WIF honors Annette Bening, Joey King, Kate Winslet, Michelle Buteau, Danielle Sanchez-Witzel and Ellen Kura.

Last Thursday, WIF (formerly known as Women In Film, Los Angeles) celebrated the 2024 WIF Honors, an annual benefit supporting WIF’s educational and philanthropic programs, and its advocacy for gender parity in entertainment, at The Beverly Hilton. 

The star-studded evening, presented by Max Mara, featured special appearances by Jane Fonda, Marion Cotillard, Jurnee Smollett, Quinta Brunson, Lili Reinhart, Emayatzy Corinealdi and more.

Themed The Power of the Collective, the gala recognized industry leaders who demonstrate how strength in collaboration, inclusion and uplifting stories can change culture for the better. 

The 2024 WIF Honors celebrated Annette Bening with the Jane Fonda Humanitarian Award presented by Jane Fonda; Kate Winslet and Ellen Kuras with the Crystal Award for Advocacy in Film presented by Marion Cotillard; Michelle Buteau and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel with the Crystal Award for Advocacy in TV presented by Janelle James; and Kerry Washington with the Entrepreneur in Entertainment Award presented by Emayatzy Corinealdi. Joey King was honored with the WIF Max Mara Face of the Future Award presented to her by Max Mara Global Brand Ambassador Maria Giulia Prezioso Maramotti. 

WIF Board President Amy Baer also announced that Executive Vice President of the Board Syrinthia Studer will take charge in 2025. 

Founded in 1973, WIF has been fighting for gender equity for more than 50 years. Its advocacy, career programs, and research efforts are a driving force for increasing gender representation in Hollywood. WIF works to dismantle gender bias in the screen industries by building the pipeline, sustaining careers, and advocating for change. Since 1977, WIF has annually honored outstanding women in the entertainment industry who have broken ground and excelled in their chosen fields.

Outstanding individuals who have been honored in past WIF awards programs include Lucille Ball, Halle Berry, Cate Blanchett, Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Ava DuVernay, Nora Ephron, Jane Fonda, Audrey Hepburn, Nicole Kidman, Donna Langley, Jennifer Lopez, Marlee Matlin, Mira Nair, Shonda Rhimes, Meryl Streep and Zendaya. 

The Beverly Hills Hotel exhibits Marco Walker’s The Golden Hour series

British, Los Angeles-based photographer and artist Marco Walker has been commissioned by The Beverly Hills Hotel to reflect on its historic legacy, landscape and architecture with a new series of portraits of the hotel.

Known for his iconic body of work that straddles the line between nostalgia and surrealism, Walker brings a fresh and transformative perspective to the timeless elegance of the landmark hotel. Walker’s recent work includes photo and collage work for The WrapBook, a campaign for French luxury fashion house Saint Laurent and an installation for The Bombay Beach Biennale, a renegade art festival on the Salton Sea.

The Golden Hour photograph series uses light to capture the hotel’s landscapes at their most sublime, transforming familiar scenes into dreamlike visions. Through a combination of rich color palettes and innovative collage techniques, Walker evokes eras that both did and did not exist—blurring the boundaries between reality and dream.

In this series, the golden hour becomes more than a time of day; it serves as a bridge between past and present, where light, history, and imagination converge. Walker’s unique style creates a world that feels suspended between moments, inviting the viewer to journey through layers of memory and fantasy. The result is an exploration of beauty, escapism, and the fleeting nature of time, set against the backdrop of one of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks.

“‘If these walls could talk’ perfectly embodies the feeling I had while walking through the corridors, bungalows, gardens and every corner of this iconic institution. I felt an abundance of inspiration in every detail, from the hotel suites to Fountain Coffee, imagining the characters who have passed through and the stories lived and told,” says Walker. “I hope the spirit and allure of this historic landmark lives on in this body of work. It was an honor to document the hotel as the first artist commissioned for this project. Using rare film and alternative photographic techniques, I embraced the challenge of capturing the essence of this previously very well-documented hotel in a new light.”

The series marks a new chapter of the hotel’s cultural legacy and is part of their new art programme curated by Jim Hedges IV.

The photographs will be on view in the grand lobby until January 15 2025. For sales enquiries contact Hedges Projects.

Tod’s hosts a dinner celebrating the F/W 2025 collection 

Italian luxury brand Tod’s celebrated its new collection under the creative direction of Matteo Tamburini with an intimate dinner at the Tower Bar last Wednesday.

The event introduced Tamburini, who was appointed creative director in December 2023, to Los Angeles and celebrated the new F/W 2025 collection.

Guests included Kerry Washington, Matt Bomer, Michelle Monaghan, Amber Valletta, Kelly Rowland, Edgar Ramirez, Justine Lupe, Scott Speedman, Natalie Martinez, Jurnee Smollett, Sarah Shahi, Brigitte Romanek, Paul Rabil, Rachel Zoe, Casey Fremont, Rob Zangardi and Jeanne Yang.

Founded as a small shoe factory in Casette D’Ete over a century ago, Tod’s epitomizes true Italian style with a focus on craftsmanship. The signature Tod’s Gommino, with its trademark 133 rubber pebbles on the sole, was born in the late 1970s, and in 2013, the brand introduced a full ready-to-wear women’s collection followed by a full ready-to-wear wardrobe for men in 2014.

Los Angeles-based non-profit A Sense of Home (ASOH) hosted their fourth-annual gala at the home of the honorable Ambassador Nicole Avant and Ted Sarandos last Thursday.

Founded by Georgie Smith, ASOH strives to prevent homelessness by creating first-ever homes and a community for youth aging out of foster care. With a 93% five year housing stability rate, ASOH has served nearly 3,000 former foster youth and children to date. 

This year’s gala brought together luminaries from across the entertainment, philanthropy, non-profit and business spheres including Jason Bateman, Tobey Maguire, Michelle Rodriguez, Nate Berkus, Molly Sims, Terry Crews, Baron Davis, Sara Gilbert, Soleil Moon Frye, Jeremiah Brent, Edward Norton, Emile Hirsch and LA Mayor Karen Bass. 

The evening included live performances by Phillip Phillips, Abraham Alexander and DJ Michelle Pesce; dinner by local LA favorite Jon & Vinny’s; and beverages sponsored by Casamigos; a silent auction and more.  

The event raised $1.5 million that will be directed towards the organization’s efforts to continue serving former foster youth in Los Angeles and scale to additional cities across the country. The funds raised will fuel new home creations and the organization’s national expansion. Long-time supporters Shawn and Serena Levy also accepted an honor for their ongoing commitment to the work of the organization.

Private members’ club Gravitas opens in Beverly Hills 

Gravitas, a members only social club, opened in Beverly Hills last week. The 28,000 square feet multi-level establishment, designed by Kelly Architects, will offer intimate dining spaces, temperature-controlled personal wine lockers, curated top-of-the-line amenities, ‘G-Car’ personal rides to and from the club and a dedicated concierge service.

Co-founded by entrepreneur Brandon Steven and restaurateur Seth Glassman, the space includes an open-air garden bar and dining room with a weather-proof retractable roof and heated floors for cooler weather; The Loft, which houses a recording studio, spacious conference room and private dining rooms; and the G.E.M (Gravitas Elite Member) Booths with private curtains and a call button for service staff. There will also be nightly entertainment ranging from acoustic sets to DJ programming.

Chef Preston Madson, who has 25 years of experience overseeing some of the most established restaurants in New York City, including at Barbuto, Freemans, and Il Buco Alimentari, will direct the one-of-a-kind culinary program, while the beverage program will be led by expert sommelier, Raphael Guirguis, and master mixologist Yael Vengroff.  Josh Hering, formerly of Mother Wolf, will oversee the day-to-day management.  

Learn more about the membership program or book a tour at www.gravitasclub.com.

Gravitas is open now at 435 N Camden Dr. Beverly Hills 90210.

The post 2024 WIF Honors Annette Bening, Kate Winslet and More appeared first on TheWrap.

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures hosts its fourth annual Gala

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures held its fourth annual gala at the Academy Museum in Los Angeles last Saturday.

The event celebrated the museum’s third anniversary and also honored Academy Award-nominated actor Paul Mescal; Academy Award-winning actress, singer and dancer Rita Moreno; and two-time Academy Award-winning and six-time Academy Award-nominated writer and director Quentin Tarantino. 

Guests including Selena Gomez, Jeff Goldblum, Kim Kardashian, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Gal Gadot, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade, Olivia Wilde, Greta Lee, Demi Moore, Ayo Edebiri, JJ Abrams, Amy Adams, Joe Alwyn, Pamela Anderson, Marion Cotillard, Alfonso Cuarón, Hans Zimmer, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson were all in attendance. 

Following cocktails provided by Tequila Don Julio, gala co-chair Eva Longoria kicked off the evening, introducing director and president of the Academy Museum Amy Homma, who welcomed guests to the special fundraiser. Three-time Oscar-winning director and 23-time nominee Steven Spielberg then presented the first honor of the night to Moreno: the Icon Award, celebrating an artist whose career has had a significant global cultural impact.

After dinner by guest chef Curtis Stone and Wolfgang Puck Catering, Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo made his way to the stage to welcome four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan, who presented Mescal with the Vantage Award. This award honors an emerging artist or scholar who is helping to contextualize and challenge dominant narratives around cinema.

The final honor of the night – the Luminary Award, given to an artist whose singular contributions have expanded the creative possibilities of cinema – was presented by two-time Oscar nominee John Travolta to Tarantino. During his acceptance speech, Tarantino announced the donation of his first handwritten draft of the script for Pulp Fiction to the museum. 

Grammy Award-winning singer Ariana Grande closed out the evening by introducing her Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo, who treated guests to a surprise musical performance, singing “I’m Here” from The Color Purple, Diana Ross’s “Home” from The Wiz, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz and Prince’s “Purple Rain.”

Axiom Space and Prada unveil a spacesuit design for NASA’s Artemis III lunar mission

Last Wednesday, at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy, Axiom Space and Prada revealed the design of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit that will be used for NASA’s Artemis III mission to the moon.

The lunar mission, scheduled for September 2025, will be the first crewed moon landing since December 1972, when the Apollo 17 mission concluded, and will land the first woman and first person of color on the surface of the Moon.

