{"id":24634,"date":"2016-09-21T18:24:12","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T18:24:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/?p=24634"},"modified":"2016-09-21T18:24:12","modified_gmt":"2016-09-21T18:24:12","slug":"tribute-ret-turner-rip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsnotaboutme.tv\/news\/tribute-ret-turner-rip\/","title":{"rendered":"TRIBUTE: RET TURNER, RIP"},"content":{"rendered":"

RET TURNER, RIP<\/h1>\n

As I was watching the In Memorium segment of the Emmys the other night, I got a sad shock. The second person they showed was the iconic and beloved costume designer, Ret Turner. I jumped off the couch. I had to pause the show to cry for awhile. I felt awful. I had just thought of him the week before, hoping we\u2019d see each other again soon. I did not know that he had left us this past May. Though I didn\u2019t know Ret well, he\u2019s one of the people I was happiest to bump into, any time.<\/p>\n

I had known of him since I was a little girl. Ret Turner\u2019s name came up on everything glamorous. He was most closely associated with Cher and Bob Mackie, and I loved everything he did. He was my<\/em> kind of designer.<\/p>\n

\"No,<\/a>

No, that’s not me with Ret Turner–it’s Cher.<\/p><\/div>\n

Then I grew-up and began my cable show in Los Angeles, Karen\u2019s Restaurant Revue<\/em>. Since I was the \u201cit\u201d girl for a bit, and skinny enough to fit into Cher\u2019s cast-offs, I was invited to her garage sale! It was quite the event! I was overwhelmed. I made Mr. X accompany me because I felt so out of my league. As we were flipping through a rack of some of her most elegant dresses, (yes, she did<\/em> have some of those,) Cher came over with a big tub of popcorn and offered us some. As I was reaching into it, a very sweet voice asked, \u201cAre you going to review Cher\u2019s popcorn?\u201d I didn\u2019t know from whence it came, but I couldn\u2019t believe it\u2014one of Cher\u2019s friends knew who I was!<\/p>\n

I looked over, and there was the most adorable Kris Kringle-looking man. He introduced himself\u2014it was Ret Turner! I almost passed-out! He told me that he loves my show, and that Cher watches it, too! (She was a lot less reluctant to admit it, though. Maybe she didn\u2019t appreciate seeing a younger version of her face. But that was then. Now Cher has the younger version of mine<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

I was already in love with the gorgeous maroon velvet skintight cocktail dress I was holding, and Ret told me he<\/em> designed it! Then I was really<\/em> desperate for it. But these were far from garage sale prices! She was asking a fortune for it. But Ret begged her to come down for me. He said, \u201cCome on, Cher\u2014it\u2019s Karen<\/em>!\u201d Mr. X and I could not believe what was happening; it was like we were in a dream!<\/p>\n

Ret made her keep on lowering the price for me, and I finally could afford it. (Well, Mr. X<\/em> could! Let\u2019s not be crazy here.) To this day, it\u2019s one of my favorite possessions ever, even though it long ago got too small for me. (Or–reality-check–I<\/em> got too big for it<\/em>.)<\/p>\n

\"Karen<\/a>

Karen Salkin’s first appearance on The Tonight Show, in a dress designed by Ret Turner.<\/p><\/div>\n

But as soon as I was called to appear on The Tonight Show<\/em>, I instantly knew what I would be wearing that night. I\u2019ve never in my whole life been able to make decisions, but I knew in a nano-second that I would wear my Ret Turner creation. I did, and I felt great in it. When I watch the show back, (as I sometimes still do,) I critique my hair, my nose, and some of my chatter\u2014but never my dress! What a wonderful memory of Ret Turner to have.<\/p>\n

After that, I bumped into him around town from time to time, and we we both giggled with glee to see each other. The last time was a few years ago, at a party high atop the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown LA. A young-ish guy came over to me, and said that someone was asking to see me. I looked over, and it was Ret! And, even though he appeared to have some trouble walking at the time, he<\/em> was coming towards me<\/em>! I jumped up and ran over to him, and we were thrilled to be in each other\u2019s company.<\/p>\n

One of my big regrets is that Ret and I didn\u2019t become real<\/em> friends, and hang-out. He had told me to get in touch with him anytime I needed an outfit, but, hating to impose on anyone, (except Mr. X, of course,) I never did. And then time just moved on, and we were both uber-busy people. But I hope that he had an inkling that he\u2019s one of the people I hold dearest. He meant more to me than he knew; so much more than just a show business acquaintance.<\/p>\n

I hope that I see Ret in heaven one day. And that he\u2019ll design a beautiful white gown for me to wear there, all my own.<\/p>\n

RIP, Ret Turner.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

RET TURNER, RIP As I was watching the In Memorium segment of the Emmys the other night, I got a sad shock. The second person they showed was the iconic and beloved costume designer, Ret Turner. I jumped off the couch. I had to pause the show to cry for awhile. I felt awful. I<\/p>\n

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