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American Morning
Interview of Hal Rubenstein, "In Style" Magazine
Aired January 21, 2002 - 09:33 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to go back out to Hollywood, where last night the party was on, and the stars were out for the annual Golden Globe awards. Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, and Sissy Spacek were some of the big winners. But, how did they look? That's the real question here this morning. Hey, Joan looking good there.
Hal Rubenstein of "In Style" magazine says some were hot, some were not. He joins us now from Los Angeles. Nice of you to stay up all night and get up for us several hours later and be with this morning.
HAL RUBENSTEIN, "IN STYLE" MAGAZINE: It's just easy to keep right on going.
ZAHN: Thanks, Hal.
RUBENSTEIN: You're very welcome.
ZAHN: So, we've put together a montage of what you thought were some of your favorite looks last night, and we're going to roll that now while you talk about any sort of style theme that seems emerging here. We're going to see Deborah Messing go by, and Jennifer Connolly, and Kate Hudson, and Halle Berry, among others. These are the ones that you are putting in best-dressed column. What did they do right?
RUBENSTEIN: I mean, the best thing about the whole evening was that people decided to dress up again. That whole, sort of, dress down idea at the Emmys was kind of dismal. Nobody looked comfortable, nobody felt comfortable, and viewers had nothing to look at. But it's just -- everybody just -- I think it's easier for people to dress up, to feel glittery, and feel sparkly, because, frankly, it's what the whole evening calls for anyway.
ZAHN: Now we're going to the column you don't want to be on, Hal's list ...
RUBENSTEIN: Well, we'll get...
ZAHN: Nicole Kidman looking lovely there. But here is a list of those you didn't think were so hot last night.
RUBENSTEIN: Well...
ZAHN: Cameron Diaz -- who else didn't look as good as they could of...
RUBENSTEIN: Well, if you want to go disco (ph), Cameron Diaz. Sarah Jessica Parker, who usually looks sensational, her hair and makeup kind of betrayed her. Rachel Griffiths, who is a terrific lady, wonderful actress, somebody went nuts on the hair mouse, and she got a little lost there.
ZAHN: I like the dress, though, a lot going on...
(CROSSTALK)
RUBENSTEIN: The dress is a great -- it's a Valentino dress. It's beautiful. It's just -- somebody betrayed her on top.
ZAHN: Talk to us a little bit about the competition this morning, and what is at stake for designers as we run up to the Oscars here. They could make a lot of money, after an actor wears one of their gowns, right?
RUBENSTEIN: I don't think people realize that sometimes -- the impact. You know, people -- it's not just about getting somebody to wear your dress. The exposure that this causes and the numerous phone calls that happen the next morning for people either asking for that design or a similar design, it's extraordinary amount of publicity. The Golden Globes have become like the second most important venue for this, and then the -- but the Academy Awards -- to get your dress on the girl of the night, on a Nicole Kidman, on an Oscar winner, is just -- it's better than a 20 page ad campaign.
ZAHN: And is it true these designers literally will, you know, fly in from Milan, and bring 20 or 30 different pieces to wear, and you are allowed to keep if it you want, and all kinds of incentives to wear those gowns...
RUBENSTEIN: There are suites set up at the L'Hermitage, the Four Seasons, the Beverly Wilshire. They are like little dress making factories, and people come there during the day, and they are fitted, and they are cut, and they are pinned, and the stylists come -- actors come with their stylists. There's five dresses they try for this one, and three for that one, and every single one of them is fitted and pinned. It's quite a little -- it's quite a little machine that operates around here, some more extensive than others, and the results are that some people like Valentino, Versace, Dolce Gabbana, wind up doing very well at these events.
ZAHN: Final thought for you: Last night, Hal, at the post parties that you -- or post-Globe parties you attended?
RUBENSTEIN: Especially like at the "In Style" party, people were very up, very excited, and I think part of it was, again, it's a new year, it's a fresh year, let's go back to what we do best, which is creating daydreams. Let's give the viewer something to be excited about, which is beautiful people looking wonderful.
And, people liked it. People felt a lot more comfortable than they did at award shows in the past couple months. ZAHN: Well, I got hooked on the show last night, and Hal, we're delighted to have you with us today.
RUBENSTEIN: Thank you.
ZAHN: You are a good man to work all those hours last night, and get up so early this morning. Thank you.
RUBENSTEIN: Always nice to be noticed. Okay, thanks.
ZAHN: Have a good rest of the day. Take care. Hal Rubenstein of "In Style" magazine.
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