B.W. COOK -- The Look

‘Tis the season to be jolly -- the time of year to gather as friends

and celebrate.

The winter season on the Orange Coast is nothing short of party

central. The mood is upbeat. The outlook is positive. The Look cam was

invited in this week to one of the long-standing traditional holiday open

house celebrations in Newport Beach, hosted by Pat and Carl Neisser,

community activists for the past three decades in Orange County.

The Neissers support every imaginable charity, civic and cultural

endeavor in the region, with emphasis going to the arts and international

relations with respect to Orange Countybusiness and society.

Their holiday party is attended by hundreds of similar-minded

residents who believe in strong community ties.

As for holiday style, we caught up with some Orange County movers and

shakers to see just what was the appropriate holiday mode of dress for

the Neisser affair.

1. Twyla Martin, one of the best dressed social hostesses on the

Orange Coast, wears a pantsuit by Escada in sapphire blue and black. Her

shoes are by Stuart Weitzman, and the coat is very fine sheared ranch

mink designed by Michael Kors for Neiman Marcus. Chuck Martin wears a

classic gent uniform, a blue blazer and gray slacks. Martin’s clothes

come from Brioni, purchased at Bernini in South Coast Plaza.

2. A St. John crushed velvet suit is the choice of attire for hostess

Pat Neisser. She wears exquisite retro diamond, onyx and crystal jewelry

to complement the suit. Carl Neisser shows off his seasonal red

ultra-suede blazer, made by their personal Hong Kong tailor. A Christmas

tie by Nicole Miller accents his look.

3. State official and community activist Marian Bergeson wears a very

smart tailored holiday suit in multicolored plaid by Carlisle, accented

with velvet trim. Garth Bergeson also is classically dressed in a blue

blazer and gray slacks with an open collar.

4. One of the best dressed ladies on the Southern Californiascene is

Mary Dell Barkouras. She is radiant in a red suit sprinkled with black

velvet bows by Nora Martin from Palm Desert’s El Paseo fashion district.

Mary Dell’s handbag is a red rhinestone heart by Katherine Bauman, a

Judith Leiber competitor. Her beau, Tom Johnston, is equally

splendiferous, sartorially speaking. His hand-tailored cashmere blazer is

dark gray with a faint blue plaid accent. It also comes from a special

Hong Kong tailor.

5. This handsome political couple just returned from New York, full of

holiday cheer left over from the Big Apple Christmas experience. Nancy

Wilson, wife of county Supervisor Tom Wilson, wears a tailored and

classic black and cream suit from a non-designer label. Tom Wilson wears

a suit by Joseph Aboud purchased at Nordstrom, worn with a Christmas tie

he found in New York City.

6. Jerry and Bobbi Dauderman are very active in community circles

supporting intellectual, scientific and artistic pursuits. Bobbi

Dauderman shuns the conventional label look in favor of her own personal

style. Her cream-colored knit pantsuit is mixed with a burgundy silk

pleated scarf from another dress, worn to match her burgundy patent

leather square toe pumps for the season. Her jewelry is international.

The earrings are from Morocco, and the bracelet is from Iran. Jerry

Dauderman wears a red cashmere sweater buttoned at the collar under a

fine tailored blazer by Ermenegildo Zegna.