Adding Her Two CentsWanda McDaniel, former society...

Adding Her Two Cents

Wanda McDaniel, former society editor of the Herald Examiner, has been named to represent Giorgio Armani on the West Coast. “I’ll do for Armani here what Lee Radziwill does in New York, and a little of what Gabriella Forte does in Milan,” McDaniel told Listen. We weren’t sure what that is, so we asked for specifics. “It’ll be a real hands-on job,” she explained. “I’ll hostess lunches for the new Armani shop opening on Rodeo, help get Armani clothes in films and generally be sort of an “ambassadress.” There’s no title yet for the position, McDaniel said, adding that Forte (who’s Armani’s right-hand woman in Italy) suggested she choose any title that suits her. In private life, McDaniel is married to film producer Al Ruddy and the mother of two small children.

Magic Prompts Applause

Magic Johnson hit the Ivy restaurant on Robertson Boulevard last Saturday night, dressed in a dapper beige suit and fresh from the afternoon victory game that put the Lakers in the NBA finals. Listen tried to get his autograph, but the maitre d’ shooed us away, saying Magic’s entrance had prompted a round of applause that was “embarrassing.” We’ll bet Magic wasn’t embarrassed, and we’ll lay odds he gets more applause before the end of the playoffs.

Black Is Beautiful

Dolph Lundgren, with his classic Scandinavian looks, is about to find out if it’s true blonds have more fun. He’s dying his hair black. That fierce boxing opponent in “Rocky IV” will next play “The Punisher,” to be filmed in Australia in August. For his new character, a hero with a dark side, we’re told, Lundgren is working up a late-’50s look with long sideburns and a slicked-back top. And his stylist, Laurent at Jose Eber, will try out one color rinse after another in search of the perfect color.

Framing the Trend

Marlee Matlin, Teri Garr and Cloris Leachman showed up for this week’s showing of the soon-to-be-released film “Bull Durham,” which stars Susan Sarandon and that New Age sex symbol, Kevin Costner. Listen was there, taking notes on what power people wear to screenings. Matlin wore terrific cowboy boots, white lace stockings, a short skirt and eyeglasses with black frames. Garr wore light-blue linen pants, a matching top, the cutest Joan and David sandals and eyeglasses with black frames. We think this constitutes a black-frame-eyeglass trend. We sat next to Garr, who smelled so good that we simply had to ask about her perfume. It was Jean Patou’s 1,000, she said. We can’t tell you what Cloris Leachman wore because she dashed down the aisle so fast that she looked like a Flying Wallenda. But a pretty one.

On a Roll

Flashy California activewear seems to be a big hit with rock drummers rolling through town on tour. Last weekend, Listen spotted Irish band Clannad’s drummer Arron Ahmun sporting a Vision Street Wear T-shirt in concert. And drummer Jon Farriss from Aussie group INXS slugged the skins at the Pacific Amphitheatre while wearing Italian Boys cycling shorts.

Yes, There Is a Gregory

After seeing a particular fragrance ad in May Vogue magazine, we wondered if there really is a Gregory. He’s the tyke who publicly peddles Gregorys, the kiddy cologne conceived and dedicated to him by his uncle Randolph Perini, whom we called in Miami for the facts. It was Perini’s memory of the good old days, when he was allowed to wear a dab of his father’s Old Spice on special occasions, that gave him the idea for “the first designer fragrance for children,” which is what he grandly calls the $15.50-per-.85-ounce concoction of vetiver, fresh citrus accord and a nuance of lavender. And yes, Gregory is really Gregory Thomas. When he isn’t wearing one of his miniature tuxedos and making store appearances on behalf of his namesake scent, he goes to nursery school in North Carolina where he lives with his parents. Locally, Gregorys is sold at Boys Will Be Boys in Sherman Oaks.

A Short Hop

No question about what party hoppers are wearing around this town for spring: short and nothing but short skirts. Listen caught sight of Michelle Phillips, Susan Dey, Barbara Walters and Mary Hart at a dinner party the other night and checked out the hemlines. Phillips had on a little black dress with a tight, velvet top and a full skirt that twinkled and ended at the knees. Dey went for something a little more colorful--a turquoise suit--with lots of legroom. Walters wore a bold flower-print knee tickler, and Hart had on a white spangled showstopper--short.