In Love with TOOTSIES: Spring Glamour on the Runway

Lane Craft and Chita Johnson, one of several celebrity couples that had a grand time, strutting their way down the catwalk for charity at Tootsies

Hi it’s Francene here again, the MRG contributor from across the pond, and I’m so excited because due to Roz and Julie’s travels they were unable to make TOOTSIES ‘Love’s in Fashion’ Valentine’s Event, so I got to go in their place, and I had the best time of my life at my very first big Houston fashion event.

When I arrived at TOOTSIES last Wednesday the bubbles were flowing, the DJ was playing an array of gorgeous beats, and macaroons were aplenty (must have known I was making an appearance; I LOVE these!). I strolled around the huge store gazing at the beautifully displayed clothing lines from Victoria Beckham to Oscar De La Renta, shoes and bags. Everyone looked impeccable, in a range of different colours from bright to dark, from nude heels to statement boots. Lots of fashionable fashion lovers came out to see the new looks, as well as bloggers and people in the local fashion industry.

There were around 350 eagerly awaiting guests surrounding the white catwalk to gaze at the loving couples to strut their stuff; many familiar faces from the Houston area.

Key to the party would certainly be the chairs Joanna and Brad Marks of IW Marks Jewelers and Hannah and Cal McNair, Houston Texans vice chairman and COO (the latter responsible for the turnout of the many crowd pleasing Texans players).

Susan and Michael Plank served as honorary chairs. Susan and their daughter, Kendall Plank, co-founders of Dec My Room, welcomed their supporters.

Red dazzled the runway (see previous ‘red’ post on MRG here) in beautiful floor length gowns. ‘My Red Glasses’ approved of the first colour to flutter across the runway, Red! What other colour would we mean? It’s in high demand this time of year after Valentine’s and it was of course a couples’ runway show! Plus it’s Chinese New Year. The most sold out shoe at Jimmy Choo around this time of year is also Red! It’s a colour that definitely takes over February.

Blue made an appearance, electric blue dominating, with some navy and black mixed tones, such like Fendi featured earlier in the year, and it looked very sophisticated. I absolutely love the navy & black combination. Mustard yellow captivated the catwalk, adding some much needed sunshine, as well.

Below, some of the Spring trends that Tootsies and Lenny and Tamara showcased on the runway.

Statement necklaces in bright colours played a big part spicing up outfits as well as clutches to create colour contrast. I loved the silver and pearl clutches which graced Tootsies runway. An easy ways to pull your 2014 outfits on trend in 2015 is just by adding key accessories.

In fact, in trying to look the part, I wore gold Dolce& Gabbana sequined open toed heels, Zara black dress with lace detail, Orange quilted ASOS jacket . Accessories: Michael Kors Quilted Black Clutch. Chanel Gold and Black Studded earrings.

Contributor Francene Davidson covering Tootsies event

My favorite look of the night was a burgundy suit worn by Kareem Jackson and he looked fabulous and as you can see loved every second. For me I’m in love with the blue shades, especially Navy.

If there’s one thing I can recommend enough of it is gold heels! You will find they go with most outfits, can be added to a dressed down outfit or assist with adding a more glamorous feel to jeans and a vintage tee.

After the show, guests enjoyed Deep Eddy cocktails, SlimRitas and nibbles from West Ave eateries while they shopped the collection!  The party raised more than $100,000 for Dec My Room.

I had a fabulous time at Tootsies; it was great to see the diversity of spring trends strutting down the runway. It gives you great ideas of combinations to try out yourself and pieces you already have to mix together to create a new vision for spring.

The theme for the night was Love and the Couples that had it…..some of those famous Houston couples were:  Randi and Johnny Carrabba, Lisa and Michael Holthouse, Susan and Mike Plank, Cal and Hannah McNair, Brad & Joanna Marks, Megan and Brian Cushing,  and Sara Pope-Eliason and Monica Pope to name a few of the dazzling couples.

About Dec My Room: Founded in 2007 by Susan Plank and her daughter Kendall, Dec My Room is a local nonprofit that creates personalized hospital rooms for children being treated at Texas Children’s Cancer Center’s Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Volunteers personalize each patient’s room upon their arrival with items specific to the individual’s interest, which directly supports the health and healing of these patients. It’s such a fantastic idea. They showed a short clip of their previous examples, it brought a tear to my eye how they had such an effect on the patient in question making them feel more at home, which is a difficult task considering the circumstances.