It’s French for <i> Matador</i>

If she looks like a matador, she could be the French figure skater Surya Bonaly, hoping to win Olympic gold at the games in Albertville, France. For her Feb. 21 choreographed number, inspired by a bullfight she saw last summer, she’ll wear a Christian Lacroix original. The Paris couturier has designed costumes for the American Ballet Theatre in New York City, but this is his first time on ice. His rose-color tulle concoction, with rosebuds sprouting on the sleeves and candy-box bows at the shoulders, is pure Lacroix. W-a-a-y over the top.

* LOOKING GOOD IS THE BEST DEFENSE: Talk-show host Dennis Miller may appear cleanshaven during the week, but last weekend he sported a “Miami Vice”-inspired grow-out while lunching at Louise’s Trattoria in Beverly Hills. Miller wore an olive wool Planet Hollywood bomber jacket, in the company of two blonds dressed in black. The babes were not beefy enough for bodyguards. Glam guards, perhaps?

* MAJOR ROOTS: New York colorist Louis Licari wants new roots--the location kind, that is. The man with the golden touch will open a Beverly Hills satellite of his Madison Avenue Color Group salon this April. Licari, known for the blonding of Kim Basinger, Ellen Barkin, Nick Nolte and Ivana Trump, says he’s tired of making day trips to Los Angeles. The tiny, 1,000-square-foot shop will take new clients “on a referral basis,” notes spokeswoman Susan Valentine. Expect to wait at least three months for an appointment with Licari himself. * POLKA & THE PUMPS: Vanna White, Neil Patrick Harris and Eric Roberts are all walking on air. All three went on shopping sprees at the Reebok Store in Santa Monica and left with all manner of Pumps, the now-classic air-filled shoes. White’s are for walking, Harris’ for basketball, and Roberts’ for cross-training. “House Party” and “House Party II” rappers Kid-N-Play opted for pink and purple polka-dotted aerated running shoes, otherwise know as Funky Ventilators.

* MODERN LIVING: Six weeks after opening in Beverly Hills, Aclime Lifespa has a little black book full of Hollywood clients. Melanie Griffith tried the beauty services, then ordered 15 gift certificates--$275 worth of facials, wraps, massages and lunch--for some of her pals. This is the salon that bears the stamp of architect Michael Graves. He consulted on the salon’s interior and designed the packaging as well as some of the Post-Modern chairs.

* HERE’S THE TAIL: Just when we thought ponytails on men had gone the way of the buffalo, here comes 61-year-old Sean Connery sporting a long, very gray tail in his new movie, “Medicine Man.” And he looks good. This may give this tired trend another jolt of life. But Connery’s own stylist, Alicia Krynskycq of Riley’s on Sunset Boulevard, tells Listen that it took multiple hairpieces and a year of natural growth to achieve the look. And as soon as the film was over, Connery had it buzzed off.

* ENGRAVED IMAGES: Closer observers of Connery’s latest flick may have caught sight of Bucky, a parrot who sings opera and imitates his owner, jewelry designer Lee Brevard. With such talent, it’s no surprise that Bucky is now in the movies. Well, sort of. His image is carved on the gold-coin necklace that Lorraine Bracco wears throughout the film. Bucky gold-coin earrings are available at Neiman Marcus, and in a few weeks there will be necklaces too, Brevard says. Some people might call them “Medicine Man” necklaces, but not Brevard--or Bucky.