What Next, Leotards on the Red Carpet?

Who would have thought that a shiny metal glove would be the season’s biggest style statement?

Fantastic Four star Kerry Washington is usually consistently safe, but she appears to be doing her best Sasha Fierce impression at the Huffington Post Ball in a shiny Jasmine di Milo dress.

Kerry’s entire career and personality are built on the exact opposite of being edgy so while we give her props for taking things in a new direction, this is the style equivalent of the time Tara Reid played a scientist which required her to wear glasses to show how really, really smart she was in a vain attempt to convince us to suspend entirely too much disbelief.  Simply slipping on an edgy dress does not automatically make you edgy (cough* Beyonce*cough).  Baby steps, Kerry.  Try dark nail polish first.

She wisely balances the sparkle with a black heel, but a dress that daring needs a more awesomely edgy shoe, like these Giuseppe Zanotti peep-toe booties.

By ShoeMinx Fierce Celebrity Reporter Paige Muller

American Idol Champ Makes a Breakaway to No. 1

Kelly Clarkson’s been dreaming of another moment like this.

American Idol’s first viewer-created champ makes a triumphant return to the top of the charts, appropriately enough in time to debut her monster hit, “My Life Would Suck Without You,”  on the show that made her famous as it hits the airwaves for another season of pitchy popstar wannabes.

Move over, Britney.  Kelly’s Clive Davis-approved single claimed the No. 1 slot and leaped into the history books for the biggest jump to number one in Billboard Hot 100 history.  Busting a move up 96 spots, the rock-pop tune beat the previous biggest mover, Britney’s recent 95-spot jump for “Womanizer.”  But Clarkson’s history-making ways don’t stop there. “My Life” also makes Clarkson the first Idol contestant to score a second solo No. 1. Pressure’s on Carrie Underwood!

After the Idol’s last album, My December, failed to strike a chord (at least in comparison to her 2004 smash, Breakaway), the scrapping of her tour due to lousy ticket sales and much-publicized feuds, including one with record boss Clive Davis and another with her managers, this is totally Kelly’s E=MC2 moment.  But, you know, without the Glitter bomb or TRL striptease.  How much kissing of Clive’s ring do you think Kelly had to do to get back into his good graces?

Like her new album, All I Ever Wanted, these 80s glam Marc heels by Marc Jacobs hit the perfect note to highlight Kelly’s playful pop side and return to chart-topping glory.

By ShoeMinx Idol Paige Muller

A Six-Figure Pay Day And They Still Can’t Get Her to Wear Pants

There are two things that immediately come to mind when you think of former Baywatch babe Pamela Anderson.  And cover girl for a high-end designer like  Vivienne Westwood isn’t one of them.

The style-maker raised more than a few eyebrows when she named the buxom blonde as the star of her Spring 2009 ad campaign, but from a designer famously known for her irreverent sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll attitude, who better to helm the line than the infamous Playboy Playmate and ex Mrs. Tommy Lee?  Kinda genius when you think about it really.

The first tongue-in-cheek ads from the campaign have already leaked (accidentally on purpose, of course) and show the Barb Wire star at her boobs-out-to-there-pants-optional best, sporting pieces from all the Queen of Punk’s collections, including her DIY footwear that walked in London Fashion Week.  And despite the silicon on display, the ads aren’t as salacious as you would expect.  In fact, Pam is more covered up than she normally is in real life.

Says a London Daily Mail snitch, “. . . Vivienne loves the quirkiness of having Pam in one of her campaigns.”

After a meeting at last year’s London’s Fashion Week, Westwood courted Anderson for the high-profile placement after the actress-slash-model-slash-other-stuff stole the show in the designer’s gold lurex dress. Her strange mannequin companion probably helped, too.

“At a meeting backstage after [Westwood's show], Vivienne thought Pamela looked stunning in her clothes,” a label rep tells British Vogue. “When thinking of casting her next campaign, she immediately thought of Pamela and called her to ask if she would be interested. Pamela agreed on the spot.”  With her faux-reality show “Pam: Girl on the Loose” KO’d, she no doubt had some time on her hands.

