MTV Awards: A Gala Dressed in Black

The hair was longer and the clothes were tighter this year at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Universal Amphitheatre on Wednesday night. And everything that didn’t glitter was black--black jeans, black hair, black spandex, black latex and an acre of black leather. After the awards, the 4,000 guests of the televised spectacular retired to a not-so-nearby deck on the Universal lot for a Victoria Station-catered crunch of an affair.

Four thousand persons-in-black (PIBs), all waiting for Madonna.

Madonna, who spent the evening in her trailer when not on stage, disappointed everyone. She was a complete no-show as far as the party scene went, including the after-after parties at Pazzia for Paula Abdul, at Riki Rachtman’s Cathouse on Highland Avenue for the heavier, rockier groups, and at manager Rock Kahane’s party for George Michael. She took off in a limousine surrounded by bodyguards right after her performance. Rumors abounded.

And the PIBs waited and speculated. The bodyguard, preferably dressed in Rap-style rock fashion with major gold jewelry and baseball cap, was the preferred fashion accessory of the eve. Several non-star PIBs were clever enough to get the attention of the crowd with just this perfect touch.

PIB ensembles went all the way from black to more black. Lace was very popular--black lace. MTV veejay Julie Brown was wearing a Patrick Kelly black-silk lace cocktail dress and pounds of Kelly’s new line of jewelry. Comedian Julie Brown was very un-PIB-like, covered in fuchsia and brilliant yellow. So was Bruno Duluc in other-worldly spandex hoop skirt with matching hat. Viewers probably recognized the hat as similar to one worn by Whoopi Goldberg on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” Duluc is popular with fashion futurists.

Which brings us to Cher. Her black bugle-beaded cut velvet-and-lace Bob Mackie looked as if it might be making an appearance on “Star Trek” shortly. Futurist Cher did not make the after-party circuit either.

The MTV party, without the fabulous Madonna and the lovely Cher, was, nonetheless, a blast. After walking a great distance from the Amphitheatre over to a former back lot, guests were greeted by international food stations as interpreted by Victoria Station.

Rapper Tone Loc, head-to-toe in his new self-described “Nigerian” look, seemed to prefer the French buffet table with its host of cheeses. Actor Corey Haim and the Zappas (LaLa and Dweezil), Bon Jovi, Motley Crue and the Cure seemed to prefer the dessert section, which included blue cake. The dessert area was the American station.

Videos screeched off of TV monitors; there were live bands and no one stopped moving for a second. “The best,” said Bon Jovi on his way out.