Alan and Jimmy Au’s interview with NBC’s Style Goes Strong on The Oscars!

Fashion Police: Men’s Oscar Style – Epic Fail

Tips and tricks to really look good in a tuxedo and bow tie

I thought we were going to be talking about how to dress shorter men, when I began a conversation with Alan Au of the country’s only short men’s designer store, Jimmy Au’s for Men 5’8″ and Under. Being that it’s located in Beverly Hills, you can imagine that they have quite the celebrity clientele.

But also being that we’re still on the tails of the Oscars, that was the topic topmost in mind. Still, I was surprised when Alan Au proclaimed the Oscars a “Stylist Fail” for men’s dressing.

I related a red carpet exchange I watched between Brad Pitt and Tim Gunn, about how much easier it is for men to get dressed – just put on your tuxedo and go. (Although Tim Gunn did admit to Maya Rudolph that he was also wearing shapewear – yes, they have shapewear for men.)

Tuxedo Trappings
But Alan said Brad Pitt got it wrong! What? “He had on a skinny cropped jacket. One type of guy who can’t wear that: someone who’s athletically fit. It just doesn’t work on them.”

P. Diddy aka Sean Combs apparently fell into the same trap. Proportion is key – for balance.”

So I submitted Gary Oldman as most dapper. Virtual hand-slap! Ouch. “His 3-piece? Too busy, especially with that quarter-inch trim…. Maybe if it had been an eighth of an inch.”

Wha…?

Yes, it gets down to that fine a point with men’s fashion. It reminded me of my conversation with Modern Gentlemen expert Jason Tesauro on men’s gloves. He had said men’s fashion was varied, but subtle.

So subtle it can get down to the width of your trim as to whether you’re well dressed or not. I should have paid closer attention.

The knotty issue of bow ties
Almost no one had a good bow tie either, according to Au.

If the bow tie is real, that is, really tied – then it’s OK if it’s slightly off.

But if it is a clip on … it has to be straight. What happens most often, Au says, is that the bow is perfect, but the clasp is off so the bow tie goes askew. Which just screams CLIP-ON.

Also, beware a too-small bow tie – it will make your face look fat, Au says.

A good bow tie should be the width of your face, I’m not 100% sure how that works, but next time I’m near a bunch of men in bow ties, you can bet I’ll have a measuring tape with me.

Emerging Trends
Au said he saw a lot of cummerbunds being worn, something that hasn’t happened in quite a while.

But.

There’s always a but-ton. The men were buttoning their single-breasted jackets. No, no, no. The WHOLE point of a cummerbund is to not button the jacket.

Tuxedo Rules
Clearly there needs to be a rulebook in the inside jacket pocket of every tuxedo. Because Today’s Man doesn’t know the rules.

Jonah Hill broke ’em, according to Au. Well, not broke so much as… you already fixed it, dude. Hill lost a lot of weight recently, Au and several red carpet commentators noted, so he didn’t need to wear the black-on-black look. And, his pants were too big, so it looked like a loaner.

A white shirt with a peak-lapel jacket would have worked better. Definitely not (another) cropped shawl-lapel jacket – these are for skinny guys, tall or short, Au insists. Maybe Hill was just copying his hero and Moneyball co-star, Brad Pitt.

Thumbs up in a tux
OK, so who looked good?

“George Clooney – very classic.” Big surprise.

“Jason Segal, the guy from The Muppets movie.” Really? Well, it was a sartorial extravaganza.

“Christopher Plummer.” Oh good. “The jacket was perhaps a little bigger in the shoulder than he needed. He chose to be a little daring with the velvet.  It was age-appropriate.”

“Thomas Langmann, The Artist producer.” Hmmm. To me he looked like a reincarnated/ modern-day Peter Lorre. But hey, Alan, look at him here, his shirt is untucked. Au says fitted shirts are a waning trend, so get them while you can. They stay tucked in much better and are more slimming.