The images, which were shot in and around Anderson’s Malibu trailer, also feature several nudes of Pamela which are planned to be released as a coffee-table book later this year. Been there, done that.  Copies of Madonna’s Sex book are probably available on Amazon.com.  No word if any of Pam’s full monty pics will be used in the ad campaign, but seriously, after 13 Playboy appearances and a starring role in a certain shaky-cam video, we’ve already seen whatcha working with.

Vivienne’s avant-garde tie-some-wood-to-your-foot-with-string footwear is more fantasy than sidewalk-ready, but these  L.A.M.B ‘Bellgrave’ boots by Gwen Stefani (who counts Viv as a design fave), offer hallmarks of the designing Brit’s signature style:  towering heels, buckles galore and a “tie me up, tie me down” bondage vibe.

By ShoeMinx Bikini Babe Paige Muller

Sexy Senora Upstages Bradgelina at Curious Case of Benjamin Button Screening

“Hola, amigas!  It is I, Jennifer - don’t call me JLo - Lopez. Si, Jenny from the Block is back and I brought two of my friends.  LOOK at me.  I command you.  I ran a marathon after giving birth to twins and what did I get from you people?  Nada.  That’s right.  No parade, no breathless adoration.  Instead, you fawn over some little actress and her new additions.  Angelina Jolie is nothing compared to me.  Can she sing like me? Can she dance like me?  No and no.  I’ve seen her clothes, so I know she can’t pretend to design clothes like me.  Seriously, how many boring black dresses does she own anyway?  And her ass?  Flat as a pancake.

Time for Plan B.  Oh, I am so clever.  See how I effortlessly managed to slip in the title of my upcoming movie, like tequila with lime . . . smooth.  I am the promo queen–my movies, my music, my clothing line, my babies and marriage, yes they are all for sale.  I would sell my very soul if it would land me another magazine cover.  So here I am at the premiere of some movie that I’m not even in with the girls up and out, looking all kinds of muy caliente. I HYPNOTIZE with them. Is this what it takes to make you pay attention to me again?  Take it all in–the Cavalli gown, the perfectly matched clutch and let us not forget, my signature pose and open-mouth pout. Try to look away. YOU CANNOT.

My Marc, the skinny little love, will not like me showing off my assets like this.  The poor hombre must know that I only pretend that he is El Jefe.  It’s called “acting.” Ha!  Poor man is delusional from hunger.  It is my triple-threat-iness that keeps us in the glamorous lifestyle that is my due as an international super-diva.  And what’s the point of getting knocked up if you aren’t going to make the most of your new cleavage when you are fit again?  Honestly, I am surrounded by amateurs.  Well, the twins and I have successfully managed to upstage Saint Angelina.  My work here is done.”

Set off a sultry goddess gown in glam silver heels like these by Marciano.

By ShoeMinx Senora Paige Muller

Rapper Kicks Off Fashion Career With Line of Sneakers

When “Stronger” rapper Kanye West’s not busy posting cap-locked blog entries or making hit music, the self-proclaimed Louis Vuitton Don (cute) has been collaborating on a line of men’s footwear with the high-end label.  So we guess he’s the Designing LV Don now.

Thanks to TMZ, the 10-time Grammy winner (Now I ain’t sayin’ she a gold digger . . . ) was spotted previewing the kicks on his own feet before they officially walked last week in the men’s LV show during Paris Fashion Week.  The line will be available in LV stores in June.

Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs told WWD, “I think Kanye goes to the office more than I do. He’s really, really into sneakers.” The shoes were ingeniously conceived.”  Says Kanye about his design muse:

“We started from the sole. We made it lighter weight and flexible, so you can bend it…. I was inspired by the movie “Dune” because, as you know, I love sci-fi…. The collection had all these jackets that were very padded. They looked like maybe they had hockey pads in the jacket, and there was one where the collar came up really high. I took that element and I put that on the back of the shoe. It’s like the opposite of the tongue. Usually you have the tongue at the front. [This is] like a tongue at the back.”

