After a Fashion

IN TECHNO-COLOR Fashion promoter Neil Diaz's most recent production at

Texture

last Saturday has to be considered a success. Gomi showed very cool clubwear, and the boutique at Pink Salon showed a myriad of styles. Creatures has the most stylish men's shoes in town -- not the edgiest, but certainly the smartest. Christine Ann of Goody Two Shoes also showed great shoes -- as well as clothes that are absolutely perfect for her customer: not always my style, but she definitely has developed a major following. The hair by Innu was perfect for the look of the show, but we'll just say that the make-up was better on the girls than on the boys. My favorite part? This model, a heavenly creature named Sakoiya Augustin. I can't wait to see this glorious amazon on the catwalk again.

ALLEY CATTING Always hoping for a gay dance club alternative to Oilcan Harry's, my friend Neil and I went to the party for the opening of Club M&M at Fourth & Lavaca. While there were nice lights and sound system, we were otherwise deeply unimpressed. Highlights included a waiter who was allowed to remove our drinks from the table, but not allowed to bring us new ones. After exactly one incident of that, we left. On the brighter side, another friend said he thought it'd be a nice Sunday kind of place to go. Afterward, we felt compelled to drop into preppy Oilcan Harry's itself -- a pit that reeked of bleach and vomit. I don't understand the attraction of this place and much prefer the sleazier atmosphere of the Boyz Cellar, which isn't nearly as pretentious. But we didn't go to the Boyz Cellar because there were waaay too many police in and out of there, and I decided that my outfit was inappropriate to get arrested in. So we went on to Elysium, which I like very much, but it was dead. The only person of note was Joe Lifto, who wasn't nearly as effusive as he was the first time I met him there. Next, we zipped into Texture, which was happening. Mega 93.3 was broadcasting inside, and Miss Kitty was making the rounds. By then, the cocktails were beginning to work their magic -- probably on the crowd and me -- and everyone seemed attractive and was having a good time. After being hijacked into going to Casino El Camino, I understand from bystanders that I had a good time, but it was evident that I was losing my vision and motor skills. After some presumably lovely free cocktails, I made my Helen Keller-like way to a cab and crawled into bed, knowing it was going to be at least a week before I would do that again.

STYLE TILL IT HURTS At 9pm on Sunday, April 14, 2002, local landmark beauty institution Aziz Day Spa & Salon, in conjunction with Element Nightclub (301 W. Fifth at Lavaca), is hosting the first annual Style Cup, a Spring hair affair. Combining showmanship and competition, the event will benefit Project Transitions, a nonprofit agency that provides hospice, housing, and supportive care to people living with HIV/AIDS in Central Texas. The Aziz Dream Team initially produced the Fight for Life Leukemia Cut-A-Thon held in August of 2001, which raised more than $5,000. This year's Style Cup is the result of that success and was organized because, "we wanted to do another event that would be even bigger, splashier, and ultimately wind up doing more good for the community," said event coordinator Wendalynn Nelson. The Style Cup is a runway style hair fashion show featuring some of the top salons in Austin. Participating salons include Avant, Topaz, Innu, Catena's Hair Studio, Salon 505, Hair It Is, and of course, Aziz. Each salon will compete in four categories: Day Fun, Warm Evening, Spring Bride, and Fantasy. Competitors are responsible for models, choreography, and costume design. A celebrity panel including Mega 93.3FM's Miss Kitty, News 8 anchor Denice Menard, and of course, your Style Avatar, will award trophies in each category and honor the "Best Collection" of the night. In addition to the hair fashion show, the evening will include belly-dancing performances by A Dance Ensemble by Zein A-Jundi, a silent auction and DJ dancing late into the night. There will also be door prizes including a snowboard, a 24-hour boat charter on Lake Travis, hair care and styling tools, artwork, and beauty baskets. General admission is $15, which includes a ribbon pin and program, while a $30 VIP admission also entitles you to a corsage, his or her cigars, a balcony view, and complimentary champagne and hors d'oeuvres. The Style Cup is sure to become an eagerly anticipated annual event, so be fashionable and jump on the bandwagon early. Tickets are available at Aziz, 710 W. Seventh; Top Drawer Thrift Store, 4902 Burnet Road; and Project Transitions, 7101-B Woodrow.

FASHION FUTURE Thursday, April 18, 8pm, the University Fashion Group presents a free event, Opus: A Creation of Color Line & Form, 2002 Fashion Spectacular, at the Frank Erwin Center. This major fashion event is primarily sponsored by the University Co-Operative Society. Charming CEO George Mitchell has been extremely generous with the UFG, which allows for a fairly lavish event. Said Mitchell of last year's production, "I was tremendously impressed with the production: the professionalism, the dedication of the students, the quality of the designs, the fabrics, the music, the staging -- everything." The fashion show is organized each year by the University Fashion Group under faculty guidance by the Division of Textiles & Apparel in the College of Natural Sciences' Department of Human Ecology, and co-sponsors include MAC Makeup and Pink Salon & Gallery.