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    Bold & the Beautiful

    Kelly Wearstler designs for the woman who dresses with a bold eye

    Heather Staible
    Oct 7, 2012 | 11:00 am
    • Wearstler with Tootsies owner Mickey Rosmarin
      Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com
    • Kelly Wearstler
    • Wearstler's collection for fall features bold color and texture.

    Kelly Wearstler has been “on” for hours.

    An early flight, a day full of interviews and the launch of her fall collection at Tootsies will do that to a person. So I’m primed for a fast interview, assuming we will get a couple of questions in before a publicist moves me along.

    Here’s what happens instead. Wearstler and I steal away to a corner where we settle into chairs and she tells me right off the bat that she doesn’t like pre-planned questions, so “let’s just have a conversation.”

    “The girl who wears my clothes is ageless. She takes risks, she’s curious and she’s evolving,” Wearstler says. “It’s a balance of raw and refined.”

    So we did. Topics covered included design, interiors, fashion, styling and motherhood. Wearstler is fresh-faced, dressed in a chambray button down shirt, skinny leather pants and black heels, creating an edgy, easy look. Her collection relies on some of the same ideas.

    “The girl who wears my clothes is ageless. She takes risks, she’s curious and she’s evolving,” Wearstler says. “It’s a balance of raw and refined.”

    Interior design beginnings

    Wearstler first garnered a name for herself in the interior design world mixing bright hues, patterns and infusions of whimsy. Her work in 1999 re-imagining the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills launched her as an influential designer, unafraid of risk. Gigs with Viceroy Hotels and Resorts and projects for influential private clients followed and Wearstler was well on her way to commercial and creative success, her interior design style falling under the maximalist umbrella.

    Her clothing collection is an extension of that same aesthetic, full of color, texture and patterns.

    “There’s a hand-quality to the collection. The pants, the jewelry — I like the juxtaposition, too, of very raw versus very feminine versus very masculine,” Wearstler says.

    There’s lots of layering for fall, with the pieces feeling rocker-chick feminine. She likes the idea of taking something everyday and giving it a new spin. An angled hem leather skirt pops with circular cutouts and the Bedford Gouache twill pants look like art themselves. It’s a collection that benefits from her interior design experience — she wants the woman who wears her clothing to approach getting dressed with a bold eye.

    “Sometimes you have to play with it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t,” Wearstler says. “I like to see denim and denim together or put a silk blouse under a dress.”

    There’s lots of layering for fall, with the pieces feeling rocker chick feminine. She likes the idea of taking something every day and giving it a new spin.

    When she’s not wearing pieces from her collection, Wearstler favors Balenciaga and vintage Martin Margiela.

    She also likes to have her hands in all areas of her business. She opened her boutique on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, works in her warehouse, scaling shelves for perfect pieces and even writes her own blog on her website.

    Her appearance at Tootsies was actually a big deal, because, by her own admission, Wearstler doesn’t go out much. For a woman with a Technicolor imagination, she’s fairly regimented in order to make it all work.

    “I get up early, work out, get my boys up, take them to school. I don’t do lunch out, I eat at the office. I get home by 6:30 so I can hang out and play with my boys,” she says. “I answer email at night after they are in bed.”

    Her real woman status extends to her marriage too.

    “I love my husband [L.A. developer Brad Korzen]. We really don’t go out much, because we would rather be home together,” Wearstler says.

    And when she does want to get away, she doesn’t have to go very far.

    “I love my library at home. It’s filled with books about design, fashion and all the things I find so inspiring,” Wearstler says.

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    SHOPPING BONANZA

    What to know about the return of Houston's Nutcracker Market for 2025

    Gabi De la Rosa
    Nov 10, 2025 | 12:00 pm
    Nutcracker Market 2024
    Photo by Melissa Taylor
    Shoppers browse festive booths at the Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market, one of the city’s most beloved holiday traditions.

    It’s that time of year again when Houston's most dedicated shoppers trade in their pumpkin spice for peppermint lattes and make their annual pilgrimage to NRG Center, in matching sweatshirts, of course, for the Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market.

    Marking the unofficial start of the holiday season, this year’s shopping festivities also celebrate the Houston Ballet Academy’s 70th anniversary. Since 1981, the Nutcracker Market has raised over $97.6 million for the Houston Ballet, with 11 percent of merchandise sales and all ticket proceeds supporting ballet programming and training. In 2024, over 99,000 shoppers helped raise $6.3 million for the Houston Ballet, which trains more than 1,000 students annually and awards over $1 million in scholarships.

    What to Expect

    More than 280 merchants will take over NRG Center for five days, offering everything from holiday décor and jewelry to clothing, accessories, and enough gourmet treats and delicious samples to keep tote bags full and shoppers happy.

    Nutcracker Market 2024 Forty new vendors join the Nutcracker Market this year, offering fresh finds alongside fan favorites.Photo by Melissa Taylor

    New Vendors

    Shoppers will flock to favorites like Royal Standard, Donne Di Domani, Texas Tamale Company, Paul Michael Company, and Round Top Collection. But 40 new vendors are joining the fun this year. A few newcomers worth checking out between mimosas include:

    • Mini Mahjer: Beginner-friendly mahjong sets and travel kits.
    • Hat Chick: A curated collection of hats and authentic adornments.
    • True Honey Teas: Gourmet blends sweetened with honey granules.
    • Let Me Snack: Popped waterlily seed snacks in assorted flavors.
    • Mended: Hand block-printed tea towels and table linens.
    • Vintage Boho Bags: Customized and upcycled boho-style bags.
    • Chocolate Moonshine Company: Gourmet fudge and artisan truffles that make gift-giving easy.
    • Seasoned Straws: Coated, sustainable, flavored straws.
    • Saturday Silks: 100% silk collegiate scarves and accessories.

    Tips for Tackling the Market

    Comfort is key. The Nutcracker Market fills up the NRG Center, so wear shoes made for walking. High heels, sparkles, and sequins may look festive, but comfy clothes are the way to go, especially when shopping for hours and juggling bags all day.

    Crowds are highest in the morning, so plan for afternoon or evening shopping if you want a little more elbow room. Strollers, wagons, and rolling bags aren’t allowed, but wheelchairs, walkers, and service animals are welcome. For those who overdo it on the shopping (and who doesn't, this time of year), take advantage of package check or the optional curbside pickup for a seamless, stress-free exit.

    Tickets

    General admission is $20 for a one-day pass, available at Ticketmaster.com or H-E-B Business Centers. Early Bird Admission is $60 for those who want a 90 minute head start on Thursday and Friday.

    Nutcracker Market 2024

    Photo by Melissa Taylor

    Shoppers browse festive booths at the Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market, one of the city’s most beloved holiday traditions.

    nutcracker marketnutcracker market 2025shoppinghouston ballet
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