Shirley MacLaine, Kendra Scott, Richard Linklater, Robert Rodriguez and more fete Texas Film Awards

http://www.chron.com/life/society/slideshow/Texas-Film-Awards-2017-142337.php

Shirley MacLaine thinks that the city of Austin should build a wall. Not necessarily to keep people out, but to protect the artists who live within the city limits from themselves.She pleaded her case before a sold-out crowd at the 17th annual Texas Film Awards.

"Art is probably man's attempt to preserve his imagination against time," she said upon receiving both the Star of Texas Award for the film "Terms of Endearment" and a lifetime achievement award presented by famed filmmaker Richard Linklater."Shirley, we consider you an honorary Texan," Linklater said of MacLaine's three highly acclaimed Texas-filmed projects. Memories of Fort Worth native Bill Paxton, who passed away last month, were another highlight of the gala which kicked off the South by Southwest 2017 Film, Interactive, and Music Festival on Thursday, March 9.

Rain wasn't in the fete's forecast, though in the end, the slight drizzle made little difference. Stars - from the small and big screens, stage, and more - shone big and bright inside the Austin Film Society's production studio number seven. Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez - a surprise guest for most event-goers - led a powerful tribute for Paxton, his friend and "great actor." Rodriguez introduced the video of Paxton's humorous acceptance speech upon being inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame a few years ago. "Being from Texas, it has its currency," Paxton says in the clip.Rodriguez and Paxton first met on the set of "Titanic" while Rodriguez was visiting his friend James "Jim" Cameron. "Bill worked hard at making it look easy," Rodriguez said. Emotional videos of Kevin Bacon and Tom Cruise sharing their favorite memories with Paxton streamed overhead during dinner service.

http://society.blog.austin360.com/2017/02/23/soaking-up-the-glamour-of-the-texas-medal-of-arts/

PHOTO: Eloise DeJoria and Lance Avery Morgan at Texas Medal of Arts preview party under the new canopy at The Contemporary Downtown. Michael Barnes/American-Statesman

I could have chilled all night. And still have chilled some more.

These days, I’m looking for the exit earlier and earlier at Austin affairs. Chalk it up to social supersaturation.

Not this night. Or nights, if you include the preview party, and I do.

The Texas Medal of the Arts started and ended with big doses of luminous glamour. Dance great Debbie Allen hosted. Singer Vikki Carr was among the celebrities who introduced the honorees on the Bass Concert Hall stage.

RELATED: A-List: Texas Medal of Arts awards red carpet at Bass Concert Hall.

Although singer-songwriter Kenny Rogers — serenaded with his own songs by a scrum of fantastic musicians — took home the Lifetime Achievement Award from Texas Cultural Trust, let’s face it, all 13 awards were for lifetime achievement.

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/bryan-mays-talks-oscars-fashion/415602737

(Photo: Bryan Mays and Lance Avery Morgan)

The Society Diaries Editor-In-Chief Lance Avery Morgan was on hand once again this year to share some of the post-Academy Awards runway fashion re-cap with noon anchor Bryan Mays.

The hits? The misses? There were plenty of both and with all the festivities happening before, during and after the awards - who could forget? According to Morgan and the latest issue of The Society Diaries, the dresses were on trend and in style.

http://www.susanscovill.com/2016/12/ellas-grove/

On Wednesday, December 21, 2016 Ella’s Grove, an eclectic women’s clothing store in Haverford Square, hosted its annual Men’s Night shopping event. Attendees stopped by with lists of ”naughty or nice” gift items and made their choices. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were served. Owner Fran D’Ambrosio brings a love of design and a passion for beauty to Ella’s Grove. For almost 30 years, Fran has played many roles in the world of fashion, most notably as proprietor of acclaimed boutiques in both Connecticut and The Hamptons and now on the Main Line in Haverford Square.

http://austinsocialplanner.com/recap-dell-childrens-believe-gala/

This past Saturday the Spring 2017 gala season was kicked off in fine fashion as Dell Children’s Medical Center Foundation held its Believe Gala, benefiting Dell Children’s Medical Center. The annual event, held at the Austin Convention Center, raised close to $1.5 million dollars.

Chaired by Emily and Joe Price, the evening began with a grand cocktail party on the ground floor that transitioned into an enormous dinner upstairs. The program, as always, focused on families who have been personally affected by health issues and how Dell Children’s has become such a vital part of our healthcare community.

Among the highlights of the evening was the announcement of the Grace Grego Maxwell Mental Health Unit, which will provide comprehensive mental health services. In this unit, child and adolescent psychiatrists and psychologists will treat conditions such as eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

http://blog.chron.com/coolkids/2016/10/15/fashion-x-houston-stakes-its-claim-to-fashion-crown/

(Photography: Fashion X Runway, Carolyn Farb and Lance Avery Morgan)

Bringing its successful fashion show franchise to Houston for the first time, founder Matt Swinney introduced the Bayou City to a different kind of show at Silver Street Studios. There seemed to be something for everyone at the opening night of Fashion X Houston (said as Fashion By Houston…not the letter X). From avant grade to elegant, the designers who showcased their collections left no one wanting.

The star of the night was Nicholas Nguyen of Mysterious by N.P.N, who closed out the show to a well-deserved standing O. He designs for both women and men, and I don’t think there was a single menswear item in his collection that I didn’t want. The women were equally “wowing,” with each piece looking more stunning than the last, especially the show-stopping (literally) wedding gown. It was truly a magical way to end the first night on the runway.

http://www.chron.com/life/society/article/VIP-View-Four-insiders-share-behind-the-scenes-9980583.php

(Photo: Rob Giardinelli, Carlolyn Farb and Lance Avery Morgan)

Fashion X Houston recognized local design talent and "it" philanthropists last Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

The first time fete named Caroline Knapp, twin sisters Hannah McNair and Joanna Hartland Marks, and Lucinda Loya "Style Setters" for their individual style and dedication to serving the Houston community.

In addition to the Neil Hamil models who models looks from the honorees' own closet, designers Abi Ferrin, Amanda Valentine, Arrogantly Elegant, Becky Hollands, Chavon Shree, Erica Dawn Woodmore, Flawless Honey, Gunnar Deatherage, Shalon B, Chloe Dao, Alantude, Bentley & Lace, Deanna Santiago, VICREN, MANA, Michelle Lesniak, Caycee Black, Korto Momolu, Sonjia Williams, Inclan, TropiCouture, Miles David, Jimmy Burner, SixChel: Sexy Chic Cool Chick, This is Sloane, Rask, Carlos Castillo, Shehla Rana, Daniel Esquivel, Sean Kelly, and Mysterious by NPN sent showstopping ensembles down the runway, too.

http://www.bethielife.com/thursday-night-fashion-x-houston/

Location: Silver Street Studios. Photo: Lance Avery Morgan and Carolyn Farb, Matt Swinney

The first night of the 3-night Fashion X Houston started out with a view of beautiful Cadillac cars, then led into a room filled with fashions everywhere! Hundreds of Houstonians came to the first ever Fashion X Houston and we were not disappointed. The evening started out with galleries from stores and designers where you could shop on the spot. There were several photo-backdrop opportunities and lots of food and drink. This all led up to the huge runway event that included Miles David, Jimmy Burner, Sixchel, This is Sloane, Rask and capsule collections by Carlos Castillo, Shehla Rana, Daniel Esquivel and Sean Kelly. Popular lifestyle blogger Caroline Harper Knapp, of House of Harper, was the “Style Setter” of the evening. We even got to see some excerpts from her closet, which were adorable! The show closed with a jaw-dropping runway presentation by young designer Nicholas Ngyugen of Mysterious by NPN, who exquisitely reflected his Vietnamese heritage in his designs. The energy of this entire runway show was intoxicating because each designer presented completely unique collections and all-over-the-map different from one another. David Peck’s collection was extremely elegant and timeless. Jimmy Burner’s collection was street-wearable and urban. Sloane’s pieces were colorful and way-out funky (which I loved), and Shehla Rana’s collection was exquisite with Indian influences. Nicholas Phat Nguyen, who received an award from Bernina for up-and-coming designer, received a standing ovation after closing the show.

http://www.mystatesman.com/entertainment/break-the-austin-social-marathon-for-romance/WQwEDLDpUTidqlbwH3E7cO/

By Micahel Barnes

HEALTH: Loyal to the man, the team, the school, the cause. Few letters spell out loyalty like DRK. Coach Darrell K. Royal died in 2012, but grown men and women will set aside all other pressing concerns to pause and honor the late Longhorns leader. They are especially generous to the DKR Research Fund for Alzheimer’s Disease. Coach’s widow, Edith Royal, was the steadfast calm at the center of the social storm during the Fund’s Links & Lyrics benefit at ACL Live. Whirling around her were Stratus Properties’ Beau Armstrong and Val Armstrong, Patron’s John Paul DeJoria and Eloise DeJoria, KLBJ’s Ed Clements and Betsy Clements, KOKE FM’s Bob Cole and Linda Cole, The Society Diaries’ Lance Avery Morgan and Rob Giardinelli. The musical attraction for the night? Vince Gill, who recently played a stripped-down concert at Austin Music Hall for Austin Smiles.