Drawing on their expertise in raw materials, manufacturing techniques and innovative design, Prada’s engineers worked alongside the Axiom Space team to create a suit capable of protecting astronauts from the harsh environment of space, and enabling, for the first time, human exploration of the lunar south pole. Prada also enabled advanced technologies and innovative sewing methods to bridge the gap between highly engineered functionality and an aesthetically appealing white outer layer, providing astronauts with an increased level of comfort while improving the materials’ performance.

“Going beyond our limits is one of the company’s values that perfectly reflects the spirit of the Prada brand and my parents’ vision. I’m very proud of the result we’re showing today, which is just the first step in a long-term collaboration with Axiom Space,” Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group chief marketing officer and head of Corporate Social Responsibility, said. “We’ve shared our expertise on high-performance materials, features and sewing techniques, and we learned a lot. I’m sure we’ll continue to explore new challenges, broaden our horizons and build new scenarios together.”

The spacesuit is on view to the public at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan until Oct. 31.

Fashion Island hosts the 13th annual StyleWeekOC, in partnership with the Newport Beach Film Festival 

The 13th annual StyleWeekOC in partnership with the Newport Beach Film Festival took place at Fashion Island earlier this month

The multi-day event ran Oct. 16-20 and kicked off with a standing-room-only Q&A featuring NYT bestselling author and TV personality Stassi Schroeder, who shared insights from her new book, You Can’t Have It All. The discussion, moderated by Emmy Award-winning Canadian TV personality Keltie Knight, was followed by a book signing.

Next up was a panel headlined by Academy Award-nominated costume designer Arianne Phillips. In conversation with Anna Wyckoff, Phillips reflected on her illustrious career in both fashion and film. Before the panel, actress Aubrey Plaza presented Phillips with the Creative Visionary Award, recognizing her extraordinary impact on costume design.

The day also included exclusive shopping parties at Fashion Island’s top contemporary boutiques, along with activations at Good American, Paige and Veronica Beard. Neiman Marcus, meanwhile, presented its Art of Fashion Show, offering a preview of the season’s hottest luxury trends.

The following day, Academy Award-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood was honored with the Career Achievement Award in Costume Design. Atwood’s influence in cinematic storytelling was celebrated during a special Q&A and costume display from Beetlejuice and Masters of the Air, offering attendees a behind-the-scenes look at her iconic creations.

Finally, the legendary Bob Mackie, a nine-time Emmy Award-winning designer, took the stage for a special event, titled Bob Mackie and Friends, alongside Carol Burnett and TCM’s Dave Karger. The session celebrated Mackie’s career in fashion and entertainment, highlighting his unforgettable collaborations and contributions to both industries.

StyleWeekOC is a multi-day fashion event at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, featuring runway shows, panel discussions and exclusive in-store shopping experiences. This year was the 13th annual StyleWeekOC. In partnership with the Newport Beach Film Festival, it highlights the latest in fashion, film and culture, bringing together celebrities, designers and style.

Grover Rad celebrates the launch of Collection 006: Mother Tree

L.A.-based brand Grover Rad celebrated the launch of Collection 006: Mother Tree with an intimate dinner at a private residence in Brentwood last Wednesday. 

Founder Lizzie Grover Rad was joined by guests including Chanel Stewart, Tania Sarin, Camilla Marcus, Casey Fremont, Claire Khodara, Angela Fink, CeCe Vu, Chelsea Nassib and Jasmin Larian Hekmat to toast the new collection.

Grover Rad’s Collection 006: Mother Tree takes a look at the elaborate web of life that thrives above and beneath the forest floor. The collection was inspired by the wisdom of the mother tree who nourishes her seedlings, communicating through intricate underground networks.

Through the use of prints, each piece is intended to be wearable art that sparks conversation. The imagery featured includes historical etchings and oil paintings, vintage photographs and Falling Leaves, the 2008 artwork by renowned British artist Jonathan Yeo (best known for his portrait of King Charles III). The prints dive into the history of logging, the devastating reality of deforestation and the environmental impact of forest fires.

Founded by Rad in 2022, the ready-to-wear brand was nominated to be an interim CFDA member in its inaugural year and, following the launch of the brand’s Collection 001, Wandering Womb, the Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired three pieces from the collection.

Victoria Beckham unveils her latest collaboration with Augustinus Bader

Last Tuesday Victoria Beckham and Charles Rosier, co-founder and CEO of Augustinus Bader, hosted an exclusive gathering in West Hollywood to celebrate the new Victoria Beckham x Augustinus Bader Concealer Pen. 

Guests included Beckham’s daughter Harper and son Cruz, along with Adrianna Bach, Ari Fournier, Cassandra Grey, Casey Fremont, Marianna Hewitt, Melanie Griffith and Nicole Williams English.

The evening showcased the revolutionary concealer pen, which promises to redefine daily beauty routines by providing exceptional coverage along with skincare benefits. Guests were treated to a selection of light bites while enjoying express skin consults and expert color-matching, marking a significant moment for both brands known for their commitment to excellence.

“My dream concealer is here,” Beckham said. “Created in partnership with Augustinus Bader, with a formula for effortlessly refined skin and the skincare benefits of TFC8, the Concealer Pen is a miracle product.”

Victoria Beckham Beauty first began collaborating with Augustinus Bader in November 2019 with the launch of her first skincare product, the Cell Rejuvenating Priming Moisturizer. The companies teamed up again on a Cell Rejuvenating Power Serum in February 2020.

Celebrity facialist Adeela Crown returns to the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

Adeela Crown, the go-to “on-set” facialist for the film and TV industry, has returned for a third residence at the Waldorf Astoria La Prairie Spa in Beverly Hills.

For three weeks only, four exclusively created red-carpet treatments designed to firm, lift and revitalize skin will be available – this time in the privacy of the hotel’s spacious and opulent Hollywood Suite.

The residency will also showcase the new La Prairie Life Matrix Haute Rejuvenation Cream through a new treatment inspired by the moisturizer, which uses cutting-edge longevity science to amplify skin’s cellular health span and enhance the efficacy of its rejuvenation processes.

The Tailored Cellular Reset Facial (90 or 120 minutes) includes an in-depth skin analysis and a bespoke product selection tailored specifically to your skin needs. Personalized massage gestures for each area of the face amplify the transformative benefits of each selected product, offering a bespoke experience. The facial promises to strengthen the structure of the skin, increase collagen levels and densify tissue, creating a measurable and perceivable re-plumping effect.

Crown will be at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Hollywood Suite until Nov. 10 by by appointment only. Reservations can be made by calling 310-860-6740.

Have a news story for our readers? Please email Rachel.Marlowe@thewrap.com.

Interested in partnership opportunities? Please email Alex.vonBargen@thewrap.com.

The post Academy Museum’s 4th Annual Gala Brings Out the Stars in Force appeared first on TheWrap.

The Skirball Cultural Center presents “Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion”

The Skirball Cultural Center has debuted “Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion,” a multidisciplinary exhibition exploring the remarkable life and work of fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. The exhibit includes a selection of items drawn from the DVF archives along with ephemera, fabric swatches, media pieces and information on the artist’s philanthropic work.

The exhibition is organized into four sections, the first of which explores the origins of her iconic wrap dress through a selection of items and sculptures that showcase the inventiveness of the dress and its historical context.

Section two examines von Furstenberg’s bold designs, sources of inspiration and prints inspired by or made in collaboration with artists such as Jackson Pollock, Konstantin Kakanias and Andy Warhol. Also explored in this section is von Furstenberg’s deep personal connection to the theme of freedom. Having given birth to von Furstenberg just 18 months after she was liberated from a Nazi concentration camp, her mother referred to her as her “torch of freedom.” The theme of freedom is a unique part of von Furstenberg’s design ethos, epitomized in her wrap dress, which became a symbol of liberation. 

Section three, titled “The American Dream,” follows a 26-year-old von Furstenberg in 1972 with the launch of her brand and shows the remarkable success she achieved. Often serving as her own muse, the designer featured herself prominently in ad campaigns and marketing. In the early stages of her career, she traversed the United States to meet and help women try on her designs. This approach enabled her to develop a lasting connection with the public, listening to their aspirations and concerns and translating them into clothing that continues to resonate with women over half a century later. 

The final section, “WeAr(e)Able Stories,” encapsulates the power von Furstenberg gives to women through her brand and her advocacy.

“We are thrilled to bring this powerful exhibition to Los Angeles, showcasing not only von Furstenberg’s iconic designs but also her enduring message of female empowerment,” Skirball Cultural Center president and CEO Jessie Kornberg said. “Jewish connection to garment industries and needlepoint trades spans continents and generations. Past exhibitions like the retrospective on Rudi Gernreich or the textile art of Aram Han Sifuentes celebrated these connections. ‘Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion’ builds on that work with new vigor and a new dimension – the creative energy and conquering spirit of one extraordinary woman.”

“Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion” opened to the public on Thursday and will be on view through Aug. 31, 2025.

Loro Piana celebrates its centenary at its new Beverly Hills flagship boutique

Italian luxury brand Loro Piana celebrated its centenary and the opening of a new boutique on Rodeo Drive earlier this month.

A glamorous crowd including Michelle Williams, Kit Harrington, Jeremy Strong, Elizabeth Olsen, Ewan McGregor, Kerry Washington, Rob Lowe and Andrew Garfield turned out Oct. 10 to toast the LVMH-owned label’s new Los Angeles flagship. 

Laid out over three floors, the boutique is decorated with artworks by textile artist Sheila Hicks and features richly textured finishes and surfaces including silk carpets and raffia and silk wall coverings. The ground floor is dedicated to the women’s collections, accessories, footwear and ready-to-wear. The second floor is reserved for the men’s collections and footwear, including the Maison’s signature White Sole shoes. The top floor of the boutique has a stunning terrace and is for the exclusive use of clients who request private appointments.

After the opening party, guests were shuttled to the historic Beverly Estate, the former home of actress Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst, for an al fresco dinner hosted by Loro Piana CEO Damien Bertrand and catered by chef Evan Funke.

The Loro Piana family began trading wool in the early 1800s in Trivero, Italy before Pietro Loro Piana founded the company in 1924. Today, the brand is the world’s largest cashmere processor. 

On the occasion of the Maison’s 100 years of history and heritage, Loro Piana will also release “Master of Fibres,” a book published by Assouline and written by Nicholas Foulkes that recounts the saga of the family of entrepreneurs. The book will be available in select Loro Piana stores and Assouline stores worldwide and on Assouline.com beginning Nov. 21.

Clare Waight Keller designs a jewelry collection for Reformation 

Los Angeles-based sustainable fashion brand Reformation debuted its first jewelry collection in partnership with fashion designer Clare Waight Keller on Wednesday. 

