Courage to Change Things He Can

Even the executives of Bullock’s Men’s Store at South Coast Plaza were wondering what happened to Perry Ellis menswear designer Roger Forsythe, scheduled to make a personal appearance and present his fall collection to an SRO crowd last week. But they didn’t need to wait long for an answer. In a blow against the fear and secrecy that has plagued the industry since Tony Lambert, Willi Smith and Perry Ellis himself succumbed to AIDS, Forsythe wrote a dignified letter to his staff, also printed last Friday in the Daily News Record, announcing his HIV-related lymphatic cancer. From a bed at NYU Medical Center, Forsythe composed: “I wanted to come straight out with the news myself and help take the stigma off this disease. In order to live with dignity and self-respect, I have decided to tell my own story to all of you and the press, thereby avoiding rumor and innuendo.” As long as health permits, Forsythe will continue as the company’s design director.

FREE RIDE: The dresses of Los Angeles designer James Tarrantino will be appearing in national advertising campaigns, and all the exposure won’t cost him a dime. The corporate people are footing the bills. Tarrantino’s sister and business partner, Lisa, reports that in the past month, James’ white button-front halter dress was chosen for Jaclyn Smith to wear in a Max Factor magazine ad; a polka-dot dress with a sweetheart neckline was paired with a high-priced Dodge Viper in a TV commercial, and a multicolored dress with a short, full skirt dressed up a Virginia Slims promo.

DESIGNING WOMAN: Lorna Luft designed some of her own costumes for her performances tonight and Saturday at the Hollywood Bowl. At least one of them definitely has a future: a peach-colored dress with strapless top and sarong skirt she wears with a beaded, three-quarter-length coat. The ensemble was created by Luft and stitched up at Trashy Lingerie in Los Angeles. The owners of the shop were so taken with the design that they plan to reproduce it for their customers. Appropriately, it has been dubbed the Lorna Dress.

HORSE POWER: Some big goings-on are going on up the coast this weekend at the Monterey Historic Automobile Races and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, a vintage car show. Last year, Ralph Lauren’s Bugatti Type 57SC won the 1990 Best of Show award at the Concours. This year, Polo/Ralph Lauren is a major sponsor of the races.

SO VAIN: The name of the new men’s fragrance from Chanel says it all: Egoiste. Accompanying a press notice that the commercial would begin airing this week was an hour documentary on the filming of the ad. French film director Jean-Paul Goude shot the spot that features screaming women and a lot of door slamming.

GETTING THE BOOT: When William Hurt, Bryant Gumbel and Gianni Versace go shoe shopping in Los Angeles, they won’t have to look any farther than I. Magnin Beverly Hills. That’s because the store has revamped its 7,000-square-foot men’s department and installed a free-standing To Boot boutique (a favorite of the three celebs). The shop opened on Wednesday, and the shoes sell for $125 to $400.

SMALL PRINT: The price tag isn’t the only thing you may want to read on an Andrew Fezza suit. Starting this fall, every Assets by Andrew Fezza suit or sport jacket will envelop a newsletter inside the breast pocket. The epistle features photos of the collection, various tips on how to look your best and a column called “Reasons for Living.” Says Fezza: “It’s awakened me to discuss my philosophy and ideas with the men who buy my clothes.”