Fashion Night Out – OC with Jillian Barberie Reynolds at Fashion Island

Jillian Barberie Reynolds on OCNewsDiva.com OC scored a little bit of Hollywood/LA Glam with our very own Fashion Night Out (#FNO) event in Fashion Island on Thursday, Sept. 6th.  Celebrity News Anchor/TV personality/Style File Maven Jillian Barberie Reynolds (of Good Day LA fame) came back down to her old stomping ground to host the evening’s fashion show that showcased up coming Fall season’s on trend looks and a highlighted collection by popular dress designer David Meister.

Jillian Barberie Reynolds and David Meister Host Fashion Night Out fashion show at Fashion Island 9-6-12.

OC fans and fashionistas lined the Nieman Marcus courtyard runway for an intimate evening with Jillian and David as they playfully provided commentary for the evening’s event. And while attendance was comfortable with just a few hundred people, OC’ers showed both the Designer and the Style File Doll they were happy to have them here.

OCNEWSDIVA.com‘s Priscilla Divine had a chance to sit down with both hosts to chat fashion and fun. Read on to recap Jillian Barberie Reynold’s sit down interview with our Editor-in-Chief.

PD:   So I wanted to let you know that OC is so happy to have you come back to visit us and host tonight’s event!  Being host of Style File, where do you see the trend for OC fashion heading?

JBR:  Omg, Orange County is just one of those places.. it’s just filled with opportunity, opportunity, opportunity!  I used to live here (in HB) for 5 years and this (Fashion Island) was my stomping ground!  There’s just so much going on here from the money, to the people, ….and everyone has a story — I’m actually gonna share a little bit tonight about this, but when I used to come here, I knew everyone at Niemans and the guys at the makeup counter would be like “I just want you to know that one day I’m gonna have my own make-up line…just wait and see!”, and I was like “Great, that’s awesome, when you do I’ll do a Style File on you!”.. .and those guys, Jeremy and Jarod, own Too Faced Cosmetics, started right here in Orange County, and I did their first Style File on them back in the day.. I kid you not!.. But it goes to show that Orange County just has so much talent here.. I saw it a long time ago when I used to live out here, and I really want to move back!

PD: Well OC would love to have you here, and it’s not a far commute to gigs up in LA.. as long as you time it right, lol.

JBR: Yeah, lol…that’s the key… timing it right, but I would be happy to not have to commute and just have something down here,… that’s my dream…

PD: Well, you are so loved by so many fans and supporters and even though we are missing you on GDLA, I for one feel the transition is coming only because there are even bigger and better things in store for you!…World Domination! LOL.

JBR: (laughing in agreement) From your lips to Gods ears Girlfriend!

Jillian Barberie Reynolds chats with Priscilla Divine for OCNewsDiva.com

PD: Oh, by the way…great job on your appearance last night on Dr. Drews show on HLN!

JBR: Oh thank you.. it was totally supposed to be about career women, fashion, sex, and family… but about 45 minutes before the show, I was on the phone with the show’s producer on my way in to tape, and I was like “Hey!  You know about my back story with Drew right… and how he totally helped my with my past?” The producer was like.. “No, but why dont we have you talk about that instead!”  [click here to watch Jillian’s segment on Dr. Drew’s show about a very personal and traumatic experience in her past.]

(Long story short) I was 25 years old and I had gotten Drew’s number from the station and basically cold called him at night while he was with his wife and family.  I kept him on the phone for hours – he didnt even know me, but he took the time to sit there and talk to me and help me talk about my issue.  And if my being open and public about everything that has happened to me can help just one person.. then I’m thrilled.

PD: Well, that is such a genuine and inspiring stand you take in overcoming your traumatic past and moving forward. Thank you for sharing that.  And (on another note) thank you for sharing your tips and tricks on Style File, it’s been a personal favorite forever.

JBR: You know, I started Style File 17 years ago.  I used to dress myself and I’d shop at Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, and all those stores.. and I always liked to mix high and low (labels).  At the end of the day, its not about the label or about who you are wearing as long as you look good and know how to mix it up.. its about how you wear it.  Men don’t know, or care, if its this brand, or that name.. all they know is that it looks Hot!

Editor’s Comments:  Jillian is so true to who she is and so down to earth.  It was a pleasure to sit down and chat.  It’s true that what you get is what you see with her. She’s not pretentious, not a Diva (in the bad sense of the word), and she makes you feel like an old friend. This wasn’t the first time I’d met with Jill, though it had been a while, but still to this day, she is charming, makes time for the fans that love her.. and is just tons of fun.  So keep on doing your “Thang” Mrs. Reynolds..as always.. you’re doing it “Good”!

“Girl Talk” with Jillian Barberie Reynolds & Priscilla Divine …(sounds like a good show to me 🙂

Newport Beach Film Festival Weekend Wrap (The parties, the screenings, the scoop!)

This weekend was all about film and after parties in the OC with film screenings and red carpet events usually saved for our cousin city of Tinseltown (Hollywood).  But this weekend OC had its own circuit of Indy films that screened throughout Newport Beach, with their respective after parties in the surrounding areas. Following up from Thursday’s opening night gala in Fashion Island, Friday night hosted a screening of Sunset Strip, a super cool documentary about life on the strip with intimate commentary from Johnny Depp, Sharon & Ozzy Osburne, Mickey Rourke, and others, courtesy of film makers Hanz Fjellestad, Joe Mundo, and Donovan Leitch, whom OC News Diva had the pleasure of interviewing right after the screening.  (Cool, down to earth group of talented guys!)  We capped the night off at the Lexus of Newport Beach NBFF afterparty, which was mild… but fun, thanks to music by our favorite DJ and long time (like 20+ years) pal Roland Barrera.

Saturday was all about Romeo, the fun screening and much hyped film “Should’ve Been Romeo” by actor Paul Ben-Victor about a self-centered, middle-aged pitchman for a potato chip company that loses his job and his livelihood just as his octogenarian grandfather is dropped on his doorstep unexpectedly by his mother on her way to a singles cruise. OC News Diva also interviewed Paul Ben-Victor on Saurday night at the NBFF ater party at Equinox Sports club in Irvine (which just happens to be my home gym).  Check back soon for all the video coverage!

Catch the Newport Beach Film Festival this week in OC, If You Can!

The 13th annual Newport Beach Film Festival kicked off last night to a full house at the premiere screening of Jewtopia – a first time film by filmmaker Bryan Fogel, featuring a star studded cast that included Tom Arnold, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Jenifer Love Hewitt, and forever heart throb Ivan Sergei (do you remember Jack & Jill? – that’s when I fell in love with him!) The movie, one of 460 films from 50 countries that will screen at six Orange County theaters over seven days, was hilariously funny and very well received. Attendees were treated to an opening night gala conveniently held across the street at Fashion Island that featured a host of local restaurants and tastings underneath the moonlight sky, which luckily posed crisp and clear despite the scheduled rain.  Many more screenings and after parties are slated at NBFF over the next week and we plan to do our part to attend as many as we can 🙂

For more information on the Newport Beach Film Festival, visit http://www.newportbeachfilmfest.com