A Royal Cover-Up
The Royals may have been horrified by the London Daily Mirror’s photo of Princess Diana pumping iron. But L.A. fitness and fashion maven Gilda Marx was thrilled.
The designer recognized Di’s splashy thong leotard as one of her own--style No. 2446 from the Caribbean Watercolors collection ($32 at Nordstrom, Bullock’s, Robinsons-May).
“I couldn’t be sure when I saw it on TV,” she said. What nailed the ID was a copy of the paper, Fed-Exed from England.
“I knew it was mine from the way it covered her bust and under her arms. She has a long torso, and her choice of fabric--a nylon Lycra that stretches vertically and horizontally--is good for a woman her height.”
Marx, who taught aerobics to Jane Fonda and Barbra Streisand in the ‘70s, sympathizes with celebrities who prefer to build their pecs in private: “I wasn’t happy Princess Di was caught in that position in the health club,” she said. “But how much more awful it would have been if she’d been wearing something that exposed more of her.”
Chanel, Ma Belle: For just a moment, standing on the balcony at the Chanel store opening in Beverly Hills last week, it felt like the ‘80s. Lights twinkled along Rodeo Drive, diamonds twinkled on well-to-do guests, chilly weather made it seem OK to pull out the fur coats. Even the evening’s Good Cause--the American Film Institute, represented by Paramount Pictures’ Sherry Lansing--was glamorous. And the parade of fashion--well, we thought it would never end. One family dressed for the occasion in head-to-toe Chanel. (Shame on us for making our daughters go without those darling Chanel Mary Janes.) One brave woman defied convention and wore red to the party, while a radiant Faye Dunaway dressed in winter white. Roseanna Arquette wore a long dress--oh, and a very sour expression.
Dreams Do Come True: Imagine that special guy in your life dressed up for the holidays in Jay Leno’s hand-me-downs. Go ahead. Well, it doesn’t have to stay a fantasy. Resale doyenne Joyce Brock and retail macher Fred Hayman have just cut a deal whereby the “Tonight” host’s once-worn Italian suits wind up at Brock’s Westchester store, called The Place, for 75% off the original price. The suits in Leno’s on-air, Hayman-supplied wardrobe are 44 longs and would normally cost as much as $1,800. Brock’s foray into menswear isn’t limited to Leno wear. She will also sell suits worn by many of Fred Hayman’s other celebrity clients, including (be still our beating heart) Pat Sajak.
Does Anybody Still Pay Retail?: Speaking of bargains, Giorgio Armani is the latest designer to hop on the outlet bandwagon. The first Giorgio Armani General store opened last week in a Vermont outlet center, reports Women’s Wear Daily, and features merchandise from Giorgio Armani, Emporio and A/X collections at 35% to 60% off regular prices. Let’s see, can we justify a flight back East to do some bargain shopping?
Stress and the Glamorous Life: Superstar hairdresser Oribe, who has done hair for the fashion shows of designers such as Gianni Versace and Karl Lagerfeld, has entered a treatment program for drug abuse. The 37-year-old checked into an undisclosed clinic last week, according to his representative, Chen Sam. Sam’s news release Monday included statements of support for Oribe from super-model Linda Evangelista, fashion photographer Francesco Scavullo and Vogue fashion editor Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele.
Diet Secrets of the Stars: It didn’t take two hourlong shows for Oprah Winfrey to reveal her latest weight-loss strategy. We got it in three words: “My chef Rosie.” Rosie, we’d like you to meet our chef, Ronald McDonald. He turns a carful of snarling, unkempt children into quiet angels for less than $10. Too sophisticated to order anything for ourselves, we have to make do with french fry handouts and half-eaten Chicken McNuggets at red lights.
Around Town: Singer-turned-author Diana Ross apparently doesn’t get the hang of this book tour thing. The morning of the day La Ross was to appear at Brentano’s in Century City (sight of a recent visit by Margaret Thatcher) to hawk her autobiography, she canceled because of illness, leaving behind thousands of unsigned books and a few hard feelings. “We’ll never sell them now!” wailed one store clerk.
