Upcoming events

NBA Legends of Basketball Houston Chapter Party Honoring Moses Malone

In case you didn’t know, Dallas IS basketball come the second weekend in February – better known as NBA All-Star Weekend. The legendary, celebrity-packed parties begin on Thursday, but for THE FASHIONISTAS, the night to really get the ball bouncing is Friday, February 12th. We are honored to be the beneficiaries of the Houston NBA Legends of Basketball Party honoring Moses Malone, from 7pm – midnight at Equinox Fitness on Oak Lawn Avenue. Be sure to pack your checkbooks as silence has never been more golden – our silent auction will be full of covetable items (think Mavericks packages, beautiful paintings and fashion, of course) – all to benefit our F2 Student Scholarship Fund. Plan to hear music by DJ Guillaume, DJ Kelly Hooper and one of our personal favorites, the band Boss Level. Don’t leave home without your camera (we will be testing out our new Flip), as Houston’s NBA Legends of Basketball is just what it sounds like, some of the most famous retired NBA players from, you know, that other big city in Texas. Sponsored by Equinox, Modern Luxury, Russian Standard Vodka, Stone Brewery, Red Bull, Vapiano and Doug Boster Gourmet Catering, benefitting The Fashionistas and the NBA Legends of Basketball. For more information, please contact Bri Crum at bri.crum@thefashionistas.org

Grand Opening Party of Insight Complete Eye Care

Mark your datebook for February 19th from 7pm, to 10pm to laud the grand opening party of Insight Complete Eye Care. This nighttime event will open the doors of Dr. Ivan Bank’s latest achievement in high-end eye care and glasses boutique. With over 25 years of eye care experience, Dr. Bank will show us the latest in eyesight technology for the fashionably discriminating patient. THE FASHIONISTAS cannot wait to view the selection of designer sunglasses because, as we all know, a great pair of shades is the only accessory we need for the long Dallas summers. Insight Complete Eye Care is located at 8611 Hillcrest (at Northwest Highway). Sponsored by F|D Luxe and benefiting THE FASHIONISTAS as well as the American Foundation for the Blind’s The Visionaries. For more information, please contact Susan Friedman at susan@friedmanpr.com

F2 TALK with Stacy Girard

Please join us Monday, February 22nd for our F2 Talk with Editor in Chief of Modern Luxury Dallas, Stacy Girard. A graduate of Texas Christian University, Girard will speak about her education and experience running Dallas’ go-to fashion magazine, beginning at 6:30pm. While speaking with Girard, we cleverly asked “What does one of Dallas’s finest editors do in her spare time?” When she is not attending a society function or making a personal appearance, she can be found combing racks of vintage stores, checking out the latest contemporary art exhibit or walking her dog along Turtle Creek. We can’t wait to hear more! Sponsored by Modern Luxury, benefitting the F2 Scholarship Fund. To be held at South Side on Lamar – the Janet Kennedy Gallery, 1409 S. Lamar Street, Dallas; lecture from 6:30pm until 8pm. Tickets $5 for F2s and $10 for non-F2s. For more information, please contact Bri Crum, F2 President bri.crum@thefashionistas.org
Tickets can be purchased on our website, www.thefashionistas.org

Fall 2010: Shirin Askari Fashion Show

Come Friday, February 26th, THE FASHIONISTAS will be hosting Project Runway alum Shirin Askari’s Fall 2010 Fashion Show to be held in South Side on Lamar. While most of the cast from last season’s Project Runway chose NYC’s Fashion Week to host their debut presentation, Shirin decided to partner with The Fashionistas (we’re thrilled!) and house her first-ever fashion show in downtown Dallas. Askari, a Dallas native and recent graduate of the University of North Texas, auditioned for the sixth season of Project Runway after nixing plans to head to Europe due to knee complications. With just three days until the application deadline, Askari entered the competition. With a little luck and a lot of talent, she breezed through the interview process and was asked to join the show. After surviving the majority of the way through the sixth season (and famously having her first reality show meltdown), Shirin was cut just three episodes away from the finale. She will now get her chance to showcase her signature designs (fresh twists on ladylike classics) very soon. We have so many exciting things planned for the event that you will definitely want to check our website weekly for the latest updates on who is in and who is (coming) out to the most reality-chic fashion event of the season. Sponsored by South Side on Lamar, Janet Fresquez, Bella Restaurant, Lite Dallas, Jan Strimple Productions and Blanc Hair Salon, benefitting THE FASHIONISTAS. For more information, contact Bri Crum at bri.crum@thefashionistas.org

