After a Fashion

The Big 21

It's hard to imagine that Austin Pride is celebrating its 21st anniversary – a huge hug of congratulations to them. On Saturday, Sept. 22, celebrate with them at their event featuring the Rainbow Run through Downtown Austin, a magical parade (moved back to nighttime!), and, as they say, "an ultra-fierce festival lineup at Fiesta Gardens!" Entertainers run the gamut from veteran Pridesters like Lady Bunny, to Eighties and Nineties sensations Shannon ("Let the Music Play"), Stacey Q ("Two of Hearts"), La Bouche ("Be My Lover"), and many more, local and national. Tickets and further info can be found at www.austinpride.ticketleap.com/austinpride2012 . Wear that rainbow proudly.

IN THE BAG

On the heels of Austin Fashion Week, the style just keeps coming. This week, I came across handbags and accessories designed by Austinite Ben Freedland of Zink (www.zinkstore.com). Expecting to see more of the same kinds of purses we are flooded with here in town, I was shocked and thrilled with the stylistically simple but elegant bags in fine grain leather and canvas. In colors as well as neutrals, the bags (for men and women) are exquisitely made and exude the class and confidence you want out of a handbag.

SOCK IT TO ME

A few months ago, I received a press release about socks. Darn Tough, the company that makes them here in the USA (Vermont), uses fine merino wool with a touch of nylon and Lycra, and points out that if you wear the socks out, they will replace them. For free. For life. Pretty darn tough statement, I'd say. So I asked for samples, which arrived promptly ... and sat on my desk for months. Forgive me, I was just having a hard time wanting to discuss the merits of heavy wool socks in the midst of our blistering summer. With no seams to dig into the feet, and a variable amount of padding on the sole, depending on what the sock is for, the socks fit like a glove ... or like socks should. No slipping, bunching, blisters, hot spots, or any other disagreeable qualities that are found in socks of poorer quality. With styles for men and women, for virtually every need, Darn Tough socks are darn tough, but real easy to find. Go to www.darntough.com, darn it.

HAPPENISTAS

The always grand Ballet Austin Fête, Sept. 21, 6pm, at the Driskill has limited seats available, but is well worth the cost – not just for the fundraising, but for the fun, period. Followed by the lavish fête-ish featuring DJ Spinderella of Salt-N-Pepa, Mandy Lauderdale, and the Invincible Czars, tickets and further info are available at www.balletaustin.org... Thursday, Oct. 11 at the Hilton Austin, Hospice Austin's Beauty of Life Brunch will feature a keynote speech by Kathryn Stockett, author of the bestselling novel The Help. This brunch is always glam and always entertaining; tickets and further info can be found at www.hospiceaustin.org... Sunday, Oct. 28, 5pm at the Mexican American Cultural Center is the Octopus Club's famous OctoTea Dance 17. Every penny contributed at the event from ticket sales, auction, raffle, and even corporate sponsorships go to the Paul Kirby Emergency Fund at AIDS Services of Austin. Go to www.octopusclub.org for further info and tickets... Sunday, Nov. 11, at the Driskill, White Star Manufacturing presents its charity fashion show for a high profile charity whose name cannot be disclosed at this time. Stay tuned for further details... Sunday, Dec. 2, at the Hilton Austin, the Center for Child Protection presents Dancing with the Stars Austin. Riveting, raucous, and more fun than a midnight raid at Christian Louboutin, Dancing with the Stars Austin brings out the big guns every time. Tickets and info can be found at www.centerforchildprotection.org.