SOCIETY TEXAS |January-February 2020

110. QUEEN BEE

It’s good to be Lynn Wyatt these days. Actually, it always has been. The vivacious Houstonian has always represented our state so beautifully on an international level. Here, in an exclusive, she reveals the inside story about her life, style, and friendship with some of her fellow icons.

By Rob Giardinelli

120. THE VERVE OF VICTOR

Victor Costa, the designer most famous for being inspired by others, made the world more beautiful from his Dallas—run design frm in the 1970s—1990s. Here we get an inside look at his wildly successful career, tips for today’s style, and encouraging words for aspiring designers.

By Geoffrey Connor Photography

126. IN EXCESS

The Texas of the 1970s and 1980s, in some ways, barely resembles the Texas of today. It was a wild time to be in the state as some of our favorite Texans weigh in on how the pivotal decades shaped their future selves.

By Jake Gaines Photography

Lynn Wyatt. Photography by John Conroy. Dolce & Gabbana jacket, $990 and skirt, $3990. At Saks Fifth Avenue. Lynn’s own jewelry.

and Lance Avery Morgan

Photography by John Conroy

courtesy of Victor Costa, archival

courtesy of archival

42. admire

Tori Johnson, of ThesToriBook.com, has a passion for all things candy. Since candy colors are a huge trend this year, she shares some of her favorites.

44. present

Ms. Etiquette Expert Sharon Schweitzer, J.D., ofers insight into life’s most challenging social situations, so take note to handle these efortlessly in the future.

26. contribute

It takes a village to create this magazine and our digital media platform, SocietyTexas.com. Here’s a look at some of the many talented dynamos who make it happen as we dive into 2020.

30. editor’s letter

Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director Lance Avery Morgan shares his always optimistically sunny disposition for the happy new decade ahead.

32. exhibit

Looking for more culture as winter begins? Heat things up by taking a look at some oferings from our state’s fnest museums and cultural institutions, according to our arts arbiter Claire-Lise Greve.

40. glow

Our beauty insider Ana Bribiesca Hof recommends the best new makeup trends for a fresh start in the year ahead.

Courtesy of Houston Ballet

Courtesy of McNay Art Museum

Versace purse at Neiman Marcus

The Crown, Season 3. Courtesy

46. divulge

Grace & Frankie star and Austinite Brooklyn Decker had style long before her professional modeling and acting career. Here, Mrs. Andy Roddick shares some of her favorite things in the world with our own Lance Avery Morgan.

48. list

With so many winter style choices and trends to decipher, Rank & Style’s CEO Jamie Chandlee makes it easy by sharing her favorites that might add more Zen to your hectic life.

50. entertain

Good manners in the 70s and 80s weren’t that diferent, were they? Our resourceful etiquette expert Jay Remer takes a look back to see how we can capture some of that lost civility.

52. drive

New this month, our man on the road Michael Satterfeld of TheGentlemanRacer.com shows that a 70s-era Rolls Royce Corniche convertible is still a perfect choice.

54. savor

Our editors Lesa Rossick (Austin), Cynthia Smoot (Dallas), Jennifer Roosth (Houston), and Eleanora Leeper Morrison (San Antonio) are on the scene with their favorite new discoveries across the state.

58. marketplace

A look at the new events, people, places, and things that we have on our radar. 66.

invite

The Charity Ball in San Antonio is one of the most popular events in the city. Here’s a look at this year’s festivities.

Brooklyn Decker.

Photo by Kristen Kilpatrick

1972 Rolls Royce Corniche

Safna, Intercontinental Hotel, Houston

and

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

The Menagerie

PUBLISHER

Rossana Leeper ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Rob Giardinelli

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Lance Avery Morgan

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Beast Creative Agency

Edy Hernandez • Alexis Pedregon

SENIOR SOCIAL EDITOR

Rob Giardinelli

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Tori Johnson • Leanne Raesener • Jennifer Roosth

Cynthia Smoot • Jonathan Spindel • Rose Betty Williams

DIGITAL DIRECTOR

Eleanora Morrison

DIGITAL MARKETING

Lesa Rossick

WRITERS

Ana Bribiesca • Jamie Chandlee • Geoffrey Connor • Lori Duran • Jake Gaines

Rob Giardinelli • Claire-Lise Greve • Tori Johnson • Lance Avery Morgan

Eleanora Morrison • Leanne Raesener • Jay Remer • Jennifer Roosth

Michael Satterfeld • Sharon Schweitzer • Cynthia Smoot • Jonathan Spindel

Rose Betty Williams

PHOTOGRAPHY

Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design • Jenny Antill • Allen Bradshaw

Gregg Cestaro • John Conroy • Ryan Emberley/Getty Images

James French Photography • Thomas Garza • Greg Harrison

Kristen Kilpatrick • Jeff Lipsky • Jenna Beth Lyde • William Neal/WJNPHOTO

Monika Normand • Wilson Parish • Sam Pags • Ben Porter

Daniel Ortiz • Tyler Schmitt

SOCIETY AMBASSADORS

Natalie Bond Bloomingdale – Los Angeles

Paul Bradshaw – San Francisco

John Danielson – Washington, D.C.

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL ADVERTISING

Rossana Leeper, Publisher

Rossanaleeper@Gmail.com 210.861.3324

Rob Giardinelli, Assoc. Publisher Rob@SocietyTexas.com 512.740.7534

Society Texas is published bi-monthly by Society Texas, LLC (Publisher). Reproduction in any manner in whole or part is prohibited without

PUBLISHED BY Society Texas, LLC

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JAMIE

CHANDLEE

As a busy working mom of two, Rank & Style CEO Jamie Chandlee developed a strong passion for technologies that simplify consumer experiences, so people have more time for the parts of their lives not behind a screen. She contributes our List column in each issue and her vision is for Rank & Style to give people back the time they waste digging through endless fashion resources to fnd the products they like.

Chandlee is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and is grateful to be able to help people outside the ofce through her participation in social impact organizations including The Seton Fund, MJ&M, Dell Children’s Council, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, UT College of Natural Sciences and Human Ecology and the Longhorn Foundation.

GEOFF CONNOR

Native Texan Geof Connor, PhD. is a lawyer, historian, and former Texas Secretary of State. He is the author of The Rise of Houston as a Global City, to be published in 2020 by Texas A&M University Press. The book reveals the personalities and circumstances that transformed Houston into an international city. Connor’s article in this month’s issue, The Verve of Victor, illustrates one of those stars of Houston...and Texas. Photo by Gray Hawn.

JOHN

CONROY

This month’s cover and feature photographer of Lynn Wyatt, in Queen Bee, is John Conroy. His experience as a successful international model led him to launch his career as a professional photographer. His images appeared in advertisements for Neiman Marcus and Calvin Klein and graced the covers and pages of Men’s Health and GQ. Conroy has shot a broad spectrum of personalities and heroes— from Grammy® winners to Olympic gold medalists. From high fashion to high voltage, he has the distinct ability to make his clients and subjects feel at ease while simultaneously keeping them totally involved in the image they create together.

LORI DURAN

Lori Duran has had a diverse career and currently researches interesting historical stories of social changes. This has been her life-long passion. Duran serves on the board of directors for the Austin History Center Association where she is involved coordinating volunteers and helping the Oral History Committee. She also writes articles for Society Texas and other publications, and recently authored the book, Austin’s Travis Heights Neighborhood. She is currently fnishing her second book, The University of Texas at Austin: The First One Hundred Years.

ROB GIARDINELLI

Certifed professional life coach and branding expert by day, social commentator by night, and author of the book Being In The Room (available at Amazon.com), Associate Publisher and Senior Social Editor Rob Giardinelli is a man of many interests. He loves sharing how Texans so generously and passionately give back to the community they love. Giardinelli weaves interesting social commentary that showcases those who work tirelessly to raise awareness of important issues in the state and beyond.

CLAIRE-LISE

GREVE

Our newest editorial assistant is a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Human Development with a focus on childhood development. Originally from Fort Worth, she loves all things fashion and art. While still in high school, she started her own art business, where she created and sold her own artwork. In this issue, Greve contributes to our Exhibit column with her recommendations of the best-curated happenings in the state.

ANA BRIBIESCA HOFF

Writer and enthusiast of all things beauty, fashion, travel, and healthy living-related, our Glow beauty contributor Ana Bribiesca Hof is currently working in the higher education non-proft sector and launching AnaBribs.com. In this new lifestyle blog, she plans to share her passions, experiences, tips, and sneak peaks inside her life interspersed with large doses of inspiration.

TORI JOHNSON

Tori Johnson, who contributes to our luxe gift feature in this issue, is the founder of sTORIbook Public Relations and a fashion and lifestyle blogger of ThesTORIbook. com. She is also a successful commercial and editorial stylist. Johnson has been voted San Antonio Fashion Blogger of the Year and has worked with a bevy of top names including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Lancôme, Armani Exchange, and many more.

MALLORY MILLER

Mallory Miller, who was the production assistant on our cover story, Queen Bee, is a graduate of The University of Texas and former Brilliant magazine intern. She spent close to a decade in New York, spanning the PR, hospitality, and publishing industries with numerous roles overseeing partnerships, marketing, and events at Harper's Bazaar, Allure, Teen Vogue, and Brides Mallory returned to Austin in 2018 to be closer to family after battling a benign brain tumor that was successfully removed. Because of this experience, Mallory has a passion for wellness and balanced living. A self-described former Diet-Coked out PR chick, she now craves green juice and matcha. She loves yoga and running, re-purposing her grandmother’s frocks from the 60s, travel, and champagne...at any hour. Join her adventures at @malmeezy.

ELEANORA MORRISON

Our digital director at the helm of our Society Texas associated social media platforms, Eleanora Morrison has been a writer, blogger, and editor for Brilliant, The Society Diaries, and other local and regional print/digital publications covering events, fashion, culture, weddings, and travel. Morrison is also the editor-in-chief and creative director of ELEANORA, a women's-centric multimedia storytelling platform, and is co-founder and CEO of S.H.E Media. She is passionate about cultivating a community on social media and invites you to connect with her and join the conversation @EleanoraMorrison.

LEANNE RAESENER

Our Associate Editor Leanne Raesener was formerly the city editor for both Brilliant and The Society Diaries magazines. Although, a ffth-generation Texan who was raised in Austin, she spent most of her career in Manhattan, before we were fortunate to have her back in the Lone Star State. After working at Goldman Sachs in Charitable Giving for many years, it only deepened her interest in philanthropy. She supports many charities but holds most near and dear to her heart, her brother Jack Frederick Raesener’s Scholarship Fund, Ballet Austin, and NYU Faces. Her love of life, generosity, creative style, and wordsmithing are a winning combination.

JAY REMER

Jay Remer, Canada’s Etiquette Guy, catered his frst dinner party at the age of 14 and hasn’t looked back since. Raised in Wilmington, Delaware, Remer emigrated to Saint Andrews, NB, Canada, where he owns and operates The Windsor House, an 18th Century inn. A proud graduate of the Protocol School of Washington, Remer now speaks, writes, and teaches civility. His book, The Six Pillars of Civility, is scheduled for release in 2020.

JENNIFER ROOSTH

Our talented and terrifcally connected Associate Editor Jennifer Roosth is a Houston-based writer who never ceases to be amazed by the wonderfully generous spirit of the Houston philanthropic community. “It’s nice to live in a city where so many are excited about giving back,” she says, “In the process, they throw some mighty fne parties.”

TONYA RINER

A makeup artist by trade, Tonya Riner’s client list is packed with the who’s who in fashion, sports, and entertainment, including Kate Upton, Heidi Klum, Elle McPherson, and Simone Biles. She has spent the last 25 years as a beauty industry insider, working from fashion shoots to runways; however, she still enjoys private commissions to work with her clients one-on-one. She loves being able to “connect with extraordinary people, from all walks of life.” Follow her at @tonya.riner.

Photo by Jenny Antill.

SUMMAR SALAH

Summar Salah styles style icon Lynn Wyatt in this issue’s cover feature shoot, Queen Bee. She brings the world of fashion to her hometown of Houston and has 20 years of experience working as a fashion stylist with top commercial, editorial, and print clients. Salah’s client list includes Adidas, Mercedes Benz, Visa, Reliant, Toyota, Russell Athletics, Procter & Gamble, Southern Living Magazine, People Magazine, and Weddings in Houston, to name a few.

