Michelle Obama, Meryl Streep gussy up for Kennedy Center Honors

At last night's Kennedy Center Honors reception in Washington, D.C., a glowing Michelle Obama — holding hands with president Barack Obama — stunned the crowd in a strapless, tiered, cobalt blue custom gown by Vera Wang. The first lady topped off the look with elegant chandelier earrings by Miguel Ases and a chic braided updo.


But honoree Barbara Cook and First Lady Michelle Obama broke ranks. Both dressed in brilliant blue.


It's called the lipstick effect. Say you covet a Chanel suit, but can't afford it. Buying a Chanel lipstick gives you an affordable little taste of Chanel glamour. Maybe that's why makeup sales are up this year, as my colleage Tiffany Hsu reported on Saturday. Over the first 10 months of the year, unit sales were up 5% and dollar sales were up in all categories of makeup. And I predict that by the end of the year those figures will be even higher. I already know of some Smashbox kits and Sephora coupons going into stockings of some of those dear to me.


J.J. Abrams told a star-studded group attending Thursday's 21st annual Beat the Odds Awards benefit for the California branch of the Children's Defense Fund that he is "single-handedly bringing back the skinny tie." But not so. "My tie is skinnier," rejoined Zachery Quinto (Mr. Spock in the most recent "Star Trek" movie). And thus may a trend begin. [A previous version of this post incorrectly said the event happend Friday.
If you missed out on the Versace for H&M collection, you may have a second chance. Some of the items are back in stores as customers return things they may have bought in the frenzy but later realized didn't quite work (for whatever reason).


The Council of Fashion Designers of America is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a show at the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. More than 100 items will be shown by designers such as Bill Blass, Michael Kors, Narciso Rodriguez and Thom Browne. The show is scheduled Feb. 10-April 20.