For Chance and charity

A demure Christina Ricci stood apart from the crowd at Chanel’s Beverly Hills boutique, comparing the scene with a similar gathering in New York. “It’s very different here,” she said. “It is less business-oriented. It’s not as serious.”

The Oct. 17 cocktail party, hosted by Ricci and Chloe Sevigny, launched Chanel’s new fragrance, Chance. In return for their appearances, Chanel donated $5,000 each to the actresses’ favorite charities.

The party was in full swing when two men in black leather jackets adorned with safety pins were stopped by a publicist. “Are you guys guests?” she asked. “No,” said the one wearing dark sunglasses, “we’re with Chloe.” (They were Brain McPeck and Matt McAuley of the New York band A.R.E. Weapons.)

Meanwhile, the actress, looking prim in a purple pantsuit, swanned past the photographers, pausing before each. “They’ve never been to L.A. before,” she said of her friends. “I thought it would be fun ... to discover it with them.” She glanced toward the men, who stood motionless. “They’re having a blast,” Sevigny said. “They’d have a blast anywhere.”