By Kristie Ramirez

Ciao Cavalli!
Roberto Cavalli is very tan. He wears all black and sunglasses indoors, and he likes to puff away on Dunhill Ultras. He smells nice too. I know because I sat next to him on a brown velvet banquette in the VIP area of his new store at NorthPark Center. I called him Mr. Cavalli. He insisted on Roberto (“Pleese. It’s Row-bear-toh”). He liked my vintage Cavalli blouse. I liked the lavender fur gilet from his fall 2008 collection that hung from a rack up front. We chatted away about this and that until his publicist told us to wrap it up. His show for Fashion at the Park was supposed to start at 8, but there we were talking about fashion critics and the difference between sexual and sensual at 8:20. Alas, the public called, we parted ways, and he told me to call. He forgot to give me his number. Maybe he meant call the store. That is a number I do have. 8687 N. Central Expressway, 214-361-2222, or online at Roberto Cavalli

Bijoux from LouLou
Loulou de la Falaise, international fashion icon and muse to the late Yves Saint Laurent, has partnered with Oscar de la Renta for a line of fine jewelry. The necklaces, brooches, bracelets, and earrings, now available at ODLR boutiques, are made from an assortment of precious and semiprecious stones such as smoky quartz, citrine, rubies, and sapphires and are crafted in India. “I really like pieces that tell a story,” says de la Falaise. Although much has been written about her, I wanted to know her personal side. Here are a few of her likes.
Music: Classical and opera, the blues, rock and roll. I still really like the Stones.
Books: I just finished reading an Edith Wharton.
Clothes: I love black velvet trousers that fit tight, Louboutin shoes, and cashmere sweaters.
I’ll never get rid of . . . A black leather blazer, a three-button jacket, and big earrings.

tex prep
Everyone’s favorite store for fashionable but easy-to-wear must-haves has arrived in San Antonio. J.Crew has opened its doors at the Shops at La Cantera and South Texans can forgo online buying for the tactile experience of hands-on shopping for comfy cardigans and its amped-up collection by J.Crew’s design director for women’s jewelry, Lisa Finkelstein, who is a Dallas native and UT Austin grad. BTW, if you’re a college student, just show your school ID and receive 15 percent off all purchases.

A rose for spring
Calling all of Houston’s finely dressed. On November 20 and 21 make your way to Tootsies from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Lela Rose’s spring 2009 trunk show. All items can be ordered on-site for 2009 delivery. 4045 Westheimer, 713-629-9990, Tootsies