Checking Out the Stars’, Uh, Body of Work

When we finally got a look at the long-awaited “Ready to Wear (Pret-a-Porter)” Tuesday night we found the fashion less impressive than all the bodies on display. And we’re not talking about Robert Altman’s much-publicized naked fashion show. (If you’ve seen one skinny naked runway model, you’ve seen them all.) Far more fascinating was the sight of Tracey Ullman in a black G-string (a little cellulite on the buns, but a nice flat stomach). Sally Kellerman baring her surprisingly girlish breasts. And Sophia Loren’s age-defyingly taut thighs. As Stephen Rea’s lecherous fashion photographer character says, “I’m sick of all those models and their implants!” Yeah.

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Moss Is Boss: It wasn’t the Mossimo store opening in Old Town Pasadena as much as an opportunity to trade quips with designer Mossimo Giannulli himself that drew hundreds of teen-agers--as well as “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” star Chad Allen, House of Pain’s Danny Boy and John Tempesta of White Zombie fame--over the weekend. Apparently Moss sightings are as rare as the West Coast designer’s clothing stores. (This is only the second in as many years.) The line for autographs started to form a good hour before his arrival.

“I feel like an idiot . . . but to achieve a certain level as a company, this kind of thing sort of has to happen,” said Mossimo, three hours later crouched on the floor after signing his name for the 500th time. The store itself is a three-level airy maze of cubicles rising from weathered barn-wood floors. The idea, said the designer, was to create “an aggressive, soulful, whimsical, fun and contemporary” clothing shop that appears as if it grew from the remnants of something else. And indeed it did. The 5,000-square-foot space is housed in the One Colorado building, built sometime around the turn of the century and former home to a Salvation Army store.

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Bell Bottom Blues: The words museum curator aren’t ones we’d normally associate with designer Stephen Sprouse, the guy who brought back neon and dressed rock stars Axl Rose, Debbie Harry and Mick Jagger. But officials at the Cleveland, Ohio, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced this week that Sprouse has signed on as creative fashion consultant. He’ll be in charge of the museum’s costume installations and will help create mannequins that depict rock ‘n’ roll attitude, gestures and style. Hmm, like retching on stage? Guess we’ll find out when the museum opens next September.

* Inside Out is published Thursdays.