Dinner with Dita
It's not every day that I get to impersonate a world-famous photographer! But since
Ellen von Unwerth was a no-show for a dinner that benefited the
MAC AIDS Fund, the
MAC flacks kindlly offered me her seat—right across from burlesque phenomenon
Dita Von Teese and in between
Vogue editor Sally Singer and famed choreographer
Fatima Robinson. (Hey, Ellen—you missed an incredible meal!)
James, Dita Von Teese and Fatima Robinson
Photo by Melissa Dishell
I first met Dita backstage at the Victoria's Secret show in New York (which, coincidentally, Fatima had choreographed), right after she artfully disrobed and swirled around inside a giant martini glass. The other night, she was stylishly covered up in vintage Dior, and we talked about her plans for New York Fashion Week (Marc Jacobs and Zac Posen—wise choices).
Some people might think that Dita is all doom and gloom because she's married to
Marilyn Manson, but in fact she has a wicked sense of humor (as does her husband), and we had a fun chat about our favorite
Wham! videos and her Cher-like taste in stage costumes (think: ostrich feathers and thousands of Swarovski crytsals).
Fatima, who choreographed the upcoming movie version of
Dreamgirls as well as hundreds of music videos, including Fergie's hot clip for "London Bridge," is also quite the fashionista, as it turns out. She told me about scouring the L.A. Rose Bowl's monthly flea market for cheap chic dresses (we're talking $5!) and her plans to open a vintage boutique in
Silver Lake. This would be during her time off from teaching rhythm-challenged movie stars how to boogie (for the record, Fatima gives high marks to Uma Thurman and Jamie Foxx).
Kudos to John Demsey, global president of MAC Cosmetics and chairman of the MAC AIDS Fund, and his team for throwing such a cool dinner party with a guest list that rivaled that of the
VMAs—other revelers included Christina Aguilera, Eve, Lil' Kim, Kelis and Lisa Marie Presley, as well as designers like Narciso Rodriguez and Roberto Cavalli. Fashion Week hasn't even officially kicked off, but the shows themselves will have trouble competing with this super-glamorous event.
instyle.com