Euro 2024 quarterfinal: What you need to know for England vs. Switzerland

• July 5, 2024

DUESSELDORF, Germany — England will play Switzerland in the quarterfinals of the European Championship on Saturday.

England faced criticism from fans who thought the team underperformed in its extra-time win over Slovakia, while Switzerland exceeded expectations by knocking out defending champion Italy. The winner will play the Netherlands or Turkey in the semifinals. Kickoff is at 9 a.m. PT in Duesseldorf.

Here’s what to know about the match:

Match facts

— England is playing its fourth quarterfinal at a major tournament under England manager Gareth Southgate and won two of the previous three. Southgate’s cautious tactics have brought hefty criticism from England fans, some of whom threw plastic cups at him in the group stage.

— Jude Bellingham’s last-minute overhead kick to send England’s last-16 game with Slovakia to extra time has been one of the most dramatic moments of Euro 2024. Defender John Stones said Thursday that surviving that brush with elimination gave the team new confidence.

— Switzerland coach Murat Yakin has won a reputation for smart tactics at Euro 2024, especially by outclassing an Italy team packed with more famous names in the round of 16.

— England is playing two days after a general election ended 14 years of rule by the Conservative Party. It didn’t make waves in the England camp, which Stones called a “politics-free zone.”

Team news

— Bellingham is available after he avoided an immediate ban from UEFA, which investigated an allegedly crude gesture he made during the Slovakia game. UEFA fined Bellingham 30,000 euros ($32,500) and gave him a one-game ban that only takes effect if he breaks the rules again during a one-year probationary period. He has denied he was mocking Slovakia when he seemed to gesture toward his crotch.

— England defender Marc Guéhi is suspended after picking up a second booking against Slovakia. Ezri Konsa, who came off the bench in extra time in that game, is the favorite to replace him in the center of defense alongside Stones.

— Stones wore heavy strapping on his right knee in training Wednesday but said Thursday he’s fit to play.

— Bellingham, forward Phil Foden and full back Kieran Trippier are among five England players who would miss the semifinals if booked against Switzerland. Captain Granit Xhaka is one of four Swiss players in the same situation.

— Xhaka is fitting after training individually earlier this week, Yakin said on Friday.

By the numbers

— Southgate is marking his 100th game in charge and it could be his last. His contract expires after the tournament.

— Switzerland hasn’t beaten England for 43 years. Harry Kane scored the winning goal when England had a comeback 2-1 win the last time they played in a 2022 friendly.

— It’s only the third time the Swiss team is playing in the quarterfinals of a major tournament. It has yet to reach a semifinal. A penalty-shootout loss to Spain in the quarterfinals of Euro 2020 was its best European Championship showing.

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What they’re saying

— “The other night, I thought we were going home after 60 minutes of the game. To change the mindset of us all and keep that belief and faith, it’s got a lot of power behind that for ourselves, other teams. Everyone watching at home knows that we’re there to do it right until the last minute, literally. And, I think we should take great confidence from that.” — England defender John Stones.

— “No matter how they played, they are in the quarterfinals, so no one is interested how they played in the group stage and in the games before that. They have a lot of quality and any time they can hurt their opponents, so we need to be prepared for that.” — Switzerland defender Fabian Schär warns against underestimating England.

​ Orange County Register 

Air pollution advisory issued across Southern California after July 4th fireworks

• July 5, 2024

Due to the after-effects of July 4th fireworks, the South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a special advisory for particle pollution that is leading to hazardous conditions in some areas on Friday, July 5.

The agency said that fireworks emissions from Independence Day celebrations often lead to the worst air-quality days of the entire year.

The advisory, which covers parts of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. Friday.

Some areas were experiencing air quality at the Moderate AQI (Air Quality Index) level at 9 a.m. Friday, including much of the South Bay and Orange County.

At that same time, the air quality in many areas of Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire ranged from Unhealthy AQI to Hazardous.

The worst area — experiencing Hazardous air quality — on Friday morning was the area surrounding Glendora and Azusa and parts of West Covina heading toward the mountains. Just outside of that area, including Pomona, Montclair, Claremont, Duarte and Arcadia, the air quality was measured as Very Unhealthy.

