After a Fashion

WORDS OF THE WEEK: "While you wait you can read my column. It'll make minutes fly like hours." – George Sanders as Addison DeWitt in All About Eve

HERMÉSGATE: Poor Oprah … shut out of Hermés (let's pronounce it together: air-MEZ), the luxury retailer in Paris – just like in Pretty Woman when the snotty salesgirls on Rodeo Drive wouldn't let Julia Roberts shop even though she had money. It was a moment to make Romy & Michelle cry. All PO wanted to do was buy Tina Turner a watch in which Tina had expressed interest. But unfortunately, PO and her entourage arrived at Hermés after the chic boutique had already closed. It is common practice among retailers to lock their doors at closing time – to not admit additional customers, but to allow the customers that are in there to finish shopping. Which is exactly what occurred. Hermés closed at 6:30pm and locked its doors. PO and retinue arrived at 6:45 and were refused admittance. The store had already begun setting up for a PR event that evening while letting the last customers finish up their purchases. Even though PO pleaded with them at the door, asking if they knew who she was, she was denied entrance. Now P0's very close friend Gayle King is seemingly flapping her lips to anyone who will listen saying that PO feels this was racially motivated and it was her Crash moment (referring to a racially charged incident in the movie Crash). According to King, PO has described it as "the most humiliating moment of her life" (this from a woman who admits to a frighteningly hideous childhood, and not getting allowed into Hermés after it was closed is life's most humiliating moment?). King added that PO can't wait to bring this up on her show, when it resumes filming in the fall. "I wish it were filming now," said King, who seems to relish her moment in the spotlight, undoubtedly thinking of how PO's 22 million viewers are going to feel about this. The ugly reality is that most of these viewers will have no idea who or what Hermés is, and would probably be appalled at how much money PO spent there (12 Hermés Birken bags at $6500 each? A 3-year-old preowned Hermés Birken bag in black crocodile with a pave diamond clasp in white gold sold recently at auction in New York for $64,800). Nevertheless, their disdain will have zero effect on the 168-year-old establishment – they don't shop there already, so it's not like they can boycott the place. It was rumored at first that an Hermés employee had said they'd been "having trouble with North Africans lately," but both sides deny this. It is beneath Oprah to play the race card in an incident like this one. Basically this incident simply illustrates what personal assistants are for; surely Oprah had one or two of those in her entourage? Have them call ahead to arrange everything for you. On the other hand, of course she had every reason to believe that Hermés would bend the rules and let her in: She's one of the richest women in the world. Sometimes I wonder if it's the public unconsciously fighting back against celebrity entitlement… Last week a young model punched Cameron Diaz in the face for stepping on the model's gown and ripping it. An unhappy partygoer smashed Leo DiCaprio in the head with a broken bottle while someone dared to squirt Tom Cruise in the face with water. What's this world coming to?

TONIGHT! TONIGHT!: Thursday, June 30, our good friend singer-songwriter Susan Gibson (www.susansongs.com) and her band Moving Parts are having a listening party for their new CD, Outer Space, at the New Braunfels Museum of Art & Music (830/625-5636, www.nbmuseum.org), 6-7:30pm, followed by a performance with the band at 8pm. Susan, who wrote "Wide Open Spaces," a huge hit for the Dixie Chicks, went shopping with me recently and we'll talk about that next week. Susan's CD hits July 12… The new Second Street District has a block party tonight, 6-9pm celebrating the openings of Design Within Reach (200 W. Second), Shiki (225 W. Second), Estilo (234 W. Second), Home Retreat (249 W. Second), and Lucky Soles (202 Colorado). These stylish new stores, between Colorado and Lavaca streets, herald a large step in the colonization of that section of downtown. More to come… Tonight, we congratulate Agence Talent (www.agencetalent.com) and owner Erin Franklin as they celebrate their one year anniversary.

MORE: A new store, Hem, has opened at 12th and Lamar. Described as "a denim bar," Hem offers a one-stop shop for fashion-forward men and women who want to find that perfect pair of jeans… Saturday, July 9, 8pm is A Dreamy Midsummer's Night hosted by Big Red Sun (1102 Cesar Chavez). Cover is $5 and includes libations. The event features fashion and accessories by Chia Guillory, along with her cohost Donna Soo of Otterotto Jewelry. Ten percent of all sales will benefit Green Corn Project.