Santa Baby

Houston designer Cesar Galindo whips up sexy Santa outfit for Sex and the City star

Fashion designer Cesar Galindo has carved out a thriving second career designing costumes for back-up dancers to such pop stars as Justin Timberlake and Adam Lambert in addition to creating custom clothes for Joan Jett. So when stylist-to-the stars Joseph Turla recently called him with a new assignment that needed to be completed quickly, the Houston-born designer hopped to it.

Turla was styling a photo shoot featuring Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall for the Daily Mail and needed "saucy Santa" attire. So Galindo whipped up a sexy red V-neck mini-dress trimmed in white fur and cinched at the waist with a wide black belt and gold buckle. Long black gloves and a red Santa hat trimmed in white complete the ensemble.

"I loved doing these sidebar projects because it takes me out of what I normally do," Galindo explained in a phone call from New York, where he now calls home.

He'll be back in Texas on December 20 for a personal appearance at Sloan/Hall in San Antonio. He has created around 15 original pieces — "all in the holiday spirit," he says — just for his Texas customers. The "fun party frocks" are made from striped, double-faced sequined fabric in colors of red and blue. "Everything's got a little glitz to wear on New Year's Eve," he said.

Galindo's designs are also carried at the Sloan/Hall boutique in Houston. His spring 2017 collection, featured at New York Fashion Week in September, has a naughty good girl/bad girl vibe, with slinky sequined party dresses and gowns in red, orange, pink, blue and black.

In the Daily Mail feature, Cattrall appears atop a chimney, with Santa stuffed down the chute, only his black boots showing, and next to a snowman. She also reclines in a white chair attired in the Galindo outfit and red top hat. The photos were shot by award-winning photographer Martin Schoeller.

According to the article, Cattrall, who recently turned 60, "talks about dressing up as a saucy Santa for our exclusive Event shoot and she practically purrs as she shows off the images on her phone. Does she feel sexy? ‘Hell yes,’ she says. ‘And at this time of year we all need something to make us feel good.’ "

Actress Kim Cattrall still looks great at age 60.

Photo by Martin Schoeller

Actress Kim Cattrall still looks great at age 60.

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140 YEARS STRONG

Iconic Texas bootmaker kicks up exclusive, $16K pieces to toast 140 years — and opens new Woodlands store

Photo courtesy of Lucchese Bootmaker

Lucchese is releasing 140 pairs of an exclusive collector’s edition 140th Anniversary Boot along with a commemorative boot bag.

Nationally celebrated cowboy culture brand Lucchese has Texas in its DNA. In 1883, Salvatore Lucchese reportedly arrived in Galveston by ship from Palermo, Italy with his brother Joseph Lucchese. The Lucchese brothers then quickly set up shop in San Antonio, creating a bootmaking brand that is now 140 years old.

Now headquartered in Dallas with its factory in the heart of El Paso (known as the cowboy boot capital of the world), the legendary brand has marked its 140th anniversary birthday on November 9 with an exclusive collector's edition of the 140th Anniversary Boot.

Playing to the anniversary theme, only 140 pairs are available, each with a commemorative boot bag. The limited-edition Bluebonnet Boots (for men and women) and bags are available for $15,995 and pay homage to Lucchese's history and the iconic symbols of the Lone Star State on hand-tooled leather.

Only 140 pairs of the 140th Anniversary Bluebonnet Boots are available. Photo courtesy of Lucchese Bootmaker

The 140th Anniversary Boot, just like all Lucchese products, speaks to the brand's old-school craftsmanship. When customers slip on a pair of Lucchese boots, they're actually wearing a piece of hand-crafted art: each boot passes through the hands of about 180 to 200 skilled artisans before it's ready to hit the streets. Most of the boot-making changes have been unchanged since 1883.

Lucchese has now evolved into a lifestyle brand that offers something for everyone beyond just boots. Lucchese enthusiasts can get their handcrafted leather in everything from accessories to travel gear and apparel.

Lucchese has evolved into a lifestyle brand that offers something for everyone beyond just boots.Photo courtesy of Lucchese Bootmaker/Instagram

Lucchese recently opened its fourth Houston area flagship store in The Woodlands. The 4,000-square-foot store, located in the outside courtyard of The Woodlands Mall, offers an assortment of the brand's famed boots and a curated selection of unique apparel, leather goods, accessories, and handbags designed exclusively for Lucchese.

"Lucchese's expansion of its retail arm has been an exciting priority this year, but what is more exciting is the opportunity to connect with existing brand fans and engage with new and curious ones in a market that feels like home," Doug Kindy, president of Lucchese Bootmaker, noted in a statement. "The Woodlands community appreciates a curated, qualitative experience, and Lucchese looks forward to providing just that through connection, craftsmanship, and heritage."

Photo courtesy of Lucchese Bootmaker

Lucchese is releasing 140 pairs of an exclusive collector’s edition 140th Anniversary Boot along with a commemorative boot bag.

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