MICHAEL SATTERFIELD

Our new Drive section contributor is Michael Satterfeld, an award-winning journalist, traveler, photographer, and lifelong automotive enthusiast who has been featured in Forbes, Hot Rod Magazine, A-Cars, Easy Riders, and many other publications. He founded popular men’s lifestyle site TheGentlemanRacer.com as a blog in 2002, which has grown to become an online and print magazine reaching hundreds of thousands of readers every month.

SHARON SCHWEITZER

Sharon Schweitzer, J.D., is a cross-cultural trainer and modern manners expert. She is the resident etiquette expert on two popular lifestyle shows: ABC Tampa Bay’s Morning Blend and CBS Austin’s We Are Austin. Her Amazon #1 best-selling book on International Business, Access to Asia: Your Multicultural Business Guide, now in its third printing, was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2015. She’s a winner of the British Airways International Trade Award at the 2016 Greater Austin Business Awards. Photo by Korey Howell.

CYNTHIA SMOOT

A partner at Gangway Advertising, Dallas-based Cynthia Smoot, creates buzz for some of the city’s hottest brands through interactive social media strategies and public relations for the frm’s lifestyle clients. She is the go-to resource for what's happening and who you need to know in Dallas. Through her popular lifestyle blog, OhSoCynthia.com readers get the latest scoop and inside information on fashion, food, philanthropy, events, and celebrity and reality TV news. Smoot describes her blog as “a love letter to the city of Dallas” and enjoys taking readers along for the ride as she experiences all that the city has to ofer.

LESA ROSSICK

Founder and CEO Lesa Rossick of Austin based Market Ambassador, loves to build brands and empower entrepreneurs of large corporations in their digital marketing presence. In addition to website development and content marketing, she dines at the hottest new restaurants to fnd Top 20 experiences for her Keep Austin Eatin’™ blog, contributes to our Savor column, and supports Society Texas with her digital media talents. Outside of business, Rossick’s biggest passion is working alongside her husband Bill in their philanthropy eforts.

ROSE BETTY WILLIAMS

Wherever there is a wonderful party, there is usually Associate Editor social chronicler Rose Betty Williams. This month she writes about a wedding in Nevis and the Helping Hand Crystal Ball. She also leads symposia, plans events, serves on boards, and supports organizations from OperaAmerica to the Helping Hand Home for Children and facilitates networking for project and product development. Williams is a longtime Austin resident, freelance writer, and photographer with a passion for fne art, music, wine, books, tennis, food, and life…and a deep love for her family and community.

the roaring 20s ahead

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE FUTURE THAT MAKES US automatically referential (and to some, reverential) to the past? As we begin this bright, new, and shiny decade that is full of so much promise and potential, I believe we are all concerted to make a diference across our cities, state, and the globe.

Someone who has made a diference in Texas over the past ffty-plus years is the consummate style and society icon, Lynn Wyatt. Widely renowned for being a smart, savvy woman, she has represented this state beautifully on an international level. Her ascent began in the 1960s, and it hasn’t stopped yet. In a very exclusive conversation, Wyatt sat down with us to discuss some of the high points of her stylish life, and we are honored to tell her story while showcasing her wearing the best fashion of the season.

The Houston-centric shoot was a special endeavor for our entire team. With months of preparation behind us, once the team fnished the shoot, we were invited to stay for a catered feast sponsored by Mendocino Farms. Lynn insisted the crew enjoy the meal on her good china, so sandwiches and salads were never presented so elegantly. Once seated, Wyatt insisted we join hands as she shared how grateful and thankful, a common theme in her life, she was for all our eforts on the shoot and interview...and the immeasurable fun we all had. Her graciousness is legendary, and for good reason: she talks the talk and walks the walk. Our cover headline, Long May She Reign is a sincere wish from us and her legion of fans.

Another legend who was Dallas-based and now also lives in Houston, along with Wyatt, is fashion designer Victor Costa. Back in the day, from the 70s to the 90s, he was the go-to designer for fne women across Texas, as you’ll see in our feature, The Verve of Victor His name was known from coast to coast and certainly in the hallowed halls of Texas society, thanks to his publicist Eleanor Lambert, founder of the International Best Dressed List. She made sure his name was on the lips–and backs–of some of the most interesting women of the era.

And that era had no shortage of interesting women, and men as seen in our In Excess feature where we get up close and personal to some of our favorite folks on the planet who reveal what the 70s and 80s were like here in Texas...and beyond. It’s a cornucopia of recollections and pop iconography at its best, and the treasure trove of vintage photos that accompany it will have you recalling some of your own escapades...or wishing you were in that era to experience it.

Some of us make New Year resolutions, and some can’t be bothered and choose to let it all unfold naturally. Regardless of which camp you most identify with, it reminds me of the wise sage who said, “All you ever ask for will still be less than what you already have.” So, cheers to a New Year, a new you and all that is about to be. s

XO Lance Avery Morgan Lance@SocietyTexas.com

Victor Costa dress, 1980s

Lynn Wyatt, Town & Country, June 1985

Photography by Gregg Cestaro

Lynn Wyatt, Lance Avery Morgan, Rob Giardinelli, Summar Salah, Tonya Riner Mallory Miller, and John Conroy

Lynn Wyatt by Andy Warhol

Victor Costa dress, 1980s

Rob Giardinelli, Brooklyn Decker and Lance Avery Morgan

culture that captivates

The best plays, musical performances, and exhibits in Texas are being enjoyed by record number crowds, our cultural adventurer Claire-Lise Greve who shares our favorite recommendations from across the state in this issue.

A TALE OF PERSEVERANCE

Taking place the week after the tragic attacks of September 11th, Come From tells the true story of what happened to the 7,000 stranded passengers of the fights that were ordered to land in the aftermath of the attacks. Filled with life lessons about culture and perseverance, this is a wonderful musical for all to see. February 18 through 23. At TexasPerformingArts.org.

AVANT-GARDE IN LATIN AMERICA

Coming to the Blanton Museum of Art this February, The Avant-garde Networks of Amauta explores the development of avant-garde art in Central and South America. Created by José Carlos Mariátegui, the Peruvian magazine known as Amauta was known for its political and cultural pieces throughout the 20th century. This must-see exhibit shows Latin American avant-garde art through its connection to Amauta. February 16 through May 17. At BlantonMuseum.org

PEAKS AND TRAGEDIES

Continuing its 2019-20 season, Austin Opera presents Everest, the story of the infamous 1996 climbing season at Mount Everest, which notably took so many lives. Originated by the Dallas Opera in 2015, this production features three of the leads from the original. This is a wonderful show that runs about 75 minutes and is recommended for patrons above the age of 8 due to its dark subject matter. January 23, 25, & 26.

austin

Courtesy of the West End production of Come From Away

Photo courtesy of The Austin Opera

Photo courtesy of The Blanton Museum

MUSIC’S MAGIC

Winner of 10 Tony® Awards, The Band’s Visit tells the story of a group of lost musicians who stumble upon a small town, and through music, they breathe new life into the town. Coming to the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas this February, this musical will make you laugh and cry all in the span of about two hours. February 18 through 23. At ATTPAC.org

THE NEW TIDE

Paving the way for nature photography as we know it, Eliott Porter was known for his polychromatic renderings of the fascinating marvels of nature. The Amon Carter Museum presents Eliot Porter’s Birds this January to highlight his love for photographing birds. Spanning over 50-years, this exhibit shows some of the most stunning and unique examples of avian photography. January 4 through May 10. At CarterMuseum.org

STRENGTH FOR THE AGES

Fort Worth’s Bass Performance Hall presents The Color Purple as part of its Broadway Special Series. Running for only one night, this Tony award-winning revival tells the story of one of Broadway’s most resilient characters, Celie, over a 35-year span of her life. Set in Georgia in the early 20th century, this drama with a Grammy® Award-winning score of jazz, gospel, ragtime, and blues, combined with exhilarating dance numbers is a joy to behold for the whole family. January 5. At the BassHall.com.

Photo courtesy of original Broadway company of The Band’s Visit

Photo courtesy of The Amon Carter Museum

Photo courtesy of Bass Performance Hall

A CLASSIC FAIRYTALE

For their 50th anniversary season, the Houston Ballet presents The Sleeping Beauty choreographed by the iconic Ben Stevenson. This exquisite ballet takes inspiration from the famous French fairytale in which a young princess is fated to sleep for 100 years, but is saved by a magical kiss from her lover. Coming this February, this classic story is perfect for the whole family. February 27 through March 8. At HoustonBallet.org

RADICAL &

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Radical: Italian Design 1965-1985, The Dennis Freedman Collection, a new exhibit that examines the radical designs of Italy after World War II. Everything from furniture to architecture to even lighting designs are featured, with about half of the works being gifts from the Dennis Freedman Collection. February 14 through April 26. At MFAH.org

Photo courtesy of MFAH

A TIMELESS CLASSIC

This January, the Houston Grand Opera presents Verdi’s Aida with new designs and enchanting choreography. Set in ancient Egypt, this opera tells the story of a captured princess and a general who fall into a forbidden romance. This epic tale of love and loyalty is a must-see for all opera afcionados. January 31 through February 16. At HoustonGrandOpera.org

Photo courtesy of the Houston Ballet

Photo courtesy of Houston Grand Opera

san antonio

COMPELLING WOMEN

Mary Cassatt’s Women focuses on the artist’s images of the ordinary and often intimate moments from the daily lives of upper-middle-class women like herself—as they care for children, ride the public omnibus, or enjoy the ritual of having tea. What makes Cassatt’s work compelling is how she elevates what could be dismissed as mundane subject matter through her masterful approach to color and composition. Through February 9. At McNayArt..org.

CITY CELEBRATION

With a tripartite presentation entitled Waking Dream, Isaac Julien: Playtime and Jewels in the Concrete, the inaugural opening of the new Ruby City will feature seminal works by contemporary artists including Do Ho Suh, Teresita Fernández, Ana Fernandez and Chuck Ramirez. At RubyCity.org.

VICTORIAN RADICALS

This February, the San Antonio Museum of Art presents Texas Women: A New History of Abstract Art, a new exhibition that explores female artist’s exploration of abstract art in the 20th century. Featuring artists such as Dorthy Antoinette LaSelle, Susie Rosmarin, Terrel James, and many more, this exhibit incorporates a cultivated collection comprising a variety of materials, processes, and works. February 7 through May 3. At SAMuseum.org s

Courtesy of McNay Art Museum

Photo courtesy of The San Antonio Museum of Art and Terrell James

Photo courtesy of the North American Touring Company of Miss Saigon

OPPOSITES ATTRACT

Throwback to the colorful 80s with two contrasting shadows blended boldly on your lids. Experiment with color and choose two saturated shades that sit opposite each other on the color wheel. Try

Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina

Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 3 featuring 25 shades. $60. At AnastasiaBeverlyHills.com

ISN’T IT ICONIC

The iconic and always sophisticated red lip turns vibrant with a very cherrytone this season. Pair a matte shade with bold brows for a nostalgic yet on-trend look.

Try Kilian Le Rouge Parfum Lipstick Matte

Finish in Heaven for bold color and ultra-matte lips with a powdery velvet fnish. $55. At Neiman Marcus.

fresh & euphoric

New Year's Eve technically fnished the decade at midnight, but the party and glittery glamour continues all through this new season, according to our beauty expert, Ana Bribiesca Hoff. Inspired by the 70s and 80s, she dares us to showcase our creativity with a particular emphasis on showstopping eye looks and healthy complexions to reach new, glowing dimensions.

EUPHORIC EYES

Think brave, bold self-expression. This is the season to go big or go home with creative, colorful, and fun eye makeup looks. Try the Bobbi Brown Luxe Gems limited-edition Eyeshadow Palette, with seven ultrablendable, highly pigmented shades. $75. At Nordstrom.

SCENT STATEMENT

Dolce & Gabbana’s The Only One Intense presents a mix of golden-orange fowers with a message of empowerment and self-assertion. With notes of dazzling golden-orange blossoms and hypnotizing black vanilla, it’s a truly memorable fragrance. $122. At Macy’s.

SMOOTH & SMOOTHER

Alluring eyes are the focus in 2020. The allnatural L’BRI Smooth And Firm eye gel reduces pufness and undereye bags while helping retain proper moisture balance. It’s aloe-based formula provides instant soothing. $32.50. At L’BRI.

GLITTER FEVER

NEON MAGIC HAPPENS

Here’s an idea: swap your black liquid liner for a bright lime green to draw a thick cat eye. It’s a perfectly punk twist on the classic winged look. Try Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Freak. $22. At Sephora.

