For her much-hyped Super Bowl Halftime Performance (#GoGiants), Madge channeled the late Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra with a 13-minute extravaganza eleganza featuring “relevant” artists, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., Cee-Lo Green and LMFAO.

To do justice to that great queen, the Queen of Pop turned to the house of Givenchy where Riccardo Tisi – who had designed costumes for her tour three years ago — was more than happy to conjure up some couture.

“People say everything has a limit, but limits do not exist with Madonna,” Tisci told WWD. “It is a great honor for me to be part of yet another historical and iconic moment.”

The Lady Ciccone also wore some white and gold diamond earrings from Bulgari, plus a stunning gold headpiece by none other than milliner king Phillip Treacy. If you’re like me and missed the Super Bowl and everything therein, take a look at Madonna’s blinged out performance below (before it gets taken down for copyright infringement).

- The mogul currently known as Diddy is being sued over his Empress fragrance by the similarly titled Empress Hair Care Products. Because there are only so many classy, royal-themed names to go around. [Fashion Etc]

- David Beckham‘s commercial for his bodywear line with H&M will debut during the Super Bowl, giving you all at least one reason to tune in.

- Betty White celebrates her 90th birthday today and as befits a TV and entertainment legend, NBC put together a little special featuring other people who continue to openly mock death. [Washington Post]

- It’s showdown of the has-been starlets! Lindsay Lohan and Megan Fox are reportedly vying for the made-for-TV role of a lifetime — on Lifetime —  as Elizabeth Taylor. [E!]

- L.L. Bean produced a Bootmobile that’s too big to fit the delicate foot of the Statue of Liberty. And good thing because I don’t want the symbol of this country in anything less than a stiletto, thank you. [Racked]

- The day before the birth of Blue Ivy Carter, over half of Papa Jay-Z‘s New York Rocawear employees were laid off for “economic reasons.”  Hey, someone’s got to pay for that $3500 lucite crib. [The Cut]

- Meanwhile, Momma Beyoncé‘s skin was apparently lightened for new promo pics for 4. Yawn. [Huff Po]

- Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs and others get the Squarepants treatment, courtesy of Dutch illustrator Mike Frederiqo. [Hint]

- Queen Elizabeth will give the late Elizabeth Taylor a run for the bodacious bauble money when she puts some of her most important jewels on display in August as part of a celebration honoring the monarch’s 60 years on the throne. [WWD]

- Steven Tyler in a speedo. Proceed at your own risk. [Just Jared]

- Yves Saint Laurent has hired 11 law professors from across the country to lay the legal smackdown on Christian Louboutin and his trademark infringement case. [Telegraph]

- Nicki Minaj‘s line of nail polish for OPI includes such names as “Pink Friday,” “Metallic 4 Life,” “Superbass,” and my personal fave, “Did It on ‘Em.” I don’t know what layaway look like — Bitch, I can’t even spell welfare! [SheFinds]

- Mariah Carey tweeted a picture of her and house-husband Nick Cannon in the hospital after he suffered ”mild kidney failure.”  [ABC]

- The Kardashians are starting a magazine about their favorite subject: the Kardashians. As if keeping up with them wasn’t pointless enough. However, their lawsuit against Star magazine might get in the way. American Media, the company Kim and co. are working with on this egregious  use of perfectly good trees, owns Star, which accused the First Family of Public Whoring of using slave labor in sweatshops. [Styleite]

- Whatever you’re doing, stop it right now and go here to birth your very own My Little Pony. Mine’s the baddest pony on the block. [via Refinery 29]

- Multimedia artist Colette Maison Lumiere thinks Lady Gaga, specifically Mother Monster’s Barneys Workshop, copied her work and made a little video to elaborate on it. [The Cut]

- “I think one of the most flattering things I’ve ever heard—you know, I almost fell out of my chair when someone called to tell me about it—Alexis Bittar’s PR girl has a tattoo of me on her wrist. It’s a very good portrait! I haven’t seen it in person, but apparently it looks just like me.” —  90-year-old sasstronaut Iris Apfel on the kids thinking she’s cool, or hot or “whatever the expression is.” [Fashionista]

Photos: Fashion Gone Rogue

PETA has these snarky comments for their Grinches:

“Filmmaker and former visionary Cameron Crowe went retro in the wrong way for his new flick, We Bought a Zoo, which relied on the performing-animal industry—in which the “actors” are routinely neglected and even abused—instead of using state-of-the-art computer imaging. Exploiting live animals to tell a story about saving animals? At least Elizabethtown won’t go down as his worst creative flop.”

“Some have speculated that Kim Kardashian’s wedding to NBA forward Kris Humphries was fake. Too bad the socialite princess doesn’t have the same enthusiasm for faking her fur. Unlike her sweet sister Khloe, who starred in her own PETA anti-fur ad, Kim just can’t seem to divorce herself from fur and say ‘I do’ to a kind and kompassionate wardrobe.”

“When Janet Jackson had her infamous “wardrobe malfunction” during the Super Bowl, at least the flesh that popped into view was her own—unlike the stolen animal skins that she drapes herself with, which are as dead as her taste in fashion (not to mention her career). Ms. Jackson, you’re just plain nasty.”

PETA’s outrage over Janet stems from her Blackglama‘s “What Becomes a Legend Most?” campaign, which has featured a host of other legendary ladies including Diana Ross, Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Lena Horne, Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor and Bette Davis. Now I can abide by ridiculing Kim Kardashian. In fact, I even fully support it. As for Cameron Crowe, so sue the guy for wanting to use real animals — that’s not to say they weren’t treated humanely on set. Plus, how bad could he possibly be? He did Almost Famous (and almost convinced the world Kate Hudson could act).

