Columnist Jean Horne at bank during robbery

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review society columnist Jean Horne was late for her hair appointment Tuesday.

That's because Horne, who covers the lifestyles of Pittsburgh's rich and glamorous, was in line at the National City Bank branch in Shadyside at 10:15 a.m. when a man wearing a big, black wig and wielding a semiautomatic handgun ordered the customers to the floor.

Horne -- wearing a black mink coat, black slacks, Dior pumps, diamond earrings and carrying a black alligator handbag -- said she was waiting to make a deposit when she heard a man shout, "Don't anyone move. Everybody get on the floor. This is a holdup.'"

As she kneeled down, Horne discreetly removed her jewelry and placed the items in her handbag.

"It's the first time anything like this has ever happened to me," said Horne, who had just returned from a vacation in Israel.

Police later recovered the wig, money and the getaway car -- a Dodge Duster that had been stolen in Point Breeze, said Zone 4 Cmdr. Tom Stangrecki.

In addition to the wig, the gunman, a black man, was wearing a dark suit, black overcoat and tan shoes with white trim, Horne said.

Horne praised the bank's managers, who offered her and two other customers and the tellers ice water and candy. One manager even went out to a nearby bakery, returning with Danish and other pastries, Horne said.

"They were really sweet," she said of the managers.