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Singer/actress, Jennifer Hudson was spotted en route to the taping of her appearance on BET’s 106 & Park at BET Studios in Manhattan yesterday. It’s refreshing to see Ms. Hudson in a colorful, casual and youthful outfit after watching her at fancy events in stuffy formal gowns or blandly feminine dresses. It’s great to project a sophisticated and lady-like image, but those of us who became acquainted with Hudson via American Idol, know her to be a playful and original dresser with an edge. She looks great in safe ensembles at premieres and award ceremonies, but where is that flash of risk that set her apart on American Idol? Another floor-length dress with a plunging neckline?

Every girl starts dressing like a woman at some point, but it’s as though Jennifer went from dressing like a 24 year old to a 40 year old within four years. Granted, she rose to stardom at a ridiculously fast rate and what better way to fit in than by dressing accordingly, but I feel as though she hasn’t been true to herself. Hudson seems comfortable in her own skin here. Did her stylist take a day off?  What do you like better: sassy or sophisticated?

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Estelle Getty, Known by most of the world as Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls, died today at at her home in Santa Monica California, three days short of her 85th birthday. She got her feet wet at the Yiddish Theater and later went on to play Harvey Fierstein’s mother in Torch Song Trilogy. It wasn’t until 1985, as the matriarch on The Golden Girls, that she became a household name.  Long Live Sophia!

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By now we’ve all heard about the scandalous, marriage wrecking, romance that Rolling Stone, Ron Wood embarked upon prior to entering rehab. Regardless of the damage done to Wood’s marriage, I think they make quite a cute couple with the assistance of a time machine. On the left we have Lolita, Ekaterina Ivanova, snapped yesterday at age 20 and to her right a laid back 30-something Ronnie Wood taken in the 1970’s. Ivanova, a Russian Cocktail waitress living in London, declared her continuing love for the 61 year old Rocker undergoing treatment for alcoholism. While Daisy Wright, the Nanny blamed for breaking the engagement between Jude Law and Sienna Miller, quickly faded from our memories, I think that the stylish Ekaterina Ivanova has staying power. Will this May-December relationship survive Wood’s sobriety? Will Ekaterina Ivanova stay in the spotlight without the help of scandal?

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Self described subversives, Basso & Brooke presented a high drama collection for Berlin’s Mercedes Fashion Week on July 18th. The rich pastiche of fabric and texture couldn’t trump the layers of messages in these pieces. The dichotomy of the beaded veil, the broken chain print on the jacket and the belt print on the hat (above) present the subject of freedom. While the cluttered chaos of pattern and color is very modern, the squinted eye’s perspective shows the silhouette of an Edwardian woman. The volume and proportions topped by wide slim head-wear calls to mind fashions from the turn of the century, a time when women were still very much contsrained by their clothing amongst other things. Check out Basso & Brooke’s entire 2009 collection and possible inspiration here.

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Singer/actress Dolly Parton attended the press conference for 9 to 5: The Musical in New York on Wednesday. Parton, wrote the music and lyrics for the musical that will hit the New York stage in 2009. The 1980 screen comedy, starring Parton, Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dabney Coleman, will be adapted by the original script writer Resnick and directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello.

Known for her R - Rated physique and G- Rated persona, Parton describes as herself as growing up “dirt poor”, raised in Tennessee with her 11 brothers and sisters. Dolly began her career in music as a child, singing on local Tennessee radio, and broke into the mainstream by writing music for Hank Williams Jr. after receiving encouraging words from Johnny Cash. She enjoyed success through the past four decades, more recently returning to her Bluegrass roots.

Dolly is a successful businesswoman and philanthropist who is involved in multiple ventures to benefit Appalachia, including her theme park, Dollywood. I imagine her foray onto theater will be met with similar enthusiasm. Check out Dolly’s dynamic stage presence and charm here or here.

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Thursday night Amy Winehouse took over the London night spot, Camden Monarch to debut her club night: Snakehips At The Monarch. Records that have inspired the beehived spectacle were spun in a “DJ battle” opposing Winehouse against DJ Bioux. Who can play the best Sleaze, Garage and Exotica tracks? Who’s keeping score? In any case there isn’t much room to get down, as hoard of camera toting fans monopolized the dance-floor, waiting for the night to unravel.

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Kirsten Dunst has been spotted below 14th street at least 3 times this week. Here she is in SoHo, New York today. I walked by her on Tuesday around 2:00 pm, on The Bowery!. Or did I? I started to doubt myself.

Very blond hair: check

Porcelain skin: check

About 5′5″ tall: check

Toned legs: check

Cute devil-may-care boho outfit and black shorts (maybe the same ones): check

The sunglasses were different though. They weren’t white Ray-Bans. A Hollywood girl can have more than one pair of sunglasses, I suppose. Right? She wore a green pair last week. Can anyone confirm that Kirsten was wearing black shorts and black wrappy black sunglasses on the 8th of July? I’d like to think I can add her to my top three lunchtime celebrity spottings. Right now I am at Bjork w/baby #1, Tilda Swinton #2, Claire Danes #3. I think she might take Claire’s spot.

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Singer, Duffy made some fancy mic moves at Wakefest in her Welch homeland on Sunday. The Bardot-esque ponytail and studied retro look that she fronts is not without foundation. Her voice is steeped in the same early 60’s nostalgia her look invokes. Often referred to as the “new Dusty Springfield“, Duffy shares an unpolished, throaty style with the senior blue-eyed-soul singer.

Duffy may be looked upon to carry the torch Amy Winehouse kindled with her retro soul revival. She, unlike Winehouse is known as a clean living lass. Not that we are looking for replacements for Amy, but in the unlikely event that the throne is emptied, Duffy may find herself the Queen of Contemporary Northern Soul. Shall we take a look at Duffy’s style and some of her possible inspirations?

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Spanish designer, Joseph Font presented a collection of voluminous pieces for the Fall-Winter 2009 Haute Couture show in Paris this week. Ballooned shoulders, shorts and skirts took on a regal air in combination with highly patterned stockings and flower mohawks. Font seemed to reference Spanish culture at every turn; from the Flamenco-esque ruffled trains to embroidery that could be home on a matador’s jacket. The motifs and colors projected the Spanish ceramic tradition, mixing and matching as a mosaicist might.  The collection was a little folky without being provincial but included some purely modern pieces such as the macro-knit blue “sweater vest (top, right).

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Paris Fashion Week’s Autumn/Winter 2009 Haute Couture collections were what you might expect, a parade of fanciful if not outlandish, beautifully crafted clothing. Portuguese designer, Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s contribution was a refreshingly casual and approachable display of clothing that was at the same time tidy, and carefree. The shapes were minimalistic and organic, highlighting the blocks of color that dominated. The palette was perhaps the most distinguishable element of the collection, with color combinations hinting at a Korean or Japanese influence. The collection bears a loose resemblance to the one we wrote about last year by upstart label Whitley Kros.

Check out the rest of Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s new collection along with some photos of possible color inspiration here.

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