Friday, Feb. 6, 2004 | 4:51 a.m.
VegasBeat appears Sunday through Friday in the Las Vegas Sun. Timothy McDarrah can be reached at [email protected] or at (702) 259-4096.
WEEKEND EDITION
Feb. 7 - 8, 2004
Las Vegas is hardly the fashion capitol of the world.
And gossip columns in Vegas rarely feature the same bold-faced designer names that populate the Los Angeles and New York columns -- names such as Cynthia Rowley, Nicole Miller, Calvin Klein, Tom Ford, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Stella McCartney, Kate Spade and Tommy Hilfiger.
But based on the talent -- designer and entertainment -- coming to Las Vegas for the MAGIC ("The Business of Fashion") show, which runs from Feb. 22 to Feb. 26, there is little doubt about the import, and impact, of the biz.
Several of the previously mentioned designers are expected to be in town to help sell their fall lines.
And such diverse acts as Bob Dylan, Snoop Dog, Sugar Ray, Bonnie Raitt, Blondie, Mary J. Blige, Melissa Etheridge, Counting Crows and Jay-Z have been hired to play some of the private parties.
Others such as Busta Rhymes and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs will not only be performing at private industry events, but selling their own clothing lines at the same time.
Corporate America will also be represented. ESPN will be hosting what we presume will be a fashionable golf tournament, Red Bull will have a skating area set up to try out X-treme sports wear, GQ, Vanity Fair and Esquire are hosting fancy parties and other entities, from HBO to the NBA, are also sponsoring events.
Slowly, however, Vegas is catching up with the fashionistas as designer stores continue to open locally. Eddie Rodriguez, a white-hot menswear designer of Cuban descent, is having a party Feb. 19 to celebrate the opening of his store at the Fashion Show mall.
One fashion trend sure to be noticed at MAGIC -- it is already evident at New York's Fashion Week shows, which started Friday -- is the evolution of rapper-wear, for lack of a better term.
"The whole bling-bling thing has left," John Moore, the fashion director of Vibe magazine, told the New York Times on Friday. The throwback basketball jerseys are over, and the new trend is button-down shirts and suits.
"I hate the word, but the consumer has matured," said Jeff Tweedy, the chief executive of Diddy's Sean John clothing line.
Of course, many trade shows besides MAGIC feature stars. Billy Crystal has been booked to entertain a World Shoe Association audience at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts this week, and Dwight Yoakam has a private Las Vegas Hilton gig as part of the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor (SHOT) Show.
There will be no public ticket distribution to see "The View" when it is taped poolside at Caesars Palace next week.
But that doesn't mean there is no way to get in to see hosts Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Star Jones, Meredith Vierra and Elisabeth Hasselbeck and guests who include Meg Ryan, Elton John and Jerry Lewis.
The local ABC affiliate, KTNV Channel 13, which broadcasts the talk show daily at 10 a.m., is conducting daily ticket giveaways starting Monday on its early morning news program with Rikki Cheese and Ron Futrell. Tune in starting at 5 a.m. for details.
Once again, Las Vegas' official Oscar Night America party is at Caesars Palace and will benefit the Arthritis Foundation of Southern Nevada.
In addition to the live telecast of the 76th Annual Academy Awards ceremony, guests will be treated to movie-themed cocktails, the same official program that is distributed at the Hollywood event and a silent auction with signed and historical film memorabilia.
Roger and Sandy Peltyn return as hosts of the gala evening, as does Robin Leach as master of ceremonies.
A limited number of tickets for the Feb. 29 party are available by calling 367-1626.
What appears to be the biggest local Grammy-viewing party tonight is at Plush, the new club inside The Resort at Summerlin.
Admission is free and they'll be serving Red Bull, so it should be a pretty charged-up crowd whether or not anyone has a wardrobe malfunction.
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