The Ever-Elusive Alexis Bittar Comes to Houston

Through the years, our paths have crossed surreptitiously (although he never knew it). From my days at InStyle to looking at the line for my own retail boutique, I’ve been an ardent fan of Alexis Bittar. So when I got a call to interview Bittar this week in New York, I did everything possible to clear my calendar. Not only has the brand become one of the most editorialized in fashion circles, but I’ve watched his empire grow steadily with store openings (now 14 freestanding boutiques nationwide), film placements and two visits to the White House.

His jewelry is often referenced as “wearable art.” He’s collected antiques from the ripe old age of eight, and his eye and instincts are incomparable. In fact, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York first took notice of the 21-year-old designer selling on the street in SoHo. The major department stores soon followed suit. His collections vary stylistically from season to season, and Bittar — an artist at heart — is not afraid to experiment with different mediums, including raw gemstones, metal and Lucite. Though he honors the elements and craftsmanship of antique jewelry in production — claiming a loyalty to Art Deco and Victorian influences — his end product is somehow always modern and inimitably fresh.

Sixteen emails later, alas, we could not sync our schedules in NYC. But I, along with everyone else in Houston, will finally have our chance to meet the man behind the brand (and mad jewelry genius) in person. Catch him if you can this Friday, April 3, at Nordstrom in the Galleria, 2 to 6 pm.