GM Rocks Hollywood Oscars Week with TEN Fashion Show

By Dan Prescott
The Auto Channel

As Hollywood gears up for the Academy Awards, a bevy of pre-Oscars parties roll into Tinsel Town. One of the most anticipated galas each year is a production of General Motors, a high-energy fashion show simply known as “TEN.” This exclusive event intersects the worlds of fashion, automotive design and entertainment by pairing some of the hottest cars and trucks with the hippest stars and most coveted fashions, all in one evening.

An automotive fashion show? Why not? After all, what better fashion accessory is there than a car? This year’s sixth annual GM TEN event took place in a sound stage at the legendary Paramount Studios, with an outdoor lounge set amid false storefronts and brick-facade buildings that are part of an urban city set. GM’s “green machine” theme this year highlights some of the company’s more environmental friendly products.

“The TEN event is like none other,” explains Susan Docherty, general manager of GM’s Western Region. “This is our annual opportunity to raise money for charity by mixing GM’s hot products with top designer fashions and Hollywood’s coolest celebrities. Not to be eclipsed by the star power in the room, ten’s pristine fleet of GM vehicles this year includes many of our advanced technologies including hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and hybrids.”

A long red carpet greeted the celebrity guests, along with hordes of camera-wielding media, of course. Also sharing the red carpet were a display of some of GM’s latest cars and trucks, including a Chevy Equinox with hydrogen fuel cell, Tahoe Hybrid, Corvette Z06 and concept Camaro coupe. Jay Leno’s outrageous GM EcoJet also graced the red carpet, gathering almost as much attention from guests as the stars did from the paparazzi. The EcoJet is a 650-hp supercar that runs on bio-diesel, powered by a Honeywell LT-101 turbine jet engine. Build on a modified Corvette Z06 frame with a carbon fiber-over-Kevlar shell, the EcoJet is a collaboration between Leno and the GM Advanced Design Studio in North Hollywood.

The fashion show kicked off with glamorous Mary J. Blige strolling down the runway in a shimmering strapless gown, followed by the stunning Camaro Convertible concept in Hugger Orange. The enthusiastic crowd loudly showed its appreciation with wild cheers and applause for both of these megastars. Gray’s Anatomy’s gorgeous Katherine Heigl, wearing a cream-colored gown by Dolce & Gabbana, starred with the spectacular silver Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric vehicle. Oscar nominees Jennifer Hudson, Adriana Barraza and Jackie Earl Haley were accompanied by a Cadillac Escalade hybrid, Saturn Astra and ’67 Corvette Stingray Convertible, respectively. Other crowd favorites included comedian Chris Kattan hamming it up with a Cadillac CTS, Mario Lopez waltzing out with a DUB-customized Buick Lucerne, Denise Richards accompanied by the Saturn Sky Redline, and four cast members from the hit TV series, Heroes: Milo Ventimiglia, Hayden Panetierre, Masi Oka and Jack Coleman. “I watched Project Runway to get some tips,” claimed Oka, prior to his fashion runway debut, shared with a Jay-Z customized GMC Denali.

Other notable cars included the upcoming Buick Enclave, a custom Pontiac Solstice, GMC Acadia, Saturn Aura GL Hybrid, and vintage ’54 Chevy Bel Air and custom ’52 Buick Convertible. Additional celebrity fashion models included Shane West, Christina Milian, Pete Wentz, Donald Faison, David Boreanaz, Mikhi Phifer, Roselyn Sanchez, Hayley Bennet, Sarah Wayne Callies, Emmy Rossum, Jeremy Sisto and Tyrese.

A lively Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore sat in the first row, along with their pal, Penelope Cruz. Bruce Willis had a seat across the stage, along with his and Demi’s daughter Rumer. The invitation-only audience was loaded with Hollywood’s elite, such as Orlando Bloom, Zach Braff, T.R. Knight, Cheryl Tiegs, Kirsten Dunst, Eric Dane, James Blunt, Anthony Kiedis, Russell Simmons, Jason Bateman, Adam Brody, Melissa Rivers, Danny Masterson, Jenna Elfman, Stacy Kiebler, Dave Annable, Matthew Rhys, Josh Henderson, Jason Lee and many more. After the fashion show, Grammy winner Beck performed for the crowd, and guests continued to mingle in the open-air lounge.

GM has evolved its TEN fashion show into one of LA’s must-attend events of the year, and has certainly raised its cool factor with exposure of this kind to the star-studded Hollywood community.