Fall Fashion Preview Brings the Beautiful People Back to Tootsies — Houston in Coronavirus Times

Passengers in cars passing by on Westheimer might have wondered what the fashionable and fashionably masked entourage gathered on the terrace of Tootsies was up to mid-morning on Tuesday. Elbow bumps were seen replacing the once-upon-a-time salutation of air kisses. In another turn on the expected, champagne glasses were in hand but the sipping required a delicate lifting of the mask.

This is what a fall fashion event looks like in the time of COVID-19.

Tootsies and this scribe invited a score of ladies (the number limited by social distancing etiquette) to join the boutique’s creative director Fady Armanious in a presentation of “Fady’s First Look @Fall.”

We began the fashion event, the first for most of the ladies since last March, with champagne and sparkling water on the terrace on what happily turned out to be a beautiful fall day. Just right for inspiring autumn fashion shopping. And that was a good thing as a percentage of sales from this event are earmarked for the Alley Theatre.

Spirits ran high as all felt a bit jubilant at such a social gathering where dressing up was required and a serious nod was given to COVID protocols. Tootsies staff, models and owners Donna and Norman Lewis maintained their mask wearing throughout the event. Even when taking a bite from the  charcuterie lunch bag from Graze during the fashion presentation, the ladies lifted their masks only slightly.

Of course, Armanious personally raised the fashion bar wearing Alexander McQueen patent leather slacks, a Zang Toi blazer and Christian Louboutin shoes.

For the fashion presentation, the ladies were seated six feet apart along a lengthy runway centered by oodles of the latest fall fashions. Models strode before the ladies in designs from Isabel Marant, Veronica Beard, Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta and more representing the broad array of possibilities.

PC Seen: Susan Vick, Kristy Bradshaw, Roslyn Bazzelle, Stephanie Tsuru, Yvonne Cormier, Vicki West, Lilly Andress, Donna Josey Chapman, Hallie Vanderhider, Kathryn Swain, Katy Ellis, DeeDee Marsh, Susan Hansen, Jennifer Allison, Amanda Boffone, Mignon Gill, and Stephanie Fleck.