MTV RE:DEFINE 2014

Gabriel Jagger, JerryHall, Niven Morgan, Shelby Wagner

The MTV Staying Alive Foundation, together with the Goss-Michael Foundation and Dallas Contemporary, hosted the third annual MTV RE:DEFINE benefit, a world-premiere art exhibition, auction, and gala to kick off ‘Dallas Arts Week’ on Friday, April 4, 2014 at the Dallas Contemporary. Co-chaired by Joyce Goss and Kenny Goss with honorary guest Jerry Hall, the gala benefited the MTV Staying Alive Foundation and Dallas Contemporary featuring a live auction led by auctioneer Alexander Gilkes of Paddle8. Spotted amongst the works of art were Anna Sophia von Zweden, Brian Bolke, Ron Corning, Jessica Nowitzki (sans Dirk), Kira Plastina, Capera Ryan, Chandra North, Anne and Steve Stodghill, Scott and Gina Ginsburg, Jim and Vinita Schroeder, and Justin and Kimberly Whitman.

Shop Local: Great Gifts for Moms

The reason I started this website was to shine a light on what makes Dallas such a fabulous city. We have many creative and talented designers and manufacturers right in our own North Texas backyard. Their contributions not only bolster our local economy, but impact our image around the world.  Throughout the holiday season, I will be bringing you a series of posts called Shop Local giving you great gift ideas for under $250 from North Texas designers and retailers. Support local companies this season by considering their wares.

Great Gifts for Moms...

There's not a Mom on the planet that doesn't love to brag on her children. I am so proud of my son that I could just burst every time I look at his sweet face. So, in my humble Mom opinion, the best gift you can give a Mom is something that captures the sweetness of her children or gives her a taking point to tell total strangers about how amazing they are. Below are some fun ideas:

Local Lakewood artist Shannon Kincaid, can create one-of-a-kind commissioned paintings featuring family members, memorable scenery or special events. Kincaid can take a family photo and turn it into a unique piece of art painted in oil, pastels or watercolor. Paintings start at $75 for a 5x7 watercolor and can be as big as 36x48 for an oil painting. Visit http://bit.ly/1bqkAyO.

This is the Skinny Thang Bar from All The Wire which is the brain-child of sisters Desiree Cox and Toni Gonzales (you're about to see her every week as Courtney Kerr's BFF on Courtney Loves Dallas).

They are showing it here marking a couple's anniversary. You can also stamp your kids monogram and date of birth. You choose who you love more - your husband or your kid. We all know there's no contest…

• Measures: 41mm x 4mm x 1mm thick 
• Material: Raw Brass 10 Letters Max (Including Symbols)
• Bar can be horizontal or vertical 
• Please specify stamping darkened or not darkened. 
• Choose from 16" or 18" chain
• Stamping centered or on buyers left side.

Cost $30

Available at http://bit.ly/18u3BeW.

Meet jewelry designer SHONA at Neiman Marcus Willow Bend this weekend

Renee Rouleau, Maggie Kipp, Shona Gilbert and Angela
Choquette all wearing SHONA designs

Meet Shona Gilbert of SHŌNA 

at 

Neiman Marcus Willow Bend 

February 22-23 | 10am-5pm 

or  

Neiman Marcus Fort Worth 

February 28 | 10am-5pm

Fresh off a 10-city tour, Dallas-based couture jewelry designer, Shona C. Gilbert will partner with select Neiman Marcus locations to preview her new Spring 2013 Collection.

Forty (40) new pieces have been added to the SHŌNA lines: EDHA, Ayanna, Pebbles, and St. Germain. Fans of SHŌNA‘s statement pieces and bold designs will be clamoring over the additions of gemstones and Keshi Pearl earrings to this new collection.

Featuring handcrafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry using a combination of precious and semiprecious stones, mixed metals and rare vintage materials, couture jewelry line SHŌNA is now available for purchase at Neiman Marcus trunk shows nationwide and on her e-commerce site www.byShona.com.

Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon and Fashion Show 2013

(top) Jennifer LeLash, Renee Rouleau, Janet Fresquez, Shay Geyer, Holly Davis, Event Chair Angela Choquette, Brandy Taylor
(bottom) Event Chair Maggie Kipp, Dayna Anderson and Emily Eisenhauer. Photo: Shay Geyer

The Saint Valentine's Day Luncheon & Fashion Show by Stanley Korshak is always one of the leading fund-raising events for North Texas. This event drew an audience of 800+ social and civic leaders in the North Texas region to the Morton Meyerson Symphony Center on Tuesday, February 12, 2013. Event Chairs Angela Choquette, Maggie Kipp & Paige Slates along with Honorary Co-Chairs Myrna and Bob Schlegal led the cause this year to raise critical funds and awareness for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

This was one of those all-day affairs that started with a champagne reception at 9:45 am. At 10:30 am, we were herded like well-dressed sheep into the McDermott Performance Hall for the awards presentation and fashion show.  The always energetic FOX 4 anchor Clarice Tinsley kicked things off with a welcome and introduced the diminutive Ellen Terry.  Terry is a real estate power house that is all of 4 feet something and when a handsome lad brought out a box for Terry to stand on to present the Lynda Adleta Heart of Gold Award to Stanley Korshak's Crawford Brock, Tinsley teased her saying, "Ellen, we always love to put you on a pedestal".  Presentation of the Spirit of Tom Landry Character Award was given to adorable teen Joshua Cobler, who had been a bone marrow donor for his little brother and has since gone on to found and edit The Sibling Times, a newsletter intended for the siblings of children with cancer so they know they are not alone.

Winter skin care tips from Renee Rouleau on Access Hollywood

Renee Rouleau and Billy Bush

Dallas-based skin care expert, Renee Rouleau, tackles the beauty issues of some of Hollywood's most beautiful faces. From Jessica Simpson to Sofia Vergara and Demi Lavato to Cynthia Smoot (that's me!) - Renee Rouleau is the go-to expert for keeping skin looking healthy and radiant.

This past Monday, she traveled to Los Angeles to visit the set of Access Hollywood where she gave hosts Billy Bush and Kit Hoover tips on how to keep your skin looking great during the harsh winter weather conditions.

For her big television appearance, Renee gave some love to local designer, Abi Ferrin, wearing the Harper blouse from Ferrin's 2013 Spring Collection.  I love how Dallas is all about supporting their own!

To learn more about products from Renee Rouleau, visit http://www.reneerouleau.com.

 

Click here to view this video segment online

DFW Style Daily Celebrates Its First Anniversary in Style

Last Tuesday, I attended a "White Hot" party and everywhere I turned there were beautiful people in white attire. It felt like the Hamptons! No, it wasn't hosted by P. Diddy - it was a soiree thrown by my gal pal Lisa Petty to celebrate the first anniversary of her online magazine, DFWStyleDaily.com.

Inside Fedora at One Arts Plaza I chatted it up with jewelry designer, Shona Gilbert, who stood out from the pack with her newly dyed hot pink hair. I sipped cocktails with PR hipster Bri Crum, skin care guru Renee Rouleau, and Maxine Trowbridge from PinkMemo.com.  And of course, DFWStyleDaily Contributors Rhonda Sargent Chambers and Abby Gregory were there working the room as only they can.

If you aren't already an ardent reader of DFW Style Daily, I highly encourage you to add it to your RSS feed, Google Reader, BlogLovin or whatever it is you use to track sites you love.  In Lisa's words, " DFW Style Daily brings you the latest local fashion news, plus the compulsively watchable videos and galleries you know and love. What’s more, we've gathered a team of writers to track what’s really going on in the world of Dallas style. No tricks, no politics — we'll play by no rules other than our own."

(left) Renee Rouleau and Maxine Trowbridge  (right) Richard and Ashley Burghardt
(back) Sean Charles, Abby Gregory, Ric Mulligan (bottom) Lisa Petty, Priya Bhola Rathos, Rhonda Sargent Chambers and Heather Lettieri

I love seeing Lisa at events and reading her take on it the next day. My post will all about who was there, the vibe and what everyone was wearing. Lisa is the one who will notate a thoughtful analysis of the show, the designer's background and inspiration and why you need to care. I don't give a whit about inspiration. I just like pretty... This girl is the ying to my yang.  I adore her so much and was thrilled to be there to celebrate her success.

To see more photos from this event, visit DFW Style Daily on Facebook. Oh, and be sure to "LIKE" her page while you are there.

