Design of the Times

Rising fashion stars descend on Dallas for exclusive show at W hotel

The prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America's board of directors comprises fashion notables Diane von Furstenberg, Michael Kors, Marcus Wainwright, Selima Salaun and Vera Wang. When they support an emerging designer, we pay attention.

Last year, W Hotels partnered with the CFDA Fashion Incubator program, which fosters promising fashion talent by helping them grow their businesses. Select designers are currently touring W cities across the country to gain exposure to new retailers, media and fashion elite.

Dallas made the list of stops, and we were there, along with a few fashionable folks who braved inclement weather to catch a glimpse of the designers and their collections.

Hosts Roopal Patel, Joyann King and Nasiba Adilova mingled with guests such as Sue Gragg, Maxine Trowbridge, Pamela Martin-Duarte, Chuck Steelman, Krystal Schlegel, Anais Assoun, Lauren Preston, Christen Wilson, Kristie Ramirez Hoistma and Jackie Bolin before all were ultimately evacuated to the basement due to tornado threats.

These are the highlights before the weather stole the show:

Ari Dein, from lingerie designer Arielle Shapiro, caught our eye immediately. Shapiro's luxurious handmade silk sleepwear can be worn outside of the bedroom — if you dare. The designer's attention to detail (i.e., hand-pressed gold leaf and handmade ribbon) had us coveting a new trousseau.

Kristen Stewart is a fan of Jonathan Simkhai. He designs for the girl on the go who wants a no-fuss, high-fashion look. Simkhai's silk track shorts and easy dresses were crowd pleasers. Find it locally at V.O.D.

Reece Solomon's collection of exotic bags and clutches has attracted the attention of stars like Beyonce (she carried one at the Grammys) and luxury retailers like Barneys. Solomon's uniquely detailed Reece Hudson treasures include the day-to-night "Bowery" oversized clutch and the "Bondage" minaudiere with removable cuff.

Timo Weiland and Alan Eckstein are the design duo behind the Timo Weiland collection for men and women. Their chic and simple pieces are easy to wear, while the innovative prints speak to fashion risk-takers. Shop the line at Piermarini in Dallas.

Nile Nussbaumer, Krystal Schlegel, Lauren Hill, Joyann King and Suzanne Droese at CFDA Fashion Incubator showcase at W Dallas Victory Hotel.

Photo by Cooper Neill Getty Images for W Hotels

Nile Nussbaumer, Krystal Schlegel, Lauren Hill, Joyann King and Suzanne Droese at CFDA Fashion Incubator showcase at W Dallas Victory Hotel.

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Downtown News

Neiman Marcus to remain open in downtown Dallas through 2025

Neiman Marcus

After much persuasion from Dallas officials, the iconic downtown location of luxury department store Neiman Marcus will stay open — for now.

According to a release, Saks Global will continue operations of the Neiman Marcus Downtown Dallas store at 1618 Main St. through the 2025 Holiday season while it explores a reimagination of the location in collaboration with the City of Dallas.

This includes the Zodiac Room, the restaurant's beloved in-house cafe.

It's a big last-minute turnaround, following the retailer's decision in February to close the store on March 31 after more than a century as a style leader for the city of Dallas as well as a bedrock for the downtown community.

That decision prompted Dallas officials and downtown stakeholders to form a committee to persuade Saks to reconsider, even persuading one of the landlords of the property to donate the land to encourage the store to remain. As of the end of February, Saks maintained it would still be closing the store, but with a commitment to invest in the NorthPark Center store — one of three other Neiman Marcus locations in DFW along with the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano, and the Shops at Clearfork in Fort Worth.

But on March 27, Dallas city officials met with Saks Global leadership to suggest other formats to serve its customers and the community while supporting the resurgence of Downtown Dallas.

Potential concepts for the reimagined space include a luxury retail experience, a curated art exhibition, and a fashion and event center.

Other proposals for the space also include an incubator for fashion design and manufacturing in Downtown Dallas.

“We deeply admire the city's passion and unwavering dedication to Neiman Marcus’ storied legacy in Dallas. The potential reimagination of this iconic shopping destination reinforces Saks Global’s commitment to redefining the luxury shopping experience,” said Marc Metrick, Chief Executive Officer of Saks Global. “As we explore opportunities for the Downtown store, along with the planned renovation at the NorthPark store, we will evaluate the opportunity to utilize both locations to serve different customer needs in the Dallas market.”

“We are excited that Saks Global has decided to keep Neiman Marcus open downtown, as we explore the opportunity to unlock the potential to transform downtown into an international beacon and economic engine for fashion - just as the Neiman Marcus founders intended when they opened the store more than 100 years ago,” said Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert. “We look forward to exploring what‘s on the horizon and are committed to continuing our conversations with the Saks Global team.”

The Zodiac Room and the Bridal Salon will remain open during the exploratory period.

The Neiman Marcus brand has been an integral part of Dallas for over a century, serving as a cornerstone of the community and a symbol of style and innovation. Since 1907, Neiman Marcus has shaped the city’s fashion landscape while fostering connections through charitable giving, cultural contributions, and civic engagement.

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