Exclusive to Houston

Louis Vuitton steps up with limited edition, $8,000 Texan boots

High-end and custom-made cowboy boots are nothing new at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. This year, however, for the first time in history, iconic French fashion house Louis Vuitton has entered the arena with their limited-edition LV Texan boots.

A perfect look for RodeoHouston, the LV Texan boots have French heritage and LV iconography but were handmade by Texas master artisans. The creative team behind the LV Texan boots consists of expert bootmakers Stallion Boots based in El Paso, otherwise known as "The Cowboy Boot Capital of the World," and Louis Vuitton's leather goods atelier out of Rochambeau Ranch in Alvarado, Texas. Notably, the boots are the luxury maker's first footwear venture from Rochambeau Ranch.

Louis Vuitton LV Texan boots The LV Texan boots are available at Louis Vuitton in the Houston Galleria for the duration of RodeoHouston. Photo courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Photo courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Limited edition LV Texan Boots are available in Houston just in time for rodeo season.

Originally from the Men's Fall-Winter 2024 collection spearheaded by creative director Pharrell Williams, the boots feature supple calf leather and stitching by Goodyear, which is considered the "gold standard" for footwear.

Inspired by the American West, the Fall-Winter 2024 collection features pearl and sequin embroidery, vaquero jackets, leather, fringe, denim, and cowboy boots. Williams also worked with the Dakota and Lakota tribes to showcase hand-painted details on the brand's famed Speedy Bags. A new term, "Cowmooflage," a mashup of cow print and camouflage printed on calfskin jackets and bags, also came out of the collection.

The boots were originally presented in Paris as part of Men's Creative Director Pharrell Williams' collection inspired by the American West.Photo courtesy of Louis Vuitton

The limited-edition boots are exclusively available at Louis Vuitton in the Houston Galleria for the duration of RodeoHouston. At a $8,000 price point, the boots are available in three different styles, each with notable Texas branding, including bluebonnets, cactus, scorpions, and a Texas monogram.

The authentic cowboy boot features goodyear construction in supple calf leather and stitching and appliqué decorations that incorporate Louis Vuitton’s iconography into the classic style.Photo courtesy of Louis Vuitton

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VAULT VIBES

Houston fashion star Chloe Dao marks 25 years with epic clean-out sale

Photo courtesy of Chloe Dao

From January 24- 31 Chloe Dao will open her personal design archives to mark 25 years with a rare boutique vault sale.

For Houston fashion devotees, this is the kind of news that prompts a calendar alert and a group chat with the besties. Chloe Dao is celebrating 25 years in fashion by doing something she has never done before: opening the vault.

From January 24 through January 31, the Chloe Dao boutique will host a 25-Year Anniversary Clean-Out Vault Event, releasing pieces from Dao’s personal design archives alongside curated boutique items that have been held back for years. Once they are gone, they are gone for good.

“This is not a typical sale; this is an anniversary moment,” Dao says. “It’s an intentional release, a moment of reflection and gratitude, and a way to make space for what’s next. Once these pieces are gone, they’re truly gone."

For the first time ever, shoppers will be able to snag select designs from past collections and limited production runs, and Dao has confirmed she will be parting with some of her couture designs. Shoppers can expect more than 300 items, with more than half of the boutique included in the sale event.

Chloe Dao design Select runway couture and past collection pieces headline Chloe Dao’s 25-Year Anniversary Clean-Out Event.Photo courtesy of Chloe Dao

Everything in the anniversary sale will be discounted 65 percent or more. Fan favorites, including the Houston T-shirt and Aya scarf, will be priced at $15 to $20, down from $42 to $68. None of the released pieces will be reproduced or restocked.

There is also a very personal moment behind this big event. Dao shared that she is planning for the future, including her eventual retirement in about 5 years, making this the right time for a shift.

“It is bittersweet, and I’m still torn about letting go of some of my archive pieces. But a close friend stopped by the boutique this past Saturday and reminded me that I can always create more. That really stayed with me. I’ve missed designing for my store, and this sale feels like a reset — a chance to return to what I love most: designing eveningwear," Dao tells CultureMap. "The past six years, especially post-COVID, were very much about survival mode. Now, if I’m going to truly survive and thrive in today’s retail landscape, my focus is shifting back to my own line and less on curation.”

Following her Project Runway Season Two win and decades of success, Dao says the milestone is also about gratitude for the city that supported her from the start.

“Think of it as an archive release and a chance to own a piece of my history as I celebrate 25 years in fashion. Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I’m so excited to share this moment, and this milestone, with you."

25-Year Anniversary Clean-Out Vault Event, January 24 - January 31, Chloe Dao Boutique, 600 N Shepherd Dr #115, in M-K-T Heights.

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