Naked Mountain Winery

Dear Fashionistas,

I had the immense pleasure of visiting the Naked Mountain Winery in Virginia this past September.  Nestled into the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia’s wine country, this winery is the perfect place to entertain family and friends.  Once under the auspices of Bob and Phoebe Harper, the winery is now owned and operated by Randy and Meagan Morgan, a young couple with a deep devotion to the art of wine making.

Now, I admit I’m not much of a drinker (read: I can’t hold my liquor) but my in-laws were sweet enough to set up a double date for me and my sweetie at their favorite vineyard.  So I braced myself for the series of headaches and tummy aches I knew were sure to follow dinner.

The dinner included carrot ginger soup and duck confit, followed by dessert: a warm fig crostata with vanilla ice cream.  Every course was paired with a different wine, and I’m happy to say that the next day I felt perfectly fine (that’s how it goes with the highest-quality wines, so I’m told).

Duck Confit

Dear Fashionistas,

A couple of weeks ago, I was on South Congress and discovered Co-Star, the more “guy-friendly” sister store of Maya Star.  I also spotted this trendy fashionisto and had to ask if I could snap his photo.  I think he’s doing so many things right: The jacket with a hint of shoulder pad and the sleeves gathered at the elbow, the skinny jeans and the scarf…  He’s made a neutral palette of black  the canvas for other design details, such as the graphic scarf, simple necklace and patent leather shoes.  Nicely done.

Also, Co-Star itself is worth a visit, if for nothing else than their quirky array of smile-inducing t-shirts.  Besides the House of Harlow jewelry, they were my favorites.

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Photo Credit: www.thebudgetbabe.com

Collaboration is the new black.  We’ve seen partnerships between the likes of Versace and H&M, Vera Wang and Kohls and now Jason Wu and Target.  Collection goes on sale online and in stores on Feb. 5th!

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Breadwinners Cafe is another wonderful place to eat, see and be seen.  Tucked into the posh corner of McKinney and N. Hall in Uptown Dallas, Breadwinners offers brunch, lunch and dinner, but of course, I went for the brunch.  There was a line out the door, but our group of three didn’t have to wait very long before we were seated in the charming courtyard in the center of the restaurant.

Service was fast and friendly, and the portions generous and delicious.  I ordered an iced Chai and the Texas Benedict, made with beef brisket hash, and my friends had the Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs and split a waffle.

If you’re in Fort Worth, Breadwinners is well worth the 45-minute drive east.  Sunday Brunch is from 8am-3pm, so I recommend catching the early service at church and heading over to Breadwinners right after to beat the crowd.  Valet is also convenient, and afterwards you can always get in a little cardio by checking out the shops at West Village.

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs

"Bread" that was more like awesome pieces of Cake!

Texas Benedict

Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs

Dear Fashionistas,

South Congress is home to many quirky and fabulous shops, but none as adorable as Creatures Boutique.  This quaint shop is stocked full of lovely and reasonably-priced hand-made items, from dresses to wallets to jewelry.  I absolutely love the leather wallets with the metal detailing and I was really impressed with the vintage-inspired silk dresses.  The girls at the boutique are super-friendly and helpful and if I had to sum up the clothing, it’d be fun, feminine and flirty.  If you have a party to go to, Creatures Boutique is the perfect place to pick up something special!

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Town & Country’s featured story “Shala Monroque: Life of a Butterfly” by Kevin Conley was an interesting peek into the life of the titular “It Girl” of the fashion and art worlds.

Admittedly, I’m fascinated by Shala’s effortless style and was thrilled when I saw her on the cover of Town & Country.  A staple at coveted fashion shows, society parties, and the subject of countless fashion blogs, I have followed Shala’s rise to fame for a while.  I expected the article to cover Shala’s innate fashion sense in depth but it took a more high-level approach, which was interesting.  However, I found Conley’s article at times snide with respect to Shala’s humble beginnings in St. Lucia and her current access to the upper echelons of art and fashion.  There is a frail yet noticeable film of superficiality coloring the praises Conley weaves into the paragraphs.  For example, Conley writes, “Monroque…with her seemingly effortless rise from island flower girl to fashion cynosure, belongs to the Holly Golightly line of It girl.”  Excuse me, Holly Golightly was a call girl, a scandalous occupation even today, and especially at the time Breakfast at Tiffany’s  was released in 1961.  While it’s expected that the movie would tip toe around such subject matter, I’m not sure why this modern article even makes mention of a call girl in reference to Monroque.  But to be fair, perhaps Conley was speaking to the essence and spirit of Holly, charmingly brought to life by the beloved Audrey Hepburn.  After all, not many people remember Holly’s occupation; rather they seem only to remember she had no job, technically.  Given her extravagant lifestyle, this made her mysterious and well, cool.

