Carrie Underwood’s “big” dress at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Carrie Underwood wears a voluminous dress at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards Show. The dress by designer Rafael Cennamo will be on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
It’s all about Carrie Underwood’s dress. The big dress. You know the one … the merlot silk taffeta super-size gown the Oklahoma country star wore at the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards in April.
The much-talked-about dress will be featured in “Carrie Underwood: All-American Girl,” a spotlight exhibit opening June 11 at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.
Created by Miami-based fantasy gown designer Rafael Cennamo, the dress required 120 yards of fabric and featured an eight-foot-long train. Underwood wore the voluminous confection during her performance of her hit song “I Told You So.”
“It was an honor to wear such a beautiful dress during one of the most special nights of my life. I truly felt like a princess!” Underwood said.
“Carrie Underwood: All-American Girl” is included with regular museum admission. The exhibit will remain open through Dec. 31.
Celebrity fashion snapshot: Patricia Arquette
Reminder to myself: Blouson can be a good thing, but sometimes too much fabric around the waist and middle just makes you look like you have too much waist and middle.
Actress Patricia Arquette arrives at the 2009 CBS Network Upfront party on May 20, 2009 in New York.
Celebrity fashion snapshot: Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore
Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore at the White House Correspondents Dinner.
Celebrity fashion snapshot: Anne Hathaway
Actress Anne Hathaway attends the Cartier 100th anniversity in America celebration in New York.
What’s up with this dress — besides the length? And those sheer black hose? Just say no, Anne. Just say no.
Celebrity fashion snapshot: Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton at the J.C. Penney party in Los Angeles.
How did I miss this photo of Paris Hilton at the Charlotte Ronson and J.C. Penney party in Los Angeles earlier this month? I don’t think I’ve ever seen an outfit like that at J.C. Penney’s before. Have you?
Matthew McConaughey talks marriage
Matthew McConaughey, star of "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," poses with his girlfriend Camila Alves at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles.
OK, so this isn’t a fashion or beauty post, but actor Matthew McConaughey was dressed up and that’s news in the world of fashion.
McConaughey made it a family affair on Monday as he hit the premiere of his latest romantic comedy with his mother, brother and main squeeze, Brazilian supermodel Camila Alves, according to Fashion Wire Daily. But there were none of his real-life “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” on hand at Grauman’s Chinese Theater, for the almost-40-year-old actor has eschewed all others and been laminated to the much-younger Alves ever since they met back in 2007. The pair has a baby boy together.
Here’s what he had to say when asked if he was getting married in the future: ”Not today. I don’t have any plans for it. It’s not an institution I’m against at all. I’m actually for it, believe in it, and have seen it actually be very, very healthy for many relationships. Some people go through it in great ways. It’s just not something I plan on doing right now. It’s not what I feel like I need to do right now. But I’m not against it at all.”
Randall Christensen, costume designer for “Dancing with the Stars”
Costume designer Randall Christensen works on a costume for "Dancing with the Stars."
Designer Randall Christensen is the Oscar, Calvin and Ralph in his field. Christensen is the costume designer for “Dancing with the Stars,” and instead of of a runway, his clothes take a turn on the dance floor.
Christensen is an Emmy award-winning costume designer. He contributed gowns for Jennifer Lopez in the movie “Shall We Dance” and designed costumes for an entire show for Princess Cruises’ newest ship the Ruby Princess.
My column in today’s Life was a question-and-answer with Christensen. Here are more detailed answers and more questions.
How long does it take to make each costume? We average about 40-50 hours per ladies’ costume, based on how complex the design is, and how much trim/beading/rhinestones are on the costume.
How many people help with sewing, cutting, beading, etc. Typically we have one seamstress sew, fit, finish and bead/trim a costume. They get to know their lady’s body much better that way, and thus get better fits as the weeks progress. Sometimes if there are lots of beads and rhinestones we will have two to three ladies working on one dress.
What happens to the costume after the celebrity wears it? The celebrity has the option of purchasing any (or all) of their costumes worn on the show. Lots of the costumes go on the national tour. After the costumes have been used, they are shipped to my company in Phoenix, Ariz. There, Randall Designs offers the costumes for sale. Lots of people cannot believe that we are actually selling THE costume worn by the celebrity or pro dancer, and not a copy. We actually DO offer the original costume for purchase.
