SHOPPING

Join our fashion experts as they dish on who's hot and who's not on the red carpet beginning at 4:30 p.m. here on the Shopping Blog.

Jason Sheeler: Sandra! Meryl! Mo'Nique! (Whoever thought those names would go together?) Hollywood's best of 2009 hit Kodak Theatre's red carpet Sunday night for the Academy Awards. Which means that right about now, celeb stylist Rachel Zoe is clutching her fourth venti, half-caf, nonfat latte, proclaiming, "OK, this is the hero dress for Cameron!"

And while you may be more about the Avatar vs. Hurt Locker debate, there's no doubt that millions of remote-control-wielding fashion lovers will be debating the nominees' -- and stylists' -- choices. Follow our live blogging to get our of-the-moment critique and see who our style team decides got their money's worth in GuideDaily on Monday.

Then, at 7 p.m. join the movies staff on The Screening Room for live coverage of the awards show. Our Cover It Live chat will turn on when the show starts, and you'll be able to submit your comments and questions in real time to our critics throughout the show.

We're dragging a little bit this morning after a fun fete last night at the industrial-chic Studios 1019. FD Luxe and The Fashionistas (Heidi Dillon's glam crew with a cause) teamed up to help launch the new Acura ZDX crossover in Dallas and welcome New York artist and photographer Erik Madigan Heck (above) to town.

Heck has a wicked sense of humor and I loved his work on display last night. If you're not familiar with the 26-year-old, he's the founder of a hot art and fashion website called Nomenusquarterly.com, which emerged from what the New York Times dubbed the world's most expensive magazine. (How's that for bragging rights?)

We picked up a few other interesting details last night so check back here for more today.

Photos: cwynn

Local modeling agency Wallflower Management is partnering with Ford Models and Galleria Dallas for an open casting call tomorrow from noon to 4 p.m. Wallflower is looking for 14- to 20-year-old women who are at least 5 feet 8 inches tall and men who are 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 2 inches tall. Ford's scouts will only be looking for women.
The casting call is part of a statewide tour conducted by Ford, with previous stops in San Antonio, Houston and Austin, and will wrap up in Dallas tomorrow.
The event will take place on level one of the Galleria near Sephora. Good luck struttin' your stuff!

Galleria Dallas,13350 Dallas Parkway, 972-458-2700, galleriadallas.com

If you watched, you saw Miami-native Michelle Delamor wowing some of the judges with a Creed hit and wowing all of them with leather gloves and a cropped and wrinkled "leather-looking" jacket.

Get the $108.00 Guess "Gregoria" jacket here.

Two-time Fashion Dallas/Kim Dawson Model Search finalist and FD luxe cover girl R'el Dade has been working hard since moving to New York last summer. And here's a shot of her newest work , above at left. The Allen High School grad pops up in the March issue of V magazine.

And, get this, we hear she just shot for American Vogue.

photography by Amy Troost for V magazine

We spotlight spring fashion, shake the dresses with Carla Martinengo, go shoe shopping with blogger Jane Aldridge and pay a visit to David Martin and Gregg Asher (the OTHER D&G) in their high-gloss Turtle Creek high-rise --- all in the March issue of FD Luxe, out today on news racks and at fdluxe.com.

Seen Vogue this month? Or any other editorial touting all the safari/cargo/utility offerings for spring? Gap has lots of men's and women's fatigue pants on sale right now for $35 -- regular price $49.50. Take a look here.

MAC cosmetics' new nail lacquer in Pink Wave, $12 at MAC stores and MAC.com.

MAC cosmetics' new powder blush in Full Fuchsia, $18.50 at MAC stores and MAC.com.

Well, more specifically, the stylish thirtysomething hits the town with Dallas freelance writer Joyce Sáenz Harris for Harris' My Town column.

One of Weintraub's favorite haunts? Merge in Preston Royal Shopping Center (that's her trying on a new dress above, yes, she's gorgeous). Get the rest of Weintraub's picks and tips here.

