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November 3, 2006 a lesson in accessorizing shows a different side of paula abdul It lingers in my memory as one of the oddest experiences I've ever had as a music writer. On Sept. 29, I hunkered down on an "American Idol" stage with Paula Abdul. Hovering awkwardly over a rectangular piece of wooden flooring, watching the petite judge display pieces from her new jewelry line, wasn't something I'd expected to be doing that day. Squatting with the stars? Certainly not the concept of any reality show I'd ever seen. But there I crouched, looking intently into Abdul's eyes to show interest and nodding vigorously to keep her talking. Meanwhile, my colleague Chanda Temple did her job by scribbling Abdul's every word into a notebook. It wasn't that difficult, actually. Abdul, 42, spoke in a slow, thick, halting voice that made her sound like a woman trapped in a dream. No need for a tape recorder here, unless you wanted to capture that slurred and glacial quality. But it was clear to me that her jewelry items - necklaces, earrings, bracelets, hip chains, pins and other trinkets sold through QVC - were of primary importance to Abdul. She talked about them much more eagerly than her role in the TV series that afternoon, evaluating talent for "Idol's" sixth season during the third round of auditions in Birmingham. Chanda and I had been admitted into Abdul's presence specifically to discuss the audition process, during a press conference that also included "Idol" judges Simon Cowell and Randy Jackson. Cowell and Jackson left the room immediately when the brief question-and-answer session concluded. So did series host Ryan Seacrest, also in town for the auditions. But Abdul stayed, after being approached by Chanda, who asked her to describe her outfit: tiny, low-cut jeans; brown boots with studs and sky-high heels; a silky, plunging champagne-colored camisole that revealed cleavage. The finishing touches, naturally, came from a glittering abundance of Paula Abdul jewelry. As it turned out, Chanda had lobbed the perfect question Abdul's way, with exactly the right timing. Exactly right for two journalists and for the jewelry-hawking Abdul, that is. We soon found out that she was breaking the rules by giving us an impromptu fashion lesson. Much to the chagrin of her publicist from the Fox network, Abdul refused to exit the makeshift stage area set up at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Lunch break? She wanted none of it. Shaking the publicist's grip from her arm, toothpick-thin Abdul (obviously a size 0) insisted on scooting into a nearby dressing area and rummaging for jewelry samples she could show to us. Well, make that give to us. Abdul, a generous soul, was intent on pouring a pirate's chest full of baubles, bangles and beads into our laps. Protests that it simply wasn't ethical, that we really couldn't take it, that we'd absolutely have to give the stuff to charity, were of no concern to her. "Take them," she said, over and over. "Take them, honey. Take them, sweetie." As the publicist tapped her foot and fussed in the background, Abdul proceeded to identify each piece she'd chosen from her stash and demonstrate how we - and millions of other females craving a link to "Idol" - might wear them. Five minutes stretched to 10, then to 15. I'm positive we'd still be hunkered there now, talking about layering chains and mixing metals, if Abdul had her druthers and the publicist hadn't shot such evil, annoyed glances our way. This was a delicious position to be in, from so many perspectives. Up close and personal with a spacey - yet strangely endearing - Abdul. Defying the authority figure who was failing miserably at keeping the star on a short leash. Realizing that Chanda and I were among the few ordinary people privileged to look down Abdul's shirt (hey, you couldn't help it) and relishing every single detail of our celebrity encounter. Frankly, I remember not one word she said about the jewelry, which is sitting in a desk drawer at the newspaper. But accessorizing like Abdul - with rhinestone star charms, black sparkle cuffs and tons of inspirational engravings - was never the point for me, anyway. » Posted by Igor at 12:00 AM | Discuss