Two years ago, Jerri Moore only dreamed about being a fashion designer. On Monday night, she will kick off Fashion Houston 2011 as the event's "emerging designer" during the first of four nights of runway shows.

It's been a wild ride for the third-generation Houstonian, who only got into the fashion business after designing a gown for a deb ball she was attending in 2009 because she was looking for something different — sexy, feminine, with a hint of illusion — to wear and couldn't find anything she liked in stores.

At first she was flattered when so many women came up to compliment her black and gold metallic print lamé brocade gown with cap sleeves, a split skirt and keyhole cut-out.

"After the sixth time, I thought, maybe I have something here. I figured it would be stupid not to get my feet wet," she recalls. "Well, I got my feet wet — and the river flowed."

While designing custom-made gowns for clients, she decided around six months ago to begin building a brand.

"I'm here to stay," she says while previewing her collection of evening gowns in satin and silk charmeuse with chiffon overlays, raw edge hems or sequin-banded necklines at the CultureMap offices. "I've put a lot of thought into building a company — one that is lasting."

Former Carolina Herrera executive Gregory Fourticq, who returned to Houston a couple of years ago to establish the city as a fashion manufacturing center, introduced her to fabric vendors in New York and Los Angeles and helped her set up manufacturing of the garments, which is all done in the Bayou City.

"It's easy for me to check on the construction (of the clothes). It takes me 15 minutes to get to the factory. And it's easy for the retailer, too. The turn-around time is very quick. I can fill their needs quicker than most," Moore says. "I love the fact that I can keep it all in Houston."

She concentrates on special-occasion gowns, from show-stopping gala looks to tasteful mother-of-the-bride outfits, using striking colors and luxe fabrics lined in charmeuse or silk. Each is named for a woman and some are familiar Houston monikers, like "Lynn" and "Becca."

But they're practical, too. "Most of my gowns have pockets," she says, pointing out that if you are standing for a while, it's nice to have somewhere to put your hands.

Moore also designs separates, so that a blouse can be worn as easily with a pair of jeans as a ball skirt. "I like the versatility of separates. You get more use," she says.

The gowns are often in one bold color — a deep purple or kelly green — to better show off jewelry. "If you have a simple silk and a great color, a pop of jewelry wears itself well," she says.

And her designs often have a bit of a sleeve. "With the climate we have, the air conditioning is always on, so I personally like a little sleeve. I don't want to drag a Pashmina with me everywhere," Moore says. (And a more mature lady wants to cover at least part of her arms.)

In short, she designs with the needs of a woman in mind. But as a movie fan, she also believes in a touch of glamour, so many of her gowns have the feel of classic Hollywood with an updated look; you could see Jean Harlow or Charlize Theron in one of her designs.

"I believe in a lot of glamour and a lot of look for not a lot of money," Moore says. "I want to keep it affordable, but to allow women to feel like they're on the red carpet."

Her gowns, which come in sizes 2-16, range in price between $795 and $1,395; a blouse goes for $395 and long skirt $695 — not inexpensive but, in most cases, priced competitively for special-occasion dressing that will likely not go out of style any time soon.

Jerri Moore will show her fall collection at Fashion Houston Monday at 8 p.m. at the Wortham Center. For details, click here. Moore will make a personal appearance at a trunk show at Tootsies Tuesday and Wednesday.