Fashion News
Houston fashion week line-up features Patrick Schwarzenegger, Carmen Marc Valvo& more
Patrick Schwarzenegger
Carmen Marc Valvo, right, and Katie Couric backstage after his New York fashionweek show last FebruaryPhoto by Clifford Pugh
Houstonian Jerri Moore will showcase her collection as Houston Fashion Week'semerging designer.
Barbara Tfank, right, with Sara Dodd Spickelmier at Tfank's New York fashionweek show last FebruaryPhoto by Clifford Pugh
Cesar Galindo, right, with Gwen Stefani, backstage at New York Fashion Week lastFebruary
Audi Fashion Houston has come up with a real attention-getter: Patrick Schwarzenegger has agreed to present his Project 360 clothing line on Oct. 10 at the Wortham Theater Center to kick off the four-night extravaganza of runway shows.
The 17-year-old son of Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger co-founded the clothing line two years ago, concentrating on T-shirts, bracelets and hoodies that have been worn by such celebrities as Eva Longoria and Reggie Bush. In a profile of the young Schwarzenegger, Details magazine says the company is profitable, with a strict 10 percent of all sales donated to philanthropic causes.
"My grandmother always said, when you receive a paycheck, you always have to put a certain amount to your savings, and 10 percent right away to charity," Schwarzenegger told the magazine.
Schwarzenegger will take the young celebrity designer-for-a-good-cause slot that Lauren Bush occupied at last year's Houston fashion week. Bush showed her collection to an appreciative audience that included her grandparents, former President George H.W. Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush.
Schwarzenegger is part of a stellar line-up of emerging designers and seasoned runway pros that has been confirmed for the second annual fashion week Oct. 10-13.
While officials are still waiting for confirmation of some of the fashion world's best known names, CultureMap has learned that a number of top designers have committed to showing in Houston. They include:
- Carmen Marc Valvo, a Houston favorite, launched his own sportswear line in 1989 but, over they years, has thrived by creating glamorous special occasion eveningwear. Valvo makes annual appearances at the Neiman Marcus Galleria store, where he is one of the top sellers. During such trips, he can be seen on the sales floor helping customers pick out their gowns. He counts celebrity clients like Vanessa Williams, Queen Latifah and Katie Couric as friends.
- Low-key designer Barbara Tfank had a moment in the spotlight whenMichelle Obama wore her design when she met Queen Elizabeth and Kate Middleton at Buckingham Palace in May. The first lady wore a pale green, floral, a-line dress from Tfank's 2011 resort collection. Tfank, who used Justin Bieber's haircut as inspiration for her fall 2012 collection, is currently designing a dress for singer Adele to wear to the Mercury Prize, Britain's most prestigious music awards, in London on Sept. 6.
- Douglas Hannant has been a Park Avenue favorite since he debuted his first collection in 1996. Known for "couture sportswear separates" made of luxurious fabrics and dramatic embellished evening gowns, Hannant plans to broaden his customer base with a lower-priced line, called Pink, that will appear in stores next spring. His new line will range between $75-$700. "Can’t wait to see my chic Houston girls again," Hannant emailed.
- American designer Robert Rodriguez is known for sophisticated, feminine, contemporary fashion for style-conscience women of all ages. He first got interested in fashion when his mother gave him a book on legendary French designer Christian Dior. He worked at Dior before launching his own line in 2003. Project Runway host Heidi Klum wore one of his designs at the last year's season finale of the popular reality show.
Houston favorite Chloe Dao will again show her collection at Fashion Houston. The winner of Project Runway Season Two, Dao has created a thriving fashion business from the Bayou City, featured at her Lot 8 boutique in Rice Village. Another Houston native, Cesar Galindo, will launch CZAR, his secondary line, during Houston fashion week. In addition to his own line, Galindo works closely with Gwen Stefani on her signature L.A.M.B. line.
New on the scene, Houston designer Jerri Moore will showcase her collection of special occasion dresses as the week's "emerging designer." "I am honored and truly excited to be named the "emerging designer" this year for Audi Fashion Houston," Moore said in an email. "Houston has by far the most fashionable women and I look forward to dressing them all!"
Fresh from her triumphant fundraiser at the Louvre, Becca Cason Thrash is this year's fashion week "style icon." Pieces from Thrash's collection of Alexander McQueen originals, from the designer's first collection to his last, will be showcased on the last night of fashion week, along with others from her haute couture collection.
Fashion Houston creative director Neal Hamil is excited about the line-up and promises more to come. "Anyone who says Houston lacks style was not at the Wortham for Audi Fashion Houston 2010! This event highlights the best of Houston on and off the runway with the best designers in Houston as well as NYC and LA and the best looking audience anywhere," he said. "It's going to be amazing."
Tickets for Fashion Houston will go on sale Aug. 26. For more information visit fashionhouston.net.
Emerging Houston designer Jerri Moore talks about her fall collection:
