With 225 designer handbags -– all stuffed with Dior beauty products -- for sale in a silent auction at Tuesday's annual P.S. Arts Bag Lunch, guests didn’t just arrive on time. They came early to Heather Thomas Brittenham’s Santa Monica home to plan their bidding strategy.    

“This is such madness,” said Emmy Rossum of “Shameless.” “You would think they were giving the bags away for free.”

Sharon Stone said she was considering a classic orange purse, which she called “chic” and “old-school,” while Kristin Davis of “Sex and the City” said she was waiting for the frenzy to die down before making her choices. An event host, Davis explained that funds would go toward restoring arts education in public schools. “I was a good student in school, but the arts were what I felt most connected to. It’s so sad that, that’s what getting cut.”

Also among those surveying the merchandise were Sophia Bush, Calista Flockhart, Shiva Rose, Kaley Cuoco, Lisa Rinna, Perrey Reeves, Abigail Spencer and Melissa Rivers, plus event organizers George Kotsiopoulos of “Fashion Police,” Elizabeth Stewart, Diane Vavra, Maria Bell, Julia Sorkin, Jen Rade, Kelly Fisher Katz, Allison Olesky, Marilyn Heston, Carla Sands and Jill Chayet. With more than 200 guests shopping, sipping Champagne and dining on paper-bag lunches, the day's tally topped $150,000.

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-- Ellen Olivier

Photo: Emmy Rossum Credit: Donato Sardella / WireImage

On Thursday in the window of the mid-Wilshire boutique Des Kohan, flashes of strong color and bold ethnic prints stood out among the body-conscious and deeper-toned Azzedine Alaia, Preen and Helmut Lang items the store has become known for.

The brightly hued shift-style dresses were from writer Julia Chaplin’s new clothing line Gypset, named for her 2009 book ("Gypset Style") which chronicles the equatorial holiday destinations of some of history’s most interesting and creative jet setters.

The New York based Chaplin is herself very much of the Gypset crowd, listing during the evening a few exotic locales (Kenya, Venice and Idra, a small island in Greece) she plans to visit this summer.

Her collection is filled with five styles of dresses and a few sarongs, all of which are done in wild shades of orange, green, blue and yellow, one style even trimmed with crispy strands of raffia at the shoulders. Needless to say, everything in the line either makes you want to take a vacation or reminds you of somewhere sunny and warm you have visited.

To break up all the intense color and pattern on the Gypset dresses, store owner Des Kohan commissioned YSL accessories designer Annie Costello Brown to create deep-chocolate-colored leather wrap belts that paired nicely with each dress. And while the evening was meant to spotlight the Gypset debut, Kohan also had Alaia’s summer collection flown in just in time for the event, adding another drool-worthy rack of clothes for guests to shop -- which they did. Fifteen per cent of the night's proceeds went to benefit the Jane Goodall Institute.

In Los Angeles, the Gypset line is exclusively at Des Kohan and ranges from $120 for sarongs to $275 -- $350 for dresses.

-- Melissa Magsaysay

Photos, from top: The Gypset line in the window at Des Kohan; Kohan and Julia Chaplin. Credit: A. Wyman/WireImage

Looking back on 25 years of the "The Oprah Winfrey Show" is like looking into a fashion time capsule. The talk show titan has worn it all -- from big hair to big shoulders to big ball gowns. She's gone with makeup and without, hidden her lumps under Spanx, and showed off her curves in skinny jeans. She is America's fashion realist.

Beyond what she's worn herself, Oprah has been influential in bringing fashion into America's living rooms, and putting it in the pantheon of pop culture. Bridging the divide between Seventh Avenue and Main Street, she's invited such designers as J. Crew's Jenna Lyons, Tory Burch, Diane von Furstenberg and Michael Kors onto her show. Extending their democratic reach may have added fuel to the phenomenon of designers launching inexpensive lines and one-time cheap chic collaborations.

