Monday was a beautiful day in New York
West 11th and Hudson. Sunday at 5:30 PM. Photo: JH.
I got an email in the morning canceling an opening reception of Donald Trump’s new full-floor penthouses at the new Trump Park Avenue (the entirely renovated old Delmonico’s Hotel) because they’re expecting Hurricane Jeanne to come along and get in everyone’s way. Or at least get everyone’s tooties a little wet. We won’t get into what it could do to Mr. Trump’s famous tonsorial enterprise.

Mr. Trump and “members of his marketing team” will be giving individual tours of these penthouses varying in size from 4000 square feet (the bach pad natch) to 7000 square feet, or more and ranging in price from $12 million to $30 million. Solid oak wood floors, gorjuss marble, polished nickel hardware, finely crafted crown moldings, gourmet kitchens, state of the art security, high-tech wiring, plus the amenities of a first class hotel if you don’t feel like using your state-of-the-art kitchen (and who does these days, you should ask in this land of take-out dining). So, all of us working stiffs who can see and write about it and couldn’t afford it in our wildest dreams can eat our hearts out over it next Monday, October 4th instead. Mother Nature permitting.
The Donald and Melania Knauss
I was thinking, going over that paragraph, that I don’t write about Donald Trump very much. I don’t know if I ever have. What can I say that hasn’t been said? He may be New York’s most famous New Yorker in the world. I know it’s arguable. There’s another Trump close behind in that department – the one who used to be the Ginger to his Fred, if you catch my drift.

Howbeit, Donald Trump certainly doesn’t need any more publicity, being the ace he is at getting it for himself. And he’s ubiquitous, along with his beautiful fiancée Melania (and up close, just like in the pictures, she is beautiful). You see him out all the time, at all kinds of things — openings, restaurants, athletic games, fashion shows. He’s always well turned out, looking just slightly this side of harrumph-y for a young guy, well-tailored suit, shiny silver or yellow tie, with that good-boy kinda-scowl and the Trump tresses well set. You can see his face and figure any day of the week on the banner with a big “You’re Fired!” suspended across the top of the entrance to his gold Trump Tower right next to Tiffany on Fifth Avenue. And you can see his buildings everywhere, all over town, up the avenues, along the rivers, overlooking the parks. He’s The Donald, as the former Mrs. dubbed him, God love him, and he made it here, just like the song says, and so he’s made it anywhere.

It didn’t rain in New York yesterday, however, as I noted, and I went down to lunch at ... guess where ...? Michael’s. You get the gold star. It was its old self buzzing and busy self with its roster of the Who’s and Whom’s, which included Herb Allen III, Phil Geier, Peter Brown, John Mack Carter, Frank Gifford, Jane Hartley, David Hirshey, Caroline Miller, Jack Myers, Frank Newman, Chuck Pfeifer (who started out his adult life – post-Viet Nam – as the Marlboro man), Hamilton South, Bobby Zarem who was lunching with Lynn Wasserman, Joe Armstrong, Joe Califano, Sara Nelson, Gil Schwartz, Francine LeFrak who was lunching with Cynthia Tsai. If you don’t recognize the names, that’s okay, they do; and that’s what New York is all about. Me, I was sitting across the table from the lady in the pictures, taken by me with the Digital.

I’ve seen Zandra Rhodes before and I’d venture so have millions of others. Somewhere, maybe on television, definitely in the magazines. And you remember her too, right? The hair. The Donald has nothing on Zandra Rhodes.

But I’ve never met her before and therefore never had a conversation until yesterday when we were introduced by our mutual friend Marge Rubin (the DivorceSource lady you may have read about here on the NYSD). Rhodes is a British lady, brought up in Kent, with an accent that I couldn’t place, but Henry Higgins surely could. And the exotic plumage aside, quite a sensible, practical lady, she is too.

I asked her who inspired her when she was a kid because let’s face it – you don’t get that look out of nowhere. I was figuring on an answer like Madame Casati, or something. But no. It was her mother whom she described as “very exotic,” who had books around the house with pictures of exotic fashions.

In her teens, she went up to London to study to be a textile designer and when she finished with honors, she decided to become a designer. But everyone thought her textile designs were too far out, so she began making her own clothes. And there you have it. The Sixties came along, the Beatles, Twiggy, Penelope Tree (you’re probably too young to remember them, but they were all Too Too Young themselves, and hence very hot). And Zandra Rhodes with the magenta locks.

