Going with glamour

Young Chang

Think of the runway outfits that you assumed real people in real

life don’t wear.

Think back to the Emmys and the Oscars and all other

Live-From-The-Red-Carpet- With-Joan-And-Melissa-Rivers- esque events

and remember the pieces you loved and hated.

Think also of Daily Pilot columnist Bruce Cook’s regular society

stories and try to remember the photos that accompany his text.

“Trends go by what our stars and prominent people are wearing,”

said Linda Plunkett, regional director of Nordstrom’s image and

wardrobe consultants for Orange County. “It’s going back to glamour.

It’s soft, feminine fabrics and glamour.”

Which means that Newport-Mesa’s regulars at fund-raisers,

openings, galas, estate parties and luncheons will be donning a lot

of lacy and racy gowns, a lot of strappy and spiky heels, some

cocktail suits and a dash of the stud (as in the studded Fendi and

Chanel bag). The social season begins this month and ends in May.

“I guess, as I get a little bit older, I tend to be just a little

more daring with fashion,” said Newport Beach socialite Eve Kornyei.

Gloria Zigner, creator of the Children’s Hospital of Orange County

Follies, said that women are becoming braver.

“I think that people who really follow fashion regularly, I think

if they can wear those very slinky Badgley Mishka dresses and the

Escada dresses, I think that’s what they’re going to be wearing,”

Zigner said.

But remember, for a moment, that Newport-Mesa isn’t exactly Fifth

Avenue. Brave and daring won’t necessarily mean all that much skin or

even controversy.

Catherine Thyen, a Newport Beach resident active with the Orange

County Performing Arts Center and other area arts groups, concedes

that our neck of the woods might be a tad more conservative.

“I don’t think you’d find the Melrose Avenue look here in Orange

County,” she said.

So what does all this mean?

Thyen will be wearing Richard Tyler, Armani and Donna Karan --

designers hailed for the beauty and quality of their style, but also

known less for outrageousness and drama than labels like Versace and

Dolce and Gabbana.

Kornyei will wear Cynthia Row, Charles Chang Lima and a mix of

Chanel, Celine and Christian Dior for purses.

Zigner will stand by the perennial Judith Lieber bag for evenings.

Two of the most exciting society events this year will likely be

the Eclectic Orange Festival’s equestrian ballet show Theatre Zingaro

and South Coast Repertory’s gala on Saturday to celebrate its

$20-million expansion.

For Zingaro, Thyen will step into the spirit of the night in a

fringed leather jacket, a multi-colored gypsy skirt she scooped up in

Idaho and dangling earrings.

For SCR’s Light the Night Gala on Saturday, Zigner plans to wear a

“pretty unusual” green and gold caftan which she bought a month ago

in Morocco.

“Because it’s gorgeous and it’s different,” she said. “And I

probably will not see anybody in anything like it.”

Kornyei has her Zingaro number all ready too.

“It’s a black lace, three-piece evening gown by Charles Chang Lima

and it’s beautiful,” she said. “It reminds you of Spain.”

Her finishing touch? A black leather rose from Chanel.

Kornyei likes black. It’s good for both evening and day, it

“travels” well the whole day and it always looks classic, she said.

Other favorites of this socialite include clean and simple lines,

little jewelry except for pearl strands with long black gowns at

night, and the seasonal browns and creams.

“And for luncheons, I love black pantsuits, or cream pantsuits. Or

brown,” Kornyei said.

Zigner said chocolate browns are coming back, as are maroons.

“Another trend that’s very hot now are very fancy tops -- blouses

that are very interesting and very detailed and very unique,” she

said. “In fact, somebody told me she was looking at a blouse the

other day. It was Yves Saint Laurent and it was $1,200.”

Plunkett agrees with the resurgence of detailing, but emphasizes

more the prominence of glamour.

“Before you would see dresses that were a little more sedate and

plain black dresses,” the personal shopper said. “Now you’re seeing

color and embroidery and beading. You’re seeing more-high fashion

styles and you’re seeing more trains.”

Thyen’s recommendation for upcoming black-tie galas falls in line

with Plunkett’s predictions. To something like a Hoag Hospital event,

she said she would wear a Badgley Mishka beaded gown that has a

scooped neck, a bodice adorned to the waistline with beads and short,

capped sleeves.

Suits are also more fun this season and in line with what Plunkett

calls “cocktail suiting.” Involved are some very pretty and fine

fabrics, maybe some beads, a fur trim or brocade.

When it comes to shoes, strappy is still very in as are the

stacked heels and boots.

“Shoes are going to be very exciting,” Thyen said. “Especially

with the opening of Jimmy Choo [at South Coast Plaza.] Boots I think

are going to continue to be very popular too. Very beautiful, spiky

boots.”

Kornyei mentioned one pair of shoes she calls the “gladiator

shoe.” They have straps that go all the way up to the knee and rest

on black, high heels.

“No, I don’t own one,” she said. “But I did try them on and I did

get a kick out of it.”

When asked if there are any across-the-board fashion don’ts, all

four of our fashion gurus agreed that anything usually goes in the

world of fashion. Kornyei noted also that the most fashionable divas

are confident, don’t listen to others’ fashion orders and are

comfortable in what they’re wearing.

“But one of the things I would say is, don’t leave home without

looking in the three-way mirror,” Zigner said.