Packed to its 100-year-old rafters, the new Lucchese store in Highland Village rocked and rolled earlier this week with a grand opening party that played host to a mixed, yet glam, bag of bold-faced types. Leading the trail were Lucchese owners Lyn and John Muse, who flew in from Dallas for the fete.
It was Lyn Muse who was responsible for those 100-year-old rafters, culled from aging farmhouses across the country. Along with Dallas-based Droese Raney Architecture, she orchestrated the trés chic western design that had many guests swooning. This is Lucchese's fourth free-standing store with others in Nashville, Santa Fe, N.M., and San Antonio, where the revered luxury bootmaker was established in the late 1800s.
"This is really how we want our product and brand presented to the consumer and the only way you can do that is to have your own store."
"This is really how we want our product and brand presented to the consumer and the only way you can do that is to have your own store," said John Muse. "The shop represents the highest part of the brand with our Classics collection."
While Muse noted that the price on boots in the store ranges from $500 to $5,000, we did eye a magnificent pair of American alligator center cut boots, The Baron, custom-made and priced at close to $14,000.
Shortly after spotting those beauties, we ran into Robert Sakowitz, wearing a pair of vintage center cut American alligator boots. They were custom-made for him by Sam Lucchese back when Sakowitz was Houston's premiere department store and carried the venerable brand. "I love their boots. I still buy a bunch of them," he said.
Next, we ran into interior designer and author Bill Stubbs, who acknowledged loving the store even though he was wearing Gucci loafers.
The VIP party crowd included Lucchese investor and MLB Hall of Famer Goose Gossage, country music legend Neal McCoy, World Champion bull rider Tuff Hedeman, Lucchese president Doug Kindy and wife Sally, former Houston Oiler Dan Pastorini,Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo executive committee members including Ed McMahon and Dallas-based Charles Ward, luxury marketing and communications whiz. Ward handles marketing for the Santa Barbara Polo team of which John Muse is president.
Among those admiring the fine leathers were Laurann Claridge and William Zeitz, Margaret Justice, David Droese, Lance Raney, Maggi Jones, Carolyn Farb, Bob Boudreaux, Stephen Newman, Taylor Byrne-Dodge, Erin Kronberg and Catherine Brooks.
Cristina Terrill Kooker, left, and Cana Odom.
