How To Help Our Friends In Oklahoma

I’m stealing an entire post from Joslyn on D Moms this morning. If you’re browsing various news channels this morning, feeling sick over the sad stories of loss that have risen from the debris in tornado-damaged Oklahoma towns, there’s something that can make you feel a little better: helping. Even if it’s just a little. Jos blogs:

My friend and Oklahoma-native Sarah James shared a great list of ways to provide assistance to victims of yesterday’s horrible tornado, and I thought I would be helpful to share here as well.

Per Sarah, here are some ways to help:

• Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to the disaster relief fund – this took me about 10 seconds to complete
• If you prefer to donate to the Red Cross online, click here.
• You can text FOOD to 32333 (the OK Food Bank) to give $10 to help with relief efforts via News 9
• The Salvation Army
• Feed The Children Disaster Relief
• Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief
• Disaster Relief of Oklahoma
• World Vision
• If you are looking for a family member, please visit Safe & Well.
• Google Crisis Map
• The Penn South Pet Clinic is collecting displaced animals.
• Annie’s Ruff House in Norman, OK is taking any dogs displaced by the tornadoes in Moore.

If you have any other suggestions, feel free to add it in the comments section.

Changes at Number One/Le Jus in Highland Park Village

photography by Emilia Gaston

What was Number One/Le Jus, a combo of Brian Bolke’s boutique and apothecary plus Dana Card’s paleo cafe, is now just Number One. Dana Card is going back to full-time nutritional counseling and the shop’s juice business will being taken over by the elixirs of the Vim + Vigor girls, Annie Portman and Liz Black. We’ll miss Dana’s intense passion for the menu, but the we know Portman and Black whip up a damn good pineapple/pear/apple/romaine/mint concoction. The cafe has a new menu of salads, soups, and sammies, all organice and gluten free, and come May 1, you’ll also have a place to pick up the Vim + Vigor detox kits.

Fashion’s Night Out is Over…For Now

Just in from multiple outlets around the webosphere, the age of Fashion’s Night Out has come to an end. For now, anyway. The worldwide shopping initiative, backed by Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and NYC & Co., is “going on hiatus” this year, according to fashionsnightout.com, but will be held in select international cities. Sounds like budgeting is the problem, and though I can’t really imagine the evening’s events brought in cashflow to stores or designers–shopping in champagne-fueled mobs is hard–it seemed to be a smashing success in terms of local participation from fashion fans and local stores alike. Check out photos from last year’s FNO parties at Highland Park Village and NorthPark Center.

So, here’s my next question: Will stores rally and host a local version of this fall fashion festival?

Next Chanel Métiers d’Art Show Will Be Held in Dallas, Karl Lagerfeld Says

Omg. According to Vogue, Karl Lagerfeld says his next show will be in Dallas, Texas. Apparently, he loves Texans.

Update: Please no pearl-studded Western wear. We Texas ladies really have evolved. Honestly.

2012 in Review: The Most Notable Events From a Wild and Crazy Year on the Dallas Shopping Scene

A few of the best (and a couple of the worst) moments from the Dallas shopping scene over the last year.

The name of The Pretty Kitty Brazilian waxing salon got tongues wagging.

GiltCity Dallas didn’t quite make it. We shed a tear for Barneys New York closing too.

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Sad Beauty News: Paul Neinast, Owner of Neinast Salon is Dead

Nancy has the scoop as we know it on FrontBurner along with a message from Jan Strimple, a friend of Paul Neinast.

Calling Dallas Mamas: D Moms Has Arrived, and It Is Beautiful

photography by Maxine Helfman

It seems like our newest publication, D Moms, has been in the making for a long time, and finally, it’s here. And boy, is it gorgeous. It’s not about finding the perfect bottle or how to make nap time easier, but rather, how to encourage moms to live their best lives, which in turn, enhances the lives of their kiddos. I love that concept.

The glossy book is chock full of good stuff, like a list of uber cool tunes to introduce to the kids, tips on throwing an artful birthday bash, and this stunning fashion spread, featuring Dallas model and mom Chandra North.

Melanie Gayle Moved Next Door to Piermarini

The lovely Melanie Gayle shifted her store on over, next to Piermarini Boutique, which just moved into Snider Plaza. I see a great friendship in the making. Stop by Melanie Gayle for a few party frocks and candles for hostess gifts, then scoot over to Piermarini for some fierce leather leggings to pair with his everyday tops and sweaters.

