A presidential audience for Houston fashion week: George H.W. Bush brings his support

Houston fashion week boasts something no other fashion show — not New York, Paris or Milan — has: A president in the audience.

President George H.W. Bush (41) and former first lady Barbara Bush were in the front row to support Houston native Lauren Bush as she made her fashion week debut Tuesday night at the Wortham Theater Center.

Lauren, the daughter of Neil Bush (son of George H.W. and brother of George W.), presented a collection called Lauren Pierce, that supports her charity that helps feed children in impoverished nations, at Fashion Houston. Neil Bush and his wife Maria, Lauren's younger brother Pierce and several of her friends also made the show.

As a longtime fashion observer, I can't recall a presidential appearance ever at a major fashion show. When Laura Bush was first lady, she was the first first lady to appear at a New York Fashion Week show when she showed up at the Red Dress Collection to support the fight against heart disease in women in 2004. The New York Times wrote then that observers felt that Laura Bush's appearance carried the  "same sense of importance as when Christian Dior unveiled the New Look."

Wonder what everyone will say about Houston's coup now?

Both George H.W. Bush and Barbara said this was the first fashion show they've ever attended.

"We're proud of our girl," Barbara Bush told CultureMap. "She's saving the world."

"She does so much to help other people," George H.W. added about his granddaughter.

A few years ago, Lauren Bush designed a reusable shopping bag that sold at Whole Foods stores. Proceeds from each FEED 100 bag provided 100 meals to children in Rwanda through the United Nations World Food Program School Feeding program. The bag, which continues to sell well, was featured at the runway show.

The former model's fashion line is also designed to raise awareness about ethically sustainable clothing.

Bush's line of tie-dye shirts, scarves, soft-posh tees and beige dresses were perfect for a casual day or a college town. "I hope she sells in Austin," an audience member quipped. 

"I think it's awesome," Pierce Bush said of the line called Lauren Pierce. "She came up with a great name for her line."

And brought some presidential star power to Houston's fashion week.