Shimmering 70s-disco-meets90s-rave culture in this highly pigmented eyeshadow. Blend on the lids, around the entire socket, difused down to the top of your cheeks. Finish by generously dabbing glitter over the entire area, plus a touch of black liner and heavy mascara for a full disco diva efect. Try ColourPop Glitter Gel. $80 at ColourPop.com

PURPLE IS THE NEW PINK

THAT JUST-LEFT-THE-SPA GLOW

Bold eye looks contrast beautifully against fresh post-facial glowing skin.

Try the Kevyn Aucoin Glass Glow

Liquid Illuminator in Crystal Clear for the just-got-out-of-the-shower complexion we all crave this winter. $32. At Sephora.

The regal shade is taking over the beauty world. Blend an intense purple eyeshadow along your lower lash line. Finish with a lighter shade in the inner corner of your eyes and heavy mascara. Try Tom Ford Shadow Extrême’s Foil Finish in Violet. $36. At Neiman Marcus. s

Kim Alexis, 1980s

i want candy

Just like the song from 1982, we always want candy-colored hues in our world all the time. We’ve always believed that fashion should be fun...and designers agree. Runways have ushered in 2020 with vibrant and delightfully scrumptious candy hues that left us ravenous for more, according to our stylish editor Tori Johnson of ThesToriBook.com.

LET’S PINK ABOUT IT

This Versace logo quilted leather shoulder bag with textured V center comes in three colors (pink, black, and orange) for the perfect complementary accessory. $895. Photo and availability courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

OVER THE RAINBOW

This 14-carat yellow gold band from designer Jane Taylor's Cirque Collection features a line of rainbow gemstones: amethyst, iolite, blue topaz, green tourmaline, citrine, and red garnet. $770.

SNEAKING AROUND

The chunky sneaker trend is here to stay, and these iridescent ones from Alice + Olivia take the trend to the next level. $325. Photo and availability courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue.

TOASTING TIME

Raise a glass with these lovely sorbet-shaded champagne futes that are individually hand-painted with a fne gold rim. $38 for a set of two. Photo and availability courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue.

OUT OF THE BOX

These emerald green decorative boxes by Karis feature a gold leaf trim and removable lids. Photo and availability courtesy of Stowers Furniture.

SUNNY DAYS

AHEAD

Safron came in as one of the Pantone 2020 colors of the year as it welcomes spring so brightly and joyfully. This blazer by Escada is sure to be a new colorful staple in your closet.

$1,695. Photo and availability courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

TASTE THE RAINBOW

Elie Saab’s spring Ready to Wear 2020 collection made us all have a sweet tooth with the array of su

REALLY, I’M TICKLED PINK

POUT PERFECTION

Swipe on this Jane Iredale luscious lip gloss for lips that are hydrated and colorful. $26. Photo and availability courtesy of Julian Gold.

This caftan-inspired silhouette by Oscar de la Renta is stunning with its cape-like sleeves and trailing train. $2,890. Photo and availability courtesy of Net-a-Porter.

ALL THE COLORS

A total statement piece–this Hayward handbag features holographic rainbow python snakeskin. $2,450. Photo and availability courtesy of Julian Gold.

Queue up your favorite playlist on this Bang & Olufsen Beoplay AI speaker that fts in the palm of your hand. $250. Photo and availability courtesy of Bang & Olufsen.

COLOR CHOICES

Lancome’s Color Design Eyeshadow

Palette includes eight diferent shades along with a mini primer to ensure an all-day look. $49. Photo and availability courtesy of Neiman Marcus.

Karl Lagerfeld and Gigi Hadid

Photo and availability courtesy of Lee Michaels.

Teen model, 1970s

Heather Locklear in Dynasty, 1980s

in good company

As we begin the new decade ahead, we can all brush up on our skills to make every social situation as seamless as possible. Our Ms. Etiquette Expert, Sharon M. Schweitzer, J.D., is on the scene to lend sage wisdom for any modern conundrum that may arise.

Dear Ms. Etiquette Expert, My fancé and I just became engaged. My mother is insistent that I register for good china, and I know we’ll never use it, making it seem like a waste. How should I proceed, since my parents are also paying for the wedding?

Bride To Be

Dear Ms. Etiquette Expert, Can you please share your top three, interesting-as-heck, conversation starters that are appropriate for dinner with just-met dinner partners?

Budding Conversationalist

Dear Future Bride,

Best wishes and congratulations to you and your fancé. Consider this advice:

1. Encourage open communication with both sides of the family early in the engagement, especially with your parents. Set a time to explore your mother’s insistence on registering for china. Highlight the family customs you and your fancé are honoring in your wedding, clearly explaining your thoughts. Showing parental respect goes a long way, especially when your family is paying for the wedding. Remember, you will be sharing holiday meals for years to come.

2. Compromise. Graciously coordinate with your family. Respectfully state that although this is your wedding, you plan to honor the important customs of your mother during the wedding. Summon up your best diplomacy skills, compromise, and remember, you can’t please everyone, all of the time.

Dear Ms. Etiquette Expert,

How should my younger children address new adults that they meet? By their last names, like Mr. Van Huntzel, or by their frst name, using a prefx, like Miss Caroline?

Naming Honors

Younger children learn how to acknowledge and address all adults properly when they practice at home with you through role-playing. Use proper titles with your younger children, such as Mr., Mrs., or Dr., and frst or last names. In the south and southwest regions, using the frst name with a title is common. For example, Ms. Kristin or Mr. Jason. Pretend to be diferent people and ask your children to respond to an introduction with correct titles and pleasantries such as "Hello, Mr. Thompson. How are you, Ms. Aldrich?" The next time your children meet an adult, encourage them to use the greeting. Some children are hesitant near adults so gently prod with "Courtney, remember Ms. Kristin? Will you say hello, please?"

Dear Dining Companion,

A meal is such a wonderful way to spend an evening, and if we are seated next to someone we don’t know, it’s a terrifc opportunity to learn more about the world. How about if we go with three categories from which to choose that will enable completely comfortable conversation with just about anyone...

TRAVEL:

What’s your favorite travel destination?

If you could pick one country to travel to, which would you choose and why?

Do you have travel plans? Will you share your destination?

Would you rather travel during a vacation or have a staycation?

What’s your favorite part about travel?

If you’ve traveled a lot, has it changed who you are? How?

Are you someone who likes group travel? Or, solo travel?

When you travel, do you follow guidebooks or blaze your own path?

TECHNOLOGY:

Do you think we as humans will invent anything that makes time travel possible?

What do you think will be the greatest invention in the next 25 years? 10 years?

Do you think technology makes our lives simpler or more complicated?

What discovery do you think has transformed our world the most?

What’s your favorite invention of all time?

BOOKS:

What are you currently reading? Who is the author?

What’s the last book that you read, and what did you think of it?

Who’s your favorite author? Why?

Do you read fction? Or do you prefer nonfction?

Do you read paper books? Or, use an e-reader, or listen to audiobooks? s

The Crown , Season 3. Courtesy of Netfix

winner takes all

Actor Brooklyn Decker is making waves where she lives in Austin, and in Hollywood, these days. Along with starring in the sixth season that just premiered of her hit Netfix show, Grace & Frankie, she also loves being a busy mom, wife to tennis champ Andy Roddick, and fnding time for what matters most in her life as she catches up with our own Lance Avery Morgan

I LOVE THE ANDY RODDICK FOUNDATION BECAUSE...AUSTIN doesn’t succeed until everyone in Austin succeeds, and Andy understands the responsibility of that. People are continually looking to Austin to fnd the what’s next and it’s exciting to think our city can set the example for what the program Out of School Time can look like, nation-wide, because of ARF.

The best career advice I’ve received is...Just marry him. Oh, did you say best or worst?

Three qualities that got me where I am today are...I work my ass of. I am incredibly curious and love to learn. I married rich.

How I made my frst dollar...by selling shaved ice.

Last thing I binge/marathon watched was...Black Monday.

My style icon is...Bianca Jagger or Carolyn Murphy.

My personal style signifer is...a lot of denim. Apparently, you can't take Texas outta the girl.

A classic designer I wish was still designing today is...Edith Head. She knew how to design for women and created some of the most iconic on-screen looks we know and love.

Book that left a lasting impression on me was...Hillbilly Elegy by J.D.Vance. It takes place where I was born and where my mom and a huge chunk of my family are from. It helped me to understand them on a deeper level.

First album I bought was...Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill

If I could live in a foreign city it would be...Amsterdam. What everyone/woman should try in her lifetime is...You should ask Lily Tomlin.

My perfect day would begin with...My babies sleeping in very late, then running into my bed to snuggle.

My perfect day would end by...Sipping a White Russian, watching a Hallmark movie or political debate, and some making out by the fre.

One thing I am exceptionally good at that most might not know is... My voice ain't half bad.

If I could compete in an Olympic sport it would be...Gymnastics. Growing up, I worshipped those women.

The beauty essential you’d have to pry out of my cold, dead hands is...Beauty Counter Red Lipstick.

In my fridge you will always fnd...Oatmilk and fancy cheese. s

Brooklyn Decker. Photo by Jeff Lipsky

Biance Jagger, 1980s

Grace Kelly and Edith Head, 1954

Black Monday, 2019. Courtesy of Showtime

Andy Roddick and Brooklyn Decker

Amsterdam

Brooklyn Decker and Lily Tomlin. Courtesy of Netfix

new year, new you

Today’s the frst day of the rest of your life, right? Here are some sleek and healthy ways to usher in 2020 as your best year yet, according to Rank & Style CEO Jamie Chandlee’s chic recommendations.

SOAK IT AWAY

The Martini Emotional Detox Bath Soak has Himalayan pink salt and chia seed oil to take the edge of during turbulent times (or after a crazy day). It also centers the body and spirit. $35. At Goop.

HOME GYM 2.0

This interactive gym is packed into a carbon steel frame. When on, see yourself, your instructor, and other Mirror members in a sleek, interactive display, complete with embedded camera and speakers. The Mirror streams live and on-demand ftness classes over WiFi, or you may connect to the internet via an ethernet cable. $1,495. At Mirror.co.

HOW NOT TO BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS.

The No.04 Bois de Balincourt candle has a sandalwood fragrance with a dominant cedarwood and a sandalwood accord supplemented by a spicy cinnamon nutmeg complex with an earthy vetiver note. $34. At Maison Louis Marie.

GET A LEG UP

The high waist leggings from WITH x Carbon38 were created with you in mind. The high waisted silhouette comes in a vibrant color and print, are sheer proof, ensuring that workouts are wardrobe malfunction-free, while anti-odor, anti-microbial, and moisture-wicking construction keep you fresh and dry. $110. At Carbon38.com.

OFF WE GO

It’s a carry-on, sized up. Made (and guaranteed) to last a lifetime, it's designed to ft in the overhead bin of major airlines—ideal for fying on bigger planes or with extra outfts. It also ofers an ejectable battery for quick phone charging. $245. At AwayTravel.com.

This luxe, breakthrough bar helps your skin look lifted and toned with each vibration. Ideal for men and women, the Jillian Dempsey Gold Bar’s vibrations mimic the efects of a massage, instantly relaxing facial muscles to release tension.

PLAN FOR TOMORROW... AND BEYOND

Featuring two customizable contrasting or complementing hues, this fab folio is perfect for toting your planner and ideal for organization on the go. $25. At ErinCondren.com.

LET’S FACE IT

Go ahead, wash away day-to-day stress with Eve Lom Radiance Transforming Mask, a skincare treatment with a velvety formula. This facial treatment helps to nourish the complexion for up to six hours after it’s been washed away. $90. At Space NK Apothecary London.

ALWAYS SO KISSABLE

The Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips collection features 12 iconic lipstick shades. Both Matte Revolution and K.I.S.S.I.N.G. formulas are featured that range from light satin fnish nudes to deep matte berries. We love this nude satin the most. $35. At Sephora.com.

STEP IT UP

Adidas and Stella McCartney partnered on these ultra-lightweight metallic running shoes that are crafted with an adaptive upper that naturally fexes with your foot. The energyreturning cushioning charges every step with unparalleled comfort. $220. At Bandier.com. s

fête accompli

Revisiting the etiquette of the 70s and 80s is something we all may want to do these days in the haste of Insta moments and feeting social media personas, according to our international etiquette expert, Jay Remer.

WE ARE LIVING IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES WHERE OUR fast-paced lives place unexpected stresses on us as individuals, on our communities, and on society as a whole. Fortunately, traditions and social mores help us fnd peace and a sense of safety. They ground us within our comfort zone by guiding us with a fexible set of principles and rules that ensure respect in our interactions with others and avoid rudeness – intended or unintended.

