Before an admiring group of friends and customers, David Peck introduced his new Miles David Atelier collection at his revamped Montrose studio.
While guests dinned on a light luncheon salad and a guitarist played flamenco tunes, Peck presented 35 looks from the new line, which features glittery gowns, sparkly blouses and dresses in comfortable ponte knit fabric that doesn't wrinkle when you sit in a car, as Houstonians often do, he explained.
Since filing for bankruptcy in late September and reorganizing a new company with a new investor, Peck has spent a chunk of his time searching out new fabrics in southern California and elsewhere — and it shows in the collection, which is marked with richer-looking detail and bright colors.
One of Peck's favorite dresses in the new collection is named the "Michelle," for his wife, using a colorful fabric that spells out the word, "Love." The audience erupted in a unison "Ahhhh" when Peck told the story.
They also applauded when the designer said he promised himself not to get emotional, as his voice cracked and tears came to his eyes when he introduced the collection. "We love you David," one admirer shouted.
"This has been a lot of work by a lot of people to get this done in a really short amount of time, and the reason you are here is you are very important to me," Peck explained.
Selections range from a vintage-striped skirt ($285) and charcoal top ($95) to a closing showstopper aubergine and metallic lace princess gown ($2,995). Others favorites include a black fringe "Nashville" jacket (named for the Texas town, not Tennessee; $485), the slinky "Lexi" gown in orange and red sequins ($1,895), and the chiffon "Jesse" top, in reversible jewel-tone colors ($275).
Several of the looks are one-of-a-kind, which reflects Peck's new vision of offering unique limited-edition clothing, along with updating his classic silhouettes, such as basic dresses with pockets, in shiny new fabrics and prints.
Afterwards, guests made a beeline for the creations, with 20 percent of sales going to Houston Grand Opera. Among the shoppers were Karina Barbieri, who picked out a leopard lamé blouse and orange/red sequined skirt, and Laura Max Rose, who went for a kicky black faux fur hat.
Seen in the crowd were Valerie Palmquist-Dieterich, Anika Jackson, Cara Crafton, whose Craft Salon did the models' hair, Dena Winkler, Donae Chramosta, Leisa Holland-Nelson, Monica Hartland Blaisdell, Jo Furr, Staci Henderson, Chris Goins, Nancy Levicki and Lauren Levicki Courville, Tammy Tran Nguyen, Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl, Varda Dror, Michelle Phillips, Lisa Powers, Rose Chen and Andrea Bonner.
Miles David "Michelle" gown with Love print.
The new FIGS store will offer a Color Clinic and Customization Station to let shoppers personalize their FIGS uniforms. Photo courtesy of FIGS/Instagram