Georgio Armani provides an elegant lunch

It was the most elegant luncheon of the 2003 spring social calendar.

Georgio Armani of South Coast Plaza invited patrons of the Orange

County Museum of Art to a midweek in-store luncheon that was

deserving of a major spread in W magazine.

About 46 guests supporting “Art of Dining,” the annual museum

benefit, converged upon Armani, transformed it into a private salon

for a few fleeting hours on a busy afternoon.

Armani representative Katherine Snodgrass and a very creative

staff placed round tables in a corridor of the boutique creating a

contemporary pallet of cream on cream as the linens, the china and

even the roses blended with the travertine walls and floors of the

architectural space. Folding chairs were draped in quilted cream

satin covers.

The stems of more than four dozen roses were trimmed to 6 inches

and placed in round clear glass bowls surrounded by perfectly cut

bamboo-like grass rods. The stunning centerpieces delighted the crowd

by their beauty and simplicity.

Twyla Martin, major museum patron, stunning in her black Armani

suit, had guests draw table numbers from a glass bowl as they arrived

at the Armani front door. A fascinating approach to avoid the

politically treacherous task of seating nearly 50 powerful women at

the “right tables.” The approach worked brilliantly, and everyone

enjoyed the democratic draw.

Before lunch, the crowd meandered through the boutique sharing a

mid-day glass of champagne and conversation. The Armani Spring

Collection was on display and showcased by exquisite models.

The 2003 Spring Collection is an artistic masterpiece, each

garment a unique creation designed to showcase a woman’s assets. This

Armani line is much more than the classic urban-edged ultra-tailored

look that has made the designer world famous. Armani has pushed the

envelope, using sensuous fabrics and a wider color range for the

season.

Guests were impressed. And to make it even more significant, the

store agreed to donate a percentage of the proceeds from all sales to

the Orange County Museum of Art.

As luncheon was served, Martin addressed the crowd, introducing

plans for this year’s “Art of Dining” extravaganza.

Artist Nathan Oliveira will be the 2003 honoree at Art of Dining

XVI, set to take place June 6 at Pelican Hill Resort in Newport

Coast. The Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach will cater the dinner

under the supervision of executive chef Michel Pieton. The art patron

honoree joining artist Oliveira will be announced shortly, Martin

said.

In years past, David Rockefeller, Eli Broad, Stanley Marcus, Joan

Irvine Smith and Henry Segerstrom have been feted at the annual

museum fund-raiser.

In the audience at the Armani luncheon was Henry Segerstrom’s

wife, Elizabeth, joining Barbara Bowie, Peggy Sprague, Rebecca

McLarand, Olivia Chami, the very chic Ronnie Allumbaugh, Zee Allred,

Barbara Glabman, Donna Phelps and glamorous art patroness Marsha

Anderson, who with husband Darrell maintains residences in Newport

Beach and Paris, France, filled with their own evolving art

collection.

Also in the power crowd were Joan Riach, Irene Mathews with her

friend Mary Hart in from the East Coast, Catherine Thyen, pretty

blond Cynthia Nolet, and gal about town Cerise Feeley showing off a

very soft and sexy new hairdo.

* THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.