Otis College of Art and Design kicks off upcoming fashion gala with VIP glitz

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Fashion designers, entertainment executives and musicians mixed with legends of stage, screen and fashion Thursday at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, when supporters of the Otis College of Art and Design gathered for a VIP kickoff to its gala May 7 fashion show.

On hand was Bob Mackie, the designer who shot to fashion stardom for his glamorous -- and often outrageous -- gowns for Cher, Liza Minelli, Tina Turner and others. More recently, Mackie outfitted Pink and loaned Katy Perry some of his glitziest designs for her “Waking Up in Vegas” video.

“It’s like the old days. [Today’s stars] are realizing that glamour is a big part of show business -- especially now, with the big projected images at concerts,” said Mackie, who will receive the college’s Design Legend Award at the benefit. At the same gala, Art Coppola, chief executive of the Macerich Co., will accept the Creative Vision Award on behalf of the new Santa Monica Place.

Over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, Velvet Revolver rocker Matt Sorum said he joined the benefit committee “to up the vibe,” adding: “I’m here to freshen things a little.”

Gala co-chairs Shelley Reid and Adrianne Zarnegin welcomed more than 200 guests, among them actresses Diahann Carroll, Mitzi Gaynor and Brenda Vaccaro; author Dana Gluckstein, filmmaker Sara Risher, artist Joan Ransohoff, Barbara Bollenbach, Claudia Teran and Elaine Goldsmith, the gala’s founding chair.

“This year, said Reid, senior vice president of business and legal affairs at Fox Television, ‘we made a concerted effort to attract people to the benefit committee that we knew to be fashion forward.”

Before departing, Gaynor stopped to express her admiration for Mackie. “He says I created him,” she said, “but he created me.”

-- Ellen Olivier