Oprah treated countless members of her audience to makeovers with experts such as Bobbi Brown and Frederic Fekkai. And the styles she featured on her "Oprah's Favorite Things" holiday freebie bonanzas famously sold out within hours (including Ugg boots and cashmere cable knit Ralph Lauren sweaters). Just last week, she visited Ralph Lauren's Telluride Ranch. (Oprah introduced Lauren when he received a special award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2007.)

But Oprah has also reflected the struggles most women have fitting into fashion, both literally and figuratively. We watched her weight go up and down, and sympathized when she was snubbed at the Hermes store in Paris. Her weakness for expensive Christian Louboutin shoes -- or any shoes really -- is well known, and totally relatable. She featured the French designer's shoes on the show, calling them "little pieces of sculpture" and once gifted Jessica Seinfeld 21 pairs.

She never dressed for a man, she dressed for herself. And her love of the finer things reinforced the American ideal that if you work hard enough, no matter what size you are, you too can have the best  fashion has to offer -- even if it's custom-made, which many of her designer gowns were. 

Oprah cleaned out her closets several times, selling castoffs at the Oprah store in Chicago, or on EBay, with proceeds going to charity. But throughout it all, she wasn't ashamed to display her love of clothes and style, even talking fashion with First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House. 

What's next for Oprah? Who knows, but a fashion line wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility. Something tells me it would be successful in every channel.

-- Booth Moore

PHOTOS:

A look at Oprah Winfrey's style over the years

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Photo: Oprah Winfrey acknowledges fans during a star-studded double-taping of "Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular, in Chicago. Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press.

Less than two days after I posted about Vans' new custom boardshort program through Shortomatic.com, the folks at boardsport behemoth Quiksilver fired off an email to let me know that they'd launched a similar program just a month and a half earlier.

And, at first glance, it looks stunningly similar.

Fans are either mourning or celebrating after Tuesday night's finale of "Dancing With the Stars," but the dance-obsessed need not worry. "So You Think You Can Dance" returns to Fox on Thursday. And with it, Cat Deeley, one of today's most interesting celebs -- at least from a fashion perspective.

To explain, consider this: Most modern celebrities are tied to an entourage responsible for maintaining the star’s image. At a minimum, that team includes agents, managers, publicists, hair and makeup artists and, increasingly, the ever-critical stylist.

It’s the stylist who crafts the perception of a celebrity, one that just may remain in the public eye in perpetuity. Think back to Anne Hathaway’s 2011 Oscar tuxedo, brought to life by Rachel Zoe. Or Natalie Portman’s Viktor & Rolf floral moment at the Golden Globes -- whether you loved or hated it (and reports went both ways), it was the guidance of stylist Kate Young that birthed that moment in red-carpet history.

The pressure of choosing just the right outfit is not to be underestimated. Which is why it comes as something of a surprise to learn that Cat Deeley, former model and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” has never had a stylist -- not for the show and not for any L.A. events she attends.

“Fashion should be fun and individual,” she said over ice tea at the Polo Lounge. “It should be all about taking a look and interpreting it as your own.” And that is precisely what Deeley does.

She is the first to admit her flaws. “I’m not good at the ’50s -- the silhouette doesn’t suit me,” she says. “I look really butch in it, so I stay away from that.” Ultimately, Deeley chooses what makes her feel good. “I like to style myself because I don’t think anybody ever knows how you are gonna feel on the day. I don’t care who you are. You could be Keira Knightley or Elizabeth Taylor, and some days you wake up and just don’t feel great. And if you’re uncomfortable, it affects your confidence.”

When it comes to fashion and style, Deeley says her inspiration comes from “strong, intelligent women from different generations.”

What it isn't about is expensive labels. “I try to be aspirational but also attainable. I know most of the audience is made up of young girls, so I might wear earrings from Top Shop if I like the look of them,” she says. “And I don’t mind wearing things twice -- I think everybody does it.”

