If the Shoe Fits

What was it like when Rue McClanahan (a.k.a. Blanche on NBC’s “The Golden Girls”) went shopping for shoes at Ciao on Melrose Avenue? “Very nice. She’s easygoing. She tried on everything I brought her,” store owner Melissa Welles tells us. The actress was only interested in “cute, comfortable” flats and purchased three styles, including a two-tone pink pair with ankle straps.

Winners and Losers

Listen’s Oscar fashion expert, New York free-lancer Tim Hawkins, has picked his own winners after watching Wednesday night’s telecast. Here’s the fax he sent Listen: “Best Dressed goes hands down to Ali MacGraw in a strapless black Armani, for looking simultaneously ultra-simple and sensational. She also wins best hairdo for her short and sleek cut. Tom Selleck, in white tie and tails with his hair slicked back, gets the Best Dressed Actor, looking like a cross between Clark Gable and Robert Taylor from the Golden Era of Hollywood.”

The Shoe Must Go On

We hear a little last-minute legwork went into Oscar night. Joan Wills, owner of the Fogal hoisery boutique on Rodeo Drive, says Tom Hanks sent a friend in on Monday for a pair of dressy cashmere-and-silk knee-highs. Melanie Griffith came in person on Tuesday for her cream-colored Lycra tights. Then on O-Day, Hanks’ wife, actress Rita Wilson, dropped by for nude-colored panty hose that have a lacy top, and Sally Kirkland bought sheer black thigh-highs, which Wills describes as “sexy and self-supporting.”

. . . And There Are Legends

Legend has it that Audrey Hepburn wears only Givenchy or jeans. But legend must have it wrong. We’re told by Theodore owner Herb Fink that when the actress paid a visit to his Rodeo Drive boutique recently, she bought pants and shirts by both Go Silk and Go Linen as well as a Kenzo blazer.

Lucky Bride

Yves Saint Laurent’s white crepe Grecian-style dress, purchased at Bullocks Wilshire, is the wedding gown choice of Terre Blair, who’ll marry music-meister Marvin Hamlisch. Our source also tells us that the bridesmaids’ gowns for this event are all of beige chiffon, by Julie Francis and were bought at I. Magnin.

That’s the Ticket

Jaclyn Smith, whose name is on a K mart line of clothes, was shopping elsewhere the other day. She was in the Beverly Hills Gianni Versace boutique, according to owner Carolyn Mahboubi, who says the actress chose “the hottest jacket this season.” It’s a black-silk bolero decorated with hand-painted orange, green, purple and yellow flowers. To go with that little number, Smith bought orange jersey pants, orange grosgrain sling-back heels and a black grosgrain clutch decorated with orange tassels.

Lunch Bunch

There was quite a Hollywood power lineup at Prego in Beverly Hills one recent lunchtime: Director Billy Wilder and MGM financier Kirk Kerkorian were at one table. At another table was heartthrob Tom Cruise, sporting his new crew cut. The actor othewise downplayed it in a white T-shirt, jeans, boots and that big, shiny gold wedding band of his.

Store and Hearth

Keeping up with the Laurens--that is, Ralph and company--corporate planners at Macy’s, which owns I. Magnin, have requested that fireplaces be built in the Beverly Hills I. Magnin store, for a cozy feeling that Lauren shops are already known for. Two hearths are currently under construction--one in the second-floor evening-wear department and the other in third-floor designer sportswear. Store manager Betty Leonard says they will be completed in May, but it’s unlikely that they will ever actually be put into operation. They’re just supposed to evoke that “residential” feeling.

Double-Duty Award

Those huge diamond earrings and bracelets Anne Archer sported at the Academy Awards Wednesday night are the no-paste variety, straight from the showcases of New York’s diamond magnate Harry Winston. And her black satin gown is a sneak preview of the costumes Archer will wear in her next film, “Love at Large.” Styled by the film’s costume designer, Ingrid Ferrin, Archer’s gown will be used in the new film. It was the diamond ear bobs that were the real scene stealers, however, especially since Carrie White of Menage a Trois coiffed the “Fatal Attraction” star’s hair to highlight the pear-shaped gems.

Saucy Uniforms

Guess?, L.A. manufacturer of trendy sportswear, designed some tomato chic for the waiters, waitresses and parking attendants of the new Bice Pomodoro in Beverly Hills. “ Pomodoro “ is Italian for tomato, and in addition to unisex-white cotton shirts, black miniskirts and stonewashed jeans, a dash of red will be added. Manager Krisztina Reisini says the waiters will soon wear custom-made black ties (by someone other than Guess? and we’ll just have to guess who) festooned with tiny red tomatoes.