinate.

We wonder how the other stores on Melrose Place – Marni, Oscar, Temperley – feel about having a new competitor on the block. Let’s hope it brings more traffic and more shoppers to a neighborhood feeling the pinch.  

Paul Wilmot is a major statesman of power fashion publicity in N.Y., having been the head of PR at Calvin Klein, Vogue, Conde Nast for years, then leaving and starting Paul Wilmot Communications, which has major clients like Monique L’hullier, Abaete, House of Dereon, LAMB, Luca Luca, Rose Cha, Sean John, Oscar de la Renta, Lucky Brand, MAC Cosmetics, Perricone MD, Rita Hazon Hair Salon, Blueflycom, the Whitney Museum, and they also produce a number of big fashion charity events in New York.

Now they’re opening their first L.A. branch – a result of a majority stake of their company being taken over by international firm Fleishman-Hillard. And they’ve hired Alexandra Kimball to run the L.A. office – a bit coup for them, and for L.A. fashion pr. Kimball was VP of PR for Oscar de la Renta for many years, dressing all those stars on the red carpet – which she will no doubt continue to do. She moved to LA in 2006 to be with her husband, tv writer Billy Kimble. They will be announcing LA clients in the coming weeks, which will include beauty, fashion and lifestyle clients. This will be very good for Monique L’hullier and MAC Cosmetics, which are big cornerstones of the celebrity market.  - Merle Ginsberg

The lovely female star of “Slumdog Millionaire,” Freida Pinto, has worn equally lovely clothes up till the BAFTA Awards (which her film swept) – but we knew when we saw her wearing this pale pink couture Oscar de la Renta made exclusively for her with yard and yards of tulle that she is now on the fashion A List map. Oscar de la Renta produces very few made to order dresses, and they clearly had Freida on a short list of actresses they’d like to see their clothes on. And it looked it was worth it. This is our favorite dress she’s worn on a red carpet so far. Can Chanel couture be far behind?