After a Fashion
By Stephen MacMillan Moser, Fri., Sept. 19, 2003
THE POWER OF THREE To be a female in Austin means having a plethora of shops and boutiques catering to your every mood. There are stores such as SoLa, Jezebel, Therapy, Giada, Adelante, Shiki, and Vylette brimming with stylish merchandise for women, each with their own particular twist on fashion. To enter into this contest and carve a niche in the shopping scene takes bravery, business sense, and a bankroll -- all of which Lizette, Sharon, and Marsha Holzman seem to have. Choosing a space on the quintessentially Austin Kerbey Lane, the sisters have opened Trio (3703 Kerbey Lane, 451-8746), a new shop offering feminine and flirty collections with clean lines and price tags that are easy to digest. Converting the old Bliss space into an establishment conducive to shopping yet still retaining the funkiness of the neighborhood was interior designer Joel Mozersky's job. With a strict budget and an eagle eye for style, Mozersky has created a space that is modern, without being too strident -- a space that is welcoming and warm, as well as sleek and clutter-free. With graphics by the MadDog Design team of Gene Brenek and Adam Hampshire (both of GSD&M), Trio has every possibility of making itself a permanent shopping fixture. Lizette, who put in time at Giada, is more or less the business side, while Sharon, who trained at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, also did a stint at Anja Flint, whose collection Trio is now carrying. Youngest sister Marsha pitches in regularly, though she is still in school. Also carrying collections by Zola and Liquid, Trio is fresh and fun with a bright future.
THE END OF BENNIFER Reports say that Ben Affleck has left serial bride Jennifer Lopez crying at the altar. The pair, who were to be married last weekend, called off their wedding a few days before, amid reports that Affleck not only got cold feet, but was practically walking around on blocks of ice. Affleck, a formerly reputable actor who has made himself into a laughingstock while pursuing Lopez, will have a hard time regaining the respect he once had, while the beauteous Lopez, whose reputation is as more of a modern-day Gabor, is only enhanced by her diva-ish ways and slim talent. Now, we, the public, are sentenced to a decade of stories about "Jennifer's Life After Ben" and "Ben Returns to Dating" -- at least until another dishy love affair rolls around. Personally, I've taken to wearing a veil, and will continue to do so until Jersey Girl opens and, through the magic of the movies, we can see the former star-crossed lovers together again.
THE STYLE MANUAL As a benefit for the Austin Children's Museum, Giada presents their Fall Fashion Preview on Friday, Sept. 26, 7-9pm. The in-store event (704 W. Sixth) features an auction, food, drink, a fashion show, and an afterparty at the Firehouse Lounge. Call 457-8881 for more info. Our good friend Maris Stella Ostrewich, of Premier Atelier at Saks, is promoting the MedAid benefit Thursday, Sept. 25, 5-8pm, at the salon in the Arboretum. MedAid provides medical supplies and services to the people of Latin America, and Premier Atelier is part of the largest chain of privately owned salons in the country. Call 231-3725 for more info. "After a Fashion" also wishes a very Happy Birthday to Upstairs and Jezebel, each celebrating a year of success at their South Lamar locations. Good work!
THE DINNER DISH Dinner at Gumbo's for Dining for Life: Southern cooking with an uptown attitude. In addition to supporting a worthy cause, we celebrated the birthday of James Walker of TKO Design -- Rita Garza of the American Heart Association and AIDS Services of Austin; Octopus Club founder Paul Bradshaw; Walker's partner, Todd Boerger; glamorous socialite Steven Aichlmayr; and style-scene fixtures Gail Chovan and Evan Voyles. The food was delicious and the service wonderful. I had Dixie Chicken -- chicken breast stuffed with spinach, wrapped in apple-wood smoked bacon, and topped with crabmeat; with the shrimp lifted off Steven's plate, it was a veritable feast of animals from the barnyard and the sea! (It reminds me of a favorite bumper sticker, "I love animals -- they're delicious.") A perfect combination of dining, socializing, celebrating, and supporting charity. The best line of the night: "Todd just bought a Porsche Boxster -- it makes my Mini Cooper feel like a station wagon." Later in the week it was off to Matt's Famous El Rancho to celebrate the birthday of artist representative J.D. DiFabbio. Mme. DiFabbio (whom I'm fond of calling J.D. DiFabulous), is dedicated to bringing both local and national attention to the great art of Austin. Engaged to noted photographer Brian Bowers (their West Texas wedding this fall will be quite the stylish affair), the couple is building a stunning private art gallery behind their home, as well as producing many public art events.
