A Short-Hair Affair
(LOS ANGELES) The eclipse of the full moon cast a little extra magic Wednesday night as Hollywood's celebrity and social elite, including Rita Wilson, Jacqui Getty, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, Ginnifer Goodwin, Tom Arnold, Wolfgang Puck, Ron Meyer, Colleen Bell, Harvey Weinstein, and Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn arrived at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel for Saks Fifth Avenue's annual "Unforgettable Evening" gala, benefiting the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund.
The foyer of the ballroom quickly filled to capacity with a whirlwind of reunions, praise for "Courageous Award" honoree Hilary Swank, and uncontainable excitement for the evening's performer, Mary J. Blige, who performed such hits as "No More Drama," "Be Without You," and "Family Affair." Swank, in a demure silver Jill Stuart dress (only furthering the buzz that she is the brand's face for fall), which she accented with Chopard jewels and newly shorn locks (remember Oprah?), was completely modest about receiving the evening's highest accolade and beyond passionate about the cause. "I don't feel courageous; it's easy for me to cut off my hair," the Oscar-winning actress unabashedly admitted. "But like Hemingway said, 'courage is grace under pressure.' I'm just here to spread the word, really." Honorary chair Tom Hanks, who embraced Swank in a bear hug, exuberantly summed up the real reason that contributed to the sell-out affair. "Everyone has someone who is affected by this disease," he said stoically, before adding, on a lighter note, "But come on! Surrounded by heroic babes and Mary J. Blige! Hello?"
When it came to his wardrobe, however, Hanks was slightly at a loss for words. "I am an amalgam, I am a fashion embarrassment," he joked as he quickly rifled through his labels, before rattling off, "Um...bespoke tie, Prada jacket, Calvin pants--maybe." Tamara Mellon, with beau Christian Slater by her side, faced a similar problem. "I think it's Prada, but I didn't check," the fashion plate professed. "Tonight, I'm more excited to see all of my friends!" (For the record, her dress was McQueen). And while Kelly Chapman Meyer posed for photos clad in a Juicy Couture tee that read "Dude, Where's the Cure?" her friend, and charity co-founder, Jamie Tisch, worked the room like a politician, making sure to stop and greet each attendee while helping her daughter Elizabeth navigate the crowd. "We've raised so much money for this project and getting the people and doctors all together, and Mary J. Blige, is just so exciting," she gushed, almost breathless. With so many events in one week, helping her stay grounded was something Tisch credited her children with. "I can only go to so many things," she laughed. "No matter how late I stay up tonight, I still have to wake up in the morning and take them to school."
After the cocktail reception, guests were escorted to their tables while Hanks took to the stage--all the while keeping the room in stitches with his improvised jokes, which managed to both entertain and stay on point with the philanthropic cause. "What is the word of the evening, folks?" he asked. "Biomarkers," the crowd replied in unison.
Natalie Cole presented the Corporate Visionary and Nat King Cole awards to Juicy Couture founders Pam Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor, respectively. The ladies, in matching canary yellow Couture Couture gowns that had them lifting their hems all night just to walk (the two joked the dresses were retrieved from customs that afternoon and delivered to them by--of all people--the military), laughed in their acceptance speech, "Don't judge us--we're not actresses, we're mogulesses!" But in a more somber moment, Nash-Taylor said that her sister had beaten breast cancer twice. "She's here with us tonight, and I will not stop until there's a cure!"
Throughout the evening the awards continued, with Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy presenting the Visionary Award to Proctor & Gamble for their Pantene Beautiful Lengths campaign while a dapper Morgan Freeman took the stage to present to his Million Dollar Baby co-star.
"This is a lady who does nothing in a half-hearted way," he said of Swank. "She truly has the heart of a champion."
MONICA SCHWEIGER