Designing with a Vision: Sergey Ermakov

We are pleased to be a part of the American Foundation for the Blind’s Center on Vision Loss 2010 “Designing with a Vision” two-day event, beginning Friday, April 16th. Blind Ukrainian fashion designer Sergey Ermakov (he can only see 5% of what you see) has agreed to come to Dallas from Kiev to host two runway shows and a master class, with the focus to be on living successfully with vision loss. He will also design and donate a couture dress for a chance raffle at the event. The first day will include Blintz’s & Bellini’s Bruncheon Show, a trunk show and a nighttime runway show with cocktails and dancing afterward. The second day, Saturday, April 17th, will consist of the master class taught by Sergey himself. Major sponsors: The Fairmont Hotel, Modern Luxury Magazine – Dallas, American Airlines, Essilor of America, Oncor, Inc., Nokia and DVA Navion. Proceeds to benefit the AFB and THE FASHIONISTAS. For more information, please contact Abi Erickson at aerickson@afb.net

PAST EVENTS

By Rachel Courts

Grand Re-Opening of Bella Benefitting THE FASHIONISTAS

When it comes to dips in temperature, there is no one more devil- may-care than the Dallasite in January – just toss on a fur and she’s in top fashion form. That being said, the fanfare of winter festivities pressed on as THE FASHIONISTAS tribe traipsed over to Bella on January 8th, to celebrate the grand re-opening of the restaurant-cum-lounge bar. Owners Robert “Peach” Petrie and Tony Porcaro opened their doors to new décor (better arrangements of their comfy booths) as well as a new menu, which now boasts more tasty additions of traditional Italian fare. At 9pm sharp, the after-party (benefitting THE FASHIONISTAS) swung into a frosty fervor as Shannon Brower, Heidi Dillon, Bri Crum and yours truly cut a rug on the outdoor dance floor. Spotted in the fashionably bundled-up crowd – Monet Mercer, Renee Rouleau (who had just come from an over-the-top Elvis birthday bash), star FASHIONISTA intern Truett Ogdon and F2 President Casey Kearns. Evening event sponsored by Bella www.belladallas.com and benefitting THE FASHIONISTAS.

F2 TALK with Candace Marquette

Craft Candy: Easy Projects to Stitch, Glue and Paint

We hosted our first F2 TALK of 2010 on January 25th with author and handbag and jewelry designer Candace Marquette. Candace spoke about her decades’ worth of experience in the fashion accessories industry – from persuading boutiques to purchase her handbags for wholesale prices to painstakingly hand-crafting her leather accessories (Candace’s entire collection is constructed by her own two hands). Much of Candace’s success is owed to the huge, billon-dollar craft and hobby industry. Candace has been featured in too many craft magazines to count, as well as writing her own craft book: Craft Candy: Easy Projects to Stitch, Glue and Paint. At the end of her Q&A, Candace passed out adorable gift bags with do-it-yourself goodies for us to take home and run wild with our fashionably creative imaginations. Visit www.candypurse.com to see Candace’s latest collection. Sponsored by South Side on Lamar, benefitting the Fashionistas Two Scholarship Fund.

Designing with a Vision VIP Kick-Off Party

As life-long students of fashion, The Fashionistas are counting the weeks to finally meet blind Ukrainian designer Sergey Ermakov, who will be hosting two runway shows and a master class over two days come this April, titled “Designing with a Vision,” to benefit the American Foundation for the Blind. Heidi Dillon and The Fashionistas hosted the VIP kick-off party on January 28th at Heidi and husband Bill’s fashionably contemporary home on Turtle Creek. The AFB’s Abi Erickson was able to phone Kiev (at 2:30am their time) and speak with Sergey, who surprised us all by promising to donate a couture dress worth well over $10,000 to be raffled off with proceeds benefitting, in Sergey’s heart-warming words, “people like me.” Spotted in the crowd looking as lovely as always – Jan Strimple, Bobbie Sue Williams, Bill and Minnie Caruth and honorary chairs Dee Simmons and Linda Ivy. We eagerly look forward to hosting Sergey’s first visit to the U.S. and all that he has to teach our partnering education-based organizations. Main event to be held April 16th & 17th, benefitting the American Foundation for the Blind and The Fashionistas. For more information, please contact Abi Erickson at aerickson@afb.net

