Escada trots out some red carpet contenders

"CSI: Miami" star Emily Procter was admiring the red carpet-worthy gowns at the Escada Spring 2006 fashion show fundraiser she hosted for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at Meson G in Hollywood Thursday.

The well-attended cocktail evening — Amber Valletta, "Lost" star Maggie Grace, Amy Smart, "Grey's Anatomy" star Katherine Heigl, "Nip/Tuck" star Kelly Carlson and January Jones — was part of Escada's early Hollywood outreach to place their couture-quality gowns on nominees and presenters for the upcoming SAG, Globe, Guild and Oscar carpets.

When not admiring the informally modeled designs, Procter talked about her new film, "Big Momma's House 2", opening Jan. 27. Seems the spunky blonde had to do a buncha time sittin' around the set with her in-full-out-drag co-star Martin Lawrence, who disguises himself as Big Momma again to go undercover in a murder investigation.

"There's always a lot of waiting on any movie set," says Procter. "So some days Martin and I would be sitting there together for hours and I just felt so comfortable with him that I'd talk to him about everything, just like we were really good girl friends.

Finally, one day he just looked at me and said, 'Emily, you do realize that I'm not a woman.'

"I said, 'Of course, I do, Martin. But, well, you just look so pretty.'"

Photo: Emily Procter, Jonathan Silverman and Jennifer Finnigan at the Escada fashion show/cocktail party fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at Meson G.
(Amy Graves / Wire Image)