SHOPPING

Now open. Now loving it.

Photos by cwynn: We Are 1976's exterior and founders (from left) Derek, Jully and Vynsie

Sale at Gucci. Doesn't happen too often, especially before Christmas. The Galleria Dallas store offers a special sale Tuesday. Save 10 percent on all merchandise with the exception of special-edition UNICEF pieces.

Gucci, Galleria Dallas, 13350 Dallas Pkwy., 972- 387-3357

Dallas decorator Jan Showers continues making the world a more elegant place since the fall release of her first book, Glamorous Rooms. (And in case you missed it, here are the details along with five Jan decorating tips.)

Neiman Marcus loved it so much that they recently created a temporary "Jan Showers room" in the downtown store. While the space may be packed up now, we obtained this photo of it with Showers and NM guru Ken Downing.

Henderson Avenue is becoming THE source for vintage-modern furniture with shops such as Again Design Studio, Sputnik Modern and the new Form, now open next to The Pearl Cup coffee shop.

In stock, a well-edited (and well-priced) crop of refurbished sofas, chairs, tables and lamps culled more for their midcentury lines than designer pedigrees. Typical scores range from small art glass and pottery for as little as $10, to a reupholstered, button- back '60s sofa for under $2,000.

Form, 1900 N. Henderson Ave., 214-515-9448

Photo by cwynn

At the Neiman Marcus downtown store, children are crawling through the windows. Seriously.

This year's theme at the flagship location is "Innovations in Energy," based on future energy sources submitted by Dallas elementary school students. Entering the hamster-cage-like tubes from the sidewalk, kids ages 4 to 10 (meeting a minimum height requirement) will be able to journey through six power plants running on peanuts, grapes, music, dance, kindness and math. Take that, Simon Doonan.

- J. Sheeler

Photo by Oscar Durand/DMN: Ignaz Gorishek poses in a tube during installation of a 85-foot plastic tunnel in the Neiman Marcus holiday interactive window display. The display was created by Ignaz Gorishek based on essays written by six elementary school students at St. Phillips in Dallas.

I love the idea of art as a holiday gift with substance. And if there's a modernist on your list, you may want to check out a reception tomorrow night for Korean artist Hyunmee Lee at Smink.

Lee's work is a blend of Eastern and Western abstraction styles and would lend graphic punch to any loft or rockin' ranch. See for yourself Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. Lee's work will be up through the holidays, along with several other artists on display now at the hip furniture showroom.

Smink, 1019 Dragon Street, 214-350-0542, www.sminkinc.com

Image: Hyunmee Lee's acrylic on canvas,"Inland Island #36"

In honor of today's debut of The Twilight Saga: New Moon I thought I would bring back this little item.

Fanged-and-conflicted heartthrob Edward Cullen will once again drive a Volvo on film. But this time he's getting an upgrade. The man-vamp will trade his sporty C30 coupe from the first film for for the Swedish auto maker's new XC60 luxury compact SUV (above).

And yes, there's even a contest. Find all the details at the aptly-named www.whatdrivesedward.com.

P.S. If you really want to drive what Edward drives, you'll want to order your XC60 in Saville Grey metallic with sandstone beige/espresso interior and 19-inch Achilles diamond cut wheels. I think you can fit your fangs in the cup-holder.

Androgyny is in (again) according to the New York Times' Ruth La Ferla.

More specifically, she writes that mostly twenty-something urban Americans are "revising standard notions of gender-appropriate dressing, tweaking codes, upending conventions and making hash of ancient norms."

They're also making cash registers sing at shops known to blur the line between men's and women's clothing such as American Apparel and even Urban Outfitters.

Adam Lambert clearly loves the trend, but what do you think?

Photo by cwynn: Sales associates at the 2008 opening of NorthPark's American Apparel boutique. From left, Gina Sandlin, Vanessa Chaves, Jacob Metcalf, Liz Lampe and Robert Gracian

I was struck by writer Maria Halkias' story this week on troubled Dallas-based Blockbuster. She reports that "Blockbuster is on track to close as many as 960 unprofitable stores by the end of 2010 and install 10,000 kiosks in their place." Sure enough, I've noticed Blockbuster stores in the past week with clearance or outlet banners taped over the front windows.

It's sad to me because I suddenly realize that I enjoy the experience of going into a video store. (I'll skip the DVD vending machines, thanks.) There is something engaging about browsing the rows of titles, making unexpected discoveries and getting into a debate with a good sales clerk over the last film you saw or the next one you must see.

Don't get me wrong, I love digital media (I haven't purchased a physical music CD in more than seven years, which doesn't help my point) and I've done the Netflix thing, but there is something in the ritual of visiting an actual store that I would miss.

Maybe it's because I'm a child of the '80s and I still recall the novelty of the experience as a kid. Or maybe I just want to preserve the opportunity to impulse-buy chocolate-covered raisins. Either way, I hope in the future we don't completely lose our brick-and-mortar movie marketplaces.

I've been in hibernation mode the past two days with the chilly weather, but things have warmed up just in time for tonight's 18th annual Holiday Candlelight Walk on Henderson Avenue.

Put on your comfortable (but cute, hello) shoes and prepare to shop and sip your way down the street to special discounts, treats and live music.

The list of participating merchants includes Needless Necessities, Another Time & Place, La Mariposa, ART is ART, Pandemonium, Again & Again, Gypsy Wagon, Again Design Studio, Sputnik Modern, Form, The Pearl Cup, Barcadia, Emeralds to Coconuts, Pandemonium, Jones Walker Home and the brand new We Are 1976.

The event is from 6 to 9 p.m. and free to the public. For more information, call ART is ART at 214-832-8222 or visit www.artisart.biz.

