Costume designed by Gianni Versace

Although The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts doesn’t open officially in Beverly Hills until the fall of 2013, it is already making its mark in the community. As a harbinger of the extraordinary things to come, the center is hosting the first US showing of "Il Teatro alla Moda: Theater in Fashion" in a temporary gallery on the ground floor of MGM Place (through November 13). Displaying the works of famous haute couture Italian designers, the exhibit—which previously toured Rome and Milan—honors their impact on the stages of opera, dance and theater. With more than 80 costumes, sketches and drawings from Giorgio Armani, Roberto Capucci, Enrico Coveri, Fendi, Alberta Ferretti, Romeo Gigli, Antonio Marras, Missoni, Emanuel Ungaro, Valentino and Gianni Versace, this is one show not to be missed. 253 N. Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills 

Banana Republic has teamed up with winemaker Clos du Bois for a pair of limited edition wine bottles. The bottles, which launch November 1, feature hand-sketched labels by Banana Republic creative director Simon Kneen and adorn the Clos de Bois 2010 North Coast Chardonnay ($16.99) and the 2008 North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon ($18.99). Scan the QR code on the back label to download a holiday party sound track, style tips, entertaining advice from lifestyle expert Katie Lee and wine pairing recommendations from a Clos de Bois winemaker. 

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Another must-have H&M designer collaboration will make its way into stores just in time for the holidays. Famous for partnerships with Jimmy Choo, Lanvin and most recently Missoni, H&M unveiled images of its latest collection with Versace. Versace for H&M—launching November 19—includes men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, jewelry and home goods. A peek at the line, featuring models Daphne Groeneveld and Abbey Lee Kershaw, reveals signature Versace flash, sexy mini dresses in colorful combinations, printed bomber jackets and of course plenty of leopard, leather and beaded embellishments.  

FROM LEFT: Selma Blair, Busy Phillips, Melissa Richardson Akkaway,
Jenna Dewan and Emmy Rossum

A celebrity filled party at Eveleigh restaurant in West Hollywood celebrated the debut line from Beckley boutique owner Melissa Richardson Akkaway. Beckley by Melissa—a cool, effortlessly chic women’s wear line emblematic of what one would come across in Akkaway’s popular Los Angeles and Vegas stores—is described by the designer as “what you might find in your coolest friend’s closet”: an array of delicate washed-silk pants, leather leggings, sophisticated blouses and playful party dresses. Emmy Rossum, Jenna Dewan, Selma Blair, Jaime King and Busy Philipps celebrated with Richardson Akkaway and enjoyed Eveleigh’s fresh, seasonal food and signature cocktails.

Kimberly Ovitz

California-bred fashion designer Kimberly Ovitz, daughter of legendary agent Mike Ovitz and an avid proponent of dog rescue, hosted a private event for a cause close to her heart—the ASPCA. Ovitz welcomed guests including Gigi Levangie Grazer, Lindsey Lucibella, Bonnie Somerville, Moby and Vogue’s Lawren Howell and Meredith Melling Burke to the gorgeous Ovitz residence in Beverly Hills. During the evening attendees had the opportunity to bid on numerous silent auction items, with all proceeds going to the ASPCA.

J Brand jeans in vine, Apache and plumberry

J Brand has created three limited edition colors of its signature "811" mid-rise skinny jeans ($144 each) to fully benefit a charity. City Year LA—a nonprofit dedicated to keeping kids in school and on track to graduate—will receive 100 percent of the net sales from the collection of fall-inspired hues: plumberry (dark pink), Apache (taupe) and vine (army green). Stacey Snider, CEO of DreamWorks and a City Year LA board member, and the LA-based talent agency Creative Artists Agency (which owns a major stake in J Brand) helmed the project with the mission of bringing support and attention to the cause. The denim collection will be sold exclusively at jbrandjeans.com. 

Charlie Saxton

Charlie Saxton plays angst-ridden teenager Damon Drecker on the hit HBO series Hung. And although the show, now in its third season, has propelled the Philadelphia native into TV stardom, Saxton has remained grounded. The 20-year-old recently wrapped the play End Days at LA’s Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and will soon return to the East Coast to spend the holidays with his family. We caught up with Saxton to chat about the upcoming season of Hung, navigating LA and rocking out with the band.

