This Still Cracks Me Up

Texas Monthly's FASHION

Need more guidance for fall? Well, it's upon us so you better get moving.

Check out Texas Monthly's digital publication for fall, FASHION:

http://www.texasmonthly.com/promotions/fashion

ACL Reminder: Pearl Jam's Still Got It

Slut Appeal is the New Sex Appeal?

From left: Dsquared2, Prada, and Fendi.Photo: Getty Images, Imaxtree

Clear heels dominated the Milan runway. Here's what Chris Rock had to say about clear heels in his HBO special Never Scared in 2004:

"Daddy, can we talk?" "Hey, I'm watching the game!" "I'll show you! I'll dance naked to the Mötley Crue records! ... I'm gonna change my name to Cina Buns! ... and I'm gonna wear clear heels!" When did clear heels become the new whore uniform? When did that happen? Was there a big ho convention, and all the hos got together and said: "We need something new! Something that just says nasty" ... And one girl said: "I got it! Clear heels!" "Uh, girl, you're disgusting!"

Yes, clear heels, the shoes of strippers and whores everywhere. If the clear heel is indeed the shoe of the whore, it goes well with the uber sexy pantsless look that swept the runways in New York, London, and Milan. Which in my opinion, was a direct result of pop music's current obsession, Lady Gaga.

Some say it's a natural evolution of fall's trendiest footwear — thigh-high boots — also favored by hookers everywhere. Slut appeal is the new sex appeal? Lets not get too carried away, this look goes from couture to cheap in about one second flat. Take my word for it, these will be Ga-ga-ga-gone about as fast as you can say disco stick.

Don't be silly ladies, save your hard earned money for some investment heels that can be worn for seasons to come.

Would You Wear a Max Jumpsuit?

We are really excited about Spike Jonze's take on the world famous Where the Wild Things Are. But, I don't know if we are so exited we'd buy the line of fur clothes by Opening Ceremony. Well, maybe we'd purchase the Judith Outdoor Faux Fur Vest ($415) and not because Rachel Zoe wears one either, because it is gorgeous and its very fall with that large ruffle-esque collar.
Check out the rest of the line at openingceremony.us

Guess Who the Guest DJ is...

Who is it you ask?

P-H-O-E-N-I-X

RSVP right meow... Here.

ACL '09: I'm Gonna School You Part 4

The Dead Weather

Sunday, 6-7p.m.

LiveStrong

You don’t think you know who these guys are – but you do. The Dead Weather is an alt rock group formed in Nashville and is made up of Alison Mosshart (The Kills, Discount), Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs), Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age) and Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs, The Greenhornes).

Last year I saw Jack White rock The Raconteurs show to a packed audience, but this time, he’s happy just playing the drums while Mosshart takes chick rock to a whole new level. Watch her in action here:

This band is relatively new (formed in March 2009), but definitely awesome. Check ‘em out if you still have enough stamina to rock on Sunday at 6 at the LiveStrong stage. More about The Dead Weather here.

ACL After Party, One of Many

Only $5 if you RSVP Here Now.

Hudson's on the Bend Review

By the Discriminating Gourmand

For those who have never been, Hudson’s on the Bend is located on Hwy. 620 near Lake Travis about 20 miles outside downtown Austin and has a top notch reputation among both foodies and the romantically inclined. Executive Chef Jeff Blank is known as something of a culinary leader here in Austin and his food typically involves some sort of game – fortunately venison backstrap is often on his menu. Outdoorsy and artsy, he holds cooking school bi-monthly less than a mile from his restaurant at his unique house overlooking Lake Travis. Celebrating its 25^th anniversary this year, I jumped at the opportunity to try the restaurant week menu plus wine pairings for $50/person.

Out first was a tasty little pork chorizo topped pastry amuse bouche. Muy delicioso.

Then for an appetizer, I had the quail with the Riesling and tried the bacon wrapped duck diablos. Both were excellent. The quail was perfectly cooked, had a delicate flavor, and was perched atop a spinach salad tossed in a vinaigrette. The duck diablos were tangy, coupled with what tasted like a spicy dressed up BBQ sauce, and reminded me of something I might find at the world’s greatest tailgate (which is in Oxford, MS).

