Designer Dish
Style scene at Fashion Houston: Laura Mercier offers runway makeup looks; Mooreis in demand
Laura Mercier and Kooba have teamed up for a limited edition $40 wallet. Only 25are sold each night after the final fashion presentation.Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Adele Perrier got her braided updo at Blowdry Bar for Fashion Houston.Michelle Watson
Jerri Moore's saturated colors and mixed prints wowed the crowd.Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
It’s no secret we Houstonians enjoy a good party. Really, give us any reason to slip on the high heels and sip on a glass of champagne or two, and we are a happy bunch. Throw in beautiful people, good lighting, music with a beat and bold, colorful fashion and you may just have to kick us out the door.
That pretty much sums of Fashion Houston 2012. The second annual style event debuted Monday night at the Wortham Theater with an evening of stylish partying and runway looks from local and national designers. Here's some of what I found from roaming around:
Laura Mercier's Runway to Reality
We may not be able to wear everything designers send down the runway, but Laura Mercier cosmetics is making it easy for Fashion Houston ticketholders to recreate the same runway makeup. The company is offering the exact products for looks from each of the designers and a tutorial at the Fashion Houston tents on Fish Plaza.
Wednesday’s designers Fabiola Arias and Norman Ambrose are showing silver and gold makeup respectively, so Laura Mercier has those metallic products in stock at the pop-up shop.
The company is also pulling out past top sellers only available online, and offering them during Fashion Houston. The company has partnered with Kooba, the buttery soft bag line, to create a limited edition quilted gunmetal wallet and eye palette. Only 25 wallets are available at the end of each night for $40.
And if you come straight from the office and need a quick makeup refresher, the Laura Mercier artists are on hand to add some nighttime glam.
Get Moore at Houston boutiques
Jerri Moore kicked off Fashion Houston with bold, colorful dresses that manage to blend luxury and mass wearability. Moore mixes prints with ease and sent looks down the runway for cocktail party, charity gala and an island getaway. It was that level of craftsmanship that appealed to Casa de Novia and Atrium Boutique owner Luvi Wheelock, who is carrying Moore’s collection.
“She listened to what women want to wear to black tie events. It’s very chic and grownup, but still playful,” Wheelock says of Moore’s designs. Look for the dresses to hit Atrium’s racks in November, just in time for the holidays.
Moore is also showcasing her runway looks at a trunk show at Tootsies today and Wednesday.
5StackVintage Launching
While roaming the crowds I came across a rather dapper guy whose hair first caught my eye (look for the amazing hair of Fashion Houston at the end of the week) and after a chat, found out about 5StackVintage, a men’s and women’s site launching next week.
The Houston-based site will sell a collection of well-edited vintage shirts, shorts, jackets, shoes, ties and dresses. Owner Andre Milioto says the 5StackVintage mixes pieces from the past with clothing and accessories from today.
Haute Hair at Fashion Houston
There were the requisite skyscraper heels, booties, shooties and thigh-high boots seen roaming the Fashion Houston floor, but it was the hair that really caught my eye. Every bit the accessory, women and men left thier everyday hair at home and went for haute 'dos. There were the long wavy locks, the stick-straight tresses and the slicked back ponies, but braids put a new twist on an old favorite.
Half-braid updos, hair braided low and gathered at the nape of the neck and simple small braids on the side were all spotted in the crowd. Another top hair trend was the ballerina-inspired top knot. Most were sleek incarnations, without being too prissy. I'm on the hunt for amazing hair, both on and off the runway, so be prepared for your close-up and appearance in CultureMap later this week.
