Stylist stocks up for the Oscars

Olympian news service

Originally published Thursday, March 14, 2002

NEW YORK -- Los Angeles-based stylist Phillip Bloch has this motto: Be prepared for anything.

On the morning of the Oscars telecast, when he makes his rounds to the homes of the actresses he dresses, he carries an awards-show kit that includes footless, slimming body stockings; strapless bras and adhesive bras; nude-colored underwear; double-stick tape; safety pins; and a needle and thread.

This year, Bloch will be helping Halle Berry get ready for the March 24 ceremony, which will take place at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Calif. The show will air live on ABC.

Berry, who is a best actress nominee for her role in "Monster's Ball," is easy to work with because she has her own fashion sense, Bloch said.

He sees their hunt for the perfect Oscar dress as a collaboration.

"Luckily, we like the same things," he said.

LOS ANGELES -- Vanilla Ice was iced by Todd Bridges. Bonaduce banished Barry. Then Tonya pounded Paula.

Airing Wednesday night, the Fox TV special "Celebrity Boxing" provided an answer to the question, What should you do with the formerly famous?

Of course! Let them beat each other up.

"Brady Bunch" alum Barry Williams squared off against Danny Bonaduce, of "The Partridge Family" fame After getting knocked down repeatedly, the paunchy former Greg Brady threw in the towel in Round 2.

Then the mostly forgotten rapper Vanilla Ice, also known as Rob Van Winkle, battled Todd Bridges, who played Willis in the 1980s sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes." Bridges won the match in a decision.

Then came the dangerous divas: a rough-looking Tonya Harding and grinning Paula Jones (a last-minute replacement for Amy Fisher, whose parole board forced her to withdraw).

Harding walloped her rival in the second round and was declared the winner when the fight was stopped in the third.

"She did well," Harding said afterward. "It wasn't a cat fight."

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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