Deeley says producers have never vetoed her look. “Don’t get me wrong. I sometimes walk out of my dressing room, and they literally all look at me like this” -- her eyes widen, and her jaw drops. “They just think I’m this bonkers English eccentric.”

Still, she isn’t bothered. “The whole thing with my look is people either love it or hate it. But at least they have an opinion, and that’s all that matters.”

PHOTOS: Cat Deeley's favorite fashion choices from the show

-- Raha Lewis

Photo: Cat Deeley during Season 7 of the show in a dress by Lanvin and shoes by Sergio Rossi. Credit:  Matthieu Young / Fox

After several months of dark hair, singer Fergie has gone back to blond -- similar to her hair color last fall. She showed off the blond locks at the Billboard Music Awards over the weekend. Who can keep up with celebrity hair color changes? [People]

Jennifer Aniston recently dyed her hair brown, but that doesn't really count. She just did it for her role in the film "Horrible Bosses." In "real life" she prefers her normal blonder color, her stylist assures.  [Us]

Michelle Obama wore a lovely ivory goddess gown by Tom Ford at Tuesday night's Queen's State Dinner at Buckingham Palace and it was as interesting a diplomatic choice as it was a fashion pick. Ford is an American designer who shows in both New York and London and who maintains design headquarters in the latter, just a short walk from the palace. The choice underscored the United States and Britain's "special relationship," according to pundits. [Telegraph]

Queen Elizabeth II wore white for the dinner as well. In her majesty's case, it was a crystal-studded empire-line ballgown, with the Grand Duchess Vladimir's diamond tiara, Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee necklace, the Garter Sash and Star. Don't you just love a heritage where even the bling has names? [Telegraph]

White seems to be the color to watch, at least this week. I wrote earlier this week about the elegant white pantsuit Rihanna wore on the Billboard Awards red carpet. Now our Jenn Harris tells you how to recreate the look in her Frugal Fashion column.

Kim Kardashian's beau, New Jersey Nets forward Kris Humprhies, has popped the quesion, and Kim has the sparkler to prove it: a custom-designed, 20.5-carat Lorraine Schwartz diamond sparkler. "I just knew I wanted it to be big," Humphries said. Good choice, buddy. Everything in Kim's life is over-the-top, so the ring needed to be, too. Over-the-top? Well, her engagement party featured two glitter-covered mini-horses.  [People]

Celebs by the swarm are teaming with Uniqlo to raise money for Japanese Red Cross. Uniqlo expects to raise about $1.2 million for disaster relief by selling T-shirts designed by notables including Lady Gaga, Blake Lively, Karl Lagerfeld, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Kidman, Alber Elbaz, Charlize Theron, Cyndi Lauper, Victoria Beckham and Orlando Bloom. The tees go on sale June 25 for $19.90 each. The benefit effort is in addition to $12 million that Tadashi Yanai, chairman and chief executive of Uniqlo’s parent company, Fast Retailing Co., has personally donated and more than $10 million in clothing and money the retailer previously gave to aid the earthquake-devastated country. [WWD]

The dress Lady Gaga wore in the finale of Nicola Formichetti's Mugler show was listed for sale at $20,000 on private flash sale site Gilt Groupe ... and shockingly no one bought it. [Cut]

Diane von Furstenberg is coming out with a new scent, Diane, which she describes as a fragrance in which she wanted "to put the power of women in a bottle." [WWD] (Subscription required)

-- Susan Denley

Photos, from top: Black Eyed Peas will.i.am, left, Taboo, a newly blond Fergie and apl.de.ap accept the Top Duo or Group award at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas last weekend; Queen Elizabeth II, President Obama, Michelle Obama and the Duke of Edinburgh pose for a photo op at Tuesday's State Dinner in London. Credits: Ethan Miller / Getty Images for ABC; Larry Downing / Reuters

The fashion at music events can be transfixing -- more compelling, at times, than the Oscars. The attendees seem a little less stuffy; the dresses and personalities sometimes border on outrageous; and there never seems to be a shortage of moments where I find myself thinking, "What was she thinking?"