But you don’t just go around insulting divas like that. Sure she may have flashed a few hundred million people. Sure she hasn’t had a hit in god knows how long. Sure, she’s been relegated to starring in Tyler Perry movies and Nutrisystem commercials. But what about the good times? What about the parade of hits and classics over the past 25 years? And more importantly, what about her hot billionaire boyfriend who probably keeps her up to her wigs in all the stolen animal skins she wants?

It’s time someone stood up to people like PETA, which makes me proud to announce the formation of my new charity, PETD (pronounced: petted) — People for the Ethical Treatment of Divas. Divas are not ours to eat, wear, or experiment on — just to use for entertainment and in drag shows.

- Eva Hoeke has stepped down from Jackie in the wake of Niggabitch-gate.[Fashionista]

- Brad Goreski denies rumors that he stole clients from Rachel Zoe and accuses the superstar stylist of character assassination. But  in all fairness, Brad’s character was really asking for it. [Styleite]

- Elizabeth Taylor‘s auction brought in a record-breaking $158.8 million —  Liz and Dick Burton are cackling at each other over martinis in hell. [NYT]

- You take the good, you take the bad, you take ‘em both and there you have the facts of Vogue. Here’s the good: Adele probably will be covering Vogue‘s March issue.  And now for the bad: Taylor Swift probably will be covering Vogue‘s February’s issue. [Fashionista]

- Speaking of Swift, her CoverGirl ad has been banned for making unsubstantiated claims, the most egregious being that Taylor Swift is worthy of being a CoverGirl. [The Cut]

- And speaking of cover girls, Justin Bieber is rumored to cover V Magazine‘s “Music Issue” shot by Inez and Vinoodh and dropping January 12. [Page Six]

-  Apparently some ladies  riding the crimson wave have begun to hang ten on a crime wave at Duane Reades around town with a rash of tampon thefts, prompting the NYPD to pull off a sting operation. Because that’s what happens in New York. [Racked]

- Mariah Carey brings out the twins, John Legend and her 90s “Vision of Love” hair for her newest holiday classic music video, “When Christmas Comes”:

Kim counts Taylor as her “idol” and “icon,” so it comes as no surprise that the Big K would shell out some clams to have a piece of Liz in her life: “If you have a piece of jade, the energy goes into the piece and you absorb the energy,” Kardashian said via phone. “So I can feel Elizabeth in the piece.” Good for you, Kim, feeling up Elizabeth Taylor — but you’re going to need a lot more than one failed marriage if you’re going to “Keep Up” with that legacy.

Among the most popular items was a Christian Dior evening gown and matching clutch that fetched $362,500, over 60 times its estimated worth, and a Versace jacket featuring Taylor’s iconic face emblazoned in rhinestones all over it (#dead), which sold for $128,500.

The Gina Fratini wedding dress Liz wore for her second marriage to Richard Burton went for $62,500, while the yellow chiffon dress she wore to their first wedding was removed from auction at the last minute and will instead be donated to an institution. Two diamond and gold wedding bands from both Burton nuptials, however, were sold for $1 million — 125 times more than its estimated $8000 worth.

The big ticket item of the night was a  lithograph of Liz  by signed by Andy Warhol — “To Elizabeth, with much love”; estimated at $30,000 to $50,000, the painting sold for $662,500. The Liz Taylor auction continues tonight and into tomorrow, giving more reality TV stars and alleged socialites plenty opportunity to claim a piece of Taylor for her own. [Telgraph, Forbes, Bloomberg]

Nearly every item sold for astronomically more than it was estimated as bidders at Christies battled phone-in buyers from around the world. Throughout the course of the night, six other world records were broken, including the price paid for a pearl jewel and an Indian jewel as well as the per carat price for a colorless diamond and a ruby.

That Indian jewel, the Taj Mahal jewel – a diamond and ruby pendant with a gold Cartier chain — sold for $8,818,500, 20 times its estimated worth. Given as a gift on her 40th birthday in 1972 by Richard Burton, the heart-shaped diamond was originally a gift from the 17th century emperor Shah Jahan to his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. When she died, the emperor constructed the Taj Mahal to serve as his beloved’s final resting place.

Estimated at $2.5 to $3.5 million, but going for the same $8,818,500 was the famed Elizabeth Taylor Diamond, another gift from Burton. At 33.19 carats, that bauble isn’t so much a piece of jewelry as a planet harnessed onto a ring. Taylor wore it nearly every day and encouraged others to try it on so they could “see all the colors of the rainbow.”

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Liz Taylor and the Duchess of Windsor were good friends. Both had an appetite for precious stones and whenever the Burtons were in Paris they would pay a visit the duke and duchess. All the while, Taylor admired the Duchess’s Prince of Wales Brooch, three feathers made of diamonds and bearing the royal insignia. When that item came to auction in 1987, Taylor, bidding for the first time at an auction, snatched up the brooch, which in turn was sold at the star’s auction for $1,314,500.

The biggest lot of the night came in the form of La Peregrina, a 16th century pearl on a pearl, diamond and ruby mounting courtesy of Cartier. History has it that the pearl was found by a slave in the Gulf of Panama and was subsequently turned over to the Spanish royal family — Phillip II gave it as a gift to his wife, Mary I of England — where it remained for several hundred years. Burton bought La Peregrina for Taylor as a Valentine’s Day present, but on account of its weight, it often fell out of its setting. At one point, Taylor lost it in their suite in Las Vegas only to find it in the least likeliest place: “I just casually opened the puppy’s mouth and inside his mouth was the most perfect pearl in the world. It was—thank God—not scratched.”

