LOS ANGELES — Stars are sprucing themselves up, getting gifts and going to galas before Sunday's Golden Globes.

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GIFTS GALORE: Nothing gets stars in the mood for a big awards show like piles of swag. And despite the slumping economy, the getting was good at gift suites around town.

Stars who visited the DPA gifting lounge at Beverly Hills' Peninsula Hotel _ including Golden Globe nominees Blair Underwood and Melissa George _ could collect Jil Sander sunglasses, a six-day Tahitian getaway, fine jewelry, handbags and designer dog collars. They could also get pampered with treatments such as eyelash extensions, facials, massages and foot reflexology.

Down the street at Kari Feinstein's Style Suite in West Hollywood, guests perused three floors packed with goodies to eat, drink, wear or apply to skin and hair.

Wendi's Fine English Toffee and Nothing Bundt Cakes provided a sugar kick, and Little Black Dress wines and Glowelle antioxidant beauty drinks offered liquid refreshment while guests including Jessica Alba, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and Golden Globe nominee Debra Messing stocked up on swag.

Messing collected tooth-whitening products, bedazzled shearling boots and a box of Glowelle drinks, which she called "Glow-tox." Alba fell in love with a woven, diamond-studded bracelet from Tacori. Michelle Trachtenberg of the hit TV teen drama "Gossip Girl" snapped up sexy underthings from Bittersweet Butterfly and Golden Globe nominee Viola Davis coveted a lavender leather handbag from Moni Moni.

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Other stars ogled conflict-free, earth-friendly fine jewelry from Precious Earth, adult-size footie pajamas from Pajama City and sparkling gems from Touchstone Crystal.

Davis, who's enjoying widespread accolades for her work in "Doubt," said awards season was "dizzying" but not stressful.

"It's just been a joy," she said. "It's a joy to be recognized for your work."

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GOLDEN FACELIFT: At least one glittering star will admit having a face lift: the Golden Globe statuette.

The film-swathed globe atop a marble base has been revamped this year. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association spent two years refining its trademark trophy. The new one _ featuring a more detailed, accurate globe and a new marble base _ will be handed out for the first time at Sunday's ceremony.

"There's really not much change in the design," said Jorge Camara, the association's president. "It's basically the same globe with a strip of film around it _ the one that we have had since we started."

The organization also redesigned its Cecil B. DeMille award, presented annually in recognition of outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry. This year's honoree, Steven Spielberg, will be the first recipient of the redesigned award.

The revamped statuettes also come with a new leather-bound, velvet-lined case, Camara said, adding that previous Golden Globe winners are welcome to upgrade to the new statue: "We will be very happy to replace them if they want to."

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MAKE YOUR OWN BLING: For actors and actresses who take home trophies at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards, the bling doesn't stop there. Each winner will also be invited to design their own jewelry to benefit the Stars for a Cause charity.

Winning stars will be invited to work with celebrity jeweler Robyn Rhodes to create one-of-a-kind items to wear on the red carpet during awards season. Men can also design their own diamond-studded shoes with Auri Footwear. Once they've worn the custom items, each piece will be auctioned to benefit the star's favorite charity.

Rhodes has already interpreted the gem-encrusted visions of William Shatner, Goldie Hawn, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges and Jesse McCartney. Though none designed jewelry before, "they know what they want," Rhodes said.

"I'm pleasantly surprised because it seems that they do have a vision," she said. (For example, Shatner sought "something celestial" for his cuff links and tuxedo studs.)

The only hitch is that some stars have been reluctant to part with their custom pieces, Rhodes said.

"They actually want to have a replica for their own collection," she said. "They don't want to give it up. They designed it and it's special."

All the star-designed items will be auctioned May 28.

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AP Television reporter Natalie Rotman contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

http://www.goldenglobes.org

http://www.starsforacause.org