Vintage shines at Costume Gala

via People

For CGG, it's not who you're wearing, it's what you're doing. Unless, of course, you're wearing organic or vintage.

There's nothing we love more than recycled couture on the red carpet. And Monday night's Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala, often referred to as the most glamorous night in fashion, had lots of second-hand sexiness on display.

Giorgio Armani was king of the night (or, officially, "honorary chair"), and he pulled several vintage designs out of his vault for Hollywood's hottest stars. CGG's favorite look: a radiant Katie Holmes decked out in his 1993 paillette-encrusted ball gown, a perfect pick that befitted the event's super-hero theme.

via People

Victoria Beckham spiced things up in Armani with this to-die-for vintage 1989 evening coat-dress and to-die-for arm candy Mr. Beckham.

via People

Mr. Hollywood, George Clooney, escorted Sarah Larson, who wore a vintage Armani in a stunning 1997 one-shoulder crystal-studded gown.

via People

We love this colorful vintage sequined printed dress from Chanel Haute Couture on Kate Bosworth. A bold statement, and so original, Kate.

via People

And when it comes to vintage, don't forget that borrowing diamonds is better for the environment than buying new! Naomi Watts is a goddess in vintage Fred Leighton jewelry over a white halter Thierry Mugler gown.

What do you think of these vintage looks? Let us know here.

Hilary Duff and co. bring on the natural glow

via celebritygossip

Last night CGG hit the glam ALLURE Magazine bash in NYC, which hosted the 2nd Annual Most Alluring Bodies to kick off National Skin Cancer Awareness month. The photo exhibit was a silent auction, featuring nude shots of Gisele Bundchen, Scarlett Johansson, Marilyn Monroe, Naomi Campbell, and Kate Moss among others, to benefit The New York University Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, which researches treatment and a potential cure for melanoma.

CGG ran into Hilary Duff (the cover model of this month’s Allure issue) who looked stunning in a strapless shiny black dress. We asked her what she does to protect herself from the dangerous rays of the sun.

“I cover up a lot in the sun,” Hilary told us. “I really like to go out tanning but I have really fair skin and I seem to burn easily. I don’t want wrinkles and I don’t want skin cancer so I wear a lot of sunscreen.”

How does Hilary keep up her Hollywood glow? "I think in this day and age it’s really easy,” she told us, “because of all the different products that you can use, the alternative to actual tanning. You can get a bronze beautiful look that still has sunscreen in it and still look like you’ve been lying in the sun all day.”

And Hilary has some advice for you. “I think it should become a part of everyone’s ritual. When you get out of the shower and you put your body lotion on make sure it has sunscreen in it. When you have the time, put it on separately. You know it’s a part of what we have to do to keep ourselves healthy.”

If Hilary can pull off a gorgeous bronze look without burning in the sun, so can you. Apparently she’s not the only CGG aware of this season’s hottest accessory.
We asked Katharine McPhee (who dazzled in a short purple number) how she protects herself from skin cancer. “Just sunscreen,” she told us. “I’m an avid sunscreen user.”

The lovely Rachel Zoe, fashion stylist to stars such as Nicole Richie and Keira Knightley, is also in the know, “I wear protection every single day all over my body,” she told us. “I live in California. I worshipped the sun when I was younger and I’m paying for it now. So I wear SPF 30 everyday all over my face and my body.”

We asked Rachel what she thought about pressures in Hollywood to be tan. “I think it’s dated to be tan,” she told us. “Not dated to be tan when you’re on holiday and whatever, but I think in the middle of winter to be tan it’s weird, you know?” Take it from Hollywood's fashion guru first hand: tan is out, natural is in!

And what advice does Rachel have for us? “Stay out of the sun,” she said. “I wish that I knew it. And I knew it, but I didn’t realize the detrimental effects of it. It’s dangerous, and it’s for real. This isn’t a joke. It’s not like oh, you’ll get skin cancer, it’s like you really will get skin cancer.” We spotted Rachel bidding on several photos for the cause.

To find out more how you can protect yourself from melanoma, visit NYU IMCG.

Burma: It Can't Wait - Day 8

The Burma Now campaign uses celebrity and activist voices to raise awareness of the brutal regime with a series of PSAs over the month of May. Check out today's video: The Burmese military is silencing its people. Our voices can stop it.

Burma: It Can't Wait has also updated their campaign to help the victims of this weekend's tragic cyclone in Burma. Go to the U.S. Campaign for Burma to learn more and find out how you can help.

