After a Fashion

GETTING BACK TO THE GARDEN Tonight, Thursday, Aug. 3, kicks off a series of theme parties at Therapy (6-9 pm, 1113 S. Congress). Beginning with their Garden of Eden Extravaganza this month, and followed with a Tribute to Horror Movies on Thursday, Oct. 5, the shop will display limited-edition merchandise by local artists and designers such as Laura Maclay, Traci Goudie, Cindy Crowe, and Therapy's own Jyl Kutsche, with décor to match.

SHE WORE BLU-U-UE VELVET Dear Jennifer and Susan, I know how lame it sounds, but you'll have to take my word for it that I received just the other day the e-mail that you sent me in May about omitting your name from my review of the Club DeVille Spring Fashion Extravaganza. I felt it was a letter that demanded a response, and it must have added insult to injury that I seemingly ignored you. The omission was completely unintentional, and I offer 1,000 apologies. In my estimation, you are the premier purveyor of fine vintage in Austin, and are one of the hardest-working stores on the local fashion-show circuit. Not to mention that you put on a hell of a show. So, forgive me this time, and I'll make it up to you next time.

GUCCI GOO The new Gucci ads are printed proof that fashion god Tom Ford has come out of the closet. Hintmag.com tells us that Ford was just photographed kissing his boyfriend, Vogues Hommes International editor Richard Buckley, for a layout in i-D magazine, and that Gucci's new ad campaign is a tribute to homoerotic art and the gay porn stars of the Seventies. Seeing is believing, and if Ford has his way, we will see a return to the packed-crotch look of the disco era, à la Tom of Finland, in which men often went to disturbing extremes to look well-endowed. I guess it sounds better than the current "mystery-meat" trend perpetuated by baggy trousers worn low on the hips, but I keep seeing these scary visions of the Village People...

TRUE CONFESSIONS Your beloved Style Avatar whispered a quiet prayer of relief to have escaped mention in last week's Chronicle story about whether critics (such as our own Robert Faires) can be active as artists in the areas they critique. Of course they can. I'm living proof of it. I take the point of view that I'm putting my money where my mouth is, and I set the same high expectations of my own fashion endeavors that I do for others. How could I possibly presume to critique something if I weren't completely familiar with the work that went into it? As for objectivity, fashion is not about objectivity. Fashion is completely subjective, and a prime target for a staggering array of interpretations. And what you get in this column is my take on it -- unapologetically subjective, but always, hopefully, entertaining.

WHILE WE'RE ON THE SUBJECT Tuesday, Sept. 5, heralds the opening of Idol at 2026 S. Lamar. Idol is a retail gallery dedicated to showing the works of local clothing, jewelry, and accessories designers. Run by five members of the Designers' Guild of Austin, including myself (see previous item), the gallery will consider submissions from all local designers. Selections will be made by the gallery's board of governors, and designers will pay a minimal flat monthly fee for rack space, plus a 20% commission on their sales, allowing them to set their own prices. Anyone who wishes to have their work considered should bring samples that will be seen on Sunday evening, Aug. 13. Contact Brooke at Pink Salon, 442-2888, to schedule an appointment, or e-mail [email protected].

IN ADDITION The Designers' Guild will present its fall fashion show on Thursday, Oct. 12 -- just hold the date open, and I'll tell you where it will be later. Showcasing the work of DGA members Gail Chovan, Bonnie Barton, Levi Palmer, Brooke Carter, Laura Maclay, Jyl Kutsche, and myself, the show is expected to be a more serious, straightforward fashion presentation than the grander fashion/entertainment spectacles that will rule the scene around that time.

Write to our Style Avatar with your related events, news, and hautey bits: [email protected] or PO Box 49066, Austin, 78765 or 458-6910 (fax).