So what can we expect from your character this season?
CHARLIE SAXTON: Damon and his sister start a band. They’ll be writing a new song or jamming in the living room so that’s what he’s focusing most of his time and energy on. They’re also prepping for college this year so there’s the whole frustration of the SATS and the excitement that goes along with getting ready for college.

Did you know how to play any instruments prior to shooting the band scenes?
CS: I’ve played the drums since I was eight years old. At 12 I picked up the bass, and then a couple years after that took up the guitar. I was in a band in high school and we toured around the tri-state area and played local shows. That was a good time. 

Did your musical background play a part in the show’s storyline?
CS: When I first started the show they asked if I had any special talents. It’s pretty cool because both Sianoa [Smit-McPhee], who plays my sister, and I both play instruments so [Hung creators] Colette [Burson] and Dmitry [Lipkin] really liked that idea and they said, “Why don’t the kids start a band this year?”

Damon is a typical, insecure teen. Can you relate?
CS: Totally, absolutely. Even if people say that they can’t relate there are some aspects of themselves that they totally see in Damon—even if it’s not being sure of what to wear, what to think, how to act. It’s all part of puberty and growing up. Me personally, there were definitely times where I was like, man, I don’t know who I am or who I want to be. And you kind of realize you have to stop stressing over the same stuff and not worry about what others think of you and just be yourself. There is a famous quote by Dr. Seuss that says, “The people who matter won’t mind and the people that mind won’t matter.”

With the success of Hung, how have you dealt with fame especially as a young actor in Hollywood?
CS: It’s really weird but it’s also very exciting and cool. It just shows that people really like the show and really like what I do on it. As an actor that makes me feel great. It was really weird because I got stopped by TMZ last year when I was walking around the shopping mall, and I thought to myself: Why do they care about me? Why do they care what I’m doing?

Was it difficult adjusting to life in LA given your upbringing in Philadelphia?
CS: It took awhile to adjust because the East Coast and West Coast are such different worlds. I was only 19 when we started shooting, and it went from living at home with my parents, not sure if [the show] was going to get picked up and thinking about going to community college, to moving to Los Angeles to be on a television show. I didn’t have a car the first year I was in LA. I rode my bike everywhere. It was tough to adjust but I definitely settled very nicely.

What do you think is one of the most underrated things about LA?
CS: There are so many great places to watch really good films. I know that’s sort of obvious but you just don’t realize how many awesome places there are until you come here and experience it for yourself. I go to the New Beverly Cinema, and this past summer my girlfriend and I would go the Hollywood Cemetery to see movies there. It’s an awesome experience.

Reminiscent of a modern-day fairytale, Jo Malone’s new Wild Bluebell fragrance is an enchanting floral blend with a charitable heart. The scent captures the luxurious essence of the brand with a masterful composition involving top notes of clove and fresh bluebell—actual bluebells are endangered and were not used—as well as lily of the valley, eglantine, jasmine and a base of white amber and musk. And in a nod to the frangrance's threatened namesake, Jo Malone made a donation to the Woodland Trust to help ensure further protection of the bluebell. Bloomingdale’s Sherman Oaks Fashion Square, 14060 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks, 818-325-2200

The URWERK Champagne Supernova

Luxury watchmaker URWERK has just unveiled a limited edition Champagne Supernova timepiece ($135,000) as part of its popular UR-110 ZrN Torpedo collection. As of now, only twelve of the watches have been released worldwide—each timepiece is identifiable by a red satellite hour numeral. In the U.S., the watches are available exclusively at Westime Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. The watch is made most precious by its technological and aesthetic achievements: Three arrow-shaped “torpedoes” fly in formation to indicate time, a control board features an “oil change” and day/night indicator for time code tracking and planetary gearing. The titanium case receives its namesake Champagne finish from a coat of zirconium nitride (ZrN). Westime Beverly Hills, 254 N. Rodeo Dr., 310-271-0000

Mural by Aaron Axelrod

TOMS is paying tribute to today’s World Sight Day, which brings recognition to blindness and vision impairment as a global health issue, by holding a special Art Walk Lounge at Downtown LA’s Art Walk. Known for its One for One initiative, TOMS provides one eye surgery to a person in need for every pair of TOMS eyewear sold. In the hopes of bringing attention to the cause through public art, TOMS commissioned a few LA artists to interpret an array of images, which is contributing to a series called Gift Of Sight. Being unveiled at the lounge today is the latest addition to the series, a vibrant mural from Aaron Axelrod, who is renowned for blending color and images. (6–9 PM) 643 S. Spring St.