Underage Fashion (and sex) at Katy Perry Last Night.

“So, how do I look?” I asked my one-and-only before heading to the Katy Perry concert at the AT&T Center last night. “Like all the other soccer moms who’ll be accompanying their 14-year-old daughters,” he jokingly replied. “Stop,” I began, “her lyrics are way too explicit for kids.” I was certain that not only would the show be an adult concert, but that to fit in with the trannies and drag queens whom happen to follow Kitty Purry (her alter ego in which she actually dresses up as a kitty and looks like a drag queen herself), I’d need to improvise my fashion a bit. I wore a translucent red top with a black lace bra, copper and gold sky-high heels, a pair of gaudy earrings I bought in Portugal, and stonewash jeans that were so tight I couldn’t look down while seated. I felt like one of those pregnant women who can’t see their feet after seven or eight months—except way hotter, obviously.

However—and how does everybody get the memo on these things but me?—I was not savvy enough to wear a bright blue or pink bee-hive wig (as a tribute, I’m assuming) to Perry last night. Upon arrival to the AT&T Center, my girlfriend and I noticed all the wigs running around us; wigs that were finished off with outfits like leopard-print pants, sparkly dresses and candy-cane tops that were so unbelievably fitted they looked painted on. Upon closer inspection, and much to my dismay, we noticed that many of the wigsters were actually 14-year-old girls!

“Candice,” I said to my fabulous friend just featured as NSIDE Magazine’s Style and Substance—shameless plug—“how can parents let their daughters come to a Katy Perry concert? This is Katy Perry, not Britney Spears circa 1999.” She replied, “Wow, I don’t know,” reciting their lyrics, “that one song, I kissed a girl and I liked it? Really, Mom? Maybe their parents just don’t know what the songs say.” As we made our way to our seats, I thought, even though I’d just jammed out to Perry’s Teenage Dreams CD in my car that afternoon, and even though California "Dreams" also happens to be the name of the tour, and would obviously feature such songs from said CD, that perhaps I was overreacting. “Well, maybe they’re not that bad.” I couldn’t quite recall the lyrics anyhow in that particular moment due to drinking a double vodka tonic without eating dinner (FYI: if you want to lose weight for fashion week, vodka tonic has almost no calories).

When the concert started, Perry opened with “Teenage Dream”—a song that wasn’t actually all that bad, if the adult in you could forget the allusion to sex, “I’m a get your heart racing in my skin-tight jeans, be your teenage dream tonight. Let you put your hands on me in my skin-tight jeans, be your teenage dream tonight.” But it was all downhill from there, from her ballad of “I kissed a girl and I liked it, I hope my boyfriend don’t mind it,” to “You’re so gay and you don’t even like boys,” and also, “I want to see your Peacock, cock, cock, your Peacock, cock, cock.” It was in this “cock” moment that I heard Candice state a ghastly, “Oh my God, she’s making a motion like she’s jerking off her microphone!” I, however, disagreed with Candi, how could she think something like this? “Candi, no. She’s giving the microphone a blow job, hello? That swift motion is a pop-culture connotation for blow jobs.”

“God,” she said, “I’d really hate to be here with my daughter right now.” Not that either of us has a daughter, but were glad that we didn’t.

If you could get past the fact that you were sitting next to a bunch of kids last night, and could refrain from trying to cover their eyes (unlike Candi), the concert was actually one of the best ones I’ve been to in a long time. I’d put it up there with Ani Difranco in Rome and Pearl Jam in Chicago. If you’ve always wondered— like I did—whether Perry was one of those Hollywood sell-outs who only sounds good in the recording studio, then wonder no more. She really does have a great set of pipes and not only rocked the house with them but serenaded us on her glittery guitar from a cotton candy-cane cloud above. She’s also a great entertainer with unique fashions and props that set her apart from other acts. I will say one thing though: Perry’s success seems to lie in the fact that, most of her songs are filled with catchy but trite sayings and other over-used and overtly sexual metaphors. It’s very beginning songwriter-ish, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she actually did get help from a 14-year-old daughter while writing them.

The Perfect Dress for Gal about the Globe's Changing Seasons

It’s almost autumn and major fashion magazines have already published their fall favorites. Yet we've still been searching for the Perfect Dress to weather the 100 plus temperatures; an outfit that is both comfortable and cool to wear, but is also versatile with the changing seasons, looks good with a light scarf, or even an 80s jean jacket and Risky Business sunglasses. The Perfect Dress-in places like South Texas or anywhere else affected by global climate change-is like an employee in a bad economy; it needs to have transferable skills for the “changing” climate, be ready for work, the club, a birthday party, and specifically a drought.

I met with Valerie Perez, founder of Verseau, and someone who has designed just such a dress. Verseau, a high-end women’s line with an affordable price point, featured The Perfect Dress in their Spring/Summer 2011 collection, Un Amour Delicat.

