Fashion at the Park mixed Southern-fried fall wear, breakdancing and rap
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| HAIR AND FLAIR: Mullet-chic and tweeds at Billy Reid. (EVANS CAGLAGE) |
Leather ammo belts and the crackle of gunfire made a surefire impression at last week’s Fashion at the Park. The bi-annual four-day runway bonanza was held beneath white tents near Nordstrom at NorthPark Mall.
On Thursday, Billy Reid, whose corporate headquarters are in Deep Ellum, gave us 40 twangy fall creations: herringbone jackets with stripes of orange and red, men with high-pumped mullets, wingtips worn without socks and a tweed sweater-dress that was accessorized with a leather shotgun case and matching cartridge belt. Models stomped down the catwalk to the sounds of Austin-electropop duo Ghostland Observatory. While Reid’s Southern-fried ensembles were tastefully handsome, there was a noticeable absence of ethnic models.
But FATP had lots of flava thanks to Team Hennessy. The funky breakdancers top-rocked the party tent and expertly busted coin drops and handglide freezes to the amazement of jewel-encrusted Highland Park grannies.
Following Reid’s show was Custo Barcelona, a colorful explosion of graphic patterns and Euro tailoring. Modeled after vintage wallpaper, the men’s leisure suits were a busier than a drug dealer at a circuit party. And women wore oversized sweaters, architecturally pleated skirts and two-toned furry heels.
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| GANGSTA RICHE: Rap star Eve hangs with posh Dallasites. (DANIEL A. KUSNER/Dallas Voice) |
At Saturday’s benefit for the Nasher Sculpture Center, rap diva Eve spat rhymes for 300 of Dallas’ whitest-looking socialites. For her first two numbers, Eve’s audience remained seated like well-trained poodles. Between tracks, her DJ spliced in sounds of shooters blasting away. And when Eve busted out “Gangsta Lovin’,” the young folks thankfully rushed the stage. Getting into the ritzy affair, Eve asked the crowd, “Where are my rich girls?” She invited the ladies onstage, which gave society matrons an excuse to tear it up like they were on spring break.
The next Fashion in the Park, March 27-29, 2008
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GAY FASHIONISTA VOUCHES FOR STANLEY MARCUS’ NEW FOTOBOOK
Want to see what the good life looks like? From beyond the grave, Dallas retail legend Stanley Marcus releases “Reflections of a Man” ($60, Carin Press). Marcus’ daughter Jerrie Marcus Smith and granddaughter Allison V. Smith collaborated to produce the handsome 192-page volume, culled from the more than 5,000 Kodak slides that Stanley shot between the years of 1935-1966.
Marcus has an impeccable eye for clean style and quality design. And the reader quickly notices that Marcus was a globetrotter who rarely suffered financially.
Gay textile guru Jack Lenor Larsen writes the “Life with Stanely” forward. Larsen was recently profiled in New York magazine’s “design revolutionary” edition. His essay about Marcus depicts the retail giant as a guiding “big brother.” Larsen, who learned how to weave at the same studio as Joan Crawford, also recalls Fortnight Marcus’ lavish invention held in October (Neiman’s slump sales month). Dallas’ Fortnight was two weeks of art, music, celebrity and fantasy. Larsen also recalls attending Marcus’ 85th birthday celebration at the Dallas Zoo as well as the retailer’s memorial celebration at the Meyerson Symphony Center.
Daniel A. Kusner
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LOCAL GAY DESIGNER ON NEW “‘PROJECT RUNWAY’
A North Texan is going to find out if he’s in or out. According to Defamer.com, Dallas designer Marion Lee, pictured, is out and proud. But he’s also incredibly soft spoken. Some biographical facts have cropped up about Lee.
Hailing from Tyler, the 39-year-old was educated at Parsons School of Design, where he received the silver and gold thimble awards. After graduating, he became the visual director of Stanley Korshak and subsequently created his own line. Inspired by Viktor & Rolf and Hussein Chalayan, Lee has been featured on Bazaar and Cosmopolitan. His clientele include Nikki Taylor, Lenny Kravitz, Gisele and Jade Jagger.
Season four of Bravo’s “Project Runway” airs Nov. 14.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition November 9, 2007