Well, Kanye’s got the fashion speak down like a real designer, but uh . . . we’re not seeing anything remotely sci-fi -y about these.  They look like regular sneakers from the mall painted red, similar to these from Puma.  But add the LV logo and BAM, that’ll be $350, please.

But seriously, from a man rocking a mullet and those bi-sexual porn rumors, we expected something a bit more daring and less . . . pedestrian.  Maybe something in neon?

Not content with just two or three careers to pursue, Kanye will be moving to London in early spring to pursue his burgeoning career in fashion design. According to the Mirror, he’s applying to work at Louis Vuitton’s HQ there and other fashion houses in Europe. He also plans to unveil his own line, Pastelle.  Let’s hope his internship will be more real than The Hills Lauren Conrad’s stint at Teen Vogue.

By ShoeMinx Sneaker Pimp Paige Muller

Inaugural Brat Pack.  So Much for “We Are One.”

Singer Beyonce is living up the title of her song “Diva.”  The R&B hit maker joined in the pre-inaugural celeb concert at the Lincoln Memorial in DC, but apparently the high wedge boots she sported were strictly for the stage, and not you know, actual mobility.

According to the New York Daily News:

After Jay-Z finished rehearsal for his pre-inaugural concert, he and wife Beyoncé found out police had shut down streets around the Warner Theater. Cops told the star couple they’d have to walk four blocks to meet their driver.

“Beyoncé wouldn’t walk in high heels in the cold,” says our spy. “The cops wouldn’t budge, but the Secret Service agreed to let the driver pick Jay and Beyoncé up, bring them to their hotel so they could change, and get them back to the theater.”

Well, glad to know the security of the nation’s president is in such keen hands.  And ShoeMinx would like to point out to Bey that Michelle Obama managed to walk the inaugural parade route in a pair of high heel Jimmy Choos.  So there.

But that was nothing compared to the antics of diva-tude poster child, Mariah Carey.  The cleavage-baring “Hero” song bird, who performed her classic ballad at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball, threw a snit when she found that she wasn’t sitting with the First Couple.

Mrs. Nick Cannon was seated with other celebs, like Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, in the VIP area but somehow thought she’d be breaking bread with Barack and Michelle.  According to a Page Six snitch, when she realized she wasn’t, she bailed.” Maybe she thinks filling in for the Queen Helen Mirren in the indie flick Push actually makes her royalty.

The dueling divas weren’t the only drama queens at the celebrations.  Sean “Diddy” Combs, president and founding member of the “It’s All About Me” club, was rumored to be sulking that he hadn’t received an invite to perform at any of the official events.  And his ego was further insulted that Jay-Z had a bigger presence at the festivities than he did.

Maybe they all should have followed his advice to Lil Kim when she complained about her portrayal in the Biggie Smalls’ flick Notorious: “I can’t believe this sh*t. This ain’t about her. She needs to grow up and stop being a baby.”  Hello, pot.  Meet kettle.

If you’re going to act like a diva, dress the part in these attention-grabbing ‘Diva” heels by Mia.

By ShoeMinx Diva Paige Muller

Let’s See Suri Cruise Top This

It’s hard to imagine what was more exciting for Sasha and Malia Obama: their father’s historic swearing-in to the Oval Office — or seeing the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus perform live. The awesome power of the Disney machine can’t be denied.

The Mickey Mouse moguls headlined the Kids’ Inaugural: We Are The Future, which aired on the Disney Channel.  The JoBros performed “Burning Up,” one of the girls’ favorite tunes, and Miley debuted her new song “Let’s Go Crazy.”  Afterward, Mrs. Obama and Sasha and Malia met backstage with some of the girls’ fave celebs, including Miley and Demi Lovato.

And if that’s not enough reason to be green with envy, the Obama girls got the ultimate surprise back at their new residence.  You know, the big white house at 1600 Pennsylvania.  No, it wasn’t a pony. While their parents were making their inaugural ball rounds, the girls entertained pals at a sleepover and had a surprise visit from Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas.  No Barbie dream house will be able to top this.

