Mickey Rosmarin, a fashion legend in Houston and beyond, that I was proud to call my beloved friend for over 40 years. photo taken by Carlos Elena, 1980
I feel like I am late in paying my tribute to a guy that’s friendship and generosity I have cherished. So much has been written and said about Mickey Rosmarin as his loss has impacted so many in this city. However, the reality that this week has been one of the most difficult I’ve ever had to experience, but as hard as it is to believe, it was just one week ago today, that our friend Mickey left this planet. It was too sudden, totally unexpected but then that’s what heart attacks can do. I lost my own Dad at a young 48 years of age the same way…..another common bond that Mickey and I shared.
Looking back on this week, to the Celebration of Life reception at the store that he loved, it was very difficult for me to comprehend his absence. After all Mickey was always fashionably late, especially to parties in his own store and I just wanted desperately for him to arrive and confirm that this was not all really happening. We all know that didn’t happen but what did transpire that night was many conversations and ‘Mickey stories’ that we all wanted to share with one another. Somehow there was comfort in that. We all had our stories as we each had our own special relationship with this amazing guy!
My story was unique in that my closeness with Mickey stemmed from truly ‘knowing him when’…..at the very beginning of it all, 43 years ago, when Tootsies was a concept on paper. He and his original partner, Jeff Feinstein, would come and buy me coffee at Bloomingdale’s in NYC where I was working in a buying office. Jeff was my friend from our days of working together at Neiman Marcus Galleria and he intro’d me to Mickey and we immediately clicked and became fast, loyal friends for decades to follow. The guys showed me a TOOTSIES logo on a piece of paper and because back then (70’s), Bloomingdale’s 59th Street was all about the ‘Saturday Generation’, and thought to be the hippest store in the city. It was truly a hang-out on Saturday’s for Manhattan’s coolest peeps and the boys from Texas were on it and would pump me for all of the merchandise info on what these hipsters were buying so that they could be first to bring it back to our town. I feel that I was with them every step of the way in creating what was just the beginning of a legendary store not just in our town but onto national recognition. Coincidentally I moved back to Houston in 1975, the year they moved from the little store in Montrose, to the slick new TOOTSIES home, next to Galmiche Hair Salon, in the Uptown Galleria area where side-by-side these two establishments became the center for fashion cool in this city.
From there began the upscale approach that Mickey began to take in his selection of cutting edge designers from around the globe that he sought after and of course, won them over into selling him and selling him first. He moved to Highland Village in the 80’s, bringing in an expanded designer selection that only continued to grow as they moved on to their current palace of a store in West Ave. What was awesome to me, was the few times that Mickey asked me to cover some markets for him in NYC, every vendor/designer that I approached and mentioned that I was shopping for Tootsies, would give me a welcoming smile in return and ‘how is my friend, Mickey’ from all of them. He was loved by all…..a fact, that was confirmed when Holly Moore read out loud to us all of the emails from designers from all over the world as they learned of Mickey’s passing. Words like great style, taste, visionary, entrepreneur were used frequently.
Lastly, about Mickey Rosmarin, the man. Has anyone had a more generous heart to the charities and to his friends than Mickey? Tootsies was always one of the first to sign on to support large events, to agree to hold store events and just lend a hand in any way that he could to the causes and to the people that he cared about. He was a compassionate soul and loyal friend to so many that his loss to the city of Houston is so great. However, if we feel sad and are missing our friend, we can find comfort by stepping into the store that he loved so much….Tootsies is Mickey and his vision and love of life are so much a part of what Tootsies is and what his talented team will ensure to continue to be.
Some highlights of life with Mickey Rosmarin…..
Mickey, Becca Cason Thrash and Naeem Khan
Mimi and Robert Del Grande, Annie Amante and Mickey
Chris Goins, Mickey, Mauri Oliver, Vicki Rizzo
Jeff Shell, Nancy Levicki and Mickey
Holly Moore and Mickey
Becca Cason Thrash and Mickey
Roz Pactor, Mickey and Gracie Cavnar
Mickey, designer Andrew Gn
Mickey and designer, Lela Rose
Fady Armanious and Mickey
Cindy Garbs with Mickey
Shelley Taylor Ludwick with Mickey
Designer Kelly Wearstler and Mickey
Ceron and Mickey
Mickey, Cornelia Guest
Leisa Holland-Nelson, Mickey, Ellie Francisco
Victor Costa, Mickey, Shelby Hodge
Mickey and daughter Aurey Harper
So long Mickey….you were one of a kind
RIP, my friend
photos courtesy of Tootsies…Jenny Antil, Michelle Watson, Daniel Ortiz
Roz, you said it all so eloquently . I remember when we first did the Shop for Heart Card and so many retailers waited to see what Mickey and Tootsies was doing . When Tootsies signed on, so did they !
