This Probably Wouldn’t Work for No. 2 Pencils

If anyone can make a pen look sexy, it’s Helmut Newton, master of the erotic black-and-white photograph. The artist was recently commissioned by Montblanc to explore the theme of passion and soul . . . and pens.

The result is a series of eight steamy shots of a woman writing on the bare skin of another, meant to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Meisterstuck pen. Those who are easily offended take note: Although both models are female and nude, they are not depicting a homosexual relationship, according to the exhaustive Q&A; press release. One model is intended to represent “passion” and the other “soul.”

Glad we cleared that up.

Newton’s vision was inspired by the Japanese “pillow book” story, in which a courtesan writes poetry on her lover’s body.

The photographs, on view through Thursday at the Beverly Hills Montblanc boutique, are intended to inspire a purchase, of course, but not of a pen. Newton is helping to hawk Montblanc’s version of the compulsory millennial luxury gift: a limited edition (only 75 created) Meisterstuck Chronograph 18-carat gold watch with twelve diamonds for the hours. Each $22,000 timepiece comes with a numbered “I Love You” print signed by Newton.

The pen, by the way, is included free.

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The hosts of Flaunt magazine’s first anniversary party last week at the oh-so-hip Sunset Room in Hollywood may have stumbled on a new combo: cosmetics and cosmopolitans.

MAC cosmetics, one of the evening’s sponsors, employed cigarette girls to hand out lipsticks to party-goers--male and female. After the tray-toting girls passed out more than 600 tubes of luscious Del Rio, Vinyl and Rocker shades, there wasn’t a dry lip in the place.

The Sunset Room, by the way, is fabulous. Wandering from the circular dance floor through a fishtank-lined corridor into a secret bar and outside onto a hidden patio with private tented tables, we felt like Alice down the rabbit hole.

Or maybe that was cosmopolitan No. 3 talking.

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Anyone planning to cut a rug this holiday season may benefit from a refresher course, and now there’s a Web site that can help. Fine tune your boogie-woogie at https://www.bustamove.com (don’t ya just love it?). The site teaches dance moves in salsa, East and West Coast swing, waltz, foxtrot and more, with animated video clips accompanied by the appropriate music. The basic moves are free.

Thereafter, it costs a buck a move to bust a move.

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Guys, don’t put those wallets away just yet. Women today may think they’re liberated, but they still expect you to foot the bill on the all-important first date.

So say the members of Match.com (https://www.match.com), an online matchmaking service with more than 2.5 million members. A recent online poll indicated that 70% of women will still expect the man to pay for the first date in the new millennium.

And, for those feeling anxious about not having a date for this New Year’s Eve, you’re not alone--54% of those polled are feeling more pressure this year than in years past to find one for the big night.

Sure, most people plan to stay in. But who wants to sit home alone?

Booth Moore can be reached at booth.moore@latimes.com.