The bar at The Strip House is on the dark side, which means that any fashion statement is going to have to pop to be noticed. One femme at the CultureMap Mixer on the Map who did stand out in the dim surroundings was Kelsey Jones, not to be missed in a purple romper by Leifsdottir from Anthropologie.

A New Jersey native, Kelsey is a Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania, working this summer with the Houston A+ Challenge through the Education Pioneers Fellowship program. It's her first time in Texas and while she loves the friendly folks, the heat and humidity require a fashion check.

For the mixer, she said, "I wanted to change out of work clothes and wear something casual and night-time appropriate...with ventilation! I also love that the piece ends in shorts, which makes it a little playful and unexpected." 

Her shoes, "the most comfortable sandals I've ever owned," are Sam Edelman, purchased at DNA Footwear in Brooklyn. Her handbag is by Nooworks and her earrings were a gift from a friend.

—SHELBY HODGE

In the flurry of fancy-frocked young women pouring into Saint Genevieve for New for the Night's website launch, Magen Pastor flaunted a stylishly independent look. The photographer/makeup artist/fashion blogger and mother of twins explained that on this night it was "dress for less" and besides she was feeling less than svelte (don't we all know that circumstance).

"I felt fat in one outfit and just then went with something else," she said.

That something else meant a bejeweled jacked from 2b Bebe Outlet worn over an ephemeral white dress with light embroidery from Target, the Xhilaration label. Her shoes were from Forever 21 and her necklace and bracelets from Stella & Dot. The Dooney & Bourke handbag is vintage.

"I have been in the fashion industry a long time," she said. "I have a keen eye for pieces I guess, I never look at brands or designers."  

Today, Megan works as a makeup artist for Exquisite Reflections and for Time Talent Modeling.

— SHELBY HODGE

Probably as it should have been, Brittany Sakowitz was clearly the glamorous standout at Saint Genevieve the other night when a fashionable gaggle of young professionals gathered to celebrate the launch of her website NewfortheNight.com. 

She was stunning in a Pleasure Doing Business cocktail dress, available for rental at NewfortheNight.com. "It's so flattering," she said of the dress. "It's fitted where it needs to be." 

Brittany accessorized with a bracelet cuff from Shopbop, earrings from Patricia Peckingpaugh and colorful Alexandre Birman heels from Neiman Marcus. 

A full-time corporate attorney with Baker Hostetler, Brittany founded New for the Night with her fashion dynasty family as her "passion project."

"I thought my outfit spoke to what New for the Night is about: Borrowing a new designer dress and feeling fabulous on a fun night out. I wanted to wear something unique and flattering, but also wanted to stay cool in this summer heat!"

Explaining the philosophy behind her business concept, she said, "It's fun to be able to borrow something beautiful, have that 'new dress feeling' and save the expense of a dress sitting in your closet never to be worn again!"

—SHELBY HODGE

What's a gal to wear to a ladies luncheon featuring Donna Karan fashions and hosted by the firm's client service manager from New York? For Soraya McClelland, who was just back from a Hawaii vacation, the choice was easy. 

"This was hanging in my closet ready to be steamed. It was hanging there ready to go," she said of the Michael Kors summer dress from Saks Fifth Avenue. And that was a good thing as Saks was a key player in the midday fete.

Her Michael Kors high-heeled sandals were from Tootsies and the smashing black alligator bag that she carried was created by her close friend Alina Garcia, who has the bags made in Italy.

P.S. We envied her Hawaiian tropical glow.

— SHELBY HODGE