Get instant access to celebrity gossip, videos, and photos

If you’re like us here at My Beauty Match Insider, then you probably can’t wait to get home to watch the latest TV episode of E! Live or Extra to see the most recent gossip on all your favorite celebrities and stars. If you don’t feel like waiting until you get home from the office or searching the endless amount of celebrity gossip websites (like www.perezhilton.com or www.tmz.com), then we have something perfect for you!

>>>Try it Free (click here)

GoGetCelebnews.com gives you instant access to all the most recent photos, videos, and pictures of all your favorite stars and celebrities. Their free easy to use toolbar can be downloaded in seconds and will give you all the latest gossip, breaking celebrity headlines, and hottest pictures and videos. You will get around the clock updates so you never miss any hot gossip! The toolbar also has an easy to use search box if you need quick access to the web. This is a must have toolbar for all celebrity lovers and the best part, it’s easy and Totally FREE!

So whether you’re craving hot gossip about Lyndsay Lohan or the latest photos of Megan Fox – than thanks to GoGetCelebnews.com you will not miss a thing.

>>>Try it Free (click here)

7086811

The Toronto Film Festival has taken over the city and there are Hollywood Celebrities everywhere you look and there are exclusive parties every single night.

If you are invited to one of these parties, the first thing that comes to mind is the dreaded question: “what do I wear”? Dressing up for a red carpet event or a party that will be star-studded can add a lot of pressure on your wallet if you don’t know where to shop.

sandra_graham

I was fully aware before going to the event that I’d be looking at red-carpet worthy outfits, jewellery and accessories, but I truly was not prepared for what I saw (and how affordable the prices were) during my meeting with Sandra and the five models she dressed from head to toe with great eBay-finds.

Sandra Graham is truly a gifted jewellery and style expert and she has been responsible for placing some of the world’s most stunning jewellery and dresses on actresses such as Jennifer Lopez, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, and Beyonce Knowles.  In fact, she placed the Asprey & Garrard necklace on Hilary Swank when the actress won her first Oscar in 2000.

It’s obvious that Sandra’s background makes her a sort of style magician and she surely displayed her talent during my meeting with her.

1) The first look Sandra created was inspired by British 20-something superstar Keira Knightley. If you take a look at the red trench coat and red dress you can immediately see how this look can easily go from work to cocktails without skipping a beat. The entire look including the hat and booties was about $200!!!

Sandra gave the basic black dress a second breath by removing the red trench and pairing the dress with a $15 gold colour lace shawl (lace is such a hot trend this season), a gold cuff bracelet (it only cost $5!) and a pair of Christian Louboutin gold slippers.

2) The second look was a nod to Angela Bassett (who recently received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame). This vintage dress is all about detail. When you look closely you can see that whichever angle the model stands, you can catch glimpses of the great details on the dress.

7078362.jpg

4) If you grew up flipping the pages of Vogue magazine as a teenager in the late 80s and the 90s then you know exactly who Azzedine Alaia is and how talented he is. This little (he’s quite short) Tunisian-born designer took Paris by storm in the 80s with his curve hugging designs that celebrated a woman’s body. Azzedine Alaia’s designs are making a comeback and this red dress is surely the type of dress you would expect blond-bombshell Scarlett Johansson to wear at a premier of one of her movies. The dress was paired with a pair of Robert Lee Morris earrings that were a mere $40 and the gold cuff bracelet was a real steal at $5!

5) The last look Sandra put together was inspired by South African beauty Charlize Theron. The black dress was truly a work of art. It was perfectly fitted at the back and really accentuated the waist. The flower that sat on the right shoulder was a real trompe-l’oeil for the dress Charlize wore.  If you can believe it … the dress was only $200! Sandra paired the black gown with an Alan Journo black clutch ($80), a pair of Randolf Duke earrings and a real diamond cuff bracelet ($1800).

You might not have time to shop on eBay to get your outfits for the Toronto Film Festival, but there is plenty of time for you to start browsing the pages of eBay for your upcoming charity galas and the 2008 Holiday party season!