Finally I ventured Tom Hanks. I loved the grey in his beard. A big thumbs-up from Au! Whew. Not only did he have a great bow tie, he wore a trend Au had been hoping to see a lot of but was sorely disappointed – the double-breasted tux. Tom Hanks already has two Oscars – now he’s won Best Tuxedo.

See original article at http://style.lifegoesstrong.com/article/fashion-police-men-s-oscar-style-epic-fail

Get Fit Like Actor Channing Tatum With Health Tips From His Nutritionist Jackie Keller

STUDIO CITY (CBS) — Celebrity  wellness coach and founder of Nutrifit Jackie Keller stopped by the KCAL9 studios Tuesday to share tips on staying healthy!

Keller recently worked with actor Channing Tatum to stay healthy leading up to shooting his most recent movie, “The Vow.”

She is also the a wellness and nutrition coach to numerous celebrities, including Angelina Jolie, Reese Witherspoon, Uma Thurman, Charlize Theron, Penelope Cruz, Susan Sarandon, Will Ferrell, and Anne Hathaway to name a few.

NutriFit specializes in fresh, gourmet, customized and delivered meal programs that are tailored to accommodate an individual’s health and lifestyle needs. Their goal is to promote long-term health by providing full service nutritional support, including delicious, gourmet meals, wellness coaching, and health-related products.

For more on Keller, visit her online.

NEXT! Free open competition to emerging playwrights

NEXT! Free open competition to emerging playwrights

An educational outreach program to discover new writing voices for the stage.  Diane Namm – Writer/Director and Founder of West of Broadway will mentor three young playwrights from script to stage.  Playwrights will participate in casting, design and production of their One Acts.  NEXT! Opens on April 27^th, 2012 at the Miles Playhouse.  Next! Closes on May 19^th, 2012, a total of four performance weekends.  NO ENTRY FEE REQUIRED.

Submissions Period: February 3rd, 2012 through March 9^th, 2012. All submissions must be postmarked no later than March 9^th, 2012.

Criteria:

1.      Only current full time students from grade 10 to college seniors. Graduate students are not eligible. All enrollment must be verified.

2.     The writers may not have been published professionally in the field of theatrical writing.

3.      The writers may not have a play previously produced at any level.

4.     The play must be in the format of a traditional One Act structure.

5.     The play may not be shorter than 20 pages or longer than 30 pages.

6.     Multiple plays may be submitted by individual playwrights, but as separate submissions.

7.     The plays must either be original works or based on works that are in the public domain. Writers must own the copyright for any and all works that they submit.

The Prize:  West of Broadway will produce the Selected Works in a series of One Acts. WOB will provide professional services for each produced play.

If WOB selects the Project as one of the winners of the Competition, WOB shall have the non-exclusive right, but not the obligation, to produce and perform the Project as a live stage play at one or more theatres in and around the Los Angeles area (the “Performances).  If the Project is produced by WOB, WOB will donate a portion of any net proceeds from such Performances to the drama/fine arts department at the school you currently attend (or, if the drama/fine arts department does not accept donations, then such donation shall go to the school itself).  As used herein, “proceeds” means any ticket sales from the Performances received by WOB less all costs incurred by WOB in producing the Performances. An additional portion of the proceeds will be dedicated to a scholarship fund for the winning playwrights.

FAQS:

Q:  Is there an entry fee?

A:  No.

Q: Do I get to direct and/or act in my play?

A: No.

Q: Can my friends be in the play?

A: They may audition, but there is no guarantee that they will be cast in the play.  The casting of each play is solely at the discretion of WOB and its directors.

Q: Do I get paid?

A: No. See the above “Prize”section for more details.

Q: Will my play be made into a movie?

A: Not by us.

Q: Who are you guys?

A: Please go to http://www.westofbroadway.org for details about our organization and our production staff.

Q: How do I enter?

A: Glad you asked, see below for more information.

