Glitz and glamour reigned at the spanking new Tootsies when proprietor Mickey Rosmarin joined forces with his long-time friend Becca Cason Thrash and designer Naeem Khan to throw a splashy opening soirée that filled the West Ave store with a sleek congregation of ladies and gents.

The first formal runway event for the regal retail space served as a fundraiser for Best Buddies International. Becca serves on the board and chaired the glam gathering.

In a way, it was like a family affair. Mickey and Naeem have been doing business together for 28 years and share a heavy dose of mutual admiration. Mickey and Becca have been blissfully joined at the hip for what seems like forever. And Becca and John Thrash have a close friendship with the designer, who bunks in their guest house on his Houston visits. (Naeem designed Becca's dress for the Liaisons au Louvre in 2008 and is planning on attending Liaisons II in June.)

Close to 200 well-heeled partygoers sipped champagne, nibbled hors d'oeuvres and perused the vast Tootsies environs before settling down in gilded chiavari chairs that lined the central runway which grandly extends the full length of the store. It was a magnificent setting for Naeem's dazzling evening gown collection that had more than a few ladies absolutely swooning and a few making orders. The gowns represented true investment shopping with price tags ranging from $4,000 to $19,000.

While five-figure gowns were not quite in the budget for Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith and wife Tiffany, they were among those enjoying the window shopping. Count Sue and Lester Smith, Gretchen and Andrew McFarland, Sheridan Williams, Annie Amante, Rosemarie Johnson, Cindi and Dr. Franklin Rose, Candice and Lonnie Schiller, Mimi Del Grande, Betsy and Tod Eason and Ch. 2 news anchor Dominique Sachse with Nick Florescu (that duo ranking at the moment as one of the most glamorous pairings in the city).

Dinner for a score of Becca insiders followed at Ava, the Schiller-Del Grande eatery that launched in West Ave only a few weeks ago. Among those breaking bread with Naeem, Mickey, Becca and John Thrash were Greggory Burk, Nancy Marcus Golden, Debra and Mark Grierson, Lisa Holthouse, Diane Lokey Farb, Jeff Gremillion, Naeem pal Melissa Mithoff , Elizabeth Petersen and Tootsies new store manager Fady Armanious.

Gregarious, friendly and with no pretense for a master of design, Naeem entertained with stories of his success on Home Shopping Network — 6,000 dresses, priced at $500, sold out in 24 minutes — and talked of his affection for Houston.

"I have such a liking for Houston, you have no idea," he said. "I don't just go out to do these shows away from my home. (He has homes in New York and Miami as well as his native India.) Houston is the other place that I go. I love it here."

Here, is where Becca and John and Melissa and Michael Mithoff introduced Naeem to margaritas and the El Tiempo brand of Tex-Mex. He's addicted and even started the evening off with one of Ava's margaritas.

No time for tacos al carbon this trip. Naeem was back to New York the next morning with deadlines for his resort collection, due in June, fast approaching.