Mobile French Fashion Showroom Zips Through Dallas

Last night, the French Fashion Tour, a mobile version of the TransAtlantic European showroom, parked and peddled its wares outside Elements and Studio Sebastian. Today, you can find the 24-foot long vintage Airstream trailer making stops at Cabana, Forty Five Ten, and Neiman Marcus. According to the press release, the boutique on wheels “is customized to house a stellar roster for French fashion, accessories and jewelry.” This is part of an effort to reach out to the American market, and, hey, we’ll take it. I spy funky, geometry-inspired metal jewelry by Delphine-Charlotte Parmentier, menswear inspired ladies’ and gents’ clothing by Marchand Drapier, and shoes by Atelier Mercadal. Oh, and socks. Lots of socks by Royalites. Today’s the speeding bullet’s last day in town before heading off to finish its goal of 10 U.S. cities. We’re told the French Fashion Tour will be at Cabana at 9 am sharp this morning.

Will Ask Alice Shoes Be Coming to Dallas?

Ask Alice by George Mang (photo courtesy of Ask Alice)

According to a Women’s Wear Daily article (warning: pay wall), Ask Alice shoe designer George Mang says Dallas is “a fantastic shoe market” (along with Houston and Atlanta). Does this mean Ask Alice by George Mang pieces of shoe art will launch in Big D? We shall see.

LA Shops, TenOverSix and Traffic, Set to Open at the Joule Downtown in February

With the exception of the original flagship Neiman Marcus, today’s downtown Dallas is no shopping destination. There is no pocketful of coolness that invites you to spend the entire day (like Santa Monica’s Abbott Kinney or New York City’s West Broadway). We have our gems, but not a stash big enough to keep you for a lengthy afternoon of shopping, sipping, and lunching. Good news, though. The Joule owner Tim Headington wants to change this.

The hip, boutique hotel is getting a makeover. An $80 million makeover. This will include expansion to allow two new cool shops to open doors: TenOverSix and Traffic L.A., both California-based boutiques, set to open in February, according to Women’s Wear Daily (warning: pay wall). According to the WWD article, Traffic L.A. will stock Dolce & Gabbana, Comme des Garçons, Rick Owens, Isabel Marant, and more; and TenOverSix will continue to carry Phillip Lim, Loeffler Randall, Vena Cava, Pamela Love, and others.

I don’t know if these high-end retailers will draw enough shoppers to sustain the lives of the stores and revitalize the energy of downtown, but it’s a start.

Piermarini Boutique is Moving to Snider Plaza

photography by Alex Ham

That’s the email blast I received this morning. I love the airy, wood-floored cottage that currently houses the Uptown boutique, so I’m sad to see John Piermarini move his store to a shopping center. On the other hand, the new space, which will open before the end of the August, will allow them to expand and grow. Of course, you reap more benefits from this move, as Piermarini Boutique is hosting a sale this Saturday. Most things are already 40 percent off, but Saturday purchases will earn an extra 25 percent off.

Another Vintage Shop Closes Doors in Dallas

Sad news. Uptown’s Archive vintage store is closing doors on August 25. According to DFW Style Daily, when the cottage that housed the boutique sold, owner Kerry Bonnell decided to flee the coup and will be trying her luck in Austin. Details here.

The Neiman Marcus + Target Holiday Collaboration

The 24 Neiman Marcus + Target 2012 holiday gift collection designers (photo courtesy of NM and Target)

The newest speck of information regarding the Neiman Marcus + Target Holiday Collaboration was released yesterday via YouTube. If you haven’t heard the news, Target and Neiman Marcus have joined hands, put their heads together with 24 designers from the Council of Fashion Designers of America, and come up with more than 50 “amazing gifts.” All items, which range from $8 to $500–most of which are said to be under $60–will be in all locations of both stores and their websites. I have mixed feelings about this.

On the one hand, it sounds like an enormous gimmick; on the other, I see a list of formidable designers who, despite my reservations, make me excited to see what affordable trinkets they’ll dream up. (Proenza Schouler, Diane von Furstenberg, Alice + Olivia, Thom Browne, etc.)

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Sea of Shoes’ Jane Aldridge Spins as DJ Paris Vidal

DJ Paris Vidal aka Jane Aldridge from Sea of Shoes (photography by William Neal)

Beloved Dallas fashion blogger Jane Aldridge from Sea of Shoes is wearing more hats these days as she’s added DJ to her resume. Spinning under the name DJ Paris Vidal, the style star hit the decks at Texas Theatre’s Yesterday’s Gold concert this weekend. Though we weren’t able to get a listen ourselves, Jane’s eclectic wardrobe and quirky inspiration makes me think a personal music compilation of hers would be just as interesting. See more photos from the event here.

Jane Aldridge's choice of shoes for the evening (photography by William Neal)