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CNN Live Today

Interview with Joanna Mastroianni, Designer

Aired March 21, 2002 - 10:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: The Oscars are being shined and acceptance speeches are being polished as Oscar night looms this Sunday, but all will languish in the relative shadows of the stars. That is, if the supporting cast of makeup artists and fashion wizards work their magic.

Our own Daryn Kagan joins us live from a Beverly Hills showcase for the Oscar treatment that is being offered. Daryn, I'd say you look pretty good without makeup, but you positively dazzling with makeup.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, thank you, Carol. I do have to say it is a little strange, you know, doing the get up thing when we have the breaking news happening in Jerusalem, but is the assignment this week, so we are going to get into it, and I'm sure if we have more breaking news out of the Middle East, we will go back to you.

Here we are, we're at the L'Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills. It has been a lot of fun this morning. In about 20 different suites, there are companies here that want to service the stars, and whether it is a beautiful gown like this one, or jewels, or makeup, or handbags, we've had a chance to sample. Right now with me, I have Joanna Mastroianni, she is the designer of this gown. We have had some fun, haven't we, playing dress up, and trying on different things that might be appearing at the Oscar?

JOANNA MASTROIANNI, DESIGNER: We've been having lots of fun, and you happen to look great in all of it.

KAGAN: Oh, well, thank you so much. Let's talk about this gown that you picked for me. Very kind of "Moulin Rouge."

MASTROIANNI: It's very "Moulin Rouge." It is very body conscious, it is quite sexy, as you can see, and elegant, and totally feminine. There is quite a lot going on. There is some wonderful back interest here. There is a wonderful train...

KAGAN: Kind of hard to walk.

MASTROIANNI: ... and some lace-up -- lace-up back and great movement, so it is perfect for the red carpet. Gives the wonderful drama that we like.

KAGAN: Now, we mentioned "Moulin Rouge." Of course, nomination for Nicole Kidman for best actress, and also it's up for best picture. Do you think these are the kind of looks that you are going to see on Sunday, corset-inspired, fun, flirty, French?

MASTROIANNI: I think so. I think we are going to see some very feminine, body conscious, very clean, very modern looks. I think lace is very important this season. Definitely the inspiration from "Moulin Rouge" is there. I think we are going to see color, we are going to see some red. I think we will see...

KAGAN: Let's look at some of your color dresses. I am going to work on the walking thing.

MASTROIANNI: OK. We're going to walk over.

KAGAN: Don't have that part down really. OK, so here's some other color dresses.

MASTROIANNI: There's some color, and we love red. This is a wonderful hand-beaded red dress with the coral on top. Again, this is another corset look, it is quite body conscious, with a wonderful back train, and trains are important when it comes to...

KAGAN: Yes, I have seen a lot of trains on gowns.

MASTROIANNI: Yes, very important. It gives you that wonderful elongated look. It gives you great back detail, so we love all that.

KAGAN: A lot of strapless, I am seeing.

MASTROIANNI: Lots of strapless. Lots of bare looks. We are also going to see, I think, some halter looks that are, again, very body revealing, and totally feminine. We are going to see -- this is all hand-beaded, so we are going to see some wonderful hand details, and a lot of dimension within the details.

KAGAN: Now, this has been a lot of fun for me to play dress up, but of course, most women in America don't have access to beautiful dresses like this. How this kind of fashion transfer to what we see in the department stores of America, and what most women are able to buy?

MASTROIANNI: This will definitely be seen later on in the stores, in the speciality stores, and speciality stores and department stores. I think that it's all available. Some of these pieces are created especially for the Oscars, and then after the Oscars, they are available.

KAGAN: And then, from your business side, a big boost for you would be if you could get a star to wear one of your dresses. What does that mean for exposure for you, to see one of your dresses walking down the red carpet?

MASTROIANNI: It means a great deal. It is the event of the year, it is a global event, it is the most glamorous event. So, it has tremendous power. KAGAN: And so, the game that is played this week, you talk to stylists and stars. They come, they try on, but until you watch, like the rest of us, you don't know exactly what anyone is going to wear.

MASTROIANNI: That's absolutely correct. Until the moment that they come out on the red carpet, you just don't know. It's a lot of work, it's major preparations, and a great deal of suspense.

KAGAN: And a lot of finger pointing.

MASTROIANNI: And toe crossing.

KAGAN: I mean, finger crossing.

MASTROIANNI: Yes, and toe crossing.

KAGAN: Very good. Well, congratulations, and good luck with all that. In case you are wondering, this is Natasha (ph)...

MASTROIANNI: Yes.

KAGAN: ...and she has her own gown. The competition is very stiff, as you can see. With that, I am going to put some of my regular clothes that people are used to seeing back on, and I toss it back to you, Carol.

LIN: All right. Looking good. Thanks, Daryn, we'll see you a little bit later.

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