She was the first in class and the first on the block. The fashion show as we know it today – especially the Paris shows – started with Ms. Rhodes. In 1972, she was named Designer of the Year by the English Fashion trade and she’s never looked back. She did a book on her career several years ago and I’m going to cover it here in one of these Diaries. And she has started a fashion museum in London near the Tate Gallery. It’s called the Fashion and Textile Museum. It’s on Bermondsey Street, London SE 1. She chose that site because at the time it was one of the less posh areas of London. Art and the architects have changed all that. Her museum was designed by AIA Gold Medal winner Ricardo Legorreta. It is an educational center for fashion and design students, and a repository and place of exhibition for fashion designers around the world. You can recognize it by its exterior which is orange and magenta, with a nod to that old adage – if it works use it.

Nowadays Zandra Rhodes (who was in town for fashion sales week – going on all over the city) lives in London and in Del Mar, California. California because her boyfriend wanted to “retire” there. I mentioned the lovely climate and she said that didn’t matter to her because she didn’t care if it were raining or sunny, warm or freezing cold because she works inside. And she works. In California, she and her boyfriend took a membership in the San Diego Opera and before she knew it she was designing costumes for the Opera. One thing led to another and she’s done several opera costume designs for several opera companies. She’s now designing the costumes for a lesser known Bizet opera that will be performed by the New York City Opera in the Spring. She loves all that.
At the end of our lunch, I pulled out the Digital and while Zandra was looking through her cards for her business card, I took a test shot. Noticing, obviously, the lady who has never had any self-consciousness about putting herself Out There, took off her glasses and shot me a glance as if to say, “do you really have to?” I intuited that she was somewhat shy about having her picture taken (something I can relate to), and so I asked her her birthdate. September 19. “Oh, a self-conscious Virgo,” I said, and she broke out in laughter: The real Zandra Rhodes, before your very eyes.

I asked her about her jewelry, if she designed it. No, all done by Andrew Logan, who’s quite famous in London where on October 22nd he’s having a show “The Alternative Miss World” where he’ll be dressed as the Host (on one side of his face and body, and the Hostess, on the other). For more, go to: http://www.andrewlogan.com/
H & G body painting
Last Thursday night was a busy one in Manhattan. I started out over at Sotheby’s where House & Garden magazine was holding a cocktail reception for their Second Annual Perrier Jouet Fleurtation “Haute Totes” Exhibition. “Haute Totes” are one-of-a-kind champagne carrying cases created by top designers for the champagne’s signature “Fleur de Champagne” – the famous flower bottle designed by Art Nouveau founder Emile Gaille.

The “Totes” are on display through tomorrow, September 29th, at Sotheby’s. Carolyn Sollis, the House & Garden style director, commissioneed eight designers: Harry Allen, Amy Chan, Lulu Guinness, Hable Construction, Kathryn Ireland, Celerie Kemble and Lela Rose, Miles Redd, Randy Ridless and Beth Martell.
The House & Garden team with the eight Haute Totes designers
The “Totes” were/will be purchased at a silent auction and proceeds will benefit charities chosen by each designer. I should be able to tell you the kinds of prices they will/would command, but I have no idea, bearing in mind they are champagne carrying cases designed by top New York designers. Wal-Mart, I don’t think so.

Anyway, I was there briefly, took a few pictures with the Digital, all of which turned out blurry except for one of the new House & Garden publisher Joe Lagani with interior designer Miles Redd (featured in the new House & Garden) and another of a model being body-painted as you watched, with champagne bottle labels. What’ll they think of next, you’re asking?
Carolyn Sollis and Cynthia Frank
Randy Ridless and Beth Martell
Joe Lagani and Miles Redd
Celerie Kemble, Harry Allen, and Lela Rose
Carolyn Sollis, Kathryn Ireland, Lulu Guinness, and Mayer Russ
Joe Lagani and Liz Dueland
Dominique Browning and Robert Rufino
Cynthia Frank and Lulu Guinness
Arnold addresses the crowd at Le Cirque
From Sotheby’s I grabbed a quick cab down to Le Cirque on 50th and Madison where they were holding a book party for Arnold Scaasi, one of America’s most famous fashion designers who has just written his memoir which is aptly (and coyly) called Scaasi, Women I Have Dressed (and Undressed).

Arnold, as he is known to his rafters of friends, famous and famously, drew a celebrated crowd of socialites, celebrities and even his former advertising guru Peter Rogers (see The List) who created that famous ad line: “Me and My Scaasi.”

