A Spiffy Address
No one wore black and none of the men sported pony tails Tuesday night. But it was still one of the most fashionable events in town--the unmasking of the recently restored Bradbury Building. The turn-of-the-century structure is a National Historic Landmark at 3rd Street and Broadway downtown. Few would guess that above the street-level Bridal City would be one of the city’s--some say the nation’s--most beautiful architectural treasures. Now that developer Ira Yellin has sprung for a $6-million renovation and $2.4 million in seismic upgrades, the edifice has reopened for office business. The first tenant? State Treasurer Kathleen Brown.
THE LIZ NO SHOW: The Elizabeth Taylor show did not go on as planned Thursday at Robinson’s Del Amo store. New health problems, widely reported earlier this week, forced her to cancel her appearance. Taylor has been on a nationwide tour promoting her latest perfume, White Diamonds. She was supposed to attend a tea at the store for the first 100 fans to purchase a bottle of the scent. The event will be rescheduled within the next few weeks, according to a store spokesperson. Taylor is expected to resume her promotion tour after her Oct. 6 wedding to Larry Fortensky. So far, her appearance at Macy’s San Francisco on Oct. 11 is still on the books.
NO WAY: Everyone was all atwitter at the Ultimo boutique in Chicago last week. They thought they were seeing the dress for the wedding that never was. Los Angeles designer Richard Tyler was showing his collection, and when a voluminous white peau de soie wedding gown appeared, fashion wags were sure it was the ill-fated frock he designed for Julia Roberts, who left Kiefer Sutherland at the altar. Tyler says no. “Everybody thought it was hers, but it’s not,” he insists. Roberts’ gown, finished and paid for, is still in his design studio.
CUSTOM-BLENDED JEWELRY: Madeleine Gallay threw a party in her Sunset Plaza boutique last week and tucked away all the designer suits, dresses, hats and shoes under black netting. She wanted everyone to focus on her new treasures--delicate, hand-made jewelry by Reinstein / Ross. This is the first West Coast address for the duo, who have two stores in New York and one in Tokyo. Their claims to fame are unusual gems set in special shades of gold, including peach, apricot and chartreuse. Designer Susan Reinstein says they blend with skin tones, rather than create “a shocking contrast” to them. Prices range from $350 for a gold wedding band to $45,000 for the unique “Winter Sky” bracelet--which Ross, the team’s gem expert, calculates is encrusted with “80-something fancy-colored sapphires.”
ENGLISH GARDENS: Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, did more than tour Disneyland on her visit to California this month. She also shopped at Fred Segal on Melrose and came away with an outfit husband Andrew, the navy pilot, should like. Fergie purchased a jacket from the Desert Flower line of camouflage wear covered with silky blooms by Los Angeles designer Rachel London. She also took home a pair of recycled, cutoff jeans, newly flower-strewn by London--to wear with the jacket presumably, and look like a human flower bed.
