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

Thao Nguyen and Thanh Nguyen.

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Party Watch

Golden Awards honorees announced at chic Houston Diwali event

Photo by Hung Truong

Taylor Houska, Walter Sassard, Tammie Johnson, and Ruchi Mukherjee at Dior Houston.

What: Diwali at Dior

Photo by Hung Truong

Taylor Houska, Walter Sassard, Tammie Johnson, and Ruchi Mukherjee at Dior Houston.

Where: Saks Fifth Avenue, The Galleria Houston

The Scoop: Houston’s glitterati glowed brighter than a thousand diyas at Diwali at Dior, an elegant celebration of the Indian Festival of Lights hosted by Taylor Houska of Dior and Ruchi Mukherjee, founder of LCAHouston International Society Magazine. The soirée marked the kick-off for LCAHouston’s upcoming Golden Awards Diwali Gala Honoree Announcement Party.

Guests mingled among Dior’s winter collection and a display of exotic handbags while savoring artful bites from Houston restaurant Musaafer. International artist Menakshee Designs offered live diya painting, infusing the evening with creative flair. Mukherjee, radiant in a black silk gown accented with gold jewelry and traditional sindoor, shared hosting duties with husband Walter Sassard, dapper in a gold-embroidered sherwani.

The gathering celebrated not just fashion and artistry, but also community, highlighting over a decade of LCAHouston’s mission to illuminate diversity through culture, cuisine, and collaboration. As anticipation builds for the 2025 Golden Awards at Musaafer, honorees including Rathna Kumar, Harper Watters, and Judge Manpreet Singh promise to carry forward Diwali’s message of light and legacy.

Who: Tammie and Charles Johnson, Lukkaew Srasrisuwan, Heidi Turney, Anjali Agrawal, Hasina Starks, Mary Foster, Geeta Anand, Sadaf Choudhry, Donae Chramosta, Cheryl Mercedes, and Toni and Howard Tate.

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