Arnold is a rather droll character, known to be outspoken – although usually quietly (I said usually) – clever, arch, and determined. Some would call him an entrepreneur in the fields of silks, satins and taffetas. He and his life partner, Parker Ladd, have been prominent on the New York social, literary, fashion and charity scene (it all kind of blends together by the time you get to midtown Manhattan), not to mention the Hamptons, Palm Beach and European scene, for years. Last year, the two men celebrated their fortieth anniversary at a large private dinner in the room right next door to the one the book party was being held in Thursday night. With their longtime friend Liz Smith, they turned a tiny little charitable idea, The Literacy Partners into an enormous enterprise that raises millions annually for their cause: teaching people how to read. Part of the royalties from his memoir will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, God’s Love We Deliver and Literacy Partners.
Click on Women I Have Dressed (And Undressed) to order. All of the author's proceeds will be donated to charity.
The book, which was edited by Lisa Drew (who many years ago edited a book, an autobiography I wrote for Debbie Reynolds – Debbie; My Life) is one the publishing world’s literary lights, an eminent veteran who’s published the memoirs of very famous Americans, including Barbara Bush, George HW Bush, and gave Jackie Onassis her first job in publishing, was also on hand. As was the great Joan Didion, one of the most distinguished American writers living today, as was William Ivey Long, one of the most distinguished costume designers living today, as was just about everybody else, distinguished or just famished and ready for a drink and a few hors d’oeuvres. Arnold pulled in a crowd of well-wishers and everyone seemingly had the best time with their wishing.

I’d tell you more about the book, but I’m in the midst of reading it myself, as I’m going to interview him about it this coming Saturday down at NYU at the Tisch School of Theatre Arts. At eleven in the morning, if you’re up and about.
Susan Magrino and Veronica Hearst
Barbara Walters and Liz Smith
Joan Rivers
Marc Rosen and Arlene Dahl
Alice Mason with her daughter Dominique Richard
Susan Magrino and Muffie Potter Aston
Patrick McMullan and Nan Kempner
Ina Caro, Parker Ladd, Robert Caro, and Barbara Taylor Bradford
Parker Ladd, Christine Schwarzman, and Abe Rosenthal
Wilbur Ross, Hilary Geary, Terry Allen Kramer, and Nick Simuneck
Arnold Scaasi busy signing books
Tommy Hilfiger, Larry Leeds, and Joe and Hilary Califano
A closeup
Bob Colacello and Claudia Cohen; Enter Gale Hayman Haseltine
Peter Rogers and Iris Love
Joel Bell and Marife Hernandez
Marc Rosen and Fern Mallis
Arnold Scaasi and Pepe Fanjul
Dana and Dr. Patrick Stubgen
Beth DeWoody and Howard Blum
The girls chatting it up
Abe Rosenthal
Mashariki Williamson and Bettina Zilkha
Mary McFadden
Lisa Drew and one of her authors, DPC
Felicia Taylor, Marjorie Reed Gordon, and Somers Farkas
Jamee Gregory
CJ Satterwhite
Dr. Sherrell and Muffie Potter Aston


Have you subscribed to New York Social Diary?
Enter your Email address and click on subscribe to receive emails about the activities of NYSD. It's free!
Email address:


Above: Dinner at Doubles. Below: Julia Sverchuk with her illustrations.
Last Thursday night, Quest Magazine held their second annual New Yorkers Who Make A Difference dinner at Doubles, honoring Joe Califano, Nan Kempner, Susan Fales-Hill, Anne Ford, Pat Buckley and Evelyn Lauder – all of whom participated in a special campaign for MontBlanc.

If you don’t know about MontBlanc, you have something to learn that all of those New Yorkers probably learned long ago and you can find out more about by visiting their website (www.montblanc.com). Although I’d appreciate it if you’d do it after reading this.

Three of the honorees were present – Mr. Califano, Mrs. Kempner and Mrs. Fales-Hill. It was a dinner for about forty and a lot of these people know each other so it wasn’t stiff for a moment. Chris Meigher, the magazine’s publisher (where New York Social Diary is in print each month) is a past master at the testimonial speech and introduced the guests of honor with artful eloquence.

I was set, as editor-in-chief, to follow him, saying at least something which I don’t like doing because first of all, he’s a hard act to follow, and secondly I never feel comfortable speaking in public.

Nevertheless, at odds with what to say, I told the guests not about the guests of honor but about my introduction to the world of MontBlanc.

It was when I was new in the city, fresh out of college. There was a girl I had an unrequited crush on and she represented to me all the wonderful things that a New York girl could be – beautiful, bright, unbelievably charming, warm, and even rich. And even the daughter of a famous man. And I, the boy from the boondocks, was starry-eyed. And helpless. For it was a platonic relationship. She liked me. As a friend. For there was another whom she loved more, and not just as a friend. And he was (in my eyes) her counterpart – handsome, smart, clever, witty, and even rich. I don’t know about the famous father part. So what could I do but hang in there.