F-1 is revving up in Austin. Our Lance Avery Morgan weighs in...

By ABC/KVUE News

Posted on March 3, 2014 at 11:52 AM

The only thing more exciting than seeing who took home an Oscar last night was seeing what the celebrities wore on the Red Carpet. Editor-in-Chief of The Society Diaries Magazine, Lance Avery Morgan, spoke to KVUE about the most glamorous night in fashion. At http://www.kvue.com/video/featured-videos/Recap-What-the-stars-wore-on-the-Red-Carpet-248213411.html

The spring is gala season, which means you need to dress to impress.

If you're unsure of what to wear, check out this "Fashion Forward" segment. Our Anne Hudson has some great tips on what's "in" this gala season along with The Society Diaries’ editor in chief, Lance Avery Morgan…

See more at: http://austin.twcnews.com/content/search/297773/dressing-to-impress-for-spring-gala-season#sthash.ChWK7LQI.dpuf

(Photo: Lance Avery Morgan, Gray Hawn and Eric Copper)

The Hilton Austin sparkled with sequins, bright baubles and the spirit of fun as the glam, generous guests for the night’s Dancing With the Stars benefit for Austin’s Center for Child Protection gathered there Sunday night.

As gala goers, among them Lance Avery Morgan, Gray Hawn, Eric Copper, Todd Dugas, Lorraine and Stan Jackson, Sheila Bostich, Jan and Mitchell Kalogridis, Amanda Pope, Ryann Danford, Erin Jolly and Danielle Kress, transitioned from the outside chill into the warm glow of the festivities and doffed their bundled outwear, the shiny, sparkly and stunning gowns of the winter party season were revealed in their glory.

They had come to enjoy themselves for a cause — and that, on both fronts, they did; at evening’s end, they had donated a record-setting $1 million-plus to the center.

Event chairs Alex Winkleman and Carol Adams, lovely in complementary blue gowns, greeted guests — including Katie Rooke, Roxanne Wilson, Mia Cavazos, Amanda Freche, Bryn Spee, Meredith Davis, Ryan Nail, Vilma Mazaite, Dana Tomlin and Dr. Tanuj and Nidhi Nakra — and circulated during the lively cocktail reception before the dinner hour, when the party moved into the ballroom and got down to the fun business of the evening.

- See more at: http://austin.ynn.com/content/290582/fashionably-yours--prepping-for-the-oscars#sthash.gW9fUd5u.dpuf

The Academy Awards will be held this Sunday, and those headed to swanky Oscar parties will need to come prepared.

Those looking for a glamorous outfit should check out Feathers on South Congress. Vintage, unique and glamorous gowns are exactly up their alley.

AUSTIN, Texas -- This is the year high-end retail discovered Austin.

While Dallas and Houston have long tended toward gowns and spangles, this intellectual hub -- home of the University of Texas, the state capital and some 700,000 people -- had a jeans and T-shirt reputation. But now, as new technology wealth comes to town and the local charity-gala circuit booms, Austin has become one of dozens of U.S. cities undergoing a fashion and luxury-goods makeover.

This year, some 30 high-end retailers have opened boutiques in Austin, including Tiffany & Co., Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, David Yurman, Louis Vuitton and Burberry. These names -- the vast majority represented in Austin for the first time -- are among the retail tenants of a $250 million shopping and residential complex, Domain, that Indianapolis-based developer Simon Property Group Inc. opened in March. Neiman Marcus, which has exclusive rights to sell Chanel and other labels here, is the anchor tenant.

As America gets richer, more people outside the traditional fashion strongholds of New York and Los Angeles are lining up for designer labels and accessories. While the country's affluent have traditionally splurged on homes, cars or jets, only recently have wealthy Americans developed enough of a taste for pricey fashions to support a coast-to-coast industry.

As Oscar fever cools down a bit, check out what our very own The Society Diaries editor in chief Lance Avery Morgan weighs in about with the red carpet recap on ABC/KVUE with Yvonne Nava and Bryan Mays, a segment that led into Good Morning America. Here it is:

http://www.kvue.com/video?id=193004451&sec=551407&ref=articlevidmod

On Friday, while SXSW's opening night film, Michael Winterbottom's "Code 46," was screening at the Paramount, former Texas governor (and political spitfire) Ann Richards held court at the active Austin Studios. The white-haired Democratic diva presided over the annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards presented by the Austin Film Society. Dennis Hopper, Jonathan Demme, Elvis Mitchell, Treat Williams and Linklater toasted this year's inductees, Robert Duvall, Forest Whitaker, Ethan Hawke, Judith Ivey and the film, "The Getaway," at a gala event that featured plates of BBQ and plenty of cocktails.

"This the only awards show where we guarantee that 'The Lord of the Rings' will not win anything," quipped Richards, with a wry grin reminiscent of her countenance years ago at the Democratic convention when she so wonderfully roasted the man who would later succeed her as the governor of Texas.

[indieWIRE Editor-in-Chief Eugene Hernandez will report from SXSW Film again tomorrow.]

On the catwalk, yeah on the catwalk.

There is probably zero money in it for me, but I have identified my second career. Last week, initially with great anxiety, I modeled in Stephen Moser's fashion show, and it was one of the funnest things I have ever done. Thanks, Stephen!

Moser, who is best known as the style columnist for the Austin Chronicle, has been designing up a storm at his East Austin studio this year. He makes resortwear and loungewear for both genders, as well as evening gowns, under the label Made in Heaven. This was the second such collection he showed this year. Held at Antone's, the fashion show benefited the Long Center for the Performing Arts. The center's director, Cliff Redd, emceed.

Moser's use of hand-painted silk charmeuse from Austin's Felton Knorra Studio has become a signature. The fabrics are created by fine artist Channe Felton, who also unveiled a terrific painting of Clifford Antone after the show, and screen printer Daniel Knorra. My first outfit was an empire-waist sundress with a skirt made of orange and yellow Felton Knorra silk, and it felt divine.

I flirted with modeling only once before, and the rejection was so demoralizing that I vowed, "Never again." When I lived in New York, a teacher at my yoga center said the staff had been contacted by Nike about a casting call for Asian women adept in various physical activities such as yoga, and they thought I should go.

Candy Spelling (l) at her booksigning in Houston, hosted by Houston's grande dame, Lynn Wyatt (r).

Courtesy of 'Brilliant'

Hey, listen up, all you San Antonio style setters, followers and hangers-on counting the days to invade the 154-acre retail mecca, the Shops at La Cantera. This fashion service announcement comes to you from Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, stylish movers and shakers that hosted a crowd of curious, well-heeled fashionistas to dish about the Alamo city's style future.

Straight from their mouths to your eyes: Your voice — not to mention your money — dear customer, is what ultimately will matter to them. If you don't like the merchandise on Nordstrom's racks or would like to see more of a particular collection (Missoni, Burberry Prosum or Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Shouler), ask a sales associate to point you toward Lisa Frandsen, Nordstrom store manager. Chat her up. She's vivacious, new to San Antonio — straight from Florida, where she helped open a Nordstrom there — and a newlywed. She also wants to know what you're thinking.

"Customers will tell us what we have done right and what we need to work on," she says.

Ditto at Neiman Marcus, where Vice President and general manager Thomas Wensinger, here only three months, believes that fashion — selling it, buying it, wearing it, understanding it — is about knowing what the shopper wants and expects from the luxury goods provider showcasing, among other brands, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and Ralph Lauren's Purple Label. Seek Wensinger out, too. "The cool thing about fashion is that it always changes and the best thing that we can do is to educate the San Antonio woman, who already has great style, about that," Wensinger says diplomatically.

Austin fête celebrates author

'Tis the season when style and good taste usually surrender to tackiness and blind devotion to kitschy tradition. But as holiday entertaining begins in earnest this weekend, reconsider. You can have it both ways.

Take a cue from Harrison & Shriftman, a premier marketing, public relations and event planning firm behind countless star-studded parties for the fashion industry. A signature of its events is the irreverent blending of high and low. Its glamorous parties have been known to feature junk food, toys, games, trashy novels and cartoon characters.

A party for author (and master event planner) Lara Shriftman took her advice to heart. The hosts offered a signature drink (the 'Lara-tini') and M&Ms embossed with 'TX loves Lara.

So yes, Virginia, there is a place in the stylish world for dancing Santas, aluminum trees, tooth-rotting nogs and deep-fried gut bombs, if they are used to add levity and humor to general elegance, and if the party is planned well enough to allow the hosts' thoughtfulness and generosity to shine brightest.

The co-presidents of Harrison & Shriftman wrote "Party Confidential," which launched this month (Bulfinch, $29.99). Lara Shriftman and Elizabeth Harrison spotlight some of their firm's most creative shindigs, and they pack the book with tips.

