Artistic License Plates

The rumors of Michael Jackson’s make-over disappeared with the premiere of his “Black and White” video Thursday. After sending many of Europe’s top designers to the drawing board earlier this year to design a new look, Jackson remained faithful to his L.A. costumers, Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush. They gave him a simple wardrobe that includes black Levi’s and custom-made silk shirts and pants. He wore a protective glove rather than a spangled one and is still pirouetting in black loafers. The only unusual item was a distressed leather jacket covered with chrome-plated bicycle license plates.

* FASHIONABLE ASPIRATIONS: Almost 3,000 rare books and manuscripts have taken over the Yohji Yamamoto Room at Maxfield. They are part of a collection from New York’s Glen Horowitz Bookseller that will be exhibited through Saturday. Included is a $650 first edition of Norman Mailer’s first book, “The Naked and the Dead,” with an accompanying 1948 flyer anointing the book with “terrific cinematic potential.”

* CHANGING TIMES: If you have been searching for a sign that the conspicuous consumption of the ‘80s is over, look no further. Just last week a London Daily Mail columnist noted that Princess Diana did not wear a single new outfit during her recent tour of Canada. And Thursday night for the opening of “For the Boys,” co-star Bette Midler had costume designer Robert Turturice rework the purple velvet gown she wore to this year’s Grammy Awards. “At first I didn’t realize a dress like this could be redesigned. But it was so beautiful and expensive that it seemed like a waste not to wear it again,” said the Divine One.

* DOWN-HOME DRESSING: When ABC “Home” show host Gary Collins began wearing ties and jackets earlier this year instead of his trademark sweaters--and new co-host Beth Ruyak joined up in designer duds--viewer mail began pouring in. “They rejected the dressed-up look,” explains Patti Teague, the show’s spokesperson. On Wednesday, Collins reverted to crew-neck sweater and khaki pants. Ruyak wore a denim jacket and black pants.

* SHOPPING WITH THE BIG GIRLS: There was a gridlock of star power at the Forgotten Woman boutique in Beverly Hills recently. Patti LaBelle, Roseanne Barr Arnold and Julia Child were shopping the large-size clothing store at the same time, says store spokesperson Frank Liberman. Arnold and Oprah Winfrey are the store’s big spenders; each has dropped more than $10,000 in a single shopathon, says Liberman.

* SCARED STICK: Los Angeles artist Katie Freedman may be drawing a gold mine. Her cartoon character, Scared Guy, a shrieking stick figure, first graced a line of ceramics that were bought by Janet Jackson, Diane Keaton and Bruce Willis. Thursday night, Freedman opened Katie, her own retail outlet, in West Hollywood, featuring Scared Guy on jewelery, T-shirts and home accessories.