How serendipitous was it that fashion designer and University of Houston grad Victor Costa was in town just in time to attend a UH fashion event at Tootsies and on the same day that high-profile designer Cornelia Guest was in the store promoting her handbag line.
Since his marriage to Jerry Ann Woodfin in November, Costa divides his time between Houston and New York. On this night, he mingled with the group celebrating UH's Retailing and Consumer Science program in the College of Technology. That group is having a fundraising luncheon in the fall and this night's gathering served as a fashionable launch. How fun it was to have Guest with her "cruelty-free" must-have handbags.
Shirley Ezell, coordinator of retailing graduate and internship programs, introduced those to be recognized at the Oct. 16 event — Community Honoree Silver Eagle Distributors represented by Bobbie Nau, Retail Honoree Tootsies represented by Mickey Rosmarin and Media Honoree CultureMap represented by Clifford Pugh, editor in chief. Luncheon chairs are Soraya McClelland and Dancie Ware.
UH retail grads in the mix included Tootsies' Chris Goins, My Red Glasses fashion blogger Roz Pactor and hat designer Gabriela Dror. Joining the party were Scott McClelland, Leisa Holland Nelson, Daniel Dror, Dan Pastorini and Pam Morse, Suzanne Deison, Roxanne Neumann, Leonard Rutan, Shafik Rifaat and Bill and Joanne Crassas, who was celebrating her birthday.
Special guest on this evening was Guest's pooch, Olive, her constant travel companion.
Soraya McClelland, from left, Mickey Rosmarin, Bobbie Nau and Clifford Pugh at the University of Houston retailing event.
