Byline: Rose Apodaca Jones
When it comes to awards shows, celebrities may come and go, but style makers — from the designers to the fashion stylists — return year after year.
Charles Worthington, the British hair stylist at the helm of a fledgling signature salon and hair-product empire, has evidently studied this phenomenon.
He may tend to the tresses of Paloma Picasso, Sophie Dahl, Jodie Kidd and Rod Stewart in one of his five central London salons, where he oversees 120 stylists and some 2,000 clients weekly.
He may have repeatedly collected accolades through the last decade as hair stylist of the year for London and all of the U.K. His skin and hair care products may sell in 10 countries, including Sephora, in-store and online.
But Worthington believes it’s Hollywood where his fame and fortunes ultimately lie.
At least, at this stage in his career. Worthington touched down in Beverly Hills Thursday afternoon, setting up camp at L’Ermitage — aka the “Fashion Mall.” Come fashion season, a legion of fashion and beauty brands invade the hotel’s suites with the latest products in tow to dish out to stylists and the stars making the rounds in the days leading up to trophy night.
Granted, there is no guarantee a handbag or hair style will make it to the red carpet. But the exposure alone, to the millions who tune in to “Access Hollywood’s” tour of the suites, can potentially move a slew of product.
“I like it,” enthused Worthington that evening, observing the hotel’s elegantly minimalist all-white theme. “It’s reflective of my style: clean lines and modern, not fussy.”
While Worthington has the accent, other hallmarks of celebrity stylists — the fussy attitudes and larger-than-life personas — are refreshingly missing. He’s even readily forthcoming regarding the question of why he made the 11th-hour flight at all this weekend.
“It’s a good way to introduce myself to the Hollywood crowd. Everything to do with Hollywood is so influential in the worlds of fashion and hair. It’s something I’ve had in mind for a number of years. But the timing had to be right.”
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The timing follows the 1996 launch of the product line. It arrived stateside in 1998, the same year he began renovating a Manhattan penthouse — part of this Brit’s strategy to conquer America.
“I want to do salons in Los Angeles and New York,” he noted. “Which one comes first I’ll decide in the next six months. But having the apartment in New York doesn’t mean [the salon] will automatically be there. I have an affinity for L.A.”
It’s also where the Golden Globes , Oscars and a year-round calendar of premiers and parties ready-made for television and magazine coverage happen.
His publicity machine was in full throttle even before Worthington’s plane left Heathrow, delivering silver bags of his Dream Hair collection and invitations to the Friday night cocktail fete he and Globes vet Pamela Dennis co-hosted on the rooftop of L’Ermitage. Among the party favors: Silver star-shaped boxes, hundreds of bottles of product and Worthington’s new book, “Big Date Hair,” — an illustrated “Sex in the City”-styled story, which shipped to bookstores this month.
“In a city like this, it’s all about networking,” admitted Worthington, already seen nationally on “E!” and “The Today Show.” “I wanted a party because it’s really an informal way to meet others. I haven’t come with any preconceived ideas as to how people will take to me.”