He was truly a BFF to Houston . Have a good summer ! Love ya, Nancy
Thanks Nancy; I remember his support for SWHC, as with so many things he has done for so many people and for charities….like no other. xoxo, Roz
Roz,
What a heartfelt tribute to our friend … And so good to read about how u shared life w our friend . I met him when I went to buy sundresses at his house in lower montrose … I worked at Sakowitz for years and Mickey became my friend for life. The loss is overwhelming … But the fact we had such a “comet” in our life and loved him and he loved us is a gift. Mickey was one of the first people to take me to dinner when Jimmy passed … He did so many caring things for soooo many people . I loved Yvonne’s story of sewing two dresses together so she would have a fabulous dress to wear when she sang!!!! And I will miss him terribly.
Thank you for sharing about all he did for charities… He was a force behind the startup of DFSH and a tireless voice for us and so many others. He is w us always in our hearts but the world is less bright than it was last week.
A huge hug to you ,
Nancy
Nancy Levicki
President
Dress for Success Houston
3310 Eastside
Houston, TX 77098
713. 337 0876
http://www.dfshouston.org
Thank you for sharing this story. I did not realize the history you and Mickey had. I had little contact with him, but always knew of his great impact on the community. Lenny often shared Mickey’s creative ideas with me, so I knew he was special.
Sorry for your loss, and the loss of the Houston & Dallas communities.
What a beautiful tribute. Loved reading all of the history of your friendship.
Have a wonderful summer.
Much love,
Mary Ann
Roz,
Thank you for the lovely article on Mickey. I had not known about his passing til I saw your newsletter. I am so very sorry for your loss. Good friends in the industry are hard to come by.
Hugs,
Evalyn
Roz,
Thank you for such a great tribute!
I remember buying my 1st pair of “blue jeans” from Honest Threads in Montrose. We will all certainly miss him
Sharon
Sharon Dreyer
Sales Associate
Top Producer, CLHMS
——————–
John Daugherty, Realtors
520 Post Oak Blvd., 6th Fl.
Houston, Texas. 77027
Office (713) 705-6693
sharond@johndaugherty.com
Hi Roz,
Loved reading about your history with Mickey. What a sweet, heartfelt tribute to such an icon. Thank you for sharing. He will be missed.
xoxo,
Tina
Tina Davis
Cheeky Vintage
2134 Richmond Ave.
Houston, TX. 77098
713.533.1221
Tina@cheekyvintage.com
Rozzie,
Wonderful tribute to such a dear friend; while my friendship with Mickey doesn’t measure up to yours, having shared your friendship with Mickey for 40 of these 40 years I know what he meant to you personally and the loss that you are feeling. Your unique perspective on how it all began and it’s evolution I know will mean a lot to many in Houston.
Love you.
Beautifully said.
Loved loved your letter on Mickey thank you
Beautifully written Roz!!! Everyone will miss him so much!
Rozzie,
Beautifully written and from your
Heart….. I know how much you will miss Micky…
JG
Beautifully written, Roz…my heart goes out to you for the loss of your dear friend. He was a treasure to so many.
Roz
This was beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
Roz:
You are so incredibly right. He was one of a kind. Started with nothing and built an extraordinary business….all on his own. There aren’t many let like him anymore. It was so shocking. Dominique and Nick are in Europe and couldn’t attend the funeral and reception at the store but you did a great service here!
Thanks,
Audrey Toll
Great Roz..
A beautiful tribute, beautifully written
Love ya,
Such a beautiful heartfelt tribute.
Phyllis
Hi Roz,
I was shocked to hear about Mickey. I always had a good relationship with him…we had known each other since 1983 when I first moved here and started modeling for him. We did some of the best fashions shows back then, it was a different time! It feels very strange and sad to know I won’t see him around any more…such a terrible loss at such a young age.
I know he was a great friend to you and always very supportive…I’m sorry that you have lost such a dear friend.
XO Jeanne