Even attending 18 events over a long, hot weekend, I missed a few giant social affairs, such as the Pachanga Festival (cool in the Waterloo Park shade?) and the Cattle Baron’s Ball for the American Cancer Society (we dawdled during a Pedernales River day trip).

Two publications threw lavish issue parties: Brilliant at Pangaea and Rare at the Monarch. The first included a birthday salute to publisher Lance Avery Morgan featuring a cavalcade of cupcakes. Cover lady Diana Ross was not in attendance, but the magazine landed a juicy interview with the superstar.

Our friend Lance Morgan runs a magazine called Brilliant which is a bible of society, style and luxury for Texans. The magazine celebrated its fifth anniversary at Pangaea, a bottle club that took over the old Alamo Drafthouse (near fourth and Colorado) site with a velvet-roped, safari-themed bar. Because we figured this might be our one and only visit to this bar and because we love Lance and knew he'd invited all the usual suspects, we went. [Disclaimer: Nothing against safari themes, bottle bars (although how many people do you need to spend hundreds or thousands on a bottle of booze?) or any of that. It's just that we tend to do our drinking where the we know the bartender's name and they know what whiskey we prefer and there are good snacks and no percussion.]

It's not a great picture, photo-quality-wise, but Lance and the cake and the lady helping look dashing.

As to the venue: the DJ'ed African music with a live congo player was loud but we did manage conversation. The old Alamo stairs are still there and I couldn't shake the image that it was going to be revealed as a promo for some Alamo silliness. The place is supposed to look like one of those high-quality safari 'tents' where people dine on good food and drink and peek out or drive to see the big five. Not that I've done that. I leaned over and asked my good friend sitting next to me if he had and he said "Yes, in Kenya." Then we moved on to talk about gas wells near Ft. Worth. There were lots of people we knew there and, when we slipped out about 7:30, there were more people we knew standing behind the velvet rope trying to get the guys to find their name on a list. (Another reason we don't normally go to these places. The ropes!)

Plenty of places to wear hipster jewelry in Austin

I have to hand it to A&E's "Rollergirls." If nothing else, it leaves a better impression of our city than MTV's "Real World: Austin" did. "Rollergirls" isn't concerned with women's roller derby so much as the lifestyle of Austin hipsters, the group responsible for the sport's revival.

Here in Rollerland, we all live with roommates in rented South Austin bungalows and East Side warehouses. We spend our days at sidewalk cafés and our nights supporting our friends' art collectives. We'd be lost without tattoos and cheap beer. We wear truckie hats, secondhand clothes and indie designer jewelry.

One of the jewelry lines that makes an appearance is Xovo, which is designed by Cara Singleton, a native of Austin and a former Hollywood camerawoman. Princessy yet savage, it dovetails perfectly with the rollergirls' feral aesthetic. Crystals and faux pearls coexist with metal spikes and leather. Most of the pieces have lacquered mini-reproductions of paintings by contemporary artists, a few of whom are Austinites as well. They cost $35 to $150 and are sold at Cupidz Clozet, Book People and The Garden Room.

I know exactly where I'd show off my feral jewelry: the Peacock, the East Side bar created by and for hipsters. They also welcome mainstream sellouts like myself. I live nearby, so I go all the time, though on weeknights, I've noticed I'm the only woman there whose hair isn't longer in the front than in the back. That's why I'll never pass for a hipster.

On Thursday noon, The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) opened with more than 3,000 guests arriving during the first hour. By the end of the afternoon, more than 10,000 had arrived for what has become one of the art world's most significant exhibitions. Every spring for the past more than 25 years, TEFAF turns Maastricht into a focal destination for highly-regarded art dealers, museum directors and art collectors, making for one of the art markets most significant economic barometers as well as a rare opportunity to appreciate an extraordinary collection of masterpieces.

Morning in Maastrict + TEFAF 2013 opens

http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/1909191

By Augustus Mayhew

On Thursday noon, The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) opened with more than 3,000 guests arriving during the first hour. By the end of the afternoon, more than 10,000 had arrived for what has become one of the art world's most significant exhibitions. Every spring for the past more than 25 years, TEFAF turns Maastricht into a focal destination for highly-regarded art dealers, museum directors and art collectors, making for one of the art markets most significant economic barometers as well as a rare opportunity to appreciate an extraordinary collection of masterpieces.

In the competitive world of art fairs and auction houses, TEFAF's standards and offerings are unrivaled. At this year's exhibition, more

than 280 exhibitors from 20 countries have installed 30,000 artifacts and art works worth billions at the Maastricht Exhibition and Congress Centre (MECC) for a crowd estimated in excess of 70,000 for the ten-day event.

TEFAF's board of trustees are Baron Willem van Dedem, president; Ben Janssens, chairman Antiquairs; Konrad Bernheimer chairman Pictura; James Roundell vice chairman Pictura; George Abrams, Robert Aronson, David Cahn, Jonathan Green, Johnny van Haeften, Fabrizio Moretti, Henk van Os, Ugo Pierucci, Willem van Roijen, Anthony Speelman, Peter Sutton, Jorge Welsh, Michel Witmer, and Anthony Browne.

Celebrity watchers, start your engines.

The race is on this weekend for a brush with fame when the glitterati will make the party rounds as Austin welcomes the much-anticipated Formula One United States Grand Prix.

It's the first U.S. date on the international Formula One season in five years, following stops in such glitzy locales as Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Kuala Lumpur and Abu Dhabi. Sunday's race, before 120,000 fans at the new 3.4-mile Circuit of the Americas track, also could determine this year's world champion — favorites are Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso. Located a few miles east of Austin Bergstrom International Airport, the track will get its international debut with the race, the second-to-last of the year.

Top Pick Nina Seely: Her pixie smile lights up at every event. And so it should. The Ralph Lauren retailer helps out, with husband Frank, People’s Community Clinic and the Austin Jazz Workshop, but she’s a sparkler at parties, and she organized signature events such as the ‘Sex and the City’ cocktail preview for Breast Cancer Resource Center. Plus, she’s just fun.

Nak Armstrong. Anthony Nak

Linda Asaf. Linda Asaf Design, Downtown Austin Alliance

Maria Bergh. Giant Media

Christy Butler. Jewell

Scott Butler. By George

Anthony Camargo. Anthony Nak

Deborah Carter. Pink Salon

Gail Chovan and Evan Voyles. Blackmail, Vivid, Neon Jungle

Stephanie Coultress and Todd O’Neill. Estilo

Katy and Matthew Culmo. By George

Melissa D’Attilio. Fly Productions

Zarghun and Eddaicsa ‘Eddy’ Dean. Tribeza

Riley and Tomas Estebes de Silva. St. Thomas Boutique, Austin Children’s Shelter

Lauren Smith Ford and Bennett Ford. Tribeza

Kirk Haines. Service Menswear, Crown Clothing

My-Cherie Haley. Sue Webber Productions

Top Pick: Zion Francis.

For a previously posted micro-profile of Zion Francis, go here.

Linda Asaf. Linda Asaf Design, Downtown Austin Alliance

Chris Cantoya. Mint Owl

Jamie Chioco. Chioco Design

Gail Chovan and Evan Voyles. Blackmail, Neon Jungle

Stephanie Coultress and Todd O’Neill. Estilo

Katy and Matthew Culmo. By George

Giacomo Forbes. Giacomo Forbes Hair Studio

Lauren Smith Ford and Bennett Ford. Tribeza

Alyson Fox. www.alysonfox.com

Roy Fredericks. Avant Salon

My-Cherie and Anthony Haley. Shimmer & Bliss Accessories, Webber Productions, HRWK Global, Seton Forum, Austin Black Lawyers Association, Digital Media Council, StrataTX

Jenny Hart. Sublime Stitching, Austin Fashion Awards

Patty Hoffpauir. Hospice Austin, Beauty of Life, School of Human Ecology

Evelyn Jackson. JR Salon Spa

Barbara Kelso. Ann Kelso Salon and CitySpa

Jeff Kirk. Kirk Gallery

Ron King. Bô Salon

Monica and Hank Korman. Russell Korman Fine Jewelry

Karen Landa and Dale Dewey. Tribeza

People who wrote the book on the literary and media scenes

Michelle Valles has become a local celebrity as co-anchor of KXAN's evening news. 'It is rewarding to be a good role model, especially with low-income kids,' says Valles, who started a $2,000 scholarship at her alma mater, Bel Air High School in El Paso.

The petite El Paso native with the blinding smile visits local schools, serves as mistress of ceremonies at charity events and volunteers with do-good groups all over Austin. Dear to her heart is the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which she has been involved with for seven years, hosting the Jerry Lewis Telethon in El Paso before taking over here.

"I wouldn't want to spend my Labor Day weekend doing anything else," says Valles, 30.

Valles also works with the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association and the Aguila Awards, which honor Hispanics in Texas. She's especially proud of a $2,000 scholarship she started for students at her alma mater, Bel Air High School in El Paso.