Thank god indeed. La Peregrina, estimated at $2 to $3 million, sold for $11,842,500. Here, we always thought it was her white diamonds that always brought her luck, but turns out Dame Liz’s rubies and pearls had a charm all their own. [Telegraph, Forbes, Vanity Fair]

In the first auction, items from McClanahan’s apartment on East 56th St in New York will go up on the block, including furniture, artwork, costume jewelry, personal letters and most excitingly, several of her Golden Girls outfits, as well as a couple of scripts from the classic sitcom bearing signatures from the cast and Rue’s “doodles.”

“She was so artistic. She would doodle, and I mean really artistic work… and detailed,” said sole surviving Golden Girl Betty White. “And I kept telling her: you’ve got to do something with those. That is more than doodling, that is artwork.” Among the doodles, though not available in this particular auction,  is a self-portrait by a young George Clooney, who guest starred on the show years before slipping into his E.R. scrubs or robbing a casino with Brad Pitt. “Isn’t that something? He didn’t flatter himself,” White waxed. And my guess is, neither did Bea Arthur.

McClana-heads can bid online at liveauctioneers.com or in-person at Hutter Auction Galleries. There’s a Christian Lacroix jacket I’ve got my eye on, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my preference for this number. [Fox News]

In his new book, Hedy’s Folly: The Life and Breakthrough Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, the Most Beautiful Woman in the World, Richard Rhodes dips his quill into the actress’ inkwell of kookery to detail her long-neglected contributions to modern science…and badassery.

At 18, Lamarr starred in 1933′s Ecstasy, a highly controversial Czezh film featuring a nude Lamarr and filmdom’s first depiction of a female orgasm. Around that time, Lamarr unhappily married an Austrian arms dealer — it’s just something you do once breaking down sexual taboos before hitting legal drinking age. The Austrian arms dealer husband would invite Nazi generals over for a little tea and tyranny where they would discuss weapons — and Lamarr eagerly listened.

Perhaps not too keen on being a Nazi war bride, the time came for Hedy to escape her marriage. She claimed she dressed up as a maid and jumped out the window to freedom, but in truth she hopped a steamer that had one of the most, if not the most influential man in Hollywood at that time — MGM’s Louis B. Mayer. By the end of the trip, she had a seven-year, $3000/week contract with the studio. Sure it’s no $20 mil per film, but that was big money then…hell, it ain’t that bad now.

According to Rhodes, Lamarr “was keenly aware of the coming war. She was glued to the newspaper, reading the stories. … When German submarines began torpedoing passenger liners, she felt at that point, ‘I’ve got to invent something that will put a stop to that.’ ” Along with the avant-garde composer George Antheil, she conceived and patened a frequency-hopping torpedo guidance system in 1942. Seven years later Hedy accomplished another equally-impressive feat when she won the Sour Apple Award for Least Cooperative Actress at the now defunct Golden Apple Awards.

Antheil and Lamarr gave their invention to the U.S. Navy, which was openly unimpressed. Those swarthy sailors buried the invention for a while and the patent eventually expired. Then in 1962,  during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Navy resurrected George and Heddy’s idea, but by then Antheil had already died. Finally in 1997, Lamarr was recognized by the Electronic Frontier Foundation — she died three years later at  age 86.

Although Lamarr doesn’t enjoy the same level of esteem given to many of her contemporary movie stars, her frequency-hopping invention is the basis for a lot of wireless technology including WiFi, cell phones and Bluetooth. Not bad for a girl who got her start faking it for a pay-Czech.. [LA Times Blog]

“It is an idea that I had many years ago,” Giammetti told WWD, “after going through a great museum site and being able to navigate through these rooms full of paintings…I asked myself if it would be possible to recreate a vast computer-generated museum. We started designing and nothing really appealed to me. I wanted to have the light of Rome without looking old. I wanted to show not only the dresses but the history behind them, from the drawing to the women who wore them.”

The resulting museum — comprised of 107,500 virtual square feet of exhibition space – will include some 300 dresses, as well as accompanying anecdotes, photos, sketches, ad campaigns and editorials, with over 5,000 images and 95 fashion show videos.

“I see it as part of my legacy,”  said Valentino. Noting the importance of the past, Garavani wanted “to review the fashion that has shaped our lives,” referring to it as “Future Memory.”  Among the memories mined from the vast Valentino archives are the 1961 haute couture dress Elizabeth Taylor wore to the Roman premiere of Spartacus; Jacqueline Kennedy‘s 1968 couture wedding dress for her marriage to Aristotle Onassis; and the 1992 haute couture gown Julia Roberts wore to collect her Oscar in 2001.

Garavani and Giammetti will be in New York to announce the launch of the Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum — rather appropriately — via a press conference live-streamed on YouTube. Until then, there’s this awesome preview video. [WWD]

Over 950 pieces of fine and costume jewelry, accessories, and decorative objects will be available for perusal and possible purchase – from Chanel, Christian Dior, and Cartier jewels; to handbags and shoes from Christian Louboutin, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, and Prada. Though of course that’s just the tip of the diamond-encrusted iceberg.

The full collection goes on view November 18, but a preview is available through Christies and e-tailer Moda Operandi. Then come Decmber 3, interested parties can begin to register for the auction itself.

So this holiday season, show that you really care with a gift from the vaults of Hollywood royalty. And instead of wrapping said gift and placing it under the tree —  storm into the room Christmas morning, rip off a pair of diamond earrings, plunk them in front of the giftee and breathlessly say, “These have always brought me luck.” Then clutch your figurative pearls and disappear as mysteriously as you came. It’s what Liz would have wanted. [Hint Mag]

Take your hair to new heights - A bombshell doesn’t have flat, limp, lifeless hair sprouting from her pretty little head. Take a tip from Bridget Bardot and add some sexy volume to your coif. Get higher with a teasing comb and Oribe Volumista Mist, which swells each hair shaft to remarkable lushness, brilliant luster and incredible volume.