Last Sunday's Billboard Music Awards were no exception. Model Nayer draped herself in mens' neck ties, Sinbad attempted to rock a bejeweled pirate blouse, and Fergie went dominatrix in a Hervé Léger by Max Azria Atelier mini. On stage shades of pure white popped up in the form of a military trench for Mary J. Blige, a Michael Jackson-ish suit for Far East Movement frontman Kev Nish and a futuristic Tron-inspired number for Nicki Minaj.

Fire-haired songstress Rihanna, who took home awards for radio artist of the year and best female artist, stole the show in white leather lingerie for a steamy performance of "S&M."

But before Rihanna saddled up for some hip thrusting, pole dancing and a pillow fight with Britney Spears, viewers got to see a very different, much sleeker side of the artist when she walked the red carpet in a tailored men's Max Azria white suit, super-low V-cut blouse, a gold tassel necklace and nude Christian Louboutin heels.

Rihanna's menswear look is sexy and sophisticated, making her all-white attire perfect for your upcoming summer soirees. For a similar style jacket try the Linen boyfriend blazer by Armani Exchange for $130, linen blend blazer from Forever21.com for $27.80, or the Epaulet blazer by Calvin Klein for $99.

For the trousers, you'll want a pair that is high-waisted for more of a feminine touch. Armani Exchange makes a great pair of trousers called the 20th pleated trouser for $88 or try the Nic + Zoe cotton side zip pants for $88.20 on Zappos.com. This look would also work with a pair of wide-leg trousers like the Bebe sailor pant for $54.99.

Rihanna's shirt features an extremely low V-cut. This may be appropriate for an awards show but for your next outing you can go as low or as high as you want with these frugal finds: The Sheer pocket shirt from the Gap for $59.95, Bellatrix pleated blouse from Nordstrom.com for $78, or the Sparkle & Fade Dolman blouse from Urbanoutfitters.com for $29.99.

Tassels have come back in a big way this season, adding a fun and frilly touch of '70s art deco. For a silver option wear the Twisted dropped-chain necklace from Charlotte Russe for $7.50 or for gold, the mesh loop tassel necklace from Topshop.com for $30.

Happy shopping!

Have an outfit you're dying to buy but need a frugal alternative? Email us a picture. We're up for the challenge.

-- Jenn Harris
Twitter.com/Jenn_Harris_

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Photo: Recording artist Rihanna arrives at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena May 22 in Las Vegas. Credit: Isaac Brekken / Getty Images.

Blazer photo: From left, Linen boyfriend blazer from Armani Exchange. Credit: Armani Exchange; linen blend blazer from Forever 21. Credit: Forever21.com; epaulet blazer by Calvin Klein. Credit: Calvin Klein.  

Pants photo: From left, 20th pleated trouser by Armani Exchange. Credit: Armani Exchange; Nic + Zoe cotton pants. Credit: Zappos.com; Bebe sailor pant; Credit: Bebe.

Blouse photo: From left, Sheer pocket shirt from the Gap. Credit: The Gap; Bellatrix pleated blouse from Nordstrom. Credit: Nordstrom.com; Sparkle & Fade Dolman blouse. Credit: Urbanoutfitters.com.  

Necklace photo: From left, Twister dropped-chain necklace from Charlotte Russe. Credit: Charlotterusse.com; Mesh loop tassel necklace. Credit: Topshop.com.

It’s graduation season, and while that sheepskin confirmation of work well done may be all the newly minted diploma-holder needs, we know you want to add your bravos in a tangible way too. This week, we’re sharing some ideas to inspire your gift-giving.

These two gifts are guaranteed to make graduation day a bit more picturesque.

