New York’s party queen, Lucy Sykes, hit the Houston social circuit at a recent Recipe for Success/ Dress for Dinner soiree at Upper Kirby’s stunningly curated Sloan/Hall boutique, the perfect gathering spot for the trendy crowd of fashion-minded philanthropists.
Sykes, a British fashion stylist and the best-selling author of The Knockoff, sipped, mingled and took part in a Q&A session emceed by CultureMap’s Clifford Pugh, all in the name of charity. Ticket proceeds plus 10 percent of Sloan/Hall's sales from the evening went to Recipe for Success Foundation Houston, a non-profit dedicated to combating childhood obesity.
Dress for Dinner season VII chair Carrie Colbert, a dedicated fashionista who founded the blog Where + Where + Well, was the mastermind behind landing Sykes, whose juicy book has elements of The Devil Wears Prada and All About Eve. Sykes and husband, Euan Rellie, charmed the Houston crowd at the party and a private dinner afterwards at Colbert's home.
Impression of Houston women
During the Q&A Sykes was asked for her impression of Houston women. Without skipping a beat, she responded, “I cannot believe how friendly they are. It’s unbelievable. I’ve seen so many incredible, well-dressed, really put together, beautiful — and nice — women. They’re not always so nice in New York.”
Sykes, who has a second book about the wellness industry in the works, also touched on how she’s been successful in making the leap from print to social media. "Social media has allowed me, and a lot of others, to reinvent themselves, and that is power. That is huge," she said.
Attendees also enjoyed a fashion show curated by Sloan/Hall co-owner Shannon Hall featuring models from the Neal Hamil agency who showcased such cutting-edge designers as Paco Rabanne, Sonia Rykiel, Maison Margiela and Iris van Herpen, with jewels by Halleh and Stephen Webster.
Favorite food memories
Throughout the evening, eager guests stepped up to the camera to share their favorite food memories with tag team interviewers, Sugar & Rice Magazine editor David Leftwich and Pugh. Part of an ongoing project for the Recipe for Success Foundation, the interviews will be featured at a celebration next spring.
The list of fashion insiders included Sloan/Hall’s Marcus Sloan, Recipe for Success Houston founder Gracie Cavnar and husband, Bob, Valerie Dieterich, Vivian Wise and Sergio Morales, Dr. Yvonne Cormier, who came straight from the office in medical scrubs but still looked impeccable, Karina Barbieri, Monica Abney, Jessica Rossman, Donae Cangelosi Chramosta, mother-daughter duos Mauri Oliver and Vicki Rizzo and Christiane and Sabine Waldron, Summar Salah, Julia Frankel, Jeff Shell and Michael Mandola.
Mark your calendars now for the next Dress for Dinner event: A fashion show and dinner with Aquazzura shoe designer Edgardo Osoria at Saks Fifth Avenue on October 28.
Lucy Sykes, center, hams it up with CultureMappers Marcy de Luna, left, and Clifford Pugh, right as they hear no evil, speak no evil and see no evil while reading Skyes' new novel, The Knockoff.
