BELLA FIGURA!
What do funny man Steve Martin, Oscar winner Jodie Foster, movie beauty Michelle Pfeiffer and legendary Sophia Loren have in common? They are all major devotees of fashion icon Giorgio Armani.
And all of them turned up in Bev Hills the other night to celebrate the designer’s impressive career and help inaugurate him into the new Walk of Style. Other A-listers in attendance included Christian Slater, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Debra Messing.
I’d love to report a few fashion flops, but even normally reliable risk-takers came in GA, so there weren’t any. For those haunted by the back pages of US Weekly, this was a very, very safe place to be.
Sure, there’s racy Versace with its sexy rock ‘n’ roll chic, as well as those fabulous new kids like Elie Saab and Narciso Rodriguez, but for the ultimate in timeless elegance, no designer is more loved than the man from Milan.
Famous fans and friends expressed their appreciation in various ways. Martin was born to be mild in his simple black suit, Loren was glammed to the max in a low-cut chiffon gown and Pfeiffer sparkled in a black and white beaded shift. As for the honoree, he wore basic black slacks and a tight-fitting T-shirt revealing his well-toned biceps.
Ahhh, like a bridge over troubled waters, there’s nothing like Armani to make us all feel better about ourselves and certainly more secure.
“If Mr. Armani could design clothes for everyone in the world,” Martin quipped, “we would no longer have wars, just events.” Bravo!
DUSTIN TIME
He may be busy with four upcoming films, but that isn’t stopping Dustin Hoffman from helping out with an ambitious fundraising campaign for the Madison Project.
The project will bring a brand new (and badly needed) performing arts center to the Westside. The cool and ultramodern 500-seat theater will be conveniently located on the campus of Santa Monica College.
And btw, if you happened to be on campus back when they were burning rubber in Bel-Airs, you may have encountered young Hoffman, who took his first drama classes at SMC in 1956. (Who knew?)
Earlier this summer, Hoffman joined Project Director Dale Franzen for an intimate little garden party to thank donors for their ongoing support and helping the project raise $8 million.
After sipping a little bubbly and snacking on fresh grilled asparagus, cucumber sandwiches and chicken satay, Hoffman graced a makeshift stage with actress Zooey Deschanel and delighted the group with readings of “Sure Thing” by David Ives and “Beyond Therapy” by Christopher Durango. And there should be many more memorable performances to come. The Madison Project is expected to break ground in spring 2004.