After a Fashion

IDoL-IZE Said visiting Frenchman DJ U-man, "You would never see a gathering this diverse in Paris," and here in Austin, we're right proud of that. Acid Green With Envy, the grand opening soiree for IDoL Gallery/ Boutique, was local heaven last Thursday night. With a crowd of 300 fashionistas (and their admirers) spilling into the parking lot, ages ranged from a few months to 80 years and encompassed dazzling talent from virtually every local creative industry. Hosted by gallery board members, Gail Chovan (divine in vintage Courreges micro-mini), Brooke Carter, Levi Palmer, Neil Diaz, and myself, IDoL currently represents fashion designers Judy Masliyah, Angela James, Carol Mizelle for Cosmic Valet, Ninfa De Leon, and Brooke Carter for Search & Destroy; jewelry designers Tracie Goudie, Leslie Weeren, Shayna Weeden, Joy Standefer, Patty Dixon, and Mitra Chester; and accessories designers Kristen Jackson and Kathleen McTee. Guild members Bonnie Barton, Laura Maclay, and Amy Turnbull showed special previews of holiday glamour.

The eye-popping color of the gallery provided a perfect backdrop for fashion images ranging from the disturbing to the sublime, graciously loaned by local photographers: Mark Guerra's enormous portrait of a dreamy beauty in red is breathtaking and shows the artistry he is capable of; Bob Sherman, renowned for his Forbidden Fruit ads, displayed a stunning vision of death in vibrant color; the internationally accomplished Andrew Shapter showed two gorgeous and sexy black-and-whites; Todd Wolfson showed his vision of the beauteous Chrysta Bell in the erotic act of eating; one-man glamour machine Kimball Lorio contributed two spectacular black-and-white nudes; and the truly remarkable Tracie Goudie contributed two pieces. Look for her star to be skyrocketing across the heavens near you soon. This group of photographers' images of fashion -- though that definition is very broad and doesn't always show a lot of fashion, per se -- hint at the vast possibilities of what a fabulous show could be assembled from our incredible local talent. Surely someone should get the idea soon and produce such a thing.

THE GUEST LIST The beauty battalion was out in force with practically the entire staffs of Salon Hervé, Wet Salon, and Maximum FX in attendance. Retailers were well-represented by Ivory Aisles, Amelia's, Flashback, Emily Cowart of Uncommon Objects, Randy Franklin & Jann Baskett for Yard Dog, and the dolls from Chimera (who we will discuss in depth in the near future -- but don't wait for us! Go see them now!), among others. Other assorted glitterati in attendance included Sara Hickman (accompanied by her precious bundle of joy), Selena & Dillon of Big Red Sun, the charming Ed Norton of The County Line, Ram Garza, Johnny Goudie, Chrysta Bell, Johnnie Walker, Leslie Fossler of LFI, Michael Hall, Brian & Barbara Frisbie, DJ Shane, Andrew Stinson, John Lohse of the soon-to-open Gomikitti, Karla Keeton-Page, Tom Palmer, the delicious and wicked Heather Hill from Forbidden Fruit, Katherine Jones of Milkshake Media, Gene Menger of Ideality.com, Merritt Grooms, Preston Hubbard, Margaret Moser, Chris Gray, Laurie & Susan of the Antiquity Workshop, Robert Smith & Liz Aston of the Nocona, the dashing Nathan Tate of Club DeVille (and the soon-to-open Starlight restaurant), and the brilliant Joel Mozersky of 111 Design, who provided major inspiration to the interior design of IDoL.

HONORABLE MENTION The IDoL space is courtesy of the multitalented Mr. Evan Voyles and serves as the showroom for his business, the Neon Jungle. But you don't even need to come in and see his incredible portfolio: Just look around! His contribution to how Austin looks at night is stunning: Club DeVille, Stubb's, Caucus Club, Alamo Drafthouse, Oceans 11, El Interior, Chuy's, County Line, Zanzibar, the soon-to-be new Liberty Lunch, Tesoros Trading, Uncommon Objects, the new By George, Yard Dog, Gallery SoCo, Hotel San Jose, Texas Folklife Resource, the wiggling roach at Robert's Pest Control, and the rattlesnake at Ranch 616 are just some of the landmarks he's worked on. Whether creating the new or restoring the old, his work helps define our local flavor.

Write to our Style Avatar with your related events, news, and hautey bits: style@auschron.com or PO Box 49066, Austin, 78765 or 458-6910 (fax).