What Might Have Been:

Princess Diana would have been fifty tomorrow. As the world watches Prince William and his new bride Catherine take the first steps in assuming the new roles as the most beloved royals, lookonline’s entertainment editor Diane Clehane who wrote the international best seller Diana The Secrets of Her Style, looks back on Diana’s legacy and speculates on what might have been.

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God Save the (Future) Queen

The newly titled Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may be the brightest stars in the overcrowded celebrity galaxy and are sure to sell a lot of glossy magazines and newspapers in the coming months and years, but that is not their most important job — although it is clearly part of it. The future of the British monarchy rests squarely on the couple’s shoulders.

It is an unenviable task but one, judging from the couple’s masterful handling of public relations for their nuptials, they are clearly up to handling. Now that their ‘fairy tale wedding’ has passed into history, William and Catherine can now focus on the task at hand — working to ensure the affection of the British people returns in full measure. To do that, Catherine must take the lead. In doing so, she must not, contrary to everything that has been written up until this point, become Diana 2.0. For her greatest likelihood of success, argues Diane Clehane, Catherine must become the anti-Diana. Lookonline’s entertainment editor explores what the commoner-turned-HRH must do so that monarchy finds its footing into the future and she and her husband eventually become history’s most modern king and queen.

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From Commoner to HRH: The Amazing Transformation of Catherine Middleton

Kate Middleton walked into Westminster Abbey a commoner and emerged with an HRH title that will define the rest of her life. Those images of ‘Waity Katy ‘as the long suffering girlfriend evaporated the moment she stepped out of the Rolls Royce wearing Sarah Burton’s traditionally beautiful Alexander McQueen gown. In a coming out party attended by 2 billion people, Catherine Middleton showed the world that a well-bred young woman who knows what (and who) she wants can defy expectations and ascend to the highest reaches of the social stratosphere.

In the final chapter of Countdown to the Royal Wedding, Lookonline’s entertainment editor Diane Clehane offers her observations on The Amazing Transformation of Catherine Middleton. With an eye towards history, Catherine surprised many with her homage to Grace Kelly instead of Princess Diana. Surprisingly, that job fell to another wedding participant who proved more than up to the job. Guess who? Read Diane’s take on how the commoners stole the show this morning …

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(Coming on Sunday: ‘The Final Word’ on The Royal Wedding: Do William & Catherine Hold the Fate of Monarchy?)

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Adding My Two Cents (Or Should I Say, Two Pence)

Photo: AP

Talk about going from the sublime to the ridiculous. On Thursday evening just hours before the Royal Wedding would take place, all the major American newscasters who had temporarily set up shop in London (was there anyone left in New York?), appropriately dressed in their best tailored jackets and chic colorful trench coats, began their prime time broadcasts not with news of the festivities and frivolities to come, but with the sobering news that killer tornadoes ripping across Alabama and Georgia, had claimed the lives over 280 Americans. What a time to drive home the dichotomy between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’! But regardless of how one really feels about the royals, especially in light of the harsh realities of life, it was hard, rather impossible actually, NOT to get somewhat caught up in all the hoopla surrounding the royal nuptials. And with all the consistently bad news these days, getting a glimpse inside the other wordly rarefied world of the royals (the jewels, the castles, the cars, the pomp and circumstance surrounding their stately occasions, etc.) provided a guilty pleasure, temporary diversion, and escape.

Who doesn’t love a fairy tale? And let’s be honest, isn’t it the dream of most young girls (not to mention some old bags), to be swept away by Prince Charming? I for one, awoke at 4 am this morning to watch the events of the day unfold, watching guests, like Victoria Beckham clad in a dress of her own design (natch) and a sculptural Philip Treacy hat perched on her chic little head, filing into Westminister Abbey. FYI, watching the procession of fantastical hats prompted Today Show’s Matt Lauer to ask whether the Royal Wedding would be a catalyst for a hat revival. For this event, everyone it seems, became a fashion correspondent – LOL.

Everyone else has weighed in on Duchess Catherine’s status as a fashion icon-in-the making, and in the weeks leading up to the royal wedding, there was constant talk and speculation about THE DRESS (which was the most deeply guarded secret in eons). So I figured I’d add my two cents (or should I say, two pence). And as a Princess myself, well..okay, a JAP anyway (fyi,I can say it,you can’t), and a longtime fashion observer, I feel I am eminently qualified to voice my opinions.

