March 31st, 2008
How Do I Look? host Finola Hughes is changing lives, one outfit at a time. On tonight’s special "Dress for Success" episode, Finola and her three accomplices pick out a wardrobe for Winifred “Winnie” Maness, a recovered drug addict. “She was out on the streets when she was really young,” Finola explains. “Over the last eight months, she got herself into a drug rehab program and got herself clean. Then she went to Dress for Success to help her get a new job.”
Winnie’s sister Carmen, Dress for Success executive Susan Noland — who is Willie’s mentor from her hometown of Shreveport, La. — and stylist Andy Paige created the three professional looks Willie got to choose from. But new clothes weren’t the only gift Winnie got. “Ever since she was a kid her teeth had been all over the place, and she always wanted to do something with her smile,” Finola shares. “We gave her thousands of dollar’s worth of veneers. When I told her on camera, you just wait, she just lights up!”
I’ll be sure to break out the hankies. Finola agrees. “Our new season is the most dramatic we’ve ever done,” she says. "It’s quite daunting, and sometimes I feel I don’t have the tools to cope with some of the things that come up. But the women we’ve found, they have these great stories to tell.”
How Do I Look?: Dress for Success Special airs Monday, March 31 at 9 p.m. on Style.
September 15th, 2007
I wore my highest pair of heels to interview Lee Pace, the 6-foot-3 actor starring on the new series Pushing Daisies, premiering on Oct. 3 on ABC. I barely stand 5-feet, the same height as Lee’s co-star and would-be onscreen love interest (if her character had her way!), Kristin Chenoweth. “She’s very small, but she’s got a well of energy I’ve never seen in another human being,” said Lee of Kristin, who’s currently recuperating from a fall. “She’s great on the show, and I love working with her.” Lee plays Ned, a young man who can bring the deceased back to life, though the actor is content to leave his character’s gift on the screen. “The trick with bringing someone back for Ned is that someone else will die,” Lee explained to me during the premiere screening of the series at the New York Television Festival. “So I don’t think I would want to bring anyone back from the dead.”
Chatting with Finola Hughes, the always impeccably dressed host of Style Network’s How Do I Look?, I got the lowdown about her latest project, Style Kick with Finola Hughes by emdigo, a guide of fashion tips and trends you can download to your cell phone. ”I want to bring affordable fashion to people, and everyone has a cell phone, so I’ll be doing three looks a couple of times a month,” she told me over Ballatore mimosas. Finola revealed what should be on every fashionista’s list this fall. “A bright colored clutch and lace-up shoes that are high,” she exclaimed. “I really love the idea of a pale grey dress with a great yellow belt.”
With How Do I Look? launching its new season Oct. 1, Finola confirmed that the show has moved beyond doing makeovers on people who live in L.A. “It was where the show needed to go," she shared. "We now fly people in from other states and give them a week to enjoy in Los Angeles.” The mother of two also had style advice for moms-to-be Halle Berry and Nicole Richie. “It’s tiring once the babies are born, and that’s when it’s the hardest to stay on top of yourself, but stay fabulous,” she advised. “Or else they’ll end up on my show!”
September 12th, 2007
Day 6: At the star studded Luca Luca show, whose ultra feminine and modern designs garnered a standing ovation from the crowd, OK! had two super quick chats. First, we caught up with How Do I Look? host Finola Hughes who confided that “This isn’t as edgy as I love but I think the clothes are so beautiful and wearable that I love to come to the show.”
Then, OK! quickly talked to JC Chasez, who’s been all over Fashion Week. “My last show will be Varvatos because you know I gotta know about the guy’s clothes.”
Day 7: Before the Heatherette show, OK! hung out backstage at the VIP Lounge fueled by Bustelo Cafe everyone from Lance Bass to Mya showed up to guzzle down the coffee drink and mingle with socialites like Tinsley Mortimer and socialite turned actress Bijou Phillips. The vibe was like a party where only the cool kids get invited.
Then up and coming rapper Lil Mama hit the stage to get the crowd going before the celeb studded show. Everyone from hip hop mogul Diddy to pop tart JoJo to model Tyrese showed up to check out the eccentric spring collection from Heatherette designers Richie Rich and Traver Rains. The theme: fabulous Americana drenched in glittery flamboyance with lots of toulle and lace thrown in.
OK! caught up with a few on the front row attendees. First JoJo, who aside from being a pop star has some other plans for fall, “I’m working on a movie in October in Toronto. And, I’m writing for other artists. And, I’m studying for my SAT’s.”
Then we caught up with Jake Shears from the Scissor Sisters who is ready to just chill. “I’m glad to be home in New York and actually come to a show. It’s the only show I come to. The Scissor Sisters are working on a vacation right now, which is awesome!”
Finally Lance Bass, who’s been too busy in his role in Hairspray to hit up too many shows assured OK! that his time on Broadway has been “Awesome!”
By Jocelyn Vena
