Mercedes Dealership Drops the "S" Bomb!

Atlanta’s high priestess of luxury vehicles, Juanita Baranco, sat regally in the posh employees’ lounge at Mercedes Benz of Buckhead as a long stream of male models shuffled by her. They'd arrived, a bit late, to get prepped for the Ken Barber Clothing show that would soon take place on her showroom floor.
Her husband and business partner, Greg, was running late as well. Ms. Baranco, calmly soaked the scene in and kept discussing the dealership's emphasis on top-notch service. And then, against her P.R. rep's better advice, she declared: “We want your money and your blood.”

Left: Greg and Juanita Baranco

She was referring (of course) to the to the June 6 blood drive the dealership’s staging in conjunction with the American Red Cross. But it was also a not-so-subtle inference to the wellspring of new customers MMB hopes to lure with events like Sunday night’s debut for the 2010 "S" series of sedans.
The young, rich, flashy and classy were all represented at the “S-Class Affair” MBB held to help launch Atlanta-based 19th Hole magazine. Editors, publicists, photographers, show-offs and gawkers were out in full force to check out the cars (approx. $150,000) that Ms. Baranco claims, “virtually drives itself”.
“It’s the best of the best, and I should know,” she added, “because I’m blessed to be able to drive anything I want.”
Since the sun beamed bright well after dinner time, guests had the occasion to flaunt the best from their spring wardrobes.

“A (capacity) turnout like this that looks like this is inspiring, to say the least” remarked the natty 19th Hole publisher Ian Paul Lawrence (left).
Leonard Gresham, the Neiman-Marcus menswear consultant who’d zipped into town from Charlotte for the occasion, generally approved of how the crowed dressed.
“When you’ve go so many ladies looking elegant, on the borderline of provocative, you’re in the right place,” he quipped. “Better yet: the men came dressed appropriately. No one’s wearing their success around their necks or on their fingers.”

Left: Ken and Lisa Barber

The fashion show that capped off the night (on a green carpet, in homage to golf) featured the Barber boutique’s “modern classic” approach to menswear; in subltle patterns and subdued color combinations for the warm weather season.
None of the looks clashed in the eyes of guests, who _ quite obviously _ had trouble keeping their eyes off the wheeled wonders on display.





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News Anchor's Pink "Slip" At Fashion Now

This is a cautionary tale about the perils of procrastination.
It's also a redemptive saga; teaching you to trust your instincts.
And if there's any moral to this short story, it's this: It's never too late to attend a good fashion show.
WSB-TV 2 News star Jovita Moore learned that lesson the harried way Friday night after arriving late for the Simon Malls' "Fashion Now" runway show outside the doors of Neiman Marcus.
While exquisite desserts were being passed in the aftermath of the top stores' summer style preview, Moore gushed that she'd dragged her Size 4's a day too long on a special report scheduled to air over the weekend. Alas, deadline editing duties delayed her trek up Peachtree to Lenox Square.
"I didn't get here until that last (wispy, floor-length) red gown came out," said Moore, looking ready (and more dewy and petite than she appears on TV) to stomp a foot.
"And I really didn't feel like wearing this (cropped, business-like) pink jacket. But I had no time to change."
Here's what's funny: Moore's jacket coordinated perfectly with the show's first "look": A rose-colored tank dress and a fuscia trenchcoat.
(Left: A "Fashion Now" runway look)

GREAT CLOTHES, "GOOD CAUSE", Nice(!) Mix: The challenge for any show is to, first and foremost, make sure your models outdress the attendees. To these eyes, this one was even, Steven. Or, if I may digress into man-speak..."Dude, you missed it. The hotties in short, sheer summery dresses were out in full force! Every where you looked...it was like 10-to=1!"

More importantly, the "Fashion Now" kickoff event's proceeds (through donations and promoted sales all weekend) benefit families coping with the challenges posed by autism. Hundreds of mall shoppers watched and hooted in appreciation from the upper level of the Neiman Marcus wing. And Caroline Leake, Chief Evelopment Officer for the Marcus Autism Center said she was "overwhelmed" by support for the (overcrowded and, often, loud) event.

