Paper City Article

The Little Black Dress: Chic and Casual

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:11:48 GMT

Styles come and go but true Style, that elusive state of being, never fades with the seasons.%26nbsp; When it comes to communicating this aesthetic mastery to the outside world nothing does the job better than the little black dress (LBD).

Made famous years ago by Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel its simple fit naturally gives it versatility. The perfect LBD goes well with everything from metallic bags to red shoes, and has the ability to go to a cocktail party or casual outing, separately or, for all you Holly Golitghtlys', both. Tailored, loose, whatever! Not only does this buy not have to be pricey but it also has the ability to look good on anyone. So you can snag a winner without being a big spender.

Baby Tails

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:50:50 GMT

Designer Cynthia Rowley designs the cutest diapers ever, for the cutest booties. Made for Pampers, Rowley%26#8217;s designer diapers are in 11 styles, for baby boys and girls, at Target.

Fêtes with Neiman Marcus

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:41:43 GMT

Come April, we%26#8217;ll be seeing much more of the magnanimous Neiman Marcus. Aside from paving spring%26#8217;s fashion landscape, the store will take on leading roles in two upcoming galas: TITAS%26#8217; Command Performance and La F%26#234;te du Ballet and the Dallas Museum of Art%26#8217;s Art Ball, sponsored by PaperCity.

Chaired by NM%26#8217;s VP of corporate PR Gabrielle de Papp, TITAS pirouettes into our calendars on Saturday, April 3. The two-part evening commences at the Music Hall at Fair Park, where 10 world-renowned ballerinas and danseurs will take the stage for an illustrious performance of classic and contemporary ballet excerpts. After the last bravo, guests will swiftly progress to Neiman Marcus Downtown for part deux: a graceful black-tie gala dinner applauding Command Performance%26#8217;s principal dancers, plus honorary chair Caren Prothro and honoree Rebecca Enloe Fletcher. 214.978.2852; csantos@titas.org; titas.org.

Then on Saturday, April 24, 2010, Art Ball chairman Melissa Fetter and Neiman Marcus CEO Karen Katz reinvent the silent auction scene at the Dallas Museum of Art%26#8217;s grand gala, as for the first time in Art Ball history, the sole curator of the silent auction will be the grand dame herself, Neiman Marcus. The NM powers that be are hoping to procure more than 60 items for their Neiman Marcus Luxury Auction, including one-of-a-kind packages such as an %26#8220;Oscar-Winning Experience%26#8221; %26#8212; two tickets to the September 2010 Oscar de la Renta show in New York, lunch with Mr. de la Renta in his atelier following the show, plus a five-night stay at his Tortuga Bay boutique hotel. An added Neiman%26#8217;s perk? Winning bidders will receive InCircle points matching the final amount of the luxurious item they won. 214.922.1353; jwisler@dallasmuseumofart.org; dallasmuseumofart.org.

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Image above:%26nbsp; San Francisco Ballet%26#8217;s Yuan Yuan Tan and Damian Smith, to perform at TITAS Command Performance; Image credit: Erik Tomasson

Image below:%26nbsp; Oscar de la Renta

The Curatorial Eye

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:49:02 GMT

This page of Things I Love is not to be confused with family I cherish, friends I adore and the essential elements that sustain life (food, water, the occasional gin and tonic). This is my list of random obsessions that please me at this very moment.

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Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses. I%26#8217;ve worn them on and off (mostly on) since I was 17.

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I%26#8217;m such a girly girl: I love good makeup and skincare. I positively adore Shu Uemura%26#8217;s creamy lip color in pale pinks and beiges, Chanel eye makeup and Laura Mercier bronzers.

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Nearly every shade of gray, and plenty of white hues, too.

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My Claridge + King weighty woolen shawl. Tucked inside our travel set, it%26#8217;s positively the chicest thing I own, and infinity practical for anyone (like moi) who easily catches a chill.