"I'm not looking for the highest GPA, and they don't have to be Hispanic," Valles says. "The only requirement is that they leave town for college. I want them to step outside their comfort zone."

Hey, listen up, all you San Antonio style setters, followers and hangers-on counting the days to invade the 154-acre retail mecca, the Shops at La Cantera.

This fashion service announcement comes to you from Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, stylish movers and shakers that hosted a crowd of curious, well-heeled fashionistas to dish about the Alamo city's style future.

Straight from their mouths to your eyes: Your voice — not to mention your money — dear customer, is what ultimately will matter to them. If you don't like the merchandise on Nordstrom's racks or would like to see more of a particular collection (Missoni, Burberry Prosum or Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Shouler), ask a sales associate to point you toward Lisa Frandsen, Nordstrom store manager. Chat her up. She's vivacious, new to San Antonio — straight from Florida, where she helped open a Nordstrom there — and a newlywed. She also wants to know what you're thinking.

"Customers will tell us what we have done right and what we need to work on," she says.

Ditto at Neiman Marcus, where Vice President and general manager Thomas Wensinger, here only three months, believes that fashion — selling it, buying it, wearing it, understanding it — is about knowing what the shopper wants and expects from the luxury goods provider showcasing, among other brands, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada and Ralph Lauren's Purple Label. Seek Wensinger out, too.

he stage was set at the Driskill Hotel Sunday night for a much anticipated fashion show by a well-known Austin fashion face, Stephen MacMillan Moser. While his name is connected with the Austin Chronicle for his After a Fashion weekly column, this night Stephen replaced his writing talents for his more creative design side. Gail Chovan, the long-time, eclectic and very artistic designer and owner of South Congress’ Blackmail Boutique showed a stunning capsule collection (a recap of her Collection 15 is coming from her Tuesday night show) and Tina Johnson and Roosevelt Cevallos (shoes) also showed pieces to make it a wonderful local foursome of fashion collections that walked the runway.

The energy at the Driskill show was much like some of the shows I covered in the old days, circa the crazy Club de Ville fashion show days…fast-forward a decade and I felt that same energy Sunday night but everyone was better dressed and the dressing rooms weren’t outside. The well-mannered people you typically see at a fashion show came unglued during Stephen’s set and the fashion party ignited! It was fun, loud, and the models cut loose on the runway with the crowd getting louder with each piece making its appearance. Super fun to see the front row with Ross Bennett, Matt Swinney and celebrity game show host Chuck Woolery cutting it up and having just about as much fun as the models!

Natalie Bond, Lance Avery Morgan, Emily Miller, and Kevyn DeMartino

Christopher Brancado, Natalie Bond, Lance Avery Morgan, Neil Hamil enjoy the view

The Center for AIDS has a knack for lining up some of the swankiest homes in town with some of the most generous hosts for its annual Holiday Schmooze and the 2010 fete was no exception when Phoebe and Bobby Tudor opened their show-stopper mansion and grounds for 350 gallant gents and festive ladies.

The expansive Tudor-style (yes, really) home was decorated to the tasteful hilt for the holidays, no space more inviting than the dining room where Jackson & Company provided the elaborate festive buffet that is tradition with this popular evening. The exceptionally handsome crowd included Jay Jones and Terry Wayne Jones, Stephen Loden, Anne Farish, David Chambers, Bill Caudell, Andrew Edmonson, Astrid and Gene Van Dyke, Randy Powers, Cerón, C.C Conner and D.L. Groover, Lenny Matuszewski, Bill Coburn and Vann Vaughan. Photos by Gary Fountain

Earning title to the French Legion of Honor is no small feat. So, fittingly, it was no small soirée on Wednesday night that celebrated that remarkable accomplishment by Becca Cason Thrash.

More than two dozen FOBs (Friends of Becca) — individuals and couples — joined forces to host the grand evening in her honor at one of River Oaks' most spectacular homes, in a garden setting that could have been straight from — where else? — the South of France. Like a scene from a Hollywood movie, the glamorous and the powerful poured in to pay tribute to the woman whom France honored last month for her international philanthropy, her unprecedented fundraising for the Louvre and her years of championing Franco-American relations.

Serious about style? Don't forget to accessorize those cuffs.

When it comes to everyday accessories, men have few options -- there's the tie, the watch, the briefcase. But there's an old favorite in the dresser drawer worth reconsidering: the cuff link.

These fashion statements of the wrist are making a comeback. They're being worn day and night and by everyone from college students to older men for whom dressing up never went out of style. Women are wearing them, too.

"Cuff links are always in," says Bozhena Orekhova, GQ's accessories editor. "They are one of the accessories that men can wear, like watches.

It shows a lot about your manners and how seriously you take your style."

Cuff links came into play in the 1600s when flamboyant King Charles II of England popularized a shirt with a lacy front and matching cuffs. (Charles had grown tired of using ribbon to tie his cuffs.)

They might have had their peak in the 1960s and '70s, but there has been a recent surge in interest in them as a key men's accessory. Style influences from celebrities such as designer Tom Ford and Justin Timberlake, who are pushing gentlemanly looks, indicate that cuff links will be hot for a while.

A few weeks ago we had the privilege of planning a spectacular Palm Springs-themed party at W Austin for our dear friend, Lance Avery Morgan. To celebrate the launch of The Society Diplomat, guests donned their brightest garb and danced the night away in what was truly a fabulous affair of who’s-who’s. So excited to give you a peak at some of our favorite details of the night, including beautiful centerpieces from Mandarin Floral, tunes by DJ Johnny Bravvo & Larissa Ness, and champagne from Veuve, to name a few. Follow the jump to see the event perfectly captured by Chris Caselli.

THE SOCIAL CIRCUIT Omigod, I've just had the most glamorous 24 hours of my life! So impossibly glam, I can hardly stand myself. You'll probably raise an objection, too, but for now, let's just snuggle up under my ermine lap robe and enjoy some delicious dish. Lance Morgan and Phil Hudson, publishers of Brilliant, invited me to a party they were throwing in Houston for their recent cover girl, Carolyn Farb. Well, you know how I feel about Carolyn: I think she's a goddess. Others can smirk, but I care not. I'm deeply impressed to know her. My frequent walker Mark Sullivan said, "I'll make you an offer you can't refuse; come down to Houston, and I'll put you up in my penthouse at the Four Seasons." Well! How could I refuse? Then, the lovely e-mail arrived from Carolyn (she who loathes e-mail), asking me to come down as well. I called Carolyn the next day, and when she asked if I'd like to come to her house, I swooned. Yes, indeedy, I would. My frequent consort Rita Garza happened to have a meeting in Houston that day, so I invited her to accompany me to the party, and invited myself to ride down in her brand new 350Z. We arrived late on Tuesday at Mark's place, and it was heavenly – spacious and exquisitely appointed, with sweeping views to die for. He was the perfect host, and we stayed up and gossiped until all hours. After asking Carolyn's permission the next morning, I begged Mark to accompany me, afraid I might disgrace myself by passing out (or worse). Carolyn's River Oaks home is not especially grandiose from the outside, but it is a 1930s John Staub structure that had been redone in the Eighties, and the overwhelming quality from the outside is privacy. But inside? It's like an art museum where no alarms go off if you touch the art. The furnishings become inconsequential next to the breathtaking displays of art that trail everywhere, from the garage, through both floors of the house, across the patio, around the pool, and into the pool house. Mark and I were giddy to stand in front of Frida Kahlos, Jasper Johnses, Warhols, Rousseaus – a staggering personal collection that perfectly described its owner. The full-length Aaron Schickler portrait of Carolyn hanging in the circular stairwell was among the many incredible portraits of her. When she suggested lunch at the Grotto, a high-society watering hole, we eagerly agreed (I rode with Carolyn in her to-die-for Aston Martin convertible). We were immediately seated at the center table, and the parade of society babes winding its way through the restaurant was straight out of Dynasty. Carolyn identified them for us, giving us brief background info on them: "She's number one on the best-dressed list," (I also met No. 2 later that night) or, "She used to be a newscaster," and Mark and I lapped it up. Suddenly I realized it wasn't Dynasty, it was the La Cote Basque section of Truman Capote's Answered Prayers – and I swooned all over again. Carolyn is not only witty and engaging, but she's as shrewd and clever as she is beautiful and gracious – and she behaved with far better manners than any of the pretenders to her throne who were present. We regretfully bade Carolyn goodbye and went on a whirlwind tour of Houston, after which we retired for a brief respite and then got ready for the party and made arrangements to meet Rita there. The party was at the drop-dead gorgeous new Hotel Icon – unquestionably the most chic hotel I've ever been in (www.hotelicon.com). Housing the Balance Day Spa; Jean-Georges Vongerichten's new restaurant, Bank; and the Whiskey, a Rande Gerber bar so plush I never wanted to leave, the rooms were magnificent, and I met the fab PR wizards behind the Icon magic, Gail Rubin and Stuart Rosenberg of Studio Communications, both riveting conversationalists and deeply talented. I intend to work hard to make them my NBFs (my Next Best Friends). Carolyn reigned over the entire affair wearing a dazzling suite of turquoise and diamond jewelry from the estate of Merle Oberon, and the chicest slice of the city turned out in force to pay homage. Vive la reine.

