Iconic Houston looks

Creator of AstroWorld & Derrick Dolls uniforms, Kay King is honored as Houstonfashion trailblazer

Kay King designed the uniform for the Houston Oiler cheerleaders in 1971 (shownat center). It was updated into a one-piece outfit, left, in the '90s.
Kay King, fourth from the right, received the Eagle Award from HCC presidentWilliam Harmon, standing next to her. Pictured from left Ed Smith, Lisa Benitez,Tamara Klosz Bonar, Harmon, Lenny Matuszewski, King, Linda Kuykendall, BeverlyHarmon and Josephine Firat.
King designed red shatung Mandarin collar shirts for employees at AstroWorld'sOriental World (shown at right); middle, a red, white and blue Texas CommerceBank “Star Girl” uniform; far left, an AstroWorld usherette uniform and parkinglot parka.
Suzette Brimmer, from left, Brook Deklavs, Ericka Perdue, Tabitha Pagel Garcia
King stands in front of some of her creations from the 1970s, including a yellowcotton lace tunic and flare leg pants embellished with red, white and blue silkflowers worn to meet NASA astronauts in 1972.
Jeff Shell, from left, Linda Kuykendall, Lisa Benitez and Jeanne Ruberti
Andrea Bonner and Ed Smith
Kathleen Fleming, left, Zach Hodges and Charlotte Hamilton
King's creations also include rodeo wear.

Though Kay King has recently retired as head of the fashion and design program at Houston Community College after a 30-year career as an educator and mentor to such local designers as Chloe Dao and Gayla Bentley, she may have found a new means of livelihood — as a singer.

Instead of giving a dry speech at the Decorative Center Thursday night, where she was honored as Houston's fashion trailblazer, King sang her thanks to the tune of "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music. The lyrics went like this:

Retirement brings free time for sewing and knitting,

Elasticized waistbands in all garment fittings,

Old unread magazines tied up in string,

These are a few of my new favorite things.

When my joints ache,

When my hips break,

When my face looks sad,

I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad.

King finished the song to wild applause from HCC president William Harmon, Jeff Shell, Jeanne Ruberti, Tabbitha Pagel Garcia, Chloe Dao and her sister, Sydney Dao, Lenny Matuszewski, Tamara Klosz Bonar and the event's co-chairs Lisa Benitez, Linda Kuykendall and Ed Smith.

Also joining in the festivities were Fashion Group International regional director Josephine Firat, Suzette Brimmer, who is succeeding King as chair of the department of fashion and design at HCC, Immigration Judge Clarease Rankin Yates and King's husband, George King.

King created the original 1971 Houston Oiler’s Derrick Doll Cheerleaders uniform made of red, white and blue Quiana and stretch satin. "Bud Adams called me in and said, 'I just want it to be sexier than the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders,' " she recalled.

To highlight the evening's theme, Fashionably Fabulous...The Incredible Career of Kay King, Matuszewski and Bonar styled more than 40 outfits that King had designed throughout her career. Models who weren't even born when many of the looks were made seemed delighted to showcase them throughout the evening.

King created jersey uniforms for Astrodome usherettes in 1969, neon orange glow-in-the-dark quilted jackets for Astrodome parking lot workers in the '70s, and the red, white and blue Texas Commerce Bank “Star Girl” uniforms for the bank’s official hostesses in 1976. The multi-lingual “Star Girls” specialized in helping the bank’s international customers.

She also designed and produced all of the costumes and uniforms for the opening of AstroWorld in 1968 —all in one month. On display at the tribute were men's and women's red shatung Mandarin collar shirts that employees in the theme park's Oriental World section wore.

Perhaps the piece de resistance of King's work is the original 1971 Houston Oiler’s Derrick Doll Cheerleaders uniform made of red, white and blue Quiana and stretch satin.

"Bud Adams called me in and said, 'I just want it to be sexier than the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders,' " King recalled.

She created a two-piece outfit that exposed the midriff and had long sleeves — each dangling with 36 inches of fringe. But during rehearsals, cheerleaders were slapping each other in the face with the fringe so much — and even becoming entangled with each other — that King had to do something drastic.

"So I kept cutting the fringe off until it was a workable 12 inches (in length)," she said.

In 1992, when the cheerleaders complained they would rather not have bare midriffs, King designed a one-piece red, white and blue stretch satin leotard-style uniform. The stripes at top of the sleeves reflected the stripes on a traditional football jersey.

In 1995, she added iridescent sequins to the red and blue stretch satin details on the uniforms for a little more glitz.

Other looks designed by King on display ranged from a red nylon ciré fur-lined raincoat made from an old Furlan-Spritzer fur coat for her first trip to Paris in 1982 to a black cotton jacket constructed from a floral hand-embroidered Guatemalan Huipil purchased during a trip to Guatemala in 2005.

For her big evening, King wore a black sequined St. John jacket and matching slacks. "I'm not making my clothes anymore," she declared, although she vows that she's got lot more fire left in her.

