About Entertainment – Magazine – Glitz and glamour

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Page last updated at 01:27 GMT, Monday, 23 February 2009 E-mail this to a friend In pictures: Oscar red carpet Singer and actress Miley Cyrus was one of the first celebrities to arrive on the red carpet. Kate Winslet opted for an Yves Saint Laurent by Stefano Pilati dress. Her husband, director Sam Mendes accompanied her to the ceremony. High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens chose a Marchesa dress for the ceremony. She posed for pictures with her co-star Zac Efron. Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto wore a John Galliano dress. British film Slumdog Millionaire, from director Danny Boyle, is tipped to win the evening’s top award, best picture. Taraji P Henson has been nominated for best supporting actress for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Actress Melissa Leo is up for best actress for her role in Frozen River Best actor nominee Mickey Rourke chose a white suit for the ceremony with a picture of his recently deceased dog, Loki, around his neck. Penelope Cruz is up for best supporting role for Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Among the other stars arriving at the 81st Academy Awards was Dancing with the Stars host Samantha Harris. Back 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Next Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Print Sponsor OSCARS 2009 LATEST NEWS Live Text: Oscars 2009 Oscars open with triumph for Cruz ‘Oscars list’ dismissed as fake Ricky Gervais writes Oscars gags Slumdog duo head for Oscars ‘Ledger’s child would inherit Oscar’ Full list of nominees FEATURES Surprises expected at Oscar gala Oscars 2009: Nominees’ diary Wilde night for pre-Oscar Winslet Awards divide LA locals Talking Shop: AR Rahman Batman Oscar contender tells all Tour of the post-Oscars party venue NOMINEE PROFILES Best Picture Best Actor Best Actress Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress Best Director   BEST PICTURE NOMINEES IN VIDEO Benjamin Button Frost/Nixon Milk The Reader Slumdog Millionaire TWITTER FEED Follow our Oscar updates on Twitter RELATED INTERNET LINKS Academy Awards The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites TOP IN PICTURES STORIES Week in pictures 14-20 February The jazz age hits Main Street The Brits 2009 MOST POPULAR STORIES NOW E-MAILED READ WATCHED/LISTENED Tourists hit by Cairo bomb blast Journey’s end for Flight Simulator Ethiopia: More aid, more hunger still ‘Sexercise’ yourself into shape The ‘misunderestimated’ president? Most popular now, in detail E-MAILED READ WATCHED/LISTENED Live Text: The Oscars 2009 Oscars open with triumph for Cruz Tourists hit by Cairo bomb blast Bush declines hardware store job Terminally ill Jade Goody marries Prison break repeat shocks Greece Russia defends sinking cargo ship Rihanna speaks after photo leaked Journey’s end for Flight Simulator Somali pirate patrol: Day four Most popular now, in detail E-MAILED READ WATCHED/LISTENED Cairo hit by deadly bomb blast Inside a limo to the Oscars One-Minute World News High heel trouble on the catwalk Dangerous driving in Cairo On board a pirate patrol Ancient cannon raised from sea Tour of the post-Oscars party venue Watch a clip from Slumdog Millionaire Dying TV star Jade Goody marries Most popular now, in detail FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS Pirate patrol diary Somali pirate capture ship and frustrate navy Maintaining peace Can the Solomon Islands police keep the citizens safe? Journey's end A lament for every wannabe pilot's toy - flight simulator

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About Entertainment – Magazine Glitz and glamour

About Entertainment – Magazine

The glitz, the glamour and the gorgeous people – it can only mean one thing: London Fashion Week. It is the place for serious fashionistas to go to view next season’s clothes collection.

With just a few hours to go before her show, designer Amanda Wakeley sits calmly among the chaos of people doing hair, make-up and making frantic calls.

But the 45-year-old admits that underneath she is nervous.

“There’s always last minute panics before the show,” she says.

All the models are jet lagged and really stressed, but there’s no bitchiness Rebecca Chandler, model

“Until the girls are lined up and going on you’re always worried they’re going to fall ill or be running late from another fitting.”

She has been designing for 18 years and has dressed some of the most famous Hollywood actresses, such as Scarlett Johansson, Demi Moore and Holly Hunter.

Preparation for the London spring/summer 2009 collection started months ago.

Wakeley describes her new pieces as “very much safari meets Japan” with a “beautiful palette with hits of poppy and papaya”.

‘Bit stressed’

That is red and orange for anyone not familiar with the fashion colour chart.

There are 17 models to preen before the show and everything must be perfect, right down to their toe nails.

Taking time out from checking the dresses are in the right order, Wakeley’s stylist, Sophia Neophitou, reveals she is a “bit stressed”.

Two models have not turned up and there is only an hour to go before the show starts.

“It’s always the same. It’s the thing that modelling agencies do, they send girls on fittings and then you’re stood here waiting for them,” she says.

The clothes have a Japanese influence

“I’ll be going out there in an outfit if I have to,” she jokes.

Eventually the model does turn up, but the show starts 30 minutes late.

With so many models to get ready and only a short amount of time, the pressure is on.

Some of the girls have just finished another designer’s show, so make up and nail polish must be removed.

“When they come in from other shows, it’s not what you’re doing, it’s what you’ve got to undo,” says hairdresser Malcolm Edwards.

Backstage nerves

To speed things up, he assigns up to four hairdressers to one model at the same time.

After the hair comes the make-up which takes about 20 minutes for each model.

There are boxes of eye shadow palettes in every colour imaginable and make-up brushes in various shapes scattered on tables.

Large mirrors with bright light bulbs round them adorn the walls, with scores of people scurrying in front of them.

Despite the chaos, make-up artist Sharon Dowsett – who has worked with Wakeley for 12 years – is not fazed.

“We don’t get stressed, we’ve been doing it a long time,” she says.

Despite the on-going row that surrounds the fashion industry about under-weight models, model Rebecca Chandler, insists she does eat.

“We definitely do, because we’re running around so much you just need energy,” she says.

The 19-year-old, who has a 23 inch waist, says there is all sorts of food to choose from at a show.

The pressure is on to get all 17 models’ hair and make up done

“The designers always provide us with a nice range of healthy food, but also there’s also some sugary snacks too.”

Nearby there are tables overflowing with sandwiches, muffins, grapes and bags of sweets.

Chandler, who has been modelling full-time for a year, says there is no backstage fighting amongst the other models.

“There really isn’t, everyone’s really sweet. All the models are jet-lagged and really stressed, but there’s no bitchiness,” she says.

‘Simple and elegant’

With just minutes to go until the show starts, she admits the nerves have kicked in.

“I’ve got butterflies, like everyone has before a show, because you’re never quite sure what will happen.

“Everyone’s worst nightmare is falling flat on your face because the shoes never fit perfectly. You just cross your fingers and hope that it won’t happen.”

Front of house, crowds gather to take their seats inside the venue.

Having a front row seat at a fashion show is an indication of how important you are in the industry.

Essentials needed for the models are laid out

Wakeley is seating fashion magazine editors on one side of the catwalk, with journalists and assistants behind them.

Opposite, sit the buyers for places such as Harrods, with smaller names behind them.

Tickets for the show are sought after and attendees are mostly invited by Wakeley.

After months of hard work, the show ends after about nine minutes.

Conceptualist stylist, Oz, dressed in neon jeans with a belt, complete with sparkly gun buckle, is disappointed.

“It was ok, I was quite shocked because I went to another show across the road for young designers and that was banging,” he says.

But, fashion promotion student Emily Sheehan says she “loved it”.

She adds: “It was very Grecian, simple, but very elegant. I could see a lot of celebs walking down the red carpet in that.”