March 26. 2002
Copyright © 1998-2002 FashionDish

Nicole Kidman, dressed down and mellow at the party for the Los Angeles Australian Film and Television Association.

Kimberley Davies shows her colors at LAAFTA

Sarah Wynter wears a Tracey Reese frock at LAAFTA.

Amanda Peet says Miu Miu.

More Dish: Oscars, Aussies, SAGs, Miu Miu and Samantha’s Party

What does model Heidi Klum like to sleep in? Not just her Victoria’s Secret unmentionables. Oscar night, she reposed with a $10 million, 54-carat diamond pendant from Martin Katz. The beauty borrowed the bauble to go with her red Badgley Mischka dress for the “Vanity Fair” party, and couldn’t figure out how to take it off. Katz plucked it off the next day.

One Oscar party no outsider gets into takes place at the Beverly Hills home of the Australian consul in LA (consul...sounds like counsel...perhaps his job is to deal with Russell Crowe?). At this private do, Nicole Kidman wore a vintage frock. Revelers watched drag queen Miss Idaho sing numbers from “Moulin Rouge” and collected goody bags including treats like Minties and Vegemite.

There’s so much free stuff floating around the awards-show universe these days, it’s hard to believe anyone would rather take home a little gold guy instead of a big gold box full of goodies.

The SAG Awards outdid themselves with valuable goodies; sample baskets were auctioned for charity on eBay, with the bid for one up to $2850. Here’s our opinionated guide to what Halle Berry and Jennifer Aniston got to take home:

*Most coveted: A two-night stay at Le Meridien hotel in LA; ginger massage at the Ajune Spa; gift certificate to Bluefly; Vosges chocolate truffles; the Museum of Modern Art’s CD with 22 selections from the soundtracks of Hitchcock films; Burberry sunglasses.

*One-month supply for beauty junkies: Fresh Index Soaps; Terax hair care including Crema conditioner, Latte shampoo, Prax moisturizing shave cream and Sportivo gel, all in a silk organza bag. Anthony Logistics Dopp kit; Lorac’s Quick Fix makeup kit; Paula Dorf’s Dazzle lipstick and Silky lip gloss; Peter Thomas Roth skincare sampler, including cucumber gel mask; OPI nail polish; Zirh eau de toilette; BeneFit’s Enchanting Beauty Bubbles, and new colors from Cargo cosmetics.

*Gifts searching for a home: From Fresh Look, 13 pairs of ColorBlends disposable colored contact lenses in seven shades; the QLink Classic Pendant, “designed with non-invasive technology, which is said to improve the function and performance of the body’s energy, resilience and resistance to the effect of stress”; a leather TNT paperweight; Armand Diradourian striped cashmere hot water bottle cover (bottle included).

*Coal in the stocking: The ritzy Canyon Ranch contributed note cards with inspirational sayings.

We spotted Uma Thurman, Kate Beckinsale, David Spade and Victor Garber at SAG’s Talent Retreat, run by Backstage Creations. This is a separate lounge at the Shrine Auditorium, where stars can pick goodies while they wait at rehearsal or during the show. Uma, dressed in a shiny, fitted tan leather jacket and flower-printed, snug white pants, chose a silver bracelet from jeweler Scott Kay. Keri Russell sniffed Marc Jacobs’ sweet cologne, and Garber tried on a sleek pair of black leather lace-ups from Johnston & Murphy...Even more fashionable was Kiyo Ohara of Dragon 88, who designed the room’s décor including Ultrasuede-trimmed tables and luxe silk-and-mohair pillows. She was wearing a bright orange mini that we recognized as vintage Pierre Cardin...Maker’s Mark bourbon supplied bottles of its brew with an individualized nameplate for each star. We took a picture of Kate’s bottle but had the bartender break into the one marked “journalist” for our own Manhattan. It’s made of vermouth, bitters and bourbon and makes a Cosmo taste like Kool-Aid.

