Dorinda Dixon Ryan, better known as D.D., died this morning after a brief illness. She was a fashion editor at Harpers Bazaar, a costume designer (for Stephen Sondheim), the matchmaker who helped create the Eloise series by introducing author Kay Thompson to illustrator Hilary Knight, a central figure in the inner circle around the late designer Halston, a social lioness, a raconteuse and a genuinely original, irrepressible and irreplaceable New York character. She was also a dear, dear friend. I’ll miss her terribly. (photo of Halston and D.D. Ryan courtesy Drew D. Ryan)