After a Fashion
A "northern stream" of high fashion comes to Austin… And what celebrity was sighted among the frat daddies on the Drag? Where did she go, and what did she buy?
By Stephen MacMillan Moser, Fri., July 4, 2003
FUTURE GLAM The Austin retail scene used to be ruled by the gilded glamour of Scarbrough's -- a virtual palace of style on Congress that set the standard for all things fashionable in Austin. Few specialty emporiums of that type remain, and it's even rarer when a new one opens ... especially in Austin. But what's been speculated about for years is finally happening: Nordstrom is set to open their new, 144,000-square-foot store Friday, Aug. 15, at Barton Creek Square mall. Doors open at 10am, but shoppers may indulge in a preview at the Cosmetic Tailgate Party, 8:30-10am, and enjoy make-up applications, coffee, breakfast treats, music, and more. The store will celebrate its opening with a very fashionable fete two nights earlier, on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 7pm. Guests will enjoy lavish hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, dinner buffets, live entertainment, and the opportunity to do some "sneak preview" shopping, all to benefit Junior League of Austin, among other charities. The highlight of the evening will be a full runway fashion show of designer collections for fall. Tickets for the gala are $100 per person. 467-8982 x601.
SPIKE THIS Diminutive director Spike Lee is an extremely talented filmmaker, and in Hollywood, talent and massive egos go hand in hand. Lee has decided to sue TNN cable network for proposing to change their name to Spike TV. His contention being that when people hear the name Spike TV, they are going to assume it's associated with him. He even dragged out a few of his well-known buddies to claim that when they heard the name Spike TV, they thought it was about him. Well, I guess when people hear anything with the word "spike" in it, they're going to think of Spike Lee. Perhaps Lee should also sue Joan Rivers. When she talks about her dog (named Spike), and mentions, for instance, that he tinkled on the carpet, who wouldn't assume that it was Spike Lee who wee-weed on Joan's rug? Can't you just smell the settlement? If Lee prevails in this whiny court battle, common phrases such as "railroad spike" will become unacceptable (since it undoubtedly refers to the conspiracy to keep Lee from winning Academy Awards), and of course the term "spiked drink" would no longer be acceptable because it might conjure images of a tiny Lee swimming around in people's cocktails. Come on, Spike -- if your theory is correct, why fight it? So what if people think of you every time they hear the name Spike TV? It's a whole lot more than people are thinking about you now.
THE STYLE CIRCUIT Powerhouse Gym on Fifth & Lamar certainly seems to be the gym of the stars right now -- recent celebrity sightings included Sandra Bullock and Dennis Quaid
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... While we're on the subject of Sandra, our spies at Tyler's on the Drag tell us that Sandra and a girlfriend visited recently. Tyler's, which also has a West Lake location, offers an extensive shoe selection (including retro), swimwear, surf apparel, and workout wear. While Sandra was there, she bought some Puma Mostros (also recently seen on Gwyneth and Madonna), a swimsuit, and a pair of Nike workout shorts... The Shiki Freaky Happy Hours continue at Shiki, with one on July 10 (5-7pm) and another on July 24. Food, drink, and music are the perfect accompaniment to a 15% discount... The famously edgy Gomi has moved to its new location -- upstairs at 1313 S. Congress... Creatures Boutique has opened their second location on North Loop (next to Forbidden Fruit) and features a Ruby Pearl in-store boutique... A press release from the Bedlam Faction Theatre Company announces a design competition with a $1,000 grand prize in which winners will design costumes for their production of Emperor of the Moon. Details are available at www.bedlamfaction.com/fashion or call 589-2332.
