NEW YORK– Who are these two fabulous ladies stopping by Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week in 2004? They are two sweetie darlings from Britain, two best friends Edina and Patsy from BBC hit social comedy show, Absolutely Fabulous.

Played by Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley, Edina and Patsy spent almost the entire series drinking and getting stoned. Oh, they were also absolute ‘couture darlings.’

The British show had been kaput for a while ending its decade-long run in 2004. Now we hear that there’s an American version of Absolutely Fabulous in the works with Jennifer Saunders involved as an executive producer. Fox Network has ordered a pilot which could hit the airwaves by the fall. Fox has set the show in Los Angeles, and it is rumored that actress Kristen Johnston is close to signing on to star as Edina.

There’s going to be a lot of fashion and guest stars on the show as Edina and Patsy are literally fashion and celebrity obsessed. Such fashion icons as Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, Zandra Rhodes, Twiggy and Naomi Campbell have made cameo appearances on the original show.

With The Curious Case of Benjamin Button leading Oscars with 13 nominations including one for Best Costume Design, we decided to revisit this movie’s fashion. We will focus on one of Cate Blanchett character’s key looks – a flared yellow coat, turtleneck and leggings she was wearing when she was struck by a taxi.

Unfortunately it’s impossible to buy this coat as it was custom made by a costume designer Jacqueline West. So, there are two choices. One, you can buy a ready-to-wear coat and modify it. For example, this $229.60 French Connection yellow Kinickie Wool Coat available from Bloomingdales should be a good sarting point.

Jacqueline West once said that she paid special attention to putting as many buttons on Brad’s and Cate’s costumes as possible. This was a sort of tribute to the fact that Benjamin Button’s father owned a button factory. West even added oversized round black buttons on the back of Blanchett’s yellow coat.

Another way to own this coat is to show this post to your taylor…

 ’Benjamin Button’ director David Fincher wanted Cate Blanchett to twirl in the scene that changed her character’s life so dramatically. Fincher wanted Jacqueline West make a coat that would twirl too. So, she made this coat with a wide circular bottom. It’s a wool topper swing coat with turn cuffs and an oversized collar. It is lined with black and the cuffs and collar are black wool.

If you happened to be in Los Angeles area, you can visit the 17th annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design exhibition at FIDM Museum & Galleries at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, 919 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. The exhibition is running through March 29, 2009. Picture below shows the coat tucked behind other costumes. For information call 213-624-1200, ext. 2224.

You must’ve seen Revolutionary Road by now. It’s a new movie by Sam Mendes starring Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio which has got 4 awards and 19 nominations including 3 Oscar nominations.

Set in 1950s in suburban Connecticut near New York City, the movie features great fashions of the period which were recreated by 2-time Oscar winning costume designer Albert Wolsky. Kate Winslet character, April Wheeler’s style reflected her complex personality and had to be slightly different from style of other suburban women of the ’50s. 

  This off-white ensemble shown on the right, which is one of movie’s key outfits, looks great on Winslet. The dress compliments her figure, while details and accessories add accidental glamour.

This style can be easily recreated with contemporary items. You will feel deja vu if you take a look at Marc Jacobs or Jean Paul Gaultier or Nicole Miller runway shows.

There are always budget choices as well. Victoria’s Secret offers a scoopneck dress for $79. Victoria’s Secret even has another style for $38 — although not as elegant as the original dress.

A $35 beige Aldo Wonda shoes and a $360 Gustto Molino clutch (also in beige for $314.99) complete the look.

Other looks from the movie include: ( 1 ) a blue embellished dress, ( 2 ) pink feather print blouse and white long skirt, ( 3 ) black dress, ( 4 ) floral print dress.

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NEW YORK –  Check out Teen Vogue web site for behind the scenes look at Ed Westwick Teen Vogue March 2009 fashion photo shoot. 

In an exclusive interview the 21-year-old Gossip Girl bad boy revealed plans to start a musical movement in New York. Perhaps he was talking about putting together another rock band as his old British garage rock band The Filthy Youth is now defunct (they actually played pretty cool music).

During the interview Westwick called his personal style casual and cool. He said that his style is influenced by musical art – by different forms of music. Photo on the left shows Westwick during photo shoot wearing Dolce & Gabbana blazer, black Victor Glemaud henley, Tim Hamilton striped t-shirt, Acne jeans and Lady Grey necklace. So, this is how you wear henley sweaters. Cool.

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Enschuldegung! British poopenschafte Sacha Baron Cohen is putting final touches on a sequel to his controversial movie, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan. The sequel is based on a Bruno character from Cohen’s popular TV series, Da Ali G Show.

