Fashionably Dressed Concert-Goers Provide a Side Show at Center

When the Orange County Performing Arts Center opened in September, the county witnessed perhaps the all-time, pre-eminent dress-up event in its history.

Four months later, through symphonies, operas and the ballet, the fashion legacy of opening night continues. Except for an occasional jogging suit or pair of blue jeans, local arts patrons still dress seriously for Center events.

Although not every arts lover is, by definition, a fashion sophisticate, few Center-goers settle into their seats in slapped-together ensembles. True, exercise sweats were spotted recently at “Candide,” but fortunately for those sharing her row, the lady so attired didn’t seem to have come straight from class.

Men in dark suits and women in smart dresses were most visible at the recent New York City Opera series. When women wore slacks, they most often paired them with silk blouses or jeweled sweaters.

At opening night for “Carmen,” when the opera series premiered, many women made their entrances in furs, floor-length dresses and prominently displayed precious gems. Several gentlemen, aside from the ever formally attired Center staffers, sported black tie.

Some women, such as Rebecca Busby in wine-hued velvet and ostrich plumes, had good reason for their long gowns. Busby was headed for a private reception for New York City Opera Director Beverly Sills after the show.

Others, including Suzann Cano, wife of restaurant magnate Larry Cano of the El Torito chain, wore shorter, but nonetheless dressy, ensembles. Cano, a former Mexico City “Breck girl,” had slipped a coat with sequined highlights over a shirred mid-calf-length sheath for the evening.

Glitz was less apparent on subsequent nights. Still, Dee Ann Baldwin wore bead-embellished lace to “Candide” while Jacki Pittman and her daughter Laura Brooks slid into sequins for “Madama Butterfly.”

“We got dressed up because it’s so much fun,” said Pittman, echoing the sentiments of many others.

Most men seemed to accept suits and ties as de rigeur . Dark colors were common--so common that Caroline Heinz stood out like a beacon in an eye-popping printed silk by Flora Kung. “I wanted to wear something bright,” she said.

Fabrics varied. Mary Anne Holton wore Italian silk; Amy Carver, French lace; Lois Cannon, lightweight wool.

Many dresses originated in Europe. But Leesa Evans said she found her silk ensemble locally--at Laguna Beach’s D. N. Evans, her mother’s shop.

In the pants-clad category, Mary Sabotasso teamed her slacks with a suede-and-snakeskin appliqued sweater. Artist Lin Smith topped trousers with a silk shirt, gabardine coat and shoulder-draping scarf. “I guess you’d call the look casual-elegant. It’s casual, but you put some thought into it,” Smith said.

For many, casual also means comfortable. And considering that any night at the Center means two or more hours in a seat, many patrons, such as Kingsley Brosnan in her skirt set, professed to dress for ease.

Knits proved a popular choice. Jean Robinson wore an Adrienne Vitadinni knit with bugle-beaded swirls. Jolene Hulick’s knit was a St. John jump suit, paired with a cropped mink jacket featuring crocodile trim.

The recent seemingly arctic winds could not account for the abundance of furs.

Harriet Harris’ choice: a Swakara Persian lamb vest with fox trim.

Teresa Resare carried a full-length mink, a Christmas gift from architect Stewart Woodard.

Manhattan Beach resident Lillian Storer, who said she patronizes the arts in both Los Angeles and Orange counties, said that while she would wear a dress comparable to her rhinestone-studded Paris wool to Los Angeles events, “I would not take my fur there, and I would not wear my jewels. I feel more comfortable with them here.”

Connie Quarre wore a single strand of pearls over a simple sweater and skirt. “I didn’t want to overdo it with the sequins this time. I’ve gotten dressed up here so many times before,” she said.