The Carrie Ann boutique in Uptown Park is quite the buzz for Houston’s finest fashionistas!  The store opened on February 27th featuring California inspired designer apparel for the ladies as well as fun accessories for your pets.  Owner Carrie Ann says “I have dreamed about this day my whole life.  It’s been a long and hard road, but well worth it!”

From shirts, to shorts, denim, jewelry, hand bags, and shades, anyone can come in and find something here.  Trust Carrie, you won’t find her things in places like Nordstrom, Saks, or Neimans.  She cherry pics each piece and they are truly unique.  Celebs dig her taste too! 

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Houston Rockets fans can add a little "bling" to their routine thanks to Valobra Jewelry & Antiques.  Thursday, February 28th Franco Valobra and his team of fine experts carefully crafted and presented the official Houston Rockets cufflinks to be auctioned off for charity at the 2010 Tux & Tennies gala.

Notable shoppers enjoyed champagne and light bites while mingling with Rockets CEO Thaddeus Brown and Rockets players David Andersen and Chase Budinger.

Since 1905 Valobra has been creating and offering spectacular jewelry, designed and manufactured in Italy.  In addition, they sport a beautiful collection of estate, antique, and vintage jewels.

The RSVP Social team is a huge fan!  Here’s a look at a few others.

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A flashback from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!  Thursday, I enjoyed a premium front row seat along the runway as models strutted their stuff  in the salon at Neiman Marcus here in Houston.

Many fine fashionistas came out to view a special fashion show featuring the fitted and flowing designs from Escada.  In town from Germany, Escada’s design director Daniel Wingate was the narrator for the presentation.   The Spring/Summer 2010 collection certainly caught my eye.  Now I need to check my pocketbook!  The classic white jean is here to stay, add some tropical green to your look, and try pieces that can be worn in multiple looks!  Here is a sneak peek of my favorite every day ensembles.  I recommend checking out their website for a complete look at the collection, including their couture evening gowns!  Enjoy!

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The Houston Ballet Ball was an eye catching & surreal celebration Saturday night! The black tie gala indulged the senses with a complete transformation of the Wortham Theater Center in the "Surreal Movement" theme and raised a significant amount of funds... $784K to be exact. The Surreal evening was creative with details of chandelier clocks dangling from the ceiling, bright artful eyes beaming on the high walls and palm size eyeballs set in the center of floral arrangements. Along with great style and fashion in the mix this made for a distinct combination and fabulous evening!  Along with the great Jazz band and lively dancing, one of the main highlights of the evening was "What They Wore" and I was the lucky girl that got to play Fashion Police and everyone looked... I reiterate... STUNNING!:) Sorry Audrey, but there was no room for that safe and simple little black dress at this soiree, but the Big Black Dress made a nice showing. (Pictured: Laura Spalding & her sister)

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"IN LOVE WITH FASHION", chaired by Jeff Shell was the second fund raising Fashion Show event of its kind to benefit Recipe for Success Foundation (the first was in conjunction with Saks Fifth Avenue and Naeem Khan).  This fantastic, yet intimate, event featured the best of Tootsies Spring Collections with a special public appearance by Joan Hornig and her fabulous philanthropic jewelry collection. (Pictured: Gracie Cavnar & Joan Hornig)

The evening began with mingling over champagne and chocolate from Recipe for Success sponsor HEB Central Market.  Recipe for Success founder, Gracie Cavnar took the runway to introduce the guest jewelry designer Joan Hornig and engage an interview about the multifaceted world of philanthropy and jewelry artisanship.

Joan told of her fascinating journey from a small town in the Midwest to Harvard, to Columbia Business School, to Wallstreet, and then to the Jewelry District of New York City where she began designing on her own and eventually started a business that gives 100% of profits to charitable organizations.  She captured the hearts of all in the Houston crowd, who fell in love with the designer as much as they did with her jewelry.  Find out more about her jewelry and mission of giving back at www.JoanHornig.com.

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It’s always fun to see the creations of new talent.  This year at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Irina Shabayeva, the winner of BRAVO’s hit television show Project Runway, certainly took spectators to new heights with her Fall 2010 runway presentation!

Freedom and the un-tethered journey of flight set Shabayeva on a course to create a fantasy of intricate beading, textile construction and exotic materials.  Hand sewn creations of soft cashmeres, silk-screened and hand- painted wools were showcased side-by-side with structurally sculpted bodices and flight inspired flounces.

Materials ranged from natural to industrial as creations were swirled in feathers and patterns only born in nature. Tupperware-engineered materials provided the hard edges and solid structures delicately balanced with luxurious materials like cashmere, supple leathers, double faced wool and fur.  An unusual partnership with an alternative view to fashion and design allowed Shabayeva to join Tupperware’s effort of inspiring women around the world through confidence and empowerment.

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What would a trip to the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week be without getting a glimpse of men’s trends?  After several successful seasons of menswear presentations, English designer Simon Spurr debuted his new high-end tailored collection which he claims is “decidedly American”.  Spurr says “I really wanted to establish my British roots and deliver something modern and elegant into American fashion week”.

Think v-neck sweaters, burgundy cotton corduroy pipe leg jeans, greg wool cigarette flannel pants, and wool/cashmere double breasted peacoats.

Well my American friends, what do you think? Check out some pics from his collection below.

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Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is still going strong through February 18th.  Even though I had to cut my trip short in the Big Apple, the Nicole Miller fashion show at Bryant Park was a must see in my book!  Immediately I noticed that the first big trend in this collection was the lack of color at all.  Model after model, the runway this season was filled with black, camouflage, and hints of brick, olive and ash. Nicole Miller says that black is the signature color of strength.  It is expressed through one’s attitude and the clothes they wear. 

For the Fall, think shape and structure.  You will notice that the shoulder is still strong, with hard-tailored pieces and softness underneath.  All of these looks are ready to wear, flattering and fun,  and I can’t wait for Fall of 2010 to strut these new looks.  Think wool and leather coats, cashmere hoodie wraps, camouflage knit tunics with black jodhpur leggings, and black tulle and veiled stone strapless dresses. 

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Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week goes Carbon Neutral for the First Time EVER in 2010!!

WOW

Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week is bidding farewell to Bryant Park this February in one last Hurrah.  But it is not doing so without a final effort to make the it knows that “eco-fashion” is not just in style on the runway.  It is hot as ever, backstage as well. The grand dame of the event, Fern Mallis, Senior Vice President of IMG Fashion held a press conference Tuesday morning announcing that this year marks the first time that Mercedes Benz NYC Fashion Week will be a completely carbon neutral event.  This is an initiative underwritten by leading carton packaging manufacturer Tetra Pak, and supported by Tetra Pak’s customer and natural beverage supplier O.N.E.™ Natural Experience. Fern noted that the initiative is a historic first for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York. "We are delighted and proud to work with Tetra Pak and O.N.E. on environmentally responsible initiatives that help set an example in the fashion industry and beyond." Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week’s carbon footprint has been measured and reduced to net zero through the purchase of carbon offset credits….making the entire production, for the first time ever—a carbon neutral event. How it works (quoted from the press release):

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The couture lounge at Neiman's made for the perfect setting to host the Houston Chronicle’s “2010 Best Dressed” honoree unveiling cocktail reception.  Houston’s fashionable crowd gathered in all of their glam Tuesday night for this year’s announcement.

Houston Chronicle President and Publisher Jack Sweeney announced the lucky ladies.  I am proud to learn, all ten women have very impressive philanthropic resumes and devote much of their time to volunteering, which is one of the prerequisites to being chosen. They are all a fabulous testament to what this great Bayou City has to offer.

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