5X7: I would have been surprised if I hadn't loved the Arthouse's "5x7 Art Splurge and Exhibition" last week, because what's not to love? Not the hundreds and hundreds of pieces of art for sale (each 5 inches by 7 inches) nor the marvelous guest list. In attendance that evening were the vivacious Deborah Green, Sara Fox, Jenni Hummel, Nathanial and Elizabeth Chapin, Evan Voyles, Steve Wyman, and Emily Cowart, Matthew & Katy Culmo, Brian Bowers, Daryl and Dana Kunik, Lance Morgan, Taylor Andrews, Phil Hudson, and so many more of what the Austin American-Statesman calls the Fortunate 500. Certainly not the beautiful flora by the always fabulous Big Red Sun (btw, did you see their fab spread in Metropolitan Home?). The catering by Ranch 616 (I loved those steak shooter-things)? The music by DJ extraordinaire Faith Gay? Finally, clearly not the referee services provided by the Texas Rollergirls (see their upcoming events at www.txrollergirls.com). While each separate factor was wonderful, the combination was an unforgettable evening of fun and art and one of the best benefits in town.

SLUDGE REPORT: I think I understand now – whenever Bush's approval rating dips below 35, Cheney has been instructed to fly his Cessna into restricted airspace… From Michael Musto's column in the Village Voice (www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/516,musto,63132,15.html): "This is probably not the right time to bring up that Broadway star who mowed over a child in an unfortunate accident and now has to sit onstage every night and listen to the line, 'You're in a good mood. Did you run over a child today?'" Well, the line is from Steel Magnolias, and could Musto be referring to Rebecca Gayheart, who pled guilty to manslaughter charges in 2001?… Brangelina. There, it's been said. Now we'll never have to say "Brad and Angelina" again… And now, with no introduction necessary, we present www.blackpeopleloveus.com... Don't you love how Nicole Richie is trying so hard to gussy herself up now that Paris has dumped her? Trading one skank for another, Hilton wants Rod Stewart's daughter Kimberly to be her new best friend… Here, a particularly wretched photo of Britney Spears that raises more questions than it answers: www.myvillage.com/photos/bad_hair_day7.htm. Remember how beautiful Brigitte Bardot used to be? That was a long time ago. Now she's as ugly on the outside (www.gossiplist.com/blog2/archives/006172.html) as she is on the inside; in her most recent book, A Cry in the Silence, the ancient sex kitten aired her distaste for modern gay men, because they "jiggle their bottoms, put their little fingers in the air, and with their little castrato voices moan about what those ghastly heteros put them through." That's nothing compared to what she's been through – just look at her!... And speaking of wretched, there's Entertainment Tonight's Mary Hart, the fossilized commentator whose desperate attempts at being hip are laughable considering she's careening headlong into 60. Listening to her gush over the contrived Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes alliance is a nauseating estrogen-fest…

The Society Diplomat, the brainchild of bRILLIANT magazine co-founder and all-around bon vivant Lance Avery Morgan, chose the perfect location to host its “Palm Springs meets Texas” soirée on a recent wind-swept evening.

Not only did the Gods smile on the weather, but also on the sun-kissed attendees who showed up in their spring best to celebrate the site’s launch and the highly-anticipated publication of Morgan’s tome about the legendary Texas social scene, aptly titled “The Society Diplomat.”

Scores of friends and admirers enjoyed a Champagne bar hosted by Veuve Cliquot and cocktails from Belvedere, all while mingling on the upstairs balcony at the W Austin in a desert oasis produced by “it girl” event designer Camille Styles Moore.

Local songstress (and accomplished musician) Larissa Ness performed a high-energy set for the crowd before DJ Johnny

Bravvo took over the decks as the sun set over City Hall and the hills to the west. More than one conversation about plans for summer escapes to Aspen, Nantucket and Santa Barbara were overheard, lending a chic touch to an already chic evening!

MORE I've certainly been vilified as of late for not supporting local fashion. I do support local fashion: I just want it to be good. The current Do-It-Yourself culture has led many people to believe they are designers, but that is little more than self-aggrandizement. Picking up a guitar and plucking its strings does not make you a musician, and you're not a designer just because you say you are. You're a DIY-er. Different story. I know, because I've been both. I sewed badly for a number of years and called myself a designer, but it wasn't until I got serious about it, went to school for it, did my internships, and paid my dues in the industry before I could call myself a designer. When you understand the history of what you're doing, you don't have to keep reinventing the wheel. I'm not suggesting that people throw away their dreams, I just think they should do the work necessary to try and make those dreams come true. But if truth be told, gluing rhinestones on tennis shoes, making belts out of inner tubes, bracelets out of toothbrushes, and "cootie catcher" corsages is not fashion design. It is crafting, which is a fine and honorable thing, but it's not fashion. Let's call a spade a spade, shall we?

AT THE BALLET: This spring's social season seems particularly busy with one thing right after another. We went to the Women on Their Toes benefit at the Hilton for Ballet Austin – a classic ladies' luncheon with a Cat Swanson fashion show as entertainment. Austin designer Swanson's bright and soft Quetzal collection, recently shown in New York, is her most cohesive collection yet. My tablemates were Lance Morgan, who knows everyone; Janice Burckhardt (wife of artist Marc Burckhardt, whom we'll tell you about soon); Ballet Austin board members Forrest Preece and Suzanne Lewellyn-Moore; Marcia Purvis (she accepted the civic service award for her deceased aunt, the philanthropic powerhouse Roberta Crenshaw); and fave local celeb Ron Olivieras. Dropping by the table to visit were board president Nora Linares-Moeller, Kelly and Pam Fielding of Paper & Ink, and Dianne Nicholas.

ART BALL: I made my pilgrimage to the Austin Museum of Art's annual Art Ball at the Four Seasons. Year after year, this is such a great party – a live auction of fabulous art including works from Annie Leibovitz and Ed Ruscha, wonderful, dazzling guests, excellent cause ... who could ask for more? Upon entering, I ran into Anne Elizabeth Wynn, who is a luminous beauty and one of the chicest public figures, then visited with my dear friend Margaret Shaw. My NBF (new best friend) Sara Fox glowed in her silver Versace, as did her pal Leanne Raesener in Prada. At the afterparty, where Fastball was playing, I went up to the force that is known as Deborah Green to tell her what a fabulous time I had at her pre-Texas Film Hall of Fame party ... and she made me dance. Dear god, I didn't want to dance; I gave that up many dress sizes ago – but she made me. I was trying to make the best of it, but she's a tough babe to keep up with. Everything was fine until my heel slipped off the dance floor, and I landed flat on my back. You can imagine what a pretty sight that was. But when the gracious Deborah put out her hand to help me, I was transfixed by her Harry Winston diamond bracelet, which lured me up off the floor like a spirit in the night. This is a woman who knows how to enjoy her accomplishments. There were a lot of big jewels there: I examined a glittering armload of antique Art Deco diamond bracelets on Mary Ellen Golden, who sparkles even without diamonds, and honorable mention goes to whoever the woman was wearing the ruby and diamond breastplate – way to go, babe. We visited with artist Brad and Cindi Ellis (his art is currently on display at D Berman Gallery and at www.bradellisart.com); designer Jerri Kunz and partner John McCullough; Chris Wellington (www.wellingtondesigns.com) of Lone Star Media and John Saba Jr. of the attorney general's office (together, they are part of the country band San Saba County, playing this Friday, April 22 at Trophy's, and April 28 at Beerland); Kateri Gemperle and Ginger Roddick of the Andy Roddick Foundation (Gasp: Even I can't get invited to the foundation's swank but oh-so-private event next week at the Four Seasons starring Sir Elton John, with supermodel Cindy Crawford and Donna Summer in attendance, benefiting various children's charities.); Laya and Glen Oswald of the Oswald Gallery; artist Bob Wade and the effervescent Lisa; Heather Brand of the Bob Bullock Museum; arts patron Johnny Neill; and others too fabulous to mention. Even Michael and Susan Dell drifted past. I gotta say, Susan, you look beautiful and your new hairdresser is so much better than your old one.