Jeweler Erica Courtney held a cocktail party to celebrate the reopening of her store, on Beverly Boulevard. She unveiled magnificent solid-gold cuffs punched through with platinum-and diamond trellises. She also has a set of canary diamond rings, with one 8-carat ring at $110,000. Even more rare is a 10-carat black diamond, set in platinum. In keeping with the liquor theme, Grand Marnier sponsored the party to celebrate its 150^th anniversary. Bartenders mixed “Millionaire Margaritas” tipped by blood-orange peels; other treats included lush brownies, guacamole and shaved roast beef dipped in horseradish cream...Just two days later, LeeLee Sobieski wore the cuffs to the Directors Guild Awards. Kristin Davis wore Erica’s diamond mermaid chandelier earrings at SAG.

Miu-Miu-Miu...in French, it’s a way to call a cat. In West Hollywood, it’s a way to call celebrities for a fun evening of free fashion. Young stars flocked to the Melrose Avenue store Friday night to celebrate the Spring 2002 line, and the IFP/West Independent Filmmakers’ Labs. Amanda Peet, Monet Mazur, Robin Tunney, Shiva Rose, Kathleen Robertson and Zooey Deschanel admired the new work of Miu Miu, the more youthful side of Prada. Most wore it, too. Robin donned a strapless brown dress, while Zooey bravely tried a peasant-themed frock with a ruffle. Peasant is the look this Spring with prints, ruffles and cotton the most popular motifs. Amanda Peet shimmied into a long gown with a brown flower print at the neck. “It’s a little tight around my ass, but other than that, it’s comfortable,” she reported. With a little Louis Vuitton purse in her hand, Amanda gabbed with Sarah Paulson, wearing a much more revealing, open-front dress. The crowd munched cucumber shells filled with chopped, raw salmon, plus tuna tartare and tiny spring rolls. The drink of the night was the Cuban mojito, served from a pitcher with slices of sugar cane and plenty of shaved ice... Parting presents were tasty: a plump little change purse in fuchsia or blue, with the Miu Miu logo discreetly embossed, and for the guys, a leather change holder. That’s what we like in a goody. One perfect, wearable item we’re actually happy to own, instead if a mish-mash of postcards and samples...We capped off our evening Cuban-style with white rice and black beans at Versailles...Indy star Chloe Sevigny showed she’s no conformist. She donned her own vintage ‘70s trench coat over a fuchsia dress and brown high heels, with her hair up in a bun. By the way, she wore a cream jersey dress from Holly Harp, circa 1969, to Oscar parties, from Decades. That store holds a Harp show starting April 4.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos were spotted sipping Ice Blendeds from the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at an afternoon party at the new Beverly Hills aerie of heiress Samantha Kluge. The hostess kindly sent little golf carts to pick up the guests from a parking lot and bring them to her door. Samantha’s the daughter of John Kluge, who’s worth $10 billion. You wouldn’t know it from her appearance, though. She hosted her party in low-cut jeans, which showed off her “Coeur de Lion” tattoo (as a French friend of ours pointed out, “That’s a brand of Camembert cheese”); two-tone hair, and pearly pink nails. The sweet Samantha was displaying her new jewelry collection, Family Jewels, with a few standout pieces like a giant gold ring with initials in tiny diamonds. We also liked a snake bracelet. As she showed the jewels, the designer joked, “I hope Winona’s not around!”...Samantha explained that she buys and “flips” houses every two year or so. This white modern estate, built in the ‘60s, is her current studio. She’s also set up a studio space in the guesthouse for musician pals like Duncan Sheik. “He’s a Buddhist, like me, so I papered the walls with photos of bamboo,” says Samantha, who is also an interior designer. The house is nicely done in sun-catching shades of celery, melon and lemon.

Finally, if anyone needs any more proof that goodies are a major lure to get stars to parties, here’s part of a memo sent by a talent broker to round up celebrities for the “Entertainment Weekly” Oscar party at Elaine’s in New York. This fairy godmother promises (in bold, capital letters) A|X Armani Exchange, Calvin Klein Fragrances, H20 Plus Skin Care, Coach, Laura Mercier, Cadillac, Textureline/Artec Hair Care, Universal Music, SkinClinic Day Spa Gift Certificates, Orly, Zirh, Trident Teeth Whitening System.

It worked for Ethan from “Survivor.”