Laure’s Lair

It’s Thursday, and it’s 58 degrees and raining, but the girl is wearing Rondini sandals — yes, the ones you can buy only in Saint-Tropez. And, yes, she’s not even aware of the paradox.

That’s why we love her. She’s made a career out of doing things her way.

The girl is Laure Heriard Dubreuil, and she’s in town for the unveiling of her sexy new boutique, The Webster at the Galleria. Heriard Dubreuil, who has an international following, is raising the retail bar in Houston by bringing a version of her Bal Harbour and South Beach stores here. Housed in a new freestanding structure directly facing the Galleria on Westheimer, the faint smell of orange blossoms, vintage wallpapers and an original Max Snow piece in the entryway that proclaims “Pleasure!” set the stage.

A trove of women’s and men’s treasures fill the space, by designers from Inès to Alexander Wang. If you haven’t seen de la Fressange’s collection yet, that’s because it can be found in the U.S. only at The Webster. As it turns out, the orange blossom scent is one that Heriard Dubreuil concocted with a special Parisian “nose” in an attempt to recreate Marie Antoinette’s personal fragrance.

The French-born Heriard Debreuil has assembled an elegant mix of more than 115 designers, many of who have created (either for or with her) exclusive pieces that can’t be found elsewhere. The Galleria had originally given the new space where The Webster now resides the working title “The Jewel Box,” and now that I’ve seen the finished product, it makes perfect sense.