While debuting at IADT’s annual runway show “Imagine” in May, I finally had the chance to catch up with Perez and couldn’t wait to ask some very titillating questions about her line, such as “Why did you choose chiffon?” Perez, whom has brought the highlights of her collection to our meeting, excitedly explains, “I like the way it feels and hangs on the body, and when you wear it you feel really pretty and feminine; at least I do. The ultimate goal is to make a woman feel like a woman.” While that’s easier said than done, it appears that Perez has managed to meet that goal. Many of her dresses flatter the figure of a real woman as they’re fitted around the waist, breast, torso, and flare out at the bottom to compliment a woman’s most valuable assets.

One of the Un Amour Delicat dresses (pictured in slideshow above) is a low-cut flirty number made of cream chiffon. Like the other dresses in the collection, it is textured, and includes braided straps around the shoulder. “Each piece was designed with the everyday woman in mind,” Perez says, “with careful attention to how the garment falls when she moves.” Other dresses in the collection have similar themes: a backless halter with translucent magenta chiffon and stenciled designs; a dark turquoise chiffon dress with two straps across the shoulders, featuring flowered embellishments on the right shoulder, “So you don’t crush it with the seat belt,” Perez claims; and a similar dark pink dress adorned with rows of gathered chiffon, and a wide ruffle around the hem.

“I only want to create garments that are wearable with real world applications. I didn’t make them fitted below the waist because they are for real women,” Perez explains, “I also tried to make them a wearable length so you’re not afraid to sit down or move in the wrong direction.”

The navy blue chiffon dress—one of my top picks—is simple, but features a large bow to compliment a plunging neckline, and is also finished with a wide ruffle around the hem. “It’s a really flirty dresses,” says Perez. Her dresses are certainly sexy, however, she also has more conservative numbers, like her longer black dress with white, blue, and gray splashes, ruffles around the neck and sleeves, with a modest neckline.

About the Designer: Valerie Perez’s runway shows include The Saint, Queens of Fashion-Model, Mia Robertz performed to Como La Flor by Selena; Threads for Hope Fashion Show, benefitting the San Antonio Aids Foundation; San Antonio Living Show—Celebrando Estilo, La Villita Assembly Hall (IADT); The Beauty of Giving Back Founder’s Day Event presented by Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated – Sonterra Country Club; Great Day SA – SA Youth Summit (IADT); Great Day SA – Imagine, benefiting Eva’s Heroes and Career Education Scholarship Fund (IADT); Fiesta Fierce Fashion Parade (with Cassandra Lazenby).

Countdown to New York City Fashion Week: 13 Days

Angelina Mata Atelier Headed to New York City Fashion Week

When I walked into Angelina Mata’s River North abode, I was immediately transported onto a set like The Devil Wears Prada; if say, the film was strictly about a talented artist preparing for fashion week in New York City next month. My eyes were quickly drawn to white strings of leftover fabric adorning the gray carpet of the Atelier — French for artist’s workshops — but then moved to other excitement in the room. On the two long and wide white tables sat sketch books, small wooden mannequins, an array of colorful fabric waiting to be drawn on, cut, and stitched, as well as tape measures, notes, and quite a bit of ambition.

“Why clothes?” I asked Mata, who’s known in the community for her South Town hair salon and high-end boutique Euphorium. “Because that’s what I always wanted to do,” she began. “Hair was my default, because I come from a family of hairstylists. But I went to school with the intention of becoming a designer.” And I cannot imagine Mata doing anything else; she claims that she just woke up, but is already wearing a silken blue dress with gold buttons and pointy red velvet shoes with gold trim. Fashion is obviously who she is.

Mata worked for the founder of the Horst Institute (now the Aveda Institute), Horst Reckelbacher. Afterward, she attended the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD), taking classes in draping, pattern making, and design. In addition, Mata chaired South Town’s “Art of Fashion” show for seven years. However, she has gained success with her Bespoke design, the art of custom-made clothing, which will be reflected in the launch of her Spring 2012 collection of Angelina Mata Atelier next month during New York City Fashion Week. She is currently working with fiber artist Laura Beehler, and metal artist Jose Chapa — one can only guess what her show will look like.

Past inspirations include the Twenties and Belle Époque eras, but she is keeping next month’s show confidential. “I know you can’t unveil your fashion week line,” I begin, “but can you at least give us a hint or secret about what to expect?” Mata hesitates, but replies, “Hints or secrets? This is a re-birth onto a new platform so there is a vital glow about the collection.”

With that, I take my hint that it is time to leave and let Mata get back to work. But I hope to catch her again, at her show in New York City. She is currently seeking contributions for the event, via Kickstarter. Contribute as little as $20 and get your name on the guest list for the show in New York City and a CD of the show soundtrack. $50 gets your name, plus one, on the guest list for the San Antonio screening of next month’s New York City show. Larger contribution giveaways include shoes, dresses from the collection, and more.