For an entree, I ordered the venison with the Malbec and tried the Shiner Bock marinated rib eye. The venison came out perfectly cooked – rare to medium rare – with a subtle sauce that let the venison flavor I was looking for shine on through. This dish was far superior to the rib eye which tasted nothing better than what I’ve grilled up in my own backyard. I realize Blank is trying to be creative and homespun, but the rib eye was neither flavorful nor cooked well and was so ordinary that if I had ordered it I would have been upset for the rest of the evening, but I didn’t so I wasn’t.

A perfectly portioned chocolate mousse and brownie sundae, both coupled with a Spanish wine I could neither pronounce the name of nor remember, ended the dinner on a high and satisfying note. Check out their menu here.

For those going to ACL, be sure to try the Hudson’s operated Cone stand in the food square this weekend. It’s easily one of the top three meals you can get there.

ACL '09: I'm Gonna School You Part 3

If you’re gonna be at ACL, you better be at Dan Auerbach. He’s the old front man from rock group The Black Keys, and has moved on to pursue a solo career. I love The Black Keys, but I love this guy even more. His debut solo album, “Keep It Hid” came out in February and it’s garnered quite a bit of buzz.

He’s got a perfect mix of songs on the album ranging from slow melodies like “When the Night Comes”

To some more grunge/bluesy stuff like the title track “Keep It Had”

The new album also features his protégé Jessica Lea Mayfield who I will most definitely be doing a write-up on soon because I’m obsessed with her. Such a young, smart badass.

I digress. Check out Auerbach’s myspace page here and I’ll see you there at ACL.

Dan Auerbach

Sunday, 7:15 – 8p.m.

Austin Ventures

Absolutly No Label

In honor of its 25th anniversary, Absolut Vodka will unveil No Label, a limited-edition, label-less and logo-less bottle that will make its global debut (though not in the United States). No Label is part of “In an Absolut World, There Are No Labels,” an ambitious initiative by the vodka manufacturer to question prejudice and established norms of sexual identity.

Read more here.

It embodies the idea that no matter what’s on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that really matters. The.Well.Set will drink to that.

The Coen Brothers’ New Film: A SERIOUS MAN

By Perrin Drumm, you can read more on the sundancechannel.com

Though the rest of A SERIOUS MAN is set in late 60s suburbia, the Coen brothers take us first to a snowy night in Yiddish-speaking old country for a little morality tale. The tale, however, is less morality and more of a warning that no matter what, no matter how ludicrous and illogical she may be, the wife is always right. Flash forward to the Minnesota suburbs in 1967 where Larry Gopnik (in an incredible performance by Michael Stuhlbarg) is a middle-aged math teacher with two bratty kids and a math whiz brother (Richard Kind) who sleeps on the couch and spends most of the day draining a cyst on his neck. It’s not exactly ideal and Judith (Sari Lennick), his wife, wants a divorce.

So begins the downward spiral that will consume Larry’s life.
What makes the mid-life crisis plot line work so well here (aside from great characters, great writing and great acting) is the fact that Larry doesn’t just have one problem that if he can only locate and fix, his life will shift back into place. Things may have started to go wrong with the divorce, but by the end of the film that’s the least of his worries. His life is messy, but gradually, and without any kind of Hallelujah moment, we start to see a glimmer of hope for him (a very dim one; He’s still living at the Jolly Rodger). Larry is plodding his way through what he probably thinks is the biggest crisis he’ll ever have to deal with and afterwards, certainly, things will settle down. But if he’s learned anything about Hashem it’s that he works in mysterious ways. When one problem is cleared up, what’s to stop another from taking its place?

A SERIOUS MAN opens Oct. 2nd

Quarter-Life Crisis

By Christina Good

The term quarter-life crisis is used to explain a post-grad phenomenon many people in their 20‘s and 30‘s experience. It’s a relatively new term that has been popping up everywhere recently, most likely because boomer offspring are starting to enter adulthood in this wonderful economy. It is characterized by feelings of insecurity and self doubt that accompany depression and anxiety in the post-grad years.

The transition into adulthood can be very stressful for young Americans. Troubled quarter-lifers usually have uneasy feelings about their employment options if they are so lucky. 9am to 5pm is terrible. Old people are boring and meetings are pointless. Siesta’s are genius and we should get on that.

