Night of Extremes

Houston Texans players steal the spotlight from sexy models at Fashion Houston

In the Green Room, Houston Texans players Connor Barwin (left), Bryan Braman(middle) and Brooks Reed (right) strike a pose with designer Chloe Dao, center,and her hubby Kenneth Pursley.
Photo by Heather Staible
Herve Leger models in Fifth Element swimsuits caught the players' attention.
Photo by © Federico Villamayor/CultureMapSNAP.com
Rubin Singer's collection was full of life and color.
Photo by © Federico Villamayor/CultureMapSNAP.com
Kevan Hall brought spring 2013 to the Fashion Houston runway with a mix offeminine frocks accessorized by thin bow belts.
Photo by © Federico Villamayor/CultureMapSNAP.com
A hallmark of a Herve Leger is its body hugging qualities.
Photo by © Federico Villamayor/CultureMapSNAP.com
Rubin Singer loves color
Photo by © Federico Villamayor/CultureMapSNAP.com
Kevan Hall gown in deep purple
Photo by © Federico Villamayor/CultureMapSNAP.com
Braman, Barwin and Reed have eyes only for the models at the Herve Legershow.....
Photo by Heather Staible

Kevan Hall, Ruben Singer, Herve Leger and Chloe Dao were among the designers who wowed the crowds at Fashion Houston Wednesday night, but it was a trio of Houston Texans that threatened to steal the spotlight from the runway, if only in between shows.

Each designer hit Houston’s sweet spot, enticing with color, drama and yes, sheer pieces for resort and spring 2013 collections.

Herve Leger

There is no doubt that Houston loves Herve Leger, and much like the BCBG Max Azria show Monday, the brand’s fan were out en masse. No one was more popular than Lubov Azria, the brand’s creative director.

Just when you think nothing else can be done to the inventiveness of the body conscious bandage dresses, Azria sent down dresses with A-line skirts, bold geometric prints and swimsuits that definitely got the attention of Houston Texans players Connor Barwin, Brooks Reed and Bryan Braman. Yes boys, we noticed you snapping pictures every time a swimsuit-clad model walked by in suits that felt very Fifth Element in design.

Yes boys, we noticed you snapping pictures every time a swimsuit-clad model walked by in suits that felt very Fifth Element in design.

(And we couldn't help but notice the hordes of female admirers who mobbed the players between shows, approaching with chests prominently pushed out, and flirtatiously asking to have a photo snapped with them.)

“Herve Leger has been doing swim since the '80s, but you couldn’t swim in them, but we developed a yarn that you can get them wet. Only three percent of women actually get in the water, but you get terrible tan lines,” Azria joked during an interview after the show.

Azria sent the resort 2013 collection down the runway to give the robust local clientele something fresh for the Fashion Houston appearance (the clothes will be in stores in the next month). But even if she hadn’t shown anything new, the crowd would have loved her just the same.

Kevan Hall

Red carpet favorite Kevan Hall brought spring 2013 to the runway with a mix of feminine frocks accessorized by thin bow belts. He smartly favors off-the-shoulder dresses that are universally flattering and metallic back-baring gowns.

“Houston women love to dress. They love the full-on hair and makeup. They make an effort and I like that,” Hall said.

Katherine Heigl, Vanessa Williams and Drew Barrymore are among the clients he calls “his girls,” the ones who have his number on speed dial as award season approaches. Celebs are just one element of his client roster and his collection showed he is considering pieces for all women and seemingly every occasion.

Sometimes the collection was a little disorienting, but his finale of gorgeous gowns was a lovely reminder of his skill.

Hall shows his collection at Elizabeth Anthony/Esther Wolf Friday and loves working with Texas women.

“Houston women love to dress. They love the full-on hair and makeup. They make an effort and I like that,” Hall said.

Ruben Singer

Ruben Singer is dapper and approachable, his collection architectural and beautiful. He takes a cerebral approach to creating a collection and his Death of Ophelia-themed show gave us a peek into how his mind works.

“The beginning of the show is her end, her demise and the collection bring her back to life,” Singer says.

“At the end of the day, woman wants to look attractive to a man and to herself. She wants to be strong and beautiful,” he said.

In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Ophelia drowns after falling from a tree, but before she slips away, her clothes are described as “keeping her afloat, spread wide and mermaid-like.”

Singer's collection was indeed full of life and color, but with strong angles and textures like python adding interest. If a gown or trench featured sharp shoulders, then the skirt was full and soft, striking a balance. If the skirt of a gown was voluminous, the bodice structured and detailed.

And after a palette of neutrals, he breathed life into the collection with shocks of color like bright green and pink and saturated blues, telling Ophelia’s story through his design. Even before he rounded the corner to make his runway appearance, the Fashion Houston crowd was on its feet in applause.

“The architecture and draping is my thing. I look at design like I’m building a house, it’s an inverted construction. I do all my own draping and work closely with my pattern-maker,” Singer says.

Stints of doing anything but design include ballet dancer, but as a third-generation couturier, he just couldn’t resist the lure of design. He was an associate designer at Oscar de la Renta and the head designer for three Bill Blass licenses, but always had an eye on his own future.

“At the end of the day, woman wants to look attractive to a man and to herself. She wants to be strong and beautiful,” he said.