Although this dynamic is still in place, the world has changed in a number of signifcant ways that requires us, in order to maintain a civil society, to make adjustments to some of the old guidelines and to create new ones as our lifestyles evolve.

How we entertain has changed. How we communicate has changed even more. Diversity and inclusivity are becoming desirable goals for organizations, communities, and even entire countries. Equality in the workplace, government and every other segment of society have been appropriately and signifcantly boosted by the MeToo movement, echoing the women’s liberation movement of the 1970s.

When we entertain, many of the old formal rules have been relaxed. We no longer have the staf once required to allow for elaborate dinner parties. Private debutante parties have been replaced by cotillions and assemblies that are shared by several young ladies. Large society weddings have been replaced by smaller afairs, often planned and paid for by the bride and groom.

In part, this is due to the new demographic of wealth. With the introduction of modern technology and the dotcom era, new fortunes have burgeoned. As a result, the desire for formality has greatly diminished. However, just because the use of fnger bowls has been relegated to the past, the need for good manners has never been more important. Etiquette books that address our new lifestyles are beginning to emerge, which include cellphones, cannabis, potluck dinners, re-gifting, baseball caps, and even who opens the door for whom.

Handwritten invitations, thank-you notes, and RSVP’s have been replaced with emails and text messages. Coupled with the fact that face-to-face communication is no longer the preferred way to exchange ideas, I would caution that this slide towards less personal connections is dangerous. Just as a lack of gratitude can give way to entitlement, a lack of personal contact leads to isolation–a worrisome epidemic today. Because connecting with one another is critical to our very survival, protecting these pathways is important. Giving thanks should never grow old. How we give thanks may change, but the requirement doesn’t.

Practically speaking, the guideline I recommend for responding to an invitation is when you receive an invitation by email, send your RSVP via email. If you receive one via the postal system, you should reply likewise unless otherwise indicated. RSVPs are important; and people who ignore them risk being removed from future invitation lists. After all, hosts must know how many people are attending their event.

With a more relaxed and egalitarian lifestyle, the transition from old rules to retooled fexible guidelines can be confusing, annoying, and even overwhelming. We need to remember that one of the original needs for etiquette was to keep representatives from diferent cultures from ofending one another inadvertently. We, as human beings, have an inherent desire to be respected. If we commit to following The Golden Rule and engaging our common sense, we will avoid most of the pitfalls along the way.

However, there will always be rules that need to be taught. This is the responsibility of parents. Setting a good example is important. Bad habits are formed in exactly the same way as good habits. For parents who realize that they are clueless about these rules, then they must take the time to learn them. Etiquette need not be elusive or elitist. After all, etiquette is essentially how we interact with the world. If we want to be accepted (and who doesn’t), we need to keep abreast of current acceptable behavior trends. Respect never goes out of style. s

collectible cool

The ultimate driving machine, before there was such a term for it, was the Rolls Royce. Here, our roving editor Michael Satterfeld takes a spin in the instant classic that remains true to its pedigree to this day. Off we go...

ICONIC STATUS

THE 1970S AND 1980S WAS A TIME OF INCREDIBLE change, when the microchip revolution, mobile phones, and cable networks revolutionized the world and created countless newly minted millionaires. When most think of the luxury cars of that era, the decade of excess, they immediately think of the Lamborghini Countach. To project style and sophistication, however, it was the Rolls-Royce Corniche, preferably the convertible variant, that won favor. The Rolls-Royce motto is The best car in the world and if you ever have the chance to drive one, you will quickly understand why they are willing to stake that claim.

Rolls-Royce's reputation for reliability. A highly modifed Corniche coupe even competed in the grueling Paris-Dakar Rally in 1981. It was, of course, sponsored by Christian Dior’s Jules aftershave, introduced in 1980, as a high profle marketing promotion. The Corniche would also make appearances on popular television series of the era like Magnum PI, MacGyver and, yes, Dallas

With the Corniche being such a pop culture icon, it was natural that the car would often be driven by the rich and famous. Celebrities like Michael Caine, Frank Sinatra, and Zsa Zsa Gabor all owned Corniche convertibles. Even today, 25 years after the last Corniche was assembled at Mulliner Park Ward, celebrities like Celine Dion, Sean Combs, and Lady Gaga have been spotted driving classic Corniche convertibles. Who could resist, then or now?

TIMELESS APPEAL

The Corniche is now considered a collector’s car, so I reached out to Kyle Crews, a car collector from Dallas who happens to own a beautiful Nutmeg and Tan 1973 Corniche convertible. The car has just 21,000 original miles and was purchased from the estate of the original owner. It sat for several years, so a light restoration was required, mainly just servicing belts and hoses. In fact, the interior was reupholstered in the original Connolly leather, so it looks and smells like new again. Crews even had the original 8-track tape player restored to perfect working order, keeping the car as true to its factory specifcations as possible. Getting 8-track tapes would prove the real challenge.

"To me, the Corniche represents the best of the hand-built RollsRoyce automobiles," said Kyle Crews. "The styling is timeless. For a heavy car, it handles wonderfully, and although the earlier Corniches had some engineering quirks, if you understand the personality of the cars and maintain them properly, they will run forever."

The Corniche was an icon long before the 80s, frst sold in 1966 as the Silver Shadow Mulliner Park Ward two-door drophead coupé. Rolls-Royce would make it a standalone model in 1971, giving it a new, much shorter name. The Corniche, named after the Grand Corniche road along the French Riviera, owes its longevity in part to its regal and timeless design, which remained nearly unchanged until the end of its production in 1995...and also attributed to

Driving a Corniche with the top down on a pleasant day when it's not too hot–or too cool–to enjoy the open ride is indeed magical. The steering is surprisingly responsive, the ride is smooth, and the power is as Rolls-Royce intended it, adequate. For a car that is nearly 50 years old, much like someone who has maintained their physical appearance, it still has a regal look and a presence that is undeniable. s

Photography courtesy of Park Place Rolls Royce

Rolls Royce ad, 1970s

Rolls Royce ad, 1970s

1970s Rolls Royce Corniche features

two dazzling

Two X Two Raises Over $8 Million For amfAR And Dallas Museum of Art

THE SETTING: The Rachofsky House in Dallas was the recent setting for the 21st annual Two X Two for AIDS and Art. The dinner, featuring 500 of Dallas, and the world’s most prominent philanthropists, capped of a week of fundraising. One of the events, First Look, held a few days before the gala, ofered patrons an opportunity to preview the incredible art pieces for auction during the evening.

THE STYLE: From the moment the creative black-tie partygoers took to the “blue” carpet to pose for photos, they knew they were in for a special evening. After posing for photos, guests engaged in a lively cocktail hour courtesy of Ruinart champagne, Casa Dragones, Moët Hennessy and Belvedere. Here VIP’s mingled as they sipped their favorite spirit of choice while perusing an array of luxury silent auction items on display. The festivities then moved into the 7,000 square foot, 48foot high geodesic dome tent on the Rachofsky estate for the evening’s program. The space, designed by celebrity event planner Todd Fiscus, was a Moroccan inspired theme complete with exotic lanterns, candles, and tiles as well as hombre blue hydrangeas that greeted the guests who entered the space.

Partygoers then took to their seats and dined on a delicious multi-course meal while they enjoyed the program. Highlights of the evening included the presentation of the 2019 Award of Excellence for Artistic Contributions to the Fight Against AIDS to Alex Katz. Additionally, Oliver Barker, who is Sotheby’s Europe, Senior International Specialist, Contemporary Art, helmed the evening’s live auction. Barker kept the crowd engaged as the bids crept higher and higher for the seven priceless items up for bid, which included works by Sarah Crowner, Derek Fordjour, Barry X Ball, Frank Bowling, Ross Bleckner, and Andre Butzer.

To conclude the main program, the audience was brought to its feet with a show-stopping performance by music superstar Aloe Blacc, as he sang some of his greatest hits, including I, Need a Dollar and The Man With the energy on a euphoric high, the fun moved to the back garden of the Rachofsky House for the afterparty presented by Neiman Marcus. It continued into the wee hours of the morning, capping of an incredible evening those fortunate enough to attend will not soon forget.

THE PURPOSE: The event, co-hosted by Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, and John and Lisa Runyon, raised over $8 million for amfAR AIDS research initiatives as well as the Dallas Museum of Art’s contemporary art acquisitions and exhibitions. Over the past 21 years, Two X Two has raised over $92 million for these two organizations. s

Lara Beth Seager and Charlotte Jones Anderson

Patrick and Lindsey Collins

Kevin Frost and Alex Katz

Christopher Bass and Kristen Kelly

Nancy Dedman and Brad Kelly

Jessica and Dirk Nowitzki

Lisa and John Runyon

Alden and Janelle Pinnell Jennifer and John Eagle

Jordan Jones and Christian Munoz

Aloe Blacc performs

Prince Pavlos of Greece and Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece

Mimi Sterling and Filippo Tattoni Marcozzi

Elaine and Neils Agather

Meghan Looney, Dana Arnold and Nasiba Hartland-Mackie

Hugh Washburne and Capera Ryan

Brian Bolke and Faisal Halum

Jane Park and Minjung Kim

Claire and Brian Gogel Rich Moses, Selwyn Rayzor & Kara and Randall Goss Lucy Wrubel, Suzanne Droese and Brooke Hortenstine

Jennifer Karol and Vito Cammisano

Tina Kim Andre Butzer

Michael and Sharon Young

Jessica Silverman

Nancy Rogers and Hamish Bowles

Kameron Westcott and Libby Ornani

Arcmanoro Niles

Sue and Jimmy Gragg

Christen and Derek Wilson & Patty and Bobby Nail

Stephanie and John Roberts

By Rob Giardinelli | Photography by Ryan Emberley for Getty Images

Howard and Cindy Rachofsky

tickled pink

Seton Development Board’s Paint The Town Pink Gala Dazzles

By Rob Giardinelli | Photography by James French Photography

THE SETTING: The Four Seasons in Austin was the recent setting for the 42nd annual Seton Development Board gala. The evening featured over 400 of the capital city’s most notable philanthropists and sociables who were on hand for an evening full of fun and fundraising.

THE STYLE: The black-tie crowd began the evening with a cocktail hour in the ballroom foyer that spilled onto the terrace, which was lovely on such a pictureperfect evening. Women were spotted in elegant ballgowns in an eclectic array of black, metallic, and solid colors, including several who took the Paint the Town Pink theme to heart in many shades of the lovely hue. The men looked dapper as well in a mix of traditional tuxedos as well as ensembles featuring white, blue, and velvet dinner jackets.

The festivities then moved into the main ballroom where celebrity forist David Kurio transformed the space into a lush, pink oasis that had everyone in awe. As guests dined on a delectable, multi-course meal, they were treated to the evening’s main program. Highlights included the presentation of the Daughters of Charity Mission Award to Mary Ann and Andrew Heller, a heads or tails auction that included a gift certifcate to The Menagerie jewelry store, and a Tito’s tailgate package including a Traeger grill and a Tito’s cooler full of goodies. The night was capped of with dancing to toast the success of an evening that left everyone tickled pink.

THE PURPOSE: The event, co-chaired by Acia Moody and Leigh Richards, raised over $450,000 for the Seton Development Board. Proceeds from this year’s event will beneft capital projects, patient care, and technology at the Ascension Seton Breast Care Center. Since it was founded in 1977, the Seton Development Board has raised over $15 million for an array of Seton services and projects. s

Brian Robertson and Pam Crowther Vickie Roan, Lolla Page, Beth Granger, Nancy Harper and Rita Kriesle

Brooks Rhinehart, Marlo Marion & Erin and Charles Ikard

Susan Lubin and Marcia Levy

Nicole and Brent Covert

Clifford and Leigh Chiu

Katelyn Thompson, Gary Thompson and Kyla Thompson

Mary Ann and Andrew Heller

Mary Elizabeth Fleming, Leigh Richards, Allison Laughlin and Acia Moody

Angela and Pierre Filardi & Georgeann and Bill McRaven

Cindy Matula, Chris Wieland, Katie Owen and Mark Sanchez

Lissa Anderson, Leslie Davenport, Jackie Price and Debbie Giese

Shannon and Jim Windham

T and Taylor Harper, Corby and Megan Houser & Kat and Larry Stokes Andy and Dawn Davis

Elizabeth and Chuck Nash

Kathy and Tim Taylor Sylvia and John Zerwas Lanette Smith and Amanda Foster

Jody Goehring, Katie Romano, Caroline Smith and Katherine Goehring

Tim and Carol Crowley Will and Anna Hardeman & Jaime and Steven Dell

Elizabeth Cates, Mellen Hunter and Alice Spelce Miguel Romano and Sister Joanne Vasa

Elaine Benton, Ellen Sauer, Beth Plater, Margie Gaudin and Flora Marvin

present perfect

Opening German Gala Presents Debutantes

By Leanne Raesener | Photography by Sam Pags

THE STYLE: The 139-year old San Antonio German Club recently hosted its annual Opening German gala in honor of the season’s debutantes. Held on a crisp, cool autumn evening at Venue Villita in La Villita, the home of the Opening German for 50 years, the ball ofered a glorious night of dining and dancing in celebration of the club’s group of young ladies being presented to the city’s society.

