High Tea, High Style

LA-based designer Fe Zandi brings her smashing collection to Houston and ladies toast her

The sunlit conservatory at the St. Regis Hotel was brimming with high-style ladies Wednesday afternoon when Los Angeles-based designer Fe Zandi brought several score of her latest creations to be fawned over by adoring fans.

Zandi has long been a Houston favorite particularly with philanthropist Margaret Alkek Williams and a host of well-heeled Iranians, who hail from Zandi's homeland. Although Williams, who seldom ventures out for daytime events, was missing, the assembly was trés chic.

Shahla Ansary, Sima Ladjevardian, Diane Lokey Farb, and Lilly Kooros were among those sitting down to the lavish high tea spread put on by the hotel. As one might imagine, very few among these sleek fashionistas touched the absolutely seductive sweets and scones that the St. Regis chefs had prepared. A few did, however, indulge in champagne while others opted for the St. Regis house blend tea.

It was a colorful afternoon as models paraded through in eye-catching gowns and daywear, the gowns often featuring Zandi's glam froufrou touch. Zandi has expanded her line since last in Houston more than a decade ago to include gorgeous evening bags and eye-catching, over-sized statement jewelry.

Susanne (Dawley) Byram hosted the gathering honoring her long-time friend and introduced the shy designer to the gathering.

Among those in the mix were Joan Schnitzer Levy, Mahnaz Ansari, fashion blogger Beth Muecke, Rania Daniel, Susan Smith, Suzanne Ebrahimi, Barbara Van Postman, Barbara LeGrange, Eva Farah and Carol Daugerhoo.

Diane Lokey Farb, Johanna Mounier, Beth Muecke.

Photo by Shelby Hodge

Diane Lokey Farb, Johanna Mounier, Beth Muecke.

luxury

RIP, Wally

Texan Wally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87

Wally Funk aboard Blue Origin New Shepard

Photo courtesy of Blue Origin

The 82-year-old Wally Funk became the oldest person to go to space on July 20, 2021.

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

Funk died Wednesday, July 8 at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O'Dell said Thursday. O'Dell, who described herself as Funk's caregiver, said she was by Funk's side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg.

“It took its toll,” O'Dell said in a phone interview.

Wally Funk became a hometown hero in Grapevine. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

Funk was one of 13 female pilots who went through the same tests as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s but never made it into space. In 2021, she got her chance aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. At the time, the 82-year-old was the oldest person to go into space, though the record was later broken by “Star Trek” actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate. They were both 90.

Bezos chose Funk as an “honored guest” to ride alongside him and two others on an up-and-down hop from West Texas aboard his Blue Origin rocket.

In interviews after the 11-minute flight, Funk enthusiastically told reporters, "I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”

Wally Funk in her '20s as a flight instructor. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

She became a hometown hero when she returned home to Dallas-Fort Worth; the city of Grapevine threw a parade for her history-making experience.

“Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted Thursday on X.

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This story contains material from CultureMap story archives.

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