Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/122431
SIMON GENTRY F ull disclosure: I take a certain amount of pride in my vocabulary, whether it's actually warranted or not. But I still occasionally catch myself overusing a particular expression or phrase. And the word that leaves my mouth most often lately seems to be "authentic." In a world brimming with manufactured moments (also known as reality television), artificial flavors and cheap knockoffs, I feel a gravitational pull towards anything or anyone that, for lack of a better explanation, is the real deal. It's surprising just how refreshing genuineness can be these days. PaperCity) designation definitely qualifies in that regard. It's a term we use to describe a L ast month, I wrote about the practice some Weboriented consumers use called "showrooming," whereby they scout retail stores, only to make their purchases online. Another article on Web-related sales activity recently in The New York Times — from another perspective — caught my eye. This time, it's what an online merchant will do to find the consumer. It revolves around a company called Axciom that processes about 50 trillion data "transactions" a year on about 500 million consumers. As someone who studies the field of marketing, I know how "database marketing" fits into the mix. But, man, has this company taken it to soaring levels. They basically create a human genome — a perfectly befitting term from the article — on a consumer and sell it to a marketer. Here's how it works: A friend of Mr. Hughes likes a type of printer on her Facebook page. Hughes follows the link to the printer manufacturer site, and this cues an Axciom system designed to recognize consumers. Hughes doesn't buy, but over the next day, ads for the printer pop up on person, place or thing that embodies attributes we love: Quality. Originality. Fun. Authenticity. Not necessarily expensive — although some of the items we've shown may be — but definitely exceptional. Frankly, these qualities apply to everything in this issue. We've got the return of Feed Me/Wine Me nights at The Mason Bar on one hand, and Show and Luncheon at Neiman Marcus on the other. Two extremes, you say? I'd reply that's very, very PaperCity. Amy Adams Executive Editor amyadams@papercitymag.com AUGUST 2012 | STYLE | FASHION | SOCIAL in6 thisCULTURE. GOSSIP. ISSUE 4, POP. 8 10 Party: Neiman Marcus' Stiletto Strut 16 Parties: Luncheons a gogo Editors' Pick: It's all so Web pages that he visits. Later that day, he returns to the printer site, is recognized and is offered a $10 rebate and free shipping. He buys — but that's not all. The multichannel system created by Axciom and its partners later sends him coupons for ink and paper and a personalized snail-mail postcard suggesting he donate his old printer to a nearby school. I mean, really? I've spent a lot of time this summer in the country exploring vintage — and chic — farm and ranch houses. It's quite a liberating dichotomy from the hustle of urban life. The other day, I drove past a 100-year-old general store that had a sign outside, written on chalkboard, that read seems old-school marketing still works — it was delicious! Jim Kastleman, publisher jim@papercitymag.com Landing Soon on the Neiman Marcus Runway: The Crystal Charity Ball Best Dressed I Under the Chef's Reign Regulars at his now-shuttered Green Room still get nostalgic over Feed Me/ Wine Me nights, so Brandt Wood, owner of The Mason Bar, is reviving the concept Wednesday evenings, starting August 1. Wood's inspiration for Feed Me — where diners concede culinary control to chef Cable Smith — emanated from his own dining experiences growing up in New Orleans. We expect this three-course prix fixe menu ($38, plus $18 for wine pairings corresponding to each course) to draw a crowd eager to experience Smith's unique take on Southern-meets-global cuisine. 2701 Guillot St., 214.220.0227; themasonbar.com. Rachael Abrams. t's been cast, and it's ready to be produced — The Crystal Charity Ball Ten Best Dressed Fashion Show and Luncheon at Neiman Marcus Downtown Thursday, September 6, starring the Fall 2012 Lanvin collection anointed Nancy Carter, Tricia Besing, Lynn McBee, Kim Miller, Nancy Carlson, Ashley Tripplehorn Hunt, Pat McEvoy, Dee Dee Lee, Pam Perella and Ellen Winspear, plus Hall of Fame honoree Lana Andrews. Alber Elbaz's presentation was deemed a "slam-dunk of a collection" by Vogue. So, who better to show it off than 10 women who exemplify its color, energy and chicness? Luncheon chair Robyn Conlon Aileen Pratt and honorary chair Gene Jones will be amongst this group of devoted volunteers who prove fashion and philanthropy work well together. Be sure and look for PaperCity's special section in September with photographer Tim Boole's beautiful portraits. Tickets from $500, through 214.526.5868; info@crystalcharityball.org. Rachael Abrams ferociously Fabulous Furs Social Datebook Lanvin Fall 2012 Get your wallets out: Thursday, August 2, begins Fashion Industry Gallery's (FIG) Finale shopping night filled with cocktails, tunes and bites to kick off the three-day designer deal fest. We've to the Chick Lit Reunion with Emily Giffin. The author will sign copies of her new book, Where We Belong, at a private residence Summer Colors Art Show and Auction benefitting the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children expects attendees to dress in colorful attire, so brighten things up Thursday, August The LIFT Champions of Literacy Luncheon at the Cal Jillson from SMU speaking about education in Texas (lift-texas.org). Rachael Abrams Coming Attraction Cicada Collection — an industriallooking space tucked incongruously into Snider Plaza boutique you've never heard of. Given its carefully edited selection of obscure European and Japanese brands, the store's intensely loyal clientele hasn't exactly been keen to share its whereabouts. But the low profile may change with this fall's introduction of Mandula, a label viewed by fashion insiders to be the holy grail of unorthodox style. The collection has previously been available exclusively at designer Hainalka Mandula's own boutique E Norisol Ferrari Dawn jacket in American alligator. Sofia hooded cape in ranched Russian sable. Amelia vest in nutria. arly this spring, I was in New York for meetings with fashion houses. A friend, Lou Lacovelli, said, "You must see Norisol Ferrari." So off we traipsed to Mulberry Street and a heavenly loft and studio. The collection mink, cashmere and tweed fashioned into vests with dipped backs; highcollared, hugging trench coats circling to the ankle; hoodies in sable, alligator and mink, unbearably soft; snappy zipped jackets in golden Swakara. Images the very luxe and very L.A. Maxfield emporium, but PaperCity is hosting Norisol in Dallas with her complete fall/winter collection on August 16 and 17, at The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas, 2121 McKinney Avenue Holly Moore Angeles, the ultra-exclusive destination only recently opened to the public by Mandula joins a roster that already includes Ivan Grundahl, Verlaine, Rundholz, Anett Rostel, Elm Design, Beryll belts and Liebeskind, a Berlinbased line of handbags that gets plenty of play on serious style blogs. "Our collections don't necessarily fall under a corporate umbrella," says buyer and manager Cynthia Barnhouse. "We're all about architectural cuts and smart fabric quality. Every piece is expect to find a pair of classic black wool trousers. 6817 Snider Plaza, 214.265.3965; cicadacollection.com. Amy Adams AUGUST | PAGE 4 | 2012 From the Mandula fall collection, coming soon to Dallas