Quarter-lifers are trying to wash away all of their college sin and jump into normalcy a year after winning a Beer Olympics contest at the KEG house. They are expected to graduate, get a job, get rid of the Chlamydia, and marry to some other $40,000 a year millionaire.

It is a testament to how truly spoiled the Y generation were as children. Fat people pray to food; alcoholics to booze; and spoiled kids to their enabling parents. They get money and accolade at the touch of an iPhone. They are raised to believe that they are somehow “special” and when they don’t grow up to be neuroscientists, they freak.

Many have proposed solutions. Yoga, Jesus, or friends and family are some of the few; but I offer refuge in the form of mental adjustment. The ability of the individual quarter-lifer to accept their mediocre accomplishments is to sit back and enjoy their younger days sans botox and saggage. Take advantage of your youthful good looks, health, and fresh education.

At this point, everyone is on the same playing field. Even if you aren’t, blame it on the economy! Take this recession and run with it. You can even use the term “quarter-life crisis” to conjure up sympathy among parents and employers. One comforting thought is that maybe the quarter-life crisis will off-set its father mental quandary, the mid-life crisis. They won’t have to buy a red convertibles or start taking pole dancing aerobics in their 50’s. Wishful thinking.

Big Balmain Shoulders for Fall

If you are like us here at The.Well.Set and you are coveting the Balmain Ready-to-Wear blazer like we are and have the pinache to wear it then we have a secret for you.

You CAN pull it off and for a fraction of the price.

How you ask?

Top Shop darling! Their Shoulderpad

Jacket is just as legit and the shoulders are just a little less pointy so that you still capture the trend, but look less like a cartoon-super hero. And at $190 dollars consider it much wiser than the

gillion dollar Balmain version...

Countdown to ACL: STS9

STS9, Xbox360 Stage, Saturday 7-8

Love a good jam band? Well then, you are in for a treat... http://sts9.com

Formed in Georgia but based in Northern California since the turn of the century, STS9 (short for Sound Tribe Sector 9) is one of the most innovative acts to ever be associated — accurately or not — with the jam band genre. As befits any band with that tag, the quintet thrives on live performance and puts a heavy emphasis on collective improvisation, but STS9’s mélange of acoustic and electronic instrumentation — with elements of dub, drum ’n’ bass, hip-hop, funk and avant-garde jazz — separates the group from the solo-heavy, overblown jam bands of old.

Rachel Zoe Can You Tell the Real from the Fake?

This Zoe impressionist is pretty dead on and hilarious.

Major fan? Check out her stint on CBS earlier this month. She's mostly plugging her line and her brand, blah-blah, yada-yada, but good advice is also embedded in those over marketed "Zoe-isms." Check it out.

Fall fashion? Ba-na-nas.

Why is it That Men Getting Hit in the Crotch is So Funny?

I don't know why, it just is and it always will be. All I know is that the Young Gunz music in the background really makes this compilation of America's Funniest Home video clips worth watching.

So, lighten up guy-that-got-hit-in-the-crotch, it's Friday. Same to you women-that-fell-down, you probably made $10K off that humiliation. Best thing I ever got from a falls was bumps, bruises and a major loss of dignity.

Happy Friday: You Know You Still Love MGMT

Jeggings... Do or Don't?

That's right. You read that correctly. Jeggings are all the rage for fall.

Don't fret, they aren't a glammed up version of jorts. They are much cooler and they cover much more than your standard leggings. Especially if you have on a good looking tunic or blazer and some over the knee boots or high, high heels.

Slam. Dunk. Bananas.

Where's the best selection, you ask? You guessed

it... TopShop.com has the best prices and selection.

The tye dye, acid wash version has been seen on the likes of

Fergie, amongst others and are $55.

The denim leggings or actual jeggings have been seen on Beyonce and they can be yours for a mere $40.

Modish Boutique Opening this Sunday

"Modish is inviting all lovers of vintage fashion to suit up and attend an evening full of shopping while sipping on savory wines and munching on delicious sweets from Polkadot Cupcake Factory. Since supporting our troops is always in style, Modish has decided to salute them by donning the elegant trend of military jackets at the event."

Want more info? Click here.