- Notorious recluse, Rei Kawakubo of Commes des Garçons offers a rare interview with the Wall Street Journal. [WSJ]

- V Magazine offers a special preview of its 72-page Elizabeth Taylor tribute, styled by Carine Roitfeld and shot by Mario Testino. In it, Stephanie Seymour channels Liz and at least a few of her eight marriages. [The Cut]

- A gift from the retail gods? The Barney’s Warehouse Sale has been extended through Wednesday, September 7th. [Racked]

- Legitimate organization (?) Cosmetic Executive Women (U.K.) will honor old-school diva Joan Collins for being “a true cosmetic executive woman” and “a wonderful advocate for the beauty industry.” [WWD]

- According to recent statistics released by Match.com, Manhattanites are 3% more interested in dating someone from Brooklyn than someone from Manhattan. [Refinery29]

Halston with his girls — Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli and Michael Jackson

Miss Taylor showing that elegance truly is learned.

According to Roitfeld, the Dame “had the kind of elegance that went far beyond clothes.”

This elegance will be captured by Mario Testino in a 72-page “fashion extravaganza” — my favorite kind of extravaganza behind the eleganza variety, of course — for the issue themed “heroes.”

Vogue Paris be damned — though it kind of already is — but I love that Carine is doing her own thing. Sister do it for yourself.

Are you as excited as I am for this September issue? [WWD]

I felt hurt for her. She is only 22 and there was a little bit of bullying going on. I didn’t give a fuck about 140,000 bloggers. In the future, we’ll look back and think she looked wild.

Let ‘em know, Treacy. And for the record, FashionIndie was on board with that hat from the get-go. Then again, we’re always a fan of a say-something hat.

Anygay, the Guardian interview is definitely a worthwhile read. Among the many interesting and fascinating tidbits Treacy relates, there’s the time he had a hat show with Liz Taylor:

A couple of years ago, I got a phone call: would Mr Treacy make a hatpin for Elizabeth Taylor? I said: “Might Miss Taylor like a hat to go with the hatpin?” and the answer was: yes. I went to see her at the Dorchester. I didn’t know whether I was going to be dealing with a very tricky person but she was a sweetheart. I thought it would be entertaining to do a hat show on her in her room – because, after all, she is an old lady. I tried 25 hats on her. She kept saying: “Which hat can I have”? And at the end I said: “You can have them all.” I gave her 25 hats. She said: “I must do something for you in return.” But I’d got my return just by hanging out with her.

…the time Lady Gaga visited  him for an internship:

[O]ne Monday morning, four burly bodyguards arrived – Lady Gaga’s security team – to check out the security of the building. I looked at them as if to say: what?! Who is going to take a pot shot at Lady Gaga? Anyway, she is young, talented and peculiar – which I like. The Brit awards were the next night and she said to her people (I loved this): “Can somebody buy me some brown underwear for tomorrow?”

…and the time the Queen almost slapped him with her royal backhand:

When I met the Queen, at a design evening at Buckingham Palace, she asked: “What do you do?” “I make hats, ma’am.” She said: “Am I the only person who wears a hat these days?” And I said: “Ma’am, you have kept hats alive in the imagination of people all over the world.” When you meet the Queen, you are not supposed to ask questions. But I thought: what the hell. So I looked her in the eye and said: “Ma’am, do you enjoy wearing hats?” And she stood back and said: “It is part of the uniform.”

Imagine? A.) having a conversation about hats with Queen Elizabeth II and B.) the look of righteous indignation on her face after asking her if she enjoys something that is as sacred to her as England itself. I would’ve soiled my knickers.

Mostly out of joy. [Guardian]

Photo: Daily Mail

“I’ve been collecting for 45 years and I’m only 40,” Reynolds told the auction audience, followed hopefully by a well-timed rimshot. The dress, acquired by Reynolds in 1971 when 20th Century Fox sold off all of Marilyn’s wardrobe, was expected to sell for $2 million.

The actress amassed some 3500 items over those four decades in an effort to preserve the luster of Hollywood’s Golden Age. However, failing to find a museum ready to take the collection as a whole and driven into debt by its upkeep, Debs sold over 600 of the collection’s effects off this weekend during a 12-hour auction.

Among other items sold:  the red sequined gown and feather headdress Marilyn wore in 1953′s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes for $1.47 million; Elizabeth Taylor‘s riding clothes from 1944′s National Velvet for $73,800; Charlie Chaplin‘s bowler hat from the “Little Tramp” films for $135,300; Gary Cooper‘s uniform from 1941′s Seargent York for $67,650; Grace Kelly‘s dress from 1955′s To Catch a Thief for $450,000; Judy Garland‘s dress and ruby slippers from a screen test for 1939′s The Wizard of Oz for $1.75 million; Rudolph Valentino‘s matador outfit from 1922′s Blood and Sand for $258,000; and Audrey Hepburn‘s ascot dress from 1964′s My Fair Lady for $3.7 million. [Guardian, Vancouver Sun, CNN]

- Lady Gaga and Marc Jacobs got all speechy at the CFDA Awards. [Fashionologie]

- Iggy Pop in a dress carrying a Lady Dior handbag. Yeah, move over Marion Cotillard. There’s a new spokesmodel in town. [Fashionista]

- Marlon Texeira is super adorable and kind of a giant mo. But then again, everyone’s kind of a mo with Terry Richardson behind the lens. [Image Amplified]

- Legendary actress and the reason behind Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds, is auctioning off some of the most iconic pieces of film fashion later this month, including Marilyn Monroe‘s white halter dress from The Seven Year Itch, Judy Garland‘s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz and Elizabeth Taylor‘s headdress from Cleopatra. I see she’s finally getting Liz back for that Eddie Fisher thing. [Styleite]

Photo: Daily Mail

The good doctor warns that Bo-Bo is only licensed for the treatment of moderate to severe haggardness and should not be used in adolescents who, for the record, don’t even have wrinkles but facial expressions and, also for the record, “the two are not the same.”