THE SETTING: Resplendent in gorgeous white gowns, this year’s debutantes sparkled as they were presented by their fathers, then led to their escorts. Following the presentation, the celebration continued as guests and debs alike danced late into the night to the various musical stylings of the Georgia Bridgewater Orchestra from Dallas. The foral designs, comprised of fresh red and pink roses, flled the tabletop vases and gorgeous fower wall, all created by Danny Cuellar of Trinity Flowers. Also, tables of red and zebra print tablecloths added zest to the event’s décor.

Opening German guests arrived to a selection of passed hors d’oeuvres by Rosemary’s Catering, including South Texas chicken bites, pork belly Tostones, shrimp and grits, and steak frites. Then, a selection of eleven food areas were presented, including a Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail area around an handcarved ice sculpture, a station with meats carved to order, an oyster bar, a walking salad display area, and a fried quail area.

THE PURPOSE: Immersed in tradition, the organization was formed in 1880. Each year since its inception, the San Antonio German Club has presented its debutantes during San Antonio’s social season. Blake Stoufer is the German Club’s president, while David Aycock serves as the chairman. s

Allie Cochran and Nancy Lee Archer Maggie Archer, Sophie Aliece Hollis, Katie Dehlinger and Caroline Herbold

Camilla Kampmann and Abigail Kampmann

The 2019 San Antonio German Club Debutantes

Blake and Faith Stouffer

Mikey Vaughan, Karen and Curtis Vaughan & Morgan Vaughan

Christian Olson and Hannah Shaeffer Hamlet Newsom and Melanie Vaughan

Joy Fuhrmann, Jillian Fuhrmann, Jenna Belle Fuhrmann, Carly Fuhrmann and Triple Fuhrmann

Emily Carrington, Ian Brusenhan, Cecilia Newsom, and Isabel Rosser

Elizabeth Long and Patricia Long

Ramsey Schultz and Alec Mahl

Kendra Carter, Kendall Mazurek, Elizabeth Marceau and Stacy Hoyt

Griffn Foultz and Ian Brusenhan

Harry Brusenhan, Ian Brusenhan and Alicia Brusenhan

Rose Marie Banack, McKenzie Schultz and Courtney Schultz

Lee and Catriona Cavender & Paige and Rob Cavender

Molly Ellwood, Kathryn Ellwood and Richard Ellwood

Virginia Noble Liecie and Nick Hollis Christine Young Coates Roberts and Hamlet Newsom

Jenny Holshouser and Michelle Sasser

Blair and Melinda Young, Jax Young and J.B. Young

Madison Marceau, Blake Stouffer, Chance Mazurek and Joel Hoyt

David Aycock

wicked cool

Children’s Museum of Houston’s A Wicked Affair Gala Raises Nearly $1.1 Million

By Rob Giardinelli |

Photography by Alexander’s Fine Portrait Design

THE SETTING: The Corinthian in Houston was the recent setting of a wickedly good time. Over 500 of the city’s most notable sociables, philanthropists, and advocated gathered for the annual Children’s Museum of Houston gala. This year's theme, A Wicked Afair, was a spellbinding evening that those fortunate enough to be a part of will not soon forget.

THE STYLE: The evening began with a cocktail hour in the beautiful foyer of the Beaux Arts venue. Here, patrons mingled while perusing an impressive array of silent auction items. The crowd featured a mix of black-tie clad patrons along with those who dressed thematically for the evening’s celebration. Certain tables even coordinated various themes of some of their favorite cultural touchstones, including James Bond, Peter Pan, and many others.

The action then moved to the beautifully designed main foor for the event’s program. Guests dined on a scrumptious multi-course meal courtesy of Jackson & Company. Next came the live auction, which featured spirited bidding on a host of haute items including Caribbean Getaways, a shop ‘til you drop experience at Neiman Marcus and an entertainers dream...dinner for 50 in Houston’s First National Bank Vault located in the basement of The Corinthian. The evening was capped of as partygoers danced the night away to the tunes of the Matt Wilson Band.

THE PURPOSE: The event, co-chaired by Ashley and Walter Weathers and Lyndsey and Bret Zorich, raised almost $1.1 million for the Children’s Museum of Houston. Over the past year, the Children’s Museum of Houston has received over 742,000 onsite visitors and impacted more than 472,000 children and parents through its educational and outreach programming. s

Kendall and George Vincent

Annie Long and Caroline Harrell

Mac and Cynthia Walker Jeb and Lane Bowden Alexander and Elizabeth Dwyer Lyndsey and Bret Zorich & Ashley and Walter Weathers

Lance Avery Morgan, Becca Cason Thrash and Rob Giardinelli Kelley and Jeffrey Scofeld

KK Salem and Melissa Aron

Alana Highberger and Allison O'Neill

Ben and Beaumont Lett & Steve Summers and Glen Gonzalez

Jed and Milessa Lowrie & Stefani and John Mayberry

Scarlett Hankey and Brooke Bentley Gunst

Stephanie Fleck and Amanda Boffone

Rebekah and Hugh Guill

Guests at Peter Pan table Cameron Neal and Morgan Allen Francis and Wynn Sharpe

Alex Florescu and Annabel Massey

Darren Brasher and Deanna Altenhoff Dr. Amir and Neekie Kashani John and Deborah McInnes Ginny and Jason Endecott

Stacey and James Thompson

Guests at James Bond theme table

sequins & stars

FGI Dallas Honors Bob Mackie, Several Others In Star-Studded Gala

By Rob Giardinelli | Photography by William Neal of WJNPHOTO

THE SETTING: The Adolphus Hotel in Dallas was the chic setting of Fashion Group International’s annual Night of Stars gala. Several hundred of Dallas’ most notable fashionistas, sociables, and philanthropists were on hand for an evening that was full of fun and fashion.

THE STYLE: The sequin and satin-chic crowd began the evening with a VIP cocktail reception in the venue foyer of the Adolphus, where guests had the chance to mingle and pose for photos with the guests of honor. In the venue, an eclectic mix of festive fashions had as much personality and pizazz as the partygoers themselves. Women donned sumptuous sequins, while men sported a mix of velvet and brocade tuxedos.

The action then moved into the main ballroom for the evening’s program, where patrons were treated to a multi-course meal. Master of Ceremonies Cameron Silver efortlessly kept the crowd engaged and the festivities fowing at a brisk, fun pace. Then one by one, each of the honorees came to the stage to accept their awards, including the Career Achievement Award in Fashion, Veronica Beard, Career Achievement Award in Entertainment, Angie Harmon, Career Achievement Award in Business, John Terlingo, and Philanthropist of the Year Award, Sandra Moon.

The program was capped of in grand style when ageless supermodel Jan Strimple came to the stage to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to fashion designer Bob Mackie, who treated the audience to a fashion show featuring eight exquisite looks from his archive that brought the audience to their feet…and provided them with an unforgettable experience they will not soon forget.

THE PURPOSE: The event, chaired by Victoria Snee, beneftted Fashion Group International of Dallas. The organization provides scholarships, internships, and career counseling services to those pursuing a career in fashion and related businesses. s

Model wearing Bob Mackie

Angie Harmon and Greg Vaughan

Victoria Snee, Chuck Steelman and Holly Quartaro

Brooke Noffsinger and Ashley Pogue

Veronica Swanson Beard and Veronica Miele Beard

Sonya Mofor and Ese Azenabor

John Terlingo, Scott Kehn and Nicky Cecala

Bob Mackie and Jan Strimple with models wearing Bob Mackie

Amber LaFrance and Rhonda Sargent Chambers

Cameron Silver and Ken Weber

Brittany Evans, Lisa Moore and Cathy Williamson

Hamilton Sneed and Allison Volk

Christopher Crain, Gary Walden and Jenny Siede

Daniela Bell and Alexandrea Cohen

Edward Franco and Elizabeth O’Mahony

Empress Gilbert and Kathy Leevy Muffn Lemak, Lynn McBee and Claire Emanuelson

Bob Mackie and Jan Strimple

Model wearing Bob Mackie Alanna Sarabia and Chad Cullom

Cathy Vieth, Shane Walker and Jeri Harvin

Sandra Moon receives the Art Patron of the Year Award

Jessica Bater, Gail Goode and Natalie Harden

Alexandria Small and Josh Alexander

Hendrika Diehl and Jennifer Scott

sweet story

SAFE Austin’s Annual Storybook Gala Was Sweet Perfection

By Rob Giardinelli | Photography by DeAnn Hoeft and Ruben Morales

THE SETTING: Austin’s JW Mariott hotel was the recent setting for the annual SAFE Storybook gala. This year’s Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory theme ensured there would be yet another great chapter to one of the most anticipated social events of the fall season in the Capital City. In total, the 750 in attendance were treated to a sweet evening of fun and fundraising.

THE STYLE: The black-tie partygoers began the evening in the ballroom foyer of the JW with a cocktail hour, which included children who played the roles of the Golden Ticket Winners from the iconic movie, along with Oompa Loompa characters, who efortlessly mixed and mingled with the crowd. As the doors opened to the main ballroom, patrons connected with their inner child complete with table displays of lollipops and other confection goodies that ensured even more good times were ahead.

Guests were treated to a multi-course meal that was capped of with a dessert that featured cracking a golden egg in the middle of each table to reveal delicious candy bites for all to enjoy. The evening continued with a spirited live auction that included a host of items perfect for world travelers with trips to Italy, Sri Lanka, France, and Thailand among the items that captured everyone’s Pure Imagination. The festivities continued when the Guardian Award was presented to Dr. Upali Weerasooriya for his continued and unwavering support of SAFE. The festivities were capped of with two rafes, from Calvin’s Fine Jewelry and Mercedes Benz of Austin, which were the cherries on top of a perfect evening.

THE PURPOSE: The event, co-chaired by Jay and Kelley Lamy, raised over $1.1 million for The SAFE Alliance. SAFE provides stability and healing to all of those who have lived through violence and abuse through housing, prevention programs, and support services to help stop the cycle of abuse. s

Beth and Frank Stabile

Jay and Kelley Lamy

Ronda and Kelly Gray

Josh and Rebecca Gindele & Tiffany Stillwell and Jason Belser

Jackie and Calvin Smith & Calvin Smith Jr. and Chloe Coats

Shannon and Bryon Brown

Bill McLellan and Kelly White Olivia and Angela Glode

Dr. Upali Weerasooriya John Coake and Mark Dickerman

Brad and Alexis Buckman

Angel Carroll

Stephen and Dana Germer & Sammi and Larry Germer

Monica and Romeo Manzanilla

Farrah Bailey and Flex Bui

Lawryl Jarrett and Tyler Coleman

Corey Mercke, Jeremy Bravo and Brandon Weber

Matt and Sara Van Bergen & Chelsea and Jason Gray

Michelle Hagli and Mindy Bakker

Bridget Ramey

Chris Hamborsky and Katie Russell

John and Tammy Dupont

Lauri and Chris McNevin

Tammy and Peter Caciola

Michael Simons and Ari Hartung

antonio

heard it through the grapevine

Gladys Knight Performs At The Tobin Center Anniversary Gala

By Leanne Raesener | Photography

THE SETTING: The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts recently celebrated its ffth anniversary with a gala honoring H-E-B, the 2019 Recipient of the Tobin Award, with Winnell Herron accepting the honor on H-E-B’s behalf. The headlining star of the evening was none other than legendary, seven-time Grammy ® Award-winning, soulful R&B singer, Gladys Knight.

THE STYLE: Upon arrival, close to 500 VIP sponsors, patrons, underwriters, and guests were escorted into a cocktail hour, laden with unique and festive balloon designs created by Melony Rodwell, while the Avanti String Quartet (comprised of San Antonio Symphony members) played, and Ballet San Antonio ballerinas danced on pedestals. They also had a once in a lifetime opportunity to meet and chat with the empress of soul herself, Gladys Knight.

