With only about three weeks until the first Heart of Fashion runway extravaganza debuts, organizers celebrated the designer lineup with 300 supporters and friends at Tootsies Tuesday night.
Heart of Fashion founder and CEO Vivian Wise welcomed the crowd and explained that proceeds from the celebration of fashion and philanthropy will go to support three charities, Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston, Legacy Community Health Services and Butterflys and Bandages, a non-profit organization that raises funds for for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) family support.
"We are so happy that we can do this here in this city, support all of the retailers, all of these wonderful designers and of these great charities," Wise said. "With fashion, you can have compassion and you can have a big heart and you can do something more powerful and impactful and meaningful than yourself."
The large-scale celebration, produced by Todd Events, will take place November18-20 at Million Air Houston near Hobby Airport, with 99,000 square feet of hangar space that will be transformed into a fashion haven. The inaugural event will be divided into three evenings, with designer presentations sponsored by retailers Sloan Hall, Elizabeth Anthony, Stag Provisions, M Penner, Tootsies, Valobra and Neiman Marcus.
Fashion lineup
On the first night, November 18, the lineup opens with Cushnie Et Ochs, a hot design duo known for sexy creations, Norrisol Ferrari and Angel Sanchez, who will showcase his spring 2016 collection of colorful evening and daywear dubbed "Tropical Couture." The evening will conclude when famed designer Ralph Rucci presents legendary model Carmen dell'Orefice with the first Texas Legacy Award.
The second night, November 19, will showcase fashions for both sexes, with the Eleventy Italian-made menswear collection and the La Isla Swimwear collection. The evening's fashion shows also include designs from Stag Provisions for Men and Valobra jewelers.
The third and final night, November 20, features Peter Cohen, Houston designer Paloa Contreras' Inclan Studio, Dallas designer Abi Ferrin and the French fashion label Ungaro, which has been revitalized by designer Fausto Puglisi.
Styling help
Beth Muecke, founder of the style blog BethieLife, will be available to help style guests for the big night, Wise explained. "It's not only what night you are going to be there but what are you going to wear? Because that's a time to shine, too," Wise said.
At the party, guests sampled vodka-infused cocktails courtesy of Deep Eddy and lite bites from Eddie V’s as DJ Dave Wrangler of Vinyl Ranch spun tunes. Guests included Wise's sister Genna Evans, Dominique Sachse and Nick Florescu, Tootsies' Mickey Rosmarin and Fady Armanious, Issa Chou, Heidi Rockecharlie, Maya Fasthoff, Christine Tabrizi and Jeff Shell, and, in from Dallas, Charles Ward, Jerod Dame and Katie Turpin.
Tickets for Heart of Fashion, which range from $75 to $700, are available online at www.heartoffashion.com.
Christine Kearns, Sally Lechin, Christine Tabrizi
