Swiss Fashion House Turns a Stunning River Oaks Manse Into a Grand Fashion Stage to Salute a Houston Ballet Power Woman — Akris and Jule Kent Fit Together
A Party With a Purpose
BY Shelby Hodge // 02.05.24
Akemi Saitoh, Julie Kent, Rae Fairfield, Marina Saitoh at the Akris/PaperCity salute to Houston Ballet's Julie Kent. (Photo by Miroma Photography)
Houston Ballet and Akris embraced on a glorious afternoon recently when the Swiss fashion house and PaperCity joined forces for champagne and fashion in a stylish salute to famed ballerina Julie Kent, who joined Houston Ballet last summer as co-artistic director. It was a special opportunity to learn of Kent’s connection to Akris and to rub shoulders with ballet patrons, friends of Akris and influencers.
Katie Tsuru and her mother-in-law Stephanie Tsuru hosted the gathering at the latter’s River Oaks home where bedrooms were transformed into dressing rooms for models showcasing the Akris Spring Summer 2024 collection.
This was the United States premiere presentation of the collection, the artistry of creative director Albert Kriemler and his homage to the legacy of Felice “Lizzi” Rix-Ueno, a visionary who shaped the early 20th century textile and craft design at the Wiener Weerkstätte.
Introduced by Akris’ Catanna Berger, Kent spoke of her connection with the revered fashion house. Before she departed her post as artistic director the Washington Ballet in D.C. for Houston, Kent was named an Akris Woman With Purpose.
“In 2003, Akris opened it’s flagship boutique on Madison Avenue and I was invited to the Opening, which also celebrated my former company American Ballet Theatre, where I danced for 30 years,” she tells PaperCity. “I was wearing a black sheer coat, with a chemise and pants that Albert made for me.”
“When Akris recognized me as a Woman of Purpose” in 2022, I reconnected with Albert at the Opening of the Akris Boutique in Washington, DC. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner following, where we recalled the special opening in NYC 20 years prior, and also realized that we had many shared colleagues, in particular choreographer John Neumeier ( the artistic director of Hamburg Ballet for the past 50 years), who Albert has designed costumes for in several productions. It’s a small world.
SHOP
“Days after I met Albert, it was announced that I was joining Houston Ballet as co-artistic director! Since then, Akris has been so supportive and has shared many beautiful looks for me to wear at special events, from dinners at the Supreme Court to Houston Ballet’s Jubilee of Dance.”
Next up was presentation of the spring/summer fashions. The afternoon was punctuated by the sounds of a DJ with champagne and hors d’oeuvres served by the Elizabeth Swift +Co. team.
PC Seen: Houston Ballet ball honoree Akemi Saitoh, ballet board chair Leigh Smith, former board chair S. Shawn Stephens, Angie Lane, Jenny Weber, Kara McIver, Paulina Padilla, Bethany Buchanan, Michele Leal, Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell, Isabel David and daughter Celine, Monica Hoz de Villa, Patti Murphy, Beth Muecke, Heidi McDonald Smith, Susan Binney, Ann Bean, Zoe Cadore, and Duyen Nguyen.
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