The silent auction took place during the VIP cocktail hour featuring one of a kind treasures and experiences, including a guitar signed by Brian Wilson & Al Jardine of the Beach Boys, a Billy Idol signed Flying V electric guitar, an Andrea Bocelli Soundcheck and Concert Package, and a unique Tobin Center party in one of its secret clandestine spaces.

Then, the Children’s Choir of San Antonio, Chamber Music Institute, and Trumpet Fanfare by Youth Orchestras of S.A. (YOSA) summoned the guests to the Carlos Alvarez Theater, the Feik Family Rotunda, and the McLaughlin Family Rotunda for a sumptuous dinner crafted by Executive Chef Paul Goll of Tobin Catering. Soloists from Opera San Antonio announced the end of dinner and instructed the party to move into the H-E-B Performance Hall for the concert. Seating in the venue was cabaret-style for VIPs, and with gala and concert-only ticket buyers, it was a packed house with close to 1200 fans.

Following the concert, there were two after-parties: VIPs enjoyed a disco in the transformed Carlos Alvarez Theater, complete with a collector’s record wall of signed vinyls coupled with entertainment by Uptown Drive. The other after-party, in the McCombs Lobby, had the crowd up and on the dance foor with music from DJ Catwalk, who was suspended high on a station above the dance foor in the unique Founders’ Lounge.

THE PURPOSE: The Tobin Center Board Chair is Samuel Dawson, and Dennert Ware is the current vice-chair. The gala’s honorary co-chairs were Alethea and Bruce Bugg, and Laura and Sam Dawson. The Tobin Center VIP Event Partners were Phyllis and James Browning, Carla and John Brozovich, Frost Bank, Rubicon Capital, LLC & Blue Duck Scooters, MUY! Companies and Shiner Beers. Nel Belt chaired the VIP gala committee that included Alethea Bugg, Laura Dawson, Heather de Rojas, Susan Franklin, Jean Lee, Susan Naylor, and Dr. Alice Viroslav. The evening was held to raise funds benefting the Mission of The Tobin Center, a local non-proft arts organization that provides a world-class venue to promote a diverse range of cultural, educational, and artistic experiences that improve the quality of life in San Antonio. s

Gladys Knight performs

Steve and Jean Lee

Edward and Nancy Steves, Chris and Lisa Kopecky & Dick and Kristin Tips

Bob and Jennifer Shemwell

Alethea and Bruce Bugg

Jack and Lindsey Guenther & Gloria and Miguel Dilley

Sonya Medina Williams, Carla Brozovich, Parnak Malek and Lindsay Bolner

Sam and Laura Dawson

Kelley and Pat Frost

Doug and Winell Herron

Roger and Vangie Flores & Margaret Vera

Susan Naylor

Melissa and Charles Barrett Jeff and Heather de Rojas, Dr. Jeff Warman and Steven Wilson

Rob and Janet Holliday & Greg and Becky Kowalski

Deborah Amini, Kathleen Kennedy and Vicki McLaughlin

Tiffany and Mike Fresher Rita and John Feik with model Susan and Aubra Franklin Alice Viroslav and Nel Belt

by Greg Harrison

striking a cord

Houston Grand Opera’s Season Opening Night Performance And Dinner

By Jennifer Roosth | Photography by Jenny Antill and Wilson Parish

THE SETTING: The Houston Grand Opera (HGO) opened its 65th season with a celebratory evening featuring a new production of Verdi’s beloved Rigoletto under the direction of Tomer Zvulun and with a much-anticipated return to the Ray C. Fish Plaza at the Wortham Theater. The evening began with HGO Managing Director Perryn Leech welcoming patrons back to the Wortham Theater Center for Opening Night with a heartfelt recognition of the evening’s gala committee, and HGO Artistic and Musical Director, Patrick Summers. Later, the cast and artistic team of the new season’s production was introduced before the cast of Rigoletto took the stage to portray the famous story of lust, jealousy, and revenge.

THE STYLE: Following the performance, the tradition continued with the Opening Night dinner at the Ray C. Fish Plaza with more than than 400 guests, who were greeted by a juggling jester and champagne cocktails. The attendees gathered under the elegant clear-top tent with a backdrop of the clear night’s sky to honor the cast and creative team of the new production.

The Events Company provided a warmly elegant gala setting complete with lush fall forals and Italian murals, and Tony’s Catering served an inspired dinner that fowed like an aria. The feast began with fresh burrata accented with Treviso, Fuji apple, and pomegranate, followed by a duet of beef flet and Branzino and ending with the operatic, Ah! The Curse, a fourless chocolate cake complemented by blackberry compote.

THE PURPOSE: The Opening Night event was chaired by Drs. Rachel and Warren A. Ellsworth IV and raised over $375,000 for the Houston Grand Opera, one of the largest, most innovative, and highly acclaimed opera companies in the United States. Having toured extensively and after winning a Tony®, two Grammy® awards, and three Emmy® awards, it is the only opera company to win all three honors. s

Hon. Beau Miller and Lynn Wyatt

Dr. Saul and Ursula Balagura & Marilyn Ingham and Sid Moorhead

Robert and Ngozie Onyejekwe

Dr. Steve Hamilton and Beth Madison

Dr. Alan Bentz and Sallymoon Benz

Marshall Heins and Christina Stith Sara and Gabriel Loperena

Dr. Rachel and Warren Ellsworth IV

Perryn Leech

Jonathan and Ann Ayre & Rachel and Warren Ellsworth

Kendall Hanno, Jacqueline Levine and Kirby Lodholz

Jim Trimble and Sylvia Barnes Dr. Sugene Kimand and Cindi Rose

Kristina Somerville

The cast and creative team of Rigoletto

Myrtle Jones Barbara and Blaire Labatt

Valerie and Tracy Dieterich

Jennifer Roosth and Jason Fuller Marcia and Alfredo Vilas

Charlene Nickson and Stephanie Langenstein

Tomer Zvulun, Susanna Eiland and Beth Glynn

closer to the goal

Darrell K. Royal Alzheimers Foundation’s 4th And Goal Gala Raises Awareness

By Rob Giardinelli | Photography by Ben Porter

THE SETTING: The Moody Theatre at ACL Live in Austin was recently the setting for the annual 4th and Goal gala. Several hundred of Texas’ most notable philanthropists and sociables were treated to an special evening that combines sport, music and philanthropy like no other in the state and the result was a magical evening those on hand will not soon forget.

THE STYLE: The fun began in the foyer of the ACL Theatre with a cocktail hour where partygoers were able to mingle, socialize and sip spirits while perusing an impressive array of sporty silent auction items that included among other things a private tour of Jay Leno’s one-of-a-kind car collection.

The festivities then moved inside for the main program. Against the backdrop of replay highlights commemorating the silver anniversary of the legendary 1969 game where Texas defeated Arkansas 15-14 en route to their 1969 NCAA championship, guests dined on a multi-course meal that was capped of with individual chocolate cakes in the shape of Texas. The evening continued with an impressive live auction that included a BMW X7, which fetched $127,000 and a bucket list experience with Andrea Bocelli in Italy that scored $195,000. The night was capped of in style by a performance from The Doobie Brothers, who brought the crowd to their feet, as they sang along to new songs and legendary tunes by the iconic band.

THE PURPOSE: The evening raised over $1.6 million for the Darrell K. Royal Research Fund for Alzheimer’s Disease. The mission of the DKR Fund is to provide excellence in research and care for Texas to attempt to cure Alzheimer’s in our lifetimes. s

Shannon Windham, Laura Colbert, Brooks Franklin and Melissa Schnitzer

Laura and Steve Beuerlein & Julie Crenshaw

Anne Twomey, Gene Beck, Janice Kolbe and Patty Cooke

The Doobie Brothers perform Laurie and Ken Deangelis Steve and Ava Late

Connie Wilson and Edith Royal

Tommy and Sandy Rouse & Rita and Henry Hortenstien

Guy and Whitney Ellis

Susan and Clint Hackney Ben Crenshaw

QUEEN BEE

When Houstonian Lynn Wyatt, the gregarious, international socialite, philanthropist, speaks...people listen. And, for good reason. She knows everyone and has entertained more potentates, aristocrats, and tycoons than just about anyone in her rarifed constellation of friends. Forget oil. She’s the greatest natural resource Texas has. Here, in an exclusive, Lance Avery Morgan and Rob Giardinelli, share an interview that takes us inside the world of this living, loveable legend.

Photography by John Conroy Styling by Summar Salah

Make-up by Tonya Riner Production Asst: Mallory Miller

Sittings Producer: Lance Avery Morgan

BEGINNING IN THE 1960S, WHEN IT CAME to representing Texas on an international social level, the man for the job...would be a woman.

Lynn Wyatt. With her striking blonde hair, fawless porcelain complexion, and small frame that is eclipsed by only her gregarious personality, Call Me Lynn is a phrase spoken by Wyatt that’s been heard in the most fashionable Jet Set circles since the mid20th century and will likely be for decades more.

The spirited grande dame, who is anything but stodgy, has so positively represented this state that it could easily be renamed The Republic of Lynn. Her elegance has been emulated for years and will be for plenty more to come, as the young and youngat-heart worship her heightened personal style, entertaining largesse and attitude that everyone’s welcome as-long-as-their-fun point of view toward life is brought to the party.

Fun, as Wyatt often says, is her favorite word. And, she’s serious about it. If you’re not having fun, you’re killing time, so we caught up with La Lynn to learn more about her stunning life well-lived that includes her husband, Oscar Wyatt, and four sons, Steven Bradford Wyatt, Douglas Bryan Wyatt, Oscar Sherman "Trey" Wyatt III, and Bradford Allington Wyatt.

LANCE AVERY MORGAN: Lynn, we're here in the beautiful study of your palatial home. We're honored to be here and love knowing you because you have made such a diference to the world on so many levels. And, so we want to thank you, frst of all, for doing that. Okay, let’s jump in. What has motivated your life in philanthropy to help others at a high level?

LYNN WYATT: Thank you very much. It is so lovely to have you both here. With philanthropy, I have the greatest admiration for people who contribute so many diferent ways voluntarily. No matter how we serve, it is the desire to be useful in helping other people that matters most.

ROB GIARDINELLI: Not only do you possess great style while raising funds for so many international organizations, but you've also made a career out of it. What's one piece of advice you would give to someone who's chairing their frst gala or throwing their frst very frst dinner party to really make it a spectacular, memorable afair?

LYNN: What a great question. First, have a variety of guests: some whom know each other and some who do not know each other. I like to seat one person they know on one side and one that they don't on the other side. Also, I never place husbands and wives together.

RG: What's the reason for not putting husbands and wives next to each other?

LYNN: I realized that if a husband and wife are next to each other, they don't talk to each other. Instead, they're talking to the person on the other side of them. They need a rest from their spouse, so by placing them apart it leads to more interesting table conversation.

RG: I agree with that. I also love the tradition in Texas, and certainly, in Europe, that gentleman change places at dessert to speak to other guests at the table. They can choose to sit by others, whom they would also like to know.

LYNN: I think that's fascinating. Sometimes, I will have men move two places over...usually before dessert because I don't want people walking around all the time. And, there are still two people on the other side of them that haven't spoken to each other yet.

LAM: We were talking earlier about your theory to good conversation. What's one of your favorite conversations starters, for instance, at a dinner party with a complete stranger when you're seated next to a tycoon of industry?

LYNN: I would ask, what are you doing that is interesting in your feld, or what you are doing now that motivates you? I'd love to hear about it. Usually, people give you honest answers that way.

LAM: Speaking of conversation points, what was it like growing up in the legendary Sakowitz store retail environment and what did you learn that you applied to the rest of your life?

LYNN: When I was going to high school, everybody thought that I got my clothes for free and I said, ‘No way.’ My mother said, ‘if I was working at the store, I would get a 20% discount just like every other employee’. No, I never got anything for free. So the frst time I went to try on clothes, my mother told me, ‘Go and pick out the things that you want and bring them into the dressing room to make sure they all ft.’ I was so excited and fnally, after we were there for two hours in the dressing room, she said, ‘You can only have fve outfts.’ I was disappointed, but it made me really think about what I could wear. I thought I would pick this skirt to put with that blouse. This sweater can go with the same skirt and this belt to go with this, and so on. It taught me how to mix things up and have fun with it. It was because of that, I started experimenting with things. So much so that as my mother got older, she’d asked me to come over and help her pick out things for her to wear. She was a wonderful woman. Really lovely.

