By Laura Medina
Yes, that is "Lady Edith Crawley" aka Laura Carmichael.
What started two weeks ago in Hollywood's Hancock Park at the British Consulate's "A Salute to Hollywood" igniting a series of Cali-Brit bashes across town, has ended with a blast of a finale, the last Britweek party, Downton Abbey Vintage Party at Santa Monica's Fairmont Miramar Hotel, right across from Santa Monica's famed outdoor, pedestrian-only mall, Third Street Promenade.
The star-studded guests came for the guest of honor, Lady Edith Crawley herself, a.k.a. Laura Carmichael, above, as her real self. She was the first star to come out of the gate.
Distinguished Hollywood veterans, such as John Savage and Michael Nouri paid their respect.
All that gladiator-training does the body good when the "Spartacus" cast hit the red carpet. They cleaned up real good that they're barely recognizable. For them, it's a chance to clean up and glam up.
Marcus Crassus a.k.a. Simon Merrells was a dapper gentleman to hold his lady co-stars' clutches as they posed on the red carpet.
This scribe loves asking "Brits-Done-Good" what they thought of this two weeks cross-cultural love fest between Britain and American.
For Simon, speaking for his fellow cast members partying this night...it's nice to get all dolled up and taking a shower, not be covered in blood, dirt, sweat, and scratches and fighting for your life and being served drinks.
As for Britweek, he loves it. Growing up in Sheffield, England for four years, he grew up watching English television shows. As an Aussie celebrating them and getting back to his British roots in sunny Los Angeles, it's great.
You can watch his interview at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flzsajTScl8.
Martyn gave this exclusive only to this scribe...he's going to have his own show on Bravo coming soon!
As for this "Roaring" party on the grounds of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel, it has this seductive, sexy, "Downton Abbey/Twenties" flamboyance...what we both agree as "flash & glam."
Want to hear more about Martyn's upcoming Bravo show and his take on Britweek, watch and listen here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGGAR_C-rDE
Left, Steve Cooke with Malcolm Bruce, Right.
About Americans wanting to be Brits during Britweek, rock n' roller Steve Cooke thinks it's fabulous and ought to do more of it. He wants to know where's the mayor? Jokingly, he suggests that the Mayor should be here with Her Majesty.
Asked which of all the Britweek parties he thinks is the best, that was a tough call for him. He called this Downton Abbey party and what was going to happen at this, fab. Still he can't help but be biased...his own party that next night at Molly Malones in the Fairfax District where all the Brit rockers are going to gather and rock out. This past Saturday night was the Rock n' Roll Night for Britweek with Malcolm Bruce. Malcolm's dad was Jack Bruce, Cream's drummer. He's going to rock out with Kofi Baker, Ginger Baker's son in their band, "Sons of Cream" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt5ud9-jsTY
With the movies, "The Great & Powerful Oz" and "The Great Gatsby," Sue Wong's swinging, sassy gowns and Flapper dresses are in hot demand and definitely at attendance at this party. For Sue, her creations have always been "hot." The Edwardian, the Twenties, the Thirties...those eras are her signature looks. Consistently, she has always been about classic Olde Hollywood Glamour and Silverscreen Goddesses. Not does Sue see some of her creations on this red carpet and out and about among the party crowd, she was amused to see some of the knock-offs here this night. She calls the knock-offs a reverse form of flattery. This party, for her, is just adjunct of her normal look, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsU1AojIOnk and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwIIOxYApOo.
Harry Potter's Dad (James Potter) otherwise known as Robbie Jarvis thinks it's awesome that Americans want to be Brits and Brits want to be Americans during Britweek, "It's the best!" He got a kick seeing Yanks honoring Downton Abbey and walking around dressed up as English characters. This scribe and him joked about switching places in LA and England. During this interview, this scribe got another exclusive tidbit...Robbie is filming a Jimi Hendrix bio flick, "All is by My Side." Andre 3000, from OutKast, is playing Jimi; and Robbie is playing Andrew Loog Oldham,the Rolling Stones' first manager. This scribe is loving Britweek and getting exclusive first scoops!
Want to know more? Watch Robbie's interview, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gyOR-1JztA
British cosmetic and skincare company, Boots is making a big push during Britweek as one of the major sponsors, along side Jaguar. Americans know Jaguar but most are out of the loop with Boots. Boots' advanced skincare and cosmetic arm, Boots No. 7 felt it was an opportune time to set their mens' skincare line at last Friday night's Downton Abbey party.
ABC’s “The Bachelor” and "Dancing with the Stars" Sean Lowe is the new brand's spokesman.
Come May 31st, Boots No. 7 Men will be in Walgreens.com and the Walgreens drugstores.
Since the men's formulations are stronger to penetrate their thicker skin, Boots' No. 7 Protect & Perfect for Men comes on strong and quick in reviving party-hardy crinkles and skin the next day.
Mia Christou was the embodiment of a flapper that night. She was the "Jordan Baker" of this Gatsby-sque blast, in a shimmering, bias-cut satin gown, encrusted in rhinestone, swinging a feathered snowy boa and a dazzling skull cap (yes, you heard right) made from strands of rhinestones and huge center pieces of topaz-like baubles.
Taking their cues from the last and hysterical episode of Season Three's "Downton Abbey," and waiting with great anticipation of Baz Luhrmann's juiced-up "The Great Gatsby," guests-celebrities and glamorous civilians-came swinging in fringed shift dresses, dropped-waists, and bia-cutted, slitted satin gowns.
The gents were all tweed up in vests and top tails.
Reflecting the Roaring Twenties' extravagance, the women were dripping in opalescent strands of pearls then blinded each other in rhinestoned "sautoir" a.k.a. tassel necklaces and cuffs of gems, stones, and pearls.
As soon as famed Brit milliner, Philip Treacy decleared the fascinator "dead" due to the multitude of badly constructed knock-offs, folks got the hint.
The wacky headbands were shoved aside by head wraps of pearls, beadings, and rhinestones, Brain Binders (headache band), skullcaps and tiaras dripping in jet beadings, rhinestones, and silver; carved hair clips flourished feathers; turbans and Evening Bandeaus swathed foreheads in shimmering satin clipped with hunking brooches.
The ladies were out there to out-blinded each other.
All this bling was for a good cause. The $75 ticket that everyone bought for the party went to charity mentorship, Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Santa Monica might had danced the Charleston into the night but this is what it woke up to...Little Britainnia propped up in Third Street Promenade. Boots set up shop, introducing Americans to their affordable but effective skincare and makeup. Folks snacking on shrimp-flavored potato chips and Walkers Shortbread cookies. They learned it was the Cunard Cruise Line that save passengers from the sinking Titanic.
This scribe toasted the ending of Britweek by quaffing a pint of hard cider at Ye Olde King's Pub.
After celebrating Britweek, from Hollywood's grand ole Hancock Park to the beaches of Santa Monica for two long weeks, easing one's hangover with a smear of Boot's No. 7 Protect & Perfect Serum on the bags then noshing on bangers, tomatoes, toast, and "snakebite" (cider & ale), this is an easy way to withdraw from Britweek fever.
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