RUNWAY TO REALITY : Designers Fall All Over Plaid

Fall ’91 designer collections are arriving in local stores, and every top name in the business is shipping a plaid suit.

Italy’s Valentino, who shows his collections in Paris, uses brilliant quilted silk fabric for his version. One colorful option in violet, turquoise and white plaid sells for $3,645. It will be at the Valentino boutique in Beverly Hills this fall. He pairs it with updated ethnic jewelry--a mix of silver and semiprecious stones--that will also be at the boutique.

Los Angeles designer Mark Eisen’s bold and brightly colored plaid suit in hot pink, orange and purple mohair catches the spirit too. His suit has covered buttons edged in gold and sells for $750. The jacket is $527; the skirt, $175. The pieces will be available at I. Magnin this month. Shaya in Glendale and Lael’s in La Jolla will also carry the suit.

To get the updated ethnic jewelry look worn by Eisen’s model, check out Pier 1 Imports citywide. The necklaces pictured are less than $10 each.