Imagine — a pair of almost-new/never-worn Louboutin evening pumps for $25! That had to be the bargain of the day at Tuesday's Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary "Reflections on Style" closet caper at River Oaks Country Club. And it was mine!

Thank you, style maven Leisa Holland-Nelson, who found them first in the so-called Chic Boutique, bought them and then sold them to me when she encountered my over-the-top lusting for her purchase.

But wait, Cathy Borlenghi picked up a fabulous Bill Blass cocktail dress, Neiman's sales tags still in place, for a song. Vicki West, auxiliary president, went home with a $2,800 leather jacket (the price tag still on it) for $125. And then there were the 42 racks of gently-worn or never-worn Chanels, Armanis, YSL's and Oscar de la Rentas that ladies with plenty of discretionary income were scrambling to make their own.

Hey, big spenders

At least one item went for big bucks — a triple strand of pearls donated by Barbara Bush, accompanied by a photograph of the former First Lady wearing the pearls and a personally-signed letter of authentication. After that gem of a selection went for a whopping $17,500 in a silent auction, Bush, who attended as luncheon co-chair Betty Hrncir's guest, donated another set that went for $17,000.

It was a red letter day for the Salvation Army Auxiliary, which broke all previous records with the luncheon that was also co-chaired by Ann Bookout. Taking bows for their roles in the success were luncheon honoree Lilly Andress, accompanied by husband Thurmon Andress; Chic Boutique chairs Donatella Benckenstein and Mehrnaz Gill; couture chair Diane Gendel, After Sale chairs Molly Brown and Debbie Rogers; and fashion event producer Lenny Matuszewski.

The goods that did not sell at the luncheon are on sale Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at 1121 Uptown Park, next to Gittings.

A stellar turnout

Contrary to the recent musings by certain writers, Houston's "old guard" is an elite group of long-standing philanthropic, social and civic leaders, those who have been quietly making their mark on the city for decades if not for generations. The Salvation Army is one of those non-profits, much like the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, that enjoys the support of the true old guard and they turned out in force for Tuesday's luncheon. Among them were Margaret Love, Louise Cooley, Lynn Wyatt, Joanne King Herring, Linda McReynolds, Cynthia Allshouse, Penny Butler, Rose Cullen, Jeanie Kilroy, Anne Duncan, and we include Ann Bookout on the list.

Of course, there were plenty of new age social figures who stand tall in the city in the mix including Carol Linn, Jana Arnoldy, Susan Fine, Carol Sharpe, Debby Leighton, Laura McWilliams, Susan Krohn, Virginia Steppe and so many more in sellout crowd of 400.