Elaine Turner had a lot to celebrate Wednesday night as a big crowd turned out for the opening of her new boutique in BLVD Place. "I feel so blessed to have a store when I can serve the central Houston community," Turner said referring to her first store in the Galleria area. "Everyone's going 'I live right here,' I' work right here.' That's why we opened it. I feel so supported by Houston."
It also marked the 10th store opening in Turner's rapidly expanding chain, coming on the heels of two new store openings in the Dallas area (at Southlake Town Square and The Shops at Legacy). "It's such a huge milestone, double digits," she said. "Double the stress and double the digits."
The crowd of more than 200 sipped on a special “Elaine” pink cocktail that is on the menu at Table restaurant.
And double the fun, no doubt.
The 2,000-square-foot BLVD Place store, which was completed only an hour before the party began, is Turner's most sophisticated yet. It features her signature pink sofas along with raffia wrapped walls, walnut cases tinged in gold, bamboo floors, cowhide rugs and contemporary chandeliers.
A new jewelry area near the front of the store features a vanity table and oval mirror like a home dressing table and, in the back, an apparel area resembles a closet. (The Elaine Turner apparel line, manufactured in Houston by David Peck, will be part of the expanded spring 2015 collection. Turner wore a navy gown designed by Peck to the party.)
"It really is like a home," said Heather McLeskey, executive vice president of Elaine Turner Designs.
Twenty percent of proceeds from the evening's sales were donated to Heroes for Children, a frequent charity partner of Turner's. Joining Turner as the evening's co-hosts were KHOU Channel 11 anchor Mia Gradney and C. Style fashion blogger Carly Lee. Heroes for Children co-founder Larissa Linton flew in from Dallas for the occasion.
The crowd of more than 200 sipped on a special “Elaine” pink cocktail that is on the menu at Table restaurant. The nearby BLVD Place eatery also served up hors d'oeuvres and sweets for guests as they tried on shoes, bags, jewelry and apparel. P&R Productions filmed the evening for future episodes of Elaine’s Big Life, the webisode series on YouTube.
In the crowd were Jim Turner, Valerie Eissler, Troy Clendenin, Alexandra Carreno, Shawn Conerly, Brittany Boone, Ashley Seippel, Lisa McDonald, Carrie Colbert, Jessie Ogden, April Otjen, Alissa Maples, Elisabeth Webb, Jessica Myerson, Lizbeth King, William Zietz and Laurann Claridge, Jason and Erin Busch, DeeAnn and Marcus Thigpen.
Elisabeth Webb, left, and Jessica Meyerson.
The boldest style is the Abbie Boot, which has an extended and scalloped front. According to the release, the embroidery is inspired by bluebonnets.Photo courtesy of Kendra Scott
The Sarah Boot moves the scalloping to the embroidery and features the same moon phase designs over the foot.Photo courtesy of Kendra Scott
The men's boots are simpler and look more work-ready, although this suede begs to differ.Photo courtesy of Kendra Scott