The Madison & Diavolina party at their sister boutiques on Third Street in Los Angeles. The event was co-hosted by top Hollywood stylists and denim designers Current/Elliott (Meritt Elliott and Emily Current). It was a chance to do some eyeing of what’s hot for fall, and guests could feel good about a portion of the evening’s sales going to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.
Mandy Moore showed up wearing a pumpkin orange Isabel Marant printed dress and black cut out Miu Miu heels. Moore is a definite fashionista with her own understated style. This night she was looking for fall fashions. “I’ve got my eye on the fall accessories. I’m a big scarf girl.” Other fascinating fashion designers at the event included Sea of Love designer Alison Malter.
Guests sipped on Pinky Vodka cocktails and munched on mini Crumbs cupcakes while every woman in the room salivated over the fabulous Diavolina shoes, they are the bomb! They make all women look tall and all feet look sexy.

This Was One of the Most Amazing Thalians Event Yet!

It was the 54th Annual Thalians Ball held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel to raise money for Thalians Mental Health Center at Ceders-Sinai. This year they honored legendary film, stage and TV star Mickey Rooney and the USO Armed Forces around the world. It was a privilege to see America’s most lovely and talented women performing for their USO hero Rooney, they included Shirley Jones (whose voice is more beautiful and powerful than ever), Debbie Reynolds, Ruta Lee (sort of stole the show when she performed), Mitzi Gaynor (still a sexy funny kitten), the beautiful Anne Blyth, fabulous legend Anne Rutherford and Nancy Sinatra who did her “Boots” hit. Sinatra thanked Rooney for divorcing Ava Gardner so her dad could marry her. “It was really cool for a young girl to have her as my step-mom,” she quipped. Elizabeth Taylor sent a touching note to Rooney, how generous he was to a 12-year-old girl just starting out in films.
Film clips of Rooney’s career just blew us all away. He started in show biz at two-years-old (he is now eighty-seven years young and as dynamic as ever). Rooney reminisced onstage about how poor his parents were in Brooklyn, New York, how his mom drove from Kansas to California some 85 years ago—no maps, no roads and no money, yet they arrived in Hollywood where Rooney ended up doing 89 Tom Mix movies. Walt Disney was so taken with Rooney that he renamed Mortimer Mouse, Mickey Mouse, after him.
The fabulous Lou Ferrigno and his beautiful wife Carla attended and told me a little about their new reality show, it will be all about other folks who need help. Forget the tawdry reality shows you’ve seen, this family is all class and love, and they are always helping others. “It isn’t about us, it is about people in need.” How refreshing.

There Isn’t a Lovelier, More Gracious…

Woman in this town than Kate Edelman Johnson who has extended her beautiful Beverly Hills home, and philanthropy, numerous times to friends for a variety of charitable events, not withstanding her own Dean M. Johnson Foundation for Parkinson’s research. Recently, Edelman Johnson opened her home for a cocktail party for contributors, underwriters and others involved in the upcoming highlight of Palm Springs social season, the 16th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards (the Desert Care Aids Prevention Project Advocacy). The Desert AIDS Project has grown to become the primary provider of direct medical and support serves to HIV-affected men, women and children throughout the desert region. “There is so much more research for a cure to be done regarding HIV/AIDS, we can’t ever stop raising money,” said event underwriter and event co-chair James M. Casey. A great philanthropist, Casey is the president and CEO of Integrated Wealth Management with offices in Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Barbara Keller is also co-chair.
Notable past honorees of this event at the cocktail party included Diahann Carroll, Morgan Fairchild, Donna Mills and Linda Gray. Other past honorees have included Barry Manilow, America Ferrera, Liza Minnelli, Suzanne Somers, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Shirley MacLaine, Tom Hanks, Joel Grey, Ted Kennedy and many more.
It was great catching up with Jimmy Van Patten about his wonderful family, especially his dad, Dick Van Patten. “He’s still going strong—going to the track and meeting his buddies there during the racing season,” said Van Patten. His dad had suffered several strokes but you’d never know it. I was the guest of a fabulous horse trainer at Santa Anita last year and there was Van Patten at a table behind me, all smiles, running back and forth up the stairs to place his bets; he was clearly enjoying the day. Van Patten’s Natural Balance dog food is one of the top in the country. The Van Pattens are a fabulous example of a fine American family.

This will be a fabulous gala, if you are interested in attending, you can call ext. 255 for ticket or sponsor information.