In a scavenger hunt designed to help Sasha and Malia learn their way around their new digs, hiding at the end in the East Room were the tween heartthrobs.  They played three acoustic songs and posed for photos with each of the young guests at the party. With this kind of pull, we totally wouldn’t be surprised if Miley showed up to serve the girls popcorn for a WH screening of her new flick, Hannah Montana The Movie.

Forget “I want to be like Mike.”  We want to be like Sasha and Malia!  They are having the best week EVER.  Is there a position for Babysitter-in-Chief available?

Wear your fangirl heart on your feet in these Jonas Keds.

Or these Hannah Montana kicks.

By ShoeMinx Star Gazer Paige Muller

Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin Score on the Red Carpet, But The Couple’s Diss Rules

The SAG awards are a bit like Hollywood High where everyone from the silver screen to the small screen casts their vote for Prom King and Queen. Held in the lull between the Golden Globes and the granddaddy of all award shows, the Oscars, it’s like a lemon sorbet to cleanse the fashion palette.

Giuliana Rancic, E!’s red carpet hostess, promised anything could happen and she delivered like Dominos, courtesy of the Curious Case of Benjamin Button star Brad Pitt and his leading lady, The Changeling’s Angelina Jolie.  After the genetically gifted twosome dissed Ryan Seacrest in studied obliviousness at the Golden Globes despite his Usain Bolt-like sprint after them, they were all smiles as they moseyed right up to Giuliana for some on-camera banter.  Oh, burn!

Not as formal as the Globes or Oscars, as laid back as the indie Spirts or “whoa, what are they wearing?” like the MTV awards, the SAG red carpet ranged from back-of-the-closet best to cocktail dresses to full-length gowns.  Perhaps still feeling a bit of inaugural glow, celebs showed patriotic pride in scarlet-red,  winter white and blues in a pageantry parade of one-shoulder dresses, halters and strapless gowns.  And glory, glory hallelujah, nary a Herve Leger bandage dress in sight.

Teri Hatcher (Desperate Housewives),  Marcia Cross (Desperate Housewives), Claire Danes, America Ferrera (Ugly Betty) , Rosario Dawson and January Jones (Mad Men) were step-repeat boards for Jimmy Choo.  And Christian Louboutin scored bragging rights on Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road/The Reader) and Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married).

Best Dressed Couple

Sure, Bradgelina aren’t like Posh and Becks when it comes to fashion, but honesty they could wear his ‘n’ hers potato sacks and look good.  According to Red Carpet Fashion Awards, Angie’s blue Max Azria dress is on backwards, but the periwinkle blue is lovely on her and Brad’s matching pocket square is an squee-worthy sartorial signal of togetherness.  And anyway, they have six kids (or is it five? we’ve lost count). That they manage to wear anything that doesn’t have spit-up or stains on it is a miracle.

Red and black was the top combo for couples on the red carpet, but Milk nominee Josh Brolin in Dolce & Gabbana and main squeeze Diane Lane in David Meister stand out with their vintage Hollywood vibe.  Flawless sophistication.

Best Dressed

Wow, wow, wow!  Kate Winslet, the SAGs best supporting actress winner for The Reader, continues her winning ways both on and off the carpet in the second-skin blue Narciso Rodriguez dress that showed off her truly remarkable cleavage.  No wonder Oprah was so envious.  After not getting the Michelle O inaugural gig, dressing an Oscar nominee is a great billboard.  She completed her look with Christian Louboutin heels.

A far cry from her best actress nominated role as the black sheep in Rachel Getting Married, Anne Hathaway looked like a Grecian goddess in a white Azzaro gown with a neckline and waist embellished with half a million dollars of Cartier diamonds that she paired with silver Christian Louboutin heels.

Most Covet-Worthy Shoes

30 Rock’s Katrina Bowden kept it short and sassy in a blue ruched cocktail dress from Project Runway winner Christian Siriano, all the better to show off her sublime silver shoes, like these Nine West ‘Nina’ jeweled heels.  We wonder if he shopped the Bluefly wall for them.  Or could they be a sneak-peek at his line for Payless?  If they are, sold!