Here are the all the photos of the eBay styles created by Sandra Graham:

celebrity_style1

The gold slippers below are Christian Louboutin and bought on eBay:

keira_knithley_fashion1

Look at the back of this dress:

angela_bassett_fashion1

This Gold Sara Covetri cuff in gold was only $5!!!

ebay_gold_cuff_sara_covetri1

This (real) diamond bracelet was about $1800, but retail it would be at least three times the price:

ebay_diamond_bracelet1

This is the exact same Marc Jacobs dress Anne Hathaway wore on the red carpet:

marc_jacob_fashion2

Look at this gown … it’s simply beautiful:

charlize_theron_oscar_fashion1

This red dress will turn heads at any party:

azzedine_alaia

Compare the Marc Jacob dress Anne Hathaway wore on the red carpet to the dress Sandra bought on eBay:

marc_jacob_fashion2

7078362.jpg

Photos of red carpet dresses for Charlize Theron and Anne Hathaway provided by eBay.

Monika became one of Ford Models’ youngest models to win the ‘Supermodel of the World’ competition in 1985 when she was only 14! And to top that, by 15, Monika was the youngest ever to have appeared on the cover of American Vogue and in the pages of the coveted Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.

I had a chance encounter with Monika during Toronto Fashion Week and I could not resist approaching her and asking for an interview. I was thrilled beyond belief when she responded!

I met Monika at a local eatery to talk about her career, beauty tips, the modelling industry as we know it today (aka size zero models) and her views about aging in an industry that is so youth obsessed.

Just for the record, Monika is absolutely gorgeous in person. You know how you see celebrities and models in magazines only through the lens of air-brushing and then meet them in person only to be hugely disappointed? Well, that was far from being the case with Monika and from where I was sitting, it’s obvious that very little air-brushing is needed when it comes to Monika Schnarre’s photos.

Here’s what Monika had to say about being a model, beauty and aging-well:

Beauty Match: We’ve noticed a number of models who are making a comeback in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. Is this trend dictated by the need of the general public to see women who are their age sell them products or is this the decision on the part of the designers … who are aging themselves?

Monika Schnarre: It could be both… It could also be that the public likes to identify models by name and we don’t really have that with today’s younger models.  We know who Cindy, Christy, Iman and Lauren Hutton are… and there is comfort in that.  And, of course, women have a hard time identifying with a 16-year-old model.

Beauty Match: When you look at models on TV shows or during an event like Fashion Week, you realize how small they really are. If memory serves me correctly, models in the late 80s and 90s were bigger. I remember Cindy Crawford saying that in her 20s she was a size 8, but now that she’s modelling in her 40s, she’s a size 2 … because most of the other girls are a size zero or 2? What’s your take on the weight controversy in the modelling world?

monika_schnarre_2

Monika Schnarre: The weight issue in fashion these days is really alarming. And I believe that, we, the female population is to blame.  Most men will tell you that they enjoy women who have curves.  If we all stopped with our own obsession with being skinny — perhaps the fashion industry would follow suit.

Beauty Match: You’ve done modelling in the U.S. and in Europe, would you say there’s a difference in terms of the definition of “beauty”?

Monika Schnarre: In Europe, ethnicity and being unique are more celebrated.  Americans are still stuck on the bleached blonde, bikini clad Barbie types.

Beauty Match: There’s a new trend of models starting their careers in their 60s (i.e. Valerie Ramsey), what do you think of this trend and would you continue to model until your 60s?

Monika Schnarre: Well, I would have to see what my economic situation is like at that time!  I hope to be retired by then and living at a villa in Tuscany!

Beauty Match: What do you think of “silver-haired” models?

Monika Schnarre: Silver hair is really striking on certain people.  I think it’s a beautiful way to embrace your age.

Beauty Match: What’s your ultimate aging-well secret?

Monika Schnarre: Take a moment every day and meditate on all the good things in your life.

I know my meeting with Monika was far too brief, but I can tell you that there is such a great energy that she puts out and it’s obvious that she’s found the perfect combination to keeping her life in check and in balance. Most importantly, I think she found a way to create a happy life for herself … no wonder she’s aging so well in her late-30s.

I had interviewed Elaine for two different posts and a third one for my Yahoo! Site.

I find meeting people in person after seeing them for so long on TV always very fascinating because you either like them or hate them.

Lainey was the MC for a Cover Girl makeup event and after her presentation, I was able to sit down with her along with a number of other Beauty Bloggers to chat and dish out on some of the juicy gossip she spills out on her site.

