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 the Hotel ZaZa Memorial City Beach Club for a first look at the latest travel-ready pieces from Houston-based brand Foreign 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 on foreignfare.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

Liliana Perez and Sara Correa.

traveler's table restaurant travel clothing houston thy mithchell foreign fare fundraisers hotels fashion-beauty

Party Watch

Giselle-inspired evening sets the stage for 2026 Houston Ballet Ball

Photo by Annie Mulligan

Laura Dandridge, Jean Peck, and Paige Fertitta.

What: Houston Ballet Ball Kickoff

Photo by Annie Mulligan

Laura Dandridge, Jean Peck, and Paige Fertitta.

Where: The Fertitta family residence

The Scoop: A who’s who of Houston’s arts scene gathered in the glittering River Oaks home owned by Paige Fertitta for an elegant evening to toast the upcoming 2026 Houston Ballet Ball, set for February 21. A live pianist set the tone as Houston Ballet Trustees, patrons, and supporters sipped Champagne Madame Zero and grazed on charcuterie by Grotto Downtown, luxe passed bites, and a showstopping caviar bar courtesy of La Griglia.

Sonja Kostich, executive director of Houston Ballet, welcomed guests with heartfelt thanks, spotlighting key players behind the scenes, including ball chairs Christine and David M. Underwood Jr., and the 2026 honorees Richard Flowers and Houston First, represented by Paula Whitten-Doolin.

The night’s big reveal? This year’s Ballet Ball theme, drawn from Act II of Stanton Welch’s ethereal Giselle — a haunting woodland dream world brought to life in rich greens and blues. As a preview of the main event, Flowers and The Events Company transformed the Fertitta home into an enchanting forest-inspired fête.

Attendees didn’t leave empty-handed — or empty-handed themselves. Guests contributed prized bottles to the Ballet Ball Wine Cellar, setting the stage for a highly competitive silent auction.

Who: Ada Agbor, Cynthia and Bucky Allshouse, Susan and Gary Binney, Kristy and Chris Bradshaw, Cheryl Byington, Zoe Cadore, Kristen Cannon, Anne and Albert Chao, Margaret Cox, Tracy and Valerie Dieterich, Bruce and Pamela Earthman, Lesha Elsenbrook, Blayne Fertitta, Angel Rios, Lily Chen Foster and Charles Foster, Ellie Francisco, Jo Furr, Mignon Gill, Victoria Gutierrez, Jayne Johnston, Jennifer and Christopher Laporte, Amy LeBlanc, Petra Martinez, Jean and Henry May, Kris McGee, Lauren and Jordan Mintz, Desrye Morgan, Beth Muecke, Patti and Don Murphy, Duyen and Marc Nguyen, Tammy and Wayne Nguyen, Cabrina Owsley, Karen Payne, Melissa Reihle, Shara and Kent Schaffer, Tricia and Mark Singer, Sunday Shepherd, Alicia Smith, Liliana Soltero and Mike Hawkins, Tatiana Sorkin and Michel Coret, S. Shawn Stephens, Stephanie Tsuru, Marguerite Swartz, Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees, Vicki West and Ralph Burch, and Beth Wolff.

fundraisers houston ballet