 
Hot off the Polaroid printing presses is the brand-new GL-10 Instant Mobile Printer, the first product in Lady Gaga’s Grey Label collection for the heritage brand. As the Lady says, “I’ll text you pictures on my phone, phone. All the time, right on my phone.” The new device can indeed print photos wirelessly from a Bluetooth-equipped cellphone or, with a USB cable, from a camera or computer. Two settings allow either full-bleed prints or those with the timeless white Polaroid border -- all in one minute flat. Its sleek design can be easily stashed in a handbag for instant party pix. $169, available in June. Preorder now at Polaroid.com.

Known for their creative, retro-style cameras that keep the art of snapshot photography alive, the Lomographic Society has just launched a new take on its original, bestselling Lomo LC-A camera by adding an ultra-wide-angle 17-millimeter lens. Get up close and personal, as three format settings allow a quick switch from half-frame to classic square-frame or full-format if you prefer to settle back into panoramic mode. Whatever the occasion, it’s got every angle covered. $389 online or at the Lomography Gallery Store in West Hollywood, (323) 301-1414.

-- Ingrid Schmidt

Thursday: Sound judgment

Top photo: GL-10 Instant Mobile Printer. Credit: Polaroid

Bottom photo: Wide-angle Lomo LC-A camera. Credit: Lomographic Society

Should the tattoo design curving around the left eye socket of Mike Tyson be subject to copyright protection? That's the multimillion-dollar question a judge will be considering in a suit against Warner Bros. for the skin ink that adorns Ed Helms' face in "The Hangover: Part II" -- but not before the movie hits theaters on May 26.

S. Victor Whitmill, the tattoo artist who created Tyson’s tattoo in February 2003, filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri on April 28, claiming that the similar-looking tribal tattoo sported by Helms' character in the sequel to "The Hangover" (which also includes a return appearance by Tyson himself) amounted to copyright infringement, and sought not only damages but also an injunction against the film's release. 

Although U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry declined on Tuesday to halt the scheduled release of the movie -- then just two days away -- the case is far from over, complicated by the fact that, according to some reports, Whitmill claims he explicitly retained a copyright interest in the design he permanently affixed to the boxer's face.

While we're more than happy to let the legal experts hash out the minutae of U.S. copyright law as it applies to tattoo designs prominently inked onto celebrity skin, we also wanted to know where our readers stand on the subject:

Should all tattoo art be protected?  Should the degree of protection hinge on whether or not the bearer of the tattoo is a public or private figure (the way it does in libel law)?  Should no tattoo art be protected?  Or do you think in this particular instance the use is protected as a parody?  And, if it is found to be a copyright infringement, what is it worth?

Post your opinions in the comments section below. Depending on the responses, we may give the topic some more ink.

Just not ink shaped like ... well, you know.

-- Adam Tschorn

Is 'Schmucks' tonsorial trademark infringement?

Photos: More celebrity tattoos

Photo: Mike Tyson, a cast member in "The Hangover: Part II," at the May 19, 2011, premiere in Los Angeles in front of a movie poster depicting actor Ed Helms with a similar style tattoo. The man responsible for Tyson's tattoo has sued Warner Bros. for copyright infringement. Credit: Chris Pizzello / Associated Press

Several comments have been rolling in from readers who want to know where the dainty gold necklace worn by Kristen Wiig's character in the film "Bridesmaids" came from. We followed up with the movie's costume designer, Leesa Evans -- with whom we did a Q&A a couple days before the film's premier -- and she told us that the  necklace is the gold apple pendant from French label A.P.C.

Sadly, the necklace isn't available any longer, as it was from the brand's spring 2009 collection, but here are a few very similar options.

This season A.P.C is doing some charms that are pretty close to the apple. There's a cute gold shell option (above right) that's about the same size and feels nice and beachy for summer.

Top Shop has a couple of adorable and inexpensive apple charms (above left). One has a little shaker effect, with the "seeds" floating about inside the pendant.

An option from Lizzie Scheck (right) is super sweet, and in the case you're very serious about fruit being interpreted accurately, Scheck's version is more obviously an apple than the A.P.C pendant.

