Shelby's Social Diary

$9 million in bling lights up the holiday shopping at swank De Beers Voguesoirée

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com
Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Our Christmas list just hit the stratosphere. Thank you, De Beers. Now that we've tried on the $70,000 bracelet with 2,130 diamonds for a total carat weight of 12.90, nothing else will do. Never mind the Mercedes of equal value, diamonds are, after all, a girl's best friend.

That was clearly the message the other night when De Beers and Vogue joined Becca Cason Thrash in hosting an intimate gathering at the Cason Thrash home. The diamond company, established in 1888, sent in $9 million in dazzling bling and along with it came enough security to guard Fort Knox, or at least Hermés in BLVD Place.

The 120-plus pieces came from across the world for this special evening that served to celebrate the re-launch of the iconic Wildflowers Collection. The cocktail party served also to celebrate Vogue: The Covers, a review of the best of the magazine's covers over the years with an intro by Vogue European editor Hamish Bowles who has been to more than a few of Becca's top-rated parties .)

De Beers Galleria manager Bridgette Bottone and her team had their hands full as they helped the ladies try on such amazing pieces as the $1.1 million ring or the 11-line necklace priced at $500,000. These are referred to, my dear, as "statement" pieces.

For the evening, De Beers loaned Becca a truly beautiful necklace, yours for $1 million, and matching earrings, available for a cool $280,000. In fact, all guests were invited to try on something that caughter their eye. Which is why we spotted Lora Clemmons trying on (but not buying) the seven-line diamond necklace valued at $280,000, a move that could have sent her husband, Dr. John Clemmons into cardiac arrest.

Among the window shoppers persuing the heady merchandise displayed on tall vitrines were Rosemarie and Matt Johnson, Nidhika and Pershant Mehta, Kristina Hornberger and Paul Somerville, Dominique Sachse and Nick Florescu, Gregory Fourticq, Linda Gale and former Gov. Mark White, Libby Cagle, Karen Pulaski, Don Mafrige and Leigh and Reggie Smith.

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Party Watch

Houston diabetes nonprofit blends retail therapy with real impact

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Blanca Lozano, Luisa Rangel de Alba, and Clara Hough at Assouline.

What: Style for a Cure

Where: River Oaks District

The Scoop: If retail therapy had a philanthropic alter ego, it would look a lot like Style for a Cure.

More than 200 style-savvy Houstonians descended on the River Oaks District for a day of sartorial indulgence benefiting Breakthrough T1D. Helmed by personal stylist Dale Volpe of Styled by Dale, alongside 2026 Promise Ball Chairs Alexandra and Richard Bruskoff, the event turned the luxe shopping enclave into a veritable runway. Style for a Cure raised nearly $30,000.

Guests bounced between more than 20 participating boutiques — think Adam Lippes, Alice + Olivia, Carolina Herrera, and LoveShackFancy — where 20 percent of proceeds supported Breakthrough T1D’s mission.

The day kicked off at the so-called Haute Headquarters, where the crowd fueled up with iced lattes, matcha, almond croissants, and conchas from Ojo de Agua, alongside B12 boosts courtesy of Clinic Concierge. Meanwhile, Loewe kept spirits high with cocktails and mocktails, and the Cheek Makeup Bar by Faceforward Cosmetics at LoveShackFancy added a touch of glow-up glamour. Over at Assouline, mahjong tiles clicked in chic harmony thanks to the Traveling Mahjong Series, while A.L.C. offered bespoke embroidery for those craving a personalized flourish.

The event set the stage for Breakthrough T1D’s upcoming Night in Black and White Promise Ball on April 11 at Hilton Americas–Houston. The ball will honor the Judy and Bob Morgan family and the Amy and Tim Haskell family, with Linda Brown receiving the Meredith and Fielding Cocke Visionary Award and Elizabeth and James Elder spotlighted as the Fund A Cure family.

Who: Blanca Lozano, Luisa Rangel de Alba, Clara Hough, James Elder and Linda Brown, Rick Byrd, Christie Vlahakos, Andrea Stewart, Merritt Bullock, Rochelle Bullock, Vanessa Ames, Alexandra Bruskoff, Carolina Herrera, Dale Volpe, Dorothy Azubuko, Elizabeth Elder, Mary Dawson, Jennifer Cope, Karl Lystad, Jacy Cooper, Megan Weston, Natalie Mohtashami, Meredith Marshall, Natasha Parvizian, Deandrea Dillard, Safia Chaudry, Asma Faiz, Amina Malik, Sidra Qadri Jadwet, Shelby Stegent, Stephanie Fleck, Peter Duffney, Laura Rathe, Teddy Bruskoff, Marjorie Grossman, Thea Pheasey, Hillary Jebbitt, Tina Chadda, and Noreen Baig.

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Blanca Lozano, Luisa Rangel de Alba, and Clara Hough at Assouline.

breakthrough t1d fundraisers shopping