Lake Austin Spa is a little respite within the Austin city limits. In addition to a mind-boggling array of spa treatments–including many celebrating its Texas locale–it offers cool activities such as cooking classes and, now, a Style Series. The spa is bringing in designers, authors, and other style and beauty experts for “intimate discussions.” And these are people worth the three-hour drive to see: designers Carmen Marc Valvo and Kay Unger, InStyle fashion director Hal Rubenstein, author Evan Handler (you know him as Harry from Sex and the City), and many more. Stick with me past the jump for the full lineup of events through February 2009. So fun!
Friday, October 24, 2008
With Special Guest Clothing Designer: Carmen Marc Valvo
Carmen Marc Valvo, is a quintessential American designer who, since 1989, has been exploring his soul’s desire to bring glamorous dressing to every woman’s life. Although his sumptuous creations have made him a favorite among Hollywood’s top leading ladies it’s his devotion to his non-celebrity clients that have made him a star. Valvo’s professional career began as a ready to wear designer for Nina Ricci in Paris, followed by a stint at Christian Dior. But by 1989 he was ready to launch his own label. With only a few thousand dollars, Valvo fearlessly pulled together a collection to show to department and specialty stores at the fall market in New York. His sportswear was an instant success and was bought into several top stores, but it was his evening wear, his true passion, that captured the hearts of buyers at both Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus.
October 30-November 3, 2008
Style Series
Friday, October 31, 2008
With Special Guest: Joan Kaner
Previous Fashion Director of Neiman Marcus
Joan Kaner, former Senior Vice President and Fashion Director of Neiman Marcus, was awarded with the Eleanor Lambert Award in 2006 by the CFDA (The Council of Fashion Designers of America). This is one of many awards Joan has been honored with throughout her lifetime. She also was recently awarded with the Dallas Fashion Award for Personal Style. Joan is the epitome of style and will share some of her treasured secrets and stories.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
With Special Guest Author: Evan Handler
Sex and the City’s “Harry”
Extremely popular with audiences for his role as Charlotte’s husband, Harry Goldenblatt, on Sex and the City, Handler is an accomplished journalist, screenwriter, and the acclaimed author of two memoirs. His first, Time on Fire: My Comedy of Terrors details his unlikely recovery from leukemia, and his escape from the clutches of those supposedly devoted to its treatment. In addition to his many television roles, Handler has acted on stage, in feature films and currently stars with David Duchovney in Showtime’s hit series Californication.
November 16-23, 2008
Style Series
Monday, November 17, 2008
With Special Guest: Hal Rubenstein
Fashion director for InStyle magazine, popular restaurant critic, TV fashion commentator and contributor to New York Magazine. Hal is sure to be full of celebrity trends including what’s hot and what’s not. He’s highly entertaining.
December 7-14, 2008
Style Series
Monday, December 8, 2008
Hollywood Homes
With Special Guests: Bret Parsons and Ruth Ryon
Mortgage broker, author, lecturer and house renovator, Bret Parsons spent 18 years in the architecture and design industry, many of those years in the executive suite at Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. During that time he co-published three design trade books and wrote a monthly architecture and design column. Bret’s soon to be released new book is entitled Hollywood’s Society Architect Gerard Colcord.
Ruth Ryon is the “Hot Property” columnist and staff writer for The Los Angeles Times. One of the most popular columns in the paper since Ruth created it in 1984, “Hot Property” regularly breaks stories about celebrities buying, selling, building, remodeling and redesigning their homes.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
With Special Guest Clothing Designer: Kay Unger
And Neiman Marcus Style Show
Kay blends her own personal philosophy with a unique corporate ethic that drives the success of Kay Unger New York. She designs clothes for today’s women with a balance of comfort, femininity, and strength reflected in all of her collections. As Co-founder and Head Designer of her company, and sporting over 38 years of fashion experience, Kay has emerged as an industry leader possessing a positive connection with her customer, and the respect of her peers in the fashion industry.