See expressions lead to wrinkles, which is why the real key to anti-aging is being emotionally dead inside.

Doc McKeown points to the recent Faux-Tox scandal (totes ©ing that) starring Sheena Upton as Kerry Campbell, the negligent mother who doses her 8-year-old daughter with Botox to keep her smooth as the day she was born — which in this case was not too long ago — as a case of society’s unhealthy relationship with the needle.

While Campbell née Upton was only doing it all for the publicity (See! I’m a good mom, give me my kid back!), McKeown likens the drug to a status symbol for the younger generation — just look at the not-at-all disturbing Teen-Toxing craze.

Bling, Benzes, Birkins and Botox.

But beauty, the doctor insists, is like a fine wine that gets better with age…and he is about to pop a cork over Liz Taylor in her mid-30s:

“While Taylor was clearly always a beautiful woman from her teens onwards, arguably her looks did not reach their peak until she was in her mid-thirties. Had Botox been available to Taylor in her early twenties, would she have ever reached that same level of mature beauty for which she will now always be remembered? I suspect probably not.”

Meanwhile, someone give Dr. Darren McKeown a box of tissues, a copy of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and close the doors. [The Telegraph]

Technical difficulties — including inappropriate music cues, microphones cutting out, an errant and uninterested audience, empty awards envelopes and even a full-on blackout after generators blew — were the biggest problems of the night.

That is, if you discount some of the winners acceptance speeches.

MJB won two awards for her My Life by Mary J. Blige fragrance, including Fragrance Sales Breakthrough of the Year, and naturally thanked god, with whom “we can do anything.” Like schill perfume on HSN. Praise him.

Josh Duhamel apparently lied to wife Fergie — of Black Eyed Peas not royal wedding snub fame — telling her he was going on a golfing trip. But surprise! There he was presenting her with the totally legitimate-sounding New Fragrance Celebrity of the Year award for Outspoken.

Fergie, always the picture of class, began her speech with “You fuckers” then thanked the 6.5 million Avon ladies around the world.  Sounds like someone missed out on a perfectly good 18 holes.

Elizabeth Taylor, whose White Diamonds is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, was inducted posthumously into the Fragrance Hall of Fame — because that exists — just in time for fellow Oscar winner Halle Berry to pick up the newly named  Elizabeth Taylor Fragrance Celebrity of the Year award.

Halle, an old pro at this speech thing, left the tears and sincerity at home: “Fragrance is a new love for me. I never thought I’d be here four years later. And I’m inspired by Mary J. Blige and Fergie — let’s keep lifting women up.” Lifting women up, turning them upside down and shaking them till their loose change falls out.

All in all, it was a successful night…I mean, we’re actually talking about the FiFi’s. Aim low and never be disappointed, I always say. [WWD]

- André Leon Talley ranks Beyoncé in Emilio Pucci as his best dressed from the Met Gala last night, though he modestly put himself at the lowly position at #12 when in reality he was the only lady to really turn it out on that carpet. [Vogue]

- Livia Firth, wife of this year’s Best Actor Oscar winner Colin Firth, had a meeting in the ladies room at the Met Ball with Stella McCartney, Lauren Hutton, Yoko Ono, Salma Hayek, Rihanna and Hilary Alexander and was gracious enough to tweet pics of it. [Refinery29]

- Mert & Marcus by Mert & Marcus. [Fashion Gone Rogue]

- John Galliano fired his lawyer, Stephane Zerbib over “apparent irregularities in respect of his firms administration of Galliano’s financial affairs over a number of years.” Sounds like someone had their hand in the couture cookie jar. [Vogue UK]

- Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, also known to commoners as Kate Middleton, wore White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum on her special day, thus ensuring that White Gardenia Petals by Illumnum will sell-out in a matter of minutes. [Grazia]

Chico’s Valetta Earring $24, chicos.com – The glass teardrops on these warm and bold earrings catch the sunlight perfectly for the right amount of spring sparkle.

ZIA Couture Jewelry Coral Multi-Strand Stone Bracelet $189, ziaboutique.com – Inspired by world travels and exotic cultural experiences, this gorgeous bracelet features row of natural stone beads and a Turkish Pewter clasp.

LOFT Looped Seed Bead Necklace $39.50, LOFT.com – This eye-catching metallic necklace is both funky and glamorous, a perfect choice for making a statement at the office.

Lucky Brand Silver Eagle Cuff $79, luckybrand.com – Antiqued silver is etched and molded into this rugged, classic American design to be worn high or low on the arm.

Corvus Noir Reworked 1980s Vintage Beaded Parrot Necklace $234, corvusnoir.com – Opulent, bright and one of a kind, this rainbow enamel parrot hangs from two different gold-tone chains reworked with Venetian style glass beads.

Chrissy L Lust Ring $89, chrissyl.com.au – This blue resin and rhinestone ring is the only accessory you will need, adding flair to even your simplest tank.

House of Harlow 1960 Double Diamond Hand Bracelet $125, shopbop.com – Polished with that bohemian edge, this gold-plated hand chain ring and bracelet features enough geometric patterns to keep people staring for hours.

Kenneth Jay Lane Brooch $240, yoox.com – Do as the late, great Liz Taylor did by adding some sparkle and elegance to light summer jackets with a piece from America’s most iconic costume jewelry designer.

