ELLE LUNCHES WITH DVF: It was so good it could have been a joke. Diana Ross, James Frey and a Philadelphia Eagles linebacker walk into a bar…except that the threesome walked into Diane von Furstenberg’s studio Wednesday afternoon for lunch (where the hardest drink on offer was white wine). Anil Kapoor of “Slumdog Millionaire”, First Lady outfitter Jason Wu, Veronica Webb, Eva Amurri, Roberta Myers, Joe Zee, Anne Slowey, Whitney Port, Olivia Palermo and a camera crew for “The City” were there, too, helping celebrate Jessica Alba (also in attendance) wearing DvF on the March cover of Elle. Such is a day in the life of von Furstenberg. “I’m an eclectic girl,” said the hostess, surveying the wide range of friends she’d gathered.

Ross and the designer have been lifelong confidantes, and Alba flew in for the occasion. The actress said that sometimes cover shoots can be trying. “Most stylists have their agendas, and they’ll put you in what they need to put you in — they have sponsors or whatever,” said Alba, who has her own fashion project in the works. Frey, the memoirist who was lauded then lashed by Oprah Winfrey, wasn’t quite sure how he got an invite to the intimate gathering beyond it simply landing in his e-mail that morning. “My wife’s into fashion. When I told her I was going to lunch at Diane von Furstenberg’s, she just said something along the lines of, ‘You’re so weird.’” When he arrived, Frey discovered he did have a friend there: DvF global image director Alixe Boyer, with whom he went to college.

As for the linebacker, meet Stewart Bradley, Elle’s newest intern. The Philadelphia Eagle started Tuesday in the fashion department and seemed at home among the stylish set, quickly rattling off the credits for his ensemble (PRPS jeans, Diesel shirt and PF Flyers kicks). But don’t assume he’s following in former New York Ranger/Vogue intern Sean Avery’s footsteps — even if one of his co-workers accidentally called him Sean. “I’m much nicer than Sean,” Bradley said.

— Emily Holt