Adolfo Fans Turn Out in Numbers at Nancy Reagan’s Homecoming

The Adolfo fund-raising fashion show sponsored by the Colleagues and Saks Fifth Avenue this week was billed as a welcome-home party for former First Lady Nancy Reagan, who is the designer’s most publicized customer.

Many of Mrs. Reagan’s friends also wear Adolfo clothes on a regular basis, giving the whole group a sort of sorority look when they get together in look-alike outfits.

But it would be a mistake to pin Adolfo’s huge success on the former First Lady’s patronage. The shy, soft-spoken, ex-milliner has a nationwide following of women who like his subtle variations on classic suit themes, and who appreciate the personal attention he lavishes on each good customer.

When he visits Saks Fifth Avenue stores around the country, he takes time to ensure that women order the right outfits for their figures--and that the outfits fit properly when they arrive. This is doubtless why many women who attend his shows each season return the following day and place five-figure orders for new wardrobes. This week’s event in Beverly Hills was no exception.

In fact, many in the audience this week said this was the prettiest Adolfo collection ever. It was colorful, graceful and diversified. For day, there were suits with the options of dirndl and pleated skirts or wide pants, as well as print dresses in ankle-grazing lengths.

For evening, the excitement was in the barest chiffons in dark or fruit-salad colors.

But there was a full complement of floor-length chiffon skirts with easy, evening T-shirts as well as some typical daytime suit jackets styled for after dark and teamed with long, taffeta skirts. Even Adolfo renegades, such as Nancy Vreeland in a Bill Blass outfit and Shirlee Fonda in a Thierry Mugler, applauded appreciatively.