Even with high-profile types such as Dominique Sachse and Nick Florescu and Millette and Haag Sherman on the catwalk at Tootsies, it was Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel who earned a standing ovation during the Dec My Room fashion blast Tuesday night.
The 2012 Heisman Trophy winner's grand finale appearance at the annual "Love's in Fashion" fundraiser sent the otherwise sophisticated crowd into high-five gyrations. Joanna and Brad Marks, Debbie and Rudy Festari and Dru and Scott Cone were among those on their feet in celebration of the soon-to-be NFL star — and possible No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick. Probably no one was more into the gridiron ecstasy than Bubba McNeely, who was the first to start dancing in the aisle, cheering and applauding.
As previously reported in this CultureMap story, Manziel swooped in from his quarterback training in San Diego to walk the fashion runway with 6-year-old cancer survivor Charlie Dina. Manziel and the Dina family have had a close relationship since Manziel first learned of the young Aggie fan's serious bout with neuroblastoma. Dec My Room dressed Charlie's hospital room with loads of A&M goodies to make his month-long hospital stay, following a bone marrow transplant, a bit more tolerable.
Welcoming several hundred guests to the ever-popular fundraising event were Dec My Room founders Susan Plank and daughter Kendall Plank. Dad Mike Plank and son Jared Plank provided support from the wings. Tootsies' Mickey Rosmarin joined the throng that helped raise more than $100,000, allowing Dec My Room to expand to the Galveston Burn Center.
Among the 18 or so loving couples featured on the runway were Julie and Dr. David Brown, Gina Gaston and Mario Elie, Tiffany and Rick Smith, Duyen and Marc Huynh, Megan Sutton-Reed and Chris Reed, John Dascoulias with Clifford Pugh and Pam Morse with Dan Pastorini.
Applauding the stylistas strutting the catwalk were Hannah and Cal McNair, Joanna and Brad Marks, Gary Petersen, Diane and Michael Caplan, Diane Lokey Farb, Beth Muecke, Rob Rutherford, Courtney and Bo Hopson and Lori Krohn with Phillip Sarofim.
Jenna Jackson and Brendan Gilbert at the Dec My Room fundraiser at Tootsies.
