Valentino

“New Yorkers for Children is such an amazing charity,” Nicky Hilton said as she arrived to the ballroom of the Mandarin Oriental wearing a dress by Valentino, who sponsored the organization’s 10th anniversary Spring Dinner Dance, after being the first sponsor a decade ago. Valentino’s presence—despite current designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli nowhere in sight—remained deeply felt, from the flutter of dresses that filled the 36th floor ballroom to the event design crafted by David Stark, who used Valentino’s latest collection as inspiration to use cherry blossoms (hauled in from North Carolina) and over 1,200 silver mirrored candles to “spring” the room to life. Emmy Rossum (in Dior) relaxed during the meal for only a moment before leaping to her feet when DJ D-Nice played the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back—just as the arctic char had been served—starting a vivacious and lively dance party that lasted through midnight, with Rebecca Minkoff, Erin Heatherton, and DJ Harley Viera Newton busting moves to classics by The Eurythmics and the Bee Gees, as well as and pop hits by Rihanna and Florence Welch. Olivia Palermo (in Katie Ermilio) kept her swaying to the sidelines with boyfriend Johannes Huebl, moving her Jimmy Choo shoes to Alicia Keys and Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind.” The event raised $625,000 for New Yorkers for Children—the most ever in the gala’s history—money that supports youth in foster care in New York City. “It’s important to bring everyone together to give back,” said Palermo, describing a feeling validated by each of the 450 guests in the room. Learn more about the cause at newyorkersforchildren.org.

MORE:
• Parties: Kate Young for Target’s Launch
• When Alexander Skarsgard Premiered Disconnect
• See More Causes Celebrities Support!

The nuptials for Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux seem to be planned for the not-too-distant future, as revealed by People.com today, and we can’t wait to see what this fashion superstar chooses to wear for her big day. That’s why we’re making our predictions now, choosing pieces inspired by the actress’s go-to red carpet silhouettes, like high-low hemlines (like this Monique Lhuillier piece), full skirts (courtesy of Valentino‘s couture collection), and two-tone hues (a lovely look created by Dior Haute Couture). Click through the gallery to see eight wedding-worthy styles we’d love to see on Jennifer when she says “I do.”  

MORE WEDDING NEWS:
• Celebrity Engagement Rings: See the Photos
• 50 Best Dressed Celebrity Brides
• The Most Famous Newlyweds

This awards season the red carpet was filled with many shades of its namesake hue! At the Golden Globes, Jennifer Lawrence walked the red carpet in a coral organza Dior Haute Couture gown, for the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Jessica Chastain chose a figure skimming scarlet Alexander McQueen column, Rihanna picked a vibrant crimson Azzedine Alaïa dress for this year’s Grammys, and at the Academy Awards, Jennifer Aniston donned a strapless gown in classic Valentino Red. To see the rest of the ladies who made a statement in the standout color of the season, click through the gallery!

As soon as the red carpet rolled up following the 85th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood’s brightest stars hit the party circuit for the all-night festivities! Adele (in Jenny Packham) was all smiles at the Governors Ball, the official after-party held just five floors up from the Oscars stage, posing with the golden statue she nabbed for Best Original Song for “Skyfall.” (“Watch the dress!,” she kindly told guests who kept stepping on her train.) Across town, two annual soirees continued their must-see appeal: Vanity Fair’s epic annual bash heated up with Jennifer Aniston, who posed with legendary designer Valentino Garavani, and Elton John’s 21st annual viewing party, which included guests like Heidi Klum (in Julien MacDonald), also raised money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. “I love that Elton gets all these people out every year, and he makes a fun night into a very important night,” Klum told InStyle.com. “He’s raised more than $300 million dollars since 1992, and people show up!”

See more of the biggest parties of Oscars weekend in the gallery!

MORE:
• Jennifer Lawrence’s Dreamy Nude Lip
• Anne Hathaway’s Tousled Pixie
• Oscars 2013: Behind-the-Scenes Instagrams!