About 10% of Conley’s article reads as negative, with its peppering of scathing remarks poorly disguised as innocent commentary, which I found neither illuminating nor necessary.  Happily, the remaining 90% of Conley’s article is positive.  He does go on to compliment Monroque’s innate fashion sense (of course): “In the snaps that show up in street-style blogs everywhere, Monroque is admired for her sense of fun, the confident way she makes her own rules, mixing distinct silhouettes with designer looks straight off the runway with vintage-store finds.”  He also compliments her radiant smile: “It is not seductive or knowing or conspiratorial.  What it is is luminous- strikingly, wholesomely so.  Shala smiling makes you feel extravagantly good.”

I think Shala’s appearance on the cover of Town & Country is wonderfully deserved and appropriate.  She’s a sartorial taste maker, effortlessly glamorous and endlessly interesting.  I heart Shala, and wish her all the very best.

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Dear Fashionistas,

In each city I visit, I religiously try to seek out the best it has to offer, not only with regard to fashion, but also food.  There are a handful of places that are rather special to me for filling my plate and my life with beautiful memories shared with family and friends.  In Fort Worth it’s Taverna and the vegan eatery Spiral Diner.  In Dallas, it was Dralion (anyone remember that place?)  Southlake: Trulucks, Washington D.C.: Legal Seafoods and Peacock Cafe.

I’ve been actively searching for that special place in Austin and I think I may have found it in La Condesa, a contemporary Mexican restaurant anchoring 2nd and Guadalupe.  Whenever I strolled by, I found myself inexplicably drawn to it, the dimly lit interior masked by a soft veil of opaque curtains, the delicious aromas and music wafting, no, beckoning, on the breeze each time the door drifted open.  And then there’s that curious blue staircase, bathed in the most deliberate shade of aqua, suspended in mid-air, mysterious, almost reverent.  Interestingly, the staircase is positioned in such a way that anyone visiting the Malverde bar above La Condesa has no choice but to pass through the restaurant.

I finally stopped by La Condesa for dinner with friends.  Inside, the amalgamation of wood, steel and glass is softened by sensuous lighting and a subdued palette of beiges and browns.  Award-winning and A-List ready, you almost expect a credible starlet to descend the aqua staircase to dine amongst the other beautiful patrons.

Once seated, I ordered my usual glass of water with cucumber in lieu of lemon and the “Guiso de Hongos y Epazote,” or mushroom tacos.  My friends and I struck up a lively conversation and shortly thereafter, our meals arrived.  I continued to politely and attentively listen until I took my first bite.  Then, the room went still, the lights faded and words fell silent.  There was no one and nothing else in the room but me and my tacos.  I swear, my spirit left my body, ascended that blue staircase, and I saw Jesus.  In the club upstairs.  Chillin’.

What I am trying to say is that these mushroom tacos are unbelievably delicious.  Any meat eater would seriously consider vegetarianism after trying them.  On my other visits I’ve also tried some of the crab appetizers and a watermelon martini.  Glorious.

If you’re in Austin, I’m telling you, you must experience La Condesa’s immaculate confections.

THE Mushroom Tacos

PARAGRAPH HERE

Stairway to Heaven

Dolly Python…just by the name, you know you’re in for something unusual and amazing.  In the same vein of vintage wackiness as Austin’s Uncommon Objects, Dolly Python is a mecca of rare clothing, accessories, furniture and other fun tchotchkes.  Located at 1916 N. Haskell Avenue in Dallas, Dolly does have one thing that Uncommon Objects doesn’t: Melinda the psychic.  Every Saturday she does palm readings- $15 for 15 minutes.  So while at Dolly Python, you can shop for things from the past and  get a glimpse of your future.

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Photo Credit: Fashionbombdaily.com

Dear Fashionistas,

Happy MLK Day!  Never forget- and never give up- on your Dreams!

Fashionably Yours,

Nik

Photo Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP/Getty Images/ sfgate.com

Photo Credit: Blacknews.com