LAM: I was honored to meet your mother, Ann Sakowitz, years ago. What a true lady, proving the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

LYNN: Well, thank you. She had a fabulous sense of humor. And, she played Gin Rummy and beat the hell out of every man.

LAM: So, that's where you get your sense of humor?

LYNN: Thank you. Probably. She made everybody laugh. And you know, after I got older, I realized how wonderfully lucky I was to have parents who were so kind. I mean, after learning what goes on in the world that I didn't know at that time. I was so thankful and grateful. Plus, my brother and I are very close. He went to St. John's, which had just opened when I was at San Jacinto High School. My parents wanted me to change and go to St. John’s, which I didn’t want to do because all of my friends were at San Jacinto.

RG: Weren’t you a cheerleader there?

LYNN: You do your homework. I remember that this boy had a crush on me and I sort of had a little crush on him. He was playing football, but wasn't a big football player, like the quarterback, yet every time he would do something good, I said, “well, I'm going to do a big cheer for you.”

PEERLESS STYLE

LAM: You seem to be everyone’s cheerleader, Lynn. What is one style tip you would give to someone who's invited to a party with a theme?

LYNN: I would say to try to dress accordingly to the theme as best as you can, but try to be a bit original. And, if not original, clever.

RG: Do you like costume parties?

LYNN: Not especially. Well, sometimes I like them. Instead of kooky costumes, I like pretty. Am I going to have a giant pumpkin costume? That's not me. No, no, no. But, if it is a theme, I'll try to carry out the theme. I think I have several costumes up in my attic somewhere. When somebody gets an invitation to a costume party, it is a lot of pressure. When I had birthday parties every year, I would have a theme, and everybody would ask me around Christmas time, what is the theme of your party next year? And it would be something like pink. Yes, one time the theme was Think Pink I always had a seated birthday dinner, placed, with a bufet. One time the Prince (Rainier) rang that he’d be at the party. I sat him at the head of the table and I said, ‘Monsignor, I don't see any pink on you.’ He picks up his foot and his socks are pink. I said, Thank the Lord. Otherwise, I was going to send you home.

LAM: What’s fascinating to me is that you've entertained so much over the years and you've done it so beautifully. What is the key ingredient to the perfect party for you?

LYNN: That’s easy. First of all, be at the front door and greet every guest, look them in the eye and say, I'm so glad you're here. Thank you for accepting my invitation. Let them know how truly happy you are that they came.

RG: You’ve been in a lot of doorways, welcoming a lot of people into your world.

LYNN: No question. You eventually go into the living room. But, always stay at the door, no matter what, until every guest has arrived.

LAM: One party, one great gathering that we want you to share is your experience at The Battle of Versailles in 1973, the big fashion event you attended where French and American designers collaborated–and competed–for the frst time. Did you think that was a special occasion of gathering both the

Dress by Alexander McQueen, $8,540.

At Neiman Marcus. Lynn’s own jewelry.

I've always said to myself that there is a way to dress: with class, a bit of dash, but never trash. Also, I say, always trust the mirror. You know why? The mirror never lies.

Dress by Jenny Packham, $3210.

Earrings by Oscar de la Renta, $390.

Both at Neiman Marcus. Lynn’s own belt, shoes, and other jewelry.

French and American designers?

LYNN: Absolutely. I was very, very honored to be invited.

LAM: It really put American designers on the map at that super high level to be on par with the French designers, don't you think?

LYNN: Yes. I was really good friends with Bill Blass, who showed there. I would also stay with him in his New York City house and he would always have great food that he would cook himself He had a lovely country house in the woods that had a lovely garden. You'd come upon an area and there'd be a fabulous statue that seemed like it should be in his house or something. He was such a great, great conversationalist and he loved my husband, Oscar. Oh, they would talk on the phone about politics all the time. Everything that Oscar would say, he'd agree with. I was very honored to be in his guest room many times.

RG: Not only was he an incredible designer, but he had impeccable taste.

LYNN: That’s right. And you know what, we never, ever discussed clothes even though he was such a prolifc designer. I read one time that he said, ‘That's what I like about Lynn. We didn't talk about clothes and that’s a sign of our great friendship.’ He was such a gentleman.

RG: Tell us about how your own personal style was formed.

LYNN: I've always said to myself that there's a way to dress: with class, with a bit of dash, but never trash. Also, I say, always trust the mirror You know, why? The mirror never lies

LAM: You’ve been a muse of so many designers. Tell us about some of your favorite ones, past and present.

LYNN: I was fortunate to go to the collections every year when Yves St. Laurent was alive. My husband told me, ‘I want you to go over to Paris.’ He was on his way to the Middle East and he would drop me of in Paris on the way. I had friends there and they were always giving parties. I was at The Ritz and across the street, as you know, is the Chanel store. I went over there and chose some things, of the rack, not made to measure. I was in the ftting room and the curtain was pushed away. This lady comes in and says, ‘Oh, so you're the Texan?’ And, I said, yes. Then she left. And I asked the salesgirl, ‘Is that who I think it was? Mademoiselle Chanel?’ And they said, yes, it was Mademoiselle. She must have been 90.

RG: Wow. So Coco Chanel came into your dressing room?

LYNN: That’s right. She had heard that a Texas girl had come in to have some things made to measure. I was so honored that she took the time to see who I was.

LAM: You were an early adopter of burgeoning fashion designers, too, with French designer André Courrèges in the 60s, as an example. You're a forward thinker with fashion.

LYNN: Well, thank you for saying that. I don't think of myself like that, but I appreciate it. He was actually my frst made to measure designer. I hadn't had any made to measure before then. I knew him well and he was so advanced.

LAM: I believe Sakowitz was the frst store to carry him and his designs in the U.S.?

LYNN: That's right. I came back from seeing him in Paris and I told my brother, ‘You have to go see him there.’ He few over to see his talent and when he returned, he said, ‘We're going to put a Courrèges shop in the

store.’ It sold like gangbusters. He was the right designer for the right time.

LAM: I understand that standing for couture ftting sessions, or made to measure, is grueling.

LYNN: It is. They measure everything: your knuckles, your ear, half of your fnger and the other half of your fnger. And there's someone that reads the measurements aloud in order to build a mannequin body exactly like mine from the bust to the hips to the legs, so it has to be perfect. It is so that you don't have to stand for hours. When I frst started, I learned that I had to come back for four fttings. I said, listen, I live in Houston, Texas. I am not going to fy to Paris just for fttings.’

LAM: You're a busy woman, you had a lot of things to accomplish. You were also raising a family.

LYNN: Right. So then I would go and they'd have all of it done except to correct a few things here and there and they’d send it back to me in boxes. Huge boxes. I mean you would've thought that there was a human being in there because of the way they were packed so perfectly. All the tissue paper, it was fabulous.

LAM: Speaking of your busy years, you're a sharpshooter. In fact, there’s a great piece of art on your terrace that has both you and Annie Oakley on each side. If you could compete in any Olympic sport, would it be shooting?

LYNN: I don’t shoot anymore. On our honeymoon, we went to the Middle East for two weeks. Oscar never takes of more than a week for something. He’s at work right now. At 95, he’s still a workaholic.

We frst went to the Middle East because I’d never been there. The museums we went to were fabulous. Then, on the second part, we went on a bear hunt. The juxtaposition of things is what I love. I love to do something that’s the complete opposite of what I just did. It feels so inspiring and new.

LAM: You stay really active and are in such great shape to keep up with your very busy lifestyle. What are some of your secrets to staying ft and trim?

LYNN: You know, I didn't want to go to a gym. For many years I’ve had many exercise trainers. When I went to the South of France for the summer, I had a girl and a boy that were from there and each one would do diferent things. I would do kickboxing, which I love. I can protect you

LAM: I’ll bet you can. I’m betting that started in the 70s and 80s. What were some of your favorite moments from that era?

LYNN: I was fortunate to have had a villa in the South of France. Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco were very dear friends. I spent three months away every summer and it was fabulous. The nightclub, Regine’s, was the rage then. It started in Paris. Then, she went on to open one in Monte Carlo and also in the South of France. Our friends always had seated, black-tie dinners in those days. Oh, it was fabulous. Then everyone would go home to change clothes and go back to Regine’s. They had a pool that you could just dabble your hand in the water while you were sitting in one of those banquettes... while the music played just above the small dance foor. If you were sitting maybe ten feet away from your guest you could still talk to each other. It was so advanced to know how to do that. We’d dance the Frug and the Monkey. Nightclub culture started there, no question. We’d dance until dawn. It was Studio 54 before Studio 54.

LAM: Sounds like my kind of party and the place to be where the height of the international Jet Set was then.

LYNN: I’ll say. I remember there was a duchess one time who said, ‘I want to introduce you to French society.’

LAM: This already sounds like a French farce waiting to happen.

“Whe I frst started, I lear ed that I had to come back for four ftti gs. I said, liste , I live i Houston,Texas.Iamnotgoingto fytoParisjustforftti gs.”

Jumpsuit by ALC, $795. At Saks Fifth Avenue. Lynn’s own jewelry.

Princess Grace and Lynn Wyatt 1970s. Courtesy of Lynn Wyatt

LYNN: It was. There was a wonderful gentleman who was very highly ranked–more than a prince. And, he said, ‘I want to play a joke on the Duchess. She wants to introduce you to society, but, I'm going to say that I've known you for a long time. Go along with it.’ I said, okay. She introduced me by saying, ‘I want to introduce you to Lynn Wyatt, my friend from Houston, Texas.’ He said, ‘I thought that was you, I was hoping that you would be here.’ He put his arms around me, then hugged her...and she looked back at me completely amazed.

LAM: Because of your close friendship with Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, you’re part of the Princess Grace Foundation. You've done such good work on an international level, obviously beyond Texas. You told me how Cary Grant would call you personally, to speak with you about being involved with the foundation and its annual gala. Tell us about that experience.

LYNN: When Princess Grace died, it was so tragic. She was on her way to meet me in Paris when it happened. Three months later, I got a call from the Prince. He said, ‘Lynn, I want you to be a founder of the Princess Grace Foundation.’ I was so honored. I said, I don't even live in France. He said, ‘I want you to be part of it. She loved you and you were such dear friends.’ So I thought, I’ll do it. But, you know, the frst time you do anything, you have to hit the ball out of the park or they won’t want you to come back to the game the next time.

RG: There were some heavy hitters who were on the Foundation’s board like Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant, Princess Caroline, Princess Stephanie, Mary Wells Lawrence, and you. How did you approach a frst-ever event like that?

LYNN: Some guy who was very important contacted me and said, ‘I want to help you.’ I said, You know, I want to do this on my own, because if something goes wrong, it is only my fault. And I know the way I want to do things and that's the way I’ll do it. I decided to do it, instead of in New York where everybody has parties every night, in Washington D.C. Ronald Reagan was the president at the time.

I had three price tags for the tickets. For the most expensive, you would go to everything. For the lesser price ticket, it was more limited, and so on. Nancy Reagan would be there, which was a draw. So we put on a show for them that was a seated dinner with Julio Iglesias who performed, with a luncheon, and other events. It was fabulous. I have to say, now this is bragging a little, but I have to say it has been said that never in all these 45 years since has as much money been raised as we made on that one.

LAM: One thing I know, that a lot of people don't know, is that you have a very famous friendship with Elton John and he adores you. You’ve often attended his White Tie and Tiara charity ball at his place in England. Tell us about what that’s like for you since you're such close friends.

LYNN: I am always very honored to stay at his house. He has a huge estate and he puts up a big tent. The frst time he did it was wonderful. Now, it has grown and the tent is huge. He has fabulous people. I've met lovely, lovely people there and he is the most generous man. I've never met a more generous man than he is, and I'm so fattered that he always seats me at his right. He has wonderful entertainment. And it is something that I truly look forward to every year in the summer.

RG: One of the many characters you’ve known is Andy Warhol. You were lucky enough to have done a photo session with him in the late 70s. What was that collaboration process like and what is it like to have your image immortalized by someone so revered in the art world?

LYNN: I was fortunate enough to have several famous artists who wanted to paint my portrait and I kept saying, no, I don't have the time. Then, I met Andy and we became very close friends. In The Andy Warhol Diaries, which I have on the shelf there, it shows that Andy was very kind about me. I thought that Andy was the John Singer Sargent of my generation and it

was a fabulous experience. And, I love my paintings.

RG: You are certainly one of his most dynamic subjects, that's for sure. There are very few people who were photographed by him at that high level. I love your portraits.

