What a Coup?
Some events are too fleeting to exploit, even on T-shirts. Within hours of this week’s Moscow coup d’etat , San Diego-based T-shirt manufacturer Pacific Eyes & T’s issued two designs featuring Mikhail Gorbachev. One silk-screened message reads: “Have you seen me?” The other reads, “Soviet Executive Health Plan” and features rifles pointed at the leader’s head. After the coup crumbled, the company updated the flip side of the shirts, adding: “Gorby’s Back.” They were selling for $14.99 at the company’s Sherman Oaks Fashion Square store. “We didn’t see it as a major event, but we didn’t think it would be over this fast. Even the Noriega thing lasted a week,” says Dale Weston, the company’s advertising director.
DI RULES THE WAVES: British bathing beauties have been clamoring for the swimsuit Princess Diana was photographed wearing on a family cruise this month. The frenzy is over a turquoise and gold print, two-piece suit with a bandeau top and a V-wrap bottom. It was designed by Amy Price of the Oregon-based Jantzen, for cruise ‘91, and is no longer manufactured. According to Ron Gustaff, international director for Jantzen’s European operations, the suit is one of more than a dozen that the princess ordered. The royal basker returned those she didn’t want and paid for the suits (about $134 each in Britain) that she kept, Gustaff said.
* THE COMMERCIAL’S IN THE MAIL: You might find a videocassette of Spellbound in your mail this week. It’s a three-minute commercial about a new perfume. Estee Lauder and Robinson’s are shipping the tape--along with a scent strip and mail-order form--to several thousand women as part of an ad campaign. Cassettes will also be attached to some September issues of Elle magazine. “The trend in fragrance is away from florals, back toward exotics,” company executive Evelyn Lauder says of the new Spellbound scent of jasmine, tuberose and spices. And which perfume is she wearing this summer? “None,” she said. “My doctor forbids it.” Lauder, who is allergic to bee stings, was advised by her doctor to avoid scents, flower-print dresses and the color yellow until fall.
* VIDEO VIXENS: Dancer/choreographer Christy Curtis recently unveiled a new workout video, “Cardio-Choreography,” featuring the Los Angeles Laker Girls. Coincidentally, Curtis is Lakers’ owner Jerry Buss’ daughter-in-law and her husband, Johnny, is the video producer. The low-impact video workout is available for $29.95 by calling (800) 622-6212. Cher is also joining the ranks of mistresses of discipline. Her workout video is scheduled to debut in September. Listen has heard that spinoff merchandise may include a line of aerobic/dance/show-off-your tattoo clothes.
* BIG MACKIE ATTACK: Eileen Ford’s “Supermodel of the World” was telecast last Saturday night. Gracing some of the luminaries were 16 glitter gowns that Bob Mackie loaned to the event. Model Rachel Hunter, the evening’s hostess, picked a white fringed and beaded flapper dress, quickly became very attached to it and wanted to take it home. Lee W. Moore the show’s stylist quoted her the price. Without batting an eyelash, Hunter scribbled a check--for $10,000.
