News Reader.info

You might not know Lori Davis, but Larry Hagman says he owes his career to her. And Cher calls her a “hair doctor--no, a miracle worker.” Davis is the 51-year-old colorist and perm

specialist who just launched her products via television “informercial.” With celeb testimonials and some “real” people to sing the products’ praises, the 800 number rang in an

“overwhelming” response, says Patty Brenner of American Telecast, makers of informercials. It seems plenty of people are willing to ante up $50 for a selection of Davis’ products. And that

price isn’t bad compared to her salon rates. She charges a phenomenal $300 to $3,000 for chemical treatments. * FAMOUS FACES: Elizabeth Taylor’s wedding gift from designer Gianni Versace was

the talk of the party Saturday night at which she accepted an award for her crusade against AIDS. The sequined jacket, covered with portraits of Liz from past movies, is a real conversation

piece. Versace has made similar wearable portraiture from other famous faces, including Marilyn Monroe, Elton John and James Dean. * LITERARY ASPIRATIONS: Big changes are in store at

Esprit’s L.A. flagship on Santa Monica Boulevard. Big and Tall Books, an artsy-scholarly store with restaurant, will open a concession there Nov. 29. The inventory will include books on art,

design and fashion, as well as tomes about the environment, says Big and Tall’s David Erikson. Early next year, several more concessions and a cafe will open, giving the store a “more

SoHo-urban look and feel,” says an Esprit spokesperson. d * COURT LIFE: If you’ve been following this week’s Virginia Slims tennis championships, you might like to know how a few pros score

off center court. Monica Seles, for example, recently replaced Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again girlfriend, Marla Maples, as spokesperson for No Excuses jeans and accessories. Gabriela

Sabatini’s “flowery, exotic, exuberant” perfume now sells exclusively at JC Penney. And Steffi Graff appears in German print ads and TV commercials wearing baubles of Barilla pasta. That’s

the company’s way of enticing viewers to try its pasta “collection.” * TIME MARCHES ON: At least one thing that cost $40 in 1983 can still be had for the same price. It’s a Swatch watch,

natch. The original model, and every style made since, is on display in the Swatch Newseum at Bullock’s, Beverly Center, through Dec. 3. From there, the exhibit moves to the May Co. in

Riverside from Dec. 6-16, then to Bullock’s, South Coast Plaza, from Dec. 18 to Jan. 6. If you want a serious case of the missing-you blues, consider this. Company spokeswoman Judy Glassman

says an original Swatch is now worth about $20,000. Do you know where you put _ yours?_ * PROFILING: Most people had never seen a cameo with an African woman’s facial features, until New

Yorker Coreen Simpson decided to do something about it. The jewelry designer’s cameos have been snapped up by “Cosby” show co-star Phylicia Rashad, Diahann Carroll and Washington, D.C.,

Mayor Sharon Pratt Dixon, to name a few. The gift shop at the Museum of African American Art in Los Angeles stocks the neo-classics, which they report are big sellers at $40 to $1,500. MORE

TO READ