Heroes and Handbags 2012

Heroes and Handbags is a one-of-a-kind event for the most fashionable women in Dallas to attend and bid on exclusive designer and vintage handbags. Women donate and bid for a cause that helps families in Texas who have children suffering from cancer. The Hilton Anatole was the destination for some serious handbag shopping a la fundraising this past Friday.

(top left) Janet Fresquez & Shay Geyer  (top right) Dayna Anderson & Andrea Weber
(bottom left) Lee Nagel with friends (bottom right) Renee Rouleau & Cathy Vieth

The silent auction gave attendees the chance to bid on the latest designer handbags while enjoying brunch and socializing.  This year, designer bids include handbags from Elaine Turner, Tory Burch, Yves St. Laurent, Jimmy Choo and Fendi among other vintage designer classics.  More than 200 beautiful handbags were up for auction at the event using a bidding technology tied to your cell phone. You could text in the number of a bag you were interested in and get an immediate response to the current price and respond with a bid, if so desired. Needless to say, there were a lot of ladies with their eyes glued to their phones and not much socializing going on.  The business of nabbing a designer bag, is serious business!

Jennifer LeLash and Janet Fresquez debate the price of a handbag

All proceeds will go to Heroes for Children to provide financial and social assistance to families with children battling cancer. Heroes for Children provides assistance  for transportation to hospitals, every day expenses like rent and utilities,  and also provides social assistance for the families to ensure the struggling families’ sense of normalcy.

To see more photos form this event, click here.

DIFFA 2012 Was Smoking Haute

On Saturday, March 31, 2012, more than a thousand socialites, drag queens, fashionistas and charitable do-gooders gathered at the Hilton Anatole for Smoking Haute: DIFFA Collection 2012 - a silent auction including smoking jackets, live auction, dinner, an amazing runway show, theater, after party, spectacle and excitement in a way that only DIFFA can deliver. All benefiting North Texas HIV/AIDS charities.

In 1966 Yves Saint Laurent introduced Le Smoking, a tailored fitted tuxedo jacket for women. A revolutionary idea that brought traditional male tailoring to the feminine form.  DIFFA took this as their inspiration for this year's theme and decided to reinvent this fashion classic in 2012, asking top name designers from around the county interpreting the Smoking Jacket with one-of-a kind couture designs for both men and women.  

(top left) Rene Rouleau and Shona Gilbert (top right) Buster and Cathy Williamson
(bottom left) Hillary and Eric Gilbert  (bottom right) Victoria Snee, Amy Vanderoef and Abi Ferrin

I came of age in the 1980's when HIV/AIDS first hit the mainstream as the "gay disease" that resulted in a painful and certain death.  In the next ten years, we discovered that you could also get the disease from sharing needles and that Mothers could pass it to their unborn children in the womb. The scientific community moved swiftly to discover drugs that would cure, prevent or at least treat the disease. 20+ years later, while no cure exists, we have been successful in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. But with these medical advances comes complacency for a new generation no longer faced with the fear my generation had about this disease.

Clint Bradley, DIFFA Chairman says, "HIV/ADIS is now a top-5 killer within mainstream communities worldwide, the US and especially Dallas. I am greatly alarmed with the bullet-proof misconceptions our youth possess towards the AIDS pandemic today.  DIFFA/Dallas has increased our focus on providing funding for preventative education."  With Federal funding diminishing, fundraising events like DIFFA are critical. 

(top left) LeeAnne Locken and Danielle Vollmar  (top right) Cynthia with Matt Nordgren
(bottom left) Heidi and Bill Dillon  (bottom right) Justin Bundick and Jose Reyes

Co-Chairs, Matt Wilkerson and Darin Kunz kicked off the event, welcoming attendees and introducing the 2012 Style Council.  Every team needs cheerleaders, and each year DIFFA selects a new group of Ambassadors, which include some of our town's most stylish trendsetters and movers-and-shakers.  But, these individuals aren't just pretty faces rah-rah'ing for the event - they are selected for their valued commitment to raising awareness of the fundraiser and money for North Texas AIDS service organizations who provide direct care to those living with HIV and AIDS.

