Countdown to the Runway

Grease & glamour: Fashion Houston photo shoot gets down and dirty in car repairgarage

Photo by Dustin Mansyur
Photographer Dustin Mansyur
Neal Hamil, from left, model Lindsay Mallia and designer Jerri Moore
Photo by Dustin Mansyur
Photo by Dustin Mansyur

New York, Milan, and Paris have completed their fashion weeks. Now it's Houston's turn.

On Monday, the second annual Fashion Houston kicks off four nights of runway styles from 14 designers, ranging from seasoned pros, such as Carmen Marc Valvo, Douglas Hannant, and Barbara Tfank, to up-and-coming stars-to-watch, including Patrick Schwarznegger, Aries Milan and Jerri Moore.

The shoot took place in Momentum Audi's well-shadowed and mechanically-adorned garage, combining the elegance of Moore’s gowns and the beauty of high performance automobiles.

To set the stage for the big event, photographer Dustin Mansyur teamed with creative director Neal Hamil for Fashion Houston's ad campaign.

Styled by Leslie Rivas, with hair and makeup by Ceron, and gowns by Moore, the shoot took place in Momentum Audi's well-shadowed and mechanically-adorned garage, combining the elegance of Moore’s gowns and the beauty of high performance automobiles. (Audi is a prime sponsor of Houston's fashion week.)

Moore's designs are ultra-feminine, making them a good match with the luxurious Audi A8 and high performance Audi R8. For the shoot, Rivas chose a glamorous emerald green silk charmeuse gown, dubbed the “Kelley,” worn by Page Parkes model Lindsay Mallia.

“We felt the juxtaposition of the elegance with the industrial element of the garage creates a nice tension," Mansyur explained.

While Moore’s color and fabric shine through in the classically-styled gown, Mansyur’s composition of the vehicles and post-production effects intensify the richness of the subjects, tying classic fashion with a modern-day need for speed.

“Leslie (the stylist) help me put together the look of an updated 1920's glamour. I wanted the classic in connection with the modern…that juxtaposition to be present in the photos,” Mansyur explained.

With her love of film, Moore draws much of her inspiration from classic Hollywood glamour. “Styles I see in black and white films, I bring to life in color and update them,” she said.

Ceron’s team enhanced the feeling of Moore's vision by adorning the models with finger wave glamour curls and penciled thin brows. It all made for a stylish way to kick off Houston's stylish week of fashion.

Annina Stefanelli writes a fashion and style blog, Cinched at the Waist.

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A Clear Choice

Texas handbag brand Consuela debuts clear collection for stadium use

Photo courtesy of Consuela

These bags fashionably comply with stadium rules.

Transparency is key for this new stadium-friendly product line by Austin handbag brand Consuela. The new line recreates the brand's top-selling silhouettes in a clear material that makes them easy to carry at venues with long security lines.

This is the first time Consuela has produced clear bags, press materials say.

It's certainly possible to pack any small bag and spend a minute on a security check at the gate, but if attendees want to carry more, sometimes venues require a clear bag; at Reliant Stadium, for example, a non-see-through bag can only be four-and-a-half inches by six-and-a-half inches or smaller.

Conseula clear bags You don't have to put bags in the "tool bag" silhouette.Photo courtesy of Consuela

Each clear Consuela bag has a bit of personality thanks to a printed, opaque strip of material across the top and a colorful strap that's interchangeable for different carrying styles: wearing the bag crossbody, on the shoulder, or as a clutch. Leather accents also elevate each piece, which contains interior pockets, a credit card holder, and a removable piece that gives the base structure or, when it's removed, allows the bag to collapse.

With three shapes and three patterns or colorways, there are nine distinct bags in the collection. The largest style is 11 inches by nine and a quarter inches, with a three-inch depth. Two smaller styles are more clutch-sized. The top material can show off a colorful paisley-like design, leopard print, or an understated cream leather to match the rest of the trim.

Conseula clear bags Grouping items in smaller cases can make a clear bag look neater.Photo courtesy of Consuela

The new collection ($125-235) is available now at consuelastyle.com. Shoppers can also check the bags out in person at Consuela's Katy store at 23501 Cinco Ranch Boulevard. Other retailers selling Consuela bags can be found through the brand's store locator.

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