Chatting with Nicole Richie, the 'Fashion Star' wild card

Nicole Richie leans over to designer John Varvatos and, surveying a snug pair of pants slinking down a runway, whispers, "it looks like someone's grabbing her in her vagina." 

We missed you on television, Nicole. The mom and designer has moved from her humble days in reality TV to the fashion-competition genre with NBC's big spring hopeful, "Fashion Star." 

Richie has been tapped as a mentor for a slew of up-and-coming designers who pitch garments and accessories each week directly to department store buyers.

The hook: Richie, Varvatos and Jessica Simpson offer feedback to the hopefuls who are ultimately showing off their wares to buyers from H&M, Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue. At the end of each presentation, the buyers make cash offers for the goods. Or don't.  

Always a welcome chat here at the Ministry, Richie spoke with us about the innovative sales model, the vibe on set and what her kids think of Mama's new gig. 

Ministry of Gossip: What sets "Fashion Star" apart from other competition shows like "Project Runway"?

Nicole Richie: Well, it's an extremely rare position that these designers have access to major buyers, week after week for 10 weeks. For designers like myself, John and Jessica, we see these buyers once a season. They come to the showroom and they love it or they don't. And success in one season doesn't mean success in the next. So for the designers on our show, it's such an amazing chance to connect with the buyers each week.

MoG: How are you approaching mentorship? Tough love or maternal?

NR: I took the position of being their friend. I mean, we're all in this together. 

MoG: You have a pretty fun panel. How are you all getting along?

NR: Well, we shot the show last summer so we could have time to get the clothes made [all the winning looks from "Fashion Star" hit store floors and online shops right after an episode airs]. But we had a blast. What's the point of doing anything if you're not going to have fun? My dad used to tell me that all the time.

MoG: Speaking of Lionel Richie, how has your family reacted to the show? I know you've got two little critics in Harlow and Sparrow [her kids, 4 and 2, respectively].

NR: Well, my daughter hasn't seen the show. They don't really know what I do.

MoG: It must be hard to keep a secret.

NR: What's funny is we were watching "The Voice" — sometimes they show reruns when [Harlow's] awake — and my dad was on helping Christina Aguilera mentor. And Harlow just looked at me and said, 'Why is pop-pop on TV? That's weird." So I panicked for a second and then said, "Isn't he silly?" 

All in good time, Harlow. Catch "Fashion Star" on NBC at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

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— Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo: Nicole Richie strikes a mentor pose for "Fashion Star." Credit: John Russo / NBC.

Jon Hamm, Nicole Richie celebrate Mindy Kaling's new book

Mindy Kaling's funny shtick attracted some fabulous names Sunday as her notable pals came to toast her new book, "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)." 

Not so much a concern Sunday, as Jon Hamm and partner Jennifer Westfeldt, Aziz Ansari, Nicole Richie and more came to hang out at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel's cocktail lounge the Spare Room.

Toasted by Cindy Leive, Glamour's editor in chief, Kaling was complimented on needing virtually no edit and on her genuine humor, whether "writing about one-night stands or what makes a man a man," according to one guest.

Kaling's "Office" mates B.J. Novak and Jenna Fischer rolled through, as did funny ladies Anna Faris and Busy Philipps and chat-show host Jimmy Kimmel. 

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Photo: Jon Hamm, Jennifer Westfeldt and Minday Kaling, right, at Kaling's book launch party at the Hollywood Roosevelt on Monday. Credit: WireImage

Gwen Stefani, Will Ferrell, Nicole Richie manifest for MOCA gala

Downtown Los Angeles' Grand Avenue made good on its name Saturday evening, welcoming celebs, social types and, naturally, art fans to the Museum of Contemporary Art's annual gala. 

The museum tapped renowned performance artist Marina Abramovic as guest director for this year's fete, presenting "An Artist's Life Manifesto" with Debbie Harry as featured performer.

Gwen Stefani attended, as she did last year, though husband Gavin Rossdale was nowhere in sight. Stefani instead buddied up to event chair Dasha Zuhkova, while Nicole Richie frolicked on the rainy grounds with actress Jaime King. 

PHOTOS: MOCA Gala 2011 | Arrivals

Abramovic featured live performers as dinner centerpieces, with only their heads popping out from the tablecloths as guests ate and drank. Coexisting with the human heads wasn't the only thing Abramovic requested of the crowd: White lab coats were distributed and mandatory to don as dinner began.

"It's this idea of transition," Abramovic said, as the whole of the party was to experiment within her performance. Except it wasn't the whole of the party — as some guests blatantly refused to put on the jackets (think Hills-dwelling housewives not wanting their gowns concealed). 

But the boldface names were happy to oblige Abramovic; among them Kirsten Dunst, looking radiant with Rodarte designing duo Kate and Laura Mulleavy. They sat close to celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, while Will Ferrell worked the room with his wife, Viveca.

Rose McGowan turned heads in a green number, as did a late-arriving Pamela Anderson (random, no?), Dita Von Teese and a slimmed Minnie Driver.