Look, Princess Catherine is undeniably a natural regal beauty with a photogenic smile, gorgeous hair, and an enviably lithe 5’10” frame, and quite frankly, she’d look great wearing that proverbial paper bag. And now, she is now not only fabulously wealthy, but in a position where looking perfect 24/7 is part of her royal duties. And I must say that based on what I’ve seen of her thus far, her fashion choices have been spot on, and I don’t think I’ve seen her look anything but totally appropriate, youthful, chic, and quite fashionable (without looking like a hopeless fashion victim). The perfect modern combination. Unlike the young Princess Diana, who had a lot early missteps to be sure, and ‘blossomed’ a bit later on, Kate has a strong sense of herself and seems to know innately what suits her and she sticks with it. She favors sleek lines that perfectly showcase her lean frame, fitted jackets and coats, and skirt lengths that hit her just above the knee (all the better to show off her sleek legs), and she is somewhat minimal in that she doesn’t favor a lot of jewelry or accessories.

For example, at one public appearance with Prince William prior to the wedding, she chose a bright red fitted peplum suit with a narrow above the knee length skirt, which she accessorized with a fitted black turtleneck, black narrow belt, black clutch, black opaque tights, and black suede tall boots. She could not have looked better (even if she were styled by a Vogue editor). Also beyond reproach was the above the knee length tan Burberry trenchcoat with its flirtatiously skirted hem. It was not so over the top that it made her look as though she was trying too hard, but it was not so plain that it looked dull and boring (again- the perfect combination). She wears the clothes- they don’t wear her.

And that continued with her choice of wedding gown. The incredibly flattering Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen creation (a choice that should permanently endear her to fashion insiders what with the upcoming exhibit at the Met’s Costume Institute) with its fitted lace bodice and dramatic back and train, was undeniably fantastical, but not so much that she got lost in it. It looked believable and she still looked like Catherine. And since her fashion look is already inspiring plenty of hopeful imitators and Catherine ‘would be’s’, it’s a sure bet that her decision to wear her hair down will mean that many young brides will follow suit, rather than putting their hair up in buns and complicated updoes.

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Inspired by the cover of this week’s cover of The New Yorker, Lookonline’s entertainment editor Diane Clehane examines the curious phenomenon of how the royals have gone from shunning the media to embracing the wall-to-wall coverage of the upcoming royal wedding to such an extent that they have become de facto television producers. You need look no further than the incredibly comprehensive ‘official’ website for the wedding produced by palace insiders to get packages worthy of Today show producers. William and Kate, the unwitting stars of the new royal reality show, are playing along — but for how long? As long as Diana’s ghost hovers over the proceedings how can the newlyweds possibly live up to the hype?

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Diane Clehane, who is our Entertainment Editor, appeared last night on CNN Headline News on Issues with Jane Velez Mitchell to discuss the upcoming royal wedding. Coming up this Sunday morning, Diane will have a special report on the possible political aftermath of the wedding for the future of the royal family.

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All My Children: A Requiem For A TV Icon

The news that ABC is cancelling All My Children and One Life to Live marks the end of a television era. AMC has always been a favorite among the fashion industry. After all, Erica Kane — even though she was barely 5’3″ — was daytime’s television first supermodel. For our entertainment editor Diane Clehane, the loss is personal. Read her Requiem for A Television Icon:

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THE LAST WORD: THE 2011 GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS A Review by Diane Clehane

Best dressed: Eva Longoria in Zac Posen

Ask anyone in Hollywood and they will tell you that The Golden Globes is usually one of the most enjoyable nights of the year. It’s always a great party with lots of loose, unscripted moments and plenty of laughs. Not anymore. A shockingly mean-spirited Ricky Gervais and too many rambling presenters (Christian Bale, we mean you) managed to suck all the air out of the room and turn the evening into a big downer within the show’s first ten minutes. It only went down hill from there.

With the exception of Natalie Portman’s sweet homage to her family (Go Grandma Bernice!) and Colin Firth’s self-deprecating and utterly charming riff on middle age, the night’s winners were kind of, well, boring. I appreciate what Glee has done for high school kids who feel like misfits (and Chris Colfer’s remarks were inspiring), but I’m tired of seeing the show’s entire squadron of performers take over the red carpet and the stage. Jane Lynch, who by now has won everything she can for her role, just gives the same speech every time. At one point last night, I thought, who here isn’t on that show?

But the real downer of the night came courtesy of Ricky Gervais. After his take-no-prisoners opening monologue, the stars he introduced came out looking a bit shell-shocked or ticked off effectively killing the usually light hearted mood that has always made this show so much fun. By the second half of the night, his presence was limited but by then, the buzz kill had taken full effect.

When it comes to fashion, last night’s Golden Globes reminded me of ‘Opposite Day’ at my daughter’s preschool where the kids were allowed to wear mismatched clothes or something from their mother’s closet. (Well, it seemed Leighton Meester raided her grandmother’s trunk for her matronly dress). While no one showed up with their dress inside out, Helena Bonham Carter’s mismatched shoes were strangely reminiscent of a toddler’s attempt at dress-up.

