Society / Fashion / Featured Parties

Houston’s Most Fashionable Women Go Wild for Oscar in a Blockbuster Luncheon: The Legacy Continues with a Fervor

BY // 10.06.17
photography Julian Bajsel

The swans swooped into the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston on Thursday in a wave of fashion fervor inspired by the blockbuster exhibition “The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de la Renta.” Sporting their finest autumnal dressings for the midday fete, the ladies and a sprinkling of gents had come to pay tribute to the late designer, to worship at the altar of his protegé André Leon Talley, and to meet the designers tasked with continuing the Oscar de la Renta legacy.

This was the second of three heady events celebrating the exhibition curated by Talley, the first — an exhibition preview and dinner — was held on the previous evening for underwriters and board members. Addressing the luncheon group, MFAH museum director Gary Tinterow referred to Talley’s fashion genius saying, “Once again he has worked his magic in an American museum.” (The Houston show follows a similar exhibition on view last year at the de Young museum in San Francisco.)

The third auspicious salute to the exhibition is Friday night’s Grand Gala Ball at the museum.

The focus on this day was Tootsies‘ presentation of the Oscar de la Renta resort 2018 collection as envisioned by designers Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia, who joined ODLR CEO Alex Bolen and ODLR executive vice president Eliza Bolen, the late designer’s step-daughter, for the tripartite of events. (The designer’s widow, Annette de la Renta, will be in Houston for the ball and Sunday’s official opening of the exhibition.)

They joined Talley and Tinterow at the head table along with Cherie Flores, wearing Oscar, of course, who chairs the ball with her oilman husband Jim Flores. The duo is major underwriter of the festivities. To the lengthy head table, add Lynn Wyatt, Nancy Kinder, Sara Morgan, Hallie Vanderhider, Tony Bradfield and more.

As Bolen addressed the sea of fashion mavens, many of whom are still feeling the sting of Hurricane Harvey, he said, “Hopefully, it’s an opportunity  for us to bring some fun to Houston. Houston could use some fun.”

More than 250 gathered for the luncheon, catered by City Kitchen, and more than a few were dressed in ODLR. Among them, Allison Sarofim, Zenia Fares, Courtney Sarofim, Phoebe Tudor, Tina Pyne, Yvonne Cormier, Diane Lokey Farb, Stephanie Tsuru, Robin Wombwell, Phyllis Williams, Ellie Francisco, and Tootsies creative director Fady Armanious, who donned an oversized ODLR pin on the back of his velvet jacket.

For those who did not get the memo, Tootsies put on a pop-up shop in the museum taking orders for ODLR’s next season of frothy frocks and floaty slacks.

Lunching ladies: Laura Arnold, Jennifer Segal, Ann Duncan, Brenda Duncan, Linda McReynolds, Meg Goodman, Sue and Lester Smith, Elyse Lanier, Martha Long, Eileen Lawal, Joanne King Herring, Carol Barnhart, Mona Sarofim, Gayla Gardner, Suzanne Levin, Duyen and Marc Nguyen, Beth Robertson, Bobbie Nau, and Tootsies Penne Weidig.

Visit Dallas' premier open-air shopping and dining destination.

Highland Park Village Shop Now

Featured Properties

Swipe
X
X