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L.A. Gets Dressed Up for Armani
September 9, 2003
 A
sea of black washed into Beverly Hills Tuesday night for the Rodeo
Drive Walk of Style event honoring legendary Italian designer Giorgio
Armani for his contributions to the worlds of fashion and entertainment.
Everyone in Hollywood looked like an Armani runway model, wearing
glamorous sexy gowns and well-tailored suits ranging from black
to black, all to honor the maestro of modern fashion.
Spotted in their Armani best on the red carpet: Sophia Loren, Thora
Birch, Brendan Fraser, Debra Messing, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Debi
Mazar, Jodie Foster, Samuel L. Jackson, Harrison Ford and Calista
Flockhart, Michelle Pfeiffer and David E. Kelley, Steve Martin and
Diane Keaton, as well as several local politicians and hundreds
of Hollywood high rollers.
During the show of Armani's 2003 fall collections (Armani and Emporio
Armani) the audience literally drooled over his new sexy designs
- short black silk, satin and velvet evening dresses, frock coats,
nipped-waist coat dresses, black feathers, fur and spider web shawls
and black matte or lace legs - and several stars made mental notes
for new Armani threads. Top stylist Jessica Pastor poked Anjelica
Huston and pointed to one elegant short coat dress with a portrait
neckline, whispering "That's so you!" Huston was sitting
with her husband sculptor Robert Graham, who designed the Walk of
Style's new bronze female torso that now stands in the Golden Triangle
area of Brighton Way and Rodeo Drive.
"What is this, the Messiah returns to Beverly Hills? I haven't
seen so much black since 1988. It's like being at a Goth concert,"
one man, clearly NOT wearing Armani, whispered to Jackie Collins,
who stared at him with obvious disdain.
 After
the show, Armani, wearing a navy blue T-shirt and slacks, came out
onstage to thunderous applause flanked by two pretty fabulous bookends,
Michelle Pfeiffer and Jodie Foster.
Samuel L. Jackson spoke passionately about his fashion friend:
"He has taught me to be fearless about fashion. Armani once
told me, 'Life is a movie, my clothes are the costumes.'"
Foster also sung his praises. "I stand here the least likely
fashion plate in Hollywood," she said, recalling the time she
wore a gown with a giant blue bow on her butt that looked like she'd
sat in a wedding cake to accept her Oscar for "The Accused."
"I got reamed. From that moment on, I have always, always worn
the legendary Armani. In '91, he personally fit me for the Oscars
and it was like being painted by Picasso or directed by Visconti.
It was a moment with the master and a moment I will always treasure."
Harrison Ford admitted, "If there is reincarnation, I want
to come back as Armani. Thank you for paying attention to us, Mr.
Armani, and for making menswear look easy, which it isn't."
Debra Messing read written raves from stars who could not attend.
From Julia Roberts: "You make the world a more beautiful place."
From Richard Gere, first dressed by Armani for "American Gigolo":
"You are the gentlemanly visionary of fashion." From Martin
Scorsese: "Because you dress me so well, now I walk twice as
tall." And from Robert DeNiro: "I salute you as a true
artist."
 Michelle
Pfeiffer acknowledged his skill and his subtlety: "Thank you
for making clothes that are sexy, classy and dignified. In a day
when so many designers want you to notice their creations, your
clothes are all about flattering the women who wear them."
But it was comedian Steve Martin, a long-time Armani aficionado,
who got the most laughs of the night. "If Armani could design
clothes for everyone on the planet, we would no longer have wars,
only events." He mentioned his first Armani outfit, Armani
diapers, which "are really classic and I'll be able to wear
them again when I'm 80."
Martin also took turns with Sophia Loren helping, um, "translate"
Mr. Armani's Italian acceptance speech; changing "Ciao, Beverly
Hills!" to "Hello, Cleveland!"; "What a beautiful
night" to "Could the Dodgers suck any bigger this year?"
and "I'm so happy to be here in California" to "I
would like to announce that I'm running for Governor of California."
But Mira Sorvino, who presented the miniature version of Graham's
bronze torso to Armani, summed up Hollywood's heartfelt appreciation
of the iconic designer. "The beauty of your vision would not
be possible without your generous heart. Your humanity and love
infuse all your creations. You are a great artist and a great man."
In his short and heartfelt acceptance speech, translated by his
niece, Armani admitted to feeling paralyzed because of the eloquence
of his friends' words. But he did add, "I feel the same love
for you that you show for me tonight. I feel so much love coming
out of my heart for all of you."
He ended by extending a humorous invitation to the chic crowd:
"I wish that all of you will come to Milan for my fashion show.
But you're going to pay for the trip!"
Taken out from: Yahoo
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