The other ‘Opposite Effect’ that took hold was that the usual red carpet stunners were among the night’s worst offenders and women we barely noticed before dazzled. Halle Berry, Julianne Moore and Catherine Zeta Jones all disappointed. Women like Piper Perabo and Emma Stone (who?) looked gorgeous.

Upon first impression, it looked as if the red carpet was awash in pretty dresses but soon enough it was swamped in a sea of ruffles and a ridiculous number of bottle green dresses. The color of money? We get it.

There were no less than five green dresses on the red carpet. None really wowed. Angelina Jolie in a sparkling Versace wore it best. Let’s face it though, it could have just have easily been worn by Tina Fey (whose L’Wren Scott velvet number must have been pretty uncomfortable in the eighty degree heat). I usually love Catherine Zeta Jones but she looked like she had just stepped off the stage of Radio City’s Christmas Show. All she needed was ornaments as earrings. Sorry, but it’s true.

I found it alarming that Nicole Kidman had one of the most womanly bodies on the red carpet. It was a case of the incredibly shrinking actress. With the exception of Sofia Vergara, practically every woman there looked positively skeletal. Apparently, size 4 is a plus size in lala land.

Best dressed of the night was Eva Longoria who looked simply stunning in Zac Posen. How does someone so petite get her va va voom on so well? Anne Hathaway shimmered in Armani looking every inch the movie star she has become. Piper Perabo was amazingly chic in her black Oscar de la Renta, red lipstick and high ponytail. Who knew? In a sea of over the top ruffled confections, I loved the chic minimalism of Emma Stone’s pretty peach Calvin Klein.

And now the Worst dressed. Where to start? The usual fashion stalwarts fizzled or just plain disappointed. Halle Berry forgot her dress and came in her underwear. Julianne Moore fashioned a pair of curtains from the set of A Single Man and made it into a costume better suited to the heroine of a Judith Krantz mini-series. Red menace Christina Hendricks is obviously starved for attention. And it is so sad that a beauty like her Mad Men costar January Jones never, ever gets it right. Finally, a word about tattoos to all those misguided young actresses who have them: just because Angelina gets away with it doesn’t mean you can. We don’t like hers either, but we’re too afraid of her to tell her.

Not the best night for fashion and not the worst. The show grade: D. The fashion grade: B-.

Here’s how the whole shebang unfolded:

5:02PM Ricky Gervais launches into his squirm-inducing opening monologue. In the space of four minutes he manages to insult Johnny Depp (really?), Angelina Jolie, Charlie Sheen and the cast of Sex & The City. His truly tasteless jokes about Hugh Hefner’s fiancée were disgusting. You could hear a pin drop when he went for his Tom Cruise/John Travolta gay joke.

5:06PM Scarlett Johansson presents the first award of the night looking completely miserable. She must be psychic and has seen the future of the next three hours.

5:09PM Best Supporting Actor in a Drama (Film) Christian Bale has to be played off the stage and winds up being bleeped for his parting remark where he called Robert DeNiro ‘The sh—.’ Its going to be a looong night. Thanks to his ramblings the show is already running late. Producers try to play catch up by basically playing off every television winner for the rest of the night.

5:10PM In an upset, Katey Sagal wins Best Actress in a Drama (television) beating favorites Elizabeth Moss and Juliana Marguiles. Her big moment is cut off when she gets shooed off the stage by that annoying music.

5:16PM In effort to scale back on designer clothes, the usually stunning Julianne Moore is wearing something created from the drapes in her aunt’s house. Somewhere, Tom Ford is weeping.

5:20PM A whole series of people no one cares about go on and on when they take the stage. Backstage, producers are in search of a giant hook.

5:21PM Ricky Gervais is back. He introduces Bruce Willis as Ashton Kutcher’s dad. I was hoping Bruce would go all Die Hard on Ricky but instead he just looks more than a little miffed.

5:24PM Chris Colfer wins Best Supporting Actor Comedy for Glee and gives bullied kids everywhere hope with is heartfelt and mercifully brief speech. (“Screw that, kids!”) Nicely done.

5:30PM Michelle Pfeiffer presents. I bet she has a painting in her attic that is aging rapidly.

5:31PM Divorce becomes her. Eva Longoria is my pick for Best Dressed of the night.

5:34PM Fingers crossed we get to see Jon Hamm on stage for Best Actor.

5:35PM Nope, I have to shield my eyes when it’s Steve Buscemi instead. He also gets cut short by “sad music.”

5:44PM Some idiot actor from The Social Network can’t read the teleprompter and has to start over multiple times. Good going, sport.

5:55PM True Grit’s Hailee Steinfeld and Justin Bieber walk on to present an award. Just asking but why are the young male tween heart throbs today such girly men? Justin Bieber looks like my niece in drag.