— Reported by Sharon Clott, David Hutchings, and Carita Rizzo

Jennifer Aniston walked the red carpet at last night’s Academy Awards in a gorgeous Valentino gown from the designer’s spring 2013 Haute Couture runway. The star’s strapless, full-skirted red dress echoed the advice of celebrity stylist Cher Coulter: “Red always looks good on the red carpet—especially Valentino red,” said Coulter. “The color’s a no-brainer if you want to go classic and you want to stand out.” Aniston finished off her look with Salvatore Ferragamo heels and her signature layered locks. And she isn’t the only one who took a dress from runway to red carpet: George Clooney’s main squeeze Stacy Keibler looked striking in a studded column gown by Naeem Khan, which debuted at New York Fashion Week less than two weeks ago. When we asked Khan if he had any Oscars dresses in the works, he wasn’t so sure if he’d see one of his designs on the red carpet. “There are so many of them! Those kinds of things aren’t so easy, so we’ll see what happens!”

Plus, see what everyone wore on the red carpet.

MORE:
• Jennifer Lawrence’s Dreamy Nude Lip
• Anne Hathaway’s Tousled Pixie
• Oscars 2013: Behind-the-Scenes Instagrams!

When it comes to successfully dressing celebrities for the red carpet, Cher Coulter‘s list is almost as long as the Oscars red carpet! (Kate Bosworth, Kirsten Dunst, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley—check!) So with the Academy Awards happening tomorrow, we asked the stylist what she thinks the stars should wear to be sure to wow. “I think the young girls have a responsibility to be more fashionable, otherwise it’s just a sea of mermaids,” she told InStyle.com. “But at the same time if you’re an actress this is your moment to shine.” And when it comes to finding the designer to help you do that, she has a lot of love for one in particular: Valentino, whose latest couture looks are featured above. “Red always looks good on the red carpet—especially Valentino Red,” said Coulter. “The color’s a no-brainer if you want to go classic and you want to stand out.” Bottom line: be fashionable but classic—and don’t avoid color. Good luck ladies!

Plus, see the 25 most breathtaking Oscars dresses of all time!

MORE:
• Cher Coulter: “Don’t Be a Wallflower!”
• Coulter Designs for AG Denim
• Secrets Behind Oscars Beauty

Jennifer Lawrence hasn’t picked a dress for the Oscars yet, but she’s working on it, and it’s going to be maj-or. Why? Because this year, she teamed up with Rachel Zoe, and already the super stylist has dressed her in a variety of high-fashion pieces this awards season, including Valentino (for last night’s Oscar Nominees bash), Chloe (for yesterday’s nominees luncheon), Dior (for the SAG Awards and Globes, she’s the face of the luxury label), and beyond. So, what does this mean for The Biggest Night of All, the Academy Awards? At yesterday’s Annual Oscars Nominees Luncheon, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, the Best Actress nominee gave reporters a few hints… 

1. SHE HASN’T PICKED A DRESS, YET.
“I’m going to wear sweat pants. Yeah, I have been thinking about it. We’ve got some sketches together, but nothing decided yet.”

2. COMFORT IS NOT NECESSARY.
“No, last time was comfort. This year, I’m like suck it up, wear a corset.”

3. SHE WANTS A HIGH-FASHION LOOK.
“Yeah, I am going to go for fashion this time. I say that, but that’s the problem with the Oscars, they’re always at the end, where you are just exhausted from dressing up, so I never care. Now, I will. Fashion.”

4. HER GO-TO PREP: FOOD.
“Eating normally calms me down. I remember before the Oscars [in 2011] I was wearing that skin-tight dress, and I ate a Philly cheesesteak and fries, and I was like, ‘This is definitely going to help,’ which it didn’t cause I had to double Spanx it.”

5. HER POSSE HELPS HER STAY CALM.
“Yeah, I normally just have my friends there while I am getting ready, so I am not thinking about it. When you’re quiet and can’t talk, I’m in my head, so it’s fun to have like friends there while you’re getting ready.”

We can’t wait to see what she picks on February 24! In the meantime, see more 2013 nominees in the gallery.

MORE:
• See Jennifer Lawrence’s Best Looks Ever
• Barbra Streisand to Perform at Oscars
• Adele to Perform at Academy Awards

— Lindzi Scharf