The rare Los Angeles deluge Sunday night failed to dampen the spirits of a handful of lucky Houstonians who partied amid the glamour and glitz of the Academy Awards. Just ask Lynn Wyatt who rendezvoused at the exclusive Vanity Fair bash with Lady Gaga and her BFFs Elton John and David Furnish.
It had been four summers since Gaga and La Wyatt had house-guested in England with Elton and David, but it was as if it were only yesterday. Lynn reports that they shared laughs and whispers as the photographers swirled around them. "We talked and talked and talked. Oh, boy!" she recalled.
Also on Lynn's dance card was Wes Anderson, whom Lynn hosted at the Rothko Chapel fundraiser last June. They met up at the Vanity Fair after-party, which followed the magazine's chichi Oscar Viewing Party and dinner. Beyoncé and Jay Z were among the A-listers in that star-studded mix.
"And the winner of the rehearsal Oscar is . . ."
The night before, Lynn had the rare privilege of attending the Oscars dress rehearsal as guest of famed choreographer Rob Ashford. While Neil Patrick Harris was on stage, up-and-coming actors stood in for the presenters, nominees and winners. "And the winner of the rehearsal Oscar is . . ."
"The actors had studied the parts they were representing and they were so good that some of their acceptance speeches were better than the real thing," Lynn said.
Also part of Lynn's fabulous Oscar weekend was the annual picnic that Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg host on the lawn of their Coldwater Canyon home.
Not far away from the Vanity Fair party on Oscar night, in a lavishly-decorated party tent erected in West Hollywood Park, Elton John spent the early part of the evening at his 23rd annual Oscars Viewing Party that raised a whopping $6 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
"Elton John playing keyboard with Nile Rodgers and CHIC. They were amazing. Everyone was on their feet dancing and singing along."
Houstonians at that event included Alicia Smith and Kim Moody, who had purchased the trip to the Oscars at the UNICEF gala last fall. They followed Heidi Klum down the red carpet and were able to snap a smartphone photo with her.
Highlight for this duo — "Elton John playing keyboard with Nile Rodgers and CHIC. They were amazing and everyone was on their feet dancing and singing along," Alicia emailed, "and meeting new friends at our table."
"There were so many celebrities . . . We saw Russell Simmons, Miley Cyrus, Ozzy Osbourne, Smokey Robinson, Jane Seymour and Christian Louboutin in his famous red jacket as well."
The ladies had a little unexpected drama when Federal Express failed to deliver their gowns from Saks Fifth Avenue. Delivery was set for Saturday morning but due to weather and then an airplane mechanical issue the dresses did not arrive until two hours before the party started. Even though they had been emergency shopping for replacement gowns, they wore their first choice —Kim inLiancarlo and Alicia in Le Petite de Robe.
Another Houston duo cutting a glamorous swath through the Elton John party was Melissa and Michael Mithoff.
Lynn Wyatt and Lady Gaga send photographers into a frenzy at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.