Therefore, on one of her birthdays (we were just out of our teens), I went to see her, taking her flowers (bought at a stand on Lexington Avenue between 57th and 58th and still standing) and a card. All of which she thought was so wonderful, and poetic, (I was the aspiring writer; read: poet), (she was very naturally effusive), all of which I thought was so wonderful. And after all the thanks and the kisses (pecks on the cheek), she then excitedly showed me what he’d given her for her birthday. The handsome, bright, rosey-futured rich-guy. Oh, I could hardly wait; yeah (groan).

And out came a small and sleek, narrow navy leather case, which she opened, revealing a really rather beautiful fountain pen. A MontBlanc!!! She exclaimed with an enthusiasm and the best French accent that said it all – about the pen and the boyfriend. A winner. A double-winner. I pretended enthusiasm and excitement for her. Although up until that moment I had no idea what a MontBlanc was. I got the picture, however, instantly.

I know it sounds pathetic but I was barely out of my teens and had miles to go myself. But that was how I learned of MontBlanc, and so everytime I see it advertised, with one of those portraits done by Julia Sverchuk, always strategically placed in my Social Diary in the magazine, of our honored New Yorkers Who Make A Difference, I’m drawn back to that almost adolescent bittersweet day in early December a million years ago, when MontBlanc made the difference ... for someone else.

The guests were all amused by my story, as I hoped they would be, so I could sit down having done my professional best. Whew.
Julia Sverchuk's illustrations of Anne Ford, Susan Fales-Hill, Nan Kempner, Pat Buckley, Joe Califano, and Evelyn Lauder
Nan Kempner, Liz Smith, Peter Rogers, and Annette Tapert
I started my writing career as a social chronicler in New York for Quest eleven years ago, brought in by its founder, Heather Cohane. In 2000, after having been away at a rival magazine for a few years, I returned as Editor-in-Chief, brought in by the magazine’s owner and publisher, Chris Meigher who bought the magazine about ten years ago. In the past four years, I’ve seen this lovely little magazine grow remarkably from what was originally a real estate driven publication into a highly successful chronicle of metropolitan sophistication and lifestyle, replete with the advertising campaigns that have more than doubled its size in these past few years. This year marks its 20th anniversary.
Nan Kempner and Liz Smith
Jamee Gregory, Joe Califano, and Hilary Califano
Peter Rogers and Annette Tapert
Marc and Pat de Bary
Jan-Patrick Schmitz and Natalie Schmitz
Susan Fales-Hill, Mark Gilbertson, and Somers Farkas
Wendy Carduner with Alberto and Peggy Mejia
Barbie Bancroft and Nan
Dan Lufkin and Jonathan Farkas
Edward Lee Cave
Dominick Dunne and Cytnhia Lufkin
Mark Gilbertson with Jill and Andrew Roosevelt
Getting ready to sit down to dinner
Annette Tapert, Pauline Pitt, and Lorna Graev
Dominick Dunne and Annette Tapert
A Doubles view
Eyes up ...
Montblanc team
L. to r.: Christine and Stephen Schwarzman; Dominick Dunne, Tony Hoyt, and Nan Kempner.



Next Monday night between 6 and 9 PM is the first annual Fete de Swifty to be held on the entirely tented over block of East 73rd Street between Lexington and Third Avenues. It's going to be the chicest block party in town and everyone's welcome.

Proceeds will benefit the Parks AfterSchool Program of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. This free program serves 3000 kids ages six to thriteen, 80% of whom receive public assistance, in 33 recreation centers in all five boroughs.
The kids stage plays, build web sites, and warm up with their soccer teams. With a staff ratio of ten to one, the Program gives every child quality attention for as many as three hours a day, five days a week, all year long. For any of us who've ever had a working mother and nobody home after school, we know how important this is. And in New York City, where day to day life can be even tougher for kids than adults, this Program is a gift.

It's going to be a big rousing cocktail party with hors d'oeurves, entertainment, music, celebrities and auction both Silent and Live (conducted by Sotheby's Jamie Niven) with all kinds of interesting items including spending a day with Bette Midler helping clean a park her Restoration Project is fixing up, Dishy dinner at Le Cirque with Liz Smith, Billy Norwich, Linda Stasi and Jess Cagel, another dishy dinner at Swifty's with Dominick Dunne, Dinner with Victoria Gotti at Rao's, a Sports package — golf with Ray Floyd, fishing with Peter Duchin, an appearance on Law & Order and many many more unique items.

Donor tickets are $1000, Friend Tickets $500, and regular tickets are $350. There are specially priced tickets for those 35 and under $125 in advance and $150 at the door.

For information and purchase call 212-573-6933.


September 28, 2004, Volume IV, Number 150
Photographs by Jeff Hirsch/NYSD.com

Email
A
Friend


Click here for NYSD Contents




 

© 2006 David Patrick Columbia & Jeffrey Hirsch/NewYorkSocialDiary.com