Hanging with the VIPs

tabloid! was given a much sought after red carpet spot at the hottest party in town. Leisha Petrys went celeb-spotting.

Trinny: What to wear during a recession

She's famous for telling women What Not To Wear, but Trinny Woodall was full of tips on what to wear for recessionistas. "I think it's important to remember that we have tonnes of stuff in our wardrobe that we never wear," she advised. "We do a thing where we have a kind of girl's night in and bring everything we don't wear with you and swap." She predicted that the luxury market would still find willing customers, but suggested women would scale back their spending. "There will always be a certain kind of woman who can afford it [designer bags and shoes], but whether she feels comfortable about buying five bags instead of two each season is another issue."

Bond queen amazed by Dubai

When it comes to appearances in Dubai, Dame Shirley Bassey is a veteran. "I've been a few times actually and I opened the marina," she said. But despite accumulating her frequent flyer miles to DXB, she is still amazed at the city's progress. "I've never seen so many buildings under construction. When I first came here there were a few buildings between the desert and the ocean."

Resplendent in a figure hugging leopard print outfit, she said she was happy not to be performing this time around. "I am happy to sit back and watch another pro."

The singer, who is famous for her three Bond theme songs — Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever and Moonraker, — also admitted that she was yet to see Quantum of Solace, so was unable rate to Jack White and Alicia Keyes' offering to the 007 franchise. "No I haven't heard the song and I am not being fresh," she said. "I was in Canada when they had the premiere and they hadn't played the song [on the radio]."

A magnificent challenge

Colin Cowie knows only one word when planning a celebrity party — magnificent. Afterall, the man is responsible for Oprah's most famous bashes. On Thursday night he couldn't hide his excitement, knowing that he'd helped plan the party of the year. "The one thing about Oprah is that there's always tremendous attention to detail and she understands the big picture," he said. "So when you work on a project of this scale and this magnificence, you have to dream big to come up with something big." Asked how he was going to top the Atlantis event, Cowie paused before exclaiming: "I don't know but I am ready and willing for the challenge!"

Don't shoot the messenger

Gayle King had the unfortunate job of spending most of the evening explaining why her best friend Oprah couldn't make her first trip to Dubai. "Her home is in Santa Barbara and the fires came two miles close to her house. She wanted to go home and check it out," she said. "Some of her neighbours were not so lucky, but Oprah is fine, her dogs are fine."

Still, the O magazine editor-at-large, was determined to make the most of her visit. "I was in the hotel today signing up for the sand dune safari, signing up for the camel ride. I want to see the architecture. I want to see the mosques and I read something about a mall that has a ski slope in it. I am planning to do all the tourist things and lounge by the pool... and we have to do all of that in 72 hours!"

Blondes don't have more fun

It may have recently caught the eye of Black Eyed Peas singer will.i.am, but Natalie Imbruglia is not a fan of her new bottled blonde crop. "You know, I just needed a change, but it's an absolute nightmare to deal with, so it won't be a change that lasts long. It's so much more work and I like low maintenance."

Star Jones: She's a survivor

Star Jones was a surprise addition to the guest list, having been dumped as co-host of US chat show The View and more recently by husband Al Reynolds. But she was matter of fact when asked about single life. "I am being me. You've got to be a dignified woman — don't worry about that," she said. While Jones was not so happy to talk about her love life, she was enthused when recounting her work for the Barack Obama election campaign. "I gave my entire fall (autumn) to work on the campaign. I was in Chicago on election night and got a chance to say hello to the president-elect." She already has plans to travel to Washington for the inauguration on January 20. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

A family affair

Virgin entrepreneur Richard Branson made the Atlantis party a family affair — ensuring daughter Holly would celebrate her birthday in style. "On the way here, I said to her I've laid on a fireworks display just for you, and of course, she believed me," he joked. Holly — a qualified doctor — has taken a year out to work in the family business but said it's "too early" to decide which career path she will eventually take. And which job is proving to be more difficult? "Working for Dad during standard hours is difficult but being a doctor is difficult with anti-social hours," she laughed.

Goddess Chopra

With two hit films — Fashion and Dostana — this year, Priyanka Chopra has every right to be riding high. "Having two hits back to back was great," she said. On Thursday night she added another impressive title to her already glittering crown, when she was given the official honour of being The Goddess of Atlantis. "I wasn't sure what it was going to entail, but when they pitched the entire thing to me — that it was going to be the finale of the show, with the pyrotechnics and the lighting — I was really excited," said the former Miss World dressed in a stunning Gavin Miguel stain gown. Earlier in the evening, Chopra expressed her disappointment that she would miss the entire illumination show. "I am not even going to be able to see it, because I'll be looking at the audience," she said. "I just hope I can stand there with a calm and collected face." From where tabloid! stood, she managed to pull off the role like a true Bollywood pro.

A night of surprises

I like the element of surprise from a party and I know I am going to get a lot of surprises tonight," Quincy Jones said.

Pool party

If there was one spot to see celebs on the weekend it was at the hotel pool. While Mischa Barton frolicked with the dolphins at Aquaventure, Lily Allen looked sun-kissed having spent the day lounging at the pool with Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan. "Lindsay wasn't in a bikini and I was, and I was like aghhhh — it was quite terrifying," Allen confessed. "As soon as she came along it was like right, where is the paparazzi hiding?" Not that Allen had anything to worry about, showing off her svelte figure at the Atlantis bash in an electric blue floor-length gown and an impressive array of Chopard diamonds. But anyone hoping to buy the same gown will be disappointed, as the singer couldn't name the designer. "I have no idea. When I took out of my suitcase, there was no label. Basically my stylist chose it for me on a video shoot the other day and I just took it." Jade Jagger was also poolside, hoping to cure jetlag. When asked who looked best in a bikini, she replied with a good humoured grin: "Ah, that would be telling."