A Sweet Touch : The Colleagues Have a Ferre Special Valentine Benefit for Children’s Institute

Marjory loves Gianfranco. Jimmy loves Gloria.

Cupid worked overtime at the Colleagues Valentine lunch as the accolades ricocheted back and forth like arrows from bows at the Regent Beverly Wilshire ballroom Wednesday.

Nancy Reagan served as honorary chairwoman, but was unable to attend the event, a fund-raiser for the Children’s Institute International at which Gloria and Jimmy Stewart were also honored as “couple of the day.”

The main attraction was Gianfranco Ferre, the Milanese fashion superstar installed last year as chief designer of Paris’ house of Christian Dior.

“I love him,” said Colleagues president Marjory Miller wearing a suit from Ferre’s Ferre line. “He looks so cozy you just want to cuddle him.”

The designer unveiled his spring couture and ready-to-wear collections and the entire Dior machinery, including the company’s chic blond CEO Beatrice Bongibault, came along from Paris to cheer him on.

Trying to explain Valentine’s Day to Bongibault who was unfamiliar with the custom, Rose Marie Bravo, chairman and chief executive of I. Magnin and Bullocks Wilshire, said, “It’s all about love. You’re supposed to be very, very lovey-dovey--except your husband is in Paris and mine is in New York.”

Among those attending were event chairwoman Virginia Milner, Loretta Young, Marion Jorgensen, Fran Stark, Stefanie Powers, Constance Towers, Marcia Hobbs, Betty Wilson, Chardee Trainer, Jill Cartter, Denise Hale, Diane Glazer, Wendy Goldberg, Donna Mills, Eleanor Phillips Colt and Betsy Bloomingdale, who was hosting a dinner for Ferre that night.

Offering his sentiments on the local fashion scene, Ferre observed:

“Women dress in a very international way, but some are in a typical L.A. style. It’s the way they set their hair, the way they put on a bag. For example, red coat, red shoes, red bag, lynx coat that matches the blond hair. That enough?”