With summer in full swing, we’re embracing sophisticated square-toe sandals, pretty palettes, matching sets, puff sleeves — a popular silhouette this summer season — and versatile essentials.
Whether lounging poolside, hosting a garden party, or trying to stay cool at an outdoor wedding, these 14 must-visit stores offer plenty of opportunities to elevate your summer wardrobe or tablescape.
Alantude
Alan Gonzalez hosted his Spring/Summer 2019 show at Alamo Tamales, in the Northside, and greeted guests with cultural references, inspired by his home country. From Mexico’s vibrant hues to traditional games and flavors, Gonzalez opened with Corriendo (running), which consists of evening-wear tops that can be worn with jeans, was inspired by his mother, Sandra, who growing up, Gonzalez would witness her run home and change within seconds. The second collection, Roots, “concentrated on colorful floral prints and flowing skirts,” and lastly, Gonzalez touched on his home country as an Unidentified Land and features “outrageous silhouettes that he imagines is worn in this far-off land.”
Chloe Dao
There are a few sales better than Amazon’s “two-day parade” of deals, otherwise known as Prime Day, and that’s Chloe Dao’s ‘The Big Sale.’ The Project Runway winner loves celebrating her birthday with the Bayou City, and she’s discounting her entire site by 50 percent off, including sale items and her personal line, Dao Chloe Dao. A sale this big only happens twice a year for the brand: her birthday and Black Friday.
Grab your friends — and credit cards — and shop ‘The Big Sale’ Saturday, July 20 at 10 am. Those shopping online should use code CHLOE2019. The fun doesn’t end at noon on Saturday; a 40 percent discount is available Saturday noon to 7 pm and Sunday, July 21, noon to 5 pm.
Christina Greene
Christina Greene recently launched her summer 2019 Geometric Collection, which consists of bracelets, rings, necklaces, and earrings that “focuses on shape and style while emphasizes dramatic lines and bold patterns, to help you give even the most simple staple a unique twist.” With accessible price points beginning at $120, the Houston native incorporates her signature stones — Kingman turquoise from Arizona, black onyx and mother of pearl from Jaipur, India — with 18-karat gold plating over hypoallergenic and nickel-free brass.
David Peck
David Peck ... or is it ... Miles David ... or ... David Peck? The designer wrote in a recent blog post that too many people thought he was Miles, so he dropped “Miles” and decided to just use “David Peck.” Recently, Peck redecorated his showroom to make the space "feel more cohesive and inviting.” Now, you can add some of his designs to your own space. Choose between a floral arrangement to images of his travels across the United States and abroad. These prints are available online, at Society 6, and can be manipulated across various home goods, such as pillows, mugs, and acrylic trays.
Dooney & Bourke
No matter where you’re cheering on the 2017 World Series Champs, you’ll want to do it in style with the newest fan gear from Dooney & Bourke’s Houston Astros collection. This season, the collection features a logo-embossed leather credit card holder, various crossbody bags, wristlets, and clutches. Show your team spirit with the brand’s Stadium Signature line, which highlights the official team colors (navy and orange) and logo.
Forth and Nomad
The contemporary shop of handcrafted accessories and goods from local artisans outgrew the 650-square-foot space at Heights Mercantile and now have more than 4,000 square feet to call home. The flagship store, located at 731 Yale St., features a Maker Bar, where shoppers have the chance to make products, from leather goods to candles; opportunities to rent, either a section of the store to set-up shop a concept titled BrandSpaces, a podcast studio, or an infinity wall for photographers; and the Forth and Nomad Gallery, a rotating exhibit featuring works from local artists.
Forth and Nomad has also brought its community with a pop-up in River Oaks District. Shop jewelry, ceramics, leather goods, and home goods until January 15.
Frank Rich Co.
Franklin Richardson has quietly transformed Frank Rich Co. into an under-the-radar powerhouse for men in search of luxury separates and modernized tailoring. In these culturally sensitive times, especially in the fashion space, Richardson and his team explore shape and fit without “exaggerating the problem areas that cause both pride and insecurities.” Working alongside the co-owner and marketing director, Nathan Clayton, the two pull from their athletic backgrounds with the Summer 2019 Fundamental Elements.
Jianna Jewelers
Jianna Jewelers, a third-generation custom jewelry manufacturer, recently opened its first showroom at the Kirby Collection. From a wide selection of handcrafted pieces Jianna Jewelers is dedicated to providing ethically sourced stones, including diamonds, Colombian emeralds, sapphires, rubies, and pearls.
Founded in 1986 in Mumbai, India, the family’s vast experience includes a celebrated royal history, as their ancestors cut and polished jewels from the Golconda Kollur mine and presented them to the kings of South India. Jianna Jewelers creates timeless, bespoke jewelry designs from ethically sourced gemstones, delivering a unique, humanely cultivated product.
L. Michele Bridal Intimates
Lisa Guido makes shopping for bridal intimates easy. Inspired by her grandmother’s vintage peignoir sets, Guido combined her love of bridal intimates, creating a line of handmade nightgown sets, silk robes, and romantic slips. Adding a nightgown to the line was a no-brainer for the Houston Community College graduate. She tells CultureMap peignoir sets are now modernized to make brides feel comfortable.
Utilizing lighter fabrics to complement a woman’s shape, The Celine Robe is made from a sheer fabric named after the early 20th-century French dressmaker Georgette de la Plante. Available in nude, white or blush, The Esme Robe features a three-tiered skirt bottom tied with a silk sash. “I absolutely love tulle,” she says. “I love the way it drapes and the sheer illusion it gives when it’s placed over the skin.”
Parry Botanicals
The all-natural skincare company has expanded its line with the launch of six new products, including the Eye Balm Wrinkle Complex, a natural highlighter that is extra hydrating for the delicate eye area; Squalane Oil, a “miracle serum,” which provides a high dose of Vitamin A; Aloe-storative Face Cream, a daily facial moisturizer; Sugar Body Scrub; Arctic Mud Mask; and Meditation Mist.
Owner and founder Elizabeth Parry carefully “designed [the products] to rejuvenate the skin with plant-based science.” The beauty of this line? Everything is available for both men and women. Parry shares that because the products don’t include fragrances or dyes, many women find their husbands requesting to borrow them. A few standouts among men include the Pure Botanical Cleanser and the Body Cream — as a spot treatment post-shave.
Sephora
The multinational chain of personal care and beauty products recently celebrated its grand opening with a new store located in Highland Village, next to Banana Republic. Expect to see the same list of carefully curated brands that the Galleria location offers, including Sephora Collection, Houston-based skincare brand Sunday Riley, and Austin-based skincare brand Drunk Elephant. There will also be one-on-one in-store beauty sessions with Sephora’s beauty advisers, complimentary skincare services, in-store facials, and more. Shoppers can experience digital tools, including the "Moisture Meter," which measures the amount of moisture in the skin.
Suitsupply
Dubbed the “World’s Lightest Suit,” the Amsterdam-based brand welcomes a reimagined piece to its Spring/Summer 2019 collection. The Havana suit “brings all the style and easygoing elegance without the added weight,” making it ideal for the Houston heat.
A spokesperson for the brand tells CultureMap that traditional suits weigh in at 2.27 pounds, while this tailored slim fit comes in at 1.15 pounds. It’s cut from the same luxe silk and ultra-fine wool by the acclaimed E. Thomas mill in Italy and features flap pockets, notched lapels and a pleated shoulder. The AMF stitching and genuine horn buttons on the jacket pair nicely with the flat-front trousers and a straight leg. Suitsupply is open in Houston at the Shops at Arrive - River Oaks and Market Street - The Woodlands.
Susana Vega
The Venezuelan-born designer launched her sixth collection, titled Paisaje (Landscape), inspired by the landscapes in which she has seen, lived, and love. These “landscapes are not only mine but of all who feel proud of who they are and where they come from,” Vega tells CultureMap. Expect asymmetrically shaped earrings, brooches and chokers, all handmade with thousands of colorful glass beads.
The jewelry designer tells CultureMap that Paisaje is simple in form, but up close, each design incorporates intricate and complex detail with the beadwork. “It is a very artistic and striking collection,” she says. “Jewelry [can] tell stories, keep secrets, and build memories.”
The Avenue
Houston lifestyle blogger Lyndsey Zorich believes one’s personality shines through what they’re wearing and how they’re entertaining. She recently launched an online boutique combining her two worlds — as a mom and a lifestyle blogger. Describing it as a “curated collection of unique finds for your home, your wardrobe, and your lifestyle,” The Avenue is “designed to make you feel like you’re browsing boutiques in Santa Barbara, sifting through French flea markets.”
Categorized into three specialty shops (LIVE, WEAR, GIFT), The Avenue features various goods Zorich sourced from across the globe. From decorating the perfect table-top this summer season to one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, Zorich says you’ll find something unique that won’t be everywhere online.
