There is nothing quite like the high-fashion, high-society tableau that comes each spring with the River Oaks tennis tournament. The annual luncheon, so popular that it is held two days in a row, is the ultimate see-and-be-seen event.
Each year, ladies in colorful frocks and hats, gents in linen and seersucker suits swarm around the pool area of River Oaks Country Club in spring fashion splendor. Tootsies sends a squadron of sleek models down the catwalk that crisscrosses the swimming pool. It's ooh-la-la from the time the gates open until well into the afternoon as a number of convivial guests stay on for a few hours of champagne-fueled socializing and/or viewing the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship matches.
Wednesday and Thursday luncheons were carbon copies except for a changeover in a few of the guests. In fact, this event is so socially potent that a good number of the ladies attend both days. As he thanked luncheon chair Ann Hammer, ROCC tennis director Van Barry noted, "This fashion show is such an integral part of our week."
The circus-themed fashion presentation took on new life this year with circus entertainers with whips, hoops and stilts. Colorfully costumed, they jockeyed between the models as both vied for the sellout crowd's attention. J&D Entertainment provided the costumed circus characters who continued to entertain throughout the lunch. (See a video of the runway show below.)
Few added more sartorial splendor on Wednesday than Tootsies' Fady Armanious in Louboutin shoes and otherwise total Gucci, Ceron in floral slacks and Diane Lokey Farb wearing Valentino.
Fashionables attending across the two days included tournament chairman Joe Cleary and wife Cathy, sisters-in-law Estela and Stephanie Cockrell, Mark Hammer, Kelli Blanton, Cynthia Allshouse, Lilly Andress, Linda McReynolds, Greggory Burk, Catherine Elkins, Ann Bookout, Megan Sutton Reed, Kelly Hamman, Maria Elias, Soraya McClelland, Mickey Rosmarin and sponsor Tenenbaum & Co.'s Kevin Black and Tony Bradfield.
Justin Yoakum, left, Jessica Rossman and Sam Governale.
