LAmoodboard.com
WILSHIRE EBELL THEATRE | FEBRUARY 27th 2024 | LOS ANGELES
NAME: Jessica Bantista | @bateeza
HER STORY: DJ extraordinaire, Jessica Bantista not only painted the room with the sounds of Poor Things but she dressed the part as well.
NAME: Grace Mattei | @gracemattei / Caroline Juen | @loveandloathingla / Dani Dazey | @danidazey / Laura Stafford | @lauraloo
THEIR STORY: Four fast friends all decided to shop in one of their considerable closets. Lucky them. Bella bella bella bella.
NAME: Anseley Hutchinson (seated) | @ansley.hutchinson / Erika Rose | @itserikarose
THEIR STORY: Emilia Rose (left) and Stacy Hutchinson weren’t hired to be Bellas. “This is just for fun. It’s what Bella would wear.”
Green corset from thrift store, Chicwish green dress, and a “Skims lookalike” brown slip.
NAME: Kameeron Rasmussen | @kameronrasmussen
HIS STORY: Kameron Rasmussen’s fabulous tight-fitting stretch velvet (no doubt, tailored) floral suit came courtesy of online market ASOS – which honestly seems to be hawking more imaginative goods all the time. Also admirable: his wardrobe of ear scape and chains, ordered from Philippines based jewelry site Penny Pairs
NAME: Amanda Castrillo | @amandajustvibin
HER STORY: Former model-turned-content creator Amanda Castrillo is shockingly wearing a Fashion Nova tulle-tired lace dress that looks like a thousand dollar number from Philosophy. Check out that Josephine Baker red lip, metallic pink eye shadow and 1920’s Marcel waves.
NAME: Lucy A. Copp (left) | @snowpea14 / Abigail Hendricks | @abigailouise
THEIR STORY: Producer Lucy Copp snagged that vintage frock in Toronto, as well as her vintage Escada shoes. She picked up that coat in Atwater Village earlier that day. On the right, Abigail Hendricks – actress/yogini is wearing a vintage Dior jacket and thrift shop slip dress.
NAME: @tcforyou
HER STORY: While the ‘baby Bellas’ weren’t supposed to talk – just create “Poor Things” ambiance – this one did manage to convey that her ruffle top, skirt and white patent boots (very Margiela) were sourced by a costumer hired for the event.
NAME: CarlyKnight | @carlyknighht
HER STORY: Carly Knight, influencer extraordinaire, says she always dresses like this – “There’s nothing costume about it. This is as modern as it gets for me.” She procured the dress on the online store Wild Rose and Sparrow (for fairytale style clothes).
NAME: Karima El-hakkaoui | @karimaelhakkaoui
HER STORY: Skincare guru Karima Hakkaoui wears the iconic Diana dress from Norma Kamali with flat sparkly sandals. Only cool girls wear flats to parties.
NAME: Jackie R. Jacobson (left) |@jackierjacobson / Mel Randal | @m_e_l_
THEIR STORY: Actress Jackie Jacobson (blonde) wears her mom’s dress from 2005. Mel Randal (brunette music biz) is wearing a cut out look made for her by Dana Foley, who’s got a shop on L.A.’s east side.
NAME: Phi Ca | @feeyuplarue
HIS STORY: Visual designer Phillip Ca can totally turn it out – and somehow stay subtle. A savvy shopper, he thrifted that Matrix-inspired patent trench and the harness that gave it that couture edge. “I scour the gutters,” he snickered. Polka dot socks from Uniqlo, detachable collar.
NAME: Erik Anderson |@awardswatch
HIS STORY: Eric Anderson can work a glitter loafer like he’s following the yellow brick road – these by Betsey Johnson (under a hundred bucks!). The entertainment journalist sourced most of his vintage from stores in his hometown of Healdsburg, CA. His leaf pin was part of the event’s décor – he attached it to his shirt with a tiny clothes pin. “You should never let materials go to waste!”
NAME: Yasmine Sahid | @yasmine_sahid
HER STORY: The eyes have it, on content creator’s Yamine Sahid’s Hot Topic dress (yes! – and sold out), an Azalea Wang jacket, and 90’s platform pumps from a Los Feliz flea market.
NAME: (left to right) Cricket Simms | @Cricket Simms / Ava Graham | @ava.maee / Nicole Naidrich | @nicoleenaidrich
THEIR STORY: We missed getting their stories but ladies, you look fabulous.
NAME: POOR THINGS | @poorthingsfilm
ITS STORY: If you haven’t seen this movie: Do, And see it on a large screen if at all possible. A theater even better. It’s brilliant and invigorating. You will not be disappointed.
Bella Bella Bella! An awards season fete for the video release of “Poor Things” – held at the grand Wilshire Ebell theater – showed off its fantasy Victorian goth vibe in an atmosphere that was – well – bellisima. Everywhere you looked were baby Bellas – small pale models, long black wigs, puffed sleeves, ruffle tops, wide shorts, boots, a la Emma Stone’s winning character. They posed on grand pianos, jerkily danced among waltzers, and again a scenario of red and light blue china plates hung on a prop wall, to recreate a mise-en-scene from the movie.
In a tribute to last week’s Costume Designers Guild Award winner Holly Waddington, responsible for “Poor Things” visionary whimsical looks, original costumes were displayed on mannequins – while many influencers in the crowd (selfie stylistas now get whole events to Insta from) took up their own inventive would-be Bella best. FYI, boys can be Bella’s, too. During this Oscar voting countdown, every bit of press helps.