Robindira Unsworth Mosaic Earrings $288, robindira.com – Perfect for making a statement every day, stunning blue quartz cabochons and shimmering faceted blue quartz are complemented by 22k gold vermeil.

- Sorry kids, you won’t be able to get Angelina Jolie‘s jewelry collection at Wal-Mart. After all, this isn’t Jessica Simpson we’re talking about. No, this jewelry is being auctioned off for charity, thank you. And no, she’s not trying to steal Liz Taylor‘s thunder — this acution is by invite only. Luckily, I received my invite in the mail today, but imagine my surprise when I opened it and who else is looking back at me but Naomi Campbell splayed out in fur and covered in blood diamonds. I guess I really should have looked into what that charity was for… [The Cut]

- A blurry spec that may or may not be Beyoncé may or may not be wearing Givenchy Haute Couture in her new video. I may or may not have just died. [Red Carpet Fashion Awards]

- When fashion loves something, boy does it love the hell out of it. Prada’s Spring 2011 collection was a big fat effing hit, so much so it’s been featured on at least 15 magazine covers. Guess that explains those record-breaking profits.  [Fashionista]

- Donatella Versace has sexy chairs, sexy cocktail tables and probably whatever sexy furniture needed to satisfy your sexy sexiness. Of Versace Home, Donatella says she “want[s] create spaces that make you feel sexy and glamorous.” Mission accomplished. I haven’t seen this much sex on furniture since that house party I went in to Brooklyn sophomore year. Granted, it was a ratty couch that (who I can only assume were) hobos had been using for a house, but still…sex all over it. [Style.com]

Stylist Lucinda Chambers has Arizona taking flight in Elie Saab Haute Couture and Kirsi making waves in Marchesa, as Madeleine and Irina draw a cockney crowd in Vivienne Westwood.

Meanwhile, Fei Fei and Arizona are ready to cause a five-alarm fire in Alberta Ferretti and Carolina Herrera, respectively; luckily there’s a response team in the neighborhood.

Karmen is every inch the fairy tale princess in Dior Haute Couture and though there is nary a prince in sight, she could easily settle for a Lt. Charming of the Household Regiment – D Squadron.

Fei Fei, however is ready to find herself a few good men– and at least one boyish girl — in Jenny Packham.

All of these gowns are sickeningly gorgeous, but which one would you prefer to see the future princess Naomi Campbell-walk down the aisle in?

I’m a traditionalist and have always wanted to get married in Dior Haute Couture…my bridesmaids, all drag queens in Chanel Couture, deathdropping down the aisle while Liz Taylor officiates in a Givenchy Couture catsuit. Sadly, that dream is now missing a Dame.

Link Love: The Fashion Spot / Photos: Fashiontography

- The alleged sale of Elizabeth Taylor‘s $150 million jewelry collection is no longer alleged. Christie’s has confirmed that they have reached a deal with the late Dame’s family to sell Liz’s jewelry in addition to some of her art, clothing and other memorabilia at several auctions to be announced later this spring. If I can’t get that damned Taylor-Burton Diamond, I at least want this. You know, for lounging about the house….going to the grocery store. [HuffPo]

- This is hands down the best thing I’ve seen in my entire life: a chart detailing fashion’s silhouettes from the 18th century through the Victorian Era, the Roaring 20s, Dior’s New Look, the mod 60s, the punk 70s, up until the 2000s. How will the 2010s be represented? Tranny heels, bodysuits, harem pants, opulent fur, statement shoulders, Armageddon? [Fashionising]

- Some bitter queens at Chanel USA apparently had some “grumblings” over Gossip Girl star Blake Lively being named the brand’s Purse Ambassador — considering her look “off-brand.” Karl Lagerfeld, meanwhile, immediately had the disgruntled employees taken out back and turned into Chanel quilted handbags that he later gifted to Blake as a token of his esteem. [Daily News]

- Beyoncé has dropped her father Matthew Knowles as her manager after overseeing her career from Destiny’s baby to an Independent Woman [Part 1]. Now if only we can convince her to drop her mom Tina as a stylist…and then maybe bomb the House of Dereon…we can get the U.S.S. Fierce back on course. [Popeater]

- For Halloween, an industrious British gay — I’d say “flaming fag” but that’s completely something else over there — super-glued a tiny sequined hat to his adorable little, queer head. When the hat wouldn’t come off he visited the ER where they mercifully cut off part of the chapeau, leaving only the brim which came off hours later. Personally, I don’t see the problem with a tiny sequined hat permanently affixed to my head. Some say problem, I say party…24-7. [Huff Po]

- Talking plastic replicas of Jean Paul Gaultier and some of his famous clients will adorn the designer’s retrospective at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal this June. Also on display will be Madonna’s famous conical bras which you can use to pierce those talking plastic replicas in their creepy talking plastic faces. [The Cut]

- Reese Witherspoon got married to someone who’s not Ryan Phillippe so I clearly don’t care, but seems someone couldn’t help stealing the spotlight; among the guests at the wedding were new couple, Oscar-winner Sean Penn and Tony-winner (that must be a type-o) Scarlett Johansson. Let’s see, Sean Penn doesn’t have the greatest track record with women, so I’m just going to sit this one out and wait for the inevitable police report. [Popeater]

Elizabeth Taylor’s style can probably be summed up with a trio of B’s: Big, Bold and Bling. From her bodacious figure to the epic Taylor-Burton Diamond (a little trinket from husband #5/6, Richard Burton — a pear-shaped 69.42 carat diamond bought for a paltry $1,050,000 in 1969), Liz Taylor was what a movie star should be: glamorous and larger than life.

