Rebecca Romijn wearing exclusive GREY GOOSE hat to benefit diabetes research at Kentucky Derby

MIAMI, April 22, 2010 /FashionNews/ — GREY GOOSE®, the “World’s Best Tasting Vodka,” joins forces with renowned couture milliner, Ellen Christine, to create a one-of-a-kind hat to be worn exclusively at the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1st at Churchill Downs.

Actress and model Rebecca Romijn will lend support by donning the custom-designed hat at the prestigious race. Best known for her roles as Mystique in the X-men movies and Alexis Meade in Ugly Betty, California native Rebecca Romijn, along with designer Ellen Christine, will autograph the exclusive hat and auction it on the Clothes Off Our Back website (www.clothesoffourback.org) from May 1st through May 20th. One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit The Barnstable-Brown Foundation to support diabetes research.
Beginning May 2nd, a collection of hats inspired by the original will also be available for retail at Ellen Christine Millinery for $465. 25% of the proceeds will support The Barnstable-Brown Foundation. The store is located at 255 West 18th Street in New York City. (212) 242-2457.

“The Kentucky Derby is considered the most prestigious horse race in the world and therefore a very important event for GREY GOOSE Vodka,” commented Shane M. Graber, vice president and brand managing director, GREY GOOSE Vodka. “We are proud to have Ms. Romijn–a woman with such presence, style, and elegance—working with the GREY GOOSE brand on such an exciting charitable endeavor.”

“I’m honored to wear the one-of-a-kind GREY GOOSE designer hat to the Kentucky Derby this season. Being able to support such an important cause and enjoy a fantastic day at the races is truly exciting,” remarked Romijn.

Critically acclaimed designer, Ellen Christine, is excited to bring her brilliant designs and inspiration to the creation of the GREY GOOSE hat for a good cause.

“We are designing a sophisticated picture hat for Rebecca that will complement her exquisite bone structure. The hat, made with horsehair and organic fibers in shades of white with hints of blue, will perfectly showcase the GREY GOOSE aesthetic,” said Ellen Christine.

In addition to the auction of the designer hat, Breeders’ Cup guests (21+) can enjoy the Run for the Roses cocktail which is the official GREY GOOSE Vodka cocktail served at the Kentucky Derby for the sixth year running. GREY GOOSE Run for the Roses is a refreshing alternative to the Mint Julep as well as a tasty libation to serve guests at any Kentucky Derby celebration.

Spring 2010 Fashion Week Presentation

New York Fashion Week (September 12, 2009) – Stacey Bendet once again brings her work to life with the launch of alice + olivia’s spring 2010 collection. This season the innovative designer will transform a raw gallery space in New York City’s meatpacking district into a live rock concert scene featuring a performance by French girl band Plastiscines and styled by Stacey’s longtime friends Anda and Masha.

Following the success of the past themed presentations “alice in wonderland”, “breakfast in bed”, “hippy queen” and Mick Rock photo gallery at alice + olivia’s Bryant Park Store, Stacey once again spins a stylish tale through the music of the Plastiscines, enlisting the band to perform and promote the playful mood of the collection. Both the band and the runway models, posing as adoring fans, will showcase the designers’ spring looks.
Stacey’s inspiration for her spring 2010 collection was “the power of the female”. She wanted to represent girls “predicating sexuality, cleverness and charm” by combining influence from all the women who influence her every day. Keeping her feminine side in mind, she set about to create a collection she describes as “playful with an edge”. The designer often credits her line as catering to every kind of woman; creating clothes that are meant to make a woman feel both sexy and sweet. After seeing the Plastiscines’ “Barcelona” video, Stacey decided that there was no better way to bring her spring collection to life than with a performance by the band. The band exudes a “candy punk vibe” that is in tune with alice + olivia’s cleverly unique style.

Chic structured dresses in pale pinks, purples and neutrals are mixed with the brand’s traditional black and white colors. Small floral prints, embellished tops and structured jackets with cut out details define the flirty and inventive collection. alice + olivia will also showcase their basics line featuring t-shirts and button-downs in soft, butter-like fabrics, linens and metallics. This season alice + olivia also unveils their latest collaboration with the jewelry line Erickson Beamon and their continued partnership with Payless, featuring fashion-forward footwear for spring.

Spring 2010 will also mark the launch of alice + olivia’s premiere high-end collection. The new line was created to add more diversity for their specialty stores and allow customers to have a more unique alice + olivia shopping experience. The collection consists of hand worked pieces that use luxurious materials and detailed craftsmanship. These edgy and inventive designs will be available as part of a limited edition collection.

As always, the imaginative and edgy collection will reflect Stacey’s lifestyle, as the ever busy designer continues to live bi-coastally and is mom to ten-month old daughter Eloise Breckenridge Eisner. Stacey views life and fashion as synonymous, and continues to find ways to creatively blend the two elements. With a chic spring collection brought to life by the Plasticines music, alice + olivia pushes the boundaries of art and fashion.

Showbiz news vet Rona Barrett returns to tell all

LOS ANGELES – She spent a career getting close to showbiz legends — then became one herself.

Entertainment-reporting veteran Rona Barrett is sharing that story with live-theater audiences in the one-woman show "Nothing But the Truth," which debuted this weekend at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, Calif., and offers a look back at the work and life of one of the media's pioneering women.

Long before there was Oprah, Barrett had her own multimedia empire: newspaper and magazine columns, her own magazine, TV specials. "There was a real difference between that which we saw on the screen and that which existed inside a person," Barrett said. "I used to say, 'I have to know who the r-e-a-l is, because I know who the r-e-e-l is."

Barrett got particularly real with Cher in a mid-'70s interview chosen as a career standout by Barrett herself.

"When I went to interview (Cher)," Barrett recalled, "I said, 'Where would you like to do this?' And she said, 'How 'bout my bedroom?' And I said, 'Your bedroom? Fine!' And she jumped on her bed and I sat there, too. And then we had this, just, frank conversation that most people just never had at that time."

Barrett, 73, has been out of the showbiz-reporting game for nearly two decades __ in 1991 moving to Santa Barbara County and forming the Rona Barrett Lavender Co., a small producer of lavender bath, beauty, food and aromatherapy products. She now works full time on the Rona Barrett Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the aid and support of senior citizens in need.

Yet she remains very proud of her Hollywood legacy.

"I would think, in my own small way, I was very responsible for opening the doors for many women to come into broadcasting," she said. "And I think, when looking back, that makes me feel very, very, very good, that I was able to do something for somebody else. Because that's what I'm doing now. It's called payback. People help me who I am today, and if I can help them, then that's all that I care to do."