Does the professional dancer have any input into the style of the costume. Absolutely! I consider the professional dancer to be the director of their particular scene (dance). So I take direction from the pro dancer, and go from there. Does the celebrity? It is so very important to have the celebrity’s input as well. With the extremely short timeline that we are working under, I don’t have time to convince the celebrity to wear something that he or she is not comfortable wearing. If they’re not getting the idea, and not liking it, we move on to another idea. They really have to like it initially, or we just come up with another idea.
It is a combination of all three of us working together. Sometimes the professional has definite ideas, and sometimes they need guidance, and an infusion of fresh ideas. Keep in mind, these couples have only received their music and dance assignment MINUTES before they come to see me! So, there is a lot of exchanging of ideas, googling, youtubing, etc. to pull as many visuals as possible, and nail their look, in the 15-20 minutes that I get with each couple. It’s maddening!
Professional dancer Julianne Hough dances with her country singer boyfriend Chuck Wicks on "Dancing with the Stars."
Who has been your favorite celebrity so far? I can honestly say that I really have not had ONE favorite celebrity. When these celebs come to me on Tuesday nights, they’re usually exhausted both physically and emotionally. They really just want to go home and sleep, and they have to (with me, also exhausted) come up with next week’s FABULOUS designs. Their trust in me is phenomenal, and I LOVE them all because of it. Have some been a bit more challenging, sure. But in the end, they really depend on me and the professional dancer, trusting our experience with the costumes.
What is the worst costume mishap you have had while working on the show? I have been quite fortunate that there have been almost no costume mishaps live! That’s mainly because we have a full dress rehearsal only a couple of hours before we go live. If something is going to go wrong, it normally will manifest itself during the dress rehearsal. Although, I have to say, when Monique Coleman did (I think it was) the jive, in her yellow fringe two-piece costume, everything went fantastically during dress rehearsal. But, then during the actual live show, she kicked up her heels a bit higher than she did at rehearsal, caught her heel in the fringe, and pulled the costume 3/4 of the way down her hips, so her booty was hanging out quite a lot! And of course, it was on Jimmy Kimmel and everywhere else for the next couple of weeks! Oops!
Is there a correlation between the costume and the dance or the music? Absolutely there is a correlation between the costume, the dance AND the music. All three elements are crucial to customize each couples’ looks every week. We do no design ANYTHING in advance! The professional dancer wants to wait until they get their music assignment, after Tuesday night’s Results Show. The music is the springboard to everything that we do – costume wise. That song is played over and over again, trying to get the essence of the song’s magic working. then we go from there, choosing colors, etc. We always design the ladies’ costume first, whether they’re the pro or the celebrity. The lady is the picture, and the man is the frame. His costume ties in with her look, but it always starts wtih the ladies first.
What makes a costume a great costume? I feel like I have done my best when the costume goes perfectly with the music, the couples’ dance style, and emphasizes the best parts of the couples’ dance abilities. When that happens, I feel like the magic has truly happened!
Drew Barrymore … a vision in pink lipstick
Drew Barrymore, a cast member in "Grey Gardens," arrives at the premiere in Los Angeles.
I’m loving pink lipstick these days. Makeup artists say it makes you look more youthful. I’m all for that. Watch for a story on pink lipstick soon in the Life section. I just wanted to share this picture of Drew Barrymore … in pink lipstick. I even like how she channeled the ’80s with that big hair.
Katie Holmes wears her Joe’s jeans well … and often
Katie Holmes carries Suri as she leaves dance class. Guess what Katie's wearing? Her favorite Joe's jeans in the Muse fit.
No sooner is a celebrity spotted than the public relations machine rolls out an e-mail letting the fashion press know what brand purse she’s carrying or what designer shoes he’s wearing. Here’s comes the latest update.
Katie Holmes, spotted as she was leaving her daughter’s weekly dance lesson in Santa Monica, was wearing Joe’s jeans — the Muse fit in the Jolie wash. Word is Katie was spotted in the same Joe’s jeans just last week in the same location.
Hey, I wear my favorite jeans often, too.
Katie Holmes’ Joe’s jeans retail for $158. For more information, go online to www.joesjeans.com.
Matthew McConaughey at the Academy of Country Music Awards
Matthew McConaughey and girlfriend Camila Alves arrive at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Matthew McConaughey presented Oklahoma’s own Carrie Underwood with the Entertainer of the Year award at the Academy of Country Music Awards.
He didn’t put much thought into his dress, but he still looked mighty fine. A little polish on those boots would have been nice, though.
