Makeup Beat

According to WWD Andre is to come on board as a judge for cycle 14, which premieres March 10 on The CW, it was an easy sell. “I’ve seen the success of Tyra in many facets of her life,” said Talley, who first met Banks backstage at an Yves Saint Laurent show when she was 16. “So I felt maybe I could contribute something to it that had not been on the show. I just felt that it was a way to step out of the box and associate myself with a very important American success story, a very important brand — Tyra Banks.”

Though he’d never watched “Top Model,” he had “no hesitations at all.” Nor did his Vogue boss, Anna Wintour. “Her reaction,” said Talley, “was, ‘Fine, André. Just let me know when you’re going to do it and how it’s going.’” (Reached for comment, Wintour said through her spokesman, “André is always onto new things on television, and I think his latest adventure sounds like a lot of fun and I look forward to watching him on the program.”)

In cycle 14, Talley succeeds J. Alexander (who instead coaches the wannabe strutters) on the judging panel, which also includes Banks, photographer Nigel Barker and guest judges such as Whitney Port, Rachel Roy and Sally Hershberger.

Describing Talley’s appeal, Banks said, “A lot of people can speak about fashion, but it doesn’t necessarily translate to strong television. But André speaks about fashion and he has such a passion, and the words — the adverbs, the adjectives — he uses! I know it’s going to make the viewer at home go, ‘Wowww.’” Banks added, “It might go over their head, but he’s educating them about a time, bringing them back to a place when fashion was life.”

And Banks is betting that Talley, who signed on for three cycles, will help steer the show in a more high-fashion direction. “Reality television is very commercial. It’s very mass,” she noted. “The fashion industry is very elite, but I feel the fashion industry is catching up to reality television.”

For all things Quentin Crisp, please visit CRISPERANTO / THE QUENTIN CRISP ARCHIVES. Photo by Devin Elijah.

“She was born Mary Frances Reynolds on April Fools’ Day, 1932, and since then Debbie Reynolds has entertained the world acting, singing, dancing, and making people laugh. Today Debbie is involved in a number of activities, entertaining and public speaking, aside from film and television work. Numerous awards include an Academy Award for Best Actress for The Unsinkable Molly Brown, a Golden Globe for The Debbie Reynolds Show on television, a Golden Globe for the motion picture Mother, and a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for In & Out. In 1997 she received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy. A bundle of energy, charm and beauty, Debbie Reynolds remains a highly talented and versatile singer and actress, a celebrated American fixture, a genuine personality, and one who stands today as a symbol of sweeter times, still enriching the lives of millions with her laughter.”

I was thrilled to meet Debbie at the birthday party Tova gave for Ernie Borgnine. Ms Reynolds kept us all laughing and entertained with her bawdy jokes and special songs to the birthday boy. Even Connie Stevens sang to him. You remember both Connie and Debbie were once married to Eddie Fisher. Such a special evening….one I will never forget.

New York-based fashion designer Adrian Alicea will present his latest collection at Couture Fashion Week in New York City on Friday, February 12, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. The fashion show will be held in the legendary Grand Ballroom of the world-famous Waldorf Astoria hotel on the city’s legendary Park Avenue.

The “Falling In Love Collection” for Fall/Winter 2010 marks the solo launch of Mr. Alicea of the Nico and Adrian New York label. The distinctive ensembles incorporate the designer’s original and edgy style in a fresh couture approach. The collection is inspired by the very essence of love and a wide variety of elements shine through: the designer’s love of world travel, flashes of shades of red, pink and gold, animal prints and exotic furs, the sleek lines of modern architecture combined with the soft flowing movement of the fabrics of dance – from flamenco to ballet. It’s all about the mix.

A native of Puerto Rico, Mr. Alicea is a gifted designer, creative director, and photographer who has traveled the world extensively and has spent many years moving in the chic fashionista circles of Paris, Japan, Brazil and New York. He began his career as an international model and dancer and that experience lead him to co-found the Nico and Adrian fashion house in 2001. The successful team’s designs have been featured on the covers of Vogue Italia and Vogue Russia, among others. Their innovative and provocative creations have captured the attention of supermodels and Hollywood celebrities including Linda Evangelista, Patricia Velasquez, Omahyra, India Arie, Lil’Kim and Paris Hilton.

Model Azmarie photographed by Rudy Weislein. Styled by Joann Berman. Makeup by Charles Douglas of Rouge Makeup Studio. Creative direction by David Frank Ray.

Natalia Vodianova photographed by Paolo Roversi

I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Lisa Rinna during my recent trip to Hollywood, and she is just as beautiful and sweet in person as she is on film.

“The King” would have been 75 today….may he rest in peace.