This Southern Charmer Is a Serious Attorney and One Of Houston’s Best Dressed Times Two — Leigh Smith Lifts Up the Arts
Helping From Houston To Aspen
By Shelby Hodge //
The Philanthropy in Fashion Houston Best Dressed honorees represent a cross section of backgrounds, interests and ages with two unifying characteristics. Each has an altruistic interest in contributing to the Bayou City and each has a defining style. The philanthropic femmes will be saluted on September 15 at a Post Oak Hotel luncheon benefiting March of Dimes.
In this new PaperCity series, we are profiling each of the 2026 Houston Best Dressed honorees leading up to the PaperCity Philanthropy in Fashion Houston Best Dressed Luncheon. Next Up: Leigh Smith, a second-time honoree.
Don’t let Leigh Smith’s dreamy Southern accent (she’s from Georgia) that reminds of Scarlett O’Hara fool you. There is nothing flighty about this former litigation attorney who has an incredibly impressive CV of fundraising efforts and board memberships. For the record, she serves as a trustee on the boards of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Asia Society Texas Center; and Houston Ballet Foundation. She is past president and board chair of Houston Ballet and past board chair of the Houston Arts Alliance.
Her largess extends beyond Houston to Aspen where the family has a second home. Smith has served as National Council chair for Anderson Ranch Arts Center and co-chaired three of the Aspen center’s International Artist Awards Dinners.
Having chaired myriad fundraising galas including those for Glasstire, Houston Ballet, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Art League Houston, Herman Park Conversancy and more, Leigh and her attorney husband Reggie Smith will co-chair Houston Arts Alliance’s 20th anniversary gala this fall.
Memorable quote: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
The Style Survey
Favorite designers: Jason Wu, Johnson Hartig (Libertine), Dries Van Noten and Jonathan Anderson
Style icons: Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Michelle Obama
My go-to outfit: Black pants paired with a patterned blouse, minimal jewelry, good shoes and a fabulous Lady Dior Art purse.
Fragrance: Miss Dior
The one accessory you cannot life without: My rings and a Cartier watch
Favorite beauty cream: Dr. Barbara Stern or Augustinus Bader
Books on your coffee table: New York Times best sellers or National Book Award novels downloaded on my iPad.
Travel destination that inspires: Scotland or Italy
Favorite hotel in the world: A toss up between Fife Arms in the Highlands of Scotland, the Lanesborough in London, and The Royal Mansour in Marrakech.
Something that few people know about you: “My given name at birth was Melissa Leigh. New teachers and anyone who did not really know me always called me Melissa. When I married I legally dropped Melissa and moved my maiden name (McCranie) to the middle. I am Melissa no more!”
Tickets for the PaperCity Philanthropy in Fashion Best Dressed Luncheon and Neiman Marcus Fashion Presentation benefiting March of Dimes are available here.
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