Elsa Peretti's apple pendant for Tiffany & Co. (above left) is perhaps the most similar to the one Wiig wears in the movie, but it's also the priciest. This apple has a fluid shape and tiny core detail that's charming and pretty.
 
-- Melissa Magsaysay

Top photo: Kristen Wiig in "Bridesmaids." Credit: Universal Pictures

Upper right photo: A.P.C shell necklace, $120, at www.apc.fr. Credit: A.P.C

Upper left photo: Top Shop apple pendants, $18 left and $25 right, at www.topshop.com. Credit: Top Shop

Lower right photo: Lizze Scheck medium apple pendant, $455, at www.lizziescheck.com. Credit: Lizzie Scheck

Lower left photo: Elsa Peretti for Tiffany &Co. golden apple necklace, $675, at www.tiffany.com. Credit: Tiffany & Co.

Just 20% of sunscreens are safe and effective at protecting against sun damage, according to the 2011 Sunscreen Guide, released Monday by the Environmental Working Group, an environmental research group based in Washington.

"To be on our list, you have to avoid vitamin A ingredients and oxybenzone. You can’t have SPF above 50 and you need to be free of ingredients that are hormone disruptors," said EWG senior analyst, Sonya Lunder.

Of the 600 beach and sport sunscreens her organization tested, 128 "ranked well," Lunder said.

The sunscreen report says 50% of beach and sport sunscreens contain the chemical oxybenzene, which is linked to hormone disruption. About 33% include retinyl palmitate, a type of vitamin A that the group says may hasten the development of skin cancer.

Lunder said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had allowed the proliferation of misleading SPF values and inaccurate claims about sun protection. She called on the agency to strengthen its standards.

In 2007, the FDA proposed a rule for broad-spectrum sunscreen testing, or testing for effectiveness against both both UVB rays, which cause sunburn, and UVA rays. The current test is for UVB only.

"We are working diligently to publish final testing requirements for both SPF and broad-spectrum testing," FDA spokeswoman Shelly Burgess said.

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-- Susan Carpenter

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Two men escorted Lady Gaga to a seat on the couch on "The View" Monday, helping her negotiate the walk in her 12-inch platform shoes. Her mom watched from the audience -- and occasionally answered questions from the shows hosts. ("Mom, was she really born this way?" "Yes.") Lady G talked about fashion, hair color, nails and -- oh, her new album, of course! [The Cut] [The View]

Maria Shriver had at least one moment of joy last week when her daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger, 21, was honored at the Girl Power Awards luncheon for being an inspiration to young women.  As an undergrad at USC, Katherine wrote the book "Rock What You've Got: Secrets to Loving Your Inner and Outer Beauty From Someone Who's Been There and Back." She also works to raise money for Best Buddies, her uncle Anthony Shriver's organization for the developmentally disabled. The luncheon, at the Beverly Hills Hotel, was a fund-raiser for a Place Called Home, a nonprofit youth center in Los Angeles. [People]

Two women whose style we like to watch met Tuesday. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (née Kate Middleton), wore a neutral-toned bandage dress from retailer Reiss to meet Michelle Obama. The first lady, in London for a two-day visit along with her husband, wore a shimmering blue floral brocade "prom" dress by one of her favorite designers, Barbara Tfank, topped by a metallic pink silk bolero. [Telegraph]

Queen Latifah acts, sings and fronts for CoverGirl. Up next: She's designing a fashion collection for HSN. The Queen Collection will include clothing in sizes 2-24, accessories and hair extensions. It's scheduled to debut on HSN on Aug. 27. [People] 

Elle MacPherson Intimates has launched a line of wedding lingerie. [WWD] (Subscription required.) 

-- Susan Denley

Photo: Katherine Schwarzenegger, who was honored at the Girl Power Awards luncheon. Credit: Mario Anzuoni / Reuters