Being, existing, and eating anywhere in Italy or France. I feel so alive there that I want to take every moment in, while sinking into the landscape.%26nbsp;%26nbsp;

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White china. Be it modern ASA, Martha Stewart for Macy%26#8217;s or CB2.com, as long as I can put it in the dishwasher, I%26#8217;ll consider adding it to my collection.

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Traveling, nearly anywhere. It freshens my perspective and invigorates me %26#8212; but I%26#8217;m always excited to land back on American soil. Overcome with patriotic pride as I enter the country through customs, if I could drop to my knees and kiss the ground without causing a minor scene, God knows I would. Really.

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Vogue%26#8217;s Book of Etiquette (1948) by Millicent Fenwick. She%26#8217;s a pistol, and although some of her advice feels outmoded, there are still gems such as these, listed under misused words and phrases: %26#8220;Classy. See %26#8216;high-toned%26#8217; and %26#8216;high-class.%26#8217; Where %26#8216;classy%26#8217; is used to mean %26#8216;high-class,%26#8217; use %26#8220;good.%26#8217; When %26#8216;classy%26#8217; means %26#8216;high-toned,%26#8217; it should be forgotten %26#8230; %26#8216;High-class%26#8217; should not be used to mean %26#8216;good%26#8217; or %26#8216;distinguished.%26#8217; %26#8216;It was a high-class restaurant%26#8217; is appalling.%26#8221;

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White jeans, all year long: boot cut, 7 for All Mankind (especially when I%26#8217;m feeling slim).

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Frederic Malle%26#8217;s scent Une Rose. It%26#8217;s my signature %26#8212;%26nbsp;when I wear it, I feel pretty.

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Fleur de sel, particularly to finish a dish, even sweets. (You can%26#8217;t beat it with caramels or atop homemade candy.)

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My iPhone (and it%26#8217;s not even the latest version!). Also Apple%26#8217;s MobileMe service, which syncs all my info together perfectly. I am crushing on Steve Jobs.

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Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies %26#8212; my own, with chunks of bittersweet Valrhona bittersweet chocolate, cocoa nibs and a generous pinch of fleur de sel. (See a trend?)

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Dan Donnelly with Kharisma Salon in Houston. Without him, I%26#8217;m no blonde.

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Larry King Live. More specifically, whoever writes all the questions on his little blue cards. LK has the best job in the world. Ditto for the high-brow Charlie Rose, though I have a pretty good hunch he writes all his own probing queries. Smarty pants.

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I yearn for Parrot Cay%26#8217;s crystal-clear water %26#8230; If only it didn%26#8217;t take forever and a day to get there from Texas.

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Laughing so hard I can%26#8217;t even speak. It%26#8217;s usually out of the blue over something really stupid, too.

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A clean home. Nothing makes me feel more centered than purging the clutter and sweeping away the dust bunnies.%26nbsp;

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OxiClean. Oh, I could do a testimonial.

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Lululemon Athletica workout wear. It%26#8217;s comfortable, durable and wearable in and out of the gym.

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A well-crafted, perfectly prepared coal-fired pizza (margherita, mostly) and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. Humble blends so well with a touch of haute.

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Trench coats. Be they Burberry or Target, I love the look and classic lines that can be translated from cotton to silk faille.

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A large bottle of chilled San Pellegrino %26#8212; no ice, with a wedge of lime. When I%26#8217;m being especially particular, I request a wine bucket to keep it icy cold.

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Sleep %26#8212; nine hours, specifically. It%26#8217;s almost as restorative to my psyche as a weekend at Lake Austin Spa Resort.%26nbsp;

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My 80-pound, %26#8217;60s-era quartz-crystal lamp %26#8212; a gift from my aunt who grew tired of it and packed it away in a closet until I pleaded with her to send it to me. Bless her.

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Dogs %26#8212;%26nbsp;all of them (most especially ever-grateful pound puppies). There%26#8217;s no such thing as a bad dog in my book.

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Truman Capote%26#8217;s writing

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Anything %26#8220;sonic.%26#8221; I%26#8217;m obsessed with my Sonicare toothbrush, and the Clarisonic skin-cleansing system by the makers of Sonicare has me hooked. Who knew washing my face could give me so much satisfaction?