Last time we saw Evan “Dita” Rachel “Von Teese” Wood, she had broken up with Marilyn Manson but was still piling on the makeup as if she were impersonating his ex.  The Wrestler star finally seems to have gotten over her goth phase and showed up not looking like she fell face-first into the MAC counter in a stunning teal Monique Lhillier gown and divine purple Sergio Rossi heels.  Looks like she’s following in Anne Hathaway’s red carpet rehab footsteps.  She’s got the shoes for it!

Read the complete list of SAG winners here.

By ShoeMinx Red Carpet Watcher Paige Muller

Flattery or Fashion No No:  “Womanizer” Copycats Couture Costume

Want to feel old, ya’ll?  Britney Spears’ chart topper “Hit Me Baby, One More Time” celebrated its 10-year anniversary not too long ago.  Ah, it seems like just yesterday that the Catholic school girl uniform clad popster had teen-age boys across the globe barricaded in bathrooms.  And after a craaaaazy couple of years, Brit herself edged closer to the big 3-0 with a 27^th birthday bash, gifting fans with a Circus comeback and a new look . . . Madonna’s.

Gearing up for her three-ring Circus tour, Britney hit the promo trail with her single “Womanizer” in copycat couture that closely resembles her Material Girl mentor’s tour ensemble, from her ringmaster top-hat down to the knee-high black boots. After the whole no panties thing and her Starbucks and Cheetos diet, BritBrit looks really cute and in good shape and has a decent weave for once.  But Madonna could TOTALLY crush someone with her quads.

The music mavens have been joined at the mic since Madge handed down the pop crown to the Britster at the 2003 MTV VMAs, when the duo shocked and locked lips in a ratings-winning display of faux-lesbianism.  They paired up again in the “Me Against the Music” video and a rehabbed Britney joined the Queen of Pop on-stage during her Sticky and Sweet tour.  No tongues this time.  Hmmm, now that we think about it, the relationship between the BFFs has outlasted their respective marriages.

Maybe Brit is tipping her hat, quite literally, to Ms. M for her support during her “Crazy Britney” head-shaving days.  Or, if rumors from musical spies are true, it might signal that Madonna will duet with her showbiz sis and show up at one of her upcoming shows.  Squeal!  A “Gimme More Holiday” collab would blow the roof off the auditorium.

Show them the bitch is back in crazy, cool black knee-high boots like these by Luichiny.

By ShoeMinx Copycat Couture Spotter Paige Muller

Watching “The Notebook” Will Never Be the Same Again

Nooooooooo!  Looks like everyone’s favorite on-again and off-again couple, The Notebook stars Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, won’t be getting their happily ever after.  After a brief recoupling last summer and some romantic public PDA that had every fangirl squealing in delight and mentally planning a Vera Wang wedding, the two are now “openly single.”  Well, that sounds better than saying bitterly single.  Or home alone eating pizza and junk food while cursing your ex’s existence.  They called in quits in November.

While Ryan has been deejaying at a weekly gig at L.A.’s Bardot, Rachel is already rebounding, right into the arms of Sweet Home Alabama star Josh Lucas.  Taking a break from filming Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey, Jr., the Canadian cutie joined the Obama love fest in DC where she was spotted smooching with the Replacement Romeo at the Purple Ball.  ”They were so lovey-dovey,” a spy told the New York Daily News, “nibbling on each other’s necks, gazing into each other’s eyes and doing a lot of flirty touching.”  It might be too soon but we suggest “McLucas” as their celebrity couple name.

And is it just us or is Josh a bit of a Gosling doppelganger?  Around the eyes maybe?  Our love for Ryan is eternal so Rachel’s hook-up seems a bit like a downgrade, but Josh was coupled with curvalicious actress and Ugly Betty executive producer Salma Hayek for two years so he must have a little sum, sum going on.

We’re conflicted about the break-up.  On the one hand, Rachel and Ryan were sooo cute together.  On the other, Ryan is now footloose and fancy free.  We’d happily lend him our shoulder to cry on.

So in sympathy for all those who wanted Canada’s golden couple to work out, we offer these “Am I Blue” heels from Report.

By ShoeMinx Rebound Reporter Paige Muller