Blogs

Matthew Tully

Some people have the best gossip sessions under a cape, getting snips, foils and whatever else done to their heads by their stylists. Today, however, we get the dish on two Dallas 'do-ers from Bravo as the network pimps the second season of Shear Genius (think Top Chef for hair stylists and hosted by Jaclyn Smith -- and, yes, that Jaclyn Smith).

Seems Matthew Tully, former Best of Dallas™ winner, caught the eye of Bravo’s casting peeps and temporarily abandoned his post at Matthew Tully Hairdressing for a go on the show. Joining him will be Daniel Lewis, co-owner of the Green Peridot Salon in Frisco.

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Mike Fuentes

Local photographer Mike Fuentes sends along this photo of Jessica Simpson snapped yesterday during her meet-and-greet (good with a $75 purchase) at the Stonebriar Centre Dillard's. By all accounts, she was perfectly lovely to the couple hundred who showed -- loads of "Thanks, y'alls" through those shiny whites -- only plenty of folks were said to be standing in line at 1 p.m., when Tony's Gal was whisked out the adios door despite the pay-per-view appearance. And to think, courtesy Mr. Fuentes, you coulda gotten the same view right here, absolutely gratis. Oh, and it was totally newsworthy: Hey, the mayor of Frisco showed -- introduced her, even. --Robert Wilonsky

Truth be told, we'd much rather meet this woman wearing Jessica Simpson's bathing suit.

If I weren't heading down to Austin this afternoon for the South by Southwest Film Festival, I'd find, somehow, to make to Dillard's in Stonebriar Centre tomorrow morning at 11 -- when, wowie, Jessica Simpson will be signing autographs ("X ... thank you ... X ... move along ...") whilst pimping merch from her clothing line. Only, you gotta spend $75 for the signature, or $74 more than its worth, looks like.

And in SXSW-related news, tonight the latest members of the Texas Film Hall of Fame will be inducted -- and this year's Dallas native is ... Morgan Fairchild? Monday, or perhaps even earlier, I will provide video footage during which, I hope, someone will explain why. --Robert Wilonsky

Dallas Stars

From the faraway Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, easily accessible from New Brunswick via the nine-mile-long Confederation Bridge, comes news that Dallas Stars jerseys are hot sellers. Specifically, it's the No. 91 jersey of the Stars' new center, P.E.I. native Brad Richards, moving off shelves: "In the past with Dallas, it wasn't a very good seller," says the guy who owns this sporting-goods joint. "There wasn't too many fans around, but now for sure we have people in every day looking for it. So he makes quite an impact when he switches teams." Odd, though -- can't even find one on the Stars' own Web shoppe. --Robert Wilonsky

Why, oh, why, do our fashionable Friends send such wonderful links too late to do anything about them? Because if I'd known about this a week ago, I would totally have bought this tee and worn it tonight (not because of the candidate affiliation necessarily, but because it's a good giggle). Totally. By the way, I do know all the rules for tonight's rawkus caucus, except one: Is it cash bar or BYOB? --Robert Wilonsky

Just a quick update for the world’s most boring reality show, Bravo's Make Me A Supermodel: There are eight modeltestants left, and Plano’s Stephanie ain’t one of them. She was sent packing at the start of last night’s show after, during the previous episode, she blew an “acting” photo shoot that required her to play a woman catching her man in the heat of cheat. She didn’t achieve an ounce of conviction. Judges also thought that during her paired catwalk, her “evil” faltered against competitor Holly’s “good” superhero, but I didn’t see the offense. It was her first time in the bottom three.

Viewers voted to keep All-American Ronnie and beach bum Frankie, but kicked Steph to the curb as Tyson mumbled a “We can’t make you a supermodel” that was as passionless as her photo shoot. Sure, she had a bad week, but honestly, the Plano beauty will surely go on to do bigger and better than this unfortunate Bravo venture.

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For forever, the Stoneleigh Hotel's been promising it'll open the doors to a renovated gem in "early 2008" -- well, actually, at one point it was fall 2007. (Of course, back then it was also a $28-million makeover, and now the price tag's a little closer to $36 million.) Well, it's early 2008, and despite some previews for the fortunate and the well-heeled, there's been no exact date given for its re-opening -- till this morning. The official word is that the 84-year-old hotel will reopen on March 3.

But it'll be a soft opening at first, says Shelby Shelton, who sent out the announcement. "Grand opening events will follow later on," she tells Unfair Park, but no word yet on what that means exactly. Still, David Bull's eatery, Bolla, and the 5,000-square foot spa will indeed be ready to go the day before the Texas primaries, for what that's worth. --Robert Wilonsky

Back in September we introduced you to Politeed, the Richardson-based T-shirt maker garnering pub of late for its apparel more hot-button than, well, hot. They got tees for every cause, if not occasion: gay rights, foreign policy, immigration, abortion, terrorism, you name it. And, turns out, the company's found the perfect way to spread the word (or words): According to today's media release, Politeed's wrangled its way into celebs' Grammy goodie bags this weekend, going to presenters and performers. And the company will introduce a new line of tees for the occasion, including one that reads, "Should we use war as a way to free people?" I just got very, very tired. --Robert Wilonsky