Bruno, a flamboyant Austrian gay fashionista, has own TV show, Funkyzeit mit Bruno, which he uses to prank people. Bruno has been running around crashing Spring 2009 fashion shows and making straight men uncomfortable.

The movie, which is titled Bruno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males Visibly Uncomfortable in the Presence of a Gay Foreigner in a Mesh T-Shirt, will be released by Universal and is expected to hit movie theaters in July 2009. Universal hopes that the movie will make more money than the prequel which was released by The 20th Century Fox and grossed more than $128 million. More info is available from Bruno’s official web site, http://mitbruno.com.

NEW YORK — Imagine, you are walking around with your favorite Miu Miu bag, and someone asks if the bag was by Jessica Simpson. Sounds absurd? But it is totally possible!

We stumbled upon this Vogue web page featuring a red $88 Jessica Simpson frame bag.

 Here, take a closer look on the right, and compare the two bags. They look practically identical (except for color). The red one comes from Jessica Simpson Spring 2009 Collection. The white bag is from Miu Miu Spring 2006 Collection.

They say, “everything new is well-forgotten old,” but is the 2006 Miu Miu model well-forgotten? We bet there are plenty of people, like Jennifer Aniston, who use the same favorite bags for years. Still, this Jessica Simpson bag looks nice and fits well within her diverse collection of accessories.

Funny enough, this copycat bag situation is well in accord with one of Jessica’s most infamous quotes, “Is this chicken, what I have, or is this fish? I know it’s tuna, but it… it says “Chicken of the Sea” (while eating “Chicken of the Sea” canned tuna).

MIAMI, FL — We were asked to ID a summer dress Jennifer Aniston’s  character, Jennifer Grogan, wore during the airport scene in Marley & Me.

Unfortunately we did not hear back from costume designer Cindy Evans (PS I Love You, Along Came Polly) and were unable to get exact ID on Jen’s dress. The scene is happening in 1991, and the characters are dressed in the clothes of the period. We thought we’d scout contemporary collections for matching styles…

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( 1 ) Ann Taylor is offering this grey belted dress for $9.88.

( 2 ) Armani Exchange shirt dress [sold out, was $130].

( 3 ) Theory Dress via Barneys COOP [sold out, was $335].

( 4 ) BCBG Max Azria dress [sold out, was $152.60].

( 5 ) Ben Sherman Maya Dress [sold out, was $445.49].

( 6 ) ABS by Allen Schwartz dress via Dillard’s [sold out, was $82.50].

( 7 ) This Nanette Lepore dress would be the best match if it can be special-ordered in grey. Bluefly.com sells it for $156 [sold out]. 

( 8 ) Callixta dress via Bluefly.com $151.99.

( 9 ) Charlotte Ronson dress [sold out, was $79.99].

( 10 ) Fluxus cardigan dress via BoutiqueToYou.com [sold out, was $82].

( 11 ) Converse by John Varvatos dress via Revolveclothing.com [sold out, was $77].

Stop by your local H&M store and get the complete Shia LaBeouf look from Eagle Eye. For those for whom H&M is not an option keep reading…

 Pea coat  $134.96

 [sold out] American Eagle shirt $29.95

 Levi’s jeans (don’t forget to switch colors) $37.00

[sold out] Kenneth Cole boots from Piperlime.com  $93.99

Where can we buy comfy clothes Rachel Holloman (played by Michelle Monaghan) was wearing while fighting the Eagle Eye (A.K.A. Flynet)? Let’s try online  

 BCBG Max Azria coat offered by Bloomingdales $416.50

OR

 Michael Kors coat offered by Bluefly.com $172.00

 Tommy Hilfiger shirt $39.00

 Miss Sixty Binky jeans $60.00

 Cole Haan suede boots offered by Bluefly.com $297.00

WASHINGTON, D.C. — There is ton of merchandise out there bearing President Barack Obama’s likeness and slogans. Some goods are official and some are not. It’s a huge sales opportunity offering Obama memorabilia right now. Vendors are in overdrive feeding Obamamania. As January 20th Inauguration Day approaches, prices get slashed and hacked creating sweet opportunity to get a piece of Obama history really cheap. Anyway, we surfed and we googled and we picked few pieces celebrating our 44th President. We are definitely getting these goods — when they are, um, like $1.99 each. Baaad economy man, sorry.

 Diane Von Furstenberg Obama Love Tote bag $70.

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 Obama HOPE black t-shirt $25.

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 Ninjas For Obama hoodie $31.99.

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 The Dream Come True Button $1.99. 

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 Obama Vulcan tee $8.

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 Obama iPod Skin $18.99.

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 Obama For President mesh hat $10.99.

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 Barack Obama Tote Bag $19.99.

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