After a Fashion

UNBEDAZZLED Austin expatriate Alton-on-the-Spot gives us the lowdown on the Daryl K fashion show in New York: "Boring … all very military Eighties, with nothing original or innovative about the show. Now don't get me wrong, I liked the Eighties when it was happening, and I even liked it the second time around a few years ago because it was campy and trashy. But how long have we seen it in fashion magazines now? Several seasons at least … and the fact that Daryl K has corporate sponsorship from Pegasus, she could have done something truly amazing, and instead she gives us swill, the dregs in the bottom of an Eighties cocktail, still shoving it down our throats until every mall is full of it. What happened to the responsibility of designers to design? I want to be wowed. I would bet that show cost $200,000 to put on. It lasted 15 minutes and then everyone bolted for the door. She even played Siouxsie & the Banshees just to illustrate how contrived it was. I will be curious to see what the magazines report, but one look at any of the spring issues will tell you they shall all unquestioningly approve. Wake me up when something exciting is happening in fashion. Maybe I need the couture shows; they looked a little more invigorating. Prêt-à-porter stands for boring or what? What is the literal translation?" Thanks, Alton, couldn't have said it better myself.

BEGUILED is the new name of the Designers' Guild of Austin's second presentation. The last one, in October, was a smash success, with more than 500 attendees. With a few additions to (and subtractions from) the original lineup, the show, to be held Sunday, April 22, 4pm, should be every bit as dazzling as the first go-round. But if you think that this show is going to get bigger and bigger, you are incorrect. It is the Guild's express desire to keep the shows to a manageable level, and not try to produce a big runway extravaganza in which the focus is on the production rather than the clothes. The show will be a fairly low-key afternoon affair, and will be the inaugural event for the Design Center of Austin, located at 3601 S. Congress (behind the notorious club Exposé). The very limited number of tickets will go on sale soon, and be available only at Pink, Blackmail, and Therapy.

Once again, things are shaping up for Fashion Month in Austin. In addition to the Designers' Guild show on the 22nd, the UT Fashion Group's show, Art in Fashion, will be held on Thursday, April 26, 8pm, in the Erwin Center. Featuring the works of student designers, the show also features free admission. Jewelers Anthony Nakard and David Camargo, for Anthony-Nak Jewelry, in association with retailer Vylette, will be unveiling their new collection in a show also on April 26. Fashion/Fantasy will be scheduled somewhere in the same time period, as will the famous Club de Ville Spring Fashion Extravaganza. Watch this space for further info.

GUCCI GOO This Saturday, March 24, in Houston, the Texas Pediatric AIDS League presents Alluring Heat, which will showcase several of the Spring 2001collections produced under the various Versace labels. Locally, you can contact PAL Executive Director Clif Loftin at 892-4776 for more info. I met Mr. Loftin at the Hotel San José's anniversary party a couple of weeks ago, and he informed me that my name and his are frequently mentioned together … mysterious since we've never met before, not to mention worked on anything together. Maybe they think we're related because we're both queen-sized lovelies with very visible public profiles. He went on to tell me of an impending fashion event in June that he and Sandra Bullock are putting together for PAL: a Gucci Fashion Show at the San José with Tom Ford in attendance, that may possibly include works from Alexander McQueen. This would be fabulous if it happened, but this is an old rumor, with various permutations, and local fashionistas have long held a "seeing-is-believing" attitude. Another guest at the party said the event has been scheduled and canceled more than once before, and that he almost passed out from holding his breath. Well, fashion has always attracted the drama queens, but when we get some solid information on this event we'll pass it on.