Air quality Friday morning was also Very Unhealthy in the eastern San Fernando Valley, Burbank and Glendale areas.

Most of LA, the rest of the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire as far east as Redlands was experiencing air quality that was either Unhealthy, or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

The particles emitted by fireworks, including “backyard” fireworks, include metal air pollutants, the AQMD said, causing even more hazardous conditions.

And “backyard” fireworks can lead to even higher levels of fine particulate matter in the neighborhoods where they were launched, leading to even worse air quality that is being measured by AQMD’s regional equipment, the agency said.

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The fireworks particles add to the other particles in the Southern California basin from vehicles and industrial uses. In addition, high ozone levels unrelated to July 4th celebrations will decrease air quality — leading to the Very Unhealthy AQI level in the afternoon and evening.

The AQMD warns that people’s cardiovascular and respiratory health suffers when breathing in fine particulate matter. Negative health effects can include heart attacks, worsened asthma, decreased lung function, coughing and difficulty breathing and even “premature death” in those suffering from heart or lung disease.

The air-quality-monitoring agency recommends remaining indoors with doors and windows closed, avoiding vigorous physical activity, and running air conditioners and air purifiers.

​ Orange County Register 

Real Housewives of Orange County: Alexis Bellino and Katie Ginella join the cast

• July 5, 2024

Alexis Bellino had a lot going on at the end of summer last year.

Her beloved mother died, she broke off an engagement, and then “The Real Housewives of Orange County” was on the phone, asking the former housewife if she’d like to rejoin the reality series for its 18th season.

And all that before she met and fell in love with John Janssen, the ex-boyfriend of housewife Shannon Storms Beador, which threw a huge plot twist into the season that premieres on Bravo on Thursday, July 11.

“I mean, you can’t write this stuff, right?” Bellino says. “This is why it’s reality TV; it’s too good to be its own movie. It just is what it is, and, yeah, there’s a lot.”

Around the same time, Katie Ginella and her family moved to Orange County, which brought her into the orbit of Bravo’s casting directors.

“I became friends with Sutton,” Ginella says of Sutton Stracke of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.” “I told her, I think we’re moving to Orange County and she said, ‘Oh, one of my friends is a real estate agent. You should reach out. You’re both around the same age; you have the same kind of personality; you’d be friends.’”

The friend was Gina Kirschenheiter of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” who not only met with Ginella about her housing needs but also encouraged her to join the reality show for its new season.

Ginella is not only the new castmember; she is also the first Asian American in the cast of “The Real Housewives of Orange County,” and the first housewife of Korean descent on any cast in the greater Housewife universe.

The rest of the cast remains as it was with Shannon, Gina, Heather Dubrow, Tamra Judge, Emily Simpson, and Jen Pedranti all returning for the new season. (Bellino, who was previously on the show between 2009 and 2013, is officially credited as “a friend” of the Housewives, but she’s certain to be a big presence in the storylines this year.)

In separate interviews edited for length and clarity, Bellino and Ginella talked about their decisions to be on the series, the drama they encountered on the show, and more.

Alexis Bellino

Q: So when and how were you approached to rejoin the show?

A: When I left 10 years ago, Heather and I were not close, but over the last 10 years we have formed a very true, authentic relationship. She’s been very vocal in the Bravo world about wanting me to be back on. With my mom passing in August, it was not anything in my forethought at all. But then at Bravo Con, Tamra and I had a really deep conversation. A true friendship started forming. And it was a just a road that led us here from that point on.

Q: Was there any hesitation before you said yes?

A: I did doubt going back for several reasons. No. 1, I didn’t know if I was mentally and physically capable to do it because I was so distraught. I was in a lot of therapy. Then No. 2, I happened to meet John [she laughs] at, let’s just say, an inconvenient time. It ended up being a deep love, so it was not a mistake, and I’m not regretful of any of that.

But it did change the trajectory of what was going to happen. I was going to be on ‘Housewives’ as a single woman and now I’m on ‘Housewives’ in a serious relationship with an ex-boyfriend of one of the cast members.