"Fashion Now", for men.


















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Looking For Ludacris, Chewing On Steak

Story by A. Scott Walton

A pack of politicians, a rogue’s gallery of local writers, a bunch of lifestyle bloggers and a bevy of beauties braved a record number of lightning strikes Thursday night to attend the Atlanta Press Club’s soiree at the rap star Ludacris’s Midtown restaurant, Straits.
Due to the inclement weather, perhaps, the chart-topping artist disappointed attendees with his failure to appear. But his mother, Roberta Shields, offered assurance that the festivity will be bolder and brighter May 22, when Straits celebrates its first anniversary with an “Opening Doors” theme party.
Shields said the first birthday bash’s guests of honor _ besides her son _ would be Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and the actress/teen pregnancy prevention activist Jane Fonda.
Though her son, the “Traffic” co-star, was a no-show, Shields insisted his thumbprints were all over the restaurant featured lavishly in the May issue of Food & Wine magazine.

Ludacris, in nappier times...


“My son’s a stickler for detail, and always has been,” Shields (below, left)said. “He does things his own way. I remember way back when he was five and I used to try and fail to dress him up in Garanimals. He had big problems with that.”
In the man of the hours’ absence, self-promotional efforts held sway.

Carol Causeetsko-McCollum (a New York-Atlanta commuter, top left) was there touting her “The Return of the Lady” project, accompanied by a model wearing a printed tank-top that read, This Is NOT A Wife-Beater.






















Lin Canino, (below left)a transplant from Little Rock who’s somewhat chummy with the infamous Gennifer Flowers, showed up to flaunt her low-key jewelry line.
And fine arts advocate Jen Farris was there scouting out subjects for her podcasts.

Photos by: JimiFlix Photography

WE ONLY READ IT FOR THE ARTICLES! (Part 7): Thumb (or click) through the most recent issue of Playboy and you’ll learn who the Bunny mag tags as Atlanta’s chicest steak house. It’s Kevin Rathbun Steak (duh!) where, Playboy writes, “tables 101 or 401 offer the best view of the stylish folk at the other tables.“
The May '09 Playboy "cover girl", Lisa Rinna









"COLLECTION" NOTICE: By the looks of the stretch limo dominating the invitation to the "Who's Who in Atlanta" gala and tribute to Bishop Eddie Long May 30 at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, no expense will be spared to celebrate the local "cash money" crowd. The $75 price for entry includes a copy of the legendary book of names. But a prime viewing spot for red carpet arrivals somewhere along Peachtree Street could prove just as priceless.


The Eddie Long "Tribute" Invitation

Atlanta's Fashion Scene Still Rock Solid

Recession my (asterisk)!
After a brief cool-down in events that flaunt fashion at its finest, Atlanta's heating back up with a string of events that EyeSeeStyle recommends....
For starters, there's Thursday night's (6-9 p.m.) showcase of ornate jewelry by Elyssa Bass at the Inman Park boite, Shaun's on Edgewood. If you like gigantic gemstones in old gold settings, this is a prime opportunity to snage baubles ($20-$1,000) at "girlfriend discount" prices. Champagne will pour, and Shaun's food is reason enough to go. Further inducement: 20 percent of proceed's go to the Shepherd Center, and marked-down tickets to the hospital's May 2 Derby Day will be offered as well.
A statement ring (above)by Elyssa Bass


Lisa Wu Hartwell's "Closet Freak" Tee ($48)
Just in case you haven't had your fill of Bravo's "Real Housewives of Atlanta" yet, and you've become a true fan of the cast member who's been labeled the classiest, check out Lisa Wu Hartwell's fledgling apparel brand, Closet Freak. She's staging a preview of the "FA-shunz" as the series' over-the-top interloper Dwight Eubanks would call them, April 30 at the West Midtown event venue 595 North. Promos for Closet Freak tout it as a line for women who prefer to keep their (ahem) inclinations under wraps.
Also on April 30 (7-10 p.m.) the Bill Hallman boutique in Virginia Highland will stage the local debut of the revamped Carpe Clothing line for men with roguish attitudes and classic tastes in sportswear.