The collection draws inspiration from the surrealist movement and the city’s influence on American authors and artists of the era like Ernest Hemingway while featuring tasteful Art Deco details updated for the modern woman.

The 10-style assortment includes earrings, bracelets and necklaces made with recycled 24-karat gold vermeil, 925 sterling silver and semi-precious stones like pearls and jade. The collection is intended to feel both heirloom-worthy and wearable today. 

The capsule was shot on model and actress Dree Hemingway and draws inspiration from Hemingway’s “A Moveable Feast” and Paris’ deep influence on American artists and writers throughout the 1920s. 

Keller has served as the artistic director for a number of luxury fashion houses and brands, including Chloé and Givenchy, where she famously designed Meghan Markle’s wedding dress. The British stylist and fashion designer was named creative director of Uniqlo in September.

A curated range of clothing from Reformation will be available to perfectly complement the accessories. Clare Waight Keller for Reformation will be available on Reformation.com and in select Reformation stores.

Gap teams up with Cult Gaia for a holiday collaboration

Gap and L.A.-based brand Cult Gaia have released a 35-piece collection of women’s and kids’ apparel that infuses Gap’s most loved essentials with Cult Gaia’s modern, sculptural influences.

The Gap × Cult Gaia collection features a range of holiday-ready styles that inspire inner confidence and individuality. From sleek outerwear to mini slip dresses, the collection adds modern twists like chain-link detailing and gold hardware to classic designs made using the finest luxurious fabrics.

Standout pieces include the Denim Bustier ($88), coordinating Leather Pants ($498) and Jacket ($498), the Backless Classic Shirt ($88), and the Vegan Fur Coat ($328). Gap lends its signature arch logo typeface to read “GAIA,” which is emblazoned across a Baseball Cap ($35) and Cropped Logo Sweatshirt ($78) to reflect a celebration of the two brands.

“Reimagining Gap’s classic icons through Cult Gaia’s lens has been an amazing journey. The collaboration brought together Gap’s classics and everyday wearability with Cult Gaia’s sculptural and artistic approach, merging our two distinct creative forces,” Jasmin Larian Hekmat, founder and designer of Cult Gaia, said. “Each piece in this collection is thoughtfully designed to inspire creativity, blending art and function in a way that feels unique and timeless.”

Founded in 2012 and designed, Cult Gaia pieces are created to be works of art that are functional enough for everyday wear. The Gap × Cult Gaia collection is available now on Gap.com and at select Gap stores.

Johnny Was and Lily Aldridge celebrate a new Sasson collaboration in West Hollywood

Last Thursday, California-based lifestyle brand Johnny Was and supermodel Lily Aldridge celebrated the launch of the brand’s collaboration with iconic denim brand Sasson. The exclusive cocktail event at Petit Ermitage in Los Angeles was hosted by Aldridge, who stars as the face of the campaign. 

Johnny Was welcomed notable guests dressed in styles from the collaboration including Ines de Ramon, Nikki Reed, Josephine Skriver and Shanina Shaik, among others. Guests mingled on the private pool deck while enjoying specialty cocktails and hors d’oeuvres with live music by Lily’s sister, Ruby Aldridge.  

The Johnny Was x Sasson collection features a blended assortment of eight denim styles including three denim shirts, a jean jacket, a denim maxi skirt, and three jean silhouettes — wide leg, flared and straight leg. Johnny Was has also released a capsule of ready-to-wear essentials including tees and tops that can be styled with the new denim offerings.  

Founded in 1987, Johnny Was has designed clothes that transcend cultures, defy trends and embody a bohemian spirit rooted in California dreaming. Renowned for artisan-inspired stitch work and luxe fabrications, the Johnny Was collection spans ready-to-wear, including signature kimonos, activewear, resort wear, home decor, gifts and more. 

Sasson Jeans, the denim brand known for revolutionizing the fashion industry with its iconic designs and high quality craftsmanship, marks its return in 2024. Founded in the late 1970s by Paul Guez, Sasson Jeans became a household name, synonymous with innovation, style and comfort. By the 1980s, the brand was the go-to denim brand for celebrity talent. 

The Johnny Was x Sasson Collection is available for purchase online and at Johnny Was retail stores nationwide.

SPRWMN fêtes its new collection with a starry dinner at the Chateau Marmont 

Ambre Dahan, founder of SPRWMN (pronounced super woman), hosted an intimate dinner at the Chateau Marmont to celebrate the new FW24 collection earlier this month.

Guests in attendance Oct. 9 included Amber Valetta, Carolyn and Dylan Blue Murphy, Courteney Cox, Michelle Monaghan, Malin Ackerman, Monet Mazur, Rachel Zoe, Rebecca Gayheart, Anita Ko, Jenni Kayne, Jessica Paster and Liat Baruch.

Founded in 2016, the L.A.-based brand is known for its stretchy French plongé leather and suede pieces, cashmere and loungewear. Dahan previously served as design director of Joe’s Jeans before founding a fine jewelry line called Ambre Victoria.

The new collection includes luxury essentials including tailored blazers, leather pieces and stylish separates for both daily wear and special occasions in rich, warm tones such as deep reds, dark greens, blues and classic black, as well as earthy hues such as camel and chocolate brown. 

“I wanted to create a fit that would make women feel strong and beautiful, so they could go about their day feeling like a SPRWMN,” Dahan said.

Guests, who all sported pieces from the new collection, were treated to a family-style dinner of caesar salad, spaghetti bolognese and broccolini followed by fresh berries and cream before leaving with a limited edition leather tote bag. 

Have a news story for our readers? Please email Rachel.Marlowe@thewrap.com

Interested in partnership opportunities? Please email Alex.vonBargen@thewrap.com

The post ‘Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion’ Exhibition Opens at the Skirball Cultural Center appeared first on TheWrap.

Honorees at this year’s gala were Academy Award-nominated actor Paul Mescal; Academy Award-winning actress, singer, and dancer Rita Moreno; and two-time Academy Award-winning and six-time Academy Award-nominated writer and director Quentin Tarantino. 

A high wattage crowd turned out for the event, which highlighted the museum’s mission to advance the understanding, celebration and preservation of cinema and expand knowledge and conversation about film as a global art form and cultural force. Attendees included Selena Gomez, Kim Kardashian, Gal Gadot, Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, Olivia Wilde, Greta Lee, Demi Moore, Mikey Madison, Drew Starkey, Sofia Richie Grainge, Taylor Zakhar Perez, Ayo Edebiri and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Following cocktails provided by Tequila Don Julio, gala co-chair Eva Longoria kicked off the evening, introducing director and president of the Academy Museum, Amy Homma, who welcomed guests to the special fundraiser. Steven Spielberg, a three-time Oscar winner and 23-time nominee, then presented the first honor of the night – the Icon Award, celebrating an artist whose career has had a significant global cultural impact – to Rita Moreno.

After dinner by guest chef Curtis Stone and Wolfgang Puck Catering, actor Colman Domingo made his way to the stage to welcome four-time Oscar-nominee Saoirse Ronan, who presented Paul Mescal with the Vantage Award. This award honors an emerging artist or scholar who is helping to contextualize and challenge dominant narratives around cinema.

The final honor of the night – the Luminary Award, which is given to an artist whose singular contributions have expanded the creative possibilities of cinema – was presented by two-time Oscar nominee John Travolta to Quentin Tarantino. During his acceptance speech, Tarantino announced the donation of his first handwritten draft of the script for “Pulp Fiction” to the museum. 

Grammy Award-winning singer Ariana Grande closed out the evening by introducing her “Wicked” co-star Cynthia Erivo, who treated guests to a surprise musical performance, singing “I’m Here,” from “The Color Purple,” Diana Ross’ “Home” from “The Wiz,” “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz” and Prince’s “Purple Rain.”

Supported by Rolex, the official watch partner and founding supporter of the Academy Museum, the Gala was co-chaired by Academy Museum trustee, physician, producer, philanthropist and entrepreneur Dr. Eric Esrailian; Academy Award-nominated actress, producer, director and activist Salma Hayek Pinault; Academy Award-winning actress Nicole Kidman; Academy Museum trustee and actress, director, producer and activist Eva Longoria; Academy Museum founding supporter Jean Hersholt; and Humanitarian Award winner, actor, filmmaker and studio founder Tyler Perry.  

The evening raised over $11 million to support museum exhibitions, education initiatives and public programming, including screenings, K–12 programs and access initiatives in service of the public and the local community of Los Angeles. 

Opened in September 2021, the Academy Museum is the largest museum in the United States devoted to the arts, sciences and artists of moviemaking. Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano, the museum’s LEED Gold certified campus contains the restored and revitalized historic Saban Building – formerly known as the May Company building – and a soaring spherical addition. Together, these buildings contain 50,000 square feet of exhibition spaces, two state-of-the-art theaters and the Shirley Temple Education Studio.

Check out TheWrap’s official gallery of the fourth annual Academy Museum Gala’s red carpet below.

Kim Kardashian in a Tiffany necklace, earrings and rings in platinum with diamonds and archival Mugler

Demi Moore in Tiffany white gold earrings with tanzanites, hand-carved chalcedony and diamonds, a Tiffany & Co. Archives bracelet, a Tiffany Victoria ring, a ring in platinum with diamonds and Prada.

Olivia Wilde in a Tiffany necklace in platinum with diamonds from the 2024 Tiffany Blue Book collection, Tiffany diamond earrings in platinum, a Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Six Bees ring, a diamond ring in platinum and Erdem.

Ayo Edebiri in Tiffany Jazz earrings, a Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany ring with an orange sapphire and Thom Browne.

Gal Gadot in a Tiffany necklace and ring in platinum with green tourmalines, Tiffany diamond earrings in platinum, a Tiffany & Co. Archives bracelet with diamonds and emeralds and Loewe

Selena Gomez in Tiffany & Co. Elsa Peretti earrings, Bone cuffs and rings with a Tiffany Forever band ring and Alaia.

Colman Domingo in T1 bangles and earrings with Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams and HardWear rings and Maison Valentino.

Mikey Madison in a Tiffany T T1 Diamond necklace, Tiffany Lock bangle and a Tiffany Knot double row ring and Louis Vuitton.

Dwyane Wade in a Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany brooch, a Tiffany Eternity watch, T1 earrings and Gucci.