HOW TO ENTER:

Go to https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&batch_id=T2djWGJQcGtlcEpqQThUQw

Download, print out, fill in and send a signed release form (https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&batch_id=T2djWGJQcGtlcEpqQThUQw) and a hard copy of your play (printed on three-hole punch paper with two brads) to West of Broadway/Diane Namm, 22631 Pacific Coast Hwy. #912, Malibu, CA 90265. All entries must be accompanied by a fully executed release form and postmarked MARCH 9^th, 2012.  Entries postmarked after that date will be discarded.   No materials will be returned. Please refer to the criteria above.  Submissions that do not abide by criteria will not be considered.  WOB reserves the sole right to select the Participants, and the right to verify that all criteria is met, including, but not limited to, current enrollment in an academic institution.  GOOD LUCK!

New York Magazine Interviews Alan of Jimmy Au’s and gets expert fashion opinion

Which Oscar Men Dressed Best for Their Body Type?

By Charlotte Cowles

It’s a well-known fact that many actors are much shorter in real life than they appear onscreen. Their cover is blown when they show up on a red carpet looking like gnomes next to their high-heeled female counterparts. Luckily, just as lady celebrities have stylists to spiff them up, male celebrities have helpers, too. Enter Alan Au, men’s stylist and co-owner of Jimmy Au’s For Men 5’8” and Under, a Hollywood-based designer menswear store for gentlemen of petite stature. Alan and his father Jimmy have outfitted many big stars (fame-wise, at least) like Nathan Lane, Martin Sheen, and Mark Wahlberg for red carpets in the past. Although this year’s Oscar nominees were an unusually tall bunch, Alan weighed in on the importance of dressing according to one’s body type to look as statuesque as possible. See his commentary in our slideshow.

Tom Cruise

“Tom Cruise looked really sharp. I questioned the size of his peaked lapel a little bit; I might have chosen a skinnier peaked lapel. But being that he’s more of an athletic guy, I think this worked well for him.”

Mario Lopez

“Skinny lapels are a trend right now, but they make you look boxy if you’re broad-shouldered. Mario should have gone for a bigger lapel and a longer jacket. A cropped jacket can make you look like a refrigerator if you have an athletic build.”

Brad Pitt

“The one guy who doesn’t look good in a skinny cropped jacket is the athletic guy. A great example of a well-tailored jacket on the wrong person is what Brad Pitt wore. He wore a cropped jacket that was tailored to perfection, but the look was wrong. When you have that kind of a broad shoulder at his height, the jacket looks way too short. If you look at him you can see it’s very well put together, but it doesn’t look right to me.”

Billy Crystal

“Billy Crystal and Tom Cruise are about the same size, and what worked for both of them was that everything was really well-tailored. I think Crystal’s outfit was made-to-measure. I was concerned about the tails, because tails on a shorter guy can really look bad, but his turned out just right. If they hit at the right point on your legs, they can look great on a shorter guy, but too long is a disaster.”

Zach Galifianakis

“Zach Galifianakis is another short guy who went with tails. I know he was just trying to be funny, but it still looked appropriate. At least it fit well.”

Antonio Banderas

“One of my biggest frustrations when I see guys on red carpets is that they don’t fix their pants. The moment they get out of their limos, they’re in front of cameras: No guy gets the opportunity to fix his pants. You need that ten seconds of time to adjust your pants so that they’re sitting at your waist again, and the bottom of the pants break correctly at your feet. Everybody’s pants looked like they were too long because they’re pushed down from sitting. Every guy should really wear suspenders if they’re not going to take their jackets off.”

See all 12 of Alan’s expert fashion opinion at http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2012/02/which-oscar-men-dressed-for-their-body-type.html

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Dr. Tony Nakhla speaks on Billy Crystal’s alleged plastic surgery with the Orange County Register

Oscars: Plastic surgery awards go to …?

