THE ACADEMY OF COUTURE ART: In this everyone-but-everyone-dresses-down age, we're drawn to the drama of couture, even if we'll never put on a 26-layered skirt to run to the pharmacy. But we would wear a 26-layered skirt to a couture gala, especially one highlighting students and up-and-coming grads and teens who have been participating in a couture design program. PARTY TIME: The Academy of Couture Art, which is located at the Pacific Design Center, will be throwing its big to-do at the nearby Sofitel on Saturday, July 24. Get ticket details (there are two shows, an afternoon and an evening dinner), and get planning the fabulous outfit you'll sashay in with.