This year's 2012 Style Council included:  Gillian Breidenbach, Anne Stodgehill, Raymund C. King, Bret McKinney, Hillary Gilbert, Jeri Johnson, Tara Harper, Abi Ferrin, Ken Foret, Chuck Steelman, Laura Ginsburg, Amy Vanderoef, Shay Geyer and Alberto Lombardi. 

photos courtesy of Quoc "QC" Cong of XO Photography

After a bland dinner of a breaded chicken breast, green beans and one baby carrot (seriously, for $300 a ticket they need to kick this up a notch next year) the fashion show began.  Produced by Jan Strimple, it was an over-the-top extravaganza of style and pop performance.  Of course, it's just not a DIFFA show without a drag queen show-stopper - and this year held a FABULOUS performance by some of my favorite girls lip-syncing to the Spice Girls. 

After they got the crowd all pumped up, it was time to boogie into the after-party. The DJ started spinning and everyone took to the dance floor. I immediately commanded my entourage, "Shoes off!" and we made a pile of stilettos in the middle of the dance floor, followed promptly by our clutches and other assorted accessories. We then proceeded to dance with wild abandon around the pile like gypsies around a campfire. It was hilarious fun and I can't wait for next year's event!

My dance posse:  LeeAnne Locken, Cynthia, Rene Rouleau and Dawn Neufeld.

Click here to see many more photos 

from this event on Facebook.

About DIFFA:  
The mission of the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA) is to raise funds and grant those funds to organizations which fight HIV/AIDS by providing preventative education programs targeted to populations at risk of infection, treatment and direct care services for people living with/impacted by HIV/AIDS and that support public policy initiatives which add resources to private sector funds.

About my ensemble:
Special thanks to Watters for my beautiful gown, Kendra Scott for the beautiful jewelry and to Daniel Lewis at Green Peridot Salon for sculpting my tresses into a sophisticated up-do for the evening. I felt like a Princess! 

Fresh Faces of Fashion features Nha Khanh for 2012

This year's Fresh Faces of Fashion program all began several months ago when Modern Luxury magazine collected nominations for this year's roster. To be selected as a FFF, one has to be not only stylish on the outside, but be able to serve up a dossier of charitable works and contributions to the community at large. The 12 lucky women selected to represent the program serve as stylish ambassadors to raise awareness and much needed funds to benefit the North Texas Suicide and Crisis Center.

These lovely lasses have appeared in the March issue of Modern Luxury and last Friday, they walked in a runway show at the 6th annual Fresh Faces of Fashion Gala held at Stanley Korshak featuring the Fall 2012 Collection from one of Dallas leading fashion designers, Nha Khanh.  Back for another year, co-chairs, Yvonne Crum and Jill Rowlett flitted amongst the crowd, welcoming guests and using their wiles to charm raffle tickets sales from the pocketbooks of all who entered!

These ladies are goooood and party-goers didn't stand a chance.

Cynthia with Matt Nordgren, Lee Bailey and Carmaleta Whiteley
Kimberly Schlegel Whitman, Kari Schlegel Kloewer and 2012 FFF, Krystal Schlegel

Among the stylish in attendance were Carmaleta Whiteley, Lee Bailey, Mina Chang, LeeAnne Locken and Renee Rouleau. I caught up with Bravo TV's Most Eligible Dallas stars Matt Nordgren and Drew Ginsburg over a cocktail and ran into the whole Schelgel clan there to cheer on one of this year's FFF, Krystal Schlegel.

Immediately following the fashion show, attendees were feted at a dinner at the Rosewood Crescent Hotel.  Roy Jackson gave a moving talk about the loss of his son. He had the room both laughing and crying, which is hard to do - especially when you are not a practiced public speaker! He spoke of love and loss, sadness and anger, hope and finding joy again. I salute his courage in telling his story only one day after the 5th anniversary of his son's tragic death.

Fashions from the Fall 2012 Nha Khanh Collection

Fresh Faces of Fashion 2012

• Katy Messersmith, Founder and CEO of Katydid Collections
• Samantha Davies, NBC 5 Meteorologist
• Caroline Cooper, Student at UT Austin and Shop Across Texas student blogger
• Carla Miller, Civic Volunteer
• Kaylyn Montgomery, Client Liaison for Coquerel Family Estate Wines
• Bailey Coon, Sales and Marketing Associate for North American Spine
• Amy Wells Havins, Owner of Dallas Wardrobe
• Grace Victoria Davis, Fashion Blogger and Executive Director for SMU Fashion Week
• Allison Wiley Lent, Owner of TheSocialButterfly.com
• Lauren Parsons, Consultant with Parsons Agency
• Lynsey Wiley Provost, Fine Art Consultant
• Krystal Schlegel, SMU student and Fashion Blogger

Oh, but wait... it's not over yet!

