An Autumn Affair to Remember
Dresses and jackets top M Penner's must-have list for fall
Fingers crossed it gets chilly enough in Houston to wear this ChristopherFischer sweater.Photo by Karen Penner
This Nicole Miller dress was a crowd pleaser.Photo by Karen Penner
The pre-brunch table is set at M. Penner.Photo by Karen Penner
It was as if Murray and Karen Penner had some kind of pull with Mother Nature for their Autumn Affair brunch. Cooler temperatures and sunny skies were the ideal backdrop for the 60 women who spent a recent Sunday morning at their Uptown Park store, sipping mimosas and planning what pieces to add to their fall wardrobes.
The feel was informal with lots of fab moments, compliments of two models who showed off everything from a Nicole Miller shirred animal print cocktail dress to a modern Hugo Boss suit.
After years in fashion retail, Skoda says men buy, but women shop. It appeared style inspiration was served along with the quiche, because after the presentation, shopping was indeed the preferred way to spend the afternoon.
The Autumn Affair started as just a small shopping brunch at M Penner, but over the years, the event has grown and gives a good look at how and what to wear each season.
Women’s buyer and fashion stylist Stephen Skoda showed a closetful of styles to the brunch crowd, with details about how to wear the pieces. Jeweler Carol Lipworth was also on hand to talk about trends. She normally favors color and bold shapes but says fall is all about neutrals, mixed metals, oxidized silver and the super hot pyrite.
Dresses, Skoda says, are a must in teal and cranberry. He chose print dresses by Hale Bob for their color and ideal-for-Houston fabric weight, and accented the LBD and a serene gray dress with luxe, lightweight scarves made in Pakistan.
Jackets in a wealth of fabrics also shared the spotlight. Skoda says women should look for ribbing in the back or the sides of jackets to give definition and avoid the “Michelin Man” look. A shawl collar sweater, sheer sleeves, fur, leather and a deconstructed jacket all made the list.
M Penner’s women's boutique purposely stays out of the evening gown game, but struck a definite chord with two different takes on cocktail by Robert Rodriguez, who is showing at Fashion Houston Oct. 13. His black knife-pleated skirt with a ladylike velvet side bow and a sheer long-sleeved blouse brought the "oohs" and "ahs," as did a petaled black skirt and another sheer top. The latter was more body conscious, but both were favorites.
After years in fashion retail, Skoda says men buy, but women shop. It appeared style inspiration was served along with the quiche, because after the presentation, shopping was indeed the preferred way to spend the afternoon.
