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Criticism still abounds regarding Gwyneth Paltrow’s participation in Mario Batali’s Road Tripping Foodie Experience; Spain: On the Road Again.  Yes, It is hard to believe a veggie leaning macrobiotic could enjoy the carnivorous diet that pervades in Spain. While there are indeed, very obnoxious elements in the PBS series (Caravanning convertible Mercedes’, picking up Micheal Stipe as a hitchhiker, waxing philosophical about Frank Gehry’s architecture over brunch) Paltrow is rarely one of them.  People love to hate Gwyneth!

Each of the four travellers seem to serve distinct purposes.  Mark Bittman is Batali’s chef foil often grouchy but down to earth, Claudia Bassols is a native of Catalonia, easy on the eyes and counters Bitty’s constitution with eternal optimism.  Batali and Paltrow are often the stars of the trip, exchanging witty repartee and an underlying sense of flirtation.  They have both spent a lot of time in Spain, and both speak Spanish fluently.  Gwennie actually has a wonderful Castilian accent, having learned Spanish while abroad in college.  Of course her appearance garners ratings, and that may be be her underlying purpose, but she is so much more!

Having travelled through Spain with a Vegetarian, I know how difficult it is to find anything edible.  Paella and Pan get old very quickly.  With Paltrow in tow, the show highlights options for those who don’t eat meat.  Of course, it is plausible that as a non-academy award winner with a bad Spanish accent, I wouldn’t have been greeted as graciously with vegetarian food options as Ms. Paltrow appears to have been.

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Actress Anne Hathaway and designer Valentino attend the Los Angeles premiere of “Valentino: The Last Emperor” at the Bing Theatre at LACMA on April 1, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.   Valentino LOVES Anne Hathaway (and Gwyneth Paltrow)  and both alabaster skinned actresses were at the premiere in support of the documentary that follows Valentino and partner Giancarlo Giammetti during the last days working together at the influential house of fashion.   Valentino always wears a Mediterranean glow, but alongside Hathaway his bronze takes on a new life.

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Actress Blythe Danner attends the opening night of “Distracted” at the Roundabout Theatre Company’s Laura Pels Theatre on March 4, 2009 in New York City.  Blythe, I don’t know what you’re doing, but you have never looked so vivacious!  Gwyneth Paltrow has undoubtedly inherited some resilient genes from her mother.  At age 66, Danner has enjoyed a career spanning at least forty years from the stage to the silver screen and television.  She is pictured below at ages 54 (left) and 35 (right).

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We are in the midst of an eighties revival, but could it extend beyond neon – all the way to shoulder pads? Jennifer Connelly attended the ‘He Just Not That Into You’ film premiere on February 2, 2009 in Los Angeles wearing a beaded green mini-dress with wide shoulders. Linda Evans, seen at the 38th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 1986, made this look famous on the popular 80’s TV drama ‘Dynasty’. Gwyneth Paltrow wore a structured wide shoulder at the 14th Annual Saks Fifth Avenue’s Unforgettable Evening at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on February 10, 2009. Joan Collins, also of ‘Dynasty’ fame, showed off this look while promoting her Hat Collection in 1985. For a lightbox of great 80’s shoulder pads click here. Do you think shoulder pads could ever fully come back into fashion?

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Always the epitome of elegance and refine, Nicole Kidman and Gwyneth Paltrow also favor taking fashion risks.  Strapless white dresses are definitely in the venturesome category, especially so because neither actress is especially buxom.  Both women looked beautiful at recent events, but did the gamble pay off?  Paltrow was leggy, tanned and polished as usual at the grand opening for  Fontainebleau Miami Beach last week while Kidman was regal in a body-con dress at the photocall for Australia yesterday.  Gwyneth was slammed for her ill fitting pink Ralph Lauren dress at the 1998 Oscars but last week’s  white tulip mini dress suffers from the same excess of in the bodice.  Who looked better while taking chances?

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Actress Gwyneth Paltrow attended the “Two Lovers” premiere on November 04, 2008 in Paris, wearing an unusual lingerie-turned-inside-out dress with perfectly matched two-toned heels.  Aside from the peculiar way the lace cutout reveals Paltrow’s undies and other unmentionables, the similarity to Katie Holmes lace and satin jumpsuit (right) deserves attention.  Katie’s jarring choice for the opening night of her Broadway debut in “All my Sons” was controversial within the Getty Entertainment blogger circle but was unanimously deemed a winner.   Perhaps the best part of Holmes’ lacy ensemble was the fact that she designed it herself.  Did Katie’s style influence Gwynnie’s outfit choice last night?  Which take on white with black lace do you like better?  See the classic combo throughout history here.

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Apparently there were some sound quality problems and a whole lot of waiting at Wembley Stadium for Madonna’s performance of her Sticky And Sweet tour.  The hold up didn’t keep longtime friend, Gwyneth Paltrow from having a laugh with Kate Hudson.  Were they passing the hours getting to know each other better or was it something on stage that elicited chuckles.  Madge aped double dutch culture with a single rope and did a glam, fishnet stockinged cabaret number.  Have you seen her live?  Can you die happy now?

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