There is a fierce competition to see who can sell the most raffle tickets for a chance to win a new Mercedes from Park Place Motorcars! The winning ticket will be drawn at an event in May at Park Place Motorcars.  To date, the Fresh Faces of Fashion events have raised over a million dollars for the Suicide and Crisis Center in the past six years.  Pretty darn impressive!

Click here to see many more photos from this event on Facebook

Click here for more information on the Fresh Faces of Fashion, and to purchase raffle tickets via SCCenter.org.

Renee Rouleau Imparts Advice on How to Maintain Beautiful Skin

Yesterday, I introduced you to Dallas-based skin care expert and esthetician to the stars, Renee Rouleau. 

In Part Two of my interview, Renee tells me the basic things that everyone should be doing to maintain good skin and we debunk the myth about facials being just a luxury service.

Everyone has heard of the 3 basic skin types: dry, oily and normal. Renee says there are actually NINE skin types. To find out what your skin type is (Renee and I are both #2) and how you can best service your skin, visit her website.

I also encourage you to follow Renee on Twitter where she tweets out great advice, tips and tricks on how to maintain healthy, beautiful skin!

Visit a Renee Rouleau Skin Care Spa at the following locations: 

Dallas

One Arts Plaza, 1722 Routh Street, Suite 113, Dallas, TX 75201

Hours: (by appointment only) daytime, evenings, weekends available

(214) 735-4364

Plano

4025 Preston Rd., Suite 606, Plano, TX 75093

Hours: Mon, Fri, Sat: 9-5 | Tues: 9-9 | Wed: 9-5 | Thurs: 9-9 | Sunday: closed

(972) 378-6655

Meet Renee Rouleau: Dallas Skin Care Expert and Celebrity Esthetician

The tagline on this blog says that I intend to bring you the scoop on the "hottest events and coolest people in Dallas".  Most of the time, I introduce you to the notables as I encounter them around town at parties or events.

One of my New Year's resolutions was to bring you more profiles of people I think are unique, interesting, larger than life and that provide our city with some flavor. Another resolution, was to implement more video into this blog. So today I am fulfilling both of those resolutions with this interview on Renee Rouleau.

I run into her at cocktail parties from time to time, and I always walk away wanting to know more about her.  She just gives off a cool vibe.  So, I asked her if she'd let me interview her for this blog. She not only accepted, she offered to give me a facial in her One Arts Plaza salon after the interview. Suh-weet! And considering that Hollywood stars like Demi Lovato, Brooke Sheilds, Sofia Vergara and Jessica and Ashlee Simpson trust her with their skin, I was excited for the experience.

Below is a smidgin' of our chat. I hope you enjoy getting to know a little bit about Renee. I will be publishing Part Two of our interview tomorrow where Renee will give us some of her best tips for maintaining beautiful skin.

I'm sure you won't be shocked to hear that my facial was relaxing and decadently enjoyable. Renee generously loaded me up with products to take home. I've only been using them for a few days, so I can't really tell you yet how my skin feels about them. But I can tell you that so far, I am loving her products for two reasons:

1) PACKAGING: from a users perspective I love her packaging. Everything comes is a tube or container some sort of squeeze top. No digging in jars and getting creams or lotion under your nails. This packaging allows you to squeeze out the exact amount you need, so it's easy to use and you don't waste product.

2) SMELL: everything I have used so far smells clean, fresh, minty and delicious. No old lady, heavy flowery or medicine-like smell. You can almost taste how clean the products smell and I love that.

Visit a Renee Rouleau Skin Care Spa at the following locations: 

Dallas

One Arts Plaza, 1722 Routh Street, Suite 113, Dallas, TX 75201

Hours: (by appointment only) daytime, evenings, weekends available

(214) 735-4364

Plano

4025 Preston Rd., Suite 606, Plano, TX 75093

Hours: Mon, Fri, Sat: 9-5 | Tues: 9-9 | Wed: 9-5 | Thurs: 9-9 | Sunday: closed

(972) 378-6655