Can't get enough of Sarah Silverman

via AP

We just can't get enough of Sarah Silverman. First she lent her talent to the Burma: It Can't Wait campaign, using her humor to bring awareness to a vicious regime in a way that only Sarah could.

Then she made the best entrance ever at the NYC Costume Gala Monday night.

And on Friday the lovely Sarah is doing stand-up for a cause at Columbia University.

"Project ALS is a vital crusade - to find a cure for a horrific disease," Sarah said, "and also to fight for the legality of stem cell research - for the right to put science over fundamentalism so that people may live past this and countless other diseases."

Bravo to Sarah for giving her name and time to Project ALS, making a stand on both a political and health issue.

We can't wait to see Sarah perform. You can get tickets here to support Project ALS.

Cindy Crawford starts at home

via Lussori

Cindy Crawford was on Good Morning America Today to discuss her clean water campaign. The supermodel mom said that after watching An Inconvenient Truth she was influenced to make a change, but also overwhelmed at the same time. She got some inspiration from her children’s school in Malibu which focused on beach cleanups, using less plastic in schools, and opting for lunch boxes over brown paper bags.

She then teamed up with PUR to promote reusable aluminum bottles. Each purchase of the $19.99 bottle will benefit Children's Safe Drinking Water Program in underdeveloped countries, providing the equivalent of enough clean drinking water for one child for seven-and-a-half months. Sounds like the perfect Mother’s day gift to us.

Cindy realized that just by starting with herself, she could make a difference. She used to drink 6 bottles of water a day, which is over 2000 bottles a year!

“I don't want to present myself as 'Hey, I'm the green guru,' but there are little things that I can do,” Cindy said. “The first thing is that I didn't realize that appliances use electricity when you're not using them. So I started with just my phone charger. I was like if I unplug that and only plug it in when I'm using my phone charger, I'm saving electricity."

Cindy also recommends having plenty of reusable water bags and cloth bags around the house, car, etc, so you always have one handy.

Rosie's in bloom

via NYMag

The NYPost reported today that Rosie Perez helped raise $250,000 at a benefit for children who stutter. Check out Our Time Theatre for more information on summer camps against stuttering.

We just want to know: How much did Stuttering John give?

Not everyone wants to be a celeb?

via Nikki Finke's DHD

Yesterday, PETA placed full page ads in Variety and the National Enquirer calling on readers who witness animal abuse to call in to a special hotline number. The ad featured a chimpanzee in a dress with the tagline "Not everyone wants to be famous."

PETA claims that the chimpanzee playing the role of Chim Chim was beaten on the set of Speed Racer.

A spokesperson for the film confirmed that a chimp bit a young actor, but said that the actor was treated and the animal was given a time-out. She gave testimoney from the American Humane Society that no animals were hurt.

But PETA isn't happy with these assurances. “No humane representative is closely monitoring those animals while off-set or during pre-production training, the very places where abuse is most likely to occur,” the organization responded, “so we regret to say that the assurances you offer are meaningless.”

What do you think about using animals on set? Should films be allowed to use live animals if they can be monitored properly or only animatronics? Let us know here.

Burma: It Can't Wait - Day 7

Jorja Fox finds out that as a Burmese civilian she has no choice in the hand of cards she's dealt by Eric Szmanda.

Quote of the Day

via Posternet

"There is something very good about being in a situation where you have to give all the time. It makes you feel full of life and full of love," Gwyneth tells this month's issue of British Glamour.

Christina Ricci’s race for RAINN

Christina Ricci in Speed Racer, which opens in Theaters May 9

When Christina Ricci brought in RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), America's leading anti-sexual assault organization, to consult on last year's film release Black Snake Moan, most people didn’t know that she has been involved with the organization for ten years. She is currently the national spokesperson for the organization.

In an exclusive interview with our favorite online shopping site nonprofitshoppingmall.com, Christina tells how you can get involved: “There are many ways . . . Staffing a hotline, fundraising, and public education are just a few of the endless opportunities available.” Christina recommends visiting the website and clicking on “Get Involved."

RAINN also has organizations on 700 college campuses nationwide, making it easy to link up with one. If your school or college doesn't have an organization, click here for information on how you can start one.

And don’t forget to visit nonprofitshoppingmall.com, where a percentage of your purchase is automatically donated to your favorite non-profit.