The Uggs Debate Rages On

Today on D: The Broadcast, Uggs came up. The controversial shoe has been stirring up the can-you-wear-them-in-public debate since Britney Spears was first seen tromping around all over town in them. Take a look:

And now I’d like to know:
Do you own a pair of Uggs (or Ugg-esque fur boots)? And where do you wear them?

Storage Wars’ Mary Padian on TV Stardom, Finding Weird Stuff, and her Fabulous Refurbished Furniture Store

I love when some of our magazine’s stories don’t get posted online. It gives me delicious scoop to post on ShopTalk. Like the story about Mary Padian, owner of home shop Mary’s Finds and as of late, reality star on Storage Wars: Texas. She’s our November issue’s Person of Interest. If you haven’t visited her restored furniture shop yet, you’re missing out on some crazy cool housewares. This weekend’s the perfect time to go. You can score some serious deals by stopping off at her Hoopty Sale. Joslyn has the scoop. But first, read this Q&A. Then, print it out and have her autograph it this weekend. Kidding, don’t. Unless you really want to…

Person of Interest: Mary Padian
She turned her Design District furnishings store into a starring role on Storage Wars: Texas. –by Zac Crain

Q: We’ve been trying to do this for a week, but you’ve been busy shooting.

A: God, I mean, it’s taken up most of my time. I didn’t think it was going to be this time consuming. I mean, it’s a full-time job. [laughs] Yep. We go to at least two auctions a week. [They bid on the contents of abandoned storage units, essentially sight unseen.] And then we have to excavate the units and see what we have. So it’s an all-day thing. And then, if we’re not doing auctions and excavating, we’re doing appraisals, or I’m doing refurb stuff.

(more…)

If You Watch Most Eligible Dallas, You’ve Got to Read This

Laura Kostelny’s recap. If you haven’t been keeping up with LK from Episode 1, start from the beginning. She’s hilarious.

Poll Tuesday: Jake and Vienna Bite the Dust

Italian Touch by Donata Sortorio

I’m new to Mad Men, and like any convert, I’m obsessed. I have Mad Men outfits. I pretend I’m going to Ossining, New York, when I’m taking DART to Mockingbird Station. And I desperately want to copy Betty Draper by going to Italy, piling my hair up in a very, very, very high beehive, and kissing my husband Don Draper. In the meantime, I am making due with this gorgeous book–Italian Touch by Donata Sortorio. This gorgeous book almost makes me forget all about the fractious families on Mad Men for a moment or two and instead focus on gorgeous and stylish Italian families and how they live. How do they get away with looking this good in casual clothes? Seriously, do you know how absurd my family would look if we tried to pull off this off? Sigh. Go get the book now.

Project Runway, Episode 1: Dallas Designers are Safe

Louise Black's two-toned Dress

Speaking of party dresses. The first episode of Project Runway’s sixth season aired last night on Lifetime (finally!). Dallas-based designers and Project Runway contestants, Louise Black and Shirin Askari (whom we profiled in the current issue of D), are off to a good start after the first challenge, a red-carpet look. Neither of them designed anything jaw-dropping, but I thought both girls represented our fine city quite well and created some very wearable and pretty dresses. Did any of you watch…what did you think? If you missed it or want to see additional comments and sketches from the designers, go here.

TV With Laura: The Bachelorette Finale

I’m mad. As usual.

TV With Laura: The Bachelorette Recap

Last night, we took a break from questions about Kiptyn’s weird kissing, Ed’s possible medical maladies, international travels, and Jillian’s bad grammar. Ok, Jillian’s bad grammar is always present–even in studio. And that’s where we were, fine friends. It’s the “Men Tell All” episode–a complete waste of two hours wherein the men complain, get indignant about something called the “man code,” and talk about what a wonder Jillian is (without irony). Go here to read about these people who haunt my nightmares.

TV With Laura: The Bachelorette Recap Episode IX

It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times. It was a night when we saw more of Jillian than we should see at a family hour. It was an evening full of forced DTRs and awkward kissing. There were mankinis, bad suits, and leaps of faith. And most importantly, it was last night that we learned that the letters “E” and “D” aren’t merely letters used to spell “Ed.” It can stand for terrible things. Things that shouldn’t make guest appearances on network television–and never on “reality” television. Let’s chat about the dysfunction, shall we? The recap is here.

Dallas Designers, Louis Black & Shirin Askari on Season Six of Project Runway

Louise Black

Shirin Askari

Hometown gals, Louis Black (32, from Dallas) and Shirin Askari (24, from Richardson), are two of the sixteen contestants on the long-awaited sixth season of Project Runway (premieres August 20 on Lifetime). Click on their names above to learn more about the designers and to take a peek at their audition tape, casting session, home visit video, closet tour, and fashion tips. Be sure to pick up the September issue of D, which will feature both designers.

TV With Laura: The Bachelorette Recap Episode VIII

Listen, Wes is terrible. I hate his bandanna shirt, his dumb song, and his inability to ride a bike properly. But I think he’s just not into Jillian, don’t you? And we can’t fault him for that, right?  I recap the debacle here.

TV With Laura: The Bachelorette Recap Episode VII

Read my take on chambray shirts, Kiptyn’s pretentious parents, Jesse’s scary brother, getting filled with the Holy Spirit (or something), and all the rest of the nonsense that went down on last night’s episode of The Bachelorette.

TV With Laura: The Bachelorette Saga Continues

Laura watches this show. I don’t. But I did manage to tune in for about 20 minutes last night, which was long enough for me to hear Jillian say she doesn’t wash her vegetables before she eats them. I. Have. No. Words. Luckily, Laura does. Read on, ShopTalkers. Comments are so on.

TV With Laura: The Bachelorette Recap Episode V

Need to feel superior to the human race? Go here for the latest on Hot Tub Harris’ quest for love. Spoiler alert: no sign of Wes’ guitar this episode. Unfortunately, he made up for that by wearing a denim shirt with red bandanna material stitched to the shoulders.

TV With Laura: The Bachelorette Recap Episode IV

Hi friends. Need some mindless distraction? My latest recap of the most dramatic expletive-filled episode ever is here.