Pendant (left) by Rene Guest
To cap off the weekend, the Fickle Manor in Virginia Highland is launching a weeklong exhibit of Rene Guest jewelry with a trunk show (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) this Saturday (April 25). And EyeSeeStyle looks foward to meeting fans at noon that day in the Neiman Marcus wing of Lenox Square Mall as it stands in judgement _ along with the AJC's Nedra Rhone, Daily Candy's Tiffany Davis and The Sunday Paper's Kirsten Ott _ at the Simon Malls "Fashion Now" design competition for graduating students of SCAD-Atlanta. Christian Siriano (below, left), star of the Bravo reality series "Project Runway" is the scheduled special guest...

Draft-Dodging Tips for Atlanta Women

Any Atlanta woman with a football-obsessed significant other should know by now that April 25 will be a lost cause where spending “quality time” together is concerned. That, after all, is a holy day for guys who track football: the beginning of the 48-hour marathon known as the NFL Draft.
(The Falcons pick 23rd out of 32 teams in the first of eight rounds, so imagine the day-long suspence for your beau.)
While the boys are glued to the tube, what better way to get a head start on the season that matters to you most _ spring/summer ’09 fashions _ than by whiling away the hours (1 p.m. to 6 p.m.) at Lenox Square Mall’s “Simon Fashion Now” style previews?
Every hour on the hour, stores as varied as Bloomingdale’s, Banana Republic, Betsey Johnson, Cache, GUESS, Miss Sixty, Nicole Miller, Steve Madden and Swim ‘N Sport will stage runway showcases of their latest offerings. Throughout the mall that day, stores like Macy’s, Kiehl’s , L’Occitane and the Caress skin care company will conduct “Style Shop” opportunities to get up close and personal with the merchandise.
Simon Mass VP Jacque Ellis enthuses: “Every look on the runway can be purchased…no consumer is excluded.”
On the preceding Friday night, Neiman Marcus will host an invitation-only soiree featuring its top designer offerings. The accompanying runway show will be visible to the public from the upper and lower levels of the N-M wing. WXIA-11Alive news anchor Karyn Greer, "Atlanta & Co." co-host Holly Firfer and Q100 “shopping expert” Jessica Dauler are slated to appear as models in a special Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) student competition Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
For more Atlanta fashion updates, visit The Examiner and for Simon event details, call 404-233-6767

Atlanta Women Rally Around Reyes

Usually when Atlanta’s best-dressed ladies attend trunk shows, they size up the merchandise and place orders for the clothes they like.

Designer Brian Reyes and fast friend Cathy Cooper

But at the Spring/Summer collection preview Brian Reyes staged Wednesday night the W Hotel-Buckhead, at least one patron found a piece so irresistible that she coaxed the designer’s staff into selling it to her right off a rack rolled into the posh penthouse suite.
While Reyes was regaling his VIP guests with tales of his apprentice work for the likes of Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors and Oscar de la Renta before venturing out on his own just three years ago, local legal market strategist Cathy Cooper was busy buying a red, tulip-cut skirt she planned to wear to work the following morning.
“I like the texture and the way it’s gathered,” Cooper said. “It’ll look fine in the office.”
Reyes with his Atlanta PR rep Kitsy Rose
Reyes himself doted a great deal on his brand’s first venture into accessories: an assortment of carved or braided silver baubles made in conjunction with Lee Angel Jewelry’s Roxanne Asoulin.
Haute handbag designer Jada Loveless
“It’s all so wearable and so graceful, but you can’t help but notice it,” gushed Reyes, who’s designs sell exclusively in Atlanta at the Addiction boutique.

“I like to think my clothes are right for this market,” he added, “because they’re simple and modern. There’s color. But we also tend to let patterns tell our color story.”

For a complete photo gallery of the Reyes trunk show, visit: JimiFlixx Photography.