LOVE LETTERS Contrary to the cultured tone of an online anonymous comment posted under my column last week (see “After a Fashion,” Oct. 16) which was also submitted as a letter to the editor (see “Postmarks“) for this issue, I received a gem of an e-mail this week from the person who apparently put together the fashion presentation at Octo Tea Dance that I described last week as being “lackluster.” Since the letter writer chose to devote a sizable portion of his letter to my misspelling of Lilly Pulitzer‘s name, in reprinting his e-mail, I’ve left spelling errors intact. With no salutation, the e-mail read: “I’m sad to have read your petty little write up today from the event. Our poor volunteer models who you described as ‘lackluster’ were there to support an event and charity with thier time and energy, even if they were unskilled at modeling. I am offended you would so callously downplay thier efforts. As far as the jacket and it’s ‘back and forth’. I would think you would understand what a line sample means, and that those arn’t typically for sale. We accomodated your whining, childlike wants in the spirit of the event. I think lackluster is more the description of how I felt in my introduction of you, and find it odd how many people see you as a fashion advisor, considering I never see you in fashion. Usually it’s a poor costumey attempt at being outlandish over anything resembling ‘fashion’. I hope the next time you put pen to paper to put down someone’s work in helping a charity, you look past your petty opinions and remember the giving spirit those volunteers hav!e shown in just showing up. My world is no better having met you, and hopefully you will soon be forgotten. Regretfully: Bill Peck.” Comparing this very personal e-mail attack to the “official” “Postmarks” version, it’s as if they were from different people, yes? And how very disingenuous of the peckish Mr. Peck to not disclose that he represents the Patricia Wolf company (www.patriciawolf.com) to whom my friend Charlotte, “in the spirit of the event,” paid $800 for the divine fringed deerskin frontier jacket. My “official” response? Mr. Peck should go back to the kindergarten of PR.
FASHION WITH A CAPITAL “F” Saturday, Nov. 7, 7:30-9pm at the Austonian is the Runway to Heaven charity fashion show. Featuring local and internationally designed clothes, the event will showcase designer Linda Asaf‘s new collection, the L.A. brand Poleci (one of its designers, Jeffrey Chow, will be in attendance), Versace menswear, and Alexandra King. The show benefits the Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, through the Children’s Medical Center Foundation of Central Texas, as well as the Austin Children’s Shelter. Tickets for the show start at $90 for general admission seating, in addition to a variety of options for VIP seating and sponsorships. Further info may be obtained at www.runwaytoheaven.com.
THE CHILDREN! Thursday, Nov. 12, 6-11pm at the Austin Music Hall is the Help Clifford Help Kids event, benefiting American YouthWorks and featuring the fabulous Grupo Fantasma. Having raised more than $1 million for the education of at-risk youth over the last eight years, this charity event is one of the most best and most rousing social events, bringing the music community and its admirers together in a cause that Clifford Antone was passionate about. Further info is at www.americanyouthworks.org/events.htm.
This article appears in October 23 • 2009.