Dallas Morning News, The via NewsEdge :

Mar. 28--Vive le sale. Gavin Smith's Big Sale -- recently renamed Le Big Sale --takes over the Apartment (1444 Oak Lawn Ave.) 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Keep a fashionable eye out for discounts up to 85 percent on clothing and accessories from labels including Marc Jacobs, Rock & Republic, Christian Lacroix, Diane Von Furstenberg and Tory Burch. Bring cash or plastic, but organizers ask that you please leave behind strollers, handbags and backpacks. Admission is $10 today and $5 on Saturday.

You might have seen Katrina Szish on Tim Gunn's Guide to Style or read her Style Spy blog at www.instyle.com. Meet the telegenic writer at NorthPark Center's Martin + Osa Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. She'll offer styling tips while you shop the minimalist-meets-all-American staples -- at a 20 percent discount. Bonus: cocktails.

Oak Cliff newcomer Solstice Salon (1003 W. Jefferson Blvd.) is bringing local talents together -- and not just hairdressers. Co-owners Marisa Solis Belz, brother Frank Solis and his wife, Amy, enlisted designer and client Abi Ferrin to create smocks, Brad Oldham to craft a custom chandelier and longtime Dallas model Patty Rooney to hang her velvet-canvas encaustic paintings for the salon's inaugural art show. An opening reception for both the salon and Rooney's show, named Goddess Grit, is tonight from 6 to 9. For more information, call 214-941-1180.

Designer Nicolas Villalba opens his showroom doors at 1444 Oak Lawn Ave. this week for a spring 2009 sample sale. Women's and men's eveningwear, much of it sparkling, is discounted up to 50 percent, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA/Dallas). For more information, call 214-655-6820.

Ruffian designers Brian Wolk and Claude Morais dub their designs "punk meets princess." Meet the duo and judge for yourself this Friday through Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at trunk shows spotlighting their spring offerings at Stanley Korshak. Loyal fans (Kirsten Dunst, Kate Moss) take note: The duo's upcoming book, Ruffian: Inside Out (Assouline, $18.95), chronicles their creative process from initial sketches to scalloped finishes. Look for the book in major bookstores and on www.amazon.com April 15.

Mark Shale customers have until Sunday at 6 p.m. to get their Canali glen plaid suits and Trina Turk strapless dresses. The Chicago-based business filed for bankruptcy Tuesday morning and announced the closing of four stores, including the Galleria Dallas location, where the store's entire stock is on clearance.

Design aficionados take note: Design Within Reach is consolidating its Southlake and Dallas stores and hosting a backyard sample sale. That means Knoll and Herman Miller furniture is marked down 30 percent. Starting today, you'll find the sale in the rear parking lot of the McKinney Avenue store. For more information, call 214-521-0100.

Shop Highland Park Village on Saturday to help the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. HPV and D Magazine are hosting Shop for the Symphony , where stores including Judith Ripka, Kiehl's, Noble Boutique, Ralph Lauren, Scoop NYC, Lafco New York and even Celebrity Cafe and Bakery will donate a portion of sales to the DSO's education and community outreach programs.

Something for the guys: H.D.'s Clothing Co. (3018 Greenville Ave., 214-821-5255) hosts a Johnny Cotton trunk show today and Saturday. Check out designer Steve Amon's new collection of supersoft, casual button-down shirts.

Flower fans know Cymbidium's Robyn and Rachael Wise from the mega events they produce and their former retail space at Mockingbird Station. Reality television fans will soon know the Dallas duo with the premiere of TLC's A Blooming Business tonight at 9:30. The half-hour special will follow the sister act as they prepare for a wedding at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano.

F!D style writer David Ninh and this Fashion Flash reporter will be your prom dates Saturday at Neiman Marcus NorthPark's Prom Event, from 1 to 3 p.m. on level two. In addition to a runway show and our (pastel) color commentary, there'll be informal modeling, makeup demos, light bites and beverages, and a raffle of a $500 dress. Le Big Sale, at Oak Lawn Avenue's the Apartment, runs today and Saturday, and features discounted clothing from Marc Jacobs and Tory Burch.

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