By MARILYN KALFUS / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Few A-listers announce they’ve had cosmetic procedures. But big awards shows and the web heighten the scrutiny. Who looked polished to a gleam at the 2012 Academy Awards? And who could’ve used work?

So, was it that obvious?

Hollywood’s Botoxed, filled, peeled, cut and/or lasered faces drew plenty of snark around the web throughout the Academy Awards show on Sunday night.

“Zombieland is on FX,” a tweet read. “Compared to the Oscars, it’s funnier, shorter, and the zombies have had less plastic surgery.”

Even Kate Walsh got in on the act, urging her fellow actresses to stop it already with all the plastic surgery (we’ve cleaned up her tweet a bit here): “dear Hollywood actresses, stop ——g up your faces, it’s looking [like] the bar scene in Star Wars.” (Uh, for the record, she gets laser treatments.)

Host Billy Crystal, looking smooth at 63, bore the brunt of the critical feedback.

“Crystal’s plastic surgery is so off-putting,” Nikki Finke wrote in Deadline Hollywood. “His face looks like it was ironed — and I swear I can still see the scorch marks.”

Dr. Tony Nakhla, medical director of OC Skin Institute, told us, “Part of what looks off in Billy’s case is his eyelid job, which appears a bit feminized. I think his surgeon took too much skin off of the upper lids and left too much fat. Also, his skin appears a bit opaque and thinned out, most likely from an overdone facelift plus or minus an overly aggressive laser resurfacing.”

But Crystal actually looked improved over 2011, in plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow’s view. “Billy looked better on TV this year than last,” the Newport Beach doctor told this blog. “Maybe some of his treatments are finally wearing off a bit.”

And eternally youthful Tom Cruise, who presented the award for best picture, also drew his share of dropped jaws and detractors.

“Tom Cruise is totally Benjamin Buttoning” @Buzzfeed tweeted, referring to the movie character who kept getting younger.

“I don’t think he’s found the Fountain of Youth, but he’s done the next best thing — found a good plastic surgeon,” celebrity-watching Dr. Anthony Youn said in Today.com. “He looks like someone who has had a plethora of the best cosmetic treatments available.”

One Today.com reader, though, saw a practical reason for that:

“He’s an actor. His looks are part of what make him bankable. As long as we want our leading men to be young and fit, stuff like this will happen. Supporting roles don’t pay as much.”

Of course, some movie stars aren’t eligible to win a plastic surgery award. Though looking quite dapper in a black bow-tie, we know this one just didn’t qualify:

Read the original article: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/nip-342191-oscars-tucks.html

Dr. Tony Nakhla talks with Fox News about celebrity dermatological procedures

How much do Oscar invitees really pay for their red carpet looks?

By Hollie McKay FoxNews.com

Published February 24, 2012

The Academy Awards is filled with actresses who look like a million bucks. But in truth, the star might actually be worth more than a million bucks, and pay almost nothing at all.

Let’s start with the ladies’ designer duds.

One requires — requires — a stylist to coordinate their outfit, and top-notch stylists can typically cost up to six thousand dollars per day. The designer gown can be worth upwards of $15 grand, and on top that, $1,000 or so bucks worth of intricate tailoring/seamstress work is often need for the perfect fit. Then there’s the (insert-couture-brand-name here) clutch and shoes which are likely to each be worth a few hundred if not a few thousand each, and the embellishment of jewels.

 An Oscar-worthy actress will typically don diamonds, gold, rubies, sapphires and emeralds worth between five hundred thousand to a million dollars.

But most of time, these goodies disappear in a POOF! the next day like Cinderella’s coach.

“The celebrity returns their dress, shoes, jewels and handbag,” style expert Lindsay Albanese explained. “Celebrities usually don’t pay anything out-of-pocket for their outfit, unless it’s a pair of shoes or something they are dying to keep.”

Now let’s move to hair and face.

