Parties & Shows

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Carrie Underwood’s gold lame Theia dress wasn’t the only thing turning heads on the American Music Awards’ red carpet tonight. Country’s blonde beauty chopped off her famous long locks for a bouncy bob! The new style makes for a refreshing change without taking away from Carrie’s bombshell status. We love the change-up! Tell us: What do you think of Carrie Underwood’s new shoulder-length do?

PLUS: CATCH ALL THE RED CARPET STARS AT THE AMAs IN OUR PHOTO SPECIAL!

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Supermodel and actress Amber Valletta is definitely no stranger to having all eyes on her, and Thursday night, she was the center of attention as she made her designer debut with the launch of her collection Amber Valletta for Monrow at the Ron Herman Melrose store. Although the supermodel-turned-actress (and now fashion designer!) may not be strutting her stuff on the catwalk anymore, she was runway-ready as she dazzled the crowd in a stunning black long-sleeve mini dress from her collection. The sleek star worked with stylist Lia Davis to design a collection that she describes as “classic with an edge but accessible,” she tells PEOPLE. Pieces like the ivory fringe cape, and gold ’50s high-waisted boy shorts give the collection an edgy vintage touch. The collection is already being worn by stars like Rachel Bilson, who turned up to support on Thursday night, and Jessica Stroup. Guests couldn’t stop raving about the collection as they enjoyed some bubbly from Perrier-Jouet and Crumbs cupcakes — if only it was available online already!–Tiffany Matloob

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For one week a year, Victoria’s Secret Angel Alessandra Ambrosio, 28, says things get so crazy and hectic, “I just have to find power from somewhere else to keep going!” she laughs. That week, of course, is leading up to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which took place in N.Y.C. on Nov 19 and will air on CBS at 10pm on Dec. 1. Here’s how the Angel, and mom of 1-year-old Anja (who stayed at home in Brazil with Grandma) made it through.

Saturday, Nov. 14: Fly in from Brazil for my fitting. It’s a big deal to do the fitting. They had all the cameras there. Glad I rested up in Brazil. Now the craziness begins!

Monday, Nov. 16: Shooting a VS campaign today while I’m here. This whole time I am trying to find time to work out because we’re shooting ALL day. At 7, my trainer comes over and we work out for an hour. It’s mostly butt and abs and arms. Last year I had to lose 40 lbs. after having my daughter. This year I am 2 lbs less than usual so I am not freaking out…Still, one week before the show is when I get worried!

Tuesday, Nov. 17: Lots of filming today! I had to do my second fitting and I had to do a biography with VS , which we filmed all over New York. It took so long, I didn’t get to work out!

Wednesday, Nov. 18: In Times Square to promote the show, then we have to go and rehearse. The rehearsal will finish so late, and I really want to work out the night before the show, so I might not be able to get a massage, like I wanted.

Thursday, Nov. 19, 8 am: The show is today! Running late to hair and makeup. Oops. I’m opening the show, so obviously I’m more nervous than anyone else. It’s a big responsibility. I can’t even eat breakfast. Just coffee.
11 am: So many interviews!
4 pm: We tape two shows, so the first one starts now. Walking down the runway, I went on autopilot and blacked out. I don’t even remember what I did. I was just trying to be sexy and fun.
5 pm: Break between shows. I’m hungry! I’m going straight for the catering table.
8 pm: Second show. I didn’t fall in the first one, so I’m not so nervous now. Even if I trip they have one good take! The Black Eyed Peas sing while I’m wearing this bright neon outfit. And the wings are on the arms, so it doesn’t even hide anything!
10 pm: Done for the day! I got a Valentino Couture dress to wear and amazing diamonds from Ivanka Trump. Heading over to the afterparty at M2 in NYC.
1 am: Now I’m really hungry! Grabbing cheeseburgers at Cafeteria with my friends.

