To-die-for Oscar de la Renta Gowns Take Center Stage at MFAH: And It’s Personal for Gary Tinterow

Before the ladies began swooning over the to-die-for Oscar de la Renta fashions on the runway at the second annual Bayou Bend fashion show and luncheon, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston director Gary Tinterow had a special announcement. The museum has booked an Oscar de la Renta retrospective for the fall and the MFAH Grand Gala Ball in October will salute the late designer’s high-fashion legacy.

“So this is a preview of the fashions,” he quipped, “that we hope to see you in, in Cullinan Hall next fall.”

It was a special day for Tinterow as he welcomed his long-time friends Alex Bolen, Oscar de la Renta CEO, and his wife, Eliza Bolen, de la Renta stepdaughter and the company’s executive vice president. (Her mother, Annette de la Renta endowed the curator position that Tinterow held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art before taking the MFAH helm. Annette was, Tinterow noted, a “steadfast supporter throughout my career.”)

As the exquisite velvet, fur, beaded and bejeweled fashions rocked the runway, many in the gathering of 250 jotted down their favorites and after the presentation headed to the exceptionally lovely Saks Fifth Avenue pop-up shop, opening to the lush gardens and the Diana Fountain. And who wouldn’t want to waltz into the MFAH in one of the spectacular gowns that were on parade? The show and luncheon were compliments of The Galleria and Simon Property Group.

Addressing the crowd of well-heeled women and a sprinkling of gents, Alex Bolen shared that ODLR’s celebrated co-creative directors Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia will both be in Houston for the October festivities, as will André Leon Talley, the imposing fashion landmark who for many years served as Vogue‘s editor-at-large.

The New Yorkers were seated at luncheon chair Phoebe Tudor‘s table, where another long-time friend, Lynn Wyatt, was seated and what a delicious time they all had catching up.

While many among the fashionable crowd wore Oscar, Pat Breen and Tudor displayed their parallel good taste with both choosing the same Oscar frock for the luncheon. Good sports, they clearly enjoyed the coincidence.

The spring weather was perfect for lunching in the vast party tent, which was anchored on the lawn with views to the Bayou Bend museum house. Savoring the day, the CityKitchen fare and The Event’s Company’s decor were Laura Arnold, Jennifer Segal, Martha Long, Isabel Lummis, Luvi Wheelock, Courtney Sarofim, Eliza Stedman, Linda McReynolds, Rose Cullen, Elise Joseph, Eileen Lawal,Laura Sweeney, Vesta Frommer, Cynthia Petrello and Y. Ping Sun.