“The makeup and hair stylist will each receive $1,500 to $4,000 for their contributions,” said Emmy Award-winning stylist and author, David Zyla. “And think about the expenses incurred 24 hours prior – tanning, waxing, teeth whitening, getting a haircut and color, mani/pedi and a facial.”

But that’s not where all the “little” expenses end.  There’s the hotel suites for dress changing, transportation services, as well as brow shaping and lash extensions.

“You cannot overlook even the slightest detail when it comes to Oscar night. You can’t forget nails, massage, nanny, underwear, the perfect push-up bra, and ‘Spanx’ to suck you in so you look your slimmest,” celebrity life and business strategist Suzannah Galland explained. “Also be sure to order flowers to your home to feel good about yourself and in case you have people over after the show, and make sure you have plenty of breath mints in your purse. There’s a lot the public won’t see.”

That includes the intense process many stars undergo weeks prior in an effort to whittle their middle – meal delivery services or private chefs and nutritionists are often brought in, in addition to a personal trainer.

“You won’t see many A-listers down at the local gym. I hear trainers-to-the-stars won’t show up for a session for less than $300 a session,” Catt Sadler of E! News told us.

A large portion of the glitterati even turn to scalpels and sponges in an effort to look their best.  Dr. Tony Nakhla, a high-end Beverly Hills dermatologist, said the cosmetic concierge services he provides to talent in the days prior can run up to $30,000! His consultation fee alone is $7,000.

His most common beautifying services?

“Filler injections in the lips, for cheek bone augmentation, overall facial re-volumizing and hand rejuvenation,” Nakhla said. “The vast majority also undergo a combination of all three, individually tailored to their needs.”

Dermatologist Dr. Glenn Kolansky said that Oscar ladies will often get Botox or Dysport to keep their foreheads free from creases, and maybe laser resurfacing or chemical peels, costing in the high hundreds. Celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Tony Youn also says Botox in the armpits is key to stop one from sweating (this will put the star about $1,000 dollars out-of-pocket). Liposonix, at $3,000 per treatment, may also be needed to blast away fat cells without surgery.

And while its commonly assumed that celebrities get all their “work” done for free by surgeons and dermatologists, Nakhla stressed that none of his services are complimentary.

So who pays for the all primping, priming, personal services and glamour gurus?

“The studio usually pays for all of this,” said Hollywood publicist Jack Ketsoyan, who also reminded us that the Oscar budget needs to cater to those who don’t live in Hollywood. “If it’s a big star they’ll hire their own private security, and they’ll use a private jet to get to L.A…. And they’ll need five star accommodation. Not to mention flying in family and friends from out-of-state.”

So what’s the damage at the end of the day?

On Oscar night, your “average” star has consumed about $75,000 worth of goods and services, not including any extraneous costs like private jets and bringing guests to the ball. Your over the top triple A-list lady? Over $1 million.

How much do they pay out of their own pocket?

About $2,000 for beauty treatments and a further $5,000 for services in the weeks prior… so, about  $7,000. The rest is on the studio’s tab, is loaned/borrowed, or is gifted/donated from the provider who wants a brush with star power.

But, as Ketsoyan notes, “you can’t put a value on the Oscars. It’s the biggest night in the world.”

Indeed.

Dr. Tony Nakhla Dr. Tony N. Nakhla is a Board Certified Dermatologist, Dermatologic Surgeon, Medical Director of OC Skin Institute.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2012/02/24/how-much-do-oscar-invitees-really-pay-for-their-red-carpet-looks/#ixzz1ndQyz7r7

Alan Thicke featured in Comic Bible Magazine

Celebrity Dr. Nakhla Reveals Best Foods for Health and Beauty

Young Leaf White Tea Brewed is an anti-inflammatory and less caffeinated than Green Tea.

Ever wish you knew the secret to slimdown success and glowing skin of those glamorous, slim celebrities portrayed in glossy magazines? Now you can, from famed doctor-to-the-stars Dr. Tony Nakhla, who’s famed as the Medical Director of the OC Skin Institute and author of The Skin Commandments: 10 Rules to Healthy, Beautiful Skin!

