Once again, the Champagne Cowgirls made their mark at the RodeoHouston Steer Auction — first with their annual fashion statement and second with their buying power.

Their traditional black suede skirts, jeans and jackets, accented with miles of turquoise and tons of silver, set them apart in the packed house at Reliant Center as do their western hats with rhinestone bands and Chanel (aka Champagne Cowgirl) logos. Taking the style prize on this Saturday morning was Dee Dee Marsh who wore a dazzling Naeem Khan designer jacket with her high-fashion western gear.

While the Champagne Cowgirls bought the Reserve Grand Champion steer last year, the bidding was a little tougher in a more robust 2011. Tilman Fertitta and Paul Somerville picked up the Grand Champion for $350,000, well above last year's top bid of $175,000, and the Reserve Grand Champion went for $310,000, a good bit more than the Champagne Cowgirls had rounded up for the day.

However, the score of women put enough greenbacks together — $200,000 — to inspire the heady bidding and to pick up three champion steers. It was a happy day for members that include Ellie Francisco, Donna Speer, Danielle Ellis, Kim Tutcher, Darlene Bisso, Denise Monteleone, Elizabeth Stein and Susan Krohn.

A regular at the Steer Auction Breakfast that precedes the auction action, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison once again had a few encouraging words to say and posed for myriad photo ops with fans, including more than a few of the Champagne Cowgirls.

Designer showing

No off-putting grande dame Kay Unger, this designer showed that she's just one of the girls when she made a personal appearance at Tootsies last week following her luncheon fashion show for St. Luke's Friends of Nursing. She was hands-on with customers, offering advice on colors, styles and fit. She even went so far as to remove one of her dresses from a store mannequin to assist a potential buyer.

Tootsies honcho Mickey Rosmarin joined the ladies who lunch as they sipped adult libations and cooed over the friendly designs. Among them were Nancy Dinerstein, Patsy Fourticq, Susan Krohn, Karen Stall, Suzy Bergner and Joanne Naponic.

High style at City Hall

Cover girl model and Celebrity Apprentice player Niki Taylor made a fashionable splash at City Hall today on behalf of the Reader's Digest "We Hear You America" campaign. Terence O'Neill, the city's director of international affairs, had the tough duty of welcoming Taylor and accepting a Reader's Digest check for $1,000 to be used at the city's discretion.

It's part of a $7.5 million commitment that Reader's Digest has made to help U.S. cities that have had to make budget cuts due to the national economic downturn. The model's itinerary includes RodeoHouston and a visit to Galveston City Hall on Wednesday.

Taylor made good use of her time at City Hall, posing for photos in the Visitors Center and picking up children's books and toys for her three young children. She couldn't resist the pralines, although she did fret over the calorie count.

Sight 'ems

Former City Councilwoman Pam Holm and Chuck Holm part of the crew sampling the old-stye Tex-Mex fare at the soon-to-open El Real in the old Tower Theater on Montrose. Chef Bryan Caswell was in the kitchen and biz partner Bill Floyd and his wife Charlene were in the front of the house welcoming guests and giving tours of the vast restaurant. Checking it out were Jim Jard, John Granado, Ramsay Gillman, Sheri and Mark Provenzano and Elaine and Richard Ellender . . .

Rice University patrons Cynthia and Bucky Allshouse, Anne and Charles Duncan, Mary Attwell and a few others dining at Tony's where they were the guests of Rice University Shepherd School of Music dean Bob Yekovich and his wife, Michele.