That’s Amore for Hollywood at Milan’s Spring Shows

MILAN —  Hollywood star power hit the fashion scene here, sending the paparazzi on a frenzied hunt for photos of actresses and rock stars from across the Atlantic for the spring collections.

On Thursday, the diva of all divas, Whitney Houston, and husband Bobby Brown, had prime seats at the Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2000 show held at the D&G; compound on Via San Damiano.

Houston, whose wardrobe for her recent concert tour was designed by the D&G; duo, was outfitted in a crystal-laden coat, blue crystal choker, cheetah print pants and brown boots.

Throughout the show, she often fussed over Brown, dabbing sweat from her husband’s face and her lipstick imprints from his cheek.

Not far away sat Salma Hayek, squeezed into a little black dress and holding a D&G; handbag on her lap.

After the designers took their bows at the show’s end, they thanked Houston, who stood and hugged them. “I loved it all,” she said of the collection, and was whisked away backstage. Hayek, on the other hand, was left behind momentarily until a publicist guided her through the throng.

But we caught up with the stunning actress, who also loved the show of glitzy garments.

“I would wear the crystal-covered bras with one of those sheer tops. And the boots were like wearing Christmas trees on your legs,” she said of the crystal-adorned fringe on several styles of stiletto boots. Hayek also confessed to liking the shiny chokers, piled high with yet more crystals.

Armani Triumphs: Giorgio Armani presented his signature collection for spring 2000 at his new showroom and office compound--a converted Nestle chocolate factory in Milan’s Navigli neighborhood Wednesday night.

Among the revelers were Tina Turner, Glenn Close, Sophia Loren, Phil Collins and Latin heartthrob Ricky Martin. They were escorted into Armani’s showroom one at a time and seated front row center, like designer ducks in a row. Also present were Italian actress Ornella Muti and Brazilian soccer star Rinaldo.

Before the celebrities arrived, camera crews were buzzing around Vogue’s Anna Wintour and Andre Leon Talley. They appeared unfazed when Tina Turner and company strutted their star power.

After the show, guests poured into Armani’s spacious party room--the size of an industrial warehouse--and dined on a sushi feast prepared by a chef from London’s Nobu and his 20 assistants; all were flown in for the event by Armani, who also arranged for three New York deejays to spin music at the event.

Incidentally, Martin, who wears Armani and has a long-standing friendship with the designer, jetted Wednesday from Los Angeles to Milan--and back in the same night to keep another commitment in L.A. But first, the singer had to live la vida loca and party with his host, who was besieged with kudos all night for his stunning collection.

Said Close of the collection: “I was mesmerized by the clothes. It was very hypnotic and totally different from my perception of what Armani is.”

Bidding Afoot: The latest fashion trend isn’t just to own a Fendi baguette bag, but the whole company.

Several major fashion houses are reportedly bidding for Fendi, an Italian maker of luxury clothes, furs and accessories now enjoying a fashion renaissance.

The leading contender reportedly appears to be Gucci, which is flush from a $3 billion cash infusion from a new partner, French billionaire Francois Pinault, owner of the Pinault-Printemps-Redoute department store chain. Gucci had no comment.

Bloomberg Business News reported Thursday that Prada and LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton made a joint offer for Fendi. Italian jeweler Bulgari has also been mentioned as a possible Fendi suitor. None of the companies would comment.

Fendi, owned by the five Fendi sisters, Carla, Anna, Franca, Alda and Paola, reportedly has been considering bids from Texas Pacific Group, a Fort Worth investment company that recently purchased Bally, a luxury shoe maker. A report in Women’s Wear Daily on Monday said that each sister could net $162 million from the Gucci offer.

The deal is complicated by the conflicting interests of the Fendi sisters. Franca reportedly is demanding that her children retain their managerial positions.

Times senior fashion writer Valli Herman-Cohen contributed to this report from Los Angeles.