Tuesday night, the Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel was packed to the rafters for the Cinema Society and Paramount Pictures after-party for a screening of "The Lovely Bones." Based on the book by Alice Sebold, the movie follows a 1970s family rocked by the murder of their 14 year-old daughter. And the story clearly struck a cord with guest Courtney Love. As the film's cast including Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Mark Wahlberg and Saoirse Ronan
worked the room, an unusually voluble Love chatted about death, fashion and feeling like a cougar.

Courtney Love: I just met Rose [McIver, one of the film's stars] and what is
the Irish girl, what's her name?
 
WWD: Saoirse.
 
C.L.: And her father.
 
WWD: As a mother, watching this film it must be...
 
C.L.: I was actually just talking to the paps to get them to not, because I was drinking out of a champagne glass and I didn't want them to use a picture of me corrupting youth and or drinking around young girls. But that [the movie] was really moving and I kept thinking about my daughter and just about my daughter and about death. I never read the book.
 
WWD: Oh the book is beautiful.
 
C.L.: I didn't read it. I came [here] alone. Helena [Christensen] is here. So that's awesome because I was sort of feeling a little cougary or something. So I have a girlfriend here.

 
WWD: Well, you look great. May I ask who you are wearing?
 
C.L.: Yes you can. It was a very hard decision, because I wasn't styled. So I had to like, I didn't pack much for winter. So Rue de Mail [gesturing at coat] that I had this seamstress come over, I said, 'You can do whatever you want with the Twenties stuff.' She cut up the matching dress.

WWD: Oh wow.

C.L.: No, I'm talking about she cut up the Victorian, Edwardian and the Twenties and just this upcycling thing I'm doing where I'm putting Twenties pieces with 1880s and 1990s and Teens and Thirties and some Nineties, but don't f---ing go for the Chanel. She shredded the Rue de Mail. And this is Valentino [motion to her dress], the last proper Valentino season and I made a lot of investments in that season where I bought him out the last two seasons.

WWD: Well, it's an investment.

C.L.: I know, but I went in there and they didn't know who I was because I'm not a Valentino client. The couture was great. I loved that big black bow with those sleeves, awesome. And then Kirkwoods [gesturing at shoes] I don't think Kirkwood is going to get much better. I think that's the apex.
 
WWD: Well you look great and I'm glad you enjoyed the film.
 
C.L.: Thank you. And wait oh and [Sally] Hershberger did my hair.
 
WWD: Oh, nice.
 
C.L.: But no bling. I'm really into these dirty diamonds right now.
 
WWD: Oh?
 
C.L.: No one steals them. They're rose cut and they're Victorian rubies. I got all my jewelry stolen so I started investing in these and people don't steal them.
 
WWD: They look great. It was really great to meet you.
 
C.L.: Ok, oh and this is Alexander Wang [bag]. I think it's the model off duties so I feel like I shouldn't be wearing it. It looks a little weird on me.
 
WWD: No, it looks great.
 
C.L.: Thank you.