After a Fashion

A touching moment between presentation stylist, mother Brandi (l), and model, daughter Brittney Cowley (r, suit from Vylette), at the launch party. (Photo By bobshermanart.com)

The real stars of the evening were the photographers (l-r): Bob Sherman, Todd Wolfson, and Andrew Shapter, whose work graced the pages of the supplement and the walls of the gallery. (Photo By Mickey Mann)

It might be considered gauche for me to rave about the fabulous event The Austin Chronicle threw for the launch of last week's Spring Fashion Folio, but you're just going to have to indulge me for a few moments. The launch party for the supplement was faaabulous, even if I do blush as I say it. We peed. You know ... like we discussed recently, in which I taught you that "peeing," "peeing on the floor," or "peeing all over yourself was a good thing," that it was old-school queen's vernacular meaning you were divoon, magnificent, beyond flawless. What a smart, accomplished, good-looking crowd we had, and very well-dressed ... with the exception of some Chronicle staff. (Fear not, staffers – beginning in March, I will be offering on-site seminars in the lounge every Monday morning, 9am sharp, in which we will choose accessories to spruce up the outfit that you chose to wear to work today ... and yesterday ... and the day before. Oh, it wasn't the same outfit? Please accept my humble apologies.) But I digress. The party was mmmarvelous. The Guadalupe Arts Center was a perfect venue, and the support and ideas from the gallery director, Melissa Ladd, were invaluable. Ladd's own photography was hanging during the party, and her images of decaying beauty are superb. The food from Saba Blue Water, Málaga, and Moonshine was sublime, piled high and in constant rotation. The Golden Arm Trio set the pace and played the perfect party music as Deborah Carter and her expert team from Pink Salon did all the beautiful hair and make-up on a bevy of male and female beauties primarily from Acclaim Talent, who added glamour with a parade of clothes and accessories from many of the coolest designers and retailers in town. In fact the way many of the contributors went beyond the call of duty in accommodating us was very touching, and I think we did right by them in showing off the merchandise in an informal, but constantly changing tableau of beauty and style. The walls of the gallery were decked with enormous blowups done of the supplement by API, adding visual drama everywhere. The photos, along with a number of other donations, were auctioned off to benefit AIDS Services of Austin. None of it would have come together without the ceaseless work of our marketing director Erin Collier, our art director Taylor Holland, our ad director Carol Flagg ... and of course, the munificence of our fearless leader, Louis Black, who gritted his teeth while I ran amok in the stores.

THE SOCIAL AGENDA Very much looking forward to the One World Theatre's Takin' It to the Streets gala on Saturday, March 6, with a concert by Michael McDonald and fabulous food from Austin Catering, Bistro 88, Cafe Josie, Jeffrey's, Roy's, Trulucks, Zoot, and 1886 Bakery & Cafe at the Driskill Hotel. The theatre is gorgeous, and I hear the event is sold-out, but we'll report on it next week. The Rawk Show runs March 10-21 at Gallery Lombardi (910 W. Third) featuring art and photography by stars of the music scene, including the B-52's, Devo, Concrete Blonde, Jayne County, Gwar, the Big Boys, and many more. Go to www.tinderbox13.com for further info for special events presented during the run, or call 447-ROCK.