Just like the his collection.

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Where to shop in October

Where to shop in Houston right now: 13 must-haves to celebrate fall

Flabelus/Instagram

Spanish brands Flabelus and La Coqueta are partnering with Colombian brand NNT Lab for a can't-miss trunk show on October 23 and 24.

October offers many opportunities to shop. Whether it's a fun, fall-inspired trip, Halloween, or a worthy cause like Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Houston's best shops have what you are looking for. This month's roundup features boutiques, trunk shows, and beauty must-haves to help shoppers prepare for Houston's fleeting fall season and October's bevy of events.

Beauty Shop Heights
One of M-K-T's newest boutiques offers benefit-driven approaches to beauty from a variety of brands. OSEA, Ursa Major, RMS Beauty, Saint Jane Beauty, and Augustinus Bader are among the entry-level and luxury products offered. The shop also features a station where customers can refill products like shampoo and hand wash.

Buckle Scrunchies
Houston-based Buckle Scrunchies just released its fall line. The scrunchies promise pain-free hairdos with no tangling or tugging and can be used for casual ponytails or elegant updos. The fall line has colors ranging from deep oranges to rustic browns, warm yellows, and black accents.

Contemporary Handweavers of Houston
Houston's longest-standing fiber arts organization is hosting its annual artisan market from October 24 to 26. Shop for one-of-a-kind dyed scarves, beautiful handwoven towels, woven wall hangings, and handcrafted jewelry. The market will be held at 1425 Blalock Rd. Find more information about the market here.

Elizabeth Anthony
Elizabeth Anthony is gearing up for the holiday season with several in-store events. The boutique will welcome back Jenny Packham and Edeline Lee, both from London, fresh off of fashion week. Jewelry is also highlighted this month with designer appearances from Katherine Jetter, Sweta Jain, and Stephen Dweck. Details on trunk shows and designer appearances are available here.

Flabelus + La Coqueta + NNT Lab Trunk Show
Thanks to Natalie Steen of The Nat Note, The Dot Lab PR, and South to North, three sought-after brands are joining forces for a can't-miss trunk show. Hailing from Spain, Flabelus, a widely popular shoe brand, and La Coqueta, a kids' clothing label, are partnering with NNT Lab, a perfume brand from Colombia, on October 23 to 24 at 2147 Westheimer Rd. Suite B. The trunk show will be from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm each day.

Gorjana
Just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Gorjana is launching a limited-time Pink Collection featuring pink diamonds and gold jewelry. The collection will be available at Gorjana's Houston stores and online beginning October 4. Fifty percent of all sales from the collection will directly benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Laura Aparicio
Discover Colombian brand Laura Aparicio, best known for her timeless and effortless silhouettes inspired by Latin American culture. She is also one of the three finalists for "Designer of the Year" at the upcoming Latin American Fashion Summit. The Laura Aparicio trunk show will be on October 16 and 17 in Montrose mixed-use development Autry Park, Suite 200.

Lids x Topps
The Astros are making a postseason run, which means it is time to stock up on team apparel. Available at its Galleria location, Lids just dropped its latest collab with Topps, making finding the newest hats with cool retro vibes easier than ever.

MYX Blend Bar
Customers can personalize their lippie experience at the newest outpost of MYX Blend Bar at M-K-T Heights. Offering customized lipsticks, lip glosses, and balms, customers can find the shade, ingredients, and finish that is right for them.

Pandora
Pandora, a globally recognized jewelry retailer known for its customizable charm bracelets, recently opened its newest Houston location at Houston Premium Outlets. The brand is known for its wide range of high-quality rings, earrings, necklaces, and pendants, each crafted from fine materials.

Paris Texas Apparel Co.
Paris Texas has a variety of new accessories and graphic tees for the fall season. Everything from armadillo socks to woven belts and Texas sports team merch is available. The cheeky boutique also has new graphic tees in stock — the fan favorite "My Pronouns are Tex-Mex" is sure to sell out fast.

Rabanne
The debut makeup line from the house of Paco Rabanne is now available at three Houston Ulta locations: 5140 Richmond Avenue, 7744 Farm to Market 1960 Rd W, and 3025 Kirby Dr. The makeup line just launched its Fresh Touch Foundation with a range of inclusive colors and a new fragrance, Paco Rabanne Fame Parfum.

Trellis Spa
From September 16 to October 11, Trellis Spa customers who receive a Natura Bissé facial can provide an opportunity for a complimentary facial to those who have survived or are currently undergoing cancer treatment. Those individuals will then have the opportunity to indulge in a personalized facial from an oncology-trained aesthetician inside the famed Pure Air Bubble between October 14-17. The spa touts the treatment as a "detox experience" that's designed to help eliminate toxins and dead cells to help skin look glowing and beautiful. Visit the "Receive One Facial, Give One Facial" website for more information.

Flabelus/Instagram

Spanish brands Flabelus and La Coqueta are partnering with Colombian brand NNT Lab for a can't-miss trunk show on October 23 and 24.

buckle scrunchies gorjana lids laura aparicio trellis spa where to shop in houston

Night of Extremes

Houston Texans players steal the spotlight from sexy models at Fashion Houston

Where to shop in October

Where to shop in Houston right now: 13 must-haves to celebrate fall

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