After a Fashion
This week: Your Style Avatar was brought to you by the letter "E"
By Stephen MacMillan Moser, Fri., Oct. 2, 2009
EXHAUSTED Yes. So early in the season. I think I need to check myself into one of those fabled hospital wards that treat exhausted people – you know, like Lindsay Lohan is always doing. With several must-attend events last week, I was fortunate enough to be able to take a day or two off in between each one, but I still feel bone-tired after doing it. And don't ask me about garage sales. I never want to see one again.
ELATED The rain was falling in buckets last Tuesday, so I didn't worry too much about what to wear to the Tribeza Fashion Show; I figured that since it was outside at the Long Center, it would be a washout. But hold on to your galoshes; the weather cooperated, and fashionable Austin, including my date, Jacki (Jackie-Oh) Havlak, was treated to a high-voltage, rarely seen real fashion show. A production designer from L.A. was brought in and did a faaabulous job, using models primarily from out of town. Everything looked so new and fresh; there were almost 150 looks shown. Sponsored by David Yurman (www.davidyurman.com – hasn't it become the charity heavy hitter lately?), the show promised to provide a high dazzle factor, and it did. The Garden Room, C. Jane, Anne Fontaine, Estilo, Valentine's Too, Keepers, Luxe Apothetique, Miss Behave, and Underwear all showed great looks in a stunning array of collections that ran from the ridiculous to the sublime and included original designs by UT fashion students. Fab. U. Luss. Best fashion show seen here recently. Need I add that By George had the finale and showed a breathtaking group of clothes? Truly exquisite and styled beautifully (all makeup by Rochelle Rae for Rae Cosmetics, of course), the entire show was excellent work on the part of Tribeza's new owners. Oh, and then there was the MobileJet ....
ENCHANTED Emceed by the vivacious Michelle Valles and attended by our new mayor and his stylish wife, Julie, Sunday was the 14th annual Breast Cancer Resource Center Champagne Brunch & Auction at the Renaissance. Okay, hands down, best silent auction in town. My dear old friend Gail Chovan was the honorary chair, also representing both her mother and sister with her passionate and moving speech about breast cancer. I was a mess before she even got to the part about how cancer was the unwelcome guest in so many lives, but was weeping for her and with her as she talked about how the cancer tries to become you – wearing your clothes, putting on your shoes, trying to stifle everything that you were before. Such a sense of camaraderie and empathy filled the room (sold out, of course) that it was hard to be sad. And then we were treated to a monologue by Golden Girl Rue McClanahan. Rambling and spontaneous, she was the kind of woman that a lot of the women present could relate to. I brought my own mom, Phyllis Stegall (herself a golden girl and 18-year breast cancer survivor) as my date and was thrilled to sit with so many of my "swans" (as Truman Capote referred to his coterie of elegant girlfriends), including Maria Groten, Carla McDonald, and Becky Beaver.
EXTRA, EXTRA Happy birthday to my friend DJ Sliver. The queen will outlive us all... And a very serious happy 63rd anniversary to Ann and Paul Chovan, Gail's parents... But I especially want to wish my best friends Stephen Rice and Mark Erwin a happy 15th anniversary. Their love and care has changed my life, and I am fortunate to have them by my side – even when I'm not there... And that reminds me to remind you of the incredible OctoTea XIV that is coming right up. Go to www.asaustin.org for details on that must-attend affair, as well as the upcoming AIDS Walk Austin.
