About a year ago I began writing this column. Initially Eleganza met with disapproval, as well as more than a fair share of abuse. The subject matter — clothes, style, whatever — was considered by some to be frivolous, decadent, reactionary, capitalistic, anti-life and lots of other phrases left over from the sixties. The idea of presenting photos of rock promoters in suits (as we did in that very first column) costing hundreds of dollars paid for by “bleeding the culture” blah blah blah. . . well, some people were appalled. But all I really wanted to do was to try and prove a point, to say something about Dressing; and about how clothes were going to matter again. And now, a year later, I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so.

I suggested in that very first column that Bill Graham would look divine in a Cardin suit. Bill Graham just happened to recently buy a Cardin suit, in which he does indeed look divine. But more importantly, I proposed that rockstars themselves would feel splendid in suits and ties for a change. . . and maybe it is worthwhile to look at what has happened since. Not only musicians, but people who live the rock and roll life, (whatever that may consist of in your town) have been popping up in suits and/or ties all over. Something is happening here, but maybe you didn’t know what it was...

During the first week of May in New York City there were several events related to the rock life (this is not to be confused with the Good Life) which bear me out. Led Zeppelin had a lunch at the Four Seasons to announce their Swan Song Record label, and although Robert Plant came dressed as a sex symbol in skintight pale blue trousers and a tiger skin jacket (protesting all the while that MUD hadn’t influenced him in the slightest), and Jimmy Page was looking very popstar eleganza in a pink velvet suit and emerald green satin shirt, it was John Paul Jones and John Bonham who were the real knockouts. Jones had his hair cut shorter, and dressed in an off-white linen suit, blue silk shirt and white tie, he was a great beauty. Bonzo was stunning and sedate in beige gabardine with brown patterned tie. Even Richard Cole — the rough and ready Zeppelin tour manager — was in gray flannel, with a vest yet, and tie. The three of them looked as if they stepped right out of the pages of Uomo Vogue. I love surprises.

That same evening, following Mott the Hoople’s Broadway premiere, a private party was held for the group at “21.” (Hmmmmmm, the Four Seasons, “21”.. . remember Ungano’s? The Bitter End? Max’s? But that’s another column...) At the very moment that party was in progress, All About Eve was being aired on local TV; with the immortal George Sanders line to Celeste Holm as she walked into “21”: “I gather by the smartness of your dress that your luncheon companion is a woman.” Well... as far as smartness of dress was concerned, at the Mott party the only female whose clothes were really worth noting was Susan Blond, wearing a Diane von Furstenberg dress and a sexy Ungaro coat. But the men ah, the men were something else. I think I said something in my last column about no one being caught dead this spring in a white or a pink suitala Gatsby, but I take it back, I take it back. All eyes were on CREEM’s own Ben Edmonds (girls, if you have no visual idea of who edits this magazine you are in for a treat. . . ) who never looked better in a white suit, yellow and white striped shirt, and yellow tie. Yummmmmy. Jerry Nolan, the Dolls’ drummer,7also wore a white suit, as did Chris Charlesworth and Peter Rudge. (Well, he had half a white suit on, but he looked scrumptious nonetheless.)

Oh Lisa, tang of my nocturne, you were right, right, right. Below, assorted adepts.

Leee Childers wasn’t there, but had he been he too would have been wearing a suit. So would Joe Armstrong (soon to be seen in The John Dean Story) — he always does. Steve Paul was wearing a blue (what else?) suit (and I’m not talking blue jeans) although no tie, and Ian Dove wore a pinstripe vested suit and marvelous straw hat. Bob Weiner wore a black velvet jacket and tie (having changed from his lunchtime ensemble of green velvet jacket and tie) and lots of others were looking mighty nice. The point is —.some of these are people a few months back mainly coverd by jeans and t-shirts. Of' course Lester Bangs and Ian Hunter didn’t wear suits (Ian wore a turquoise necklace that would have thrown Rita Coolidge into an apoplexy of envy) but they can get away with it. At least.nobody threw up.

Ben E. actually is a good example of someone whose wardrobe seems to have undergone a recent change. He protests that he was always interested in his clothes, but admits that “people dress in accordance with their economic means,” and his wardrobe became more extensive when’ he began to make a bit more money. “When the hippie ethic stated that you weren’t supposed to care about clothes, no one did,” Ben said, cornered at the “21” bar. “With the exception of the really creative people who invented beautiful clothing it was mostly just jeans and t-shirts. But people are beginning to be concerned about the way they live; and it’s not just getting older.. . kids in high school dress better than ever before. People are just into a clothes consciousness again, and I think it’s healthy,” he smiled. “It certainly gives you somthing to look at on the street... I got tired of seeing what was left over from the sixties lying in the gutter.”

Odds & Ends: Blair Sabol swears she saw a Gucci-footed Hare Krishna outside the New York 42nd Street Public Library, and says she’s “waiting for The Process to show up in Hermes.” (Blair, by the way, has always wanted to know how the Hare Krishnas get their sneakers that marvelous peach color...) Donald Lyons, meanwhile, reports that The Process have smart new electric blue capes, and that he’s always tempted to ask them “How’s the Devil today?” when he passes them in the street. .. How much longer can Cher go on wearing things like Bob Mackie and Ray Agayhan’s “multi-colored pastel, floral printed chiffon halter bra with long handkerchief shirt and matching cape and beaded flowers in her hair” (whew), as she did to the Oscars? Isn’t it high time for a change of style? Coney Island Scheherazade (as Loraine so aptly describes Cher) has had it. .. The Continental Baths opened a boutique and had a fashion show for their line of (doncha know) towels ho hum. I can think of other places I would rather shop, thanks... This should be High Eleganza: During Sly’s performance at Madison Square Garden he married Kathy Silva, the mother of his nine month old son, Sylvester. Cute? Stephen Paley was Best Man and we’ll have pix next month. At last report, Paley mumbled something about Halston designing the gowns for the entire wedding party.

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