Q: You met John at The Quiet Woman in Corona del Mar, which is often a place we’ve seen Shannon.

A: The honest-to-God truth is I’ve been going to the Quiet Woman for decades. My guy friends who are married – I officiated their wedding, actually – wanted me to take them there. So we went, and we’d paid the bill and just had our dessert. And John walks in with a group of people. I didn’t pay him any attention at that point.

We all just hung out, and I’m still thinking I’m going home at this point. I’m not drinking. I’m just ready to go. And they all just were like, ‘No, we’re going to Shamrock; we’re going dancing,’ and this and that. Somehow they talked me into it even in my 5-inch stilettos and so we went and danced.

You could tell there was an energy between John and I, but we definitely stayed friends. And then we just couldn’t fight it anymore. It was just natural. And we are deeply in love. The relationship we are in is so much harder than if I just met somebody else at the grocery store, you know what I mean? We chose a very difficult path.

That’s why we waited to make sure, ‘OK, are these feelings more than just like you’re hot and you’re hot? It’s like, what is really here. So that’s where we are now.

Q: This is clearly going to be a big storyline this year. Have you prepared yourself for that?

A: After I spoke with my psychic, I decided to have the fire come inside of me to go back. I was going to say no at that point. It was almost too much to take on, right? I didn’t want to come in as the villain of the girlfriend that took the boyfriend when it’s not true, because they were broken up for a year and half.

I know that makes interesting and good TV, but at the end of the day, people’s feelings are involved in this. I am in love with him. It is uncomfortable for Shannon and I to be on the same cast. So I almost didn’t come back. Then I talked to my mom through my psychic and that’s how I’m here.

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Katie Ginella

Q: So tell me about how you came from Georgia to become a real housewife in Orange County.

A: I actually met the casting about three years ago. A friend of mine was on ‘Basketball Wives’ and they reached out. We had moved to San Diego and I was like “I don’t live in Orange County so this is definitely not going to work.’ Then about a year later I met Sutton. We’re both from Georgia and we became very fast friends.

We were kind of commiserating on the lack of sweet tea and fried food here in Southern California. It’s very healthy here. [She laughs] You know, we grew up like eating everything fried and full of butter. And so we became good friends.

Q: Do you know how far it is to the closest Waffle House?

A: Oh my gosh, I do actually know how far it is. It’s in Arizona and it makes me so sad. I miss that gross, greasy food so much.

Q: And she introduced you to Gina?

A: I reached out to Gina and we met for coffee to discuss my needs for a house because I have four kids and two dogs and my husband needs an office. And we sat there for five hours and talked. We were instantly friends. There’s never a lack of conversation with Gina, which is great.

Q: You and your husband both come from a background in golf journalism, and now you’ve got a business involving alcohol and golf?

A: Golf balls come in a sleeve, right? So we have made a golf ball that is 50 milliliters and the top of it twists off and inside are flavored shots of tequila and vodka. They come in a sleeve of four because usually golf is played in a foursome. And they’re called Tee Shots.

Q: Was that part of the appeal of the show? To have a chance to talk about your business?

A: I was able to talk about my business. My husband owns his own production company in golf. So it was kind of a really cool platform for that. I also thought it was really great that I could get on the show as the first Korean/Asian American for Orange County. There’s a huge Asian population in Orange County, Southern California and California in general. I think it’s really cool to see representation of Asian Americans on television.

Q: What can your representation as an Asian American change or do on the show?

A: I am adopted from Korea, so growing up, seeing a female Asian anywhere, whether it was sports or on TV, was awesome for me to see. It made me feel like, ‘Oh, that’s somebody I can relate to even though I had no idea who the person was.

I think it comes with a lot of responsibility but responsibility I am really excited about. It does come with some stereotypes, and I think it’s good that I can help kind of break down some of those

Q: Like what?

A: We were filming and I told the girls, ‘Oh, I have to take Pepcid, so I don’t get Asian flush when we’re drinking.’ They were like what is that? They had no idea. I also got to introduce them to some Asian food, Asian culture, even being adopted from Korea and kind of learning it myself. It’s cool to introduce these ladies to something that they’re totally unaware about. I really, really enjoyed that.

