Special Kay

Hollywood starlets aren’t always famed for their academic prowess. Which makes Kay Panabaker a welcome exception. The pixie-faced actress, who co-stars in director Kevin Tancharoen’s glitzy remake of the 1980 high school musical Fame (in theatres on September 25) boasts the poise, brainpower and inveterate seriousness of a young Susan Sarandon. At 19, she’s even packing a bachelor’s in history from UCLA: The diminutive Texas native earned the degree at age 17 while balancing television roles on ER, 7th Heaven and Summerland.

Exhausted from the Fame promotional swirl, Panabaker’s sweet demeanor never divined an ounce of irritation during a recent Style Section L.A. photo shoot at the Palihouse in West Hollywood — even when we asked her to don leather pants on a sweltering August day.

Syle Section L.A.: Million-dollar question—heels or flats?

Panabaker: I rarely wear heels in my personal life. I like buying them—I think that they're cute. But wearing them in real life, I can't do it. I can't stand in heels. I always want to sit.

Which labels are most frequently found in your closet?

Free People—their tops are fun and free-flowing. As far as jeans go, I love Antik Denim because they've got fun designs on the pockets—I have to get them altered because I’m so short. I find that that happens a lot—I have to get [clothes] altered because they're meant to fit somebody who's higher-waisted and has a longer torso.

Ok, got it--no mom jeans for you. What about when it comes to the red carpet?

I definitely almost always wear Betsey Johnson. Anytime I'm wearing a Betsey Johnson dress, I'm enjoying it. They're just so much fun and use bright colors.

I'm at that age where I could either go for older [looking] hair and makeup and all of a sudden I'm looking twenty-something.

Uh yeah, looking like a twenty-something can be a bitch...

Teenagers are always struggling. They want to be seen as mature and grown-up and for me, it's like, I'm not in any rush to look older.

You and us both. What fashionable wares are you pining for this fall?

I won't call them fedoras, but you know those hats with the brim that goes upwards?

Yep. We believe the term you seek is "stingy fedora."

I'm constantly stealing boy's hats, even though I've got a small head. I also love scarves and I'll tie them around my waist. There are several different ways to tie them around your neck or let them just hang loose.

Sounds like you're into the accoutrement more than the clothes. How do you get your fix?

Jewelry making! When I was first starting out, I used stretchy materials but now I've gotten more into making chains and jewels and actually using stones. I love it because when I travel there are very often bead stores. And I’ll find beads that you won’t find anywhere else.

It's very…I wouldn't say therapeutic, but I'll put on a movie and make jewelry while watching something and then when I'm on the red carpet or I go out and someone says “I love your necklace,” I'm like "Oh, I made it!" It's a fun topic of conversation.

Maybe you’re destined to be the next Harry Winston.

Maybe. I really have spent so much money on the beads that I really should sell what I make. You have so much downtime on set that it’s easy to whip things up in the trailer.

Any apparel-related aspirations you'd care to share?

I'm going to try to accessorize more.

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