It's Party Time

Leather and Laces, Part II: Fierce models, reality TV billionaire and UH football coach celebrate

Emily Ratajkowski knows how to work a red carpet. At the Saturday night edition of Leather and Laces at Hughes Manor, the model/actress and party co-host donned a bright mini sequined dress that looked as if it was made for her and posed for photos with complete and utter fierceness, though notably skipping every interview.

After appearing topless in the infamous Robin Thicke "Blurred Lines" video (which sort of jump started her fame), a red carpet is clearly a piece of cake for Ratajkowski, all in a day's work.

At least she showed up. By 12:30, there had been no sight of co-host Sara Sampaio, so the model either took fashionably late to a whole new level, or she chose another event Saturday night. Or maybe that Washington Ave. traffic got the best of her.

Seen walking the red carpet were model Alessandra Ambrosio, Houston billionaire and reality TV star Tilman Fertitta, University of Houston head football coach Major Applewhite, and players Christian Covington (Houston Texans), Paul Francisco (New England Patriots), Vonta Leach (Texans), Jason Horton (Green Bay Packers), and Remy Adoyle (New Orleans Saints), as well as NFL alums Ryan Neufeld and Randal Williams.

As guests finally migrated away from the red carpet and into the party areas, the club was soon packed with mingling, drinking and dancing until the closing hours. Not much talk about football, just good times and embracing the Houston party life.

The popular party celebrated its 14th anniversary, having been founded in Houston back in 2004, leading up to Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Guests lingered throughout the club, enjoying drinks, good music and a diverse crowd to people watch. Cirque USA was onsite, doing mini performances, even swinging and performing over top of the crowd, taking social media posts to new heights.

Another highlight was the massive and well-maintained silent auction, spread out throughout the Manor. Among the items were a signed JJ Watt jersey (valued at $2,800), a signed Matt Ryan jersey (this year’s new MVP, valued at $2,950) and a signed Tom Brady jersey (valued at $4,500).

Model/actress Emily Ratajkowski, co-hosted the Leather and Laces party on Saturday night at Hughes Manor.

Photo by F. Carter Smith

Model/actress Emily Ratajkowski, co-hosted the Leather and Laces party on Saturday night at Hughes Manor.

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Springtime Splendor

Fashion, fun, and funds soar at Houston's $1 million+ Bayou Bend weekend

Photo by Wilson Parish

Connor Huff, Alanna Flores, Jim and Cherie Flores, and Caldwell Flores.

Houston's stylish convened for a three-day cultural escape as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston hosted the 2025 Bayou Bend Weekend from March 28 to March 30. With its lush gardens and historic charm, Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens set the stage for a memorable weekend of fashion, family fun, and twilight revelry.

Photo by Wilson Parish

Connor Huff, Alanna Flores, Jim and Cherie Flores, and Caldwell Flores.

The festivities launched Friday afternoon with the eighth Bayou Bend Fashion Show and Luncheon, chaired by Gillian Sarofim. Beneath a sweeping garden tent dressed in olive greens and coral-pink blooms by The Events Company, 200 guests feasted on a City Kitchen-catered menu.

The real treat? Texas-born designer Lela Rose wowed the crowd with 37 radiant looks, her Neiman Marcus-presented runway show earning nods from oohing fashionistas and seasoned museum patrons alike.

Saturday's scene shifted into full whimsy for the annual Children's Party, where more than 250 guests wandered into The Secret Garden, a wonderland imagined by chairs Carrie Compton and Jill Wright. Activities like Mary's Magic Bubbles, Face Paint Petals, and The Enchanted Workshop turned the day into a colorful dreamscape for little ones and their grown-up companions.

Sunday evening’s record-breaking Bayou Bend Garden Party was partly thanks to Lugano’s support as principal underwriter, ushering 325 guests to mingle at twilight under a tent blooming in lavender and spring green hues. Cocktail hour was extra nostalgic as guests sipped Fish House Punch, a concoction dear to Ima Hogg herself, its 293-year-old recipe charmingly printed on custom napkins. Jazz Revisited set a mellow groove before Manhattan amped up the night for dancing under the stars.

Thanks to generous support, the weekend soared past expectations, raising more than $1,275,000 for Bayou Bend's operating budget.

Among those spotted in the chic garden crowd—and it’s quite a list—were Irma Castor, Ashlee Schneider, Ann Bookout, Lilly and Thurmon Andress, Kathy Leigh, Kari Dagley, Tiffany McCauley, Susanne and Bill Pritchard, Clayton Erikson, Polly and Murry Bowden, Denise Monteleone, Meredith and Mason Barker, Alanna Flores, Morgan Allen Neal, Kendall Allen Strait, Logan Dresser, Lisa Dodd, Lilly Cullen, Anne Chao, Carolyn Sabat, Rose Cullen, Anne Duncan, Shelli and Steve Lindley, Nancy and Butch Abendshein, Frances Lummis, Eleanor Lummis, Tye Leon, Betsy Goodman, Lauren Gray, Lauren Reckling, Randa McConn, Christiana Reckling, Barbara Gamson, Sima Ladjevardian, Cherie Lindley, Whitney and Jim Crane, Phoebe Tudor, Liz McIngvale-Mackey, Moti Ferder, Josh Gaynor, Stuart Winston, Leslie Duncan, Nancy and Rich Kinder, Will Mathis, Cherie and Jim Flores, Lynne and Joe Hudson, Franci Neely, Karl and Ann Stern, Lisa and Downing Mears, Kate and Steve Gibson, Diane and David Modesett, Kelly and Bill Montgomery, Laura and Keefer Lehner, Janie and Daniel Zilkha, Cynthia and Tony Petrello, Sara Dodd-Denton and Will Denton, Isabel and Ransom Lummis, and Aliyya and Herman Stude.

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