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Peonies in full bloom, with paper-thin petals of variegated hues. Simply breathtaking in pink %26#8212; and a good reason to look forward to May and June.

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Oprah. Yeah, I%26#8217;ve drunk the Kool-Aid, too.

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Thick, stiff correspondence cards and tissue-lined envelopes. I love these paper cards by Crane%26#8217;s (a gift from friend Carol Isaak Barden), designed and engraved by PH Design Shop. And when I%26#8217;m feeling nostalgic, I break out my beloved Waterman fountain pen. My parents bought it for me to transcribe my notes at La Varenne when I moved to Paris years ago. I%26#8217;m the sentimental sort.

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Beautiful bed linens. Be they Irish linen or starched high-thread-count Egyptian cotton, bed linens are an indulgence (along with good down pillows, frequently replaced) that I%26#8217;d never forgo. My favorite kinds are monogrammed, from Kuhl-Linscomb, leontinelinens.com.

A great flick by David Mamet (House of Games, The Spanish Prisoner) or Woody Allen (Annie Hall was his best).%26nbsp; Fave fashion films: Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell and Funny Face.
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Learning. My curiosity is endless, and there%26#8217;s not a soul in the world from whom you can%26#8217;t glean something meaningful.

Looking Great All the Time

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 04:43:12 GMT

Rachael Dedman
The one article of clothing that most defines you? A handbag large enough to carry my items and my daughters' entertainment du jour.
You couldn't live without what in your closet? My two daughters' new interest in "helping me get dressed."
The movie you think of as the "fashion flick"? The Thomas Crown Affair.
Your most-thumbed fashion mag? Harper%26#8217;s Bazaar.
Which Audrey: Hepburn or Tautou? Hepburn.
%26nbsp;Something stylish people seem to have in common %26#8230; They make it appear effortless.
What do you have your eye on next? A collaborative effort with Children's Medical Center to establish a nationally recognized Comprehensive Center for Pediatric Food Allergies.

Ken Downing
The one article of clothing that most defines you? Chelsea boots.
Amount of time spent pondering a single outfit? Thirty seconds %26#8212; no time to ponder.
You couldn't live without what in your closet? Brown leather jacket, I always have it with me.
You seem to get the most fashion kudos for %26#8230; My skinny suits.
The "fashion flick"? Auntie Mame.
Most-thumbed fashion mag? PaperCity, of course.
Which Clark: Gable or Kent? Kent, but truth be known, probably more Lewis and Clark.
Something stylish folk have in common %26#8230; Attitude!
What do you have your eye on next? More Chelsea boots!

Brian Bolke
The one article of clothing that most defines you? Definitely jeans. Pretty much everyday, including black tie.
Amount of time spent pondering a single outfit? Very little. The best outfits come together with no planning at all.
You couldn't live without what in your closet? A chocolate-brown Bottega blazer that you can literally roll up in a ball.
You seem to get the most fashion kudos for %26#8230; Not being afraid to wear color or pattern. But it has backfired a few times.
The "fashion flick"? Definitely Unzipped. I could watch it every day.
Most-thumbed fashion mag? W. It constantly surprises and pushes the envelope.
Which Clark: Gable or Kent? Kent. It's the glasses.
Something stylish folk have in common %26#8230; Not being afraid to go out on a limb. You have to take a risk. Otherwise, how boring.
What do you have your eye on next? An Herm%26#232;s cashmere scarf that weighs nothing. I'm having a scarf moment.

Jennifer Eagle
The one article of clothing that most defines you? High heels!
Amount of time spent pondering a single outfit? My entire life %26#8230;
You couldn't live without what in your closet? A good-fitting pair of jeans
You seem to get the most fashion kudos for %26#8230; Probably shoes and/or handbags.
The "fashion flick"? To Catch a Thief.
Most-thumbed fashion mag? I'm a sucker for any type of fashion or smut in print!
Which Audrey: Hepburn or Tautou? There is only one Audrey %26#8230; Hepburn, of course.
Something stylish folk have in common %26#8230; Restraint.
What do you have your eye on next? Did I already mention shoes?

