Wang named among Glamour’s top women

New York — Calling her “the style force,” Glamour magazine named fashion designer Vera Wang one of its women of the year at a ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History.

Movie star Sharon Stone introduced Wang at the Nov. 10 celebration, calling her friend “a fine, elegant, spiritually refined person.”

Wang, who decided to design bridal gown after a frustrating search for her own wedding dress, has helped make bridal fashion as sexy and sophisticated as anything else on the runways. Her fashion empire now includes a line of china and a namesake perfume.

“I’m in shock, it’s times like this I wish I could speak like Ellen DeGeneres,” Wang said, referring to her fellow honoree, whom Glamour called “the comeback woman.”

Other women honored at the event, which featured performances by Patti LaBelle and the Girls Choir of Harlem, were: former POWs Pfc. Jessica Lynch and Spc. Shoshana Johnson; Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Lynne Cox, who swam the Bering Strait and the waters off Antarctica to campaign for peace; Planned Parenthood executive director Gloria Feldt; Oscar-winning actress and UNICEF goodwill ambassador Jessica Lange; “Seabiscuit: An American Legend” author Laura Hillenbrand; choreographer Twyla Tharp; and pop star Britney Spears. Queen Noor of Jordan, who couldn’t attend the event, received a lifetime achievement award.

Nicole Miller unveils sportswear collection

New York — Millergirl might be best described as Nicole Miller lite.

The designer, best known for her cocktail dresses, recently unveiled her new sportswear collection, which includes a zip-front strapless minidress, a tiered ruffled skirt, and ruched hot pants in a camouflage print. Fabrics include damask with washed raw edges, heavy jersey with fishnet appliques and coated denim.

A handful of these youthful looks were shown during Miller’s shipwreck-themed show at New York Fashion Week, and the whole line was featured in a runway show in Los Angeles.

MAC AIDS Fund raising funds for AIDS

New York — MAC cosmetics will have celebrity events at its 20 U.S. stores on World AIDS Day as part of its campaign to raise awareness and funds for people affected by HIV/AIDS.

Celebrities will sign autographs on Dec. 1 at MAC counters in Atlanta; Boston; Chicago; Cleveland; Dallas; Las Vegas, Nev.; Los Angeles; Miami; New York; Orlando, Fla.; San Diego; San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

Scheduled to appear are Bebe Neuwirth, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Miss Universe Amelia Vega, Miss USA Susie Castillo, comedian Rita Rudner, The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and figure skaters Peggy Fleming, Oksana Baiul and Nancy Kerrigan.

In addition, all Dec. 1 sales of MAC’s Kids Helping Kids holiday cards and Viva Glam compact and lipsticks will go to the MAC AIDS Fund.

Hairdos can spruce up holiday gatherings

New York — A simple change in hairstyle should bring some new life to a look that might be getting a little familiar to the crew with whom you break bread on Thanksgiving, gossip with at a charity gala, or carol with on Christmas Eve.

Pantene stylist Brett Freedman suggests these seasonal hairdos:

• Wear an updo for events that require a formal dress. But unlike the hardhats of years past, the new updo is more carefree and less structured. The style works best for shoulder-length to long hair, Freedman says.
• If your hair is short, consider either a “mussed-up, natural look,” or create little twists by taking gel and wrapping your finger around small sections of hair. Pixie cuts are made more elegant if the hair is finger-fluffed as it is blown dry.
• A ponytail is classic — and easy — for casual dinners. Freedman advises drying hair straight and blowing it toward the face so it will have more lift when you pull it back. Place the ponytail just behind the crown of the head and fasten with an elastic. Wrap a small section of hair around the band to cover it, securing with bobby pins.