6:00PM After being cruelly introduced by Ricky Gervais with tired references to his stints at “Betty Ford and ‘The LA County Jail,’ Robert Downey calls Gervais out for his “mean spirited” shtick.

6:03PM Ricky Gervais isn’t getting into any after parties.

6:04PM Annette Bening takes the stage with scary hair. She and the writer of the film she starred in, The Kids Are All Right, are dressed eerily alike down to their unfortunate eyeglasses.

6:09PM Sylvester Stallone introduces “The Boxer.” I love “Rocky” in all its iterations but he looks like he had a full body transplant. You can’t make this stuff up.

6:11PM Geoffrey Rush takes the stage. Great actor. Terrible dresser.

6:12PM Al Pacino wins Best Actor in a mini-series. I fear another rambling speech is about to be thrust upon us. Yup.

6:17PM Claire Danes, who apparently hasn’t eaten anything for about a month, wins for Best Support Actress in a mini series.

6:23PM Nice to see some child stars do grow up. Zac Efron looks like Harrison Ford compared to the rest of his peer group.

6:24PM Ricky Gervais makes his only borderline funny remark of the night when he calls out Steve Carrell for being ungrateful for bailing on The Office and “killing the cash cow.”

6:25PM Shot of Michelle Williams in an unfortunate, frumpy dress that looks like it’s from Talbot’s Mommy & Me collection.

6:29PM Apparently two guys we never heard of are going to star in films this summer as Captain America and Thor.

6:30PM Jane Lynch wins Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for Glee. Ed O’Neill readies his remark for the press as to why Sofia Vergara should have won.

6:46PM OMG Jane Fonda! I don’t care if you’ve had your entire body lifted, you still look amazing. Love, love, love the dress.

7:05PM Angelina Jolie is not amused. Neither are we.

7:06PM Robert DeNiro, in accepting his Cecil B. DeMille Awards, attempts to audition for Gervais’ hosting gig for next year’s show. His performance is not unlike your Uncle Morty’s ill-fated attempt at stand-up at your cousin’s wedding last year. Yeesh.

7:15PM David Fincher wins Best Director for The Social Network. In accepting his award makes some joke involving Jon Benet. Huh?

7:17PM Versace pitchwoman January Jones comes out in a hideous red bondage dress. Betty Draper would not approve.

7:18PM Glee wins Best Comedy. Half the room takes to the stage.

7:25PM Halle Berry must have been in a hurry to get here tonight because she’s in her underwear. I don’t care if it’s Armani. We know you’re a gorgeous woman but you’re an Oscar winner for goodness sakes. You don’t have to dress like that anymore!

7:34PM Sure thing Natalie Portman wins Best Actress in a Drama. Too bad she is wearing that silly Viktor & Rolf dress. Dior must be disappointed and if I were Kate and Laura Mulleavy of Rodarte I’d be more than a little ticked off. She does get points for the night’s sweetest speech with her shout out to Grandma Bernice and her loving remarks about her parents who are beaming with pride in the audience. Loved the kudos for Mila ‘Sweet Lips’ Kunis. I’d get going on my Oscar speech if I were you.

7:38PM Presenter Tom Hanks recalls a time when Ricky Gervais was a “chubby and kind comedian.” You’re in trouble when the Mayor of Hollywood calls you out …

7:39PM Another shot of an unsmiling Angelina Jolie. We feel your pain.

7:40PM The Kids Are All Right wins Best Picture Comedy. The best of a weak bunch.

7:46PM Uh-oh. Ricky is introducing Sandra Bullock.

7:47PM She manages to escape his wrath only to land on everyone’s worst dressed list. What a difference a year makes. Last year she was flawless in Alexander McQueen. This year she appears to be channeling Ally Sheedy’s character from The Breakfast Club.

7:48PM Finally, a moment of civility. Colin Firth wins Best Actor in a Drama for his performance in The King’s Speech. In his acceptance speech he says, “Getting to the mid-point of your life with your dignity intact is precarious …” He is funny, gracious and charming. Refreshing.

7:57PM Michael Douglas, who was robbed of the chance to bring everyone to tears earlier in the night when he lost to Christian Bale, gets a standing ovation before introducing the Best Picture Drama. We tear up when he quips, “There’s a gotta be an easier way.” The Social Network is the winner. Facebook has officially taken over the world.

7:59PM Ricky Gervais thanks the crowd for “being good sports” and stupidly thanks God “for making me an atheist.” Buh-bye.

8:02PM Show producers put in a call to Ellen DeGeneres asking her to host next year.
-end

(Photo credit: Style.com)

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“Wake me when it’s over. Oh, wait a minute – it is. Boy, is it ever.”

So says our entertainment editor Diane Clehane who spent the last few days leading up to and including Oscar night out in LA to file a special report for us.

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