Houston’s $1.24 Million Fashion Sale — Fashionistas Hunt Fabulous Bargains In River Oaks With a Salvation Army Twist

A Sale Like No Other

BY Shelby Hodge // Apr 16, 2026

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Lesha Elsenbrook, Pamela Sengelmann, Dodie Willingham, Maggie Austin at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Linda McReynolds, Hannah McNair at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Jennifer Allison, Amanda Boffone at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Elizabeth Anthony's Julie Roberts, Bobbie Nau at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Fady Armanious, Hallie Vanderhider at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Amanda Gelb at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon (Photo by Jenny Antill)

Lilly Andress, Jane & Jim Wise at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Debby Leighton, Lucy Lewis at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Captain Jeremy Walker, Captain Michelle Walker, Lesha Elsenbrook, Pam Sengelmann, Dodi Willingham, Maggie Austin at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Carolyn Saour, Gina Saour at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Susan Binney, Stick Delaup, Maura Montgomery at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Darlene Clark, Melanie Jarrell at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Denise Wynne, Ashley Birdwell at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Beth Wolff, Cheryl Byington at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Elizabeth Williams, Stevie Gillman at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Elyse Elsenbrook, Lesha Elsenbrook, Emma Elsenbrook at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Jan Rhodes, Maureen Higdon at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Kate, Lesha, Elyse and Emma Elsenbrook with Ruth Pulido, seated, at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon (Photo by Daniel Ortiz)

Kathy Goossen, John Romaka, Maureen Higdon at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Laura McWilliams, Betty Hrncir at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Leila Perrin, Chris Kase at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Lesha Elsenbrook, Donae Chramosta, Ann Ayre at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Minnie Baird, Louise Ratz, Bette Thomas at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Penelope Wright at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Sandra Porter, Nancy Strohmer at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Sidney Faust, Elsie Eckert, Judi McGee, Cora Sue Mach at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Stick Delaup, Gayle Eury at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Susan Hansen, Deborah Dunkum at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Fashions on the runway at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Clothing on display at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Fashionable ladies scoop up armloads of gently used/brand new clothing at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon.

The rush was on in the vast living room of River Oaks Country Club when a throng of determined well-heeled shoppers poured in to be the first to claim their gently, if never, worn designer threads and accessories offered in the Houston Salvation Army Auxiliary “Reflections on Style” luncheon. This 22nd fundraiser topped the charts, raising more than $1,248,000 for the good works of the Salvation Army.

Susan Binney, Stick Delaup, Maura Montgomery at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

It was an organized melee with some luncheon guests lining up at the country club doors at 9 am, an hour before early shopping. By 11 am, before the fashion show of the best items began, scores of women had filled their shopping bags with unbelievable bargains.

Bulging white shopping bags with red Sold tags were the must-have accessory of the day.

Linda McReynolds, Hannah McNair at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

A few observations:

Best Dressed Hall of Fame honoree Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, arms loaded with clothes. “I’ve grabbed everything in designers I like and I’ll just see if they fit,” she says. Mitchell allows that in a previous year she had picked up a Monique Lhuillier royal blue gown with tags still on, a gem which she wore to that year’s Ballet Ball.
Kathy Goossen was holding tight to an Oscar de la Renta frock with a price tag $125. She would take it home without trying on, she explained, as changing clothes in the vast single dressing room was not ideal. “If it doesn’t fit, I’ll donate it for next year’s sale,” Goosen says.
“The jewelry is fantastic. Really, really. I can’t believe I’ve missed it all these years but it’s really good,” Jana Arnoldy says, her shopping bag loaded with a hat, handbag, $700 worth of jewelry and more.

Sandra Porter, Nancy Strohmer at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Always the highlight of this Houston day is the fashion show for which Lenny Matuszewski and Tamara Klosz Bonar create a masterpiece presentation of the best of the best fashions donated for the sale. The show featured the works of Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, Chanel and more to-die-for labels.

Items in the show were moved to the living room for post-luncheon sale, causing many of the 480 guests to skip dessert and line up for first dibs on the premium clothes.

ELIZABETH ANTHONY

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Jennifer Allison, Amanda Buffone — Jennifer Allison, Amanda Boffone at the Salvation Army Auxiliary Reflections on Style luncheon

Lesha Elsenbrook chaired the “Jardin du Monde” themed event that honored Gina Saur, a dedicated and longstanding member of the auxiliary. Helping round up the clothing and accessories was Jennifer Allison, fashion chair. Chic Boutique leadership included chair Pamela Senglemann, co-chairs Maggie Austin and Dodi Willingham and showroom co-chairs Mary Camden, Maura Montgomery and Susan Perdue.

PC Seen: Linda McReynolds, Anne Duncan, Lilly Andress, Jenny Elkins, Vicki West, Hannah McNair, Cherie Lindley, Julie Roberts, Bobbie Nau, Amanda Gelb, Beth Wolff, Cheryl Byington, Minnie Baird, Stephanie Gillman, Jane and Jim Wise, Betty Thomas, Fady Armanious, Hallie Vanderhider, Carolyn Saur, Susan Binney, Stick Delaup, and Maureen Higdon.