Design School Fetes Mackie and Students

Saturday night’s tribute by Otis/Parsons to glamour-and-glitter designer Bob Mackie was a Hollywood spectacular in its own right.

In a silky smooth fund-raiser, held at the Beverly Hilton and attended by 1,200, the local college saluted Mackie (introduced as “the sultan of sequins, the raj of rhinestones”), promising students and the established designers who worked the past year as their advisers in its annual Critics Awards Fashion Show.

The evening’s most awesome and amusing segments (featuring the designs of junior and senior students) were Hollywood inspired. Critics Patti Cappalli and Rick Beach gave their students the task of dressing stars for the Academy Awards. Models walked the runway, holding up masks of the celebrities, which included Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Midler, Dennis Hopper, Glenn Close, Cher and Barbra Streisand. No one pleased the crowd more than “Whoopi Goldberg,” dressed in Paula Watson’s award-winning combination: a skirt made of sequined vintage ties and a black tuxedo jacket with big gold lettering on the back that asked, “Who’s Oscar?”

Mackie, the year’s teacher-critic for costume design, challenged his group to dress 14 characters and two guards for a skit entitled “Cinderella in the ‘60s.”

He wrote the script, played the role of producer and made certain demands: “I wanted Cinderella all in white and silver so she would show up. And I did say that Red Riding Hood would be wonderful in Courreges.”

Brought House Down

As a finale to the show, Mackie’s production number brought the house down. It was hard to remember bell-bottoms ever looking so wonderfully outlandish or humorous. The two pages wore them as part of their regal get-ups. The wicked stepmother had an animal-print pair that went garishly well with her animal-print cape. Prince Charming had on the most lavish bell-bottoms of the lot: silver and white. And he repelled their bright glare with a pair of sunglasses.

There was also plenty of vinyl, and, yes, it was worn by Red Riding Hood who did have a Courreges-like hood and a miniskirt.

While Mackie says working with the students inspired him, the sentiment of the night was that it was Mackie who was the inspiration to many. Helping to present him with the evening’s Design Achievement Award was his friend and one-time co-worker, Carol Burnett.

Recalling for the audience that Mackie would often do as many as 50 costumes a week for her television show, Burnett said, “That was enough to vote him into knighthood.” In addition, his costumes often gave her clues to the characters she was playing, and for that she praised him: “You saved my backside many times.”

‘This Is Embarrassing’

“This is really embarrassing but I like it,” replied Mackie.

He in turn had some unsung heroes to thank for his own success: “The cutters, sewers and pattern makers, who, in Carol’s words, saved my backside many times.”

When it came time for the Silver Thimble Awards, to a student with the best design in each category, menswear walked away with a number of the honors.

Some of the trendiest men’s fashions included high-waisted trousers that were either belted or unbelted and often ended a good distance above the ankles.

Tony Young won the first-time NAMBS (National Assn. of Men’s Sportswear Buyers) award for an oversize, orange wool car coat worn over a black, tartan-trimmed cardigan and black trousers, which, naturally, were above-ankle-length.

A more dashing conservative image was cut by James Lee, who won the Clay Tedeshi critics award for a high-collar, wide-cuff overcoat, matching vest and color coordinated slacks.

Heather Cherry’s Olympics-inspired menswear, featuring a colorful, multipatterned jacket, tank top and stirrup pants, won the Eva Mann, for Rad Designs, award. And Erin Nash took the Glenn Williams award for best spring and summer menswear with a romantic combination of very, very baggy silk pants, matching oversize shirt and jacket.

Innovative as the menswear was, it didn’t win the biggest student prize of the evening.

Designer of the Year went to Lisa Getchell, who also won the Nancy Heller award for clever pinstripe sportswear combinations.

There wasn’t a single bridal gown, but there was lingerie that could serve the purpose. Students had been asked by critic Diane Samandi, for Jonquil, to create Jean Harlow boudoir attire. The results were gowns too sensuous, sensational and glamorous to keep at home. “I’d wear those out ,” said one woman in the audience, echoing the thoughts of others.

The winning combination was Lea Meyer’s elaborate silk-chiffon, Fortuny-pleated, lace-trimmed gown worn under a beaded and feather-trimmed cape.

Excellent daytime apparel, based on check fabrics, came from Geralyn Nelson, winner of the Karl Logan award, and Cassidy Park, winner of the David Hayes award. A stunning bit of evening wear was provided by Nora Minassian, who won the C. Randall Brooks, for Lilli Diamond, award. Her “Sweet Charity” design featured a strapless, feather-trimmed trapeze with more feathers worn around the arms.