Remembering a Legend

A Tribute to Mickey Rosmarin, a Fashion Champion and Great Friend

By Holly Moore // Jun 22, 2016

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Mickey Rosmarin's legacy goes beyond fashion.

Mickey and Joan Rivers in the '80s. Photo by Allison V. Smith.

Holly Waltrip and Mickey

Neal Hamil, Holly Moore and Mickey in the 1990s.

Mickey. Photographed by Carlos Elena, 1980s.

Mickey

Holly Moore and Mickey

Mickey in his new store. Photo by Fulton Davenport.

Chris Goins and Mickey at Heart of Fashion in November 2015. Photo by Daniel Ortiz.

Windi Grimes and Mickey at the 2009 annual Tootsies fashion show and luncheon. Photo by Phyllis Hand.

Annie Amante and Mickey Rosmarin at Bulgari Celebrating 130 Years of Masterpieces Dinner & Exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Science

Annie Amante and Mickey Rosmarin at a Bulgari dinner in 2014. Photo by Michelle Watson

Tootsies late founder and owner Mickey Rosmarin

Mickey and Judy Nyquist

Mickey with Ileanna Trevino, Donna Vallone, and Ellie Francisco at the 2015 annual Tootsies fashion show and luncheon held at River Oaks Country Club. Photo by Daniel Ortiz.

Mickey

Ceron, Annie Amante and Mickey

Mickey and Leah Hale. Photo by Michelle Watson.

Soraya McCelland, Mickey and Dancie Ware in October 2013. Photo by Michelle Watson.

Joanne King Herring and Mickey

Jeff Shell and MIckey

Sheridan Williams, Mickey Rosmarin, Shelby Hodge at the annual River Oaks Country Club Tootsies fashion show, in 2016. A time when Shelby's suit jacket would zip closed. Not anymore.

Ford Hubbard and Mickey

Sharin Norman, Mickey Rosmarin, Diane Lokey Farb

Sharin Norman, Mickey and Diane Lokey Farb at a patio party at his store in May 2015. Photo by Fulton Davenport.

Harriet Gertner, Mickey and Karen Pulaski in October 2014.

Mickey and daughter Aurey Harper, 2008

Letter from the Editor, Holly Moore:

As we were going to press with this issue, I was consumed with the past 22 years of PaperCity, flipping through 264 of our very large broadsheet issues, searching for the best, funniest, the zeitgeist moments in print. As I was scrutinizing these issues, I received the phone call that beloved friend, brilliant merchant Mickey Rosmarin, founder and owner of Tootsies, had unexpectedly died of a heart attack.

I had just relived 22 years of parties at Tootsies, fashion pages, a story on Mickey’s beautiful Houston home, an “Inside the Head of Mickey” feature from when he moved into his glorious new store in West Ave in Houston. And I had just laughed with Becca Cason Thrash about how, when we started the magazine, we had to borrow the Tootsies loading dock for the 18-wheeler to deliver the first issue. Who knew you needed a loading dock? Mickey to the rescue.

Mickey has been a rescuer, champion, believer and friend to so many people, charities and businesses. Tootsies will continue in glorious fashion, but the loss of Mickey the man leaves a hole in this magazine, and in our hearts.