Haute summer style

Women of Wardrobe Summer Soirée sizzles with fashion and philanthropy

Teaming up with hot retailer Tootsies, young professional's group Women of Wardrobe (WOW) raised more than $20,000 for Dress for Success Houston at the 14th annual Summer Soiree, a record amount for the event.

Decked out in haute summer style, fashionistas were out in full force as approximately 300 guests flooded the West Ave boutique for fun, food, and fundraising.

The atmosphere buzzed as guests sipped, shopped, and socialized. Models from Page Parkes sauntered through the colorful crowd wearing fresh designs by Parker. Luxury shoe brand Schutz showed off its chic fall collection of must-have shoes and boots, and the Lisa Freede contemporary jewelry collection was showcased by Freede's daughter Ashley.

Trendsetters nibbled on festive fare from Armando’s, Eddie V’s, chef Brian Caswell's soon-to-open Oxbow 7, Snap Kitchen, Revolve Kitchen + Bar, Shri Balaji Bhavan, and Del Frisco’s Grille. Refreshing summer beverages included white wine from Total Wine, specialty cocktails crafted with Deep Eddy Vodka, and sparkling water.

Nothing Bundt Cakes donated a sweet step-and-repeat: arriving guests posed against a custom-made backdrop featuring mini bundt cakes. Live saxophonist Andre Killian accompanied DJ Senega, adding a dash of sexy soul to the hip happening. And social media mavens enjoyed plenty of instantly shareable photo-ops with two photo booths provided by My Event is the Bomb.

KHOU’s Mia Gradney formally welcomed the lively ladies gushing, “You put the 'wow' in WOW!” She was joined by co-hosts, Women of Wardrobe president Lauren Granello, Mary Patton of Mary Patton Design, and Bria Wall. The event spotlighted the mission of Dress for Success Houston as the nonprofit's vice president, Lauren Levicki Courville, spoke about the lasting impact the agency will have on more than 3,500 women this year.

WOW’s goal is to assist Dress for Success Houston through fundraising and volunteerism to support the organization's overall mission. Spotted among the smart set were Courtney Zavala, Lexi Sakowitz, Brittany Sakowitz, Kristy Bradshaw, Rachel McNeill, Hannah McNair, Megan Cushing, Courtney Campo, Paige Branam, Lindsey Brown, and Karishma Asrani.

Bria Wall, Mary Patton, Lauren Granello.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Bria Wall, Mary Patton, Lauren Granello.

fundraisers

RIP, Wally

Texan Wally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87

Wally Funk aboard Blue Origin New Shepard

Photo courtesy of Blue Origin

The 82-year-old Wally Funk became the oldest person to go to space on July 20, 2021.

GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) — Wally Funk, an aviation pioneer who was the oldest woman to launch into space, has died. She was 87.

Funk died Wednesday, July 8 at her apartment in an assisted living facility in Grapevine, Grapevine City Councilwoman Duff O'Dell said Thursday. O'Dell, who described herself as Funk's caregiver, said she was by Funk's side. Funk had fallen a couple of times recently and had an infection in her leg.

“It took its toll,” O'Dell said in a phone interview.

Wally Funk became a hometown hero in Grapevine. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

Funk was one of 13 female pilots who went through the same tests as NASA’s all-male astronaut corps in the early 1960s but never made it into space. In 2021, she got her chance aboard Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket. At the time, the 82-year-old was the oldest person to go into space, though the record was later broken by “Star Trek” actor William Shatner and Ed Dwight, America’s first Black astronaut candidate. They were both 90.

Bezos chose Funk as an “honored guest” to ride alongside him and two others on an up-and-down hop from West Texas aboard his Blue Origin rocket.

In interviews after the 11-minute flight, Funk enthusiastically told reporters, "I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”

Wally Funk in her '20s as a flight instructor. Facebook/Wally Funk's Space for Race

She became a hometown hero when she returned home to Dallas-Fort Worth; the city of Grapevine threw a parade for her history-making experience.

“Wally Funk never stopped believing that one day she would reach space. Her passion for flight, perseverance, and love of exploration will continue to inspire generations of Americans. Godspeed, Wally,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted Thursday on X.

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This story contains material from CultureMap story archives.

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RIP, Wally

Texan Wally Funk, oldest woman to travel into space, dies at 87