R.S.V.P : Mackie Dresses Up Fashion Show
First, models paraded in hats shaped like lemons with little green stems. Then came the cherry hats, and finally flamingos with enormous feather fans unfurled--just before the wheel of fortune costume, “Viva Las Vegas!” with a mass of flashing lights.
Inspired by slot machines and blackjack, designer Bob Mackie literally brought down the house to see the Luminaires Juniors outrageous fashion production for the Doheny Eye Institute the other night. Not only the waiters and waitresses, but the chefs and kitchen help at the Beverly Hills Hotel Crystal Room rushed out to join the black-tie throng and hang over the balconies.
Said Patrick Smith of Newport Beach, “If this is a fashion show, I’d like to go to one every day.” Co-chairwomen Jenny Rutt and Mary Milner could hardly contain themselves. “Thank you, John Martens, and Neiman Marcus for having such confidence in our group,” said Rutt, her hair coiffed a yard wide.
There was enough fringe, rhinestone and glitter to decorate a bawdyhouse. Who loved it? The conservatives--Mary and Gordon Crary (she started the Luminaires), Alice Avery (in Geoffrey Beene), Katie Shattuck, former Ambassador to the Vatican William and Betty Wilson--sitting at Giney Milner’s table.
A bit later, Wayne Foster’s orchestra cut loose and Jacqueline Foster brought the crowd on stage to rock and roll by spelling out M-A-C-K-I-E to shouts and raves.
The entire crowd squeezed onto the dance floor. Among the revelers: Ann Hoover, who flew in from Oklahoma; Clark and Katie Porter; Reese Milner II; Vevie Reynolds; Jim and Doreen McElvany; Debbie Lanni (Terrence was in Las Vegas); George and Jim Dahl; Linda and Bill Blackburn; Irene and Philip Fowler; Brad Freeman; Kee and Paul Flynn; Candida and George Genzman. Said Candida, “We’re selling the house, and George is buying me that dress.”
RUSH: They couldn’t wave away all those goodbys in time, so new Ambassador to Jamaica Glen Holden and his wife Gloria flew to Jamaica, then made a quick return for the black-tie dinner hosted by the Holden Group at Sherwood Country Club.
Well-wishers formed a crush--David Murdock, John Kilroy, Don and Arletta Tronstein, Mel and Marilyn Hawkrigg of Toronto (he replaces the ambassador as chairman of the Holden Group), George and Judy Argyros, Leonard and Caroline Firestone, Frank Cahouet and Donald Koll.
HO HO: The back yard is in shambles while Peter and Pam Mullin build an underground garage for his French antique cars, but who would have guessed at their White Winter Wonderland party for 400?
Timbers covering the pool caved in a tad when the crowd rushed to the dance floor where the Bob Gail Orchestra spread wild cheer. That didn’t stop Keith and Bill Kieschnick, Joanne and Don Albrecht, John and Mary Ann Heidt, Sally and Joe Keon, Dody and Otis Booth, and Carolyn and Maurice DeWald from tripping the fantastic . . .
Over at Undersecretary of Commerce Rock and Marna Schnabel’s residence in Brentwood, guests were admiring the reflecting pools and the stark contemporary look of the Schnabels’ new home by architect Frank Gehry. The Schnabels are back from Japan, en route to Washington.
Circled by the crowd was Sen. Pete Wilson. Chatting around the Finnish buffet were Michael and Suzy Niven, Bob (Reagan’s former administrative assistant) and Donna (former Undersecretary of Commerce) Tuttle, John Walsh, Victoria and Carl Murray, Raylene and Bruce Meyer, Bob and Mary Beth Van Dine, Chuck Arnoldi (who did the painting above the piano) and the Schnabels’ three children--Evan, Darrin and Christy.
KUDOS: Newest group--the Los Angeles Zoo’s Wild Beast Society. Amy Grossman and Troy Steckenrider head it up as co-chairmen. The new zoo support group is dedicated to endangered species. Tom and Debbie Tellefsen, and Zoo Director Dr. Warren Thomas helped launch the society with a dinner this week.
CHEER: The band for the Marlborough Merry Mart continues its Christmas tree sale today . . . Charlotte Meier staged the Expectations Christmas luncheon for Braille Institute Auxiliary . . .
Patty Turrentine, Donna Wolff and Bridget Martens of Friends of Robinson Gardens last week took latchkey kids from Para Los Ninos to the gardens for a mime show and carols . . . The Spastic Children’s League benefited from the Candy Cane Ball at the Century Plaza Tower . . .
Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital’s auxiliary, headed by Mudge Facey, and its guild, headed by Mary Smith Hughes, dashed to Loews Hotel in Santa Monica for their Christmas Tree Ball.
SEVEN: A group of seven make up the Music Center’s new Donor Relations Council, designed to give TLC to new and prospective donors. Diane Morton chairs the group with Carol Mancino, Iris Bovee, Jackie Foster, Betty Ann Koen, Shirley Levine and Genevieve McSweeney.
The Council hosted luncheon in The Founders for guests, including Douglas Brengel, Ryozo Tominaga, Pat Tellep, and Burton and Anita Levinson, before the latter left for Bonn and a meeting with America’s Ambassador to West Germany, Vernon Walters.
PAST PERFECT: Sharing the astute fashion knowledge of I. Magnin’s Wilmer Weiss of San Francisco, who delighted members of the Fashion Circle of the Costume Council (they give more than $5,000) with an hour of European fashion slides during a petite champagne breakfast planned by Joni Smith and Anne Johnson . . .
Trini Abellon winning the Somper Lowell Furs’ white shadow fox coat, grand prize at Les Amies Christmas party at Bistro Gardens.
THE SCENE: Frances Klein showing estate and rare jewels at the Regency Club over cocktails . . .
Judy and Don Tallarico serving champagne and caviar to 100 merrymakers, including Norma and David McIntyre, and Isadore and Shirley Familian at their Rodeo Drive shop. . . .
Author John Loring breakfasting at Tiffany and Co. in honor of the new publication “Tiffany Parties.”
BEST WISHES: Peter Ueberroth was best man when Ted Hartley (chairman/CEO of RKO/Pavilion) and actress Dina Merrill married last month in San Francisco at Church of St. Mary the Virgin.