Photo by David Woo/DMN Staff

The New York Times has annoyed us in the past with their parachute drops into Dallas to observe our "big hair," plastic surgery and over-the-top consumption. (Yes, I'm thinking of the infamous Neiman Marcus 100th gala slideshow incident.)

Well, they're back. This time it's Times beauty and style director Sandra Ballentine, whose "Tex Mix" list of Dallas' current hot-spots was ​published in Sunday's New York Times Style Magazine.

I have to say this time around that I think they got it right and would agree with Ballentine's list. Who all made the cut? Forty Five Ten, Grange Hall, MIchelle Nussbaumer's Ceylone et Cie, The Joule hotel, Cabana, Tei-An, V.O.D. (full disclosure: co-owned by former FD staffer Jackie Bolin) and Park restaurant on Henderson.

What do you think of the list? Are there any local spots you feel should also have made the list? Thoughts, please.

Photo by Carter Rose: Ceylon et Cie on Dragon Street

Viewers of RuPaul's Drag Race, which airs at 8 p.m. on Mondays on Logo, might want to stay up late this weekend. Current contestant and former SMU dance student Sahara Davenport hits the stage at S4's Rose Room Friday and Saturday nights.

S4, 3911 Cedar Springs Road, 214-526-7171

Jason Sheeler, Staff Writer

More Runway news: Tuesday brings the release of the series' Wii version. Atari's Project Runway: The Videogame will give players the opportunity to compete in the show's famous challenges, walk the runway (better have that Balance Board), play fashion photographer and be judged by MIchael Kors and Nina Garcia. Heidi and Tim are there too, as are the top eight contestants from Season 6, including winner Irina Shabayeva. Season 5 contestant Korto Momolu recently launched a line of handbags and accessories with Dillard's. To promote the new line, Momolu is on a nationwide tour and will hit Dillard's NorthPark from 5 to 7 p.m. March 10.

Jason Sheeler

The Fashionistas, Dallas' heel-clicking army marching with radioactive fabulosity, now has an office at South Side on Lamar. Check out the new digs and the latest from Project Runway alum Shirin Askari at 8 tonight. $25 will get you into the cocktail reception and a seat the group terms standard. Should you require something above average (and have $50), you'll have some company at 7 p.m. for the VIP party.

The Fashionistas at South Side on Lamar, 1409 Lamar st.

Jason Sheeler

Sigh. I've been searching for the perfect pair of jeans forever. My jean-shopping mostly consists of hauling about 6 pair to the fitting room, ranging from size 4 to 12, depending on wash, style and color. If the Denim Gods smile on me, I might buy one of those pair. Sound familiar?

My issues with jeans stem from the fact that I'm just barely 5'3" and a solid size 8. I used to be "pear-shaped," but the current buzz word for my body type is "curvy" (which sounds way better). So being shorter with a junk-filled trunk makes it hard to find jeans that are long enough, but not too long, that don't do that weird gap thing in the back, that don't come up too high at the waist, but aren't sort of grossly low-rise either, that ... well, you get the point.

If that sounds like what you go through, I've got two brands for you: Levi's and Gloria Vanderbilt.

For those of us who don't have the time (or funds) to jetset to Milan Fashion Week, Dolce & Gabbana is streaming their women's fall-winter 2010 show live from Milan on Android mobile devices and iPhones, at live.dolcegabbana.mobi. Smart phone users can watch Dolce & Gabbanna at 8 a.m. on Sunday.

Milan Fashion Week Web-only streamers include Jil Sander at jilsander.com and Giorgio Armani at live.emporioarmani.com.

Even if you're not looking for t-shirts with ironic slogans, vintage bedding or super-super-super skinny jeans, Urban Outfitters can be of use.

Their accessories are always fun, attractive and affordable. I think the majority of my costume jewelry, headbands and hats have come from the store at Mockingbird Station, actually. But my favorite piece is the Deux Lux bag (pictured) I bought on sale for $20. It holds a ton (thanks to its numerous pockets), has a peachy satin lining, and goes with almost anything.

Check out more bags (many of them Deux Lux) in the sale section at your nearest Urban or online.

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.