Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Grand Gala Ball
It's all about the gown
Oct 16, 2009 | 10:53 pm
Pat Breen chose a black-and-white ball gown that was a highlight of the Oscar de la Renta fall 2009 collection. "I really have a lot of black and a lot of white, but not mixed together," she said. "I just fell in love with it."
Bill Olive
- Pat Breen chose a black-and-white ball gown that was a highlight of the Oscar de la Renta fall 2009 collection. "I really have a lot of black and a lot of white, but not mixed together," she said. "I just fell in love with it."Bill Olive
- Courtney Lanier Sarofim planned to wear a white gown until her seven-year-old daughter fashion critic said, "I'm tired of seeing you in white." So Sarofim switched to a Valentino gown in the designer's signature red color.Bill Olive
- Lynn Wyatt chose this Carolina Herrera creation "because it's a proper ball gown and this is one of Houston's most gala events."Bill Olive
- Laura Casey picked this sunny John Galliano gown because good friend Becca Cason Thrash "told me to." Casey was in great spirits because her divorce was just finalized.Bill Olive
- Gail Jennings said she didn't know the name of the designer of her black gown. "My husband actually bought it for me," she said. Lucky woman. Hubby Keith Jennings didn't take the credit for the selection, however. He was in Kuwait, where a sales associate at Bloomingdale's selected three gowns for his wife to choose from.Bill Olive
- Joan Lu didn't recall the name of the designer of her gown, either. "I picked it up a full five years ago," she said. We're just envious that she is still able to get into the same gown after five years and look so fabulous. We're also guessing it's a Vera Wang.Bill Olive
- Rose Hochner picked this asymetrical purple goddess gown accented with silver beading. "I put it on and I loved it. I wanted something sparkly and fun."Bill Olive
- Being six-and-a-half months pregnant, Elizabeth Petersen chose this one-shoulder Naeem Khan gown because "it is soft and flowing."Bill Olive
- Janet Gurwich purchased this slinky Chado Ralph Rucci gown when designer Ralph Rucci made a personal appearance at the Best Dressed luncheon a few months ago. "I thought it was sophisticated and sexy," she said.Photo by Bill Olive
- Diane Lokey Farb chose this Valentino gown (designed before his retirement) to match the black-and-white theme of the gala.Bill Olive
- Cornelia Long chose a black gown by Angel Sanchez to fit in with the black-and-white ball theme and because it's comfortable. "It's the 'Madame X' dress," she said, referring to the painting by John Singer Sargent, "I think that's appropriate for the museum ball."Bill Olive
- Kathy McCord is on trend in an animal print gown by Carolina Herrera. "When I saw it, it just stuck," she said. She accessorized it with a tribal Lanvin necklace.Bill Olive
- Martha Oti picked this backless gown (designer unknown) because the Houston weather has been unusually warm. "But, oops, that Norther came in at just the wrong moment for me," she joked about the suddenly chilly weather Friday night.Bill Olive
- Kristen Habich has no idea who designed her black-and-white print gown. "Oh god, I bought it at a designer tour in Austin three years ago. I'm sure it's by someone fabulous," she joked.Bill Olive
- MFAH Asian Art curator Christine Starkman picked a Chinese-inspired gown "because I wanted to show that Asian dresses are beautiful."Bill Olive
- Marcia Backus on her Monique Lhuillier gown: "It's such a party dress."Bill Olive
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Grand Gala Ball seemed toned down from previous years. But you couldn't tell it from the glamorous attire worn by Houston's Smart Set.
The collection is available online and in Purple Brand's Galleria boutique. Photo by BFA for Crown Royal
The Crown Royal x Purple Brand collab features luxe textures, bold embellishments, and undeniable Houston energy.Photo by BFA for Crown Royal
