Talk Is Cheap, Wardrobe Isn’t

Rick Dees (mornings on KIIS-FM) has a new time slot, a new medium and a new look. Starting midnight Monday, he’ll be holding his own with the late-night crowd as host of ABC TV’s “Into the Night.” There’s nothing retiring about Dees’ wardrobe. It’s coming from Sami Dinar for Men in Beverly Hills and is about as quiet and shy as Dees himself. Daring color couture suits, GQ-worthy sweater-shirts and boldly patterned ties are the basics. Earlier, Dinar took on one of Dee’s new rivals, Arsenio Hall, who has since acquired a berth on several best-dressed lists.

FROM PREPPIE TO PUNKY: New Kids on the Block, the teen-age heartthrob band, has changed its visual. L.A. designer Henry Duarte says he’s put all five members in tight, quilted pants, Little League catcher’s vests, and jockey caps for their current concert tour and eight Coca-Cola commercials, now airing on network TV. Duarte says their new “motocross” look comes from the Belgian dirt biker mode of dress.

BRIGHT CLOTHES, DULL FILM: The movie is fading into the sunset but the yellow trench coat lives on. Richard Gere recently bought 10 Dick Tracy-style raincoats at Bloomingdale’s. He was hosting a D.T. party and gave the $345 coats by Drizzle Inc. to his guests.

OUT SHOPPING: Paula Zahn was seen at Versace on Rodeo Drive buying a black linen dress, a black gabardine suit, a black tank top and a yellow blazer, because, she said, the colors look good on the set of “CBS This Morning.”

Linda Evans found a dress at Saks Fifth Avenue to wear for her new film, “I’ll Take Romance.” The white matte jersey dress with a rhinestone and pearl embroidered bodice was designed by Jill Richards.

Ken Olin (from “thirtysomething”) who is starring in “The Charles Stuart Story,” a CBS movie of the week, recently stopped in Sy Devore Men’s Shop and picked out four identical shirts to wear when he murders his screen wife.

ON THE RUN: Our spy in Paris reports that Madonna is sporting a new tres chic running outfit. While on the French leg of her “Blond Ambition” world tour, the singer jogged out the front door of the Ritz Hotel clad in a black pinstripe Christian Dior sweat suit and a fashionable baseball cap. Even Madonna’s two beefy bodyguards couldn’t discourage her French fans from accompanying her on her daily hourlong run. No less than a hundred of them jogged behind the threesome, staying a respectful few paces behind.

OUT OF LUCK: George Bush will be looking for a new resource for his khaki pants and navy blue blazers. His favorite store, Arthur Adler, is going out of business.

RACING CLOTHES, STALLED MOVIE: Even if fans of the boy thunder, Tom Cruise, are not buying movie tickets, they are purchasing his racing style. Since “Days of Thunder” was released, orders for Simpson racing shoes, sponsor jumpsuits and racing team jackets have increased 200%, says Andrew Cohen, owner of Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising has moved to its new campus at 919 S. Grand Ave. They are so proud of their new digs--and rightly so--that they are offering guided tours to one and all. Call (213) 624-1200 for tour reservations.

* OUT OF THE PAST: For a quick reminder of the fashion horrors and delights of the 60s, check out Kelly Lester’s costumes in “The Only Game in Town”, playing through August at the Richard Basehart Playhouse in Woodland Hills. She covers the decade with 8 costume changes purchased for a total of $150 at garage sales, swap meets and thrift stores.