We're similar in spirit," said Armani about the rock 'n' roll legend, whom he's known for seven years. "He doesn't take advantage of his glories."

It was an evening of reunions for Armani, who, after all, has had one foot in Hollywood since designing costumes for American Gigolo in 1980. He hovered at the entrance greeting such friends as Maria Shriver, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Glenn Close, Andy Garcia and Lily Tartikoff.

After cocktails, the nearly 500 guests trooped in to dinner, where low-slung gray couches were arranged in tiers around the dance floor. The evening was a prelude to the Christie's auction of 100 of Clapton's guitars to benefit the Crossroads Center at Antigua, a rehab facility Clapton founded in 1998. The sale, a few nights later in New York, raised more than $5 million.

"I was drinking and drugging most of my life," he said when he stepped onstage to address the crowd, "and I've been clean now for nearly 12 years." As bules guitarist Jimmie Vaughan began to play, Schwarzenegger grabbed Shriver by the waist and they swayed to the music.

"It's more like a New York party," said Shriver.

"It's major," intoned Scwarzenegger in his deep voice.

By the time Robert De Niro lit his cigar, Clapton and Vaughan were jamming and Lauren Holly was shaking her hips to the beat and running her fingers through her blond extensions.

"Excellent evening," she purred. "Very cool."