Starry, Starry Night
Donna Karan was seeing stars last night--and one had her name on it. Known for luxurious, no-nonsense designs, Karan is the first of 10 “creative spirits” to see her name in bronze in the motor court of I. Magnin’s landmark store on Wilshire Boulevard. According to her friend and publicity director, Patti Cohen, the designer wasn’t certain what would happen during the ceremony. She even thought she might have to put her hand in cement. She didn’t. First her fall collection was shown to an appreciative audience, which included members of the charitable group SHARE. Then Karan’s star, already in place, was unveiled by actress Swoosie Kurtz.
* LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND BEAUTIFUL: It was a high-fashion Labor Day weekend at the Canyon Ranch spa in Tucson. Supermodels Christy Turlington and Naomi Campbell were getting in shape in funk aerobics classes and on mountain hikes. The better to squeeze into those itsy-bitsy outfits they’ll model at the designer collections this fall. Just as they were leaving, photographer Annie Leibovitz arrived for more of the same. She goes for the early morning mountain hikes through the desert.
* VERY HOT TO SHOP: A lookie-loo casually strolled into the Giorgio boutique on Rodeo Drive one morning before the store’s 10 a.m. opening--but what a lookie-loo. The store had opened early for a private press breakfast to unveil its new handbags. As the fashion and beauty editors were sipping mango juice with mint sprigs, who should walk in but CNN talk-show meister Larry King. He admired two of the Italian leather bags, suddenly realized he was at the right place at the wrong time, and said he’d return later to buy them and have them mailed to friends.
* TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING: Giorgio Armani is scoring a double-hitter here this week, opening his first West Coast Emporio shop at South Coast Plaza as well as a men’s and a women’s boutique for his pricier signature collections at Neiman Marcus. It was a star-studded scene at the Beverly Hills Neiman’s store for the opening of the women’s boutique Wednesday night; Teri Garr, Martin Short, Don Johnson and Jerry Bruckheimer attended. Down South Coast way they’re putting a youthful spin on the partying. Drena De Niro, actor Robert’s deejay daughter, will take charge of the canned music segment of the Emporio party Saturday night--an invitation-only event. And the models will be local kids on skates plucked from the malls and beaches just a stone’s throw from the swanky mall.
* JAMMIN’ WITH THE HOMEBOYS: Dave Rochlen, a former Santa Monica lifeguard who once appeared on the cover of Life magazine and now owns Honolulu-based Surfline Hawaii, is launching a line of printed sportswear for men and women to remind him of the good ole days. Rochlen’s retro-inspired collection will include prints taken from his Santa Monica High School yearbook as well as stills from his outings with beach buddies Peter Lawford and James Arness. The collection will be available in Rochlen’s new store, Jams World, scheduled to open on Main Street in early October.
* CHARITY LAGS AT HOME: Some European designers, including Christian Lacroix, Karl Lagerfeld, Gianni Versace, Giorgio Armani, Sonia Rykiel and Yves Saint Laurent, are in the lead; New York designers, including Bill Blass, Donna Karan, Louis Dell’Olio, Isaac Mizrahi and Bill Robinson, are moving up fast; but only a few of the California crew, including Harriet Selwyn, Holly Harp and Patti Cappalli, are shoring up third place. All have contributed merchandise to Divine Design, a Sept. 29 mega-auction to benefit Project Angel Food. For information on how to give, go or participate, call (213) 289-0105.
* ORIENT TRESSES: If the voice at the other end of the phone answers, “Allen Edwards Tokyo,” it could be the right place. He’s just opened a salon there, the first of six. Stylists speak English, and haircut prices average $70. But the place sounds more Tokyo high tech than Beverly Hills glitz. Word processors, fax machines and a newsstand are part of the decor, Edwards says.
* AQUA JOCKEYS: A nonprofit conservation group in Hawaii recently staged its first underwater cleanup of the surfer’s mecca--Waimea Bay. Cans and bottles topped the list of offensive finds, but in third place was underwear, lots of underwear, most of it men’s. “It’s kind of strange. I don’t know what’s going on out there,” said Henry Holthaus, one of the volunteer divers.
