SHOPPING

Dallas jewelry designer Amanda Sterett is showing her 2010 collection today and tomorrow at specialty boutique Melanie Gayle. The trunk show runs until 6 p.m. today and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow. Shoppers who spend $350 or more will receive a free pair of gold or silver Amanda Sterett Amy earrings. Happy jewelry hunting ...

Melanie Gayle, 6818 Snider Plaza, 214-369-1700

A little bit David Hicks, a little bit Tory Burch ... I love the patterns on these embroidered throw pillows at Stephanie Anne. They are brand new at the store for $96 each. Check them out. They also tell me their white-washed case goods are hot right now.

Stephanie Anne, Highland Park Village, 214-368-3025

Look for Rihanna's first fashion tome to hit shelves June 29. The Grammy winner's self-titled book chronicles the "it girl" in all her best looks from her first solo tour to photo shoots and interactions with the fashion world. The hardcover retails for $50 and is available now for pre-order on Amazon.com.

Shecky's, a fashion and lifestyle female marketing company, brings its Shecky's Girls Night Out party to Dallas tonight and tomorrow night at Fashion Industry Gallery (1807 Ross Ave.) from 5 to 10 p.m. Sip cocktails, shop marked-down apparel and stop by Conair's booth for a makeover. Snag a $25 goody bag (the cost includes admission) packed with beauty products from the Body Shop, Kiss and Suave Naturals.

If it looks unlikely so far, consider that Oak Cliff's Bolsa and Jack's Backyard are both in former automotive garages and that Kelly Hightower transformed an old Dairy Queen into Kavala (and coming next, Nova.)

Now add to the list Rusty Taco, slowly taking shape inside a former Just Brakes/Mobil gas station (above) at University and Greenville Avenue. The name is a partial play on owner Rusty Fenton, who helped found Uncle Julio's years ago and was a big dog with Realty America and the late Trader Vic's Dallas. The small menu will consist of (surprise!) gourmet tacos made from scratch and include hangover-friendly breakfast versions.

What I find intriguing is the setting. Dallas architectural and design firm JonesBaker is transforming the space with industrial touches such as Kee-Klamp table bases, galvanized light fixtures and speckled marmoleum table tops that recall the space's original shop floor. I'm just waiting to see the drink station, which they are customizing from a mechanic's red tool chest.

Expect this to be a hit with the SMU crowd when it opens in early spring.

Photos: cwynn

Seems like we've gone from the Shopping blog to the Closings blog as of late (Stacy Hyde, Gardens, Odegard, Robb & Stucky). Here's another one: Jaya.

After eight years at Inwood Shopping Village, the "East meets nest" furnishings store will shutter on Sunday. The owner tells me that the brand's Austin and Houston stores will remain open, but they just couldn't make it work in Dallas with the economy.

All remaining stock (wood chairs and case goods, vases and accessories, lamps) is priced to move and I can tell you the store is looking more and more empty. If you want to pick up a bargain, be sure and stop by before Sunday.

Jaya, 5370 West Lovers Lane, 214-352-5115

Photo: cwynn

We're sad to learn that Odegard is closing its Dallas showroom. Manager Michael Reagan says that while the parent company is doing well, they just weren't able to make the Dallas location work in this tough economy. You may recall that Reagan's team had just moved into a renovated warehouse space on Glass Street last year.

Rather than trying to ship merchandise out, the showroom is heavily discounting its remaining stock of beautiful handcrafted rugs and decorative furnishings. This is a rare opportunity to really score a bargain here.

We wish the Dallas team the best of luck in their next ventures.

Odegard, 154 Glass St., 214- 573-7644, odegardinc.com

Photo by cwynn

Lingerie boutique Trousseau (3699 McKinney Ave., 214-520-9333) is now revamped. Not just with fresh paint and a sparkling chandelier -- owner Nasrin Hormozi has added new lines, including La Perla and Honeydew Intimates. Hormozi also offers private parties with sips, bites and consultations. Happy shopping ...

Yea for Billy Reid (at left), who recently won the GQ Best New Menswear Designers in America project. Reid took top honors over five other designers, along with the $50,000 cash prize and a chance to create a limited-edition Levi's brand to be sold at Bloomingdale's this fall. Score some of the designer's apparel and accessories at what's described as "a warehouse sale in all aspects except location" from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Saturday at his NorthPark Center outpost. Clothes shipped in from his other locations will be marked down as much as 75 percent off.

Founded in 2007 to spotlight the talents of emerging local designers -- and give stores a chance to buy locally made clothing -- the annual Pin Show is also quite a party with shopping, live photo shoots and plenty of booze. Thursday, Feb. 25, the show chugs into Union Station, bringing along 31 designers (Madeline Wood, Enju, Cooper by Courtney, Merrick Jewels, above) and more than 130 men's, women's and children's looks. General admission tickets are $12, but lay down $60 to get a VIP seat and access to the 7 p.m. cocktail hour with designers, models and sunglassed hangers-on. For tickets and more information, go to thepinshow.com.

Above: Fort Worth's Merrick Jewels gold and turquoise earrings, $70, available at The PIN Show or by clicking here.

