Fashion Houston, concluded its week of fashion events, including shows for four consecutive evenings and much retail action at trunk shows around the city at their leading retail partners, including Neiman Marcus, Tootsies, Elizabeth Anthony and Sloan Hall. The Wortham Theater Center, was again the setting for this showcase of both International Designers and local hometown favorites to sell out crowds each night, for what organizers are celebrating as the biggest and best event to date.
Below are some of my final highlights as there were just too many to include all….I was especially proud of our Houston contingency that included David Peck and Chloe Dao as well as Jonathan Blake and Amir Taghi whose Spring collections I had previously covered in Houston and NYFW and can be seen by clicking on to those stories. Sameera Faridi and Art Institute of Houston Designers also made their Fashion Houston debuts this year to cheering crowds. Other unique presentations that I just have no room here to show in detail but that should be recognized were: MCL Jewelry Collection chicly displayed on the runways on models dressed in all-black to showcase the jewels found at Tootsies and Fabrice Tardieu, one-half of Bogasse that has shown at FH before and presented his own collection of very high-styled, casual luxe collection of Men’s wear at Neiman Marcus.
Below are some of the remaining designers that I could not neglect…hope you enjoy one last glimpse!
Rolando Santana
Rolando Santana, whose Spring 2015 Collection I had the pleasure of viewing at NYFW . It is a very feminine, art-inspired collection that looks and feels like Spring in soft hues of blue, green, lilac and white. I love his very simple, sophisticated lines that are similar in store now in dark neutrals, primarily black but take on a totally different feel in soft pastels. In my visit with Rolando at Elizabeth Anthony the next day, his response to my question of “what are the ladies buying?” was that his biggest Trunk Show attractions were the simple day dresses in soft hues. Also popular was his Rothko-inspired color blocked sweater and skirt ensemble and his long simple gowns with dyed-to-match accompanying fur shrugs. For more details and photos of his collection, click here.
Rene Ruiz
While I (Julie) may have a soft spot for Rene Ruiz because of his involvement in both my mom and my wardrobe throughout my wedding weekend, I’m being completely objective when I say his designs are unlike any others. The beading, details, embroidery, and fabrics on a Rene Ruiz gown are not only elegant and unique, but completely wearable. Ruiz finds his inspiration from different colors and fabrics, and he has never been one to follow trends. He wants a woman to feel glamorous, sexy, elegant, and comfortable. From Rene by Rene Ruiz (day dresses) to the Rene Ruiz collection (the gowns you would find in department stores) to Rene Ruiz couture, this man is staying busy. A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of stopping by Elizabeth Anthony to chat with Ruiz and see his current designs that were shown on the Fashion Houston Runway, and I was blown away. Truly gorgeous, special pieces.
Valentina Kova
This new designer, Valentina Kova, just blew me away during Fashion Houston’s final night. It was her first full-scale runway show, followed by a trunk show at Sloan Hall the next day, including her fine jewelry collection, that had to be extended due to interest in her designs. Her look is clean, crisp hip, styles and styling that had a chic quality that I compared to the popular Olsen’s gals, The Row-Does-Bold-Color! Seeing her backstage after the show, she was delightful…very excited and anxious for the Houston crowd to like what she was doing. She asked me after the show if I thought her styling was appropriate for the crowd or was it too New York-centric…sort of a tough-chic look with menswear, unlaced styled footwear. I loved it and told her that, of course, I thought it was appropriate for the sophisticated Houston fashion market!
Chloe Dao
Our hometown favorite and former Project Runway winner, Chloe Dao cannot do much wrong in my books, but this may have been her best collection to date. When I said that to her after the show, she reminded me that I say that each season, to which I replied, “Chloe that must mean that you just keep getting better and better.” She began and ended her show with much white, which I love for Spring. From flowey white to open to white ground prints in closing. There was lots of the color navy, stripes, florals….variety of lengths, long and slit or shorter and multi-tiered. As usual, our Houston wonder-woman pulls off a great collection in her speedy fashion…only weeks in planning, designing and executing an expert collection.
David Peck
David Peck has come a long way to the very well-deserved primo slot of closing Fashion Houston week. He has earned it with all that he has done for putting Houston design and manufacturing on the fashion map. David proved that he was up for the occasion by showing a multifaceted show of a little bit of Fall, most importantly his faux fur leopard vests that were a fall signature to his beautifully tailored daytime and made-to-measure evening wear. His show-stopping closure came with the collaboration of the arts as he showcased a tasting of ballet with some of his most memorable soft pieces from his Spring collection. It was a surprise that he promised us all we would get from him during the week and a beautiful ending to quite a week in Fashion for our city!
Big News That Fashion Houston is Getting Wise-r!
One of the big surprises of the week was the news-breaking announcement on Opening Night that Fashion Houston founder, Jared Lang, had brought a new partner onboard that would be by his side as they promise to take Fashion Houston to new heights. Who better than Houston’s fashion and style gal, Vivian Wise, founder of event and styling company, Velvet Slipper Divine and favored client of many couture designers and retailers alike.
Vivian has stated that “our focus will be on increasing the reputation of Houston’s fashion scene. Even as a top retail market, Houston is not immediately recognized as the fashion hub that it really is. Fashion Houston Six will change that.” She has promised that they will be expanding their brand power and showcasing designers in more creative ways. One thing is for sure, we will all be watching to see the impact that this new Dynamic-Duo will be bringing to the Houston Fashion Scene…
Vivian Wise and Jared Lang