Among the hits from Harry, the human heads, the doctor costumes and a consistent showing of celebrity art fans, Abramovic emerged as the night's true star.

She's an artist whose commitment may have turned an interesting page on an important night for Los Angeles, a gala that's frankly been struggling to find its voice since Lady Gaga graced it two years ago.

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— Matt Donnelly
twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photos: Nicole Richie, top, and Gwen Stefani, left, are among the stars at the MOCA gala Saturday. Credits: Phil McCarten / Reuters, top; Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images, left.

Nicole Richie's 30th birthday: 'Classy with a K, but classy!'

Nicole Richie turned 30 on Wednesday, celebrating a new decade with her better half, friends and family in Beverly Hills.

Richie and her party took over the Royal Suite at the swanky Beverly Wilshire for a grown-and-sexy fete with no particular theme. 

"To me, this most important thing is that my friends just come and have a good time, nothing too forced," Richie told us while getting ready, husband Joel Madden at her side. 

In sparkly vintage red mini and spiked Louboutins, Richie received pals including Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, father Lionel Richie, Mindy Kalling, Samantha Ronson and Quincy Jones.

We pointed out that the Regent was quite an adult venue for someone just crossing the threshhold into her 30s, and she agreed: "I am so classy! Classy with a K, but classy. I'm almost there with the C."

Jokes aside, Richie opened up about her journey from reality-show wild child to married mother of two. 

"If life was about one lesson, we'd all be perfect. But it's not," she said. "I try to learn lessons every day. Life is about waking up and going out there and being the best version of you."

Her morning and afternoon were spent with daughter Harlow, 3, and son Sparrow, who celebrated his second birthday Sept. 9.

"Their life doesn't stop when it's my birthday. They have school and ballet and this and that. I was just a mom, which I'm totally happy being," she said, "My son just had his birthday, and they just don't care. They're birthdayed out! We just had the cake and the song and the whole bit." 

Richie did enjoy some tiny spoils, however, such as a tiered birthday cake with gold detail, a dance-off in the suite led by emcee Ronson and the obligatory playing of her dad's hit "All Night Long."

A video montage was projected starring her kids and close ones, and the Winter Kate designer did land one exclusive gift — the unreleased Samsung Galaxy SII, which she used to snap pics of her guests throughout the evening.

"I'm so excited about this new chapter in my life and so ready for something new," Richie said. "So many of my girlfriends say that your 30s are the best. I couldn't be more ready."

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Photos: The birthday-party gang included Nicole Richie and Joel Madden, top, and Lionel Richie, above, with his daughter, the birthday girl.  Credits: Alan Silfen.

Charlotte Ronson toasted by Nicole Richie, sis Samantha Ronson

Every artist has a muse, but designer Charlotte Ronson counts lots of Hollywood gals as her inspiration -- and luckily, they love a good party.

Nicole Richie and Charlotte's sister Samantha Ronson welcomed Kidada and Rashida Jones, Nicky and Paris Hilton, Lake Bell and Mindy Kaling to West Hollywood's Il Sole on Wednesday to celebrate Charlotte's new beauty collection, girly fare inspired by and named for her famous friends.

Richie glowed with a blond updo in a black romper with brass button detail, holding court at her table with the likes of Monet Mazur during a sit-down dinner in the eatery's private dining room. Rounding out the group were a mix of fashion folks and peeps from Sephora, where the line will be carried.

Though the beauty goods were inspired directly by ladies including Rashida, Richie and even the Ronsons' mother, Anne Dexter Jones, it turns out funny lady Bell wasn't among those tapped for a product name.

"What the hell?" Bell cracked.

So what would a Bell-inspired, say, lip gloss be called? Oh my -- turns out the name would include, um, something unprintable.

"'[Something Unprintable]. That's What I'm Talking About. Period.' That's what it would be called," Bell  said.

Quite a name, and perhaps we understand now why her concept wasn't included in the collection. But we'd totally wear that. 

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Photo: Charlotte Ronson, left, Samantha Ronson, Rashida Jones, Nicole Richie and Kidada Jones at the launch of Charlotte Ronson Beauty for Sephora.

Nicole Richie nails Britney Spears' 'Slave 4 U' choreography [video]

 
Don't threaten Nicole Richie with a dance-off.

The Ministry has proof of how disastrous coming up against her can be, especially when it comes to busting some classic Britney Spears moves.

A video was recently posted to her official YouTube page showing Richie and a male friend going head-to-head, shimmying to the Spears hit "Slave 4 U."

Richie is victorious by a mile, moving through the choreography as though she's spent many a night in front of the mirror with Brit-Brit blasting.

Check out the full clip above, and give us your thoughts on Richie's move-busting in comments.

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Victoria Beckham gets perfect pink baby shower with Eva Longoria, Nicole Richie

Victoria Beckham had a lovely little baby shower in celebration of her first little girl, with famous female friends Eva Longoria, Nicole Richie and Selma Blair.

On Saturday, friends of the fashion mogul and former Spice Girl gathered at West Hollywood's Le Petit Ermitage Hotel -- decked out with pink table cloths and pink blossoms atop round tables with white umbrellas, according to People magazine.  

