Sue Wong in the middle with models

Sue Wong in the middle with models

MANSION TO MUSEUM PIECE

Sue Wong Shares Her Fashion and Home With Museum Patrons

Sue Wong is not only a fantastic designer, whose opulent creations are always amazing, but she's renowned for restoring a 1921 movie star's mansion into a museum piece.

So it was only natural that the Costume Council at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art ask Sue if they could visit her house and see her latest Fall 2013 collection that often resemble costume pieces. They also wanted to view the three-year restoration of the home once occupied by Norma Talmadge, who lived near Griffith Park.

Sue hosted an afternoon tea and spent time talking about the home's history. The designer described her discovery of the dilapidated mansion that had once seen residents such as Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan and Johnny Depp.

After buying the house in 2004, she hired a team of European artisans headed by Zoltan Papp, to restore the ceilings, archways, fireplaces and columns.

Then the ever-elegant Sue, who revealed she hasn't worn a pair of blue jeans in 35 years, scoured Europe for the stunning furniture that comes in various styles, from Art Deco to antiques, for the abode's 16 rooms.

Of course, a number of Sue's Fall dresses were placed around the living room, on mannequins and models, showing how the Los Angeles designer was inspired by the movie and book "The Great Gatsby."

Her house could have appeared in the film, too.