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

Liliana Perez and Sara Correa.

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Party Watch

Houston arts set turns out to toast Kristine Mays’ garden debut

Photo by Hung Truong

What: Artists on Artists: Houston Botanic Garden Welcome Dinner for Sculptor Kristine Mays

Where: Bayou Bend Towers

The Scoop: A lush spring evening set the scene as Houston’s creative elite gathered at Bayou Bend Towers to welcome sculptor Kristine Mays to town ahead of her exhibition Rich Soil at the Houston Botanic Garden. Hosted in partnership with the Houston Museum of African American Culture, the evening celebrated Mays’ wire-woven works that pay tribute to ancestral legacies and the spirit of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations.

Exhibition co-chairs Saundria Chase Gray, Ryan Martin, and Michael Mandola curated a dinner full of meaningful conversation and artistic connection. Joining the welcome committee were Harper Watters of Houston Ballet, powerhouse vocalist Kam Franklin, and experimental performer Lisa Harris, each representing a unique corner of the local arts scene.

Watters offered praise for Mays’ pieces — 29 life-size wire sculptures that seem to breathe and move within the Garden — and presented a moving short dance film shot among the figures. Set to run through September 21, Rich Soil invites visitors to experience sculptures that shimmer like spirits and echo with quiet resilience.

As Mays put it, “Both plants and human beings come and go — reverberating within the cycles of life.”

Who: Jailyn Marcel, Simin and Guardie Banister, Gin Braverman, Anne King, Alecia Harris, and Cindy Miles.

Houston Botanic Garden Kristine Mays dinner

Photo by Hung Truong

Gin Braverman and Jailyn Marcel.

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