Globes strike impact: parties pull out, suites shut down, fashion falters
Every day the writers strike goes on, the Golden Globes party list gets shorter and shorter. Now comes news that a big Globes celebrity jewelry suite has pulled out.
No Globes parties this year for Paramount, Showtime or New Line. But Weinstein, Fox, HBO and WB/Instyle will still have their regular bashes inside the Beverly Hilton on Jan 13.
The Platinum Guild's Globes gifting suite, usually at the Luxe Hotel, has been called off. While platinum jewelry is definitely still available to loan to actresses (if any actresses go) there won't be a swanky penthouse filled with expensive jewelry to ogle next week. And all those platinum gift bags for celebs? They're being returned to sender, even as I type.
So far, HBO's Luxury Lounge still will go on as planned, starting on Jan. 11 at the Four Seasons Hotel. Last year, it held the record for the most "Soprano" stars ever. This year, maybe not so much.
Kari Feinstein's popular Golden Globes Style Lounge is up in the air. "I can't really cancel because I have 30 vendors who are coming in and they have already bought their hotel rooms and plane tickets. But we may have to reposition the Lounge so that it's not just a Globes affair. We will still get lots of talent and we are talking about aligning ourselves with a Writers Guild charity. I should know more by the end of the day," she said.
This week, fashion designer reps are now officially freaked.
I spoke with one powerful rep for several European, U.S. and L.A. designers who told me, "No one is even looking at dresses. Everyone wants to wait and see and no actress wants to cross a picket line. But if nothing is settled by the end of this week, I'm switching our focus and concentrating on the SAG awards and the Grammys. We can't put all our eggs in one basket. For one thing, these dresses won't be in style in two months. And many of these samples have to travel around in upcoming trunk shows for retailers."
Don't laugh. Trunk shows are very important to a designer's business. But then, so are the red carpets. Case in point: Pamela Roland's hot pink dress was ignored by a major retailer's buyers. But when Kim Cattrall wore the brightly colored dress to the Emmys, the buyers sheepishly called the next day to place orders for it.
Will the Globes trends be more somber due to the strike? "I don't think it will be the way it was post-9/11," says one insider. "The Globes are always less formal and people look at cocktail lengths more. As for trends, there's a lot of bright colors for Spring '08 and actresses traditionally like to wear color to stand out on the red carpet. But I have no idea what the preferences are because no one is looking yet."
The fashion folks may be stressed. But the people who really need pity are the poor accessory reps. "I feel sorry for anyone trying to place jewelry and shoes," adds a PR rep."That's always a last-minute decision and this year, it's gonna be crazy."
Anyway, if I were a Golden Globe nominee, I'd want to have a gown ready, just in case. Hurry up, girls. Before all the good dresses are given to SAG and Grammy-goers!!
Besides, according to Graydon Carter, strike or no strike, the Vanity Fair Oscar party on Feb. 24, will still go on! Click HERE for details
Photo credit: Felicity Huffman eyed platinum jewelry at last year's Platinum Guild Suites. Well, maybe next year!
