I truly do have awesome moments. Last night I went to  meet some friends Tod’s welcoming party for the new MOCA director here in LA – and I ended up on the elevator all night instead. Here’s what happened:

Hallie

The Ground floor:

I made my way in – Hi Jessie Rubin, Hi Chris Weeks, Hi Tod’s PR, Hi Nadine Johnson people, Hi insane paparazzi hanging across the street, Hi poor innocent tourist completely in awe of an enormous red-carpet, Hi security team from all Nadine J‘s parties, Hi E! Online!!, Hi! Everyone! J’arrive! Hello! I’m here!! And that was just between the curb and front door! From there on in it was bumper to bumper dresses, flashes, kissing, glimpses, glances of Jessica Alba (in Derek Lam), shoulder, amazing suit, hair, Kate Bosworth, shoulder, neckline, photog, video guy, Anjelica Huston, photog, photog, clip board, celebrity, champagne tray, big shoe, staircase, hallway, celebrity, staircase, hallway, Jacqueline Bissett, Tod’s loafers table, up the stairs, turn left – Phew.

L.A. native Camilla Belle (Marlborough School '04)

The 2nd floor:

Jane

Finally out of the crowd up the stairs … they looked so little down there! I see: Kate Beckinsale (also in Derek Lam), Halle Berry, Gwavin Stefani-Rossdale,  Neil Patrick Harris (YAY!) and ah yes ... the young Jessica Capshaw *(Harvard-Westlake ’94) all grown up with that handsome husband – and honey he’s a dawkta!!!!! And the crowd parted briefly and the two most important men of the hour came forth ~ host Diego Della Valle and the eve’s guest of honor ~ new incoming MOCA Director Jeffrey Deitch. Diego Della Valle is the chairman and chief executive officer of Tod’s SpA. Jeffrey Deitch is joining our MOCA downtown as the 4th director in 30 years after having his own gallery Deitch Projects in New York for 14 yrs ~ you can see works for his gallery at this link: http://www.deitch.com/ *Warning = this website is AMZING!!

Jessica Capshaw *(Harvard-Westlake '94) all grown up with that handsome husband - and honey he's a dawkta!!!!!

Angelica

And of course – if you haven’t seen the new Tod’s website yet – it’s also a veratible foray of art and videos from every Tod’s store opening around the world from Rome to New Dehli to Milan to Istanbul. Elliott Erwitt directs “Meet the elegant characters of the Tod’s World!” which is a video portrait compilation introducing you to the typical Tod’s client ~ Amanda Brooks a fashion consultant, a banker with two standard poddles, a Monaco man who’s only ever lived on (very nice, I’m sure) boats, family photo shoots from Italy to East Hampton and a man who keeps his donkeys inside a chateau to preserve his garden. And of course you can see all the new wears from Spring 2010 ~ bags, shoes and accessories ~ as well! See this link: http://www.tods.com/home.html?region=eu&lang=us&area=1 On the second floor, I went to the ladies room and the uniformed housekeepers in front reminded me  why I love Tod’s so much! Back outside there were more shoulders, jewels, glasses, petite filet mignon (yum! Tods!) and just a sea of back to back art donors, fashion writers, style mavens and celebrities packed in like royal King Oscar sardines in a holiday hand-painted tin. To the left an empty space appeared! A-Ha! An Elevator! Why not!? Any floor but this will do!

The 3rd floor:

Wait! There’s a 3rd floor at Tod’s?! Sort of. And yes. Originally this was the VIP showroom – I mean can you say old school! – which I remember being in once with my mom. Now it’s been converted into a home section with a balcony, designed by Academy Award-winning production designer/art director Dante Ferretti and three time Academy Award winning costume designer Milena Canonero. Not too shabby. Alas a balcony means a cigarette, then back to the grind with nowhere to go but down … Once safely back on the elevator I asked the daper attendant if anyone had yet to sit on the chair? He offered me to do so and I obliged. Quite comfy I had to rise when friend Liz Goldwyn came in and introduced me to Aaron Rose.

