Thakoon knocks on L.A.’s door

Thakoon PANICHGUL, the up-and-coming designer from New York, was given a warm L.A. welcome last weekend courtesy of Tracey Ross. The Sunset Plaza boutique owner, who hosted a Thakoon trunk show earlier in the day, took over a roof atop the local offices of Motley Bird, the Australian energy drink, for an intimate dinner.

Between chatting up Jacqui Getty, Rachel Zoe and Kelly Lynch, Panichgul recalled the first stylish woman to make him fall in love with this city: Mrs. Roper.

“I am obsessed,” he said. “I wanted to do a whole collection based on Mrs. Roper. But nobody would buy it.”

It seems the Thailand-born designer was raised on reruns of “Three’s Company.” When he came here at age 11, shortly after immigrating to Omaha, he expected Southern California to be an extension of the Ropers’ condo living room.

There certainly weren’t any caftans at this party. Lynch wore a cheap-chic gray chemise from Arden B. Liz Goldwyn wore a purple dress with zodiac-themed gold embroidery. “Lagerfeld, 1978-82,” she offered. Not that vintage is her only game. Goldwyn was the first to nab one of the “birdie” straw hats with a fan-pleated brim from Panichgul’s stellar shibori- and floral-soaked spring runway show.

But would Mrs. Roper wear it?

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