Dallas: Jet lag and H&M

Just home from India - BEST trip EVER - and suffering from the most serious case of jet lag. Wednesday I took four flights to get home (and crossed who knows how many times zones): Udaipur to Jaipur, Jaipur to Delhi, Dehli to Chicago, Chicago to Dallas. About 20 hours in the air and I'm feeling it in my bones.

I came home to more than 800 emails, one of which was from darling Jennifer at La Force Stevens PR telling me that H&M has signed a lease at NorthPark Center and is scheduled to open during the second half of 2011. The boutique will be 24,000 square feet and will be the first in Texas. I'm only sad that it's not opening in time for Lanvin's capsule collection that hits stores November 23.

Off for now. My body thinks it's 3 pm and I've got to get myself to sleep. The time adjustment over the next few days will be a whip.

xxx

Dallas: India

Well, my dear friends, I'm finally off to India tomorrow morning. I'll be gone through the 28th and will try to post while I'm there, but my trip is fast and furious. I hope it's everything I'm expecting - chaotic, beautiful, smelly, eye opening, glamourous, exotic. Wondering what awaits....

Dallas: Bonnie Basham

These Bonnie Basham bracelets are being sold exclusively at VOD and Erin Wasson liked them so much she scooped up a few and has been sporting them along with her own line, LowLuv.

Don't you need some, too?

Austin: ACL fashion

Elle.com was down south this past week for ACL. Click here to see their shots of stylish concert goers at Zilker Park.

Houston: Alexis Bryan Morgan

Check it out: Houston-native and former exec fashion editor at Vanity Fair Alexis Bryan Morgan (whose dad, Texas millionaire Shelby Bryan, was doing it to Anna Wintour) is leaving Elle after only being there for 10 months. Where's she headed? Lucky, as their new executive fashion editor. I think she's going back for the Conde Nast lunch room.

Dallas: Dwell with Dignity

The countdown begins: You officially have only 30 more days to register for the Dwell with Dignity Ready Aim ReDesign Contest.

You know you've got what it takes to transform a humble piece of throw away furniture into something spectacular. Take a before and after, submit it, and wait for Jonathan Adler, Design Sponge's Grace Bonney, and my fellow editor-at-large at F|D Luxe, the incomparable Sam Sano to judge your work and tell you if you're in the running to win a flat screen television, a makeover from Container Store, or linens from Sferra.
You know you got this.
Take your grandmother's ugly chair and make it into something you actually want to sit on.
The $25 entry goes towards Dwell's cause: To help families in transition live in artful surroundings and in the process uplift their spirits and aspirations. If that's not beautiful, I don't know what is.

Everywhere: Olivia Palermo

Confession: I have a serious sartorial crush on Olivia Palermo. While I do wish she had more intellectual depth and a stronger value system, I cannot argue against her style. It's always so sophisticated, perfectly pulled together, and gives me endless inspiration. The latest thing: her new shoulder-length hair cut. Maybe it's time to chop my own super-long locks.

Want to see more of her? Here's a good way to do so.

xx

Everywhere: Dansko

The clog thing has me spinning my wheels right now - which pair to buy?! which one?! - and I was just on Zappos and found these darling pink and purple patent numbers for little girls. How cute are they?

I even thought that the adult versions - plain black - were kind of groovy. If you would have told me five years ago that today I'd be contemplating purchasing something like this, I would've given you a crossed-arm eyebrow arch.

Everywhere: Obsessed with Kors & clogs

Maybe it's just a diversion, but I've looked at the Michael Kors spring 2011 runway show about 12 times in the last few weeks. I'm officially obsessed. Of course, it's clean and print-free - my idea of perfection - but the oatmeal-colored fabrics, tan leather, and dare I say wearable and beachy vibe of it all makes me think that this is my look.

Gotta get my hands on those platform clogs, but since I have to wait for a while before spring deliveries I'll have to settle for something similar. If these Jeffrey Campbell's had just a smidge less platform they'd be for me, but I don't know if I could realistically walk in them.
I can't tell if I love them or if they're borderline ridiculous. Discuss.

Marfa: sloan/hall

The Chinati Foundation Open House is this weekend in Marfa! If that's not enough reason to head out west, then maybe a sloan/hall pop-up shop at Galleri Urbane (and, of course, brunch on Cochineal's gravel-covered patio, lunch at Pizza Foundation, and dinner Maiya's) will make you book those tix on Southwest.

Dallas: Dude, Sweet Chocolate

I'm hunkered down in my office, refusing to leave until I'm done writing and I can't stop thinking of how maybe if I drove over to Oak Cliff real quick and bought something from Dude, Sweet Chocolate I'd be able to finish my work, like maybe these morsels will have be curative effect for my dilly-dallying.

Crack in a box
Fungus Amongus

Photography by Manny Rodriguez

San Antonio: Luke

So excited about Chef John Besh's restaurant, Luke, opening on the Riverwalk in SA later this month. This is the second outpost of Luke for the James Beard award-winning chef with the first one being in New Orleans alongside his other restaurant, August.

Earlier this year when I was eating at August - really needing something rich and delicious after a night (and morning) out in New Orleans - Katie Couric and her daughter were in the dining room enjoying his shrimp bisque, an unforgettable dish that I still dream of.
The Louisiana-native turns out food using distinct German and French cooking techniques and local ingredients.
Foodies can look forward to blackboard specials and a brasserie-like atmosphere reminiscent of the original.
I'm so glad that getting a bit of Besh is just a road trip away.