JACOB KEPLER/VIEWDerek David of The Platters performs with his band Bling at Du Barry Fashions, his store at 1717 S. Decatur Blvd. David and his band perform for free every Sunday at the store, which features upscale costume jewelry, handbags, shoes and gowns.
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He's the man with Bling.
Businessman and professional entertainer Derek David leads a busy life. Whether it's singing on stage nightly at The Sahara as part of The Platters, managing his retail mecca for upscale costume jewelry, or performing with his band, Bling, David is a man on a mission.
His store, Du Barry Fashions, 1717 S. Decatur Blvd., has been a Las Vegas mainstay for almost 20 years, becoming a source for performers and locals who are searching for all that glitters.
"Our goal is to bring some elegance back to a town that has become somewhat casual," David said. "People don't seem to make the effort that they used to. We offer not just jewelry, but evening gowns in every make and color imaginable, shoes, handbags and hats. If you're looking for glamour, you can find it at Du Barry."
Six weeks ago, David came up with an idea to combine the worlds of music and fashion retail, in what he hopes will become a Du Barry tradition.
"I got the idea to perform here in the store on Sunday afternoons with my band," David said. "We serve free appetizers and champagne, and customers enjoy good music while they browse."
The band plays from 1 to 5 p.m. every Sunday, and each set lasts about half an hour.
"We rotate shopping and music," David said. "Play for 30 minutes, then we take a break and people can do their shopping. It's been really great."
The band plays to the crowd, belting out numbers ranging from jazz to swing.
"There has been a great response so far," said David's wife and business partner, Rita. "The past few Sundays we've had more than 100 people show up just for the show."
David's eventual goal is to create a place where well-known Las Vegas artists can come and enjoy the ambience of a lazy Sunday afternoon and interact with music lovers.
"We have already had a number of guest artists, friends of mine, stop by and do a song or two," David said. "There's nothing else like this in town for performers or patrons. Listen, what we really want is people to come and enjoy themselves. If you drop by for the show and stay to browse the store and make a few purchases, that would be ideal. If you only come to take part in a dynamic and fun entertainment experience, that's fine, too. We welcome you."
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