PREMIERE CITY: It was too crowded to even see that there was a red carpet; I didn't realize it until I tripped on it, nearly careening headlong into the star of the evening, Matthew McConaughey. The cameras were everywhere and there were so many cell phones being waved in the air, it looked like we were appearing in a Verizon ad. Fans came armed with Sharpies and their favorite Matthew ephemera to get a signature – magazine covers, photos, tickets, you name it. My glamorous date Rita Garza and I met up with Katy Hackerman, Robert Walker, and Blake and Lea Buffington along the way. At one point as we worked through the crowd, some of us held hands like school children in a crosswalk to make sure we didn't get separated. Eventually we did get past the mauling crowd and to our seats, catching up with Carol Adams, Lance Morgan, and Taylor Andrews along the way. The evening was a production of the Austin Film Society, and AFS executive director Rebecca Campbell introduced UT football coach Mack Brown, who in turn, introduced the famous UT fan Mr. McConaughey. City Manager Toby Futrell made an appearance and director Breck Eisner was in the audience. Sahara, a classic escapist action/adventure formula featuring a beautiful woman in danger (Penélope Cruz), a handsome hero (McConaughey), and an entertaining sidekick (Steve Zahn), was a nonstop romp across Africa with gorgeous cinematography (and the cast is wearing sunglasses from the fab new Ray-Ban collection that I viewed during SXSW)… Rita again accompanied me to the premiere of Sin City later in the week; it was an even bigger event, with Robert Rodriguez in attendance, along with Frank Miller (who wrote the stories in Sin City and co-directed the movie), model/actress James King (credited as Jaime King), and Nick Stahl. We avoided the crush by arriving earlier. Rodriguez introduced the movie and led a post-show Q&A, and the crowd retired to Stubb's for a great afterparty, featuring Patricia Vonne and her band. The barbeque was piled high and guests like Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Robert LaRoche, Carol and Chris Adams, Louis Black, Werner Campbell and the lovely Julia, Ellen Spiro, Margaret Moser, and Earl Poole Ball mingled and jingled.

Great Zacks! I went to a luncheon last week to celebrate 30 years of Zachary Scott Theatre's children's educational program, Project Interact. Of course, there were dozens of the usual Zach Scott suspects that I adore … but one in particular sent me spinning down memory lane: Anne Page Dubois. Zach Scott Theatre was only a couple of years old when I arrived on the scene in the fall of 1975, and Anne was managing director. I was 17; my father had died the year before, and I'd been kicked out of Houston's High School for Performing & Visual Arts for something they called "an inability to adjust," which really translated to meaning I was so gay and so out of the closet they didn't know quite what to do with me. Like so many of my generation in the mid-Seventies, I slipped into the free-fall of a drug-ridden, directionless existence. All I knew was that I wanted to be an actor – God knows I wasn't comfortable in my own skin and was much happier in someone else's. I moved to Austin and enrolled at Austin Community College, where an old friend of my parents, Bob Swain, was in charge of the theatre department there. Dr. Swain was also the artistic director of Zach Scott at that time, and the theatre workshops consisted of being assigned to various positions during the course of the shows that were being produced at Zach. I worked on sets, props, lights, etc., while waiting for my big acting break – a break that was never really to come. The first show I worked on for Zach Scott was The Man Who Came to Dinner. I was assigned to sets and props and dove in head first. (In that same production was a 7-year-old child actor. His name was Lance Avery Morgan, and he grew up to be a co-ruler of our stylish little social scene here in Austin.) The next show was a production of Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance, for which I wound up in the costume shop. Costuming wasn't really new to me. My mother sewed, and I'd been designing smart little costumes for myself all my life, and of course, my sister's Barbies were early victims … I mean clients of Stephen's House of Wayward Couture. But I knew nothing of real sewing or fabrics until The Pirates of Penzance costume designer, a fiery red-headed pistol named Libby Winters, took an interest in me and showed me a thing or two about sewing and design. I instantly became hopelessly enamored with it. The next show was The Devil's Disciple, an 18th-century costume drama; I begged to be on the costume crew again. This time I worked with Noel Noblitt, who was also charmed by my ardent desire to learn the craft and shared with me many tips to improve my work. She let me construct one of the gowns by myself (with her supervision, of course), and I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Naturally, it took me waay too long to make the dress, but it absorbed all my waking hours and all my nighttime dreams for many, many days. I practically lived at Zach Scott during this period. I loved the all-nighters and the multiple emergencies we encountered in designing the show. We endlessly played the soundtracks to A Chorus Line and Chicago while we worked. I also began to sew for myself on the side … flimsy little shirts and loungewear that I had the audacity to wear to Pearl Street Warehouse and the fabulous Friends and Lovers disco. Later that season, Dr. Swain, after relentless entreaties from me, allowed me to be the costume designer for After the Fall (which also featured a very young, quiet drama student named Joe York in a walk-on part). I was able to fulfill my half-baked fantasies in designing the clothes for the character based on Marilyn Monroe, making life-sized Barbie clothes like fishtail gowns, voluminous cocktail dresses, and dazzling at-home wear. Never again would I turn back. I was now a costume designer, albeit a very young, fairly inexperienced one, but I could never have gotten that far without the support of the Zach Scott staff, Dr. Swain, and particularly Anne Dubois. Anne was the one who was always at the theatre day and night, working fervently to make sure that the theatre could stay afloat. She was generous and kind despite her weighty responsibilities – always supportive and even giving me $75 to pay my rent one time … back when you could rent a place for $75. After a few seasons, I segued into fashion design and moved to Houston. From there I moved on to San Francisco, where I landed a job designing for Divine (no easy chore!). I traveled around quite a bit, working in Seattle and eventually in New York, where I had my own company and achieved some lovely successes in the cutthroat world of New York fashion. After a lengthy stint as a designer, I moved back to Austin in 1999 and began to write about fashion for this paper. I never could have followed that trail of dreams to so many places if it had not been for the things I learned at Zach Scott … and so 30 years later, seeing the theatre celebrate such an auspicious occasion, and seeing Anne Dubois, I realize how deep the debt is that I owe Zach Scott Theatre. Congratulations to them for meaning so much to so many people. And special honors to Anne, for without her dedication, it's possible that Zach Scott Theatre would not be here today … and what a tragedy that would be.

DAMN I'm not dead yet. They said I'd be dead by now. If you'll recall, at the beginning of the year, my prognosis for my cancer was grim. Since it was that grim, I decided to do nothing about it, expecting to wither away quickly in a cloud of feathers and perfume, and that would be that. I was sure My Fabulous 50th Birthday Party last October would be my very last. Remember when I warned you that you'd be picking out clothes for my funeral instead of my birthday? But I lied. I'm clearly not dead and clearly not going to be dead anytime soon. And so My Birthday approaches, and my choices were to leave town under a veil of suspicious embarrassment and never return – or I could throw a fabulous party and simply say that the doctors were wrong. I've opted for the latter. Now, in the past, I've had huge turnouts of friends, fans, and frienemies, but later I always hear from someone that they never got their invitation. Of course, there was probably a good reason for that in the first place, but this year I feel much more magnanimous (perhaps since I'm living on borrowed time) and want to include everyone. So, Friday, Oct. 17 (a week before my actual birthday), I'm throwing my party at Pangaea, and the public – "my people" – is invited to join me at 10pm. I've decided to refer to it as my First Birthday (since I had 50 before, and they just didn't work out). Y'all come ... but skip the funeral attire, and wear stylish cocktail attire, instead.

Well, I'd have to say that the Donaji Lira/Lance Avery Morgan combined birthday soiree at Matt Luckie's Red Fez was certainly one of the prettiest cocktail parties I've been to for so long, with everyone looking their springy best. Taylor Andrews, Cliff Redd, Phil Hudson, Chas Duggan, Angus Wynne, Alfred Robinson, Blake and Lea Buffington, Maris Stella Ostrewich, Cindi Ellis, James Walker, Patricia Paredes, Leanne Raesener, Clay Smith, Forrest Preece, Deborah Carter, and Pat Mastelotto were there as well as many others too fabulous to mention.

4.3.08 LONG, LONG TIME Really, all I can remember about the Long Center opening is the rocks. Big rocks: rubies, diamonds, emeralds, pearls – so dazzling I could hardly keep my composure. Teresa Lozano Long had the best and the biggest jewels: pear-shaped emeralds the size of pigeon eggs, ringed with diamonds and suspended along a diamond choker, with matching earrings, natch. I was so proud of all our social matrons for looting their vaults to pull out the really good stuff. What is the point in having the good stuff if you don't wear it? I saw a ruby and diamond parure (necklace, earrings, and bracelet) that looked like Cartier from the Duchess of Windsor's collection. The woman (whom I did not know) was wearing a white gown, and I just wanted to drop to my knees and worship at her feet. I know, I know – I'm sure I should be looking for something more spiritual in life, but, hell, when I see rocks like that, I'm just in heaven. And Karen Landa – omigod, in a tangerine silk Grecian dress with hair piled high and held in place with braids. She peed. And I mean that as a compliment. Every single aspect of the opening was flawless, from the army of valets to the costumed performers lining the grand entrance to the rivers of alcohol and mountains of food. But it was the performances in the Michael & Susan Dell Hall that were most electrifying. Of course, I was electrified to find that our assigned seats were in a divine private box overlooking the stage and the crowd. Needless to say, I felt like Eva Perón on the balcony of the Casa Rosada waving to my descamisados, but in all actuality, all I did was scan the crowd for friends and notables that I had missed during the crush of the party downstairs. Conductor Peter Bay and the Austin Symphony opened the show with the "Star-Spangled Banner," and I can tell you that I cannot remember the last time I heard that played live, but there I was with friends Kenneth Pipkins, Seabrook Jones, and Chris Arnold, all of us standing with our hands over our hearts, caught up in the emotion of the moment. I'm not an arts critic, just a fan, but watching Ballet Austin perform (you already know that I think BA's Stephen Mills is one of Austin's major assets) was enchanting. Pianist Anton Nel's solo performance on the Long Center's faaabulous grand piano proved not only how grand the piano was but how grand Anton Nel is. He's another of Austin's treasures. The Austin Lyric Opera, under the artistic direction of the charming and affable Richard Buckley, performed magnificently, and it was truly a jaw-dropping experience to see how many deeply talented performers Austin has; seeing them all on one stage in one night is something I'll never forget. But the finale, my dears, the finale was to die for. The opera chorus, the Conspirare Symphonic Choir, and the choir from Wesley United Methodist Church brought hundreds of singers to the stage, and they performed Leonard Bernstein's "Make Our Garden Grow." It was pure magic. Congratulations to Cliff Redd and his staff for pulling off this extravaganza. Thank you to Joe and Teresa Long for starting the funding for the process and to all the donors and supporters who have given Austin a world-class performance venue. But mainly, congratulations to Austin's citizens, since the Long Center now belongs to us.