Gwen Stefani's shoe

Doors opened and we stepped back onto the 1st floor where Liz mentioned she was on a panel the next morning to judge the best “LA video”  for Los Angeles magazine’s short film contest alongside city councilman Eric Garcetti at Los Angles City Hall. Pretty cool. We’re leaving? U coming? Not yet. Where to I wonder? Still time to spare before my friends will want to journey on and it’s too crowded to use a blackberry. Those elevator doors open again and that adorable man in a black bow tie raised an eye — Why not!? In came with me – Ed Ruscha, Kelly Lynch and Magda Berliner with new blonde hair! Ed, you look fabulous! Where did you get that suit?! It always gets me how amazing he looks with silver everything and that gentleman’s poise. He held the door and said “I’d stay there if I were you” and I said – “I plan to! I’m doing a story called Blogging from the Tod’s Elevator for my website, The Daily Truffle – and you’re in it!!” He loved! and walked away. Next in? Shannan Sossymon in a long black jumper along with her friend, very cute & causual. They loved my chair and wanted it and for a minute I thought I might get off but the 2nd floor doors opened and due to traffic I thought twice and let them close. I looked at the lift butler and he at me. We sighed … We were in for a LONG NIGHT!

Belushi

But – In the end I discovered something fabulous! Taking an audience in the elevator during a party c’est la même as making the rounds three times! All the guests go up and down and circle by round and round – like a dim sum dinner tray in Kuala Lumpur – ON and OFF names of note were: Rebecca McQuigg from Intelligence Group at CAA, Duncan Roy, the Broads, the Bells, the Brosnans, the Pucks, the Callendars, the Eisners, Tod’s Creative Director Derek Lam!, and a smattering of Gettys, Coppolas & Chows along with one Furstenberg, one Berggruen and one Davenport. Now I know, I can get more done in a good elevator that I can in three entire floors off prime Rodeo Drive real estate. I took three more single-floor trips, and one entire top to bottom trip before calling it a night and phoning my friends to move on! (I will insert the truthful exit of the elevator was when Jim Belushi emotionally blackmailed me into leaving the shaft before he did – WHAT A GENTLEMAN!!) The Daily Truffle welcomes Jeffrey Deitch to LA and hope for many more trips to the Tod’s 3rd floor!!! xoxo Caroline PS

PS – LA NATIVES ARE IN PINK!!

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TOD’S & DIEGO DELLA VALLE CELEBRATE THEIR NEW BEVERLY HILLS HOME AND WELCOME JEFFREY DEITCH TO LA The Evening Benefited MOCA’S Exhibitions and Education Program

WHO: Hosts Diego Della Valle, Kate Beckinsale, Maria Arena Bell, Keely & Pierce Brosnan, Liz Goldwyn, Michel Gondry, Lisa Love, Kelly Lynch & Mitch Glazer, Ed Ruscha, Elizabeth Stewart along with honoree Jeffrey Deitch and guests Halle Berry, Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale, Jessica Alba, Kate Bosworth, Camilla Belle, Jim & Jenny Belushi, Jessica Capshaw, Neil Patrick Harris, Anjelica Huston, Marisa Tomei, James Marsden, Jordana Brewster, Sasha Alexander, André Balazs, Vanessa Beecroft, Colleen & Bradley Bell, Nicolas Berggruen, Eli & Edith Broad, Elizabeth & Colin Callender, China Chow, Gia Coppola, Brooke Davenport, Lisa & Eric Eisner, Jacqui Getty, Tierney Gearon, Piero Golia, Derek Lam (Tod’s Creative Director), Crystal Lourd, Vivi Nevo, Wolfgang Puck & Gelila Assefa-Puck, Alexandra von Furstenberg, Matthias Vriens-McGrath, Rachel Zoe, among others.

WHAT: Cocktails to celebrate Tod’s new Beverly Hills boutique which features a new “home” design concept unlike any of our stores throughout the world. To commemorate the re-opening, we collaborated with two renowned Italian pioneers with monumental achievements in the entertainment industry: Dante Ferretti; the Academy Award-winning production designer/art director and Milena Canonero, the three time Academy Award winning costume designer. In homage to Hollywood, Ferretti transformed the VIP showroom on the third floor of the boutique into an elegant, sophisticated lounge area reminiscent of 40’s supper clubs Ciro’s and Macombo – complete with an original 1946 rock-ola jukebox and lacquered paneled walls with amber mirroring. Canonero, in the spirit of Hollywood, designed a “Script bag” which launched exclusively in the Beverly Hills boutique. The evening celebrated the arrival of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s (MOCA) newly appointed Director, Jeffrey Deitch and benefited Jeffrey’s first exhibition to be unveiled in June.

WHERE: TOD’S Beverly Hills Boutique 333 North Rodeo Drive

WHEN: Thursday, April 15th 6:30pm – 8:00pm