Moo-ey Fabulous!

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:58:45 GMT

Oh, to be two again %26#8230; The chicest boutique of little girl%26#8217;s clothing, called Moo Boo%26#8217;s, has launched at Tootsies: tiny party dresses in chocolate velvet and caramel satin with what I swear look like Marni jeweled embellishments at the neck. But the silk shantung sheath in a luscious stone color with a jeweled neckline is adorably sophisticated. Baby going to St Barth%26#8217;s? Pack the fuchsia silk caftan with a simple crystal design and black leggings. Finally, a children%26#8217;s collection that%26#8217;s smart but still childlike. If I could just supersize the chocolate satin sheath with chocolate velvet jacket %26#8230; Alas, it%26#8217;s only in precociously tiny 2T to children%26#8217;s 8. At Tootsies, Highland Village Shopping Center, 4045 Westheimer, 713.629.9990.

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Image: Moo Boo's; photo by Jenny Antill

Looking Great all the Time

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:29:54 GMT

Cindy %26amp; Howard Rachofsky

Their home rivals museums %26#8212; their knack for all things avant-garde puts this couple in a league of their own. Their exceptional style must have something to do with all that contemporary art.

Howard Rachofsky
The one article of clothing that most defines you? A warm-up suit. (You just have to see it.)
Amount of time spent pondering a single outfit? Five seconds.
You couldn%26#8217;t live without what in your closet? Purple.
You get the most fashion kudos for? Color.
The movie you think of as the %26#8220;fashion flick"? "He never sees movies." %26#8211; Cindy Rachofsky
Your most-thumbed fashion mag? Whatever my wife puts in front of me.
Which Clark: Gable or Kent? Neither. They both wore ties %26#8230; I would never wear a tie.
Something stylish people seem to have in common? Large credit card bills.
What do you have your eye on next? Dolce %26amp; Gabbana evening pajamas.

Cindy Rachofsky
The one article of clothing that most defines you? Herm%26#232;s bags.
Amount of time spent pondering a single outfit? It depends on my weight.
You couldn%26#8217;t live without what in your closet? My new Indian bracelets from Howard.
You get the most fashion kudos for? Vintage.
The movie you think of as the %26#8220;fashion flick%26#8221;? I only see movies on airplanes.
Your most-thumbed fashion mag? Vogue or style.com.
Which Audrey: Hepburn or Tautou? Hepburn. I love skinny black pants.
Something stylish people seem to have in common? They get asked to answer questionnaires like this one.
What do you have your eye on next? A guilt-free shopping spree.

Deborah Scott
Could it be her extensive travels that cultivated this social's fashionably discerning eye? Well, when your husband is the president and CEO of Rosewood Hotels %26amp; Resorts, international shopping comes with the territory.
The one article of clothing that most defines you? Color %26#8212; either clothing or shoes %26#8212; I love bright!
Amount of time spent pondering a single outfit? If it is love at first sight, then I have to have it!
You couldn%26#8217;t live without what in your closet? Either gold strappy sandals %26#8212; go with everything and great for travel %26#8212; or a huge Sonia Rykiel clutch I got in Paris that is color blocks of orange, pink, black and white. All my favorite colors!
You get the most fashion kudos for? Not being a fashion follower.
The movie you think of as the %26#8220;fashion flick%26#8221;? Love Sex and the City! The clothes are so over the top.
Your most-thumbed fashion mag? Australian Vogue. Love keeping up with what's going on down under, such a great vibe and the designers take risks.
Which Audrey: Hepburn or Tautou? Tautou, but they are both so classic!
Something stylish people seem to have in common? Everything they do is stylish and easy. No matter what their budget or where they are going, they always manage to look effortless.
What do you have your eye on next? Anything from Gucci's fall collection with loads of zippers.