After a Fashion
By Stephen MacMillan Moser, Fri., Nov. 15, 2002
CATWALKING The Shair (Shoes + Hair) event at Daya Salon & Day Spa turned out to be a jewel in the glittery string of parties lately (as you'll see, we're obsessed with jewelry this week). It was a benefit for the very worthy Candlelight Ranch, and director Jeri Barr was deeply touched by the turnout. The food was by Asti, which we raved about last week; owners Emmett & Lisa Fox were in attendance, and what a great, creative couple they are. Daya was beautiful, and owners Decklynd Channing and Monique Maley have a great deal to be proud of. The show was clever -- highlighting only the shoes and hair -- the shoes were to die for, provided by Vën Shoe Salon, and there was absolutely wonderful hair done by Lisa Brooks and the rest of the team at Daya (Hi Brian and Deborah!). Kevin Conner and Marnie Sutton of KGSR emceed the show. He's charming and she is stunning and so sweet and we're all fans of each other, so it was very cool to hang with them. Local bon vivant Jenn Garrison modeled her own brand of style on the runway, as did Christina Klisanin and Amy Weaver and a bevy of other beauties, including my fave, Denia Ridley. We are totally fans of DJ Jericho One: His selections for the show were perfect and set the pace beautifully. Afterward, he hosted his own private party out back, which turned out to be one of the most sought-after invitations of the night. We hobnobbed with Dr. Taryn Rose and Kerri Sengstaken of Taryn Rose Shoes, as well as the dashing society columnist Lance Morgan of Austin Monthly, entrepreneur Anil Behl, and Daya's Betty Craven. Among our favorites that night were society dame Kay Jinks, wearing an incredible necklace of jade, carnelian, pearls, and diamonds (so chunky and thick that you knew they were real) and her sister Dale Dorsey. They're both good-time gals from another era who know how to party in a very contemporary manner. And we've completely fallen for Patricia Vonne, who performed later (she and my sister Margaret have a mutual-admiration society). She is so gorgeous; she should have been on the runway herself. Her music was fabulous, and we are complete converts. She is filmmaker Robert Rodriguez's sister, but this honky-tonk angel is completely her own creation, and her new single "Bandolera" is absolutely exquisite. Our friend Bryan Ockert shot the show for us (we always love bringing our own paparazzo), but on this occasion, Bryan himself was being filmed for a documentary by Ron Payjack (ay-yi-yi, he's adorable), so we made the most of our chance to become a big-screen legend. Says Ron to Bryan, "The camera just loves Stephen." Says Bryan to Ron, "You must be joking. Stephen loooves the camera ..." The coup of the night? Hanging with Maria Elena Holly. Mrs. Holly, as you probably know, is the wife of legendary Buddy Holly -- she told me how very pleased she was with last week's Chronicle cover story featuring her husband's records. We insisted that she accompany us to Elysium, determined to show her a different side of Austin nightlife. She is a riot, and we tore up the dance floor and screamed over the rocks on her fingers. The wedding ring Buddy gave her features two enormous diamonds surrounded by dozens of smaller ones. Maria Elena told me that she didn't know where Buddy got the money for it, but when he presented it to her, she burst into tears. Elysium owner John was as usual an excellent host, and we received exemplary service from bar manager Joel Gowdy -- you can call him "Cash." Speaking of Elysium (705 Red River), they will host the Second Annual Austin Chronicle Drag Ball on Saturday, Nov. 16, 9pm. Tickets are $10 at the door. The headline act is NYC's Club Casanova, and our own local drag boyz Kings 'n' Things and wild girlz Los Madonnas will open. Don't miss the opportunity to be a part of the show yourself. I'll be giving out fabulous prizes for things like "Best Drag Queen," "Best Drag King," and "Most Likely to ...." You do not want to miss this one. Needless to say, the "season is off and running." While we're on the subject, this weekend, Friday-Saturday, Nov. 15-16, Texture (505 Neches, 480-8921) combines art, fashion, and music in a series of events. Call the club for info...
THE BIG DISH Could it possibly be true? The most exciting gossip making the rounds of fashionable parties is that Sandra Bullock has talked her friend Jean Paul Gaultier into buying a lavish house near hers on Lake Travis. I cannot confirm it, but close sources say it's true ... and it certainly raises lots of questions, n'est-ce pas?