Gabrielle Union in a Tiffany necklace in platinum with a morganite, milky quartz and diamonds, a bracelet in platinum with un-enhanced padparadscha sapphires and diamonds, a ring in platinum with a morganite and diamonds, diamond earrings and Elie Saab.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in a Jean Schlumberger by Tiffany Bird on a Rock pendant and earrings in platinum and 18-karat yellow gold with diamonds from the 2024 Blue Book Collection and Saint Laurent

Honoree Quentin Tarantino in Dior

Honoree Rita Moreno in Dior

Honoree Paul Mescal in Gucci

Eddie Redmayne in Valentino

Ava DuVernay in Louis Vuitton

Arianna Grande in Balmain

Tyler Perry

Sarah Paulson in Prada

Da’Vine Joy Randolph in Louis Vuitton

Jeff Goldblum

Joey King in Carolina Herrera

Laura Harrier in Ludovic de Saint Sernin

Kendall Jenner in Schiaparelli couture with De Beers jewelry

Elizabeth Olsen in Nina Ricci

Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga

Zoe Saldana in Harris Reed

Dan Levy in Ben Cobb for Tiger of Sweden

Kaia Gerber in vintage Alexander McQueen for Givenchy

Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson

Sheryl Lee Ralph

Aubrey Plaza in Miu Miu

Lamorne Morris

Margaret Qualley in Chanel

The post 2024 Academy Museum Gala Red Carpet: Kim Kardashian, Selena Gomez, Paul Mescal and More | Photos appeared first on TheWrap.

Jake Bongiovi wears Banana Republic for his wedding to Millie Bobby Brown

Five months after tying the knot in Tuscany, American actor and model, Jake Bongiovi, and “Stranger Things” star Millie Bobby Brown, finally shared the details of their wedding earlier this month.

While Brown opted for a custom lace Galia Lahav gown and an Oscar de la Renta veil for the ceremony, which was held at Villa Cetinale near Siena and officiated by actor Matthew Modine, Bongiovi opted for an array of looks from Banana Republic. 

For the occasion, the actor wore the brand’s Barathea Italian Tuxedo jacket and pants, complemented by a Sauvo Silk Bow Tie and Mesi Leather Cap-Toe Oxfords. His groomsmen were likewise dressed in the Barathea Tuxedo jacket and pant, the Sauvo Silk Bow Tie, the Mesi Leather Cap-Toe Oxfords and slim tuxedo dress shirts.

Founded in 1978 in San Francisco, Banana Republic was purchased by The Gap in 1983.  

Robert Pattinson and Suki Waterhouse attend the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic

On Oct. 5, stars including Robert Pattinson and Suki Waterhouse, Charles Melton, Quinta Brunson, Gavin Leatherwood, Storm Reid and Victoria Justice turned out to watch the 12th annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic at Will Rogers State Historic Park.

The Saturday event, sponsored by American Express, Hublot and Saratoga Spring Water, also debuted Veuve Clicquot’s new Rich and Rich Rosé cuvées, refreshing champagnes crafted to be served on ice or very chilled.

To kick off the day, Erin Palmer Ramirez performed the National Anthem and Danai Gurira threw the ceremonial ball toss.

World-renowned polo player Nacho Figueras of Team Veuve Clicquot, and his wife, Delfina Blaquier, took on Team Will Rogers in an exciting, action-packed match. Team Veuve Clicquot won the game and Blaquier was awarded MVP.

Figueras first partnered with Veuve Clicquot in 2008 to draw attention to the sport with the first polo event taking place on Governors Island in New York. Prince Harry notably joined the team in 2010 and 2011 to raise money for his Sentebale charity.

Nicky Hilton and Rebecca Vallance celebrate their new holiday capsule collection

Nicky Hilton and Australian fashion designer Rebecca Valance threw a party hosted by luxury e-commerce platform MyTheresa at the Hilton’s Bel Air family home to celebrate the launch of their holiday capsule collection on Oct. 4.

Guests including Paris Hilton, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Zoe, Elisha Cuthbert, Anna Zuckerman, Jessica Hart, Kris Jenner, Kelly Osbourne and Stacey Bendet turned out to toast the 31-piece capsule collection of what Hilton dubs the ultimate party dress.

“No one loves dressing up for the holidays more than me,” Hilton said. “This collection celebrates the very best of a festive time of year. While making the  collection and going through my favorite looks from Rebecca Vallance, we discovered we were drawn to a lot of the same design details and references, which was such an exciting and delightful process.”

Nicky, Paris and Kathy Hilton all wore pieces from the drop to the Friday night party, which coincided with Nicky Hilton’s birthday, along with jewelry from the upcoming Kathy Hilton x Anna Zuckerman Holiday Collection.

Upon arrival, guests mingled over cocktails before moving onto an informal dinner. The night culminated in a surprise birthday cake followed by karaoke.

Louis Vuitton announces a new retail space at The Americana at Brand

French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton has announced the opening of a new retail space at The Americana at Brand in Glendale. 

Highlighting Louis Vuitton’s exemplary craftsmanship and legendary savoir-faire, the store offers a full suite of the Maison’s métiers, including men’s and women’s accessories, leather goods, ready-to-wear and shoes – as well as jewelry, fragrance and watches. 

The space’s textured limestone façade gives way to the welcoming interior featuring pink onyx tables from Marbera and a custom recessed ceiling referencing inlaid mother-of-pearl with the classic Louis Vuitton motif. 

Louis Vuitton’s commitment to bespoke creations is a focus for the store, a tradition that dates to the 19th century with the founding of the Maison. Hot stamping and engraving services are available to customize leather goods and fragrance bottles with individuals’ initials.

Chez Mia opens on the former Ago site in West Hollywood

Chez Mia, the latest restaurant from the Boujis Group, the Los Angeles-based hospitality group helmed by former “Ladies of London” Bravo stars Marissa and Matt Hermer, has opened in West Hollywood.

Located on the site that was formerly home to Ago, the restaurant was inspired by Marissa’s travels throughout Southern France and La Colombe d’Or in Saint Paul du Vence. From-the-farm ingredients and freshly caught seafood are the cornerstone of the restaurant’s simple yet refined menu, developed by culinary director Ivo Filho. Signature dishes include sustainably caught fish crudo, slow baked wild Gulf shrimp and whole fish, baked in salt and elegantly deboned table-side – a nod to an Ago favorite.

Chez Mia was designed in collaboration with Tom Parker of architecture and interior design firm Fettle. Employing rich textures, geometric patterns, blown glass and lush landscape design, the interior looks onto an open kitchen lined with chef’s counter seating, while the expansive garden is anchored by a sweeping outdoor bar.

The Boujis Group’s other restaurants include celebrity hotspot Olivetta in West Hollywood and The Draycott in Pacific Palisades.

Chez Mia is open daily for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch at 8478 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90069

Image architect Law Roach celebrates the release of his first book

Celebrity stylist and image architect Law Roach celebrated the release of his first book, “How to Build a Fashion Icon,” at the West Hollywood Edition on Oct. 2.

Roach hosted an extravagant celebration for the release of his debut publication at Sunset, the hotel’s subterranean nightclub, following an in-conversation event moderated by Normani and Keke Palmer. He has also partnered with Edition hotels, the luxury global collection, to host signings, intimate dinners and vibrant events in New York and Miami.

In the book, which is described as part self-help guide, part manifesto, Roach shares the secrets of his creative approach, takes readers behind the scenes of his process and journey and reveals his tips, tricks and most memorable styling moments to show readers how to live their most iconic and fashionable lives.

Roach, whose celebrity clientele include Zendaya, Anya Taylor-Joy, Lewis Hamilton and Céline Dion, announced his retirement from styling in March 2023.

“Writing my own book was a liberating experience,” Roach said. “I discovered an innate sense of freedom through the process. It offered a unique form of creativity that was different from my other work … It gave me purpose after my retirement.”

Have a news story for our readers? Please email Rachel.Marlowe@thewrap.com.

Interested in partnership opportunities? Please email Alex.vonBargen@thewrap.com.

The post Jake Bongiovi Wears All Banana Republic at His Tuscany Wedding to Millie Bobby Brown appeared first on TheWrap.

Debbie Harry fronts new Gucci campaign shot by Nan Goldin

Gucci has unveiled a new campaign dubbed “We Will Always Have London.” Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry and Kelsey Lu are the faces of the campaign, which was shot by American photographer and activist Nan Goldin and showcases the Gucci Blondie bag and the Cruise 2025 collection.

A tribute to the House’s ongoing love affair with London, where the Cruise 2025 collection debuted, Goldin brings her distinctive vision to the campaign, weaving a story where fashion transcends the runway and embodies the free-spirited energy at the core of Sabato De Sarno’s vision. Harry, a cultural icon and co-founder and lead vocalist of rock band Blondie, and performing artist, cellist and composer Kelsey Lu, meanwhile, embody the spirit of the Gucci Blondie bag and the Cruise 2025 collection. 

London holds a special place in the luxury brand’s history. It was over a century ago that a young Guccio Gucci first encountered the international elite while working as a lift boy at The Savoy hotel. The experience sparked his ambition and led to the founding of his eponymous leather goods house in 1921.

The campaign features moments in London’s iconic cabs and the Tate Modern – the site of the Cruise runway show. Joining Harry and Lu are Alaato Jazyper, the face of Gucci’s Fall Winter 2024 campaign, and Yanan Wan, who opened the Cruise 2025 runway at the art gallery in May.

At the heart of the campaign is the reimagined Gucci Blondie bag, which was first introduced in the early 1970s. The Gucci Cruise 2025 collection continues this dialogue between past and future, weaving together contrasting elements in a celebration of opposites.

The Blondie handbag is available on gucci.com and in stores now.

Samuel L. Jackson to be honored at MoMA’s 2024 Film Benefit, presented by Chanel

The Museum of Modern Art’s 2024 Film Benefit, presented by Chanel, will honor actor Samuel L. Jackson on Oct. 23.

Jackson has appeared in more than 150 films throughout his career and cumulatively his films have grossed more at the global box office than any other actor. He has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Tony Awards and an Emmy Award, among many other honors, and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2022.

“Samuel L. Jackson has become a landmark cultural figure thanks to his early film work with Spike Lee, which transfixed both audiences and critics, and his biblically powerful turn as the wise and merciless assassin Jules in ‘Pulp Fiction,’” Rajendra Roy, MoMA’s Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film, said. “He has acting roots in the New York theater, just a few blocks away from MoMA, and we are thrilled to welcome him in celebration of his unparalleled accomplishments.”

