July 6th, 2006

 We never know who were going to be running into when we venture forth on our nightly/daily rounds gathering grist for this media mill, but we always love it when we run into beautiful women, especially if they surprise us with a tidbit or two to pass along to our readers. We felt particularly rewarded when we saw model Elle Macpherson, who remarkably recovered from her splitulation last year from long-time beau Arki Busson, was having a bite to eat with British millionaire real estate developer, John Hitchcock. As we are wont to do, we sought news from this coupleif they are a couple, cuz they sure looked like itto pass along to you. We should have known better: Elle is famously private about the goings-on in her personal life. Undeterred, we forged ahead, asking her for something of worth to share with you readers. First of all, Im here in the states to do some business with my new brand, Boudoir, which I will launch in February. After some preliminary chit-chat, we learned that Boudoir is Elles latest brand of lingerie, inspired by items worn by strip-tease artists who shamelessly strut their stuff in strip joints like Scores. Elle was quick to add, Its really sexy underwear, the kind you would find in trashy lingerie stores, but its beautifully constructed of silks and laces, with wonderful color combinations. I just wanted this look, but it was so tacky because I had to go to strip joints to find it. And the market, we wondered? The collection is aimed at women who dress for themselves or to wear for men to have more fun. The whole idea is that of seduction. I think todays woman is feeling more grounded and confident in her sensuality, said Elle, adding that the collection will be sold at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. Some of her celebrity friends wholl be wearing Boudoir are Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Kate Bosworth, Stella McCartney, Elizabeth Hurley and Sienna Millerthey are all being given gifts of the delicate underthings by Elle. A lot of my friends wear my lingerie because its really comfortable, she said.

We chanced upon Brendan Fraser who was rushing to a business meeting. He stopped long enough to receive our best wishes and congratulations for landing the role of our great friend, the late designer Halston in the biopic. Were sure that everyones heard that Brendan replaced Alec Baldwin in the role of the fashion superstar who counted as intimates such luminaries as Liza Minnelli, Elizabeth Taylor and Bianca Jagger before he succumbed to AIDS in 1990. The film is based on Steven Gaines 1991 well-received Halston biography. After learning that a film would be made using Gaines book as source material, Alec Baldwin actively campaigned for the role. However, the producers felt that the burly Baldwin was just not right to portray the oh so chic and ultra-svelt Halston, something we pointed out when we first heard that Baldwin was after the role. Were not saying the producers followed our advice, but who knows? We do know that the inspiration for the film Factory Girl came after we wrote about Edie Sedgwick and Andy Warhol in this space. Before saying bye-bye to Brendan, we told him we would be happy to talk to him about our friend Halston in case he wants to research the life of the trend-setting couturier.

Greys Anatomys on-again-off-again lovers, played by Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo, are each a million dollars richer thanks to being cast in retailer New York & Co.s fall ad campaign. At least that is what weve been told. They were photographed by Patrick Demarchelier on location a few weeks ago in East Hampton, Long Island and the ads will run in September fashion magazines. We couldnt get confirmation on what they were paid, but we were told it is the largest amount the company has ever spent. Dempsey reportedly bought a home in the Hamptons with the money he received and moved into the new digs over the Fourth of July holiday. Patrick has been in New York filming Enchanted portraying a single father who falls in love with a princess, played by Amy Adams.

Seeing love birds Orlando Bloom and Kate Bosworth, hand-holding and behaving very much like a couple would seem to give lie to reports that had Bloom at a party in Blighty at Althrop, Earl Spencers estate, dirty dancing with Claire Danes. The reports were quite specific and had Orlando kissing Claires neck and grinding against her. His response to us was simply that the reports are not true, saying, nothing like that happened. Kates romance with Orlando has inspired envy among women world wide. And it can only escalate when she is seen on screens everywhere playing Lois Lane to Brandon Rouths Superman in the new film, Superman Returns, directed by Brian Singer. Lois Lane is a role that has been tackled by quite a few actresses, most notably by Margot Kidder in the movies and Teri Hatcher on television. Naturally, we wondered if she looked to these thesps to inspire her own impersonation of the Man-of-Steels main squeeze. I watched a lot of Katharine Hepburn movies because I wanted to draw from actresses who conducted themselves with strength and poise. So it was a lot of Hepburn movies and Julia Roberts in Erin Brokovoch, said Kate. Explaining how she sees Loiss character, [That] shes not just the girl friend. . .is one of my favorite things about this part. My Lois has a lot more maturity about her because she has a son. I dont have any children myself, but I imagine that once you do, your attention is on that little being rather than on yourself. In previous versions Lois seemed very much in her own world. [My] Lois is much more aware of things, because she has somebody else to look out for. Because Kate Bosworth is so fashion forward, we wondered about her wardrobe in Superman Returns and posed a question to her in that regard. I remember meeting with the head costumer and just seeing rows and rows of sketches of costumes for Lois, Lex Luthor, Superman and Clark Kent. They were brilliant. I felt like I was looking at vintage Chanel or Yves Saint Laurent! she enthused, lovely in a white Chanel summer dress. Kates fashion DNA is impeccable and well established. Her father was an executive at I. Magnin back in its heyday, then at Macys, then at Ermenegildo Zegna and now at his current position at Talbots.

No sooner had we said good-bye to Kate, than we turned to see Jared Leto, who spotted us at the same time, as he was getting into his car. We entreated Jared to tell us about the reports that he is e-mailing and text-messaging Jessica Simpson and Lindsay Lohan on a daily basis and that hes seeing both of them. The self-admitted gay as a goose actor dismissed the reports. Im not texting them and I am not dating either of them, he said, as he roared off to his next venue. Another rumor shot down.

Speaking of the former Mrs. Lachey, we ran into her at the Chrysalis Butterfly Ball at the home of Fred and Carla Sands where Salma Hayek was honored.

Jessica was with director Brett Ratner, who helmed The X-Men: The Last Stand to a monster hit. Ratner has been engaged by Simpson to direct her new video for her latest single, Public Affair. Joked Ratner, Read into that what you may, and said the video will be sexy. Jessica had the song on her i-Pod and played it for us, much to our delight. Eva Longoria, Jessica Alba, Eva Mendes and Carmen Electra will all appear on the Public Affair video and will all be on roller skates, according to Jessica Simpson who said she skates all the time. Its great exercise and great for your calves. Since we had her ear, we decided to try to get an exclusive by asking her who she is seeing, reminding her that the tabloid press say she is seeing a list of men a yard long. No, Im not dating anyone, adding that alone time can be good.

At the Chrisallis Ball, Charlie Sheen was introducing the new lady in his life to everyone. Shes Brooke Wolofsky, a 28-year-old real estate investor. Though Salma Hayek arrived alone, she departed the premises with on-again-off-again boyfriend Edward Norton. The on-again couple was spotted a few nights later having dinner alone and looking very romantic.