Catalog retailer Lands' End recently expanded its rooted-in-sailing- culture offerings with the launch of a new line of clothing. Lands' End Canvas offers durable, all-American separates that, stylistically, hang at the intersection of J.Crew and Abercrombie & Fitch. But -- this is why you care -- while an over-washed gingham men's button-down costs $70 at Abercrombie and $59.50 at J.Crew, the Lands' End Canvas Heritage Poplin Shirt rings up at just $39.50.
The Canvas line includes swimwear, shoes, accessories and outerwear for both men and women. Naturally, there are narrow khaki cotton Heritage Chinos, $39.50 for each. But women should check out the $130 linen eyelet dress, a tidy little white dress for spring. A standout for men is the $69.50 cotton anorak (above). The slim, red plaid jacket has an adjustable hood and waistline, and is a special piece that truly looks like an updated Lands' End product.
Worth noting: Canvas' fit is more streamlined than the Lands' End main line (small means small). And the new label doesn't offer petite, plus or big and tall sizes. But, as is the way at Lands' End, what you buy is guaranteed, and can be returned at any time for an exchange or refund.

Lands' End Canvas, landsendcanvas.com, 800-877-1963

As we previously reported, Lofty Concepts has taken the wraps off its new Glass Street showroom near the Dallas Design District. We finally got a chance to check it out. More on what's new in stock later. For now, check it out in person at 154 Glass St., Suite 104.

Photos: cwynn

Looks like DJs aren't the only ones loving old school records. Vinyl sales nationwide topped 2.5 million in 2009 according to this story in today's DMN, up 33 percent from the year before.

BUYING, SELLING VINYL

Here's a sampling of Dallas-area stores that buy and sell LPs, compiled by contributor Kathleen Green.

• Bill's Records, 1317 S. Lamar St., Dallas, 214-421-1500
• CD Source, 5500 Greenville Ave., Dallas, 214-890-7614
• Forever Young Records, 2955 S. Highway 360, Grand Prairie, 972-352-6299
• Good Records, 1808 Greenville Ave., Dallas, 214-752-4663
• Half Price Books, multiple locations
• Paperbacks Plus, 6115 La Vista, Dallas, 214-827-4860; 108 E. Davis St., Mesquite, 972-285-8661

Prices vary, depending on the store, the supply and demand, rarity and the vinyl's condition. A typical LP will net a seller from about $2 to $8, then sell for anywhere from $6 to $15. New vinyl can retail from $8.99 to about $32.99.

BONUS: Look after the jump for Green's list of the "Top Selling Spins of 2009"

What a smart idea. Area 25 sells the furniture cache of Park Cities home-stager Cheryl Lawrence. (She cribbed the name from local real estate agents' code for the 75225 Park Cities, Inwood, Devonshire ZIP where most of her customers live.) Explore meandering rooms loaded with collected and consigned furniture, pillows, lamps and artwork; don't miss Lawrence's best stash in the back warehouse.

Area 25, 4901 W. Lovers Lane, 214-352-6925

Photo: cwynn

The DMN's Nancy Churnin compiled this list of favorites.

Start looking for Britney Spears in you March fashion magazines. The pop superstar once again teams with the Candie's label, available at Kohl's, for the company's spring advertising. Three photographers, Annie Leibovitz, Mark Seliger and Terry Richardson each shot Spears at Paramount Studios late last year. Leibovitz's participation might strike some as odd. The legendary Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair photographer (whose advertising work has included American Express and Louis Vuitton) went through a very public financial drama last year when she was sued for breach of contract over a $24 million dollar loan.

Contributor Erin Brooke is clearly a shopper's best friend. Subscribe now to these local Twitter feeds she gathered for insider deals and steals.

@westvil: West Village in Uptown tweets exclusive deals at its shops and restaurants every Tuesday. The deals are good until 7 p.m. the same evening, so you have to act quickly. Sample: $50 off lash extensions at Lash Studio.

@NorthParkCenter: NorthPark Center notifies followers of sales and special events at their stores and restaurants. Sample: Spend $100 or more at Swatch until Feb. 28 and receive 40 percent off select vintage styles. The center also tweets arts and community activities such as children's story times and dance performances.

@shopsatlegacy: You'll get the latest news on sales and events at the Shops at Legacy in Plano, including store openings and restaurant deals. The working crowd can find lots of happy hours and lunch specials. Sample: $4 Mambo Taxis all day on Wednesdays at Taco Diner.

And I'll add one: @nestdallas: Design finds, furnishings, art and gifts with a modern glamor spin from Nest at Snider Plaza near SMU.

NEW - @GalleriaDallas: The North Dallas icon offers up deals and news on its bevy of retailers, including recent special offers for Betsy Johnson, Thomas Pink and Banana Republic. I know, right?

Have a Twitter feed for local deals you'd like to share? E-mail ewade@dallasnews.com.

Photo by AP's Koji Sasahara: Japanese shoppers love Twitter, too! (I know it's a stretch, but I really needed a picture.)

Leave it to the DMN's Alan Peppard to get the scoop on Oprah Winfrey's BFF Gayle King hitting the racks this weekend at Forty Five Ten on McKinney Avenue.

Speaking of former (and founding) FD Luxe designer Kerri Abrams yesterday, I couldn't resist this moment down memory lane ... In 2006. Abrams boldly volunteered to model for DMN photographer Natalie Caudill to illustrate a cover story on the controversial new book, The Devil in the Junior League.

Her disguise reminds me of this character from Alfred Hitchcock's Family Plot. We miss you, Kerri!

In the wake of Alexander McQueen's sad death, founding FD Luxe designer Kerri Abrams (now living the glossy life in Abu Dhabi) alerts us to this essay written by her fashion director friend, Katie Trotter, for The National.

I love the essay's title: "Three weeks to make a dress, then he tore it"