::: George Christy ::: From the Beverly Hills Courier

ÒIf we were in Japan, heÕd be a national living treasure,Ó declared Chado designer Ralph Rucci. He was toasting California couturier James Galanos with his flute of champagne during the luncheon at the Beverly Wilshire Terrace after James (aka Jimmy) was presented with the Rodeo Style Walk of Fame award. (Giorgio Armani, Donatella and Gianni Versace, Tom Ford were among previous honorees.) ÒGenius, genius, genius ÉJimmyÕs my Brahmin,Ó beamed Ralph, himself no slouch as a couturier, the son of a Philadelphia butcher. Good friends theyÕve become, Jimmy and Ralph, sharing a passion for perfection. Their designs and flawless craftsmanship are hailed around the world, and JamesÕ loyalists, Nancy Reagan, Connie Wald, Betsy Bloomingdale, who hosted the luncheon, joined Ralph in his toast. As did Rosemarie Stack, Leonard Stanley, Betsy and Michael Kaiser, philanthropist Iris Cantor, Corinna Fields (sadly reporting that husband Freddie, a titan of a talent agent and producer is not well). JimmyÕs clientele ranges from the aforementioned hostesses to Diana Ross, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland. In 1998 he retired, after reigning for decades as the premier couturier of our country, a noble achievement for a Philadelphia-born son of a Greek immigrant who didnÕt want to follow his father in the restaurant business. Even at age 7, he dreamed of designing. Ultimately heading to New York, he found himself leaving design school in New York to sell sketches for two bucks each to executives in the garment industry. Apprenticeship in Paris followed. Arriving in Los Angeles, he worked with the award-winning Jean Louis, who designed Marilyn MonroeÕs historic, skintight sequined gown when she sang Happy Birthday to President John F. Kennedy in Madison Square Garden. Additionally, Jean Louis created the slinky satin gown for Rita Hayworth when she sang Put the Blame on Mame in Gilda, a movie that stands tall to this day. Not long ago, Ruth Vitale screened Gilda for a group that included many in their twenties, and they were wild for the film. Beverly Hills was the good luck charm for Jimmy in 1951. At the Amelia Gray boutique on Wilshire Boulevard, he was discovered by MGM actress Nancy Davis, before her marriage to Ronald Reagan. Nancy responded to the luxurious quality and originality of his designs, along with Rosalind Russell, Marlene Dietrich, Denise Hale. Nancy remembers her first buy Ð Òa simple black dress with white collar and cuffs that cost $125.Ó Jimmy traveled to France and Italy several times a year to select the finest fabrics, and with the impeccable seamsmanship of his collections, it was not uncommon, as time passed, for day dresses to range upwards of $6,000, and ballgowns to be considerably more. Nancy was in awe of his hands-on construction of the designs that she and others claimed Òcould be worn inside out.Ó Critics compared him to the great couturiers of Paris. He designed Nancy ReaganÕs inaugural gowns and other choices during her White House years, as well as for events such as Prince CharlesÕ wedding to Diana Spencer. On Nov. 8, a retrospective of 80 selections from her First Lady wardrobe will open at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. ÒItÕs history,Ó says Jimmy about his design past, appalled with whatÕs happened to fashion. ÒLovely women looking messy, often wearing only a bra, ragged dirty blue jeans in public. Bare bellies are a bore. Nakedness has taken over the streets.Ó HeÕs embarked on an exciting and fulfilling career as a photographer (his work may be seen at Chinois in Santa Monica) and a collage artist, and heÕll return next year for another exhibition at the Serge Sorokko Gallery on Grant Avenue in San Francisco. GearyÕs President Tom Blumenthal, who heads the Rodeo Drive Committee, luncheon chairs Peri Ellen Berne and Susan Moseley and the Beverly WilshireÕs Radah Arora and Gloria Lloyd greeted galleryists Serge Sorokko and wife Tatiana, who flew South to congratulate Jimmy. The crowd included Palm Springs restaurateur Paul Bruggemans, a chum of JimmyÕs since the days of PaulÕs beloved Le Saint Germain restaurant on Melrose Avenue (Jimmy was an investor and frequent diner), cyberspace wizard Omar Haddedou, San MarinoÕs Helen Lambros with her beautiful daughter Eleni, Rose Narva, Fred Hayman, ArmaniÕs Wanda McDaniel, John Martens, David WebbÕs Kevin Parker, TiffanyÕs Nellie Seddigh, FretteÕs Salwa Cohen, Wolfgang Puck and Gelila Assefa, Judy and Don Dallarico, FerragamoÕs Jon Borland, Dolce and GabbanaÕs Tobi Sargent, Lois and Jerry Magnin, Patricia Roth, who managed JimmyÕs office for 32 years, Michael KorsÕ Scott Meltzer, C magazineÕs Jennifer Smith Hale, David Jones, Rose Narva, Big ShotsÕ series star Jessica Collins, TodÕs Yasmin Burwood, Mercedes-BenzÕs Joe Richardson, ChopardÕs Wes Caroll, PorscheÕs Christine Lindebak, Peggy Moffit and William Claxton, VuittonÕs Olimpia Garabet, David YurmanÕs Colleen OÕKane, SmythsonÕs Mark Hersh, Brooks BrothersÕ James Jahant, LladroÕs Catherine Kiek, VersaceÕs Ava Ku, Pamela Hoefflin, Darren Ramirez, actress Katerina Moutsatsos, newly arrived from Athens. BulgariÕs Paul Jackson, dapper in a smartly tailored Marc Jacobs suit (PaulÕs a lookalike for actor Patrick Wilson), informed that he opened the Marc Jacobs menÕs boutique on Melrose Place, which took off, before joining Bulgari this year. A New Yorker whoÕs adjusted comfortably to the Southern California lifestyle, Paul escorted YSLÕs charming Carolyn Mahboubi, and they announced that Carolyn joins him at Bulgari on Nov. 5th. Merv Griffin frequently mentioned that he started life as a young musician, and that his mom struggled to find the money to pay for his lessons. It figures, then, that his favorite night of the year was the celebration of the Young Musicians Foundation, when 50 talented youths comprise the orchestra, conducted this year at the Beverly Hilton by young Sean Newhouse. The players cut-off date is age 22, when they are sought after by philharmonic orchestras around the world. For online readers, todayÕs column continues on a second page.