In addition to the 16th annual benefit, MoMA will present “Samuel L. Jackson: A Tribute” in the Roy and Niuta Titus Theater from Oct. 4–16, screening films including “Changing Lanes,” “187,” “Captain Marvel” and his latest feature, an adaptation of August Wilson’s play “The Piano Lesson,” directed by Malcolm Washington, ahead of its theatrical release on Nov. 8 and Netflix streaming release on Nov. 22.

Chanel has been a proud sponsor of MoMA’s annual Film Benefit since 2011, and has served as lead sponsor of film at MoMA since 2021. As a longtime patron of art and cinema, the French fashion house is committed to supporting film as one of art’s most potent mediums by creating opportunities to elevate and amplify the voices of film’s most talented and audacious storytellers and through the preservation of cinema’s legacy worldwide.

Founded in 1935, MoMA’s Department of Film cares for more than 30,000 films and 1.5 million film stills. It has one of the strongest international film collections, ranging from classics to the most innovative and experimental works of today. The Film Benefit enables the continued maintenance and growth of this important collection, as well as virtual programming and an ambitious schedule of film series, premieres, festivals and retrospectives.

Previous MoMA Film Benefit honorees include Guillermo del Toro, Penélope Cruz, George Clooney, Laura Dern, Martin Scorsese, Julianne Moore, Tom Hanks, Cate Blanchett, Alfonso Cuarón, Tilda Swinton, Quentin Tarantino, Pedro Almodóvar, Kathryn Bigelow, Tim Burton and Baz Luhrmann.

The Hammer Museum names Zoë Ryan as its new director

Zoë Ryan will serve as the Hammer Museum‘s next director, Marcy Carsey, chair of the museum’s board of directors, announced Monday.

This appointment follows the 2023 announcement of longtime director Ann Philbin’s retirement after 25 years leading the museum. Philbin will step down in November; Ryan will take over on Jan. 1.

Ryan comes to the Hammer Museum from the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) at the University of Pennsylvania, where she has been the Daniel W. Dietrich, II Director since 2020. In this role, Ryan oversaw a critically acclaimed program of exhibitions, spearheaded the creation of an annual art commission and expanded public engagement efforts with a focus on building partnerships with the university, museums and arts organizations locally, nationally and internationally.

From 2006–2020, Ryan was the John H. Bryan Chair and Curator of Architecture and Design at the Art Institute of Chicago, where she set the vision for collecting and exhibiting modern and contemporary architecture and design, overseeing a collection of more than 250,000 objects, including works on paper, textiles, architectural models, furniture and photography. In 2014, Ryan was the curator of the second Istanbul Design Biennial: The Future Is Not What It Used to Be.

“I am thrilled to welcome Zoë to the Hammer Museum and look forward to her leadership and collaboration with the museum’s board, staff, UCLA and the many artists who make up the Hammer’s community,” Carsey said. “Zoë is a leader known for building support for daring and ambitious projects and her steadfast commitment to artists. We’re very excited for her to bring these skills to the Hammer.”

“The Hammer Museum is one of the most exciting museums in the country. It has had an electrifying effect on Los Angeles’ ascendance as a global arts capital,” Ryan said. “With its experimental exhibitions and dynamic public programs, the Hammer has set the pace for museums to engage with the critical issues of our time, whether politics, climate change and justice and equity for all. Annie Philbin has had an extraordinary impact in making the Hammer an internationally influential institution; I am thrilled and honored to lead this museum and be a part of the vibrant creative communities of Los Angeles.”

Sophia Loren celebrates her 90th birthday in Rome with a new luxury hotel suite created in her honor

On Sept. 20, iconic Italian actress Sophia Loren marked her 9oth birthday on the rooftop of Anantara Palazzo Naidi Rome Hotel. To mark the occasion, the hotel also announced its new Sophia Loren Suite, in honor of its most glamorous guest.

Over 200 guests, including producer Aurelio De Laurentiis, Alessandra Mussolini, actor and director Christian De Sica, Trudie Styler, philanthropist Regina Scully, tenor Al Bano, singer Gigi D’Alessio, Valentino co-founder Giancarlo Giammetti and conductor Zubin Mehta, gathered at the hotel to celebrate Italy’s beloved star.

Loren was dressed for the occasion by Giorgio Armani, and guests were served a carefully curated menu of her favorite dishes inspired by her cookbooks, prepared by the hotel’s executive chef, Heros De Agostinis. Tables were named for the star’s most famous films, including “A Special Day,” “Two Women,” “The Sunflowers,” “The Gold of Naples” and “Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.” The evening ended with the presentation of a nine-tier birthday cake decorated with white chocolate roses (Loren’s favorite flowers), prepared by the hotel’s pastry chef, Daniele De Santi.

The evening also served as an opportunity to officially unveil the Sophia Loren Presidential Suite at Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel. Curated as if it were her Roman home and in honor of her love for the hotel, the suite offers a chance for fans and guests to immerse in the world of a cinematic icon and explore her life, habits and passions. The suite’s creation was developed over many months in collaboration with Anantara and Loren’s son, Edoardo Ponti. 

“Mia madre has always loved this hotel,” Ponti said. “She knows every corner but is especially fond of this suite where, on many occasions, she has gazed out over the Piazza della Repubblica with the Fountain of the Naiads and beyond towards the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri. This suite feels like her Roman home, and we hope the guests who choose to stay here will feel the same.”

The suite will include a beauty station with some of Loren’s must-have cosmetics, a DVD library of her most iconic films, a playlist loaded with her favorite songs and family photos on the walls. A small library will include her biographies and a selection of books she authored along with her favorite reads. The air will be scented with her favorite perfume.
 
Guests will enjoy coffee served in her customary style – with two savoiardi Italian biscuits – and have the chance to taste some of her favorite dishes, prepared on request by the hotel’s expert chef from Loren’s own recipe books, including “Recipes and Memories” and “In Cucina con Amore.” Exclusive arrival and departure gifts will complete the experience. 

For more information about the suite at the Anantara Palazzo Naiadi Rome Hotel, call +39 06 489 381 or visit the hotel website.

Stefano Pilati celebrates the launch of his new Zara collaboration 

As Paris Fashion Week kicked off Sept. 26, Marta Ortega Pérez, chair of the Spanish multinational clothing company Inditex, and fashion designer Stefano Pilati hosted a cocktail party to celebrate the launch of the Stefano Pilati x Zara collection.

Attendees included face of the campaign Gisele Bündchen, as well as Kate Moss, Lila Moss, Iris Law, Romeo Beckham, Ella Richards, Fabien Baron, Mario Sorrenti, Pat McGrath, Guido Palau, Luca Guadagnino, Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele, Katy England, Charlotte Stockdale and Michel Gaubert.

For the special collaboration with Zara, Pilati (who was head designer at Yves Saint Laurent from 2004 until 2012) has designed a comprehensive collection of ready-to-wear and accessories. The pieces for both men and women expound and expand his aesthetic signatures, for the first time presented under his own name.

The debut eponymous collection draws inspiration from Pilati’s own distinct sense of style as both an individual and a designer, combined with the universal ethos at the heart of Zara’s approach to fashion, in a championing of the power of great design – for all. 

The Stefano Pilati x Zara collection debuted globally Oct. 3, alongside a campaign photographed in New York by Steven Meisel, featuring Pilati and Bündchen.

Have a news story for our readers? Please email Rachel.Marlowe@thewrap.com.

Interested in partnership opportunities? Please email Alex.vonBargen@thewrap.com.

The post Debbie Harry Stars in Gucci’s New Nan Goldin Campaign appeared first on TheWrap.

Tribeca and Chanel name the Through Her Lens filmmaker program winner

Tribeca and Chanel announced the winning recipient of the ninth annual Through Her Lens: The Tribeca Chanel Women’s Filmmaker Program in New York City. 

Sophia Youssef and Céline Bava-Helms were awarded this year’s grand prize for their film “Black Shore” and received full production funding for their original short film.

“It is beyond an honor to join this incredible group of women who really all have one goal, which is to support each other and all of the unbelievable filmmakers in this program,” Youssef said after receiving the award on Sept. 19.

This year’s three-day program gathered esteemed industry leaders from around the world to lead immersive workshops, one-on-one mentorship sessions and intimate conversations focused on script-to-screen development, music composition, costume design, producing and directing.

“This was an impossible task,” Through Her Lens jury member Olivia Wilde said about selecting the winner. “The future of filmmaking is in this room, and we were all so honored to witness such magical artistry.” Jury member Lucy Liu celebrated the five finalists, saying, “We as women artists celebrate all of you women. Congratulations to all of you – we look forward to working for all of you and hearing you call action.”

Through Her Lens Advisory Committee member Jane Fonda also made a special announcement about the future of the program.

“Through Her Lens began in 2015 with a clear vision to inspire and empower the next generation of women storytellers. Here we are, 10 years later, still led by the spirit of Paula Weinstein, who knew that mentorship and genuine connections are essential to build careers for women,” Fonda said. “She also knew how difficult a career path this is. These past years, throughout inflation, strikes and major changes in our industries, the path is steeper than ever. That is why, in Paula’s honor, I’m thrilled to announce that Chanel is generously increasing the winner’s prize and the four other development funds this year.”

In addition to the winning project receiving full funding, the other program participants each received a development grant to support continued work on their respective films to move them closer to production. They included “Brace Yourself,” “Copy,” “Save,” “Haint” and “Selah.”

Following the workshop, the selected filmmakers pitched their projects to a jury comprised of Wilde; Liu; writer, producer and director Joanna Calo; actor and producer Beanie Feldstein and Academy Award–winning actress Da’Vine Joy Randolph.

Since its founding, Through Her Lens has supported nearly 100 emerging filmmakers and the development of 40 short films. Winning films have premiered at top festivals and have been distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery, Searchlight, Criterion and more. Nearly 70% of all participants are women or nonbinary people of color. Alumni of the program have gone on to direct critically acclaimed projects, including A.V. Rockwell’s “A Thousand and One,” Numa Perrier’s “The Perfect Find” and Nikyatu Jusu’s “Nanny.”

Balenciaga presents “The Subtleties of a Dialogue” exhibition

In celebration of the 2024 European Heritage Days, a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission aimed at opening historical monuments to the public, Balenciaga presented an original exhibition entitled “Les Subtilités d’un Dialogue,” or “The Subtleties of a Dialogue,” at Kering’s Paris headquarters last month.

