Greco-Roman Romance

Even before Gladiator's epic Oscar victory, stylish stars including Heather Locklear, Hilary Swank and Mena Suvari were donning Hollywood's new fashion favorite: the white Greco-Roman gown. "It's an old look—a really old look," says designer Shoshanna Lonstein, who included a knee-length version of the style in her spring line. "But it looks fresh and different today." That's what singer Charlotte Church was going for when she chose a toga-type dress for the Grammys. "I wanted something Grecian goddess-y," says the celestial-voiced teen, "but with a contemporary twist."

A happy departure from skintight formal finery, flowing goddess gowns flatter women "no matter what size you are," says designer Reem Acra. Adds stylist Deborah Waknin, who has garbed Sarah Michelle Gellar: "When you wear one, you look like you're walking on water." As long as you aren't drowning in accessories. The look calls for "delicate earrings," says Lonstein. Next thing you know, you'll be getting the ultimate compliment: "You look divine?'
with Alison Singh Gee in Los Angeles and Samantha McIntyre in New York City

behind the seams

Jewels by Julia? Don't expect screen icon Julia Roberts to be hawking cubic zirconium on the small screen anytime soon, but the next best thing is in the works. The actress's fave designers, Me & Ro's Michele Quan and Robin Renzi, are creating a line of diamond pieces inspired by the Pretty Woman herself. The jewelers rarely feature diamonds in their mostly semiprecious stones collection, but their diamond drop earrings adorning La Roberts on Oscar night—and the torrent of "I want those earrings!" calls that followed—have changed all that. Replicas of those tiny baubles will headline the selections....

Dressing the part is half the job. With that in mind, Angelina Jolie enlisted Dolce & Gabbana to set her sartorially straight for her role as a fast track TV news reporter in the upcoming comedy Life, or Something Like It. Pleased with the simple pantsuit they whipped up for her Oscar appearance, the actress tapped the duo to create her wardrobe for the film. But Jolie had some ideas of her own. Her instructions: Think tight-and-saucy skirt suits and dangerously high spike heels....

There's a pink pony galloping into a town near you, and you can thank Ralph Lauren. The dapper designer has created a frenzy with a black T-shirt featuring a large polo-player logo. Initial shipments of the $52 limited-edition top, dubbed the Pink Pony, quickly sold out at Lauren's stores, forcing nail-biting fashionistas to put their names on waiting lists. But celebs have managed to score—witness Renée Zellweger sporting the style on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno recently, and look for Debra Messing to wear one on the April 19 episode of Will & Grace. A portion of Pink Pony sales ($15 per shirt) will go to cancer research....

Thought the gift-giving jamboree of the awards season was over? Think again. Celeb presenters, including Sigourney Weaver, Angie Harmon and Pamela Anderson, at this week's VH1 Divas Live event will be dazzling in jewels by Elizabeth Locke. The diva-ettes get to keep the gems, like a 22-carat pink tourmaline ring, along with a Louis Vuitton vanity case stuffed with Jo Malone candles and bath oils.

Cleaning House
Owning a chunk of history can be a pain in the pedigree. "It worries you tremendously," says Joan Rivers, who for 26 years has collected Fabergé objets d'art, one of which—a jewel-encrusted frame—was recently broken. That's why she and daughter Melissa will trim their stash on April 19 by auctioning off 21 pieces at Sotheby's in New York City. The treasures could fetch more than $500,000. One item, a cigarette case owned by Queen Alexandra, "I used to carry in my pocketbook," says Rivers. "Then someone said, 'You'll get mugged!' Now it's in an alarmed case."

An enamel clock (above) could bring $60,000; a bookmark set with a moonstone (left), $10,000.

Queen Alexandra's cigarette case (above) is priced at $70,000 to $90,000; an aventurine quartz elephant might fetch $15,000.

what was she thinking?

Audience participation motivated Go-Go's guitarist Jane Wiedlin to slink into the L.A. premiere of Josie and the Pussycats in a bizarre leopard print corset and peasant blouse by Eddie Debarr for Versatile Fashions. Still, onlookers cheered Wiedlin's self-described "fun but messy" green do and L.A. stylist Yana Syrkin also approves. "I love a girl who can take the fun spirit of a movie," she says, "and have a good time with it."

Head Games

Fashion is dead—or maybe just decomposing—judging by the trendy skull tops worn by celebs such as Virginia Madsen, Billy Bob Thornton and Rosanna Arquette. "It's a fun look," says Madsen of the skull-covered jacket and T-shirt she donned for a recent premiere. Plus the deadheads "add a certain element of toughness and savvy," notes designer Bobby Benveniste, whose edgy Eisbar collection features the look. For her part, Madsen has another message in mind: "I think of [skulls] as a rebellion against the thought that we should be skin and bones."

presto change-o

Anticipating two months of bad hair days in a remote Mexican town was all it took to make Lauren Holly reach for the shears. So before heading south last week to film the TNT movie King of Texas, the actress called on celebrity hairstylist Cervando Maldonado. "I wanted a wash and wear haircut, something fun and easy," she says. Maldonado happily complied, giving Holly the short and sassy treatment. The new do has "a sexy tomboyish feel," he says. "It fits her personality—modern, playful and a little edgy." In fact, Holly was "so happy" with the result, Maldonado says, that "she was already thinking of what to wear with her new hair."

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