Photo by Courtney Perry: Again & Again on Henderson Ave.

We were thrilled when Greenville Avenue staple Lula B's Antique Mall opened a second outpost on Industrial (excuse me, Riverfront Blvd.) this year. Now we find out that the new location has already gobbled up the warehouse space next door and will double its square footage early next month.

Much of the extra room will go to expand the shop's famed collection of vintage men's and women's clothing. A well-edited stock of midcentury-modern furnishings and plenty of kitschy finds will fill in what's left. And now that we're all on a budget for the holidays ...

Lula B's Antique Mall, 1010 N. Industrial Blvd., 214-749-1929

Photos by cwynn

4DogStudio in Uptown is hosting an exhibition of paintings tomorrow night by Dallas designer and artist Craig Schumacher. Get a preview of the goods at www.craigschumacher.com. The showing is from 7 to 9 p.m. and you can RSVP at 972-733-4635.

Our favorite part? The event will raise funds for the SPCA of Texas.

4DogStudio, 150 Howell St.

We've long been fans of the snarky musings of Washington Post writer Hank Stuever. (And if you haven't discovered his work already, then get busy.)

Stuever is in town this week to promote his new Frisco, Texas-based book, Tinsel: A Search for America's Christmas Present. On the surface, it's a mediation on holiday excess. (Stuever spent three years on extended stays in Frisco to research how modern suburbia literally spends Christmas.) Of course, he also finds the heart beneath the LED lawn displays and mega mall packages.

You can meet Stuever at one of three local signings this week: He's at Barnes & Noble in Stonebriar Centre tonight, Plano's Legacy Books on Wednesday and Barnes & Noble near Fort Worth's TCU on Thursday. All events begin at 7 p.m. More details here.

Photo by Stewart F. House: Stuever at Stonebriar Centre in October

Designer Lisa Luby Ryan's team at Snider Plaza's Vintage Living shop is giving holiday decor lessons Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Ryan will demo how to craft and hang gorgeous holiday trimmings. Next, personal floral designer Brenda Lyle will show guests how to make artful arrangements using simple grocery store flowers. (Hey, I do this every Saturday at home. Not sure how artful they look though ... )

Free and open to the public.

Vintage Living, 6701 Snider Plaza, 214-360-4211
Photo of Brenda Lyle's handiwork

Starting Saturday at Buffalo Exchange (3424 Greenville Ave., 214-826-7544), the well-edited used-clothing store joins the HSUS for Coats for Cubs.

Through Earth Day 2010, bring fur apparel to any Buffalo Exchange location. The furs will be used for bedding for orphaned and injured animals. Rather claim a tax-deduction? Mail your fur directly to the Humane Society - details available at www.humanesociety.org.

- Jason Sheeler

Veterans Day was Wednesday, but you can still show your love. Today is the final day to stop by Paper & Chocolate in Inwood Village to fill out a complimentary Thank You card to be sent to 3,000 soldiers stationed in Iraq. The red, white and blue cards were designed by local talents Jason McDaniel of Missing Q Press, Rhonda Warren from Color Box Design and FD Luxe contributor Samantha Reitmayer from Swoon, the Studio.

Another way to say thanks: At the intersection of patriotism and Maxim magazine is the Stack the Decks for Vets project (www.stackthedeck forvets.org), started by Kim Dawson models Stacie Martin and Toni Munoz. For $20, you get a set of playing cards featuring KD models wearing lingerie too delicate to be shown here. You get 52 cards, a soldier gets a set and $15 is donated to a veterans' charity. Boo-ya.

- Jason Sheeler

Style/SWOON blogger Samantha Reitmayer went on a shopping expedition for us in Fort Worth and reports: "This ain't your mama's Cowtown."

So, if you're interested in exploring a different side of the city, this list should be just about right to fill a Saturday, with offerings that range from chic antiques to ultra-hip fashion and furnishings, from juicy burgers to market-fresh cuisine utilizing the finest local ingredients.

Start filling your gas tanks now.

Photo by Bret Sano: Fort Worth's Byrd + Bleecker

The Fossil store inside Frisco's Stonebriar Centre has been re-concepted (or "re-vintaged" as store officials are calling it) and will debut tomorrow night.

Besides having a cool new industrial look, the store is the only Fossil location stocking the Vintage Revival Collection, described as "a handcrafted group of one-of-a-kind items made from vintage and second-hand materials." You'll also find plenty of the usual fab Fossil duds here, from denim and shoes for men and women to, yes, watches.

Get a first look tomorrow night, Nov. 12, when the store celebrates its reopening with a party dubbed "A Night With Our Designers" from 6 to 9 p.m. The fete is open to the public.

Fossil, Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, 469-633-9296, www.fossil.com

From Uptown to Frisco, contributing writer Brittany Edwards files this report on four new beauty salons that crank up the swank.

Top photo by Matt Nager: Co-owners of Halo Salon, Lauren Bryant (right) and Henry Uldall, in their new Dallas studio.

Bottom photo by Lara Stolt: The new Aveda Institute

I dropped by Ken Man's Shop recently and found that owner Ken Helfman (left) had company: Fashion powerhouse Alexander Julian (right) --- as in Colours by Alexander Julian.

The designer had stopped by because Helman stocks his creations, but Julian was really in town to lunch with Dean Fearing. He is crafting new front-of-house staff uniforms for Fearing's restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas.

You may recall that Julian also did the original Fearing's uniforms, now it's time for a refresh. The designer says he's planning a variation on his crisp, "important shirt" look and will "turn up the volume on the stripes."

I can't wait to see them in the restaurant early next year. In the interim, we'll all have to get our Julian-fix over at Ken's.

Ken's Man's Shop, Preston Royal Shopping Center, 214-369-5367

Photo by cwynn