At the rooftop Butterfly Bar, the intimate group enjoyed an English tea-party theme, complete with princess cake with marzipan.

An excited Beckham tweeted she was having "so much fun" playing the bridal-shower standard party games -- led by Blair, who is also expecting -- in which guests had to design a dress out of toilet paper.

Beckham also tweeted a shot of the TP couture, above right. Victoria already has three boys in her brood -- Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz -- with husband David Beckham.

Brooklyn was riding in dad's Cadillac on Friday when the soccer star rear-ended a car that was broken down in the carpool lane of the 405 Freeway. The other driver was taken to a hospital as a precaution for neck pain, according to the Fabulous Forum, but David Beckham was not cited.

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Right photo: Baby shower guests and Victoria Beckham, third from left, rock toilet paper gowns. Credit: Yfrog.com

Left photo: Victoria Beckham attends a Marc Jacobs fashion show in 2008. Credit: Evan Agostini / Associated Press

Nicole Richie completes probation for 2006 DUI

Nicole Richie is done with probation early -- sort of -- for a 2006 DUI incident, a judge decided Wednesday.

Richie provided proof that she'd completed all that was required of her, her publicist said, including completion of an 18-month alcohol education program. The TV personality and House of Harlow designer had been given until February to wrap it up, though that deadline was an extension granted in June to allow her more time to finish the class. So she's done "early," but only relative to a later end date. Still, it's a key step in her 180-degree life overhaul.

Richie was arrested shortly after midnight Dec. 11, 2006 -- stopped in the carpool lane on the Ventura Freeway talking on her cellphone -- by police who were responding to 911 calls that a driver had entered the freeway the wrong way, using an offramp. She admitted smoking pot and taking Vicodin, pleaded guilty and spent 82 minutes of a four-day sentence in jail.

She has admitted to getting treatment for cocaine and heroin use, last touching heroin in 2003, around the time she was charged with possession after a traffic stop. In recent years, however, she's morphed from party girl into mother of two, raising kidlets Harlow and Sparrow and recently marrying their dad, rocker Joel Madden. Her name also keeps popping up in connection with a scripted ABC sitcom project recently claimed by entertainment head Jamie Tarses, and has plans to expand her House of Harlow brand.

In comparison, Lindsay Lohan is still not finished with her series of probations stemming from two 2007 DUI arrests, and Nic's onetime "Simple Life" BFF Paris Hilton was barred from entering Japan on business in September after pleading guilty to cocaine possession in Las Vegas.

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-- Christie D'Zurilla

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Joel Madden and Nicole Richie perform with the cast of the kids' show "Yo Gabba Gabba!" at a Nokia Theater event at L.A. Live on Nov. 27, 2010 -- about as far as you can get from driving the wrong way on the 134. Credit: Kevin Winter / Getty Images

Nicole Richie, Joel Madden get married

Nicole Richie and Joel Madden paid off weeks of buzz on Saturday, tying the knot at the Los Angeles home of the reality TV star's famous father, Lionel Richie.

The couple of four years, parents of Harlow and Sparrow, kept ceremony details tightly under wraps (they barely nodded at their engagement), but there's no such thing as a secret once more than one person knows about it. Some of the dish that's emerged:

The bride wore a gown by Marchesa, the design house headed by Harvey Weinstein's wife, Georgina Chapman, and she and the Good Charlotte lead singer exchanged wedding bands by Neil Lane, the jeweler who designed her engagement ring.

"They wanted an Old Hollywood, glamorous feel to their wedding," a source told People. "They're going all-out with the decor. Nicole wanted a memorable, elegant affair for only their closest friends and family on their special day."

Guests reportedly included Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Samantha Ronson, and Madden's brother Benji. Nicole's close pals Christina Aguilera and Kim Kardashian RSVPd with regrets.

The service was officated by Rev. Run of Run-DMC, according to Us, beneath two tents in the spacious backyard.

While little Harlow likely stole attention as a flower girl, photographers' attention was caught by  a trained elephant being led onto the property.

Nicole Richie still has ABC's sitcom attention -- plus a restraining order

Nicole Richie isn't done dancing with ABC -- the reality star and mom has just received another commitment from the network for a comedy series.

In December, Richie teamed up with "30 Rock" scribe Daisy Gardner to develop a show about a mom balancing her personal and professional life. This time around, power lady and former ABC entertainment head Jamie Tarses will produce. The news was first reported by Deadline.com. 

A rep for Richie confirms that the new Tarses-lead project has a "similar concept" to the idea introduced last year.

Richie should know a thing or two about working moms; she's appeared on scripted fare including NBC's "Chuck" and HBO's "Six Feet Under," and designs her own jewelry and clothing collections.

The mother of two -- daughter Harlow and son Sparrow, with rocker Joel Madden -- also knows a thing or two about being a mama bear. The actress on Wednesday was granted a temporary restraining order against a paparazzo she says is lurking around Harlow's preschool.

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-- Matt Donnelly
Twitter.com/MattDonnelly

Photo:  Nicole Richie at a Vogue event in 2009. Credit: Jason Merritt / Getty Images