Apollonia will become the first rock star...
Apollonia will become the first rock star to grace the pages of a McCall’s pattern catalogue when the June issue hits the newsstands April 1. She joins other McCall’s celebrity models, Linda Evans, Brooke Shields and Shari Belafonte-Harper. McCall’s Mary Marino said the singer and actress--now of TV’s “Falcon Crest”--”collaborated” with McCall’s designers to come up with the five outfits that she models. But the clothes, which include a jump suit, camisole and skirt and draped-front dress, aren’t the sort of things you’d want to wear on stage if you were in Apollonia’s particular line of work. “I wouldn’t say they’re costumey,” Marino said. “I’d say they’re regular clothing.” If you’re wondering if Apollonia herself sews, the answer is yes, she knows how, but she doesn’t.
Those of you who say you have coveted Alexis Carrington’s (a. k. a. Joan Collins) hats all these years can now put your money where your mouth is. The dastardly, deposed grande dame of “Dynasty” is introducing her own retail collection just in time for the Easter parade. They’ll be modeled by a few of Collins’ Hollywood chums, Michele Phillips, Michele Lee and Connie Stevens among them, during a mother-and-daughter fashion show Thursday 27 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. For spring, Collins’ hats are heavy on lacquered straw, linen trims and big, big brims. After the show the hats will be available at Bullock’s.
A few Americans in London thought there might be two guest stars at the black-tie fashion show and charity dinner this week to benefit the Save the Children Fund. The invitation read that “The Princess Anne and Mrs. Mark Phillips” would appear. Listen quickly learned, however, that the princess is always referred to as two people rather than one, because she is a royal married to a commoner. With that cleared up, we went to dinner and can report that Anne looked lovely in a low-neck, bouffant gown, a bouffant, upsweep hairdo and an overall flawless condition that befits her station. We heard the princess accept a toast for having visited “at least nine British knitting mills,” in her untiring efforts on behalf of English fashion. And we dutifully said: “Here, here!” along with all the locals.
Not surprisingly,her favorite nail polish color is Shocking Pink. But when sex guru Dr. Ruth Westheimer summons manicurist/massager Claudia Georgescu of New York’s Christiana & Carmen beauty center to her studio on the Big Apple’s Upper-Upper West Side, the talk is by no means confined to beauty. In fact, Georgescu nearly dropped her emery board recently when the diminutive Dr. Ruth calmly asked her: “How’s your sex life?”--albeit, Listen is given to understand, in somewhat more explicit terms. When Georgescu faltered, Dr. Ruth proffered a copy of her book, “Dr. Ruth’s Guide to Good Sex.” Blushing, Georgescu said she’d be fired if she didn’t take a copy back for the office as well. In linking up with the Central Park South beauty oasis, Dr. Ruth joins the ranks of bi-coastal celebrity clients that include Bette Davis, Patti Davis, Farrah Fawcett, Candice Bergen, Nastassja Kinski, Carly Simon, Sandy Duncan, Rod Stewart, Burt Bacharach and wife Carole Bayer Sager and, most recently, CBS morning newscaster Maria Shriver.
The invitation read black tie and tennis shoes. And celebrity guests at the gala, 750th performance of “Tamara,” the play, took it seriously. (The play takes place in a series of rooms, and the audience walks through the rooms to various scenes.) Anjelica Huston, who played the show’s leading lady for a stint last year, turned up in red tennies and a man-tailored pantsuit. That’s a far cry from the Gianfranco Ferre-designed, ‘20s-inspired digs she wore as the star of the show. But Huston’s footgear was formal compared with actress Diedre Hall’s choice. She padded through the production wearing fuzzy, bear-claw slippers. “We suggested everyone put on their tennis shoes, because there’s so much running around during the show that women in high heels end up carrying them most of the evening,” explains Diane Carter, press liaison for the production.
Now that the rush is on for Oscar-night attire, women around town are busy resolving the dilemma of What to Wear to the Monday Night Festivities. And that dilemma extends to journalists. Well, some journalists. KABC reporter Cynthia Allison, who will be reporting from the Music Center for ABC’s “Hollywood Closeup,” was as concerned about “out-dressing” the nominees she would be interviewing as she was about wearing something with back appeal, since the cameras will be capturing her from behind and focusing on the stars. Although it sounds more like something Morgan Fairchild would wear, Allison’s press rep reports that journalist has decided to perform her duties in a form-fitting, off-the-shoulder fishtail gown made of glittery, royal blue matte jersey. The dress, from the Susanna boutique in Beverly Hills, also has matching gloves and pleated cape.
Our Dublin sources tell us the Aida Grey salon in Ireland is buzzing these days. Shop owner Carmel Concagh, passing through Los Angeles, says she has launched a “Princess Aida” contest, and some bonnie lassie from the Erin Isle is about to be named to the part. The winner’s prize (and she’ll pick it up the day she wins the title in late April, Concagh says) includes a trip to Beverly Hills “and some spending money” for her visit. Concagh adds that the winner will have one day with the original Princess Aida (Aida Grey), who will treat her to a beauty makeover in her Beverly Hills salon. Out of 2,000 contestants, Concagh says, she has already narrowed the field down to 20.
To the ever-growing list of designer-label products (including underwear, sheets and tofutti), you can now add diamonds. If you thought they just had to be big and sparkly, consider Lazare Diamonds, the brainchild of New York-based diamond house Lazare Kaplan International. Aside from proportion and symmetry, what makes a Lazare a Lazare is the logo and identification number inscribed by laser on one edge of the diamond’s underside and visible only under magnification. Room is also provided on the stone for an additional “message” of up to 240 characters. If you’re wondering what good a designer diamond is, the people at Lazare Kaplan say the logo authenticates ownership in case of loss or gem switching by unscrupulous jewelers. Additionally, for the first year, Lazare provides a free registration service and warranty against chipping.
International shopaholics might be interested to know that Athos Pratesi, head of the pricey Italian linen firm, was so taken by the authors of “Born To Shop--Italy” (Bantam: $5.95) that he divulged the whereabouts of his company’s “little seconds shop” in Pistoia--until now restricted to employees and family members--for inclusion in the purse-size book. That was only one--and perhaps the best--of the coups pulled off by the book’s four authors, who have also turned up genuine finds--including Didier Ludot in Paris for used Chanel suits--for “Born to Shop--France.” (“Born to Shop--London” is next.) While two of the four shopper/authors have dropped out, Suzy Gershman and Judith Thomas think they have created a new industry in catering to the world’s supershoppers and have 20 more shopping books planned for the next five years, including one on the Far East, which will be published in time for the Seoul Olympics in 1988.
