German Fashion House Makes a Big 40th Splash in Houston: When Models, Fetching Diamonds and Food Take Over Elizabeth Anthony

What: Elizabeth Anthony’s Friends and Trends Luncheon featuring Escada

Where: Elizabeth Anthony in Uptown Park

PC Moment: It was a well-received unveiling (for the Houston audience) of Escada’s pre-fall/fall collection, the first in the hands of the firm’s new global design director Niall Sloan. Earning his design creds with Hunter and Burberry, Sloan approached this collection by reimagining the German fashion house’s past for the present. As Escada representative Marissa Freundlich and Elizabeth Anthony owner Julie Roberts explained, Sloan has gone through the archives in his journey to create bold fresh looks that are true to the label’s tradition of sophisticated, wearable ready-to-wear.

Escada is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, inspiration enough for a fresh approach to the tried and true.

In addition to the informal modeling, the luncheon featured jewelry designer Katherine Jetter, a fetching Australian lass who now divides her time between Los Angeles and Nantucket. Her carved opals had the ladies swooning as did her collection of gemstones polished into shimmering rectangles and featured as pendants, rings and earrings.

Culinaire prepared the ladies luncheon, which provided fuel for afternoon shopping sprees.

Who: Carol Monahan, Hallie Vanderhider, Carrie Miller, Kelley Lubanko, Leigh Smith, Jacqueline Al-Uqdah, Jana Giammalva, Linda Reid, Lois Davis, Carol Robertson and Yoshiko Glazzard.