Regarding her clothes sense, r102, from r14:
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After Irene retired from pictures, in 1953, she devoted her time to volunteer work for the Republican Party and Catholic charities. In 1957, for her work on behalf of the Republicans, President Eisenhower appointed her to be a delegate to the 12th General Assembly of the United Nations. Before she left Beverly Hills, Loretta Young asked her, “Who is going to dress you in New York?” Irene said, “Well, I suppose I am. I’ll take what I have here.” Loretta said, “Oh, no, Irene, you’ve got to have a look! I think you should get Mainbocher to create a wardrobe for you.” Irene gave a little gasp, because she was very close with a dollar, but in the end she let Loretta prevail. Mainbocher designed a number of dresses for her, and when she got back to Los Angeles she told me, “I have to admit that I looked as good as anybody on the streets of New York.”
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For one charity event, Irene and Loretta Young, who was also a devout Catholic, were in New York, staying at the Hotel Pierre. As they were leaving for the benefit, Loretta said, “Are those the best earrings you have?” Irene said, “What’s wrong with them?” Instead of answering, Loretta got out an extra pair of diamond earrings she had with her and said, “Here, try these on.” There was no comparison, so Irene wore Loretta’s earrings. Leaving the party later, Irene took one off because it was pinching her ear. She wrapped it in a Kleenex and slipped it into her pocket. Arriving at the Pierre, she inadvertently pulled the Kleenex out and dropped it in the gutter. Only when she was undressing upstairs did she realize what she had done. She called down to the doorman, but the Kleenex and the earring had disappeared. When the ladies returned to Beverly Hills, Irene went to Russer’s, the well-known jeweler, and had the remaining earring copied. It cost her $12,000, and she vowed that she would never borrow anything again. She was wrong, however, as you shall see.
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Airport 77 had a special premiere in Anchorage, Alaska, and Jimmy and Gloria Stewart, the designer Edith Head, the director, Jerry Jameson, and I planned to attend. I invited Irene to go with us, and she was delighted. I told her she would need a couple of fur coats, and she said, “I only have my mink and my broadtail.” I said, “Borrow Loretta’s lynx.” She said, “Oh, I hate to borrow things.” I said, “Look, she’ll be happy to let you have it.”
So she took the lynx to Alaska, and she looked wonderful in it. However, whenever we would get into tight quarters, touring in out-of-the-way places, the lynx would get pushed under a seat or over the back of a seat or in an overhead rack. By the time we got home, it looked as if it had had more than 8 or 10 days’ wear; it looked worn out. When Irene returned it to Loretta, Loretta naturally asked, “Is this the coat I loaned you?” Irene replied, “Of course it is, darling. I hardly wore it.”