Q: What was your family’s reaction to you going on ‘Real Housewives’?

A: My husband said now it’s your turn to do what you want to do and be who you want to be. It was hard at times. They would see me come home upset or stressed out, but they were all super supportive. It was nice.

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​ Orange County Register 

Tour de France: Remco Evenepoel closes gap with Stage 7 time trial win

• July 5, 2024

GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN, France (AP) — Race-against-the-clock specialist Remco Evenepoel displayed impressive power and precision in winning the Tour de France’s first time trial on Friday.

In his slipstream was every other contender for the yellow jersey, including holder Tadej Pogacar.

Despite a small problem with his bike close to the finish that cost him a few seconds, the Tour debutant mastered the 25-kilometer (16-mile) stage in the Burgundy Grand Crus wine country to dominate his first win at cycling’s biggest race.

Evenepoel clocked 28 minutes, 52 seconds to beat Pogacar by 12 seconds. Primoz Roglic was third, 34 seconds behind. Evenepoel has now won stages at all three Grands Tours — the Giro d’Italia, Tour and Vuelta.

Evenepoel, who was first at all intermediate check points, stayed in second place in the general classification, 33 seconds behind Pogacar. Two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard was third overall, 1:15 behind.

Pogacar added 25 seconds on Vingegaard, taking his revenge from last year’s time trial in Combloux where the Slovenian was at the receiving end of a sobering beating by the Dane. Vingegaard, however, did not lose too much time and the gap between them was not that big with more than two weeks of hard racing remaining.

“I gained time on Primoz and on Jonas and the other guys, I can be really happy,” Pogacar said. “I need to keep an eye on Remco now, he is a bit closer. They can show good legs in the next mountain stages. Still a long way to go.”

There was a big question mark over Vingegaard’s form before the start following the crash that wreaked havoc with his season. Vingegaard was hospitalized for nearly two weeks in Spain in April following a high-speed crash in the Tour of the Basque Country. He sustained a broken collarbone and ribs and a collapsed lung.

Evenepoel has been regarded as a cycling prodigy for years. A versatile rider, he has won the 2022 Vuelta and classics after recovering from a horrific crash during a race in Italy in 2020.

He won the world time trial last year and the road race in 2022. He needed surgery this season after breaking a collarbone and shoulder blade in a crash at the Tour of Basque Country. The two-time world champion will lead Belgium’s men’s team in road cycling at the Paris Olympics.

“As for the rest of the Tour de France, I believe Tadej is going to be unreachable,” Evenepoel said. “But this is cycling, you never know what can happen. The further into the race we go, the better I will feel, so I’ll focus more on the podium because I feel I have the legs for it.”

The stage took riders on forest roads and through vineyards on a mostly flat terrain. The short climb of the Côte de Curtil-Vergy after 12 kilometers added a dose of pain on the way to the finish in Gevrey-Chambertin.

Tucked in a perfect aerodynamic position, Evenepoel went all out in the descent, reaching an impressive speed of 85 kph (53 mph).

“The climb was pretty tough, because I wanted to start fast but I wanted to keep something,” Evenepoel said. “The descent was technical and fast, you have to do it well. I enjoyed every meter of this TT.”

He slowed with about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) left, thinking he had a puncture, but quickly realized everything was fine and rekindled his effort.

“Maybe somebody from the public dropped a glass or hit a fence, it made the same sound as a puncture,” he added. “I was a bit scared, but after few meters I knew nothing was wrong. I kept pushing even with the scare, fearing that maybe it was a slow puncture.”

There will be a second time trial on the final day of the race on July 21, a 34-kilometer (21-mile) trek between Monaco and Nice.

Saturday’s Stage 8 will take the peloton on a hilly ride to Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, the home and final resting place of former French President Charles de Gaulle.

​ Orange County Register 

HOA Homefront: Are pets allowed under Fair Housing laws even if CR&Rs say no?

