Dressed to kill: Fashionistas rule as 10 Best Dressed honorees unveiled at Neiman Marcus

Oh, the Louboutins, the Leiber handbags and the top-label dresses floating through the designer salon of Neiman Marcus on Wednesday night. The dazzling million-dollar looks of just about everyone were clues to the purpose of the evening — announcement of the Houston Chronicle Best Dressed honorees.

Who would dare enter this realm of sartorial splendor in anything less than the spectacular?

 The designer mix did not disappoint as the variety was as colorful as the honorees. 

Houston Chronicle chairman Jack Sweeney, ascending to that stratospheric rank earlier in the day, introduced the 10 honorees, who will walk the runway on the 30th anniversary of the Best Dressed Luncheon and Neiman Marcus Fashion Presentation Benefiting the March of Dimes.

While we accept the fact that the wealth of the ladies' good works is paramount in the selection process by that anonymous editorial committee from the Chronicle, inquiring minds want to know what they wore for this heart-throbbing red carpet moment. The designer mix did not disappoint as the variety was as colorful as the honorees.

Both Jana Arnoldy and Sue Smith chose sparkly Oscar de la Renta cocktail dresses for their presentation. It was Jana's first time on the list and Sue's third, which earned her Best Dressed Hall of Fame honors. Both second-time honorees, Phyllis Williams and Mary Tere Perusquia opted for Carolina Herrera though decidedly different looks. Lovely ladylike dresses by Valentino were the choice of first-time honoree Millette Sherman and second-time honoree Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein. 

Paige Fertitta, named to the list for the second time, charmed in her Brunello Cucinelli, while Hall of Fame honoree Lucinda Loya rocked in a Kaufman Franco beaded dress and hipster boots. Who can ever go wrong in Chanel? That was the choice of first-time honoree Carol Linn. KTRK Channel 13 news anchor Gina Gaston opted for an understated jumpsuit by Chloe for her Best Dressed debut.

Kelli Blanton will chair the the March 28 benefit at the Westin Galleria Hotel and Lynn Wyatt, the very first Houston Chronicle Best Dressed Hall of Fame honoree, continues her premiering role as the luncheon's first-ever honorary chair. 

Who were the fashionables in this tony crowd? Susan Krohn and Patrick Gehm, Sheridan and John Eddie Williams, Eddy Blanton, Barbara Seymour, Lilly and Thurmon Andress, Tina Pyne, Kim Tutcher, Cerón, Amy and Jim Lee, Mark Sullivan, Sandy Barrett, Astrid and Gene Van Dyke, Susan Hansen, Becca Cason Thrash, Dancie and Jim Ware, Guyla Pircher, Gina and Dr. Devinder Bhatia and Tara and David Wuthrich.