Stylemaker: Joy Weaver

By Brittany Edwards
The Dallas Morning News

04:55 PM CDT on Saturday, August 13, 2005

As the owner of Dallas-based Protocol Enterprises Inc., Joy Weaver is a communications strategist who teaches savvy social skills and appropriate etiquette. Although she is a leading expert on decorum do's and don'ts, her know-how also reaches into the fashion side: She is a big believer that success is also based on a strong sense of style. She expects to release her new book, How to Become Socially Savvy in All Situations, in October.

Favorite labels: Gucci for shoes and Chanel for handbags. "I will never remember what you were wearing but can always remember what handbag you were carrying."

Favorite Dallas stores: Neiman Marcus, especially the Willow Bend store because of the Chanel Shop, as well as St. John, Escada and Tootsies

Style: "I like to wear fitted classics with a flair."

Favorite stylish film: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Most recent purchase: A navy Gucci blazer. "I had to have it after seeing Barbara Walters wearing it the day I was on The View ."

Where to find her during the weekend: With her husband, James, eating waffles at the Stoneleigh Hotel, power walking on the Katy Trail, eating dinner at Perry's restaurant, at church, grilling out, and watching the last 15 minutes of Extreme Makeover

Celeb style advice: "Don't buy shoes you can't walk in; style is all about carrying yourself well."

Favorite item in her closet: A black vintage Chanel handbag she scored in New York

Hair: Melissa Reneé at MK Salon for cuts and Susanna at Serenity Salon in Plano for styling

Dallas fashion needs: "Another Greg Hicks (from Neiman Marcus NorthPark's shoe department). He is above rock-star status in the minds of many Dallas women. He can track down shoes when nobody else can find them."

On her bedside table: "My Bible, a Bose Wave radio, Evian water bottle, and pen and paper in case I wake up in the middle of the night with a bright idea I need to write down."

Style philosophy: "We're all like diamonds; we have basic value, but it's not until we're polished that our value is recognized."

Favorite vacation spot: New York City, Venice and anywhere she and her husband can play golf

Biggest fashion splurge: "I added a Judith Ripka cross necklace from Neiman Marcus to my collection recently, and then, of course, I had to have the earrings."

Favorite item in her house: Two hand-painted murals by Terie Beth Dillard

Style icon: "The undisputed queen of the red carpet, Nicole Kidman. She has elegant and graceful style."