Now <i> That’s</i> What We Call Buying Power
It was not business as usual when the Sultan of Brunei went shopping at the Gianni Versace boutique in Beverly Hills recently. The store was immediately closed to make way for him, his 13 bodyguards and two female companions. Boutique owner Carolyn Mahboubi says the party arrived unexpectedly--in three limousines, including the sultan’s Rolls-Royce limo. He left with “mostly fun, playful” items, such as a black-and-white polka-dot bomber jacket for himself and a pair of Marilyn Monroe-patterned leggings for one of his companions.
LOTION COMMOTION: Molly Ringwald and comedian Jay Leno have each checked out the new Body Logic shop opened by former Gruene products expert Daniel Samakow and partner Ira Schechter at the Century City mall. The “environmentally aware” shop, which features body lotions, shampoos and other skin-care treatments made from all-natural ingredients, offers a 50-cent rebate to customers who return their plastic empties. A Listen correspondent overheard an unidentified Frenchman order “a very large, beautiful basket,” then watched as he flashed a card with Nancy Reagan’s name and address on it. Only time will tell if the former First Lady comes in for her refund.
DAZZLING: Hurray for Judith Krantz. We have it on good authority that she just learned how to apply false eyelashes, one by one, and also does her own makeup for public appearances. The author will be wearing clothes by Ungaro and Chanel while promoting her new book, “Dazzle.” Krantz likes to “mix and unmatch” and has very definite ideas about how to dress for television, publicist Judi Davidson says. “When she first started out she wore pale pinks and felt she faded right into the sofa.” Now she wears bright colors, which this time will include two green Chanel jackets, Davidson says.
HANDS ON: Miss USA, Carole Gist, isn’t complaining, but she is on her feet a lot and there is all that hand-shaking. To keep her extremities supple, she has been dipping her hands and feet in paraffin at Vera’s Retreat in the Glen, in Bel-Air. The special treatment begins with the application of an exfoliating cream and ends with a light massage.
THE BOLD SHOULDER TREATMENT: Gracing the shoulders of Mick Fleetwood, Kirstie Alley and Anita Baker are collage jackets by designer Gabriela Aguilo. The collages--made of antique lace, beads and embroidery--appear on new and antique coats in her Dare to Wear line. Most of Aguilo’s work is custom, but ready-to-wear jackets ($600 to $1,500) of silk, suede, cashmere and other materials can be found at (or ordered through) H. Lorenzo on Sunset Boulevard, Ambience in San Pedro and the Shoe and Clothing Connection in Encino.
