T & A?
I say! Hop across the pond, and you’ll find that T and A means something entirely different than it does here in La La land. To the fashion cognoscenti in Jolly Olde, T and A stands for Turnbull & Asser, makers of those ab-fab pinstriped button-downs and impeccably tailored suits.
No matter what kind of T & A you were expecting, it turned out to be quite the scene the other day when the celebrated clothing maker closed off the streets in Bev Hills for its opening night celebration.
The event looked like a cross between Masterpiece Theater and MTV. Loads of divinely dressed gents mingled with casually clad soap hunks like Kiko Ellsworth and James Hyde. The area was done up like an airy outdoor garden enclosed with towering hedges to block the neighboring store fronts on Brighton Way.
To get everyone in the mood, a piano man played away on a baby grand, while T & A girls made the rounds with flutes of champers as well as wax cones filled with fish and chips.
Nice touch, old chap!
Inside, we admired the store’s new digs with its sweeping staircase, leather wingback chairs and pics of valued T & A fans like Pierce Brosnan, Donald Sutherland and Walter Matthau.
Of course, there was the usual selection of traditional navy blue blazers and maroon ties, but its seems the T & A of old has gone a bit Hollywood. We all admired the very swelligant cashmere cardigans in lighthearted pastels like pale yellow, baby blue and pink, along with racy orange cords and more velvet bellbottoms than you’d find on the set of an Austin Powers flick.
My word!
There were paisley suspenders, bright enamel cufflinks, jumpers in every imaginable color and enough satin robes to make Hugh Hefner weep with envy.
Speaking of robes, T & A’s Simon Hobbs, cutting a fine figure in his electric turquoise shirt, crimson tie and pink rose boutonniere, was eager to give me a little lowdown on the history of the smoking jacket.
“Did you know that originated in Victorian England?” he queried. “After dinner parties, the men would retire for their brandy and cigars. They put these smoking jackets on over their clothes so they wouldn’t smell-and hats too! Can you imagine?” Well, there’s nothing like a little history lesson while you’re enjoying canaps and cocktails.
As for the rather racy additions to the T & A line, he said simply, “Well, this is Los Angeles.”
Righty right, it is indeed!
CALIFORNIA EATING
Granita’s Jennifer Naylor and Spago’s Sherry Yard will be working their culinary magic on the lush grounds of the Ken Roberts Estate this Sunday as part of California Spirit XIX to benefit the American Cancer Society.
The gourmet eat-a-thon is hosted by Wolfgang Puck and Sherry Lansing and will honor Playa Vista President Steve Soboroff. With the top chefs from the city’s top restaurants on board, get ready to tuck in, and don’t forget to leave your diet at the door.