SUCCESSFUL couturiers, men like Valentino Garavani, have the guts of a general and the sang-froid of a surgeon. At the Lowell Hotel, to celebrate the addition of Rita Jammet‘s La Caravelle Champagne to the menu, someone was being commended for forging ahead after a death in the family. “That’s nothing,” recounted one grand dame. “Once I was in Rome for a dinner at Valentino’s villa in honor of Jacqueline Kennedy. Sadly, his father had died upstairs earlier in the day. Valentino, always a gentleman, did not wish to upset his guests, so he didn’t announce the death until the next day. Jackie had a wonderful time.” Also in the Pembroke Room were Lowell owner Nabil Chartouni, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Gillian Miniter, Ambassador Pier and Countess Nubia Braschi, Mouboussin CEO Alain Nemarq, Yanna Avis and Somers Farkas, who lifted a bottle of La Caravelle for her pal Grace Hightower.