Fashion Houston has taken on an international flair as Zac Posen, Monique Lhuillier and Georges Chakra are expected to showcase their latest collections on the runway of the Grand Foyer at the Wortham Theater Center Nov. 12-15.
Though only 31, Posen has spent more than a decade in the center of the fashion world. His first major collection, which he showcased at the young age of 21, drew the attention of P. Diddy, who became an investor in Posen's company.
Since then, Posen's collections, which often feature eye-catching mermaid gowns, fitted suits with a 1940s flair and colorful cocktail dresses favored by celebrities like Claire Danes and Kelly Osbourne, are a fashion week highlight. He also produces a lower-priced Z Spoke collection for Saks Fifth Avenue.
As the go-to designer for celebrity weddings, Lhuillier has created gowns for Reese Witherspoon, Giuliana Rancic, Vanessa Millino and Alicia Silverstone on their big day. But the Los Angeles-based designer is increasingly known for her stellar ready-to-wear collections of red-carpet gowns and daytime dresses. For her fall collection, she mixed the frilly with the edgy, combining leather insets and corset belts with lace sleeves and tulle-covered backs.
It will be the first trip to Texas for Chakra, the Beirut-based Lebanese haute couture designer who regular shows his collections at Paris Fashion Week.
It will be first trip to Texas for Chakra, the Beirut-based Lebanese haute couture designer who regular shows his collections at Paris Fashion Week. His red-carpet clients include Helen Mirren, Cameron Diaz and Jessica Alba.
Chakra, Posen and Lhuillier are expected to join a stellar line-up of emerging designers and seasoned runway pros for Houston's third annual fashion week. As CultureMap previously reported, Max and Lubov Azria will show their BCBG and Hervé Léger collections on Nov. 12 and Nov 14.
While officials continue to wait for confirmation of other well-known fashion names, CultureMap has learned that a number of buzzed-about designers with international ties have committed to showing in Houston. They include Rubin Singer, a Russian-born designer whose celebrity clients include Beyoncé and Glenn Close, Hollywood favorite Kevan Hall and Maison Rabih Kayrouz, a Beirut-born designer who shows his collections at the Paris haute couture shows.
See video from last year's Fashion Houston:
