Dream Weaver

17-year-old Houston designer Amir Taghi debuts second fashion collection

Though he's just completed his sophomore year at Episcopal High School, 17-year-old Amir Taghi already has his eyes on establishing a long fashion career. The focused teenager presented his second collection of women's ready-to-wear clothing at his parent's Tanglewood home last month and it showcased his evolving style.

"Last year, it was more for play," Taghi says about the debut of his first collection in spring 2012, with a full-scale runway show in the backyard of the family home. "This year, it's more for the consumer. The collection is playful and young, but it's more classic. I can see the women around me wearing (these clothes)."

Among the 18 looks he presented were delicate cocktail dresses with French lace trim for fall — think Audrey Hepburn in Charade — and tiered gowns and cocktail dresses in bright fuchsia for spring.

Taghi attended Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in February, where he was inspired by the fall collections designed by Monique Lhuillier and Carmen Marc Valvo. Also heavily influenced by classic designers like Hubert Givenchy and Oscar de la Renta, Taghi presented a collection that was surprisingly polished and sophisticated, particularly coming from someone so young.

Among the 18 looks he showed were a delicate satin gabardine cocktail dresses in ivory and black with French lace trim for fall — think Audrey Hepburn in Charade — and tiered gowns and cocktail dresses in bright fuchsia for spring. The collection is available online and through Tootsies, he says.

Taghi admits that combining school work with designing a fashion collection is demanding. "But I find a way to do it," he says. "It's just such a passion for me."

He expects to learn a lot this summer as an intern with de la Renta in New York. He will work with the designer's close-knit team, including Houstonian Noelle Sakowitz, who is director of textiles development at the fabled fashion house.

On hand to cheer Taghi on at the presentation were his parents, Fariba and Iraj Taghi, uncle Ali Taghi and cousins Hasti Taghi and Maryam Afshari, along with Divya Brown, Mehrnaz Gill, Danielle Cullen, Lauren White, Carolyn Farb, Roz Pactor, and designer David Peck, who manufactures Taghi's designs here in Houston.

David Peck, from left, Roz Pactor, Amir Taghi and Jonathan Blake

$Amir Taghi Atelier Spring Soir\u00e9e event April 2013 David Peck, Roz Pactor, Amir Taghi, Jonathan Blake$

Photo by © Katy Anderson

David Peck, from left, Roz Pactor, Amir Taghi and Jonathan Blake

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RODEO RUNWAY

Western glam takes over as RodeoHouston fans dress to impress

Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Brooke Jones, Kiala Cardenas, Brittany Ruggeri, and Franschesca Jones.

Houstonians have dusted off their boots and rhinestones as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is in full swing. Already one of the largest events in Texas, the crowds are continuing to grow. In 2025, more than 2.7 million people attended RodeoHouston, and this year the event is already on track for record-breaking numbers.

Livestock competitions, carnival rides, deep-fried food, and headlining concerts are the official reasons people come to the rodeo. Unofficially, however, people watching has become a sport all its own. The crowded walkways on RodeoHouston grounds transform into a Western-themed runway, where personal style is just as much of the experience as enjoying deep-fried Oreos or a Ferris wheel ride.

A wide range of outfits is always on display. Some attendees go all in with head-to-toe sequins, fringe on everything, and dramatically decorated hats. Others keep things casual with denim, boots, and graphic t-shirts, while groups of friends will often coordinate themed outfits for concert nights.

Rodeo Fashoin 2026 Emily Duran and Brylie Wagner.Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

No matter the style, there are two must-have accessories: cowboy hats and boots. Hats serve a dual purpose for both fashion and protection from the sun during daytime events. Boots are essential to rodeo style, but sometimes come with a painful learning curve.

Many attendees walk more than a mile from the parking lot to the grounds, and after exploring, they often add more than 20,000 steps. For those who did not properly break in their boots, the end of the day can involve blisters and a slow walk to the car, boots in hand.

“Rodeo fashion is so fun. My friends and I planned out outfits together, and we made sure we broke in our boots before tonight,” Teresa Delgado tells CultureMap. “When you are from Houston, you only make that mistake once.”

Rodeo Fashion 2026 Karson Graves, Reese, Lowery, Mackenzie Lewis, Natalie Doyle, Brandi Hunger, and Jenna Faulkner.Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Some days have them whether it's official or it's an unspoken trend. When Megan Moroney took the stage, pink was the color of the concert, inspired by Moroney's album Cloud 9. Nearly 70,000 attendees filled the stadium in everything from flouncy pink ruffled outfits to bright neon boots and hats.

“We have really been looking forward to this concert,” said Ashley Little from Cypress. “I didn't think too much about my outfit at first, but my daughter wanted to coordinate, so here we are wearing pink together.”

Between carnival rides, mutton busting, and nightly concerts, the rodeo has plenty to see, but some of the most memorable moments are stopping to notice that fashion is just another part of the show.

Photo by Gabi De la Rosa

Brooke Jones, Kiala Cardenas, Brittany Ruggeri, and Franschesca Jones.

houston rodeo fashion western style