Houston fashionistas are such a loyal lot. Consider those attending the Recipe for Success "Dress for Dinner" event Wednesday night at Neiman Marcus where designer Nicole Miller was special guest. So many fans turned out in Nicole Miller threads that the popular New Yorker couldn't help but feel right at home.

Both Roz Pactor and Isabel David, chairs of the fashion show/dinner evening, were in Nicole Miller as were Janet Gurwitch, Diana Hudson, Leisa Holland-Nelson, Kim Bartee and Kristy Junco. Recipe for Success founder Gracie Cavnar, recently named to the Houston Chronicle Best Dressed list, stepped out in Charles Chang Lima.

The ladies and a handful of gents including host Neiman's GM Bob Devlin, Marcus Sloan and Shannon Hall schmoozed through cocktails then took their seats for a runway show that was met with enthusiastic applause. Those paying a premium for the partying were invited to dinner with Miller in the Mariposa Cafe where Catering by Culinaire's Barbara McKnight worked her magic. Just under 40 guests including Miller swooned as McKnight's team presented rack of lamb, Miller's favorite food.

McKnight is an active member of the RFS chefs advisory board and she shared a few words on her experiences in the classroom with young children helping stress the importance of healthy eating, all in the RFS effort at fighting childhood obesity.

The fashion flock included Annie Criner, Susie Criner, Yvonne Cormier, Claire Cormier Thielke, Elsie Eckert, Karen and Roland Garcia, Jennifer LeGrand, Kim Bartee, Beth Zdeblick, Maria Vilchez and Heather Pray.

No Blues for these Brothers

Blues Brothers Jim Belushi and Dan Aykroyd swooped into The Woodlands Waterway Marriott for the "Saturday Night Live" bash benefitting the Center for the Performing Arts at The Woodlands. The Blues Brothers rocked the ballroom with hits such as "Soul Man," "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Messin' With the Kid." Highlight for many partygoers was the chance to climb on stage with the rocking duo.

The costumed throng rollicked throughout the night that raised more than $325,000 for the center which provides funding for arts and educational programs at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Two favorites were costume award winners Theresa and Lamar Roemer as Cone Heads and the throng of Killer Bees.

The happiest people of the night were Phil Wedemeyer, who won the Audi A5 convertible in the raffle drawing; Gerald Glenn, who won United Airlines first-class tickets; and Jerry MacDonald, president and CEO of the Pavilion, who declared it the party of the year.

Legal eagles

Applause, applause for attorney Neal Manne, who has been named recipient of the Anti-Defamation League's 2011 Karen H. Susman Jurisprudence Award. In honor of that coveted award, he and wife Nancy McGregor were feted at a recent reception for more than 100, hosted by Karen H. Susman's son, Harry Susman and his wife, Karen.

Past award recipients in that heady group included Gibson Gayle Jr. (the first recipient), Bill Barnett, Rufus Cormier, Jim Derrick, Carrin Patman, Robin Gibbs, Cathy Lamboley, Marvin Nathan and Steve Susman. The award is given to those who display a commitment to equality, justice, fairness and community service.

Manne will take his official bows at a luncheon on April 6 with ADL board members Jessica Mason and Ian Scharfman serving as chairs.

It was a swell turnout Tuesday night at Montblanc in the Galleria, when Becca Cason Thrash hosted a cocktail shopping spree for one of her fave charities — Best Buddies International. The luxury goods purveyor has partnered with the non-profit for 11 days of giving 11 percent of proceeds from purchases made in 11 Montblanc stores.

It's a Montblanc North America initiative with Best Buddies founder Anthony Kennedy Shriver signing on in New York, Cason Thrash in Houston and Katherine Schwarzenegger (the oldest of Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger's four children) at the Rodeo Drive store in LA.

While sipping champagne and wine and nibbling on dainty hors d'oeuvres were John Thrash, Candice and Lonnie Schiller, Lance Avery Morgan, Valerie Sarofim, Monsour Taghdisi, Dan Dubrowski, Rosemarie Johnson, Nancy Marcus Golden, Sarah Bray and Neal Hamil. Montblanc boutique manager Jason Bickel proudly showed them all the seven-star diamond necklace and earrings suite specially flown in for the week.

Proceeds from all stores will be presented to Best Buddies at the organization's big gala in Palm Beach on March 18. Becca serves on the Best Buddies International board.

Sight 'ems

Nidhika and Pershant Mehta entertaining friends in Bar Annie where Karen and Mike Mayell were having a quiet dinner for two . . .

Randy Powers and Bill Caudell dining in the packed Philippe Restaurant + Lounge while Melissa Mithoff, Courtney Hobson and Erin Florescu headhuddled in the bar downstairs.