DINING AL FRESCO: Chilly weather didn’t cool enthusiasm Wednesday night, when Alice + Olivia founder Stacey Bendet hosted a dinner and shopping party for about 40 guests in Malibu, including a sizable buffet line that had some attendees speculating on recession-driven behavior. “Most people usually don’t eat at these events — it must be the economy,” said guest Brooke Burke.

Devon Aoki, Estella Warren, Vivica A. Fox, Denise Richards, Mena Suvari, Lynn Collins and Maria Menounos also attended the event at the recently opened Malibu Lumber Yard shopping center. Not surprisingly, dinnertime discussion included celebrity-centric topics such as the breakup of Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson and Michael Jackson’s death, along with more mundane subjects like cooking, swimming and the ban on Speedo’s LZR racing swimsuit.

“I’m a fan of the traditional Speedo,” joked Fox. “I think it’s time to bring back the ass cleavage.”

By evening’s end, a light mist descended over the tables, and Menounos, who arrived in a short, coral Alice + Olivia dress, changed into duds more appropriate for the cool beachside weather — a pair of skinny jeans and a cropped black leather jacket from the store. “Thank god there was more than enough clothing here to choose from,” Menounos said.