Blue Ribbon Event Features Adolfo’s Collection of Fans

It’s the travel season, but Los Angeles socialites made sure they were in the smoggy foggy Southland for the first Blue Ribbon of the Music Center fall meeting at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills this week. The reason: Adolfo--his last name is Sardinia, but how many know that?--was presenting his fall, 1989, collection.

It was like the Female Guard of the Kitchen Cabinet in the first row: Marion Jorgensen, Betsy Bloomingdale (in flowered Adolfo, and home from Malcolm Forbes’ birthday soiree in Morocco), Harriet Deutsch, Giney Milner.

Barbara Davis, looking slim in a sea-foam green Adolfo, arrived with her pretty daughter Nancy Zarif.

Most wore pale spring Adolfos. Caroline Singleton and Lee Minnelli wore the same pink one. Helene Irvin was a pink near triplicate. Saks Vice President Patricia Fox deviated for a bright sporting green.

But, that didn’t stop the couture courageous from donning other labels. Joni Smith was in Chanel navy and white, just back with Clark from Papua New Guinea, ready to leave for Villa d’Este and Baden-Baden, and touching base with Virginia Kazanjian, who plans a family trip to Hong Kong, Thailand and Japan at Christmastime.

Blue Ribbon chairman Joanne Kozberg, in a cool peach linen Valentino, revealed that 350 were crowded into the salon for the show.

“Thanks to a beautiful lady, who radiates warmth and sunshine, for planning this event,” she said. That was Erlenne Sprague, who’s never staged a less-than-elegant affair. Said Erlenne: “We all love Adolfo. Join us for a light buffet later and the parking is complimentary.” Adolfo provided the Adolfo spray cologne, which wafted during the show.

The ladies never applaud raucously at these events. But the buzz was there. And scores headed for the racks behind the stage after the show, where Adolfo held court. Marion Jorgensen put dibs on the black satin jacket trimmed with three white camellias (perfect for her Huntington Library affairs) and the black sequined lace skirt. But, alas, Clarice Ellis adored it, too.

Frani Ridder, on crutches from knee surgery, had seen the show in New York, but was buying. Eying it all intently, too, were Terry Herst, Maude Chasen, Beverly Morsey (in a Galanos hat pinned with two huge diamond Bulgari bees she had purchased in Paris between Valentino and Dior showings there).

Arletta Tronstein wanted the black soutache-trimmed lace knit for travel. She listened to Mary Jones’ fun plans--Paris in September with the board of the International Committee of the New York City Ballet, joining former Angelenos Pat Bradshaw (coming from Martha’s Vineyard) and Matilda Stream (from New Orleans.)

Spied in the crowd of chic-suited ladies: Donna Wolff, Mary Ann Heidt, Ava Fries (she’s stopped smoking), Ruth Braun, Lisa Bell (she is painting a portrait of attendee Peggy Parker and her cat), Diane Anderson, Joan Selwyn, Noelle Siart, Caryl Carothers (new Ribbon member) and Margot Bamberger.

The next Blue Ribbon function, says president Kozberg, will be the new member tea Oct. 3 with Los Angeles Philharmonic executive director Ernest Fleischmann. The group also stages a family Joffrey Ballet matinee at the Music Center in late December.