The Crowd -- B.W. Cook

Whoever said that “looks are not important” does not have a connection

to the Sophisticates supporting the Assessment Treatment Services Center.

Last week, more than 600 guests filled the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency

Hotel in Irvine, for the spring fashion show fund-raiser presided over by

Newport fashion maven Barbara Magness.

Looks were, quite simply, everything. Superficial or not, the women

attending the $125 per person fashion luncheon dazzled. Magness,

president of the Sophisticates, chose a very tailored and trim, ice blue

suit that shimmered under the Hyatt lights as she welcomed the adoring

crush.

Husband Jay Magness supported his bride, along with a larger than

usual contingent of men in the audience. Gentlemen have discovered the

annual event as a proper plan to lend their support, both in terms of

physical presence and financial assistance. It is most definitely a

“lookers” paradise.

The extravaganza was chaired by Nancy Lynn Olson, a tall blond who

wore tightfitting, painted white denim and heels, and Debbie Schweickert,

a classy brunet in black linen. Schweickert thanked her husband, David

Schweickert, and his company Streamline Mortgage for underwriting the

affair, making the audience sigh during the romantic moment.

David Schweickert was sitting at a table directly at the tip of the

fashion catwalk. He was joined by the very glam Pilar Wayne and her

husband Jesse Upchurch. Pilar wore a black and white wide brim hat large

enough to shade most of Eastside Costa Mesa. How can you not love a woman

in a big hat?

John Wayne’s beautiful daughter, Aissa, joined her mother and her new

husband Rick Robinson for the afternoon, along with Sophisticates Grace

Thelen, Tora Brown, Renae Fladeboe, Cheryl Johnstone, Cindy Jones, Carol

Pontremoli, Mary Pon and Carleen Breenan.

Newport charity doyenne Peggy Goldwater Clay joined the luncheon buzz

talking politics and life at her ringside table with Darby Manclark,

Sarah Corrigan, Sally Crockett, Eve Kornyei and Leslie Cancillieri.

Pretty Sandy Daniels supported the affair, along with her sophisticated

tall blond cousin Jean Moriarty and her good friend Deborah Mars, a

multitalented East Coast transplant who designs and manufactures

spectacular jewelry.

Nordstrom out did themselves with a fashion show worthy of the New

York runway. Major support for the Sophisticates event came from Mercedes

Benz of North America and Nora Hester attending the show with her

daughter, Marilyn Gianulias and granddaughter, Cristin. Stan Hanson of

Corona del Mar and Laurie Woodruff also supported the program.

* THE CROWD appears Thursdays and Saturdays.