January 4-10, 2009
Style Series
January 5, 2009
The Business of Art
With Special Guest: James G. Niven
Chairman, Sotheby’s North and South America
Vice chairman and wildly popular head auctioneer for Sotheby’s, one of the world’s greatest international auction houses. Jamie is also the son of the late Hollywood icon David Niven.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Reflections of a Man: The Photographs of Stanley Marcus
With Special Guests: Jerrie Marcus Smith and Allison V. Smith
Stanley Marcus was known the world over as an innovative marketer and retailer with a refined sense of taste and style whose leadership transformed his family’s Dallas clothing store, Neiman Marcus, into a globally recognized arbiter of fashion. However, his refined sensibility was also expressed in a very private passion for photography, shared only with family and close friends. Marcus’s daughter Jerrie Marcus Smith and his granddaughter Allison V. Smith celebrate this passion in Reflection of a Man, a representative selection of the thousands of photographs Marcus shot on business trips in Europe, on vacations in Mexico, and during family celebrations.
In addition to the photographs, Oscar de la Renta, the couture fashion designer, relates his experience with the master of the art of the sale; Jack Lenor Larsen, the dean of modern fabric design, pays tribute to his long friendship with Marcus; and Roy Flukinger, Senior Research Curator of Photography at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin, critiques Marcus’s photographs.
February 1-7, 2009
Style Series
February 2, 2009
With Special Guest: Carolyn Englefield
Editor at Large, Veranda Magazine
Englefield spent two years at House Garden magazine and fourteen at House Beautiful. She also lived in Paris where she scouted homes and strengthened relationships with European designers and home furnishings companies. She joined Veranda in 2000 and is currently the Editor at Large.
A sample of the types of classes and activities offered during the series include a presentation with the Style Icon, high tea, sumptuous Sunday Suppers, fashion shows, jewelry trunk shows, champagne receptions, beauty make-overs, book signings and more.
Participation in Style Series also includes unlimited fitness classes and activities such as hiking, canoeing, Spinning®, yoga, cooking classes, core conditioning and circuit weights, Pilates, Tai Chi, Nia and other exciting choices. In addition, guests receive three healthy gourmet meals daily, as well as a spa and fitness allowance in select packages which can be used in the resort’s LakeHouse Spa, a 25,000-square-foot facility that is home to more than 100 unique and healing therapies. Guests may also take advantage of the outdoor pool and treatment cabanas, and open-air indoor Junior Olympic-length pool, and get a massage side-by-side in one of the indoor or outdoor treatment suites.
Overnight guests can attend Style Series activities with the purchase of any overnight package. Rates for a three-night Spa Refresher package in a signature room are $1,830 double (per person) and $2,175 single. This price includes a $330 spa and fitness allowance, three healthy gourmet meals daily, newly refined accommodations, unlimited fitness classes and use of the LakeHouse Spa facilities. Details for other packages can be found at ://www.lakeaustin.com/pdf/PackageRates_2009.pdf. Room tax and service charge are not included. Subject to availability. Restrictions may apply. For reservations, call 1-800-847-5637 or visit www.lakeaustin.com. Schedule subject to change.
ABOUT LAKE AUSTIN SPA RESORT
Nestled along the shores of scenic Lake Austin in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, Lake Austin Spa Resort offers guests the luxury of a world-class spa and the warmth of a best friend’s lake house.
The resort has received numerous awards from prestigious national travel and spa magazines since its
multi-million dollar renovation and expansion in 2004. Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Allure, InStyle, Luxury SpaFinder, Departures, Spa Magazine, The Zagat Survey and American Airlines’ Celebrated Living magazine have recently honored Lake Austin Spa Resort as one of the best in the country and in the world.
Lake Austin Spa Resort offers all-inclusive vacation packages, which include accommodations in one of 40 charming lakeside guest rooms, three gourmet meals daily, indoor and outdoor fitness activities and classes, and a selection of luxurious spa and body treatments. For additional information and reservations, please call 800-847-5637, or visit www.lakeaustin.com.
