A Modal Robe for Barbra

Was Barbra Streisand on your holiday gift list? Not to worry, she was on a lot of lists. But what do you buy the woman who presumably has everything? Well, one friend went to The Blue House on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica and bought her a very pretty--and very practical--Italian-made bathrobe. Made of 70% cotton and 30% modal--whatever that is--the machine washable, $150 robe has a luxurious, velvety feel to it. It comes in very pale pastel colors; Streisand received the icy blue. What she did not receive, however, are the towels that go with it. So now you know what to get her next year! (By the way, modal is an acrylic. But you already knew that.)

The Temple of Dessert

Everyone knows that stars have to watch their waistlines--even Indiana Jones, it seems. Spotted having lunch at oh-so-trendy Patina with a producer earlier this month, Harrison Ford was trying to have a low-caloric meal and so decided to skip dessert. But three female admirers at another table decided to send him an early Christmas present: every single luscious item on Joachim and Christine Splichal’s high-caloric dessert menu. Ford showed surprise at first, then he laughed, then he began sampling everything . What exactly did he taste? Strawberry rhubarb pie with creme brulee ice cream, corn creme brulee, flourless chocolate cake with chocolate sorbet, pear salad, chocolate croissant pudding with Wild Turkey sauce, vanilla doughnut with caramel fudge and, finally, assorted ice creams. Whew!

Dresses for Success

The Atlas Bar & Grill might be the only restaurant in town with hostess gowns by Thierry Mugler. The Paris designer sent three originals for the new supper club’s staff. There’s a nude-color slip dress, a daisy-bodice strapless number and a red empire style, sent because Mario Tamayo, who owns the club, requested them and he is a personal friend of Mugler, he tells Listen.

Weighty Measures

What’s the next step in fitness? Actually it is a step that requires fast feet and hand-held weights. The system was devised by Gin Miller, an Atlanta aerobics instructor, and it’s called Step Reebok. To launch the step-up, step-down routine, which utilizes a low bench or block, Reebok gave demonstrations at the Mezzeplex fitness club in West Los Angeles. Reebok fitness consultants on hand claimed tests show the aerobic benefits of the routine are equivalent to running 7 m.p.h. but without the body stress. Of course, there’s a Step Reebok shoe in the works. It debuts in February.

Phyllis Fits the Bill

Phyllis Diller appeared at a club in Baton Rouge, La., recently with what she describes as “a Brigitte Nielsen hairdo, except on me it’s a hair don’t.” For the club circuit, she’s also traded in her elaborate stage costumes for pants, sweaters and “something comfy on my feet.” But we’re relieved to hear the comedian’s trademark laugh remains unchanged. Diller reports a Baton Rouge fan likened it to “a mallard choking on a sandwich.”

Putting on the Dog

In the thick of the holiday season, “dogs” could relate to some, er, howling successes. Animal fashions we’ve noted around town over the holiday include a black tuxedo for formal Fidos, with tails of course, by Canine Creations at the Beverly Pet Center in the Beverly Center. And sartorial schnauzers might like the polka dot bow-tie collar, by L. Coffey at Neiman Marcus. We should all be so stylish this New Year’s Eve.

Leading Leather Looks

What do Arsenio Hall, Sugar Ray Leonard, and rap singer LL Cool J have in common? Leather jackets from the same shop. Hall’s is a multicolored bowling jacket he’s donned for his late-night talk show and an appearance on “Donohue.” Leonard’s is a blue and white style he wore during a TV interview. And Cool’s is a red jacket he wears in his new “Brenda” video. His and Leonard’s both have the word hobo written across the back. That might give you a hint about where these tone-y wraps come from. Hobo is the nickname of Michael Hoban, who owns the North Beach Leather shop.

Brief Misunderstanding

Nicholas Graham, the San Francisco designer whose men’s underwear styles always have a sense of humor, has gone international. His Joe Boxer label shorts will be available in Japan, thanks to a new distribution agreement with the Taka-Q chain store. Not all of Graham’s questionable humor translates, however. The Japanese, he explains, “don’t understand the shorts printed with ‘No, No, No’ that, in the dark, glow with the words ‘Yes, Yes, Yes.’ ” On the home front, Graham has been nominated for the California Mart’s men’s wear designer of the year award. The Marty Awards ceremony will be held in Los Angeles at the Biltmore Hotel on Jan. 18. Other nominees include George Machado for Zylos, Henry Duarte for Sqwear, Joe Dahun, Richard Tyler and Emil Rutenberg.