So, that Fashion in the Park shindig in the NorthPark Center parking lot's not going anywhere: Yesterday, the dates were announced for the spring fling, March 26 through March 29, with tickets going on sale February 1. (Dallas promises to be extra-fab that weekend: The AFI Dallas International Film Fest kicks off March 27.) One reason to attend: Simon Doonan, creative director at Barneys New York, will kick off the event, and he says in the media release, "Fashion at the Park is a brilliant way of bringing all the madness and excitement of the runway collections to the women who love fashion the most, the customers." Me, I just hope for another of Doonan's reports from his stay in Dallas. --Robert Wilonsky

It’s official: Bravo ain’t got shit on Tyra Banks. At least, not after the first episode of Make Me A Supermodel. From the hosts (awkward Niki Taylor and Tyson Beckford) to the challenges to the in-house interactions, the show was as dull as the granny-panty photos in the Sears catalog.

At least Plano girl Stephanie fared well. She impressed Tyson (“She just nailed it.”) and fashion photog Lee Strickland during a spring clothing shoot in a freezing Times Square (“One hit … a really good shot”). She looked a bit like a younger, gentler-ridden Scarlett Johansson, and had a good attitude despite the cold. Later, during a bizarre, "throw your clothes in a hobo fire to prove you’re dedicated" bit with Tyson, she felt a bit of a conflict as she was wearing many of her Ma’s duds. I suspect there’s a back story there -- unfortunately, I just don’t know if the show can hold my attention long enough to hear it.

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Moe Nadel

No idea whether you can even get into this event tonight at the Dallas Contemporary on Swiss Avenue -- its site doesn't even mention this shindig, which is a little confusing. But from 7 to 9:30 tonight, Project Runway contestant and Arts Magnet grad Elisa Jimenez will be at the DC for "an exclusive evening of shopping, collectible art, fashion and performance," which sounds, yeah, a little wacky. From best I can figure from the confusingly worded e-vite, it also has something to do with this; what, not sure. Shoot an e-mail in this direction for more info. --Robert Wilonsky

CBS Sunday Morning was in town to profile Neiman Marcus, just in time for the holidays -- specifically, its 100th Anniversary Christmas Book, which, this year features, among other high-priced items, a private concert (hosted by Regis Philbin) and the Triton 1000 submarine for a $1.44 million. (And, yes -- just look under your tree.) Also receiving heavy mention in the piece was Neimans spokesperson Ginger Reeder, who, turns out, does indeed choose the gifts for the fantasy section of the book -- in addition to handling duties as the company's corporate communications honcho.

She's been picking the fantasy gifts for 11 years, she tells Unfair Park this morning: "That's my fun job." And the best part of a high-profile profile like yesterday's, she says, is not only does it provide terrific PR for Neimans, but "in terms of the Christmas book, people will come out of the woodwork starting today and say, 'Do I have a great fantasy gift for you,'" Reeder says. "And this encourages me, to see there are plenty of crazy people out there making extravagant gifts." --Robert Wilonsky

As I have lost all interest in Bravo's reality-TV buffet -- even with one sorta-local left on Project Runway -- I post this item with lethargic disinterest: When Make Me a Supermodel debuts on January 10, there will be a local girl amongst the 24 contestants whose names were released today. (Twenty-four contestants? Jesus, did they take everyone who tried out?) Her name's Stephanie -- dunno her last name, like it matters -- and she's 21.

According to her Bravo bio: "She is currently a full time student studying art at Scripps College in California. She spends her days covered in either oil paint or saw dust from working in the painting and sculpture studios." And she's "a loud extrovert with a hankering for art." Which means she won't be annoying at all. Merritt, she is all yours. --Robert Wilonsky

ABBA's "Dancing Queen" + Neiman Marcus 100th anniversary shindig in downtown + free alcohol + rented tuxedos + white people "dancing" = exactly what you'd expect. I expect this was posted to the Interwebs yesterday as part of some kind of extortion scheme? Also, a version for those who prefer their seizures set to a more Prince-ly soundtrack. --Robert Wilonsky

Frédéric Fekkai, who cuts Scarlett Johansson's hair -- yours, someone else will do at the same price.

Oh, ladies. Big news, apparently, courtesy Women's Wear Daily: Frédéric Fekkai is coming to town. To Highland Park, actually, beginning Monday. Surely, you know who the eff-eff Frédéric Fekkai is, right? " A hairstylist stars don't leave home without," reads the headline to this story about his list of celeb clients, among them, Salma Hayek, Martha Stewart, Sigourney Weaver, Penélope Cruz, Ashley Judd, Naomi Watts, Renée Zellweger, Kirsten Dunst, Kim Basinger and Scarlett Johansson.

Fekkai has six salons in the country, counting his new digs in Highland Park Village -- and, insists WWD, "Fekkai already has Dallas clients who visit his salons in New York; Palm Beach, Fla., and Los Angeles, including nearly 300 loyal customers who go to the Fifth Avenue flagship at Henri Bendel alone, noted Kimberly Callet, vice president of salons." And says Fekkai, "I'm told by my team that Dallas will be the prettiest salon we've ever had." How ... fab. --Robert Wilonsky