Oscar Dress Knock-Offs And More
Women across the country are still raving about some of the hot numbers Hollywood's finest wore to the Oscars. Well, now you can get these fabulous looks for a fraction of the price.
"The Insider" 's Lara Spencer tells The Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm, the red-carpet copycat, Allen B. Schwartz (A.B.S.), has done it again. After watching the awards ceremony, he picks six to eight dresses and gets right to work with his team of sketchers and stitchers.
"It's not necessarily what you would deem the best dress," Spencer says. "It's the dresses that he thinks are most wearable and within three to four weeks, they'll be in a mall near you, and on a prom queen near you."
So don't expect to get the copycat of Hilary Swank's dress. Instead, expect to get Charlize Theron's Christian Dior knock off.
Spencer says, "It will have the ruffles and the train, which will not be easy to do the romantic dance with your boyfriend at the prom in. Her dress was estimated to cost between $15,000 to $20,000. He's doing it for $200 to $300."
If ruffles are not your style, his pick is also the Stella McCartney dress that Gwyneth Paltrow wore. Looking at images of Paltrow in her dress, Spencer says, "It looks so well on her because she is so gorgeous and voluptuous with her motherly curves. The color is a little quiet, but he thinks it will sell because it is clean, simple, and, again, $200."
A favorite on the red carpet was Cate Blanchett's Valentino. And now Schwartz will recreate this beautiful canary gown that originally cost $10,000 to $20,000 for just $400.
"It is really pretty if you get up close," Spencer says. "Obviously, it's not the workmanship of Valentino, but the thing is, they've worn it once, and they're very flattered by the fact that I've asked the stars: How do you feel? Your dress will definitely be at a mall near you. And they say, 'You know what? That means we picked a good one.' "
Halle Berry is one who tends to pick the right outfit. And her Versace gown did not disappoint. "She's one of my favorites," Spencer says. It is also one of Schwartz's. But Spencer notes, "Versace would not be happy to hear that Allen tells us that her dress is the easiest to knock off. That dress took three hours to make, and I might buy that one, actually."
Find out about these dresses and more on "The Insider," plus Spencer says they have an exclusive story regarding Martha Stewart. "I have to barely contain myself, and I have been sworn to secrecy. This is a major, major exclusive. All I will say is you will never look at Martha Stewart the same way again. You need to watch 'The Insider.' "
The program will also profile Caroline Thomas, a woman whose boyfriend shot part of her face and killed her mother. For the last month, "The Insider" has been following Thomas. She just went through a major surgery to repair her face. On Wednesday night, "The Insider" will show her bandages taken off for the first time.