Houston’s Best Dressed Doctor Gets an Assist From Her Fashion Magician

Somewhat like Cinderella, Dr. Yvonne Cormier has enjoyed magical fashion inspiration for the upcoming Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Grand Gala Ball. But rather than a fairy godmother wondrously poofing up a gown, legendary fashion arbiter and former editor-at-large and now contributing editor for Vogue André Leon Talley selected Cormier’s Oscar de la Renta gown and personally oversaw the fittings in New York.

While this is not a new experience for the anesthesiologist, whose friendship with Talley dates back to their college days together at Brown, there is particular cachet to this fashion moment. The museum ball, set for October 6, will celebrate The Glamour and Romance of Oscar de la Renta exhibition, curated by Talley. The exhibit, showcasing nearly 70 Oscar de la Renta gowns, opens to the public on October 8.

“I was going to pick a more conservative and plain fitted gown when I got a call from Andre in May that he had found just the dress and I needed to get to  New York for measurements by Cindy Tully and her team at ODLR,” Cormier says.

That fitting for what Talley calls “the ultimate red carpet ball dress” — an ankle length lamé cloqué gown sprinkled with red poppies — took place several weeks ago. While Talley and Tully were nipping and tucking, pinning and basting, a film crew recorded the session for a documentary on the international fashion giant that will premiere at the Toronto Film Festival next week. (Magnolia Pictures is set to release “The Gospel According to Andre” in the U.S. in spring 2018.)

During the fitting, Talley focused on the gown’s bountiful petticoat, Cormier recalls. His concern included “how it looks when standing still and the flow when walking and adjusting the hem length to reveal the shoe.” And, ah, the shoe. Following the fitting, the duo were off to Manolo Blahnik to order evening pumps made from the poppy fabric.

Their fast friendship has continued throughout their lives. In fact, Talley accompanied Cormier to Paris to select fabric for her wedding gown and a Courreges suit for her going-away outfit. Through the years, he has provided fashion advice for many of Yvonne’s special events including her stints on the Houston Chronicle Best Dressed list, including the Hall of Fame.