Retail Therapy

Freezing for fashion: Toni Whitaker & Aries Milan team up and enter a Lady Gagauniverse

Toni Whitaker and Aries Milan have joined forces at Coquette Boutique.
Photo by Heather Staible
More white rules trends for spring.
Photo by Heather Staible
Photo by Heather Staible
This white lace dress stopped the show.
Photo by Heather Staible
This Taylor Swift look-a-like shows off Toni Whitaker's lace and featherstechniques.
Photo by Heather Staible

To those who skipped Wednesday night’s Fire & Ice fashion presentation by Toni Whitaker and Aries Milan because of the chilly Houston temps, here’s a newsflash: You wouldn’t hack it during New York Fashion Week.

Sure it was frigid outside, but the feel inside Americas was warm, no, make that sizzling. Whitaker’s stepping out of her comfort zone a bit and the results are stunning.

Milan’s Coquette Boutique has a reputation for taking the expected and adding something fresh and the collaboration between the two is staying true to that concept. The duo are clearly mixing their strengths. Whitaker’s construction was perfect and details like Swarovski crystals and lace stole the show. Milan’s contributions come in the form of pushing the design in a new direction.

“It’s mixing my technical skills and her edginess. We took one of my classic tops and added boy shorts to it. It was something different for me,” Whitaker says. Whitaker wanted spring to be about flesh tones and Milan pushed for white and they agreed. The result is what Milan calls “crisp and clean.”

Whitaker showed three white structured looks to start and followed with drop-dead hand-dyed skirts made from ostrich, turkey and peacock feather. Paired with a white vintage tank, the skirts popped in deep maroon, black and white and an ombre pattern and Whitaker offered either a bubble shape or a low-slung mini.

The skirts are whimsical labors of love. Whitaker broke a blender mixing dyes and she hand sews each feather to the silk chiffon, creating a seamless swath of color that’s hard not to reach out and touch.

The three-model finale pitted two black lace mini dresses against a white lace bohemian dress ideal for a sexy beach wedding.

“That was a seven-yard piece of fabric and just started draping it. I never cut it except for the arm holes,” Whitaker says. The dress was low-cut and sheer, but because of the way she folded the fabric, there was a sweetness to it.

Accenting Whitaker’s nine piece collection were custom necklaces and bracelets handmade by Ann Brookes, a local artist. Her pieces mix sparkle with crocheted fabrics, juxtaposing the soft against the hard. Her jewelry is found locally at Coquette.

The collection is definitely new territory for Whitaker.

“Sometimes I feel like I’m designing for Lady Gaga,” she says.

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LEATHER & LUXE

Heritage leather brand opens appointment-only boutique in River Oaks

Photo courtesy of Ghurka

Ghurka’s new River Oaks boutique brings its signature leather goods and custom clothing to Houston.

The heritage leather brand Ghurka recently opened a River Oaks boutique that offers custom clothing for men and women, a rare find in Houston’s luxury market.

For more than 50 years, Ghurka has built a reputation for beautifully crafted leather goods. Now, Houstonians have a new way to experience its collections.

Its new River Oaks boutique, one of only two brick-and-mortar outposts in the country, brings the label’s signature leather collection together with custom clothing and private styling, creating a personal shopping experience.

At the appointment-only store, clients can shop for leather bags and accessories while also working one-on-one with an advisor to create custom tailoring, shirting, knitwear, and other pieces curated to their specific needs and lifestyle. Houstonians will also be among the first to see Ghurka's expanded clothing offering with the debut of the Fall/Winter 2026 custom collection.

“For us, the decision to open in Houston really came down to people and relationships,” Glenn Pollack, chairman and CEO of Ghurka, tells CultureMap. “Ghurka has a meaningful history here and longstanding relationships with people who know the brand and what it stands for. As we considered returning to physical retail, we wanted to start in markets where we had the right talent, the right relationships, and a strong foundation to build on. Houston gave us all three.”

Ghurka Ghurka's appointment-only River Oaks boutique is located at 3701 W. Alabama, Suite 185. Appointments are available online. Photo courtesy of Ghurka

Founded in Connecticut in 1975, Ghurka's main focus is on leather goods designed to improve with time and wear. Its product range run the gamut from bags and backpacks to wallets, belts, and accessories. The brand is now applying that successful philosophy to clothing, with a focus on premium materials, durable construction, and pieces designed around the individual rather than trends.

Clients can work with a Gurkha advisor to decide what they need from their wardrobes before choosing fabrics, silhouettes, proportions, and bespoke details. Each piece is fully custom and finished by hand and according to Pollack, the goal of the appointment-only Houston boutique is to provide shoppers with a complete experience and a personalized level of attention.

“For us, custom clothing is ultimately about the individual rather than a particular gender,” Pollack said. “The same principles that have guided Ghurka for more than fifty years translate naturally into clothing. Offering custom for both men and women allows us to create a much more complete and personal relationship with our clients.”

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Ghurka Houston, 3701 W. Alabama St., Suite 185. Appointments are available through ghurka.com.

Photo courtesy of Ghurka

Ghurka’s new River Oaks boutique brings its signature leather goods and custom clothing to Houston.

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