• July 5, 2024

Q: Our CC&Rs state that no animal of any kind shall be kept in any unit. Recently, a resident adopted a large dog. The board approached the resident and a few days later she provided a letter from a psychiatrist stating that she suffers from anxiety and that the dog is a support animal. The letter claims the Federal Fair Housing Act gives her the right to keep the animal despite the CC&Rs.  Do HOAs have any recourse in this situation?  The resident is a renter, not an owner, if that makes any difference. — K. D., Redondo Beach.

A: If the animal’s necessity is properly documented by someone with direct knowledge of the resident (whether an owner or not) as an “assistive animal” then it is not a “pet” and is not subject to the HOA’s pet rules.

Website “certifications” aren’t sufficient. Should the animal harm others, damage property or otherwise cause a nuisance, the accommodation then becomes “unreasonable” and the owner of the animal can be held accountable for problems the animal causes.

By the way, how can your HOA have a complete ban on animals in units, given Civil Code Section 4715, which protects the right of a resident to have one animal in their residence?

Q: The board recently voted to change the parking rules in our community handicapped stalls within the parking garage. The board says handicap stalls will be viewed as common visitor stalls, subject to the same visitor parking limits. The intent of this change by the board is to punish individuals who park in handicapped stalls for extended periods of time. My concern is this does not comply with the Fair Housing Act. — N.K., Irvine.

A: If someone qualifies under the Fair Housing laws as “disabled” and needs access to parking spaces closer to the resident’s home, the HOA rules take a back seat to the Fair Housing requirements. However, I often find that residents request special parking privileges that do not in fact assist them with their disability.

For example, the person who prefers to park in visitor parking instead of their assigned garage, which is almost always closer. Accommodation requests must be viewed in standalone fashion without regard to the governing documents.

So, if someone truly is disabled and requires reasonable help from the HOA with that disability, the HOA rules may not prevent that help. Also, DMV-issued handicapped placards are not documentation of a current disability.

Q: I am going to request a slight modification to our sidewalk/entry, to make it wheelchair accessible. Is the HOA obligated to honor my request per ADA, or anything else? — S.M., Dana Point

A: The ADA does not apply to most HOAs, which in most respects are not “public accommodations,” but state and federal Fair Housing laws apply.

If a resident suffers from a disability requiring the modification of the unit’s entry, so long as the modification is “reasonable,” the HOA may be required to allow it. The modification’s cost in most instances must be paid for by the requesting resident.

For more information on accommodating disabilities in California, go to calcivilrights.ca.gov.

Kelly G. Richardson CCAL is a Fellow of the College of Community Association Lawyers and Partner of Richardson Ober LLP, a California law firm known for community association advice. Send column questions to Kelly@roattorneys.com.

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​ Orange County Register 

PAGA reforms are a step in the right direction for California’s small businesses

• July 5, 2024

As a member of our local community and a decades-long advocate for significant legal reform in California, I am optimistic about the negotiated reforms signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom this week. 

As the Southern California regional director of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CA CALA), our grassroots organization has long championed the need for reforming the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA). We also have advocated for significant legal reforms to address abuses tied to the American Disability Act (ADA) and other tort reform efforts that would improve the business climate in our state. 

In the years leading up to these critical reforms being enacted, we would hear from local small business owners about the direct challenges of operating a business associated with frivolous lawsuits tied to PAGA. 

PAGA was originally signed into law by Gov. Gray Davis in 2004 to give employees the means to sue their employers for labor code violations. But PAGA instead became an abused policy with systemic misuse and exploitation through the courts. 

Essentially, bad actors, and the trial lawyers who took up their cases, were able to sue small businesses and cash in on settlements even when a suit seemed suspect at best. Many small businesses who were sued under PAGA did not have the monetary means to defend themselves in court. Many chose to settle to not risk losing their businesses. Many small business owners who did choose to fight were forced to later shut their doors when the court fees eventually became too expensive to continue operating.

The reform legislation enacted by Gov. Newsom on July 1, is a step in the right direction for California’s local small business economy. These reforms address the need for certainty that small businesses need to survive and tackles some of the more egregious issues with PAGA. 

Employers need to know they can operate in a fair and competitive business environment and not one that is legally stacked against them. These reforms help do just that by leveling the playing field. In the past, a PAGA lawsuit being brought on a small business could be a death sentence. Many who didn’t close left the state taking good paying jobs with them.

