POINTS EAST: No Forbidden City for him. Karl Lagerfeld had his nose to many grindstones in Beijing on Thursday, not only conducting a massive, international casting call for his Fendi show tonight on the Great Wall of China, but also lensing fashion shoots for Chinese Vogue and all 19 international editions of Elle. The designer said he is the first to photograph in the new Herzog & de Meuron-designed Olympic Stadium. Meanwhile, an army of Fendi folks, from seamstresses to major LVMH brass, are in town for Fendi's sunset spectacle, along with a gaggle of actresses, including Zhang Ziyi, Kate Bosworth and Thandie Newton.

HONORING GALANOS: James Galanos' career was feted Thursday with a Walk of Style Award plaque placed in Rodeo Drive's sidewalk and a luncheon in his honor at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons. Longtime client Nancy Reagan, wearing a dark Galanos suit, joined in the festivities, as did Betsy Bloomingdale, Connie Wald, Peggy Moffitt, Cameron Silver and Ralph Rucci. "If we were in Japan, we'd have an expression and call him our national living treasure," said Rucci, speaking to the crowd about Galanos. "The standard that the man upheld could only be surpassed by the man's behavior." Galanos responded jokingly, "I don't know why I'm here in the first place, but I like it." Galanos is the 11th person to receive the award. Floating Island desserts, reportedly Reagan's favorite, topped off the event. "It's comfort food," Moffitt explained, while taking a spoonful.

STARRY NIGHT: Those planning to attend the Fashion Group International's 24th Night of Stars on Oct. 24 can expect quite a lineup of presenters. Among those confirmed are Kerry Washington, who will hand the night's Superstar Award to Jean Paul Gaultier, and Jennifer Hudson, who will do the honors for Lord & Taylor Fashion Oracle Award winner André Leon Talley. The night, themed "The Rule Breakers," is also expected to feature Nadia Swarovski giving an award to Hussein Chalayan; Barneys New York's Julie Gilhart to Bottega Veneta's Tomas Maier; Carolina Herrera to Patricia Wexler; Vogue's Anna Wintour to Barneys' chief executive officer Howard Socol, and former Citigroup ceo Sandy Weill to Josie Natori.