Dress for Success

High-style crowd of young professionals gets ready for fall social season at Sizzling Summer Soireé

Fashionistas more than 300 strong sailed into Tootsies on a wave of energy and enthusiasm as Women of Wardrobe, the young professional arm of Dress for Success, once again proved its clout in attracting H-Town's wealth of up-and-coming movers and shakers.

Although the annual event is dubbed a "Sizzling Summer Soireé," the outing is actually a harbinger of the fall social season which serves as both a membership event and a shop 'til you drop opp. In fact, organizers signed up 98 new members on this night.

Fashions from Rachel Zoe fall and resort collections were on display with national sales director Anna Boggs on hand to encourage sales. Jewelery designerClaudia Lobao was in from San Antonio to help the ladies try on her trés popular creations while accessories from local Presmer designer Annsley Popov were on display. And, of course, a percentage of sales on this night were donated to Dress for Success Houston.

While DJ Senega kept the vibes flowing, hip sips and canapés were provided by Armandos, Eddie V’s, Green Plate Foods, Harwood Grill, Leprechaun Cider, Paul’s Kitchen, SlimRitas and Sweet Cup Gelato.

WOW president Michelle Kobelan explained her attraction to the non-profit, "I fell in love with the Dress for Success mission to help women. It's such an empowering cause." Dress for Success execs Nancy Levicki and Lauren Levicki Courville would agree as would chairs of the event Shannon Addison, Kendall Hanno and Maria Vilchez Lowery.

The high-style crowd included Susan Oehl, Bria Wall, Lauren Grossberg, Jackie Fair, MacKenzie Cash, Korey Bednarz, Kristy Bradshaw, Paige Branan, Veronica Stapleton, Lauren Tidwell, Katie Graves, Kendra Smith and Tara Wolff.

Kendall Hanno, Shannon Addison, Fady Armanious, Maria Lowrey.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Kendall Hanno, Shannon Addison, Fady Armanious, Maria Lowrey.

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shock and awe

Dark elegance and spooky splendor raise $1.1M for Children’s Museum Houston

When the Children’s Museum Houston threw its annual adult fête on October 26, the Corinthian wasn’t just an event space, it was a full-on haunted playground for the city’s imaginative souls. Nearly 500 attendees — clad in mysterious black lace, horns, feathers, and flowing capes — stepped into a realm where goth and childhood wonder collided with spectacular results.

This year’s “Noir Ball: A Celebration of Haunted Elegance,” chaired by Whitney and Ryan Burns and Allison and Iván Chávez, made no bones about its moody vibe. From the moment partygoers floated in, the eerie ambiance—think chandeliers dripping in ghostly light and roses under glass cages—set the stage.

The masterminds at Bergner and Johnson Design turned the room into a scene from a spellbinding fairytale, where fog floated ominously across a grand fountain, dotted with rose petals and flickering candles. One could practically hear the spirits whisper.

And as any child knows, no Halloween is complete without a little shock and awe. At one point, lightning cracked and thunder rolled through the room. Even the sweet tooth found its haunting hour with Jackson and Co.’s darkly decadent desserts, including cake candles that might just have you second-guessing what’s edible. It was a feast fit for vampires, werewolves, and Houston’s social elite alike.

Adding to the festivities, ‘80s cover band The Spazmatics revived the dance floor with a high-energy, undead-worthy set, pulling every last creature of the night into their spell. With the iconic chandeliers casting an ethereal glow, the floor was alive with revelers reliving their MTV glory days.

Maleficent, Dracula, and Wednesday Addams mingled with the crowd, adding a dash of dark fantasy to the evening’s ambiance while paddle bids flew during the live and silent auctions chaired by Devorah Krieger and Elizabeth McIngvale-Mackey. Highlights included everything from a diamond necklace to a puppy duo courtesy of K-9 Angels Rescue. Guests vied with ghostly fervor for a bangle donated by Zadok Jewelers. After a close battle, Yana Rodilosso emerged triumphant

The evening raised a spine-tingling $1.14 million, the museum’s second-highest tally ever, all to fuel its mission to nurture Houston's young minds.

Among the undead were Alexandra and Alex Cabraie, Antoinette and Julian Duncan, Kathryn and Travis Boeker, Erin Smith, Bethany and Ben Buchanan, Courtney and Bo Hughes, Deanna Altenhoff, Darren Brasher, Stephanie Wilcox, Freddie Minahan, Heather and Mark Teshoian, Iona and Mike Avery, Veronica and John Griffin, Lacey and Matt Goossen, Ashley and Jonathan Sloan, Neil Badlani and Rekha Muddaraj, Cassandra and Ryan Dalton, and Matthew Mackey.

Photo by Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design

Ashley Sloan, Kathryn Boeker, Erin Smith, and Bethany Buchanan.