Ra Ra Riot

Ra Ra Riot coming to Woxy today at 3:30 to give their picks out of the Woxy library, check it out.

www.woxy.com

Tribeza Fall Fashion Show Review

Elizabeth and I were fortunate enough to swing some VIP tickets to the Tribeza fashion show at the Long Center on Tuesday night. The rain held and Austin's well-healed were out in full force. After gazing at the multitude of designer bags and skinny guys in bow ties while getting a beverage we took our seats.

Overall we had a blast, despite the man with the mustache that kept walking on the runway (come on man, have some respect!) and I would encourage you to take some time and help support your local fashion community by checking out the rest of their events through the end of the week.

Here's a list of what Austin boutiques showed their fall wares:
Adelante

Anne Fontaine
by george

c. jane

Estilo

The Garden Room

Keepers

Luxe Apothetique

Miss Behave

Underwear

UT Fashion Students
 (including the talented Christy Aderhold)
Valentine's Too

ACL '09: I'm Gonna School You, Part 2

By Jordan Jeffus

ACL Pick #2 Daniel Johnston

Friday, 4:45-5:30p.m., Austin Ventures

You know the “Hi, How Are You?” frog on UT’s campus?

Bet you don’t know what’s it’s from. I didn’t either until last year when my boyfriend made me watch a documentary called, “The Devil and Daniel Johnston.” I had NO idea what it was about, but was pleasantly surprised, as it portrays a life of an extremely odd and tormented, but no doubt talented man named Daniel Johnston. I became even MORE pleasantly surprised when looking at the ACL lineup this year because the one and only Daniel Johnston is playing at ACL. Who is Daniel Johnston? I will tell you…

Daniel Johnston was born into a Christian fundamentalist household and started out like a normal enough teen – just one who really loved art, music and basically – weird shit. He spent most of his time drawing really strange art portraying skeletons an monsters (we later come to find that he is mentally ill and believes these demons are after him) , but the bulk of his considerable fame came from a series of homemade cassettes which he recorded with friends in the early 80s. Almost all of his songs are about his unrequited love for a woman named Laurie (who ended up marrying an undertaker), and were titled things like “Songs of Pain” and “More Songs of Pain.”

The cartoonist moved to Texas in 1983 where he first lived in Houston with his brother and worked at Astro World. He recorded the famous “Hi, How Are You?” on a $59 boom box in a make-shift recording studio in his brother’s garage. From there he moved to San Marcos and joined a traveling circus. The circus landed him in Austin, and that’s where he stayed for awhile, handing out his tapes for free; namely, the “Hi, How Are You” tape which made him relatively famous here. The bigger music community began to embrace Daniel when an MTV show “Cutting Edge” came to Austin and caught Daniel at one of his many shows.

Plagued with manic depression, which is quiet relevant in his music and art, Daniel never quite went on to live a normal life. An attempt at suicide and his parent’s overprotective nature landed Daniel in a mental hospital for awhile. But amazingly while there, he was offered several record deals.

He now lives a simple life with his aging parents and continues to draw, sing and occasionally tour. His music is definitely unique and unlike any other, with simple (and sometimes disturbing) lyrics and melodies. This guy is an icon in Austin and has developed a cult following around the world for his painful stories of love and existential torment.

Check out his website at http://www.hihowareyou.com/. This guy’s so unique. I think it would be worth your while to check him out!

Myspace link - http://www.myspace.com/dannyjohnston

Hobo Update from SF

"My wife has been kidnapped, im short €0.99"

- Excuse me, is that a Euro sign? Aren't we in America? SF is so European.

Mark Your Calendars: Nov. 8th

As the weather turns colder (thank God) our minds can't help but wander to the thought of Christmas and more importantly Christmas shopping. Perhaps I will actually save this year for gifts?

Get your Christmas shop on and help support Austin business and designers at this local event.

"On Sunday, November 8, 2009, we’re taking over Mosaic at Mueller, one of the most stunning new residential developments we’ve seen. The space will be transformed for an early holiday shopping event featuring over 50 of your favorite local boutiques, designers and artists. In typical Launch787 fashion, we’ll have food, bars and entertainment as well.

What’s the other goal? To support local business after a challenging summer for retailers. We’re hoping that by giving you a chance to do your holiday shopping a little early at Shop787 that it’ll keep you from making last-minute purchases at the most convenient mall location. So, head out and support those retailers and designers that we all care so much about!"

Get more info here; it's $5 ahead of time and $10 at the door: http://launch787.com/2009/09/15/shop-3/