"I've had 74 fashionably fabulous years and I ain't done yet," she told the audience.

Proceeds from the evening will fun a scholarship in King's name at Houston Community College and fashion, interior design and beauty industry scholarships through Fashion Group International.

unspecified

SEASONAL SIZZLE

Where to shop in Houston right now: 12 can't-miss spots for summer 2026

Photo by Laura Sanz Photography

South to North is bringing a fresh lineup of international brands to Houston this summer.

The summer is definitely heating up, and so is the shopping scene this month. July is packed with store openings, limited-time sales, summer events, and new collections from some of the city's favorite designers and boutiques. Whether it's the perfect pair of boots, stunning jewelry, or an excuse to shop with a cocktail in hand, the retail scene in Houston is worth checking out this month.

Alchemia
Support Houston's fashion scene at the FFF Summer Pop-Up on Thursday, July 10, from 12-5 pm at Alchemia. The afternoon will highlight women-owned businesses and local designers. Shoppers can browse curated summer collections from brands including M+M Couture Designs, The Sister Rack, Tiedy Gals Co., My Knit Ever, and Sparkle & Shine by Lynn while sipping complimentary bubbles and refreshments.

Blue Leaf Houston
Along with settling in to its new location, Blue Leaf has restocked with gifts and fun baubles perfect for summer, including a large inventory of Jellycats; the latest from Mackenzie-Childs and Elsata Ceramics; and kids' clothes for both boys and girls, including Pink Chicken and EMC. The store also carries a large selection of bespoke mahjong tiles.

Houston Premium Outlets
Everyone's favorite Houston-area outlet mall is giving shoppers two more reasons to visit this summer. Popular brands Birkenstock and The North Face are now open, joining the outlet center's always-growing roster of retailers.

Hunter Bell
Houston designer brand Hunter Bell is kicking off summer savings with a sale running now through July 11. Shoppers can save up to 70 percent on select pieces from the Spring 2026 and Resort 2026 collections, making it the perfect time to stock up on the brand's polished styles before they're gone.

J. Landa Jewelry
Jumping on the summer beaded gemstone necklace trend, J. Landa's newest collection includes elevated necklaces featuring natural stones, whimsical shell and fish charms that add color and texture to summer layering.

Lucchese Bootmaker
Season 3 of America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders has everyone talking. For those who want to feel like a part of the team, Lucchese's Gina boot, inspired by the team's iconic performance boot, will complete any look. Available in-store or online, the boots are a great way to channel the spirit of DCC while still looking stylish in Western fashion.

Mirth
Houston-based brand Mirth is making it easy to refresh a summer wardrobe with its Holiday Weekend Sale, running through July 7. Shoppers can score an extra 20 percent off already marked-down dresses, breezy separates, and the brand's colorful signature prints. The discount is automatically applied at checkout, no code needed.

Primark
Just in time for back-to-school shopping, affordable retailer Primark will be opening its seventh store in Texas at Willowbrook Mall on July 16. The store will be offering essentials at great prices, including women's denim starting at $12, men's tees at $5, and girls' and boys' sweatshirts at $8. Sports fans can also stock up on their favorite team's merch, including Texans, Cowboys, Rockets, and Spurs items.

River Oaks District
The development's Texas Nights series will feature live music, shopping, and cocktails. Held on Saturdays, July 4, 11, and 18, the event will have performances by Rush Creek, Wes Nickson, and Trent Cade, along with the district's mix of boutiques and restaurants. It's a great excuse to sip, shop, and enjoy a warm Houston summer evening.

SĀMAÁ Diamonds Studio
Houston-based jewelry designer Sugam Khanna recently debuted her newest collection, Le Papillon, at an exclusive event at Upper Kirby cocktail lounge Santé. The collection is inspired by butterflies, and on some of the new rings, the butterfly's wings are designed to flutter with the natural movement of the hand.

South to North
The buzzy boutique that specializes in bringing international brands to the Bayou City has recently welcomed several new brands perfect for Houston summers. Available in-store, the brands include Sirapop, Lanthropy, Sara & Flora, and Salvarea.

Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott
Kendra Scott's latest collaboration for her Western-inspired line is with Austin-based country band Chaparral. The collection blends Texas ranch culture with elevated modern fashion. The collection includes jewelry, leather bolos, and statement pieces such as beaded bandana necklaces.

Photo by Laura Sanz Photography

South to North is bringing a fresh lineup of international brands to Houston this summer.

best houston shopping shop local houston houston brands houston fashion where to shop in houston

Iconic Houston looks

Creator of AstroWorld & Derrick Dolls uniforms, Kay King is honored as Houstonfashion trailblazer

SEASONAL SIZZLE

Where to shop in Houston right now: 12 can't-miss spots for summer 2026

Comfort food chain Cotton Patch Cafe acquired by Dallas restaurant group

Boutique Houston hotel steps up with 4 new suites, antiques shop, and more

Celebrated Houston chef opens Midtown restaurant and more top stories