Dr. Nakhla’s 5 top foods for health and beauty are:

1. Chia seeds. Packed with Omega3‘s, chia seeds are easily digested in the GI tract, unlike flax seeds which have a thicker shell. Omega 3 fats are essential for optimal water retention in skin cells keeping the skin plump and hydrated.
2. Blueberries. This anthocyanidin packed fruit boasts powerful free radical fighting capacity.
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3. White tea. Brewed from the young leaf buds of green tea, white tea is bursting with polyphenols. White tea is also anti-inflammatory and contains less caffeine than green tea.
4. Porcini mushrooms – contain trace amount of the super antioxidant and anti-inflammatory amino acid Ergothioneine. Ergothioneine protects the skin against the ravages of UV light, fending off the signs of aging, among many other benefits. Ergothioneine travels throughout the body to sites of dysfunction thru its own transport system encoded in human DNA, a property unique to this incredible antioxidant. Ergothioneine is best obtained in supplement form or when it is topically applied to the skin.
5. Wild salmon- contains high levels of omega 3 fats in perfect ratio to omega 6 fats, both essential for water retention in the skin. Wild salmon is also rich in the antioxidant astaxanthin.
Continue reading on Examiner.com Celebrity doctor reveals 5 best foods for health and beauty – National diets | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/diets-in-national/celebrity-doctor-reveals-5-best-foods-for-health-and-beauty#ixzz1nLXGorCJ

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Dr. Nakhla talks nip-tuck; in your face with Kate Walsh nude

Kate Walsh on Cover of Shape Magazine

Actress Kate Walsh says Botox and scalpels aren’t for her. But like Gwyneth Paltrow, she says she’s fine with another type of cosmetic medicine: Laser treatments.

See more photos of Kate Walsh here.

She’s in Shape

“TV‘s Kate Walsh bares all. How she stays this hot at 44,” shouts the red-lettered cover line on the March issue of Shape.

Inside the magazine, the “Private Practice” actress is quoted as saying, “We live in a strange time when getting plastic surgery is as common as dyeing your hair. But in my profession, I need a malleable face. Everyone has her line in the sand. I draw mine at facials and laser treatments.”

She adds, “If others want to go a step further, it’s their call.”

That sounds a lot like what Gwyneth Paltrow said in Harper’s Bazaar recently. Paltrow said she’ll pass on the Botox in favor of doing  “little things, like lasers.”

Neither Walsh nor Paltrow have said what type of laser treatments they get. But going the laser route can be pretty rigorous — and it can get expensive for those who aren’t earning Hollywood salaries.

When people talk about lasers,  it can mean “a 15-minute job or .. a 2-hour job with 2 weeks of down time, with peeling, redness and crusting,” says Dr. Tony Nakhla, medical director of OC Skin Institute and author of the book, “The Skin Commandments”.

There are different lasers for all kinds of skin problems, from zapping freckles, red splotches or broken blood vessels to the more involved work of resurfacing the skin to get rid of wrinkles, says Nakhla, who counts entertainment industry types among his clients.

The 15-minute job runs about $350.

The 2-hour job? That’ll cost you $3,000. Twice a year.

By the way, Nakhla says Botox gets a bad rap on the face-freezing front. It can get rid of wrinkles without having that effect. “That (patients’ expectations that their faces will freeze) is a misconception,” he says.

But that’s another post.

So how do you think Walsh looks? Want to see how she’s changed through the years?

Article Originally By MARILYN KALFUS / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Karen Kondazian discusses “The Whip” Novel with Peter Robinson from NPR

Karen Kondazian discusses “The Whip” Novel with Peter Robinson from NPR

Join author Karen Kondazian and NPR radio book critic Peter Robinson, (in an old Wells Fargo Stagecoach) as they talk about her critically acclaimed novel “The Whip”.