The best part of the evening was discovering that Elaine was quite normal and very down to earth. I love how she describes herself: “I’m not a celebrity or a star; I just write about them and sometimes interview them … I don’t take myself too seriously”.

In an era of want-to-be stars who have absolutely no credentials whatsoever (think of the cast of The Hills, Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie and the Kardashians), it was such a change to hear Lainey describe herself with such humble words.

elaine_lui_lainey_krizia_2

If you didn’t get a chance to read my interviews with Elaine Lui (aka Lainey Gossip), you can still catch them:

It’s not Hollywood that’s youth obsessed (part 1)

It’s not Hollywood that’s youth obsessed (part 2)

The following questions and answers with Candace Bushnell are based on the answers she gave to Danielle Bibas’ (head of P & G Beauty Canada) questions.

1. Why do you think women have such an obsession with shoes?

Candace Bushnell: “Throughout history, shoes have been a status symbol for women. Shoes represent wealth and until recently they were a symbol of luxury … something only the very rich could afford”.

2. What can ruin a relationship with a man before getting to know him?

Candace Bushnell: “Shoes! Shoes define who we are and that’s one of the first thing a woman notices on a man”.

3. Why is Lipstick Jungle such a big success?

Candace Bushnell: “Lipstick Jungle is about celebrating women in their 40s, women who are ambitious and women who are powerful and successful. Turning the book into a series took two-and-a-half years and it was made possible because women executives at NBC wanted to see it happen because they felt it was highly important to bring these characters to life”.

4. How to you explain the massive success of Sex and the City movie?

Candace Bushnell: “Sex in the city is the biggest opening ever for a female comedy movie. The success of the movie is proof that women are hungry for female driven movies. Women are rarely the leads in movies. Most of the time they take second position behind men, but they are never featured the way they are in Sex and the City”.

5. Can you have it all (as a woman)?

Candace Bushnell: “In both Sex and the City and Lipstick Jungle I explore this question. The characters in the series are all striving to have it all … sometimes they get it right and sometimes they don’t. In real life, there are a lot of women who have it all and they are NOT complaining. There is nothing better than having kids you love, a supportive family and a career that challenges you. Now, not all women want it all, but those who do can”.

bushnell_candace1

6. Why is Mr. Big such a hit and why does he resonate so well with the female audience?

Candace Bushnell: “Mr. Big played by Chris North is base on my own REAL Mr. Big. In real life, my Mr. Big did end up breaking off our relationship and marrying someone else five months later. I think every woman can relate to her own version of a Mr. Big and that’s why the character is so popular”.

7. What does Mr. Big mean to women?

Candace Bushnell: “Mr. Big makes you feel prettier, sexier, smatter, more exciting than you are on your own. That’s why “they” are so addicting … it’s like you feel you cannot live without him. The plan is NOT to be with Mr. Big, but TO BE Mr. Big”.

8. What have you learned from your massive success?

Candace Bushnell: “I’ve learned a lot about myself as a person”.

9. What does it mean to be in your 40s?

Candace Bushnell: “I find that in my 30s, all I wanted to do was scream, but now in my 40s, I have much more self-control”.

10. Do you feel pressured to look perfect all the time given that you’ve written books that centre a lot on fashion and style?

Candace Bushnell: “Sometimes I feel like I need to always look perfectly polished, but other times, I’ll just run around in very casual clothes”.

11. How important is it to have the right pair of shoes or the right handbag?

Candace Bushnell: “A handbag is NOT going to solve your problems. A handbag is NOT going to change your life. Women need to focus on achievements, self-actualization, self-love and self-confidence … which are way more important than having the right handbag. You (as women) need to reach down and see what you are made of. Life skills are what’s important … not the “it” handbag or designer shoes”.

I’ll be honest with you, Candace Bushnell’s last answer was the most impactful one. We all admired her success and all loved what she was wearing, but hearing a woman of her stature and with her pedigree say this to a room full of women was the best part of the interview. As she concluded on those notes you could tell that the mood had changed from frivolous to serious.

Candace navigates in two industries (TV and fashion) that have been known to produce flighty characters devoid of much substance. It’s so refreshing to meet a woman who has succeed, who seems to enjoy her life thoroughly and who has a few incredible life lessons to pass on.