EDU-TAINMENT I found myself paying little attention to what the president was saying when he had a news conference to comment on North Korea's alleged nuclear testing. Instead, I was riveted by the fact that there was a row of books on the White House mantle below the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington. I strained my eyes trying to see what the titles were; did Dubya enjoy Valley of the Dolls perhaps? Or maybe Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus? I moved closer to the television and am almost sure I saw Nuc-u-lar War for Dummies, Malapropisms for a Modern Age, and How to Win Friends and Decimate Countries.

ALLEY-CATTING On Friday, Oct. 6, Blue Lapis Light held its first-ever gala to celebrate the reprise of choreographer Sally Jacques' work, Requiem. The gala was fresh, fun, and successful, but Requiem was breathtaking. No, it was incredible – visually stunning, technically jaw-dropping, and unbelievably moving. And the best part is that it's running for three more weekends. This is a must-see event: If you haven't heard about it, just take my word and go see it. Info is at www.bluelapislight.org… I saw the Austin Film Society's preview of Infamous – and yes, Philip Seymour Hoffman was fabulous as Capote in the film Capote, but Toby Jones in Infamous will make you forget all about that other Truman portrayal. Rife with Austin actors and crew, it is another must-see… Zach Scott's Wilde Party for their production of The Rocky Horror Show was a gay who's who of Austin. Sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, it was the perfect crowd to celebrate director Dave Steakley's fabulously riotous production with its fresh approach and pop-culture references. The legendary Joe York returns to Austin as the sweet transvestite doctor, and all of Austin should see this. It's just a jump to the left… The chic new home-décor store Area was inaugurated with a happenin' party by Lance Morgan, and much of the well-heeled crowd then reconvened at KLRU's block party across the street. Maury Sullivan and KLRU's fantastic crew put on a kickass party that won't be forgotten anytime soon…

If you follow our blog, then you know Angel Ramos, semi-finalist for Esquire’s “Best Dressed Real Man” award. This inspired us to hold our own contest to find “The Best Dressed of A&B”. Obviously you are always looking sharp and dapper seeing as you are an Astor & Black client, however we want to find out who qualifies as the “best of the best”.

Please submit photos of you in your favorite Astor & Black style. Your photo could potentially be used on our blog, website, or other editorial! The grand prize is an A&B Silver Package which includes 3 Custom Made Suits, 3 Custom Made Shirts, and 3 Handmade Ties!!!

Contest starts now and ends June 21st, so what are you waiting for?! A quick pic could earn you a nice addition to your A&B wardrobe!

Some parties are just so great that they take more than one day to complete. Such was the case at the Toast of the Town event celebrating Austin’s favorite social photographer, Robert Godwin, and his new book “Austin Faces of Philanthropy 1976-2012.”

The initial setting was the bluffside home of Dr. John Hogg and David Garza in West Lake Hills, where stellar sunset views of downtown Austin almost outweighed the social star power in the room. In addition to Hogg and Garza, the evening was hosted by Charmaine and Gordon McGill, along with Marina Sifuentes and Tad Davis.

After brief comments from Godwin, the focus shifted to what the evening was all about – raising dollars for the Neal Kocurek Scholarship Fund, overseen by the St. David’s Foundation.

A recent scholarship recipient spoke to the crowd about how fundraisers such as this can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Although Toast of the Town is one of the toughest philanthropic tickets in town, it’s amazing to see how this series of events affords such a diverse experience and touches so many in our community

SHOP CHOP

There is a salesperson by the name of Cynthia Harris at Last Call. The. Best. Sales. Help. EVAH! I told her that. I told her boss that. And now I'm telling you. Insist upon Cynthia when you are shopping for cut-rate couture… And to the left of Last Call, at Brodie Oaks, is a little place called Second Looks. It's a consignment shop for gently used high-end menswear. The brainchild of John and Debbie Harris (there's also a store on Mesa Drive and one in San Antonio as well), Second Looks is a lifesaver for those on a budget, those with fluctuating waistlines, and those who just love a great bargain.

ALLEYCATTING I went to hear my friend Jacinta sing and play the piano at Romeo's on Barton Springs Road. I've always kind of avoided the restaurants over there; they seemed so … so Jenna Bush. But one meal at Romeo's, and I'm a complete convert. Great food, great patio, and Jacinta provides great entertainment. From the girl whose dance music is so electrifying, who'd have thought she'd do such gorgeous ballads? This Australian beauty plays every Tuesday and Thursday night at Romeo's, and every Wednesday night at Chez Zee, and you can see her Web site and buy her CD at www.chunkymusic.com… Also wound up at Rocco's Grill (owner/chef Rocky Piazza dishes up divine Italian food and rules his restaurant with jaunty charm and a big heart) to hear Michael Clay and his band perform. Real star quality there. He's just the whole package: looks, style, and an excellent performer and songwriter. Catch up with him at Rocco's rooftop on Thursday and at Charlie's on Sunday evenings, and buy his CD at www.michaelclay.org.

Once in a great while, someone throws a party that lifts my spirits for days and restores my faith in frivolity. Last weekend's Arthouse Texas Prize party, with "Texas Excess" as its theme, was one.

For weeks, just for fun, I imagined all the ways you could go wrong with a theme like that, all the hokey, provincial, amateurish ways you could undermine the state's declaration of relevance to the art world. But no, the theme was perfectly executed — make that Tex-ecuted. Witty references to Texas culture punctuated the event without detracting from its lofty aim, which was to raise money and esteem for contemporary Texas artists.

At Arthouse, the first stop of the night, garishly made-up pageant queens served as greeters, tequila flowed furiously and a wall-sized quote from Dolly Parton reminded us that it takes a lot of money to look this trashy. The crowd, and I do mean crowd, was a sight. I'd been so eager to see how people would interpret the dress code. Did "Texas excess" mean oversized westernwear? Or (please please please) did it mean the loudest, most obnoxious and outdated cocktail frippery you could find? Would people tease their hair out to there? Would they flaunt their breast implants? Would it be costumey? Or, this being an art event, would people just wear black?

The “Fashion for Compassion” Runway Party featured food, fashion and fundraising for the Austin Children’s Shelter. More than 200 well-dressed glitterati attended the upscale benefit at Saks Fifth Avenue. The honorary co-chairs were Westbankers and sponsors Beth and Frank Stabile and Westbankers Kathryn Scarborough Bechtol and Hub Bechtol.

A festive atmosphere was created with music by Brent Stallings and cocktails provided by Grey Goose Vodka and the Westbank business of Davenport Wine & Spirits. Fashionistas enjoyed closed-to-the-public shopping with Saks donating 10 percent of the sales.

Tasty treats were served by Bliss Bakery, Brick Oven, Cannoli Joe’s, Cornucopia Popcorn, The County Line, Eat Out In, Fire Bowl Café, Go Go Delicious, La Madeleine, P.F. Chang’s, Satay, Tiff’s Treats, Truluck’s, Vinny’s and Z’Tejas.

An exciting live auction roused the crowd. The biggest bids were a Texas deer hunt purchased by sponsor John Paterson and a Jimmy Buffett concert package bought by Westbankers Lynette and John Maxwell.

The evening’s highlight was a chic style show of notable Austinites who displayed their unique personalities. The models included Miss Texas USA 1998 Holly Mills Gardner, make-up maven Rochelle Rae, Marquee’s Damon Holditch, restaurateur Don “Skeeter” Miller, Bikram Yoga’s Mardy Chen, news anchors Todd Boatwright, Judy Maggio and Shannon Powell and philanthropists Mary Ann Heller, Teresa Long, Jane Sibley and Sara Rathgeber.