In the agreed upon reforms, we see many of the fixes CA CALA has long championed. The newly enacted law aims to lessen the burdens being placed on small business owners. The changes in the agreed upon reform package look to be much better for both the employer and employee. It also gives employers an incentive to come into compliance with PAGA policies. What a novel concept!  

The reforms also set a statute of limitations on when a claim can be filed, and the reasonable requirement that the plaintiff personally suffered each of the violations alleged. Both are key reforms that will limit the ability to file frivolous lawsuits.

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Thankfully, the reforms should also put a stop to some of the more egregious examples of PAGA lawsuits filed including those for typos on wage statements. Some employers faced lawsuits for failing to place the beginning date and ending date on a check stub even when the employee received his check on time and the check cleared the bank. Reforms also addressed a flaw that penalizes an employer, who pays employees on a weekly basis, being subject to paying twice the penalties compared to an employer who pays employees every other week.

Just as the new PAGA reform law is a step in the right direction for California’s small businesses, it’s no secret that additional reforms are needed in legislative sessions to come. The new reforms will certainly give back some of the needed certainty that businesses have not had for quite some time. And that is certainly a good thing for local employers, employees, and the future of our small business economy. For now, businesses can breathe a sigh of relief but there is still much more work to be done to curb lawsuit abuse in our state.

Maryann Marino is the Southern California Regional Director of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CA CALA)

​ Orange County Register 

California rents, per square foot, rank 5th-highest in US

• July 5, 2024

“How expensive?” tracks measurements of California’s totally unaffordable housing market.

The pain: California apartment dwellers not only face sky-high rents, they don’t get much space for the dollars they pay to landlords.

The source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed a RentCafe study of average rents and apartment sizes by state as of March 2024, tracking what kind of bang for the buck California tenants get.

The pinch

California rents in early 2024 equaled $2.96 per square foot, the fifth-highest expense among the states and 55% above the $1.91 per square foot charged nationally.

And where is this cost yardstick higher? Washington, D.C., is tops at $3.20 per square foot, New York is at $3.18, Massachusetts is at $3.06, and Hawaii is at $2.98.

Now, if you’re seeking a space bargain, North Dakota is the spot by this math at $1.08 per square foot. Next is Oklahoma at $1.17, Arkansas at $1.19, South Dakota at $1.23, and Mississippi at $1.26.

Oh, California’s big economic rivals? Texas was 29th highest at $1.64 and Florida was No. 19 at $2.

Pressure points

How did we get to this cost absurdity? Well, it’s a painful mix of California’s tiny units at big prices.

Let’s start with what space a renter gets.

California’s average apartment size was the 11th-smallest nationally at 851 square feet, which is 5% below the 899 square feet for the U.S.

The nation’s smallest apartments were found in Alaska at 703 square feet, then D.C. at 747, Vermont at 813, and New Mexico at 828. Texas was the 19th smallest at 880.

The biggest rentals were in Georgia at 1,016, Mississippi at 1,014, South Carolina at 998, West Virginia at 989, Alabama at 984 – and Florida at 970.

Next up: What the landlords are charging.

California rents ranked fourth-highest in the U.S. at $2,521 a month. That’s 47% above the nation’s $1,713 average.

Other pricier places to rent were Massachusetts at $2,714, New York at $2,673 and Hawaii at $2,522. Florida was No. 9 at $1,939. Texas was No. 31 at $1,441.

Renting’s cheapest spots were found in Oklahoma at $1,001, North Dakota at $1,048, Arkansas at $1,067, South Dakota at $1,106 and Wyoming at $1,120.

Bottom line

California is tough enough for the typical renter’s wallet, even before measuring the cost against paychecks.

California monthly rents compared with per-capita income equals 38% of pay. That’s the third-biggest affordability bite among the states. Only Hawaii at 46% and New York at 40% were worse.

And where’s the smallest shares of income paid by renters? That’s North Dakota and Wyoming at 17%, and South Dakota at 19%.

By the way, this rent pain in Texas ranked No. 35 at 26%, but Florida costs were No. 8 at 34%.

Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com

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​ Orange County Register 

Madame X painting returns to Pageant of the Master lineup as show starts

• July 5, 2024

Ten years ago, Elise Allen didn’t know what she was getting into when she volunteered to be part of the cast at the Pageant of the Masters.

“I totally went in blind,” the San Clemente mother of two said, adding all she knew was that it was a seven-day commitment every other week for July and August. “I had never even seen the show and had no idea of how it worked or what the pieces would be.”

Allen was chosen to portray Madame X, a painting by the late American artist John Singer Sargent. The experience hooked her, and when she was offered the part again this year for the pageant’s 91st show, titled À La Mode: The Art of Fashion and opening on Friday, she didn’t hesitate.

In the artwork, Allen is made up to portray Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau, a young French socialite known for her beauty and the topic of gossip for her infidelities. The somewhat controversial Sargent painting debuted in the Paris Salon in 1884.

In the painting, Gautreau is shown wearing a black satin dress with jeweled straps. One strap hung off her shoulder when Sargent first painted her in his private studio. When the painting debuted in Paris, that image caused such a stir that Sargent later redid the piece with the strap back on her shoulder.

“I love Sargent so much, I just couldn’t say no,” Allen said. “I love the story behind it. It’s a beautiful painting and I got to see it at the Met in New York.”

This year, 30 tableaux vivants, or living pictures, will be created when cast members including Allen appear in paintings, sculptures or renderings based on their measurements.

There will also be other surprises longtime pageant attendees may not expect to see, including the recreation of a giant high-heeled shoe made by Alexander McQueen in 2010. The shoe comes from the McQueen’s Angels and Demon collection.

The show is produced with two casts of 150 people who rotate each week. The volunteers, wearing costumes, makeup and headpieces, pose in the artwork, doing their best to stand perfectly still for more than a minute. Allen is part of the blue cast.

The show — a tribute to fashion in art — is produced by Diane Challis Davy, the pageant’s longtime director who developed her passion for fashion as a college student studying stage costume design.

“I love costume history,” Challis Davy said, adding that she has designed costumes in the past.

Other artworks that will appear in the pageant are by French artists Édouard Manet and James Tissot and British painters Thomas Gainsborough and David Hockney.

There will also be brooches, pendants from early 1900s jewelers and figurines by artist and designer Erté. Legendary Hollywood designer Edith Head will also be recognized with sketches and movie posters from her collaboration with director Alfred Hitchcock, Challis Davy said.

“Modern fashion shows are very theatrical, and designers are always pushing the envelope of outrageousness and showmanship,” Challis Davy said. “The 2019 Dolce and Gabbana runway show was an extraordinary spectacle. I’ve also been inspired by the annual Met Gala ball and shows like ‘Project Runway’ and ‘Fashion Police.’”

Challis Davy, who produced her first pageant in 1996, said fashion is an art, and she appreciates all the craftsmanship and hard work that goes into designing, pattern making, stitching and embellishing.

This year’s production also required Reagan Foy, the pageant’s costume director, to step up her own creativity.

“At the pageant, most of our costumes are usually painted cotton muslin, so it will be a special pleasure to let her work with a variety of luxe materials,” Challis Davy said. “I think we are both pretty excited about the opportunity to showcase some show-stopping outfits.”

Some of Foy’s unique creations will be part of the show’s opening act: a fashion show. The styles shown on stage come directly from paintings later displayed as living pictures.

Madame X is making a return, Challis Davy said, because it fits perfectly into her tribute to the Metropolitan Museum of Art that ends Act I.

“It’s an iconic black dress and the whole scandal of Sargent and how he painted it and how the strap slipped off the shoulder,” she said. “It was a 20th-century wardrobe malfunction, and it fits perfectly into our theme.”

Challis Davy said she is excited that Allen — who has volunteered at the pageant almost every year since her debut in 2014 — is returning to play the part.

“She looks great in it,” Challis Davy said. “She has her movement down perfectly.”

If you go

What: Pageant of the Masters

When: 8:30 p.m. nightly through Aug. 30

Where: Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Rd., Laguna Beach

Cost: $35 and up

Information: PageantTickets.com

​ Orange County Register