According to Elaine, of laineygossip.com and CTV’s eTalk, many Hollywood celebs are getting injected because in their minds they will look more relevant and will be able to ensure they get casted for the next big role (and the one after that … and the one after that).

This is also a trend that is affecting women as much as men. When you look at men like Billy Bob Thornton … you’ll quickly see that he looks way “younger” today than he did 10 years ago and I doubt it has anything to do with a raw food diet. When you look at men like Kenny Rogers, Axl Rose (lead singer of Guns and Roses), Mickey Rourke and Bruce Jenner, you want to scream “plastic surgery gone bad”.

Elaine used Nicole Kidman as an example of a Hollywood celebrity who has taken cosmetic enhancement too far (Nicole also made the cover of the Radar article that started this whole discussion: Hollywood over 35: are they obsessed with perfection?)

Most men and women would actually agree on the fact that Nicole Kidman is a very beautiful woman, but I think just like Elaine, we’d all agree that in recent years Nicole seems to looks too perfect. It’s true that when you look at Nicole you cannot see one wrinkle or even on line on her face, but that still doesn’t make her look young or younger, it simply makes her look like she has access to plastic surgeon at will.

Don’t blame Hollywood

My discussion with Elaine ended with a reality check: “Don’t kid yourself, we are as youth obsessed as Hollywood”. Elaine explained how many of her readers (mostly women) won’t hesitate to fire off an email her way to dish out on a celeb that “seems to have gained weight” or a celeb “that’s looking a little too much their age”. Elaine points out how it’s “necessity” for some women to point out other women’s flaws and shortcomings … “it’s not men doing it …but the women”.

If Elaine’s conclusion is correct, there is a lot of soul searching that we need to do as a society before blaming Hollywood: “Youth obsession is a real issue in our everyday life and Hollywood is simply a magnification of what happens in our society”.

Photo by Montrasio International

After a quick conversation about her personal beauty secrets, I asked Elaine for her opinion on a post I had written that generated a lot of buzz and introduced so many new readers to Beauty Match.

In January, I talked about an article that was published in Radar magazine that revealed just how much cosmetic enhancement was actually taking place in Hollywood: Hollywood over 35: are they obsessed with perfection?

Given that Elaine has been able to interview a number of celebrities one-on-one during red carpet events, I wanted to know how celebrities actually looked like when you were standing only a few inches away from them.

The discussion was enlightening and it did confirm a lot of rumours that float about the Internet and in gossip magazines, but our discussion also revealed a sad reality that is often overlooked when we are criticizing Hollywood celebs who may take cosmetic enhancement a bit too far.

Celebrating Helen Mirren and Julie Christie

I was elated when Celebrity Beauty Match Pick Helen Mirren won an Oscar for her performance in “The Queen” in 2007 and I was equally excited for Julie Christie who was making a comeback in her 60s after being a fairly big star in her 20s and 30s. As Elaine pointed out, these women “should be celebrated, but it’s really not the norm in Hollywood”. The truth of the matter is that Hollywood is very much youth obsessed and there are only a small handful of women in their 40s, 50s and 60s who are actually able to still get meaningful roles as leading ladies.

Plastic surgery is the norm in Hollywood

Elaine revealed that a few actresses will hold off on getting any kind of surgical enhancement or surgery done, but the vast majority of actors and actresses will seek the help of a plastic surgeon or a cosmetic dermatologist. The trend is not only the norm, but it’s also a norm that is starting younger and younger. It’s not uncommon at all for actors as young as 15 to get some work done … and it often starts with a nose job.

During our conversation, Elaine used a word that really summed up a lot of what was happening in Hollywood: “People look engineered”. I personally would use that word to describe a lot of what is happening in real life. I think that seeking the help of a plastic surgeon or a cosmetic dermatologist to help you age the way you want to age is absolutely fine because not everyone has the strict lifestyle (or has been living the lifestyle) that is required to age gracefully. No one should have to live with “flaws” that is making them self-conscious (it can be as simple as getting rid of acne scars), but there is a point where people cross the line and they start looking like an “engineered” version of their former selves.

There was so much to discuss with Elaine and I really think this post is getting a bit too long. I’ll continue to highlight our discussion in the following post.

Photo by Comiquero