With People-Watching This Hot, Who’s Looking at the Clothes?

“It’s going to cost me a lot of money tonight,” the adorable Nick Vanoff stage-whispered as wave after wave of Valentino models came over the stairs Busby Berkeley style and swung through a sound stage stuffed with rich and famous.

The least of his worries was the price of the ticket to the Wednesday night benefit at 20th Century Fox, organized by the Colleagues, premiering the Spring/Summer Valentino collection. For $250 a ticket everybody adored Valentino’s fashions, and even though some Pro-Am party watchers estimated that Valentino and Neiman Marcus had spent more than $700,000 for the evening, it was clear the economic and enthusiasm fallout will be fabulous.

This crowd was so hot that the Kitchen Cabinet got lost in the star shuffle. “I love this party. This is the best party I’ve been to all year,” Barbara Davis told an agreeing Henry Berger--two who should certainly know.

And there was that tremendous feeling of satisfaction important people achieve only when they arrive at a party--and realize that everyone there is as famous as they are. Or even more so.

People watching reached new heights--with terrific groupings of personalities during the show. There was Carol Matthau; behind her was Warneco President Linda Wachner (in a drop-dead Valentino couture dress, hand-beaded in the pattern of an Aubusson rug), and, seats away, straight from the elections, attorney/Democratic activist Barbara Schlei, announcing, “I feel like I dropped in from another planet.”

Stretched down the runway--John Travolta, Quincy Jones and Verna Harrah, Jayne Berger in a slinky Dior, and, in the crowd, Victoria Principal with husband Dr. Harry Glassman, New York supersocialite Nan Kemper, and the usual top L.A social suspects--the evening’s chairs Erlenne Sprague, Betsy Bloomingdale, Patti Skouras and Felisa Vanoff along with co-chairs Harriet Deutsch, Marion Jorgensen, Giney Milner, Chardee Trainer and Betty Wilson.

And how much did the night raise? “Lots, but we never say just how much,” Sprague said. One could estimate, by multiplying $250 by the 700 guests who sat down to salmon, caviar, trout--and something called Roasted Petaluma Deboned Baby Chicken, and a glazed chocolate tartufo ball with raspberry sorbet, all cooked up in the Fox commissary under the watchful eye of Pat Ryan of Party Planners West. That means the profit to the charity was somewhere around $175,000--or, as one cynic said surveying the crowd, “It certainly takes a lot of money to make money.”

Betsy Bloomingdale and Martin Manulis hosted a table that included Janet and Freddie de Cordova, Lee Remick and agent Bill Haber. “Haber’s probably cooking up a series for Betsy, a sequel to ‘Designing Women,’ ” kidded TV seriesmeister Doug Cramer. On his left, William Morris agent Ames Cushing chatted it up with her client, “Favorite Son” Harry Hamlin.

The wrap-around city staging was great. “What is this setting?” Bloomingdale asked her pretty daughter, Lisa Bell. “It’s from ‘Die Hard,’ Mommy,” Bell replied.

Bloomingdale had hosted a dinner for two dozen-plus at her home earlier in the week, honoring Valentino. The same night, Mike and Judy Ovitz hosted a dinner party for 30 honoring newlyweds Herb Ross and Lee Radziwill.

And, there was also the mix-up of the Valentino reception set for Thursday night. Seems that some of the benefit’s big names, those in the know related, were pretty die-hard about who was invited. Allen and Kelli Questrom (he’s the former local department store exec who is now president of Neiman Marcus) hosted an event at their on-the-market home. Their first guest list only included the names of the Colleagues’ chairs--all of whom turned the event down until their co-chairs were also invited. “Listen,” one of those involved said, “most people would die to have Harriet Deutsch and Betty Wilson at their home.”

And, as one guest to the 7-to-9 p.m. reception related, Valentino’s limo didn’t pull up until almost closing time.

Now who else made it to the big bash? Dona and Dwight Kendall (back from a stay at the Villa San Michele in Fiesole), Ann and Don Petroni, Caroline Cushing (who had hosted Tuesday night’s very successful Vanity Fair party for author Sarah Giles), Wendy Stark (who played host at the dinner following the reception at the Bistro Garden), Morgan Fairchild, Connie Wald, Fran Stark, Colleagues president Marjorie Miller, Fred Hayman and Betty Endo with Henry and Sedge Plitt, Joan and Marco Weiss with Phil and Betty Keon and Sandy and Shel Ausman, Neiman Marcus’ John Martens (taking thanks from everyone for putting on such a great evening), actor Matthew Modine, Charlene Nederlander and Katherine and Arpad Domyan.

Newlyweds Howard Ruby and Yvette Mimieux were part of the crowded dance floors, and, as the guests left, there were Valentino ties for the men, Valentino fragrance and lingerie bags for the women.