The Society Diplomat is duly launched. Lance Avery Morgan’s new platform for various endeavors — digital publication, book, events, etc. about Texas high life — received a suitable inauguration on the windy W Terrace on Friday.

At one point during the sharply catered party, novelist Sarah Bird asked me: “Who are the guests?” I suggested that the slim, lightly dressed mob belonged to the fashion, media, interactive and related tribes. Bird said (and I’m paraphrasing): “Fashion? I don’t see anyone wearing anything wild.” I responded: “Well, that’s Austin. Even in the style set, the look is casual, rarely showy.”

Singer Larissa Ness and DJ Johnny Bravvo fought the wind to whip up the crowd. Big names on the Austin social scene mixed with visitors from Houston, Dallas and California. Even those of us promised to other events, lingered, so tempting was the conversation.

At one point, the wind gusted, crashing two tall tables of glassware. People screamed and scattered. Miraculously, nobody happened to be standing nearby. Well, every big launch requires some broken glass.

The stars of Austin's social universe

They're Austin's social warriors.

You've seen them. Out there every night, making the rounds at every party. In the eye of the social storm, air-kissing and glad-handing. They're not just in the loop; they started it.

Call them what you will: patrons, sponsors, groupies or party animals. They're the movers and shakers of Austin's social scene. They do the "face time" at the events that make Austin hum. Politics, music, charity and a number of other coteries are their passions.

Some are wealthy, but not all. It's less about money and more about connections and, sometimes, influence — often for worthy causes. These people make a difference just by showing up.

Their motivations for hitting the social circuit differ. Some are natural philanthropists or humanitarians. Others are looking to boost their careers or businesses.

Some boys and girls just want to have fun. But they all share the same goal: to make Austin a better place by contributing to the city's social fabric.

So we decided to create a list honoring Austin's top 500 social stars.

Why? Because lists are fun. Who doesn't enjoy the guilty pleasure of People magazine's "Most Beautiful" list or Mr. Blackwell's "Worst Dressed"? But mostly, we wanted to recognize the social mechanics that makes Austin tick.

If ever Austin charities instituted a league of competitive galas — and Lord help us if they did — Ballet Austin’s annual Fete would rank in the Top 5 every year.

Jack McDonald, Karen Landa, Dale Dewey, Carla McDonald

For the 2008 iteration, the Fete did not match the historic singularity of the Long Center opening, nor the international celebrity tally of the Nobelity Project or Roddick Foundation fundraisers. It wasn’t attended by as many political stars as benefits for health and human services, especially those dedicated to protecting women and children, nor as many sports figures flashing burnt orange as one sees at University of Texas events, nor the Hollywood glamour of the Texas Film Hall of Fame parties.

Instead, the Fete relies on one distinction: Class. Ascending the stairs to the Long Center plaza, one was met immediately with refreshments and warm welcomes from the many hosts. Eveningwear looked lustrous, stylish, never gaudy. Befitting the Frank Sinatra theme, a saloon singer crooned, while guests lingered too long, deep in conversation and glittery-eyed over the framed Austin skyline on a serene October night.

Perhaps you recall Carla McDonald, posing pertly in her sparkling cocktail dress and rose-tipped shoes. Or perhaps Anne Elizabeth Wynn stood out in her low-cut, vibrant turquoise with leather cinch and fishnet hose. Or maybe your memory settles on a striking couple, Gail Chovan and Evan Voyles, effortlessly relaxed in their cool SoCo black.

The Glossy 8, your selections for the best-dressed Austinites, electrified the October edition of this publication.

On Oct. 2, these sartorial select - really nine, not eight, given the Chovan-Voyles team — gathered with hundreds of onlookers at Neiman Marcus to celebrate their eclectic tastes. Perhaps you were even present at the Style Maker Awards when models paraded through the men’s department in threads selected to fit the Great 8’s personal styles.

It was a heady night. But how did we get there? And how can you help select the next Glossy 8?

Back over the summer, we asked readers to nominate folks they thought lit up the social scene with their natty attire. Dozens of names poured into our e-mail boxes.

I had so many questions about the Settlement Home Garage Sale. Volunteer leaders Marilyn Willson, Margaret Scott and Michele Brocatoanswered many of them during the preview party at the Palmer Events Center. Then Andrea Ball's American-Statesman story on Nov. 4 answered the rest of them.

Just one look at the hundreds of thousands of items for resale in the vast center was enough to convince me that this fundraiser is a yearlong effort. As Ball reported, the Garage Sale, which will return next year, brings in more than 15,000 people and up to $500,000 a year to fund the treatment center for abused, neglected and emotionally troubled girls. Volunteers are collecting, cleaning, organizing and moving the massive trove of cast-offs every month of the year.

I surveyed what seemed like acres of clothing, shoes, furniture, books, DVDs, posters, toys, hunting gear and even some high-end-looking silver and china. Familiar Austinites — Ann Showers Butler, Lance Avery Morgan, Denise Gamino, Pat Brown, David Stark, Dick Rathgeber, for instance — were waiting around every corner.

The Settlement Home is one of Austin's oldest charities. I always group it in my mind with the Helping Hand Home for Children and Austin Symphony Orchesta. The three have found proven ways of raising money by tapping into the loyalty of volunteers. Let's hope they continue to do so.

Robbing Austin celebrity swimmers — Eric Shanteau, Aaron Peirsol, Ricky Berens, Dave Walters, Karlee Bispo, Garrett Weber-Gale — of the media spotlight at the US Nationals, Michael Phelps broke the only record he hadn’t already, in the 100 m butterfly. At least four Austinites are headed to the World Championships in Rome. (Pictured: Ricky on Flickr)

Blogger Lindsay Conner elicits an explanation from Wes Hayden why he looked so devious in his final episode of “The Bachelorette.” Appears he was edited. Wes, when are you going to do an interview with a hometown reporter?

Austin-area music writer Joe Nick Patoski talks about Willie Nelson’s kickboxing skills and other errata in an interview with the Observer-Reporter. “He could kick my ass,” Patoski says.

Austin’s only other superstar, Lance Armstrong, slipped to third place in the Tour de France. The staff of the Lance Armstrong Foundation kindly asked me to their Tour watching party this morning, but too much on my place. Thanks, though.

BLAIR: PLACE APRIL 2008 ISSUE COVER HERE

As Texas Monthly has proved, you can’t be too fat or too rich. Glossy publications live and die by luxury ads. At one time, TM dominated the regional market. Then Brilliant came along. Right now, I’m paging through the April issue of Brilliant, packed with shimmering advertisements and exquisite photography. Brilliant’s travel spreads made me envy those who can spend time (and money) on someplace like the Riviera.

Austin Fashion Week wrapped with a bigger and, once again, better Austin Fashion Awards ceremony. The Austin Music Hall looked uncharacteristically classy with white-against-black classical allusions and -- necessary for this venue -- giant screens for those who could not see action easily.

Emcee and radio personality Sandy McIlree landed some fine jokes, mostly at his own expense. That was classy.

(As was his Twitter nudge to say that I had mistaken him for on-air partner J.B. Hager. Not cool, Michael.)

More than 40 mash-up teams of designer, stylists, photographers, models and other creative types competed to compose the most compelling images.

The models also walked the runway -- good idea -- before the winners were announced: EON won Critics Choice while Vintage Deity copped the People's Choice.

Wisely, the number of awards has decreased. Leaders put the emphasis on Rising Stars (Daniel Esquivel, Jennifer Martinson, Sandra Anton, Priscilla Barroso) and Trailblazers (Cheryl Conley Bemis, Kendra Scott, Lance Avery Morgan, Stephen Moser).

Yet all awaited the four fashion collections from top local designers.

Everyone knows my fascination with Boudoir Queen and the Smithville-based label's innovative use of vintage fabrics and silhouettes.

As if we needed any fresh evidence that Austin’s fashion scene is evolving rapidly, witness the weekend of celebrations wrapped around the opening of the Ron King Salon in the Four Seasons Residences. Lance Avery Morgan, Rhonda Lee and Rob Giardinelli In collaboration with his New York contacts, King pulled off event after event, culminating in a mobbed runway show that some reported was among Austin’s finest in years.

Carey Ayers, Cody Kinsfather and Kevin Haley I attended the pre-show reception only. But I caught a glimpse of the 500 or so guests who waited breathlessly outside the Four Seasons Hotel’s main banquet room. (A few others cooled Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 11:52 AM their heels in a confusing VIP lounge. Actually, not the only confused or confusing thing about the evening.)

Melia Millanti and Katrina Beaty Many in the crowd were models — or would-be models — or members of the fashion press. A few looked like they could afford haut couture.

Ted and Heilla Lain

Yet Austin’s fashion scene isn’t really about money. Yet. It’s more about creativity and openness to new experiences.Wednesday, December 15, 2010, 11:52 AM Aleksandra Vidacic and Jasenka Stegic And that’s why it’s the hottest slice of Austin’s social scene right now.