Red-carpet replicas are a fraction of the cost

They restyle the dresses a bit so they'll work more for the everyday woman.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Like millions of other viewers, Allen Schwartz and his team of designers kept their eyes glued to the TV set during the Golden Globes award show.
Except Schwartz and his crew had serious work to do -- pads in hand, each making rapid sketches as the stars made their way down the red carpet.
The next morning, patternmakers and sewers at Schwartz's company, A.B.S., worked furiously to re-create more than a half-dozen glamorous gowns worn by celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron.
In a day's work
By the end of the day, the replicas were complete. Entertainment TV crews rushed into Schwartz's Los Angeles office to tape their special post red-carpet fashion segments and compare the A.B.S. dresses to the originals.
This month, the affordable versions -- priced around $250-$350 -- are available in Schwartz's boutiques and online (www.absstyle.com) for all women to wear. The original designer dresses can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000.
After 15 years of bringing red-carpet looks to the mainstream, Schwartz has the process down pat.
"The Golden Globes and Oscars are really the No. 1 fashion shows in the world," said Schwartz. "We try to make the dresses work more for the everyday woman."
That can sometimes mean adding a little more fabric to make the look less racy, or offering a variety of other colors.
Women who buy the A.B.S. dresses will usually wear them to June weddings, bridal parties and New Year's Eve bashes.
Loved the looks
Schwartz praised the celebs at this year's Golden Globes for being in glamorous and good taste.
"There was a '30s and '40s glamour to it; no one was embarrassing on the red carpet," he said.
Schwartz said the winning looks of the night belonged to Nicole Kidman, who donned a strapless teal Gucci gown accented by a peacock feather, and Eva Longoria, who wore a poufy black cocktail frock by Oscar de la Renta.
In addition to duplicating Kidman's and Longoria's dresses, Schwartz also chose: Jennifer Garner's red Valentino, Teri Hatcher's platinum Donna Karan, Halle Berry's nude Valentino, Charlize Theron's midnight blue Christian Dior, Cate Blanchett's lilac Jean Paul Gaultier and Melina Kanakaredes' beaded Escada.
When deciding which dresses to reproduce, Schwartz said he looks to the big-name stars, of course, but always keeps his eyes peeled for standout gowns, no matter who wears them.
"I didn't love Halle's dress this year, but I thought she looked beautiful," he explained.