Tootsies: Atlanta's Retail "Roll" Model

Don't let all those "For Lease" signs in the neighboring storefronts at the Around Lenox plaza fool you into thinking the economic downturn is all-encompassing, Atlanta.
Tootsies is on a a roll.

Angela Karatassos

The posh and spacious designer boutique proved that much Wednesday night with a raucous runway show and cocktail party benefiting the Kim King Foundation for improving urban education resources. The affair flaunted the upper echelon of designer labels for sale (Zac Posen, Diane von Furstenberg, Lela Rose, Missoni,Chloe, Etro, McQueen, etc.)

Annie Shu in the Tootsies runway show

For better or worse, the free drinks floating around far outpaced the hors d'oeuvres.
As organizer/celebrity model Angela Karatasos summed it up: "This is about fashion, passion, fun and seeing all my friends!"

Among the "fun" and good-looking in attendance: the Taste boutiques' fashion scout Angela Henderson; movie maven Carolyn Sloss; ergonomics consultant Mike Adams; Atlantan magazine ad director Paige Smith; the power publicicists (Kitsy Rose, Marsha Middleton, Liz Lapidus) and Tara Murphy; the fashion forecasters (Liz Schulte Roth, Amy Flurry, Anita Jan Temple, Tiffany Davis); the bon vivant Warren Huntley; the sultan of spa treatment, John Stupka; and custom shirt-and-tie temptress Melinda Chandler.

Veronica Best in Tootsies' runway show

Kudos to the Tootsies devotees who strutted on the runway for a good cause. Congrats as well to the dazzling, down-to-earth crowd-pleasers Veronica Best and Annie Shu.
To view a massive gallery of photos from the Tootsies event, visit JimiFlixx.com.
JUST WONDERING...: Any thoughts on the news that Marc Jacobs and his Brazilian ad agent are now engaged to be married?

Atlanta Style Scene Heats Up

When people remark that things are heating up in Atlanta, they’re not strictly referring to the pre-spring weather.

Hot deals on clothes, and hot spots to wear them, pack the mid-March style calendar.


Banana Republic's "Monogram" collection racerback gown

For starters: there’s the (March 12-15) “Bringing Sexy Back for Spring” sale being staged by the Revamped Resale Boutique and its coterie of "Ebay Fashionistas at the Scott Antiques Market.

The vast expo center just three miles east of the airport will feature flirty summer looks that, in some cases, date back decades. In addition, Facebook members are offered discounts

During the same weekend span, Gap, Inc. is staging a “Give & Get” promotion where Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy stores are offering 30-per-off bargains with 5 percent of each sale benefiting the charity of the customer’s choice. Gap, Inc. enables customers to share the savings and the good karma with family and friends. Just click on “Give & Get” for details.

And, for those ladies who aren’t still hung over from their St. Patrick’s Day “observances”, the very posh Tootsies boutique at Around Lenox is hosting a March 18 (7-9 p.m.) celebrity runway show and sale to benefit a very worthy cause. Partial proceeds from the Buckhead event will go to the Kim King Foundation for enhanced services in urban schools. Click here for directions and details.

Tootsies

Need a festive occasion to flaunt your new frocks? Check out: the March 12 Covey Run / Buena Vista Wine Dinner ($60 per person, plus tip) at Shaun’s on Edgewood; the “Flux” affair March 13 at Bazaar on Peachtree (where every night’s a fashion show and an art exhibit); and the True Colors Theatre Company’s latest riveting work, "Miss Evers’ Boys", runs through March 21 at the Southwest Arts Center.