It signals the end of summer and the start of Houston's party season — and it’s always a killer party. Dress for Success Houston (DFSH) and Women of Wardrobe (WOW) recently celebrated the 15th anniversary of the annual Summer Soiree at Tootsies. The event was a colorful blend of fashion, food, sips, and shopping — raising $20,000 for DFSH as they celebrate their 20th anniversary of serving more than 40,000 Houston area women.
The WOW Summer Soiree has become the unofficial kickoff to Houston’s party season, with guests dressing for the occasion in Hunter Bell’s fall line, LBD’s, sky-high Sam Edelman heels and the latest It bags.
Adding to the buzz of the event was news of Tootsies president Norman Lewis’ purchase of the iconic fashion house from the heirs of founder Mickey Rosmarin. (Read more about Lewis' plans for the store in our interview.) “This is always a wonderful event and we are proud to support Dress for Success and WOW,” says Lewis. “Giving back to the community is part of the legacy Mickey started and we are proud to continue.”
Each guest received a $25 Tootsies gift card for an inspired shopping experience. Tootsies donated 15 percent of the evening’s sales back to DFSH.
Karishma Asrani, Courtney Campo, Allie Danziger (WOW president), and Melissa Sugulas served as event chairs. The chic event was emceed by Mia Gradney, KHOU anchor and WOW co-founder.
“When I wasn’t working at the station, I volunteered with Traci Lee Cook at Dress for Success Houston and we loved the idea of a young professionals group,” recalls Gradney. “I look at it now and I am astonished, but not surprised. The mission of Dress for Success is so clear. It’s a wonderful example of women helping women.”
Donations and bites came courtesy of Ann Sacks, Blue Chair Bay Rum, Eunice Restaurant, Bosscat Kitchen and Libations-Houston, cHAIRiTEE, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood-West Ave., Fig & Olive, High Brew Coffee, MyEventIsTheBomb, Mia Bella Trattoria, Nothing Bundy Cakes Orangetheory Fitness Houston, Paloma Nails, Picos Restaurant, Snap Kitchen, and Sunday Riley.
“It’s incredible to see how WOW has grown since we started it 16 years ago,” says Lauren Levicki Courville, vice president of Dress for Success Houston. “It’s so much more than a suit. The women we serve just don’t land a job, but they build a career with our ongoing career education programs.” Courville adds that DFSH will serve 3,500 Houston area woman and deliver more than 17,000 units of service.
Haute ones in the crowd included Lexi Sakowitz, Roslyn Bazzelle, Julie Longoria Chen, Mitchell and Karina Barbieri, Brittany Meisner, Katelyn Leonard, Ashley Miranda, Emily Robinson, Amanda Eccles, Alexandria Williams, Dipali Patel, Monica Richards, Katherine Morille, Lauren Amos, Susan Oehl, Liz Nguyen, Jillian Bricher, Liz Arrigo, Alison Ketabchi, Zaida Saliba, and Stephanie Fuller.
Mia Gradney, Tootsie's new owner Norman Lewis, and DFSH's Lauren Levicki Courville.
