Maryam Afshari and Lindley Arnoldy have big plans for their boutique, Baanou, which will open next spring near Highland Village. But the duo didn't want to wait to introduce fashion-forward Houstonians to the kind of clothing they plan to carry. So they hosted a cocktail party featuring the luxe women's wear line Honor at the River Oaks home of Valerie and Tracy Dieterich.
Guests sipped cocktails and perused the resort and spring 2014 collections from designer Giovanna Randall. The line of hip, contemporary clothing featuring feminine silhouettes, intricate detailing and exquisite fabric has drawn a following from such celebrities as Kirsten Dunst, Oprah Winfrey and Taylor Swift.
"We want to feature emerging designers you can't find anywhere else," Afshari said. "It really suits our brand."
The duo envisions Baanou, which is the world for "lady" in the Farsi language, as a lifestyle boutique carrying a mix of emerging and established designers, along with a private label apparel line, home decor items and gifts. Afshari says they plan to carry "anything that moves us and that we find amazing. We want to fall in love with every single piece."
Model Yuan Yuan Zhang from the Neal Hamil Agency showcased some of the looks. Proceeds from the evening's sales went to the Hermann Park Conservancy.
On hand to learn more about the new store and look over the merchandise were co-host Kelly Stinnett, Lauren Baughman, Divya Brown, Kate Stouffer, Hasti Taghi, Jared Lang, Katherine and Ian Fay, Amir Taghi and Jordan Newman.
Neal Hamil model Yuan Yuan Zhang and Jared Lang at the Baanou trunk show.
Agua by Agua Bendita, the beloved Colombian brand known for its hand-embroidered artistry and deep reverence for Latin American culture, will debut is Spring/Summer collection in Houston. Photo courtesy of Agua by Agua Bendita/Facebook
