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    For Mom

    Designer Toni Whitaker makes a dramatic comeback after a forced hiatus from fashion

    Darla Guillen
    May 19, 2013 | 5:55 pm

    “It’s good to know you’ve been missed,” designer Toni Whitaker says of the show marking her triumphant return to the fashion scene.

     

    Whitaker took an almost four-year, forced hiatus from her successful career in fashion design to care for her ill mother, who has since made a recovery and who attended the show at the Laura Rathe Gallery in a wheelchair, proudly observing her daughter’s new collection.

     

    Although the room was filled with fans, friends, peers and general well-wishers, the show still felt small and intimate. It was clear that more than just welcoming back a talented designer and curiously observing her latest collection, they were rooting for a friend. It’s not hard to see why — just a few minutes into a conversation with the talented designer and I was instantly put at ease.

     

     

      “I’m a Southern woman. Even when they’re dramatic and a little daring, they’re still very ladylike dresses." 

     
     

    There’s something about the warmth she inspires — a combination of authenticity in her speech and honesty in her smile that forges an instant connection with her audience. That authenticity was directly reflected in her collection, as bare-faced models strutted down the runway. Four separate vignettes came together as one single collection and conveyed the designer’s aesthetic in different expressions.

     

    The first was Toni Whitaker Vintage, a retrospective on the Little Black Dress, with pleats and detail in the design that created movement in the solid black fabric. The second was a series of tie-dye garments in muted tones, subtle in hue but dramatic in design — with plunging necklines and staining that began at waist-level or lower, becoming progressively darker from top to bottom.

     

    The third was Raffia Out of Africa. This set was the most rustic of the collection with raw fabrics in earth tones. One piece featured a fabric that took its pattern from the texture of a Zaire tree in Africa, a design that was toned down by a darker, solid fabric that lay over the skirt and was cleverly held together by a magnet.

     

    The fourth vignette in the collection was Gauze. This set of looks was composed of crisp, clean pieces that left no room for error in construction, as solid white fabric showcased their flawless execution.

     

     Lloyd Gite, Whitaker’s friend of 30 years, and the host of the Thursday night runway show, donated all of the fabrics that worked collectively as a muse for Whitaker's new collection. They were what would have seemed like a challenge to almost any other designer: Notoriously stubborn fabrics — raw materials and stiff linen- — masterfully manipulated to look delicate. Whitaker says these are her favorite textiles to use.

     

    “I like natural fabrics, I like the way they breathe and mold to the body and play on the body,” Whitaker says. “I love linens and gauzes, and thought [they were] perfect for Houston now and for vacationing.”

     
     

      "It was never my intention to leave, but my mother is my priority." 

     
     

    Whitaker’s unapologetically feminine designs are powerful in their restraint. The plunging necklines in solid tones are paired with layers of fabric that never feel excessive or superfluous. Every inch of fabric is completely necessary and intentional. And each is mercifully devoid of busy, ruffled flowery patterns — conveying femininity purely by cut and design.

     

    “I’m a Southern woman. Even when they’re dramatic and a little daring, they’re still very ladylike dresses . . . I love for women to look like women,” Whitaker says.

     

    This relaunch was everything anyone in attendance could have hoped for, utterly satisfying with well-constructed pieces in striking fabrics. Designers David Peck and Chloe Dao, Andrea Bonner, Barbara Seymour and Renee Logans attended, showing their support. After that obligatory break, Whitaker is ready to create art for women again.

     

    “It was never my intention to leave, but my mother is my priority,” Whitaker says. “Now it’s time to get back to work.”

    Toni Whitaker's return to fashion brought dramatic looks.

    359 Houston Toni Whitaker fashion show May 2013
      
    Photo by David Bartkowiak
    Toni Whitaker's return to fashion brought dramatic looks.
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    TAILORED TRADITION

    Cult-favorite French denim brand Chevignon makes U.S. debut in Houston

    Gabi De la Rosa
    Jul 9, 2025 | 9:15 am
    Chevignon Galleria
    Photo courtesy of Chevignon
    Chevignon’s Galleria boutique marks the brand’s first-ever store in the United States, launching its Texas-focused expansion plan.

    Heritage denim brand Chevignon has arrived in Houston, introducing its cult-loved leather jackets and customizable jeans to a new boutique in the Galleria. Known for its rugged style, the French-born label is expanding its presence in the U.S. with a store designed to appeal to loyal brand aficionados and fashion-forward newcomers. The outpost is complete with an in-store Denim & Repair Shop offering complimentary tailoring and one-of-a-kind customization.

    Located on the second level adjacent to the Westin Hotel, the new outpost is modeled after the brand's most successful stores in Bogotá and Medellín. At over 2,100 square feet, customers can expect a spacious and well-lit shopping experience. Light colored floors with handsome dark features lend themselves to the masculine energy of the store. The spacious fitting rooms, complete with lounge seating and oversized mirrors, make trying on the latest styles comfortable.

    The brand was founded in 1979 by Guy Azoulay, who was obsessed with American fashion, in particular the leather aviator jacket. With decades of success in Latin America and a massive following in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, Chevignon is widely known for its leather jackets, down coats, and denim.

    Comparable to Levi's or All Saints, a pair of jeans typically starts at around $130, while a leather jacket retails between $400 and $600. The brand offers denim, outerwear, footwear, and accessories with collections divided to focus 70 percent on menswear and the remaining 30 percent on women's styles.

    Chevignon's expansion into the U.S. was three years in the making. With broadening brand recognition at the forefront, expansion plans include opening 10 additional boutiques by 2030 in Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth. These new stores will round out their portfolio to 102 brick-and-mortar stores, along with several partnerships in other large-format locations.

     Chevignon denim repair Chevignon’s in-store Denim & Repair Shop offers complimentary tailoring and custom patches for truly personalized jeans and jackets.Photo courtesy of Chevignon

    "When it came time to think about locations in Texas, Houston came to mind. We thought about the Houston rodeo, and we knew the city was right for the brand," Chevignon brand manager, Diego Alvarez Salazar, tells CultureMap. "We wanted to be part of the place where people were moving to and investing in, and that was in Texas."

    One of the stand-out offerings at Chevignon is their Denim & Repair Shop. Customers who purchase denim are treated to complimentary, bespoke tailoring to ensure the best possible fit. The store also offers a wide selection of patches, pins, and accessories to completely customize leather and denim jackets, as well as jeans. While there is a cost for the accessories themselves, the complimentary customization services ensure a one-of-a-kind look for every customer.

    "I always tell people that my first 'grown-up' pair of jeans was from Chevignon," says Bogotá-native, Luisa Babarczy. "Their denim is something that lasts forever. Now that they are here in Houston, I am so happy to be able to buy my daughter her first Chevignon denim jacket."

    Chevignon Galleria
      

    Photo courtesy of Chevignon

    Chevignon’s Galleria boutique marks the brand’s first-ever store in the United States, launching its Texas-focused expansion plan.

    houston shoppinghouston galleriatexas fashionlatin american fashionchevignon
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