Best known as a child star from films such as National Velvet (1944) and Lassie Come Home (1943), Liz forever shed that image in the 1951 classic, A Place in the Sun co-starring soon-to-be best friend and confidante, Montgomery Clift. Monty pines away for the unattainable Liz only to have his dream life and love sidetracked by insistent plain Jane, Shelly Winters. The story ends tragically, but not before Liz emerges as a beautiful young thing in an elegant white ball gown that takes not only Monty’s breath away, but the audience’s.

In Giant (1956), Liz shared the screen with two other closet cases, thus ensuring her claim as the world’s foremost fag hag, Rock Hudson and James Dean. She formed lifelong friendships with both men, though they reportedly hated each other. Rock’s old Hollywood studio professionalism clashed with Dean’s reckless Method actor rebelliousness and Liz was often called on to act as mediator. Dean died in a car crash during the production in 1955, but one can see that in their short time together they formed a bond.

In 1956, Taylor would experience another tragedywith one of her friends when Monty Clift crashed his car in the middle of filming Raintree Country. Clift would have died had Liz not dislodged his two front teeth from his throat. Production was halted while Clift underwent surgery and though he continued to act, Clift was visibly and mentally altered, and died in 1966 after a long battle with drug and alcohol addiction.

With 1958′s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Liz set pulses racing as Maggie the Cat, the sexually-frustrated wife of bitter and repressed Paul Newman, who’s too busy mourning his recently deceased friend to pay any heed to Maggie or his ailing family. Though Tennessee Williams‘ play was toned down for film audiences, the most memorable image is that of Liz writhing around in nothing but a white silk slip.

Taylor earned Best Actress Oscar nominations for Raintree and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, but she won her first statuette for 1960′s BUtterfield 8. She wore a stunning Christian Dior gown to accept the prize, though she felt she only won out of sympathy — she had recently lost husband Mike Todd and had nearly died from an illness during filming.

In 1963, Elizabeth Taylor became the first actress to earn $1 million for a movie for Cleopatra and during filming she fell in love with her co-star, the dashing Richard Burton. The costumes in Cleopatra were some of the most opulent ever put to film, but what else would one expect of the most famous woman in the world playing the most famous woman in history. Taylor had 65 costumes in total, including a dress made from 24-carat gold thread and cost a total $194,800 — the most expensive wardrobe for any individual screen actor ever.

Liz would win her second Best Actress Oscar for 1966′s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, as the volatile and alcoholic Martha alongside then-husband Dick Burton’s George. Undeniably her greatest performance, Taylor eschewed her glamorous image to play the aging, plump and slovenly Martha.

The dynamic on screen was similar to real life and the Battling Burtons divorced in 1974, only to give it one more shot a year later. They were divorced for the second and final time in 1976, though their turbulent relationship led Vanity Fair to label theirs the Romance of the Century.

Though film roles dried up later in life, Elizabeth Taylor still dressed every inch the part and her impact on film, fashion, pop culture, as well as her tireless humanitarian efforts will keep her legend shining brighter than any white diamond ever could.

These Have Always Brought Me Luck:

National Velvet (1944)

Father of the Bride (1950)

A Place in the Sun (1951)

Giant (1956)

Raintree Country (1957)

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958)

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

Cleopatra (1963)

The V.I.P.s (1963)

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966)

The Taming of the Shrew (1967)

- Olsenboye, Mary Kate and Ashley’s lower-end retail line, will be launching a webisode series today starring five West Coast fashion bloggers. West Coast and fashion seem oxymoronic to me, but you can check out the first webisode today at 10 am on teenvogue.com. [WWD]

- Vogue‘s Editor-at-Large, Hamish Bowles went one on one with Amar’e Stoudemire of the NY Knicks, and as you’d expect, Hamish totally schooled Amar’e. I mean, Hamish is dunkin’ on him like donuts — I think his fashionable headband might have been the deciding factor. [Refinery29]

So what is a great Oscar gown? It’s a dress that is memorable, history-making, scene-stealing or just plain fucking perfect. With that, I just don’t get the fuss over Gwyneth‘s pink prom dress and refuse to even acknowledge that gown or the fact that she has an Oscar.

Audrey Hepburn (1954) Auds became a star and a fashion icon that night when she wore Givenchy, beginning a lifetime collaboration between the star and designer. Along with America’s heart, she took home the Best Actress trophy for her debut performance in Roman Holiday.

Elizabeth Taylor (1961) In the pantheon of great movie stars, few shine brighter or longer than Liz Taylor, thus a list of the greatest Oscar gowns could barely be considered legitimate without Liz throwing her white diamonds into the mix — I hear they’ve always brought her luck. Taylor won her first of two Oscars for BUtterfield 8 and wore this gorgeous Christian Dior number to claim her statuette. It’s generally accepted  – even by Liz herself — that Taylor won the award through a vote of sympathy after losing her husband Mike Todd in a plane crash – only to seek comfort with Debbie Reynolds’ then-husband Eddie Fisher —  and suffering a life-threatening illness during filming – at one point she was actually pronounced dead. Six years later she took home a well-deserved trophy for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Cher (1984) Cher might have proved that she was a serious actress with her Oscar-nominated turn as Meryl Streep‘s lesbian lover in Silkwood, but she’s still fucking Cher. The icon wore Bob Mackie (natch) to the 1984 ceremony but lost only to win three years later for Moonstruck. And that gown was no less show-stopping, but didn’t have this amazing headdress.

Halle Berry (2002) Halle Berry not only became the first African American to win a Best Actress Academy Award that night, but she also launched Elie Saab into the sartorial stratosphere. This was Berry’s and Saab’s shining moment and everything since then has been an enormous letdown. On both their parts.

