{alltv} Celebs flocking to Canuck designer

LOS ANGELES -- At tonight's Emmy Awards in Hollywood, the most frequently asked question to stars walking the red carpet will inevitably be: "Who are you wearing?"

A lot of celebs will drop the usual "Valentino" and "Stella McCartney" or "Chanel" and "Dior"-- but a good half dozen attending the award show will be answering: "Dalia MacPhee."

Dalia MacPhee?

MacPhee is a 33-year-old hard-working Vancouver designer whose long, flowing gowns are found in Canada at bridal shops and specialty boutiques.

But here in Hollywood -- where showing up glam is a crucial part of life if you want to keep your face and figure in the media -- MacPhee, in the past couple of years, has suddenly become the new It girl of the red carpet.

Although she can't divulge who exactly will be strutting her designs for fear of jinxing it all (fickle stars are known to change their minds about what they'll wear right up to the last minute depending on weight gain or loss) -- she was scheduled to be up at dawn this morning running between six big-named clients, which includes comedian and previous Emmy winner Niecy Nash.

"I'm up against huge designer names," the petite, but feisty MacPhee tells QMI Agency. "But my line is beautiful. It's different. It fits well and it's of the same exact quality of designers who charge crazy, astronomical prices."

MacPhee -- whose parents created the Richmond, B.C.-based apparel boutiques, Yofi Creations -- started making her own gowns after graduating from the University of British Columbia with a business degree. She came to L.A. to have her gowns manufactured.

Word spread about MacPhee's ultra feminine designs in quality fabrics that are a throwback to old Hollywood glam. They're very reasonably priced (couture gowns can cost up to $15,000 but hers start at around $400). More importantly, MacPhee came out with the first couture gowns that come off the rack in size zero to 20.

Her dresses -- now available in high-end retail stores such as Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus -- have been worn to events, award and television shows and on photo shoots by stars such as Hilary Duff, Heidi Klum, Pam Anderson, Jennifer Stone, Sophia Bush, Missy Yager and Jennifer Beals.

"How does it make me feel?" MacPhee says. "I guess like I've arrived."

One of her most loyal clients, though, has become Nash, whom she has dressed for most award shows, including the Oscars.

Nash's loyalty makes sense: It was MacPhee, and her curve-hugging dresses, that kept Nash's famous "jiggly parts" in line during the past season on Dancing with the Stars.

"I've been dressing Niecy for a long time. She's not a size 2 and it was hard for her to find gowns. Now her PR is blowing up, she's in very high demand and she's still wearing my dresses.

"Usually for designer gowns, you have to be a sample size (which is size 2), but everybody has the right to feel and look glamorous," says MacPhee, who still lives in Vancouver part-time.

The affable MacPhee says she gets a thrill being able to make women look gorgeous.

"I thought I was going to be a lawyer. I don't know why I started specializing in dresses. I think it's because there's something special about gowns that mark a momentous occasion."