Cocktails With Mr. Porter.

The invitation arrives by telegram. 5 p.m. at 13 rue Monsieur, where Linda Porter gave the first Charleston lessons in Paris.

Most celebrated apartment in town, unless you count the Murphys'.

The big living room with mirrored walls and angular white furniture looks much less austere filled with talented people. Mr. Porter waves you over from the piano bench; he shoos the cats ("Anything" and "Goes") onto the zebra-skin rug, pats for you to sit down.

You can barely hear him over the room roar and cocktail-shaker rhythm section, but you just make out the words... "that black-and-white baby of mine."

He even has the decency not to say he wrote it just for you.

Art Nouveau Floral Skirt (No. 2212). Luxurious cotton sateen with shaping darts and extra-full sweep; intriguing curved hem is ankle-length at center front, dipsto nearly floor length in back. The stylized floral pattern looks like it came from Aubrey Beardsley's hothouse. Imported.

Women's sizes: 2 through 18.

Color: Dark Grass Green and White.