Barbra Streisand (1969) Eschewing tradition and helping to usher in a new generation of movie star, Babs wore a see-through sequined sailor pantsuit by Arnold Scaasi. It was a big gamble but La Streisand came out the winner and made history by tying for Best Actress with Katharine Hepburn when they won for Funny Girl and Lion in Winter, respectively. Kate chose not to attend because, honestly, it was her third (of four) Oscars and she couldn’t have been bothered.

Celine Dion (1999) Was it a stroke of genius that caused Celine Dion to turn her Christian Dior blazer back-to-front or did she simply forget to take her medication that day? Either way, Celine was memorable the year after her heart went on and on to win Best Original Song (though the award itself went to the songwriters, I. Dunno and No-one Cares).

Nicole Kidman (1997) Nikki Kids was a greenhorn on the red carpet before this Dior gown and became one of its reigning queens after. Though she gave an incredible performance the previous year in To Die For, she won in 2003 for her brilliant portrayal of Virginia Woolf in the saddest movie ever made, otherwise known as The Hours. Nominated this year for her third Oscar for Rabbit Hole, she’s got some big shoes to fill: her own.

Anjelica Huston (1976) Former Halston model Anjelica Huston looked flawless and managed to do what few people can claim: take attention away from Jack Nicholson, who won his first of three Oscars that year for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Huston would claim her own statuette, for Best Supporting Actress, a decade later for Prizzi’s Honor, also starring Nicholson.

Sharon Stone (1999) I usually spell “batshit crazy” S-H-A-R-O-N-S-T-O-N-E, but Stone looked the picture of elegance in a Vera Wang skirt paired with a Gap button down. The marriage of high and low was made in heaven that night, though I still couldn’t tell you why she was at the ceremony that year. But like most things with Sharon Stone, I don’t question it.

Björk (2001) The dress that launched a thousand jokes, Björk’s Marjan Pejoski swan dress was perhaps the last epic thing to stroll down the Oscar red carpet. Nommed for Best Original Song that year, Björk may have left empty-handed but no one will ever forget that she was there.

Who will leave tongues hanging or heads scratching at this year’s Academy Awards. Of the 10 Best Lead and Supporting Actress nominees, I’m most looking forward to Kidman, teen breakthrough Hailee Steinfeld (as well as peer Elle Fanning who will get her own nomination one day), the almost always flawless Michelle Williams and kooky Helena Bonham Carter.

Unfortunately, Natalie Portman is preggers so naturally I have no interest in what she’s wearing and just hope her water doesn’t break while accepting her award.

Photos: Vogue UK, Time

Though I, and no one else with possible exception of the Hollywood Foreign Press, saw Frankie & Alice, those giant earrings were enough to spark interest.  Also of note, that stunning curly afro.

But other than that, Halle hasn’t really been known for her wardrobe in her films. That is, unless you count her masterwork, B.A.P.S. Which I do.

Here are some of Berry’s more memorable gallavants through costume designer land to tide you over til the eagerly anticipated Annual Costume Designer Awards.

Honestly, try and contain yourself.

Boomerang (1992)

A relative unknown at the time, Halle was determined to be noticed as Eddie Murphy‘s love interest in the 90s typical subtle tones.

The Flintstones (1994)

Elizabeth Taylor‘s last feature film — way to cap a brilliant career, Liz —The Flintstones was also notable for Halle’s sexy Ms. Stone and her tempting mid-riff. Yabba-dabba-do it girl.

B.A.P.S (1997)

One word: genius. Three more words: Black American Princesses. And they certainly are royalty, what with those crowns of hair, those pleather suits and their claws painted the color of dreams. Screw Monster’s Ball, throw the Oscar at Halle for this gem.

Die Another Day (2002)

After the Ball, Halle Berry: Action Star was born. This Bond flick was the first in a series of ass-kicking roles for Berry and she entered this new arena by recreating Ursula Andress‘s iconic bikini-clad entrance from Dr. No.

Catwoman (2004)

And then there was this. In the slew of superhero movies that Hollywood studios have literally shat out since the new millennium, few can rival Catwoman for plain old awfulness. The first misstep was her costume, which is a safety pin away from stripper evening-wear.

Another misstep, casting Sharon Stone as a villainous woman who refuses to age and develops diamond hard skin. Who wants to see Sharon Stone play herself?

Photos: IMDb

Vosovic’s collection was absolutely gorgeous, I wanted everything that walked down that dirt runway. You can see better photos of the collection at Style.com, but this was my little camera’s attempt at some first row action.

The 1963 film starring Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra is filled with a style that is still relevant in fashion. I could definitely see some of her gowns being worn in today’s world—like this deep v, bright yellow dress she’s wearing here. Keep reading…

I also love these different asymmetrical dresses seen here.

She also had some very intricate and dazzling head and hair pieces throughout the film, which definitely reflect the ancient Egyptian style.

The film said to have almost bankrupted 20th Century Fox, due to the elaborate costumes & sets— but I say it was well worth it because the costumes are stunning.

As if Marc Jacobs didn’t have enough obnoxious tattoos, he recently told fellow designer, Anna Sui, about his new ink: “Elizabeth Taylor from Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? with 3-D sunglasses on.” Images aren’t yet released, but I’m sure they’ll rouse a good laugh once the photogs get wind. 

Thanks Fashionologie!

Agyness Deyn as the new Twiggy

January Jones as the new Veronica Lake

Natalie Portman as the new Audrey Hepburn

Celebrities from back in the day are making quite the resurgence on the red carpet! Although they might not be carbon copy styles, current lime-lighters are certainly walking in the foot steps of silver screen alumni, leaving future celebrities with major style shoes to fill! I am absolutely loving Aggy’s edgy geometric play on Twiggy’s signature version of the page-boy coif! And Dita Von Teese couldn’t have modernized Elizabeth Taylor any better! 

Linkage: Hollywood Hair Then And Now (Elle)