Kitson is feeling financially fit, thanks for asking

On Dec. 24 I reported that Tracey Ross, the L.A. boutique owner who has been a fashion fixture in the city for close to two decades, will close her namesake shop tonight, on New Year's Eve.

Asked the reason for the closing, Ross told WWD, "Of course, it's the economy."

In the headline, I had initially mused, "Is Kitson next?" But the headline was changed to "What's next on Robertson?"

However, a remaining Google-cached page online seems to have caused confusion in the retail world. As a result, Kitson owner Fraser Ross (no relation to Tracey) is not very happy with me.

So let me set the record straight: I in no way meant to imply that Kitson, the cultural phenomenon retail store frequented by celebs such as Halle Berry, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Richie, which has come to personify L.A. fashionista destination shopping, is in any danger of closing up shop. Or shops.

So rest easy, trendies. Kitson's not going anywhere, and you can still get all those hyper-cool, expensive designer T-shirts, boots, accessories and denims you've come to love and, dare I say it, need.

Photo: Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves and their precious baby exit the Kitson Boutique on Robertson. WireImage

Perennial party girl Paris Hilton needs a few good New Year's Eve party frocks.

So leave the girl alone!

The socialite is in Sydney, Australia, to host a NYE dance party that will call for her to do several costume changes.

So naturally, she hit a Sydney store and spent around $3,850 dollars in just 40 minutes.

"I'm in Australia, I think it's important to help out, you know, the economy out here, everywhere in the world,"   she told reporters. "And what's wrong with doing a little shopping? It's New Year's, I need a New Year's dress."

Hilton is getting paid 100,000 Australian dollars by the party's promoters for her Sydney appearance. Roughly  70 grand in US dollars.

I think she can afford to splurge on a few glitzy dresses, don't you?

More Paris:

Will Paris hook up with Prince William on NY Eve?

Paris will "always love" Benji Madden....

The Decline and Fall of Paris Hilton

Photo: WireImage

Looks like retired basketball star and Olympic gold-medal winner Charles Barkley started celebrating New Year's Eve a little early.

And maybe a little too hard.

According to Associated Press, the basketball star -- named as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history --  was popped in Arizona last night on suspicion of DUI.

He was stopped at - are you ready - a DUI checkpoint! Geez.

His blood was tested on the scene. Barkley was later released and went home in a taxi.

You can check out photos from the arrest scene over at TMZ.

And from the looks of this mugshot, he was definitely sweating the whole ordeal.

You may remember that, throughout his career, Barkley was vocal about how sports stars should not be considered role models.

You got that right, Chuck!

Photo credit: Gilbert Police Department / Associated Press

Matt Dillon needs to slow down!

The Oscar-winning "Crash" actor was busted for speeding in Vermont last  night.

Vermont state police say they clocked Dillon, 44, driving 106 mph  in a 65 mph zone on Interstate 91 in Newbury around 10 p.m. Tuesday night.

Dillon was driving a rented 2009 Chevy Impala.

Police arrested Dillon, processed him and released him on a citation for excessive speed.

He is due in Orange District Court on Jan. 21.

Wait, that's it? Speeding?

We hate to say it, but this could have been so much worse.

It's so rare for a celebrity to get stopped for speeding and not get arrested for drugs, alcohol, running over a paparazzo's foot, for going the wrong way on a freeway, for not having a valid driver's license or for just being Britney Spears.

More Matt Dillon:

Matt Dillon's really big year!

Matt Dillon took eight shirts at the Indie Spirit Swag Suite?

Photo credit: WireImage

Just when you thought it was safe to watch TV ... 

Annoyingly hip Oscar-nominated "Juno" screenwriter Diablo Cody will soon be on the small screen with Showtime's new series, "The United States of Tara."

In the edgy new comedy created by Cody and Steven Spielberg, Toni Collette plays a woman with multiple  personalities, including (but perhaps not limited to) a slutty teenager, a redneck man and a "Desperate Housewives" Bree Hodge-like character.

"Sex and the City" hunk John Corbett plays her patient husband who has to try to avoid having sex with his wife's multiples. This is not easy because all of them are trying to seduce him. Except the redneck dude.

The show premieres on Jan. 18 (It's streaming on the Showtime website now for free! ). I've already watched several episodes and it really did grow on me. Can you smell several Globes nods in 2010?

And the best part? Ellen Page's not in it. And none of the characters are nearly as annoying as Page's wisecracking, pregnant teen. Thank heavens.

-- Elizabeth Snead

"In the Room Where You Sleep" (live video version)

Check out Ryan Gosling's band, Dead Man's Bones, and his new song, "In the Room Where You Sleep."

What do you think?

He does have a strange reverb Jim Morrison quality to his voice. But should he stick to his acting day job?

And what's with that creepy "Thriller"-esque "Children of the Corn" chorus?

Thots, please?

More Ryan Gosling:

"Ryan Fights for Chickens' Rights!"

"Where's Ryan Gosling Hiding?"

Move over, "Dreamgirls." Make way for "Mariah Carey: The Musical"?

According to the Daily Mirror, the pop diva is in talks to produce a Broadway stage musical about her life. And she's keen on British singer Leona Lewis to play her.

However, there are others being considered, including Mimi herself.

An insider told the the publication: "Mariah's not sure if she'll star in it herself. If she doesn't, names being tossed around include 'High School Musical' star Vanessa Hudgens [OK, way too young] and 'Desperate Housewife' Eva Longoria. [OK, way too old and can she even sing a note?]  But Mariah secretly likes the idea of Leona Lewis playing her. Not only is she exotic, she's the only one who they reckon would be able to tackle Mariah's eight-octave vocal range."

A spokeswoman has confirmed: "Mariah is in talks for a Broadway musical to be made about her life in 2009."

There would not be any shortage of fascinating material for the musical's storyline. There's her meteoric rise to fame while married to older music impresario Tommy Mottola, being dumped by her record label in 2001 after a nervous breakdown and being admitted into a hospital for emotional and physical exhaustion.

And then there's her recent marriage to younger man Nick Cannon and her rumored pregnancy.

Last but not least, think of all those GOWNS! Now this is going to be a spectacle we don't want to miss. Could Mimi be just the gal to "emanicipate" the Great White Way from economic hardship?

What do you think? Would you go see a musical about Mariah's life, loves and career? Seems like a sure-fire hit to me. And think of the marketing and musical possibilities.

More Mariah:

How to Dress like a Diva!

Is Mariah pregnant with Nick Cannon's baby?

Nick and Mariah engaged? When'd that happen?

Photo: Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon. Credit: WireImage

Even Katie Holmes, Anne Hathaway, Kate Hudson, Eva Longoria Parker, and yes -- Sarah Jessica Parker have styling disasters.

Take for example Madonna's Turf Wars (pictured left) She looks like Sheena, Queen of the Jungle Gym, in her Louis Vuitton artificial-turf minidress, worn with gladiator heels, fishnet tights and a gold cinch belt, because, yeah, that's just what this sodding mess really needed, a gold cinch belt.

Get more of our brief recap of this year's fashion misses and bigger misses.

(Photo credit: Wireimage)