–reported by Charlotte Triggs

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Heidi Klum didn’t plan on walking the runway of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show last night, but let’s just say she’s a little bit impulsive. “I felt great the night of the fashion show and decided last minute to walk,” the supermodel, 36, who welcomed daughter Lou, with husband Seal, last month, tells PEOPLE exclusively. Klum, who had already been fitted for her dress, opened the Enchanted Forest-themed part of the show, wearing a vine-strewn corset and a full white skirt. “I loved my outfit,” she says, “so I thought, why not?” Her surprise appearance, known only to Victoria’s Secret insiders, drew screams and applause from a shocked audience during the live show Thursday night. Though Klum, who was expected only to host the festivities, said that while her new job behind the scenes meant there was “definitely less pressure,” walking in the show was a thrill for her. “I’m proud of being the curvy model on the Victoria’s Secret stage,” she says, adding that she enjoyed the show herself. “The Black Eyed Peas and all of the looks for the show were fantastic!” You can watch Heidi — and all the Angels — hit the runway when the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show airs on CBS at 10pm EST on Dec. 1.–Charlotte Triggs

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We’re all for a little style experimentation, but when we spotted beauty mavens Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen at MoMA’s Film Benefit honoring Tim Burton this week in New York we were more than a little perplexed. We’d gotten used to Mary-Kate being the style risk-taker and her twin Ashley taking a more conservative approach. But the duo played with our expectations, with Ashley adding rainbow stripes to her hair and her sister going as bold as ever with the deepest red lips around. Tell us: What do you think of the sisters changing it up? What’s the boldest look you’ve tried in the name of beauty?

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In her new film Broken Embraces, Penélope Cruz dresses the part of a mogul’s wife and budding movie star, but at the Calvin Klein Collection-sponsored Cinema Society premiere at the Crosby Street Hotel last night, she looked simply angelic in a long white velvet coat and matching dress from Calvin Klein Collection with glittering Chopard diamonds. “She’s an angel,” said Francisco Costa, who is the Women’s Creative Director, Calvin Klein Collection. “She’s a total clothes horse. She looks amazing in everything.” Costa was also struck at how well the camera reacts to Penélope, even in her off time. “It was quite telling today. I wasn’t in the last fitting, and I got pictures of her in the clothes at the hotel room. And they looked like movie stills. She was just wearing the clothes in the hotel room, but it almost felt like Helmut Newton pictures, there was so much of her in the photos.” Even for a star as graceful as Penélope, it is still demanding to promote two movies at once — her musical Nine is coming out in December, as well. “Well, yes, I’m dressing for two tours at once over these two weeks, so it’s great that I have a team of people that help me.” Luckily after months of rigorous training for her dance numbers in Nine, she looks as fabulous in her red carpet clothes as she does in her revealing costumes. “For Nine, I had to rehearse a number for three months,” said Cruz. “That was the only way to do that, I had singing teachers and dancing teachers. I did dancing when I was growing up. I did classical ballet, but what I do in Nine is a VERY different type of dance. It was really like starting from zero, in a way.”–Jeffrey Slonim

Ramey

Twilight’s Ashley Greene might have looked red-hot at last night’s L.A. premiere of the film series’ latest installment, New Moon, but she tells PEOPLE that finding her perfect scarlet Prabal Gurung stunner was no small matter. “We picked a dress out, had it ready,” Ashley says of a different look, which she originally chose with her stylist. But at the last minute, “I decided I didn’t like it and we had to start from scratch.” Just how down to the wire did it get? “I stopped by the tailors right before I got here to pick up the dress,” she admits. The rest of her red-carpet prep, however, was less of an ordeal. For two hours on the Sunday before the premiere, Ashley received eyelash extensions from expert Calma Yom at The Parlour on 3rd and then returned to the salon to have her hair extensions freshened up the following day. As for her bronzed skin, Ashley looked to St. Tropez tanning expert Fiona Locke, who customized and contoured her skin before the big event. The final touch came at the hands of makeup artist Vanessa Scali, who created the ’60s-inspired look for the Twilight star with “well-defined eyes with lots of lashes, a strong brow and clean skin with subtle pink [and] coral cheeks and lips.” Tell us: What did you think of Ashley’s head-to toe premiere style last night? –additional reporting by Lisa Ingrassia

Check out more New Moon Red Carpet Style!