For Kering’s ninth participation in the annual European event, the Pinault Collection also presented a unique selection of works by six contemporary artists, entitled “In Praise of Space.”

In “The Subtleties of a Dialogue,” creations by both Cristóbal Balenciaga and Demna were presented as objets d’art within a scenography that isolated details of each work, allowing for closer analysis of the signature aesthetics, craft and iconic Balenciaga codes.

Within six themed sections — the Collar, the Sleeve, the Waist, the color Black and Dialogues between M. Balenciaga and Demna — the focus was on the micro to better educate on the macro. The individual components were highlighted for their innovative construction, materiality and societal meaning. A study of the details for which the House is renowned was arranged within custom partitions. Framings of patterns, pleats, closures and constructions emphasize examples of impressive intricacy and originality.

The clothing on display was sourced from Balenciaga’s extensive archive, which spans Cristóbal Balenciaga’s early works and influential turn-of-the-century pieces to today’s groundbreaking ready-to-wear and couture collections, designed by Demna.

The Hammer Museum presents “Christina Ramberg: A Retrospective”

The Hammer Museum at UCLA has announced a new exhibition: “Christina Ramberg: A Retrospective,” the first comprehensive survey in 30 years devoted to the unequivocally distinctive, female-focused work of American artist Christina Ramberg (1946–1995). 

Organized by the Art Institute of Chicago, where it was on view earlier this year, the exhibition presents a rare opportunity for visitors to experience more than 100 works across a range of media including paintings, quilts and archival ephemera. The exhibition will be presented at the Hammer from Oct. 12 to Jan. 5 and is supported by Cartier.

Ann Philbin, director of the Hammer Museum, said, “One hallmark of the Hammer Museum’s exhibition program is presenting retrospectives for previously under-recognized artists. Christina Ramberg, who died at the age of 49, had a brief but provocative and influential career. I am pleased that the Hammer will bring this artist’s work to West Coast audiences as the L.A. venue for this touring exhibition.”

“Christina Ramberg: A Retrospective” features several key pieces from public and private collections, many of which have never been on view before. From intimate early paintings focused on the pattern and form of women’s hairstyles and garments, to mature work that pictures the body barely holding together, the exhibition presents Ramberg’s most iconic imagery while offering a rare opportunity to see all phases and elements of the artist’s 20-year career. 
 
The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue (published by the Art Institute of Chicago and distributed by Yale University Press), available at the Hammer Museum’s store.

Gucci publishes a new book celebrating women in Italian art and culture

Italian luxury brand Gucci has released the latest edition of “Gucci Prospettive,” a publication reinforcing creative director Sabato De Sarno’s commitment to pursuing and underscoring the dialog between art, fashion and culture.

“Gucci Prospettive 3: Italiane Ancora” is a tribute to Italian female art and was conceived by De Sarno to explore the origins of inspiration and how cultural heritage is transmitted and renewed over time. The works of 40 young artists are intertwined with those of their muses, in a dialogue that celebrates the role of women in Italian art and culture.

“From the start, ‘Gucci Prospettive’ has been a tool for observation, study and deep exploration,” De Sarno said of the initiative. “It is a celebration of creativity, tied to a moment but designed to last over time. The result of this volume is a collection of very real icons, made of flesh and blood, who through their work have inspired equally real lives. The responses we received led us on a surprising journey, impossible to plan in advance, which took shape name by name.”

The project explores these connections between generations through portraits, texts and images, offering a unique perspective on creative paths and artistic influences. The volume highlights the historical contribution of women in Italian art and culture, emphasizing practices that resonate with those inspiring the Gucci Spring/Summer 2025 collection, such as the surfaces of Dadamaino, the color repetitions of Carla Accardi, and the two-dimensional interventions of Matilde Cassani.

Italiane Ancora is the third chapter in the “Gucci Prospettive” series. Each volume, published by Contrasto, is inspired by a specific theme and fosters a conversation between fashion, art and culture, creating an evolving platform of dialogue with each collection.

Kacey Musgraves teams up with Reformation for her first fashion collaboration

Grammy-winning musician Kasey Musgraves has designed a new collection with sustainable, Los Angeles-based clothing label Reformation. 

The collection, which marks Musgraves’ first collaboration with a fashion brand, includes an earthy assortment of pastoral dresses, separates and accessories engineered for slowing down, growing up and digging deep. 

The collection, inspired by the English countryside, features warm plaids, rich silks and suedes, dainty lace details and vintage-inspired denim made from better-for-the-Earth materials like regenerative wool and Reformation’s new 95% recycled, 5% virgin cashmere blend. Styles range between $28-$498.

“The 17-piece collection is out now and it’s a sweepingly romantic yet smartly tailored extension of my heart and aesthetic world of Deeper Well,” Musgraves said. “Whether you’re an admitted horse girl or wistful cottage maiden, each piece was thoughtfully crafted for maximum earth friendliness (and frolicking.)”

The capsule collection, which was inspired by the singer’s own evolution — personally and musically — was designed in partnership between the two in celebration of the start of Musgraves’s “Deeper Well” tour.

Clare V. and Schoolhouse launch a furniture and home goods collection

L.A.-based accessories and ready-to-wear brand Clare V. and Portland-based lighting and furnishing company Schoolhouse have debuted their first collaboration. 

The limited edition collection melds Clare V.’s signature chic and playful aesthetic with Schoolhouse’s craftsmanship and rich color palette to create products that are delightfully nonconformist.

Inspired by Clare V. founder and creative director Clare Vivier’s distinctive approach to fashion — where vibrant hues, playful patterns and chic details come together — the Schoolhouse collection features an eclectic array of furniture and home goods, each designed to stand out on its own or harmonize within a cohesive space.

With bold stripes, checks and animal prints adorning shag wool rugs, perfectly proportioned sofas and woven pillows, the pieces exude a sense of warmth and personality that reflects the spirit of both brands. The collection also features a selection of high-gloss lighting and candy-coated catchalls.

The Clare V. x Schoolhouse collection is available for purchase now exclusively on the Schoolhouse website.

Monos unveils the Sincerely Jules Collection of travel essentials

Monos, the Canadian travel and lifestyle brand, has debuted a collaboration with Los Angeles-based fashion and lifestyle influencer, Julie Sariñana, aka Sincerely Jules. 

The limited-edition Monos x Sincerely Jules Collection of travel essentials captures the colorful landscapes of L.A. and Mexico, celebrating the vibrant intersection of Sariñana’s heritage and adventurous spirit. 

Featuring the same beloved features of Monos’ products, such as the aerospace-grade polycarbonate hard shell with aluminum-enforced corners, thoughtful organization options and vegan materials (including a vegan leather exterior for the Metro Tote, Metro Crossbody and Metro Toiletry Case), each piece is designed to enhance the travel experience. The color palette, meanwhile, draws inspiration from desert landscapes, featuring an indulgent Adobe Brown and a Cactus-inspired green.

“My collaboration with Monos is incredibly special because it draws upon my world of self-discovery, travel and style,” Sariñana said. “Monos has beautifully captured the rich tapestry of my upbringing, celebrating the stories and experiences that shape us, embracing the essence of individuality with the collection.”

Sariñana founded her blog, Sincerely Jules, in February 2009 while she was a student at FIDM studying visual communications. Over the years, Sincerely Jules has become a top destination for style inspiration and has garnered over 7.8 million followers worldwide.

Have a news story for our readers? Please email Rachel.Marlowe@thewrap.com.

Interested in partnership opportunities? Please email Alex.vonBargen@thewrap.com.

The post Tribeca and Chanel Reveal 9th Annual Through Her Lens Filmmaker Program Winners appeared first on TheWrap.

Tiffany & Co. introduces freshwater pearl designs to the Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams Collection

Tiffany & Co. has debuted a series new designs for the Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams collection, featuring freshwater pearls. 

Launched in May, Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams is inspired by the trident of Poseidon, ruler of the sea and King of Atlantis — a nod to Atlantis, the community in Virginia Beach where Williams was raised. The inaugural collection featured 18k yellow gold or black titanium in all metal and diamond iterations. The newest Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams designs juxtapose the diamond spear motif with pearls of over 11mm, forming distinctive silhouettes, including necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings.

“The inspiration of the collection comes from my affinity with the water,” Williams said. “In Japan, it was believed that pearls were created from the tears of mythical water creatures, so I naturally gravitated towards them as a means of expressing this connection to water.”

Key pieces in the new designs include a statement necklace with freshwater pearls and nearly one total carat of diamonds, and a bracelet with freshwater pearls and over two total carats of diamonds. On the bracelet and necklace, spike rondelles crafted from 18k gold alternate with the pearls for a striking aesthetic.

The Tiffany Titan by Pharrell Williams freshwater pearl designs are available now on Tiffany.com and in Tiffany & Co. stores around the world.

ElyseWalker celebrates 25 years in the fashion business

Founded in 1999 in Pacific Palisades, ElyseWalker has become one of Los Angeles’ premium destinations for luxury and emerging fashion brands, designer apparel, shoes, bags, jewelry and accessories for women.

This fall, the luxury retailer will kick-off its milestone 25th anniversary celebrations with events across all its seven brick and mortar stores in California and New York City, in-store trunk shows, designer appearances and charitable events. Additionally, the in-house ElyseWalker label is releasing an anniversary cardigan with 10% of sales donated to charities that support women’s health. 

“When I opened my first store 25 years ago, I knew that I wanted a store to feel like a home base within the community. More than a store, it was where friends and family got together to connect, celebrate and of course, shop,” founder Elyse Walker said. “While we might have grown, two things have not changed:  our passion to deliver a curated point of view and unparalleled styling to our clients and our commitment to give back in our communities” 

As part of the celebrations, Walker has renewed her commitment to not only fashion but to philanthropy. She has already raised over $16 million for charities all over the country and all seven ElyseWalker stores will host multiple events to raise funds for local organizations through shopping parties in celebration of Fashion + Community. 

Following the success of her Palisades store, Walker opened in Newport Beach in 2016, followed by stores in Calabasas and Saint Helena, as well as two Towne by ElyseWalker stores (a casual California cool concept for both men and women) in Pacific Palisades and Newport Beach.

The company recently expanded to the East Coast, opening its flagship location on the Upper East Side in June 2023 and Tribeca in November 2022, bringing the total to seven brick and mortar locations across California and New York.

Miu Miu announces a new project in collaboration with Art Basel Paris

As part of the brand’s collaboration with Art Basel Paris as Public Program Official Partner, Italian womenswear brand Miu Miu has announced a special project conceived by interdisciplinary artist Goshka Macuga and art curator Elvira Dyangani Ose.

