THE CROWD:Private fashion show benefits future stars

A sentinel at the door in a blue blazer, a red tie and gray slacks held his clipboard, which contained an alphabetical listing of names permitted for entry, close to his chest. It was noon on a Wednesday at the ultra chic Escada Boutique in South Coast Plaza. Customers and shop keepers whisked by, oblivious to the man fronting the European-based design house.

For a brief window in prime-time retail hours, Escada closed for lunch and instead invited guests to experience the artistry of the latest lines arriving in the store this month for the 2007 season. The guests, primarily women of considerable style and substance, came at the invitation of Twyla Reed Martin, who has, over the past decade, risen to a position of social and charitable prominence in this community. As a grand hostess with classic taste, Twyla and her husband Charles, known as Chuck, often open their majestic Smithcliffs residence for a variety of charitable concerns. Of late, the Martins have placed the growth of Chapman University in Orange, at the top of their list.

Specifically, Twyla has devoted herself in particular to supporting the new Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. Dodge College — built with substantial multi-million-dollar seed money donated by Newport Coast residents Kristina and Larry Dodge, a Midwesterner who made his fortune in the insurance business — is the talk of the town.

Promoting Chapman and Dodge College, Martin joined forces with Escada for an exclusive fashion peek and luncheon in-store, all as a preview to a major event unfolding Saturday evening at Chapman. It is being called the Premiere, and it will welcome a black-tie, who’s-who crowd to witness and inaugurate the state-of-the-art Marion Knott Studios within Dodge College. Marion Knott of Newport Beach, daughter of the late and legendary Orange County pioneers Walter and Cordelia Knott, has also made a multi-million-dollar commitment to Chapman, and the studio will be named in her honor. The classy and conservative Knott, never one to seek personal publicity, was surely the guest of honor at Twyla’s luncheon in advance of the Premiere. Knott was surrounded by patrons, all generous Chapman donors including Donna Phelps, Leslie Cancellieri, Eve Kornyei, Daranne Folino, Marta Bhathal, Stacey Physioc, Peggy Sprague and Nancy Wynne.

Also in the crowd were Pelican Point’s Sally Crockett, Carol Farkas, Erin Trunnel and Catherine Emmi. Round tables festooned with beautiful blooms were set up around the store as lunch catered by Chapman’s Sodexho Campus Service was served. It was one of the best luncheons on the social circuit. Bacon-wrapped breast of chicken medallions stuffed with a special sauce paired with fresh vegetables and seasoned potatoes followed an artistic salad of thinly sliced heirloom tomatoes in a variety of colors dressed in tangy vinaigrette. Dessert was the best. An old-fashioned chocolate bomb covered in pink icing and dusted with coconut — it was a throwback to the great old days when people loved a great dessert more than a super-thin waist!

As always, the Escada fashion show, fronted by a very informative Escada executive who had flown in from New York to narrate the line, was a tour de force of great design. Every single piece was superb and featured more than 30 looks from casual to formal. The highlight of the afternoon was an address by Hollywood producer Alexandra Rose, who also serves as a faculty member at the Chapman Film School. Rose, who produced such films as “Norma Rae” and “Overboard,” spoke on the importance of media in our future, and the responsibility of the creative process in the hands of the next generation.