New Emporium Is a Real Shot in the Armani for S. Coast Plaza
Like a parcel fresh out of customs, Emporio Armani arrived at South Coast Plaza from Milan on Saturday night--wrapped, stamped, and begging to be opened.
And a few minutes into the bash that christened the new boutique, guests began to pick at the paper hiding its display windows. Carefully, they peeled away the plain-wrap to gawk at the sartorial style preferred by Tinseltown’s savviest--among them, Billy Crystal, Michelle Pfeiffer and Alec Baldwin.
“Understated elegance,” whispered former Laker coach Pat Riley, eyeing a perfectly cut buff-toned suit. “That’s why I’ve been wearing Giorgio Armani since the ‘70s.”
Also among guests at the splash synonymous with la dolce vita (tons of Italian fare, rivers of wine, endless gelato and a pull-out-the-stops fashion parade) was Henry Segerstrom, managing partner of C. J. Segerstrom & Sons--owner of South Coast Plaza.
“This transports you back to Milan, all right,” said Segerstrom, gazing up at the two-story, terra cotta-toned murals depicting Italian architecture. (Segerstrom attended with his wife, Renee, who wore a pale mushroom couture Armani suit.) “There’s never been anything like this at South Coast Plaza.”
This began with a repast catered by Emporio Express--the eatery that will open at Emporio Armani next month--and ended with a fashion show that saw hundreds of models sporting Armani’s laid-back wear as they skated, motorcycled, bicycled--even surfed (well, they tried) around Jewel Court.
Helping orchestrate the hip happening were Gabriella Forte of Milan--representing Giorgio Armani--and Robert Isabell of New York, the party designer who whips up the ambience at those hot Vanity Fair magazine parties in Manhattan.
What’s the Armani look? “Simple, straightforward, classic, and chic,” said Forte (“Gabby” to nears and dears), vice president of Armani.
And all heart. When the fashion parade ended, the 800 guests were showered with thousands of pale pink silk heart cut-outs.
Also among party-goers was Bobby Shriver (representing the Special Olympics, a beneficiary of the bash along with the Newport Harbor Art Museum and Orangewood); Antonio Cagnolo (owner of Antonello Ristorante at South Coast Plaza Village); Susie and Daniel Hernandez (who know Armani personally. “He’s a little shy,” said Daniel Hernandez, who was decked out in an Armani tux); and Gus and Kathryn Thompson Owen.
The Buzz: Claire Trevor Bren (Oscar winner for “Key Largo”) is holed up at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach. Bren--step-mum of billionaire Donald Bren--has come from New York to attend the nuptials of Bren’s daughter, Ashley, on Sept. 14 in Los Angeles. Claire also plans to attend the “Center of Fashion” show staged by the Guilds of the Performing Arts Center in Segerstrom Hall on Sept. 20 with pal Maria Crutcher . . . Kathryn Altman, wife of film director Robert Altman, plans to model fashions by French Rags of Los Angeles at the Hunt Breakfast at Joan Irvine Smith’s Fall Oaks Classic on Sept. 15 . . .
So many parties, so little time: Opera Pacific kicked off its season on Saturday with a poolside dinner at the Westin South Coast Plaza hotel. Afterward, opera buffs honored opera patron Zee Allred at the Center Club. . . Restaurateur Rex Chandler, owner of the Rex at Fashion Island, was presented with the Spirit Award from the local chapter of the Red Cross last week at the Four Seasons hotel in Newport Beach. . . . Kaiser Permanente helped underwrite the performance of George Bernard Shaw’s “Heartbreak House,” now playing at South Coast Repertory. On Friday, first-nighters enjoyed champagne pre-showtime and a post-performance reception staged by SCR’s Theatre Guild. Guests included SCR director Martin Benson, Kaiser Permanente’s Judy White and Gerald McCall, and Performing Arts Center President Thomas Kendrick and his wife, Judy Morr. . . .
Los Angeles Laker Byron Scott held his fifth annual “Challenge for Children” at the Newport Beach Marriott on Friday night. . . . Last week, Giorgio of Beverly Hills (at South Coast Plaza) was the site of a reception for models who will appear in the Center of Fashion at Segerstrom Hall. The models loved the meringue and chocolate mousse cookies whipped up by caterer Linda Goodman of Edible Art. By the way, patrons of the Center of Fashion will be honored on Sept. 15 at a champagne brunch in Peralta Hills underwritten by KPMG Peat Marwick and the Turnip Rose. . . .
Art and Gaye Birtcher staged a reception last week in their San Juan Capistrano home for members of the new Japanese Business Division of United Way. Among guests was Yoshinori Taura--president of Mazda Motors of America--chairman of the new division. . . . A tea to recruit members for the new Pacific Symphony Orchestra League will be held at the home of Alicia Furst in Laguna Hills on Sept. 11. . . . The Irvine Barclay Theatre will celebrate its first anniversary with a trustees gala on Oct. 12 in the theater’s plaza area. . . . Ruby Keeler (star of the original “42nd Street”) is honorary chairwoman of the golf tourney planned for Oct. 7 at Santa Ana Country Club on behalf of Florence Crittenton Services . . .