Drawing together a myriad of narratives and storytelling exploring ever-transforming ideas of femininity, “Tales & Tellers” will invite directors of film series Miu Miu Women’s Tales and artists who have created video work from the Miu Miu shows to speak about their own lives, histories and the frames of their work.

Every collaboration and film commission by Miu Miu Women’s Tales, and a selection of video pieces from Miu Miu runway shows since Spring/Summer 2022, will be represented in the show by a character, a hero or an anti-hero, directly extracted from these films and artistic collaborations and reenacted by actors alongside a video projection of the original film.

“Tales & Tellers” will also include screenings of all commissioned short films, together with a programming of conversations inspired by Miu Miu’s collaborations across the spectrum of filmmaking, art and fashion.  

At the core of founder Miuccia Prada’s Miu Miu is a fascination with the lives of women: their experiences, their histories and their tales. This has always included culture alongside fashion, and in 2011, Miu Miu Women’s Tales launched, platforming female filmmakers to present their own views of the plurality of femininity.

Since 2021, the biannual Miu Miu runway show has also been reshaped as a forum for dialogue with artists through installation and motion image, exploring multiple ideas but always returning to an understanding of women.

“Tales & Tellers” is part of Art Basel Paris’ Public Program and will take place at the Palais d’Iéna in Paris, headquarters of France’s Economic, Social and Environmental Council as well as the site of the Miu Miu runway shows. 

The project is open to the public from Oct. 16-20, with a preview on Oct. 15. Online registration for exhibition guided tours and panel conversations will be available on miumiu.com from Oct. 3.

Malbon Golf drops its Womens Fall/ Winter ’24 collection

As temperatures drop, golf courses through SoCal will be offering some of their best playing conditions of the year and the opportunity to stock up on some stylish new gear.

The new Malbon Golf Womens Fall/ Winter ’24 collection includes traditional outerwear pieces, lightweight layering staples, dresses and skirts in classic patterns with unexpected design details, along with accessories such as visors, golf bags and leather gloves. It channels the dynamic landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, featuring striking pops of color. 

Founded in 2017 by culture and golf enthusiasts Stephen and Erica Malbon, the brand launched with a limited collection of multi-functional golf apparel for men made to be worn both on and off the green. Since then, Malbon Golf has expanded to offer a complete line of men and women apparel, footwear and accessories that are designed to bring a fresh perspective and an accessible, personal approach to the game.

In 2021, the brand also launched Buckets Club: a members-only digital country club that hosts golf, meet-ups and invite-only tournaments. 

The BAFTA TV Tea Party returns to Los Angeles 

After a four-year hiatus, the British Academy Film Awards brought its TV Tea Party back to Los Angeles earlier this month.

The Saturday evening event, which celebrates those recognized at BAFTA’s Television Awards and salutes the television industry at large, took place at The Maybourne Beverly Hills on Sept. 14, the night before the 76th Emmy Awards. The event raises awareness for BAFTA North America’s Learning, Inclusion and Talent programs, which provide industry-leading mentoring, education and financial aid for local communities, underserved students and emerging artists.

Stars including Jodie Foster, Quinta Brunson, Jessica Gunning, Lisa Ann Walter, Mark Duplass, Nava Mau, Richard Gadd, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Nikki Glaser, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ncuti Gatwa, Jonathan Pryce, Tom Hollander and Ella Purnell, were treated to the hotel’s Prêt-à-Portea experience – an afternoon tea concept that blends the world of fashion and pastry, showcasing sweet creations inspired by iconic couture moments. 

The BAFTA TV Tea Party was presented by BBC Studios, Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic and Fiji Water and sponsored by BritBox (the exclusive streaming partner of the BAFTA Film and Television Award ceremonies through 2025) and the Maybourne Beverly Hills.

BAFTA North America is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization focused on championing creativity, opportunity and social change for all through the transformative power of film, games and television. Through its programming, the organization works to positively impact the screen industries to create a more fair and sustainable environment. Under new leadership, BAFTA will be expanding its programming in North America and had a presence at the Telluride Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival.

TheWrapBook celebrates the release of “The Art of Television” at Nicodim Gallery

Last Thursday night, TheWrap editor-in-chief and CEO Sharon Waxman and WrapBook executive editor Stefano Tonchi hosted a vernissage and cocktail party to celebrate “The Art of Television,” the second edition of TheWrapBook.

The event, which took place at Nicodim Gallery in Downtown L.A.’s Arts District and was curated by Michael Slenske, featured works by Fawn Rogers, Aryo Toh Djojo, February James, Ben Wolf Noam, Edward Givis and more featured in the Artists by Artists pages of the biannual coffee table collectible.

Guests including artists Djojo Salomon Huerta, Jeremy Shockley, Emily Marchand and Theodore Boyer; gallerist Anthony Cran; Nicodim Gallery global director and partner Ben Lee Ritchie Handler; Balenciaga, the Americas CEO Vira Capeci; Katherine Ross; designer Zaid Affas and Deborah Sharpe joined TheWrapBook’s publisher Alexandra Von Bargen, creative director Andrew Wren and fashion and visual creative director Michaela Dosamantes to toast the release.

“The Art of Television,” timed to coincide with the 76th Emmy Awards, showcases the season’s most noteworthy talent in television in collaboration with renowned and emerging artists. This first-of-its kind book features Emmy nominees and winners Elizabeth Debicki, Gary Oldman, Ayo Edebiri, Hiroyuki Sanada, Sandra Oh, Dakota Fanning, Richard Gadd and more.

The inaugural edition of TheWrapBook, “The Art of Cinema,” was published in February 2024, ahead of the Academy Awards. It featured an exciting cross-section of artists, filmmakers and writers, including filmmaker Martin Scorsese, works by Phillips and Opie and essays by feminist author Salamishah Tillet and screenwriter Joe Eszterhas.

The event was sponsored by Lalo Tequila, Hallstein Artesian Water and Wölffer Estate Summer in a Bottle.

Flamingo Estate expands into skincare 

Flamingo Estate, the lifestyle brand founded by creative director Richard Christiansen, is expanding into skincare with the launch of Manuka Rich Cream, an all-over multipurpose moisturizer that can revive even the most parched, distressed skin. 

The Manuka Rich Cream features mimosa blossom and carrot tops, with notes of fresh vegetal greens, a trace of honeyed sweetness, and sunbaked earth. Hemp Flower is grown using regenerative practices in Oregon and then cold infused into Extra Virgin Olive Oil to support the skin barrier while lanolin replenishes and locks in moisture. 

Inspired by Christiansen’s home, a restored 1940s Spanish colonial-style, flamingo-pink house in Eagle Rock, the Flamingo Estate holistic lifestyle brand began with CSA vegetable boxes before introducing soap, wine, candles, honey, pantry items and more and has collaborated with Julianne Moore, LeBron James, Martha Stewart, Chrissy Teigen, Kelly Wearstler and Evan Funke.

“From my own retreat to nature, Flamingo Estate was born,” Christiansen said. “I wanted to use knowledge from the garden to reconnect with myself and feel fulfilled. Through this deep introspection, I’ve found that pleasures from the garden – the Flamingo Estate garden – can enhance the mind, mood and creativity. In the space between culture and horticulture, Flamingo Estate’s goal is to encourage middle fingers and green thumbs all over the world, promoting a healthy lifestyle free of harmful chemicals, synthetic additives or preservatives.” 

Have a news story for our readers? Please email Rachel.Marlowe@thewrap.com.

Interested in partnership opportunities? Please email Alex.vonBargen@thewrap.com.

The post Pharrell Williams Debuts New Designs for Tiffany & Co. Collection appeared first on TheWrap.

After more than two decades of redefining the genre, Larry David’s sitcomCurb Your Enthusiasm bowed out with a finale that was quintessentially Larry. TV comedy writer, columnist and author Joel Stein makes the case that, while Curb may be a comedy of manners, it’s also the first sitcom about an asshole.

By Joel Stein
Artwork by André Carrilho

The theory I am about to espouse about Curb Your Enthusiasm is wrong. I ran it by executive producer Jeff Schaffer, and he said that never entered his or Larry David’s mind. But it’s also true.

There are two reasons Curb was groundbreaking. The first Schaffer agrees with, so I’ll start there. 

Curb launched just two years after the end of Seinfeld, in which David reinvigorated the sitcom by stripping it down to its comedic bones via his rule of “no hugging and no learning.” Post-Seinfeld, the sitcom powered on for a bit with shows like Friends, Spin City and Suddenly Susan, but it was again in need of reinvention. Curb did that by throwing out the script. Literally. Actors received a detailed outline and improvised all of their lines. David completely jettisoned the practice of staying in the writers’ room until 2 a.m. to beat a joke. This innovation forced the situations in situation comedy—not just the jokes—to be funny. It also made the show feel alive.

“Even the audition was fun,” says my friend John Ross Bowie, who appeared in a 2009 episode with his wife, Jamie Denbo. “You don’t need to get off book. You just show up, get your little slip of paper that tells you what’s supposed to happen in the scene, and then you’re off to the races. Everybody who walked out of the audition room seemed to be in a good mood because they had just spent 10 minutes playing with Larry David.” Jamie said that the show legitimized her life of work in improv. “Curb made improv cool. Like, it wasn’t just about rhyming songs on Whose Line Is It Anyway? It became clear to viewers and industry that improv was actually smart.”

Great, we all agree on that. Now the real theory.

Curb debuted a year after The Sopranos started, two years before The Wire, seven years before Mad Men, a year before 9/11. This was back before everyone agreed we live in a dystopia. Antiheroes were shocking. If they were great at their job, loved their families and showed some Roman virtues of loyalty, we were willing to grit our teeth and root for them. But a comedy antihero? One who we enjoy not despite, but because of, his immorality? That was insane. 

Curb was the first sitcom about an asshole.  

I’ve only met David once, but he was as kind and generous as every person who has worked with him says he is. But his Curb character is an asshole in the precise way that Sam Harris defined the term in his podcast episode “A Golden Age for Assholes”:

The gospel of the asshole is that there is nothing in your selfishness that you need to overcome. No one is better than you, and those who pretend to be better are actually worse. Everyone is a selfish asshole. It’s just that some are courageous enough to be honest about it.  