Minnie Caruth, Linda Ivy and Dee Simmons

Fabulous Fashionistas

Stacy Girard, Editor in Chief of Modern Luxury Dallas
by Rachel Courts

Stacy Girard

Stacy Girard is Fashion with a capital F, but more accurately she is known as the editor in chief of Modern Luxury Dallas magazine. Girard has the good fortune to uncover the most exciting, glamorous and philanthropic people and goings-on in our city – from luxury travel to fashion and everything chic in between. A Texas native, Girard graduated with a degree in journalism from Texas Christian University. Before her post at Modern Luxury Dallas, she launched Shuz magazine, a national niche publication dedicated to shoe-lovers everywhere. To hear more about Stacy and her climb to the top (with a dog named George Michael, how can this Fashionista not be interesting?), be sure to attend her F2 TALK February 22nd at The Fashionistas’ home base – South Side on Lamar.

OF THE MOMENT

By Rachel Courts

Spring 2010 Trends

Spring 2010 Balenciaga

Despite being in the midst of one of the coldest winters Dallas has seen in quite some time, I recently let my mind drift to the upcoming spring fashion. Now is the ideal time to start thinking about how your current pieces will translate to the new trends. By scouring the spring collections (style.com is your best friend), you can get inspired and pick up appropriate looks for your lifestyle and figure. While I do not do much gambling, I am always anxious to see which new trends my favorite fashion plates will adore and which ones they avoid. I am putting my money on the following looks and wagering that they will show up on a Fashionista near you soon. I hope you take as much delight in this month’s Spring 2010 Trends as I did in creating it; I live and die by betting which shapes and styles will be the next must-haves!

Fashion Army

Though the khaki craze seems to crop up each spring, this time it’s different – think more military-influenced rather than trench coat or safari (look no further than Balmain’s spring collection for chic ideas). Throw on an army green flak jacket (I ordered mine from J. Crew) to replace your leather bomber and your spring is set. This low- key trend has emerged in part due to the flood of optical print and energy seen in other styles this season.

Soft Shades

After a full winter of black, black and, well, more black, it’s time to break out of blah winter shades and into pretty pastels. Be prepared to hit the streets in nudes galore; the spring runways were overwhelmed with delicate tones from the likes of Jonathan Saunders, Phoebe Philo’s first (and highly anticipated) collection for Celine, and one of my favorites, Burberry Prorsum. These subtle colors give a cool, polished look to the more typical casual-for-comfort summer style.

Pattern Play

Everything, from dresses to trousers, is coming in bold geometric patterns where more is definitely more. From digitized florals at Anna Sui to graphic optical prints at Givenchy and Balenciaga, as well as animal instincts at Diane von Furstenberg, spring is fashion’s patterned playground. The fashionably quirky thing about all this pattern on pattern is that it both complements and contrasts the neutral tones of the season, making for more wearable (rather than shocking) looks.

Small Bags, French Braids and More

You can finally give your shoulders a rest – spring is all about the softer, more simplified look of the long strap, small bag. Look for great versions of this trend in collections from downtown Alexander Wang all the way to uptown Oscar de la Renta. What hairstyles are feeling fresh this season? The loosely styled French braid – something yours truly hasn’t sported since the mid ’90s, but will definitely try for spring. Look to the king of cool Alexander Wang’s runway show for inspiration – one part sexy, one part disheveled makes for an easy daytime style. What to do about beauty? Bright, hot colors are in for both eyes and lips. For a more wearable way to sport this season’s sunlit pinks and yellows – try vibrant colors on your nails. I picked up OPI’s Need Sunglasses? last summer, but think I’ll get far more use out of it this year.

JOIN THE FASHIONISTAS TODAY!

When you join The Fashionistas you become a champion of the fashion arts, a mentor to fashion design students, a sponsor of fashion exhibitions, and a supporter of educational programming. Collectively, we position Dallas as a portal to the global fashion community.  

Founded in 2005 by Heidi Dillon, The Fashionistas now has more than 2,000 members. And we are proud to support 700 Fashionista Two members from local high schools and colleges with scholarships and real-life experience in the fashion community.

We invite you to join us in this noble cause. Call 972.504.6354 or visit www.thefashionistas.org.

MANIFESTO

To be an international champion of the fashion arts through exhibitions, scholarships and educational programs, positioning Dallas as a portal to the global fashion community.