SUNSET SOIREE

Houston fashion brand showcases summer looks at poolside party

To kick off Memorial Day weekend, fashionistas dressed in their best summer ensembles and flocked to theHotel ZaZa Memorial City Beach Club for a first look at the latest travel-ready pieces from Houston-based brandForeign Fare.

Guests sipped on cocktails and nibbled on bites from global restaurant Traveler's Table and Hotel Zaza's director of culinary operations, Brandon Wilhem, as they shopped at Foreign Fare's exclusive popup. The event wasn't all about fashion but also about supporting an excellent local cause.

Tickets from the event benefited Dress for Success Houston. This nonprofit empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools to help them thrive in work and in life. Lauren Levicki Courville, president of Dress for Success Houston, addressed the crowd about their mission for women in the Bayou City.

Matthew and Thy Mitchell, the dynamic duo behind Traveler's Table and Foreign Fare, also spoke about their love of travel and the inspiration behind their clothing brand. Their passion for travel and sharing unique experiences drives both of their globally inspired businesses.

The area around the Beach Club turned into a summer-inspired catwalk showcasing Foreign Fare's unique styles. Models wearing the brand's most popular pieces, including the Jetsetter Jacket and Wrap Me Up Dress, which debuted in new colorways, made their way around the pool, giving guests an up-close look at each piece.

"It was so fulfilling to see everyone's reactions to the line. The models did an outstanding job showcasing our top travel looks. What a perfect way to kick off the summer travel season," Thy Mitchell said.

For those who didn't make it to the summer siree, Foreign Fare's collection is available online, and the new colorways are available for pre-order now onforeignfare.com and will be shipped in July.

Notable Beach Club guests included Thy and Matthew Mitchell, Lauren Levicki Courville, Lily Jang and Julien Nolan, Selina Stanfford, Shannon Martin, Imani Guillory, Alessandra Leto, Niki Reaugh, Jordan Brodie, Shelley Ludwick, and Linn Preston.

Photo by Emily Jaschke

Kendra Collard, Selena Stanford, and Zoe Haas.

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Supper Club

Etienne Charles headlines DaCamera’s gala for a soulful Houston evening

Photo by Katy Anderson

Anthony Brissett, Etienne Charles, Annette Brissett, and Garvin Davis.

In a city that knows how to do dinner and a show, DaCamera brought both to the stage at its 2025 Gala: Music Salons and Supper Club. Held at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston, the evening was equal parts elegance and energy, spotlighting the organization’s commitment to chamber music and jazz while raising more than $250,000 to support its programming.

A devoted crowd of arts patrons turned out for the soirée, which began with a vibrant cocktail hour and an artful wine pull. Adding a touch of old-school charm, DaCamera Young Artists turned the venue into an impromptu music salon with intimate performances echoing through the room, conjuring the refined spirit of 18th-century Parisian gatherings.

With Len Cannon, longtime KHOU 11 news anchor and DaCamera supporter, steering the evening as emcee, the program flowed with warmth and ease. The night crescendoed with a dynamic set from jazz trumpeter Etienne Charles and his band Creole Soul. Charles, whose musical DNA blends calypso, folk, and Afro-Caribbean influences, delivered a performance that was anything but background music. From smoky solos to syncopated rhythms, his set captured the genre-defying ethos that DaCamera champions.

DaCamera, long known for blending intellectual rigor with artistic innovation, continues to push boundaries. Its programming bridges classical and contemporary, east and west, familiar and surprising, offering musical experiences that are as rich in meaning as they are in melody. By evening’s end, DaCamera reaffirmed its role as a cultural vanguard.

Among the music cognoscenti were Robert Azencott and Sarah Rothenberg, Brandon Bell and Yvonne Chen, Bernadette Verzosa, Collin and Jacquelyn Cox, Elaine Finger, Robert and Mary Fusillo, David and Heidi Gerger, Ron Franklin and Janet Gurwitch, Bill and Lynn Hargrove, David and Claudia Hatcher, Garfield and Jakeen Johnson, Alton and Ann McDowell, Matt Ringel and Rebecca Rabinow, Hal and Marjana Roach, Steve and Anne-Laure Stephens, and Randall and Crystal Wright.

Photo by Katy Anderson

Anthony Brissett, Etienne Charles, Annette Brissett, and Garvin Davis.

fundraisers da camera