Curb Larry brazenly commits horrifying acts of complete self-interest. When his wife, played by Cheryl Hines, calls from a seemingly doomed flight to tell him she loves him, he responds by putting her on hold so the cable guy can fix his TV. After stepping in dog poop, he steals a pair of shoes from an exhibit at the Holocaust Museum. Instead of comforting his friend Marty Funkhouser over his mother’s death, he steals flowers from her grave to give to a woman to try to get laid.

This was new, and the comedy of the asshole created a path for Arrested Development, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Veep, You’re the Worst and Fleabag. It was different from Seinfeld, where the main characters were selfish and immature, but not assholes. When we saw Jerry break up with a woman because she had man hands, we wished Jerry were a bigger person, but we also stared at close-ups of those man hands an awful lot and felt for his dilemma. When Elaine pretended to trip in order to touch Teri Hatcher’s breasts to find out if they were real, we, too, wanted to find out if she had implants.

The last episode of Seinfeld was not really an episode of Seinfeld. For an hour, it reversed the perspective we had for 179 episodes. It turned on the audience by indicting characters we liked. “How did you not notice that these people are awful?” it asked, as an appalled jury convicts them of not just breaking the Good Samaritan law by failing to help a guy who was getting carjacked, but for all the times they failed to be decent. As the judge sentences them to prison, he says, “Your callous indifference and utter disregard for everything that is good and decent has rocked the very foundation upon which our society is built.” 

The last episode of Curb was fully an episode of Curb. Larry is on trial for finally doing something decent (giving a bottle of water to a person waiting to vote, in opposition to Georgia’s 2021 Election Integrity Act) and is unrepentant in the face of character witnesses he’d wronged. “I have bad energy,” he says at the beginning of the final season. “I’ve been expecting more from myself my whole life, and it’s just not there.” Before his trial, he is asked to help teach a little girl a lesson about being nice and he gleefully tells her that he has “never learned a lesson.”

The jury convicts him, but he gets off on a technicality. Because in the 24 years since it premiered, Larry has won. The assholes have won. They make asshole laws. They allow asshole technicalities. 

Schaffer assured me that the writers were not at all judging Curb Larry. They love Curb Larry. Real Larry loves Curb Larry. “The show is wish fulfillment for him,” Schaffer says. Besides, he continues, the show’s only goal is to be funny. “This template of morality that’s been laid on top of everything is a foreign artifact. We’re not thinking about it on a philosophical level. We’re making the thing. We’re not moralizing about the thing.”

It is, he insists, a comedy of manners. As Mark Ralkowski, an associate professor of philosophy at George Washington University who wrote a book about Curb, argues, “He has awakened us to the background practices in our culture and revealed to us that they have no necessity, which offers us a kind of freedom we may not have recognized.” What he is referring to is the freedom to be an asshole.

Because what is a comedy of manners other than a commentary on society? Curb may be a show about modern etiquette, but etiquette is not amoral. Our tiny rules reflect our larger ethics. Curb Larry is commenting on the temperature changes in the water we’re all swimming in. But the water has changed since Seinfeld. The water is contaminated. By the thing water is often contaminated by: assholes. 

The post Bad Manners: A Rude Theory About ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ appeared first on TheWrap.

Two distinct fashion trends emerged out of the swirl of events: women have returned to classically chic, beautifully made clothing; and men are wearing heels, twinset sweaters, dresses and even a kilt or two. And lots of pearls were sported on both sexes (and even a few pairs of Chucks), combined with lots of talk of the coming election, a subject of much chatter along the way.

Emmys Fashion = Chic and Sophisticated

Peacock Theater, Los Angeles

These are some of our favorite looks worn to the 76th Emmy Awards, which celebrated the 2023-2024 television season including nominated shows airing on traditional networks and streaming services. From young Hollywood like Selena Gomez and Ayo Edebiri to veterans like Jennifer Aniston and Meryl Streep, the fashions were fabulous!

Television Academy’s Performer Nominee Celebration

The Wallis, Beverly Hills

The Television Academy (also known as the Academy of Television Art and Sciences) had a posh party at The Wallis in Beverly Hills on the Friday night before Sunday’s big Emmy Awards ceremony. The Performers Nominee Celebration was all about the actors whose work is honored this year, who gathered on a perfect early evening night in the garden to sip on Justin Vineyards’ fine wines, test out the “Hollywood Highball” made with Johnny Walker Blue and blood orange or try the sober choice called “Bright Eyes” made with Seedlip non-alcoholic spirits.

Everyone gathered around the massive paellera pans to try the classic version brimming with seafood, sausage and chicken, or the vegetables-only option as the sun set and suffused the sky with soft colors and the space quickly filled with familiar faces. Liza Colón-Zayas, Richard Gadd, Kali Reis, Tig Notaro, Tom Goodman-Hall and many others filled the bash with hopefuls.

Past winner and current nominee Sheryl Lee Ralph brought her “Abbott Elementary” co-star Lisa Ann Walter (the show is up for Best Comedy) and reminded us of how it feels to be nominated again.

“I’m just enjoying everything,” she told TheWrap. “It’s amazing to go on this ride again, and if I don’t win this year, well, I am so happy, as I already have!”

As all the nominees in attendance crowded the stage for what TV Academy president Chris Abrego called their “class picture,” he commented on the hard road to get to where they all are, as there are now so many shows across the home viewing platforms.

“We all know how much work and how many people are now needed to make content,” he said, as he exhorted the happy gathering to raise a glass for a toast, “ALL of you bring these projects to life, congratulations!”

BAFTA North America’s TV Tea

The Maybourne Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills

The annual BAFTA North America Tea Party is always a fun, star-studded afternoon get-together on the day before the Emmy Awards; and the 2024 edition did not disappoint. It was a gorgeous day to eat scones and cucumber sandwiches, drink iced green tea and, in the most whimsical thing we’ve seen at a Hollywood party in a long time, drink champagne delivered in a very special way.

Patton Oswalt, the comedian and host of “The 1% Show” (produced by the tea’s co-host BBC Studios), and his wife, actress Meredith Salenger discovered the quirky way to grab a glass of bubbly at the bash, where a large shrubbery held a bell and a sign reading: Ring for Champagne. Put to the test, the ring caused a white-gloved hand to appear out of the bushes, holding a fresh glass! That bell rang all afternoon, to lots of laughter every time.

That bell caused quite a stir, as did the arrival of Jodie Foster and her “True Detective: Night Country” co-star Kali Reis as the tea was in full swing. They joined the jam-packed garden terrace that was filled with other nominees and stars of top-rated shows, including Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Quinta Brunson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Hiroyuki Sanada, Jonathan Pryce and Bowen Yang.

Yang, who sported a pearl-embellished sweater set, revealed that despite being on his fourth Emmy nomination for his “Saturday Night Live” performances, he wasn’t prepared for Emmy night. “I haven’t written a speech,” he admitted, then promised he would to be ready. Sadly, he didn’t need it on Sunday, but Jodie Foster did, as she won her first Emmy Award after making her first TV appearance 55 years ago!

Glamour x Tory Burch Celebrate Women in Television

SoHo House Holloway, West Hollywood

Fashionable actresses who lunch spent Saturday decked out in Tory Burch clothing and accessories, joining Glamour magazine’s editor-in-chief Samantha Barry for a sophisticated luncheon that celebrated women in Hollywood. We’re sure some of the discussions centered on the fact that women directors are still struggling to achieve parity with men in the business, but hope springs eternal.

As Barry said, “This luncheon is a testament to the incredible women who are driving innovation and excellence in television,” and everyone seated at the long single table cheered her on. Guests ranged from Oscar-and-Emmy winner Allison Janney, along with 2024 Emmy nominees Hannah Einbinder, Quinta Brunson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Awkwafina and former Oscar winners Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Marcia Gay Harden, along with many other accomplished women making strides in Hollywood and beyond. 

GBK & MEND Luxury Prime Time Television Awards Lounge

Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills

There were all kinds of gifting lounges in Tinseltown during the days leading into Emmy Awards Sunday (we counted 10 of them), but the one that brought EGOT winner Viola Davis, Oscar winner Mira Sorvino, and 2024 Emmy nominees like Alan Cumming and Mark Duplass to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel garden was the GBK & Mend Lounge. Lured by the prospect of trying out the MEND scientific skincare line based on stem-cell and nanoparticle treatments while sipping Napa Valley’s AXR Winery’s lush red wine blend, they found even more to smile about as they mixed and mingled.

All told, the stars took home $70K worth of trips to exclusive resorts (Raiwasa Private Resort in Fiji, Sailrock in Turks and Caicos), jewelry with a cause (Glory), a VIP game day at SoFi Stadium with the LA Chargers and GBK’s popular food favorite, a large gift certificate for Ike’s Sandwiches that keeps Hollywood fed on his unique “made with love” sammies and a supply of Harry Hamlin’s new rosemary wine tomato sauce known as “Harry’s Famous Sauce.” Mekhi Phifer, Tabitha Brown, Adina Porter, Cat Cora and many others turned out at the popular lounge that went for two full days.

Netflix 2024 Post-Emmy Awards Celebration

Hilex, Los Angeles

There were plenty of sizzling after parties once all the 76th Emmy Awards were handed out, including the Netflix bash, which started slow and heated up considerably as the clock headed toward midnight.

The mega-streamer had 107 nominations across 35 titles and took home 24 trophies (some awarded the weekend before the Primetime Emmys on Sept. 15), led by Richard Gadd and his soul-bearing “Baby Reindeer” series. The Scottish actor-writer still sported his kilt and was surrounded by his gaggle of giddy winners and co-stars as they converged on pop-up space Hilex almost three hours after the bash began. Charmingly, their pack didn’t even realize they had a special VIP seating pit front and center to the dance floor, but soon discovered they were in the hot spot. 

Gadd, along with Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau, Tom Goodman-Hill and a host of the show’s producers and directors greeted the even later crowd that got the party going on the dance floor and beyond, including Sofia Vergara, Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, Heidi Klum, Carrie Coon, Tracy Letts, Jonathan Pryce, Nikki Glaser, Gillian Anderson, Giancarlo Esposito and Aaron Moten.

Once the DJs figured out that Hollywood types like dancing to Latin music rather than EDM, things on the dance floor went from empty to packed, only pausing for people to down In-N-Out burgers in between songs. And the winner of the night for most interesting fashion statement was “Queer Eye” star Jonathan van Ness, whose full beard, long gown and golden slippers made for an unforgettable late-night Emmy vision.

The post The Party Report: Inside the Biggest Bashes of Emmys Weekend appeared first on TheWrap.