LYNN: Thank you. He did four. I have two. He told me, ‘Lynn, you don't want the other two?’ And I said, no. He said, ‘Why? You know, it is the same face but diferent colors that match each other. That's the way I do it.’ I said, I know, but I just don't think I could live with four more Lynn Wyatt’s in this house. That would make fve. I found out years later when I was visiting friends in Southampton, and my host said, ‘I want to show you some things because this man collects Warhols. Loads of them. They want you to come over and see them.’ So, I said, sure, I'd love to see them.

LAM: The Warhol plot thickens.

LYNN: I’ll say it did. I went there and the wife said, ‘I want to give you a tour of the house.’ There was an Andy Warhol in every room. Then, I go into their bedroom and over their bed are the other two Lynn Wyatt portraits. I said, ‘That is terrible. You let your husband do that?’ She said, ‘It was me who told him to put up the paintings there.’ I said, ‘Well, you fatter me. You made my whole weekend.

LAM & RG: We love that. We’ve had an experience with a Warhol as well, at a very important business lunch at the Lever House in Midtown Manhattan, with people who knew we were from Texas. As we walked to our table at the very end of the restaurant, all we could see was your portrait at a distance. We thought, surely we're not going to sit under Lynn Wyatt’s Warhol portrait. That would be too good to be true. And sure enough, we were seated under the Lynn Wyatt Warhol, which I guess now, in retrospect, was a copy. But it sure proved to be a very good omen for the meeting.

LYNN: Isn’t that fun I’m donating mine to The Museum of Fine Arts here in Houston. They're also building a theatre because I'm very heavily involved in the organization. It is called the Lynn Wyatt Theatre. They're going to put the portraits up there. They've taken pictures of them, and I’ll have them until I die at which time the museum will receive the originals. And there will be a park, too.

LAM: You are too modest, Lynn. I think you’re referring to the Lynn Wyatt Square For The Performing Arts in downtown Houston. Most people are saying it will be the soul of the city because you feel that the performing arts are the soul of the city.

LYNN: Oh my God, I was so honored. I mean, I started crying. They said this block, it is a whole darn block, is going to be named for me because I'm involved in all the performing arts. Then one of my boys said, ‘Mom, that's going to go on long after you're gone. It'll go through posterity.’

RG: We'll be here cheering you on when it opens.

LYNN: Thank you, thank you. Well, I hope I'm here, too. Gosh, it will be gorgeous. I was so fattered.

LAM: What a treat to sit with you here, Lynn, and to hear your wonderful stories about past, present, and really, the future because you're just warming up and we're so excited to know you. We're honored that you're our state’s international ambassador on so many levels. So, thank you for being you.

LYNN: I am so honored that you even chose me for this marvelous opportunity. They were very thoughtful questions―you did your homework and I feel blessed that you asked me to answer them and our photo shoot has been divine. It sounds so corny when I say this, but I'm so thankful and grateful for my life...and to be able to go over all these memories about the people that I love and know today. I've been blessed, I really know I have, and I thank the Lord as I think about everything that has come to me in my life. I feel thankful for both of you, too.

Blazer by Oscar de la Renta, $2990. Blouse by Akri, $795. Pants by Akris, $395. At Neiman Marcus. Lynn’s own belt, jewelry, and shoes.

I thought that Andy was the John Singer Sargent of my generation and it was a fabulous experience. And, I love my paintings.

Lynn Wyatt by Andy Warhol, 1970s

Houston native fashion designer, Victor Costa, is as much responsible for Texas’s pop cultural rise in the 1970s and 1980s as the T.V. series Dallas, or the big oil boom that cemented the state’s place in history. Here, in an exclusive, our culture-savvy chronicler Geoff Connor, refects on the era’s party that never seemed to end... and how Victor Costa’s designs remain timeless.

Verve Victor the of

IN 1987, AT THE APEX OF HIS CAREER, VICTOR

Costa’s fashion line was once described by The New York Times as “famboyant, super-feminine dresses that bare the shoulders, hug the waistline, and billow and swirl over the hips”. With good reason. The name Victor Costa has been famous in international fashion circles for over a half-century now, bringing acclaim to Texas and his hometown of Houston, in particular. He has not only created beautiful designs but also is well-regarded for his commercial acumen and marketing brilliance, combinations not always found in fashion design circles. “He’s one of the most famous names in women’s fashion,” said Houston philanthropist Joanne King Herring. “He’s made many women look fabulous over the years, and I’m so proud he’s a Houstonian.”

RISING HEIGHTS

He’s come a long way, baby, in the vernacular of the 1970s stylish cigarette branding slogan. Costa was born in Houston’s Fifth Ward in 1935 in very modest circumstances during the height of the Great Depression. As the middle child born to a Sicilian metalworker, who, with his American wife and family, lived in three rooms behind his grandparents’ grocery store. Although Houston was not exempt from the impact of a sagging global economy during that era, the city’s port and shipping channel beneftted greatly from the Texas oil boom and a corresponding growth in rubber, plastics, and chemicals. Additionally, the World War II era saw a surge in manufacturing and shipping, which added thousands of jobs and greatly expanded the city’s economy. The Texas Medical Center was also established in the 1940s, initiating a transformation of the

1. Victor Costa, 2019. Photo by John Conroy

2. Victor Costa, Houston Chronicle, January 17, 1963

3. Victor Costa for Suzy Perette, 1950s

4. Victor Costa for Suzy Perette, 1950s

5. Romantica by Victor Costa, shift in brocade, 1960s

6. Victor Costa, Dallas Morning News, January 27, 1974

7. Dress by Victor Costa, in green chifon, 1970s. Photo courtesy of 1st Dibs

8.Victor Costa metallc gown, 1980s. Photo courtesy of Etsy

city’s image into a more modern, refned era.

During this time of rapid change in Houston, Costa’s family enabled him to see and experience the elegant side of the city, even if it was not their personal circumstance at the time. He has often recounted stories of shopping as a boy in downtown Houston with his mother, who had an eye for fashion, though she may not have purchased much then. It was the time of lavish department stores like Sakowitz, Battlestein’s, Foleys, and many others, that carried clothing and accessories previously available only on the east coast or in Europe. Costa was inspired by the beauty and elegance of what he saw in lavish display windows and learned to draw and recreate such style on paper dolls that he then sold to his school classmates. In high school, he even made prom dresses for his classmates.

Costa also drew upon what he saw on the big screen during the Golden Age of Hollywood. “I had access to twice-weekly tickets as a boy to see movies” said Costa. “I saw such stylish stars as Joan Crawford in some of the most spectacular clothing of the era”, he said. In fact, as destiny would have it, Crawford, for whose persona he would design paper doll dresses as a child, would later become a private client of Costa’s label.

As an adult, Costa’s natural talents were refned at the Pratt Institute in New York. He also trained at the prestigious Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture in Paris, whose other famous graduates include Valentino, Karl Lagerfeld, and classmate Yves Saint Laurent. Costa learned the fne art of design, and the imaginative use of fabric and decoration, while also understanding the nature of the fashion business and marketing.

COMPREHENDING COUTURE

Costa then began working as a designer in New York, adapting French high fashion to the American market. According to Myra Walker, of the Texas Fashion Collection of the University of North Texas, “It helped that he had a photographic memory and a quick hand at sketching, and was able to translate what he saw on the Paris runways into successful designs for the Suzy Perette company during the 1960s. His ability to comprehend couture and readyto-wear fashions is a complex and masterful talent. He is not content with only a quick sketch or photography, but often goes so far as to purchase the original couture design to study the construction and fabric.” It was an era of voluminous skirts, matching lining, and smart tailoring...all variables that would serve him well to design for glamour’s big comeback in the 1980s.

Determined to be his own designer, especially after a mentor advised him, “Don’t just promote a fashion house–promote yourself.”

Costa acquired the Dallas fashion house, Ann Murray, and used his Texas operation to manufacture his designs. His clientele grew quickly to include many top buyers, including Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue and later, Nordstrom’s and Bergdorf Goodman. His extraordinarily glamorous clothing was worn

by the stars of the popular 1980s television series Dynasty and Falcon Crest, and by such stars of the era as Joan Collins and Brooke Shields. By the late 1980s, his business was grossing over $50 million annually. “I adore Victor,” says Houstonian philanthropist Carolyn Farb. “He is a designer who focuses on his most important goal–to make his clients look and feel beautiful.” His presence was so ubiquitous in the 1980s pop culture that he even designed Holly Hunter’s Cinderella-esque transformation gown for the hit 1987 flm, Broadcast News. Besides his commercial line, he continued designing for private clients, including Hollywood stars and American socialites who wanted their own distinct look. His appeal was as broad as the shoulders he designed because of its beauty, and deep because his clothing line was priced less than comparable designers.

Victor Costa paid particular attention to costs early in his career in order to make his fashion line available to a wide base of style-conscious consumers. Importantly, he acquired the facilities and staf needed to manufacture his own creations in-house thereby eliminating markup from a third party manufacturer. Next, he looked for ways to emulate certain design elements with a more economical approach. For example, his designs sometimes have a machine jeweled lace instead of a hand jeweled lace used by a more expensive designer, or even using an expensive trim on an inexpensive fabric to give it a glitzier look. Or, replicating a forty-dollar foral embellishment he found in Paris for just $1.50. In modern times, Costa has cultivated skilled bead workers, detailed embroiderers, and other artisans in China in order to incorporate brilliant new elements into his designs, but his bottom line was always to make beautiful clothing and, while the prices per piece are comparatively low, he sells volumes of each creation.

He’s one of the most famous names in women’s fashion. He’s made many women look fabulous over the years, and I’m so proud he’s a Houstonian.

Joanne King Herring

1. Debbie Kitchens, Victor Costa and Linda Washam, Austin, 1980s

2. William Hurt and Holly Hunter, who wears Victor Costa, in Broadcast News, 1987

3. Victor Costa navy and burgundy satin with brocade 1980s

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SOCIAL SWIRL

Although very trendsetting, Victor Costa was careful to never fall into the trap of making successful designs only for the runway or the entertainment industry. His designs were worn by women in business and society, like Estée Lauder and Betsy Bloomingdale. He helped popularize the return of the shoulder pad favored in political circles by such women as Lady Bird Johnson, Rosslyn Carter and Julie Nixon Eisenhower. “Victor has always been a gentleman and respectful of his clients,” says Farb. “He is very attuned to the place a woman holds and dresses her sumptuously, but appropriately, for her lifestyle as a business executive, political leader, social leader...or any role she has chosen.”

Costa’s skill at surveying style trends and quickly translating those into his own fashion line has sometimes provoked the criticism that he relied too much on other’s inspiration for his designs. But, of course, fashion has always been a cycle of taking another’s design and adapting and remaking it in a fresher, more practical or accessible way. Ralph Lauren famously marketed his Polo shirt for daily wear, which was much the same shirt René Lacoste originally designed for the tennis circuit decades earlier. In the same way, Costa took European haute couture and made it accessible for generations of women by using cost-efective fabrics and decoration...but with no less style and fair. The result was year after year of spectacular designs that women clamored to own. The outfts didn’t just look good on a mannequin but made the wearer look good as well.

Author Mimi Swartz once wrote that “in the right Victor Costa, a plain woman becomes a pretty woman, and a pretty woman becomes a knockout.”

As Costa has said, “Special occasion dresses have always been the hallmark of my business. My quest for what is new sends me around the world. It is a

He is very attuned to the place a woman holds and dresses her sumptuously, but appropriately, for her lifestyle as a business executive, political leader, social leader...or any role she has chosen.

sense of pride and fulflment that some of the most noted and important women in the world are wearing my clothes. But also a young girl of 13 may get a Victor Costa dress which will have name recognition and make her feel special. Women adore how they look in their Victor Costa dresses.”

relatively short amount of time and always with the solid foundation of an industrious middle-class. The succeeding waves of Houston’s success in international shipping, oil and gas, medicine, manufacturing, technology, and space exploration have produced many millionaires and famous names. The same economic expansion has produced a huge number of middle-class buyers who want the same look and quality they see on the pages of the leading fashion magazines but at a more reasonable price and availability. For this market need, Costa has consistently delivered and with tremendous success.

generation of fashion talent. Costa’s fellow native Texan, Tom Ford, is the chairman of the organization now, following a thirteen-year reign by Diane von Furstenberg. The Council has worked successfully to strengthen the infuence and prosperity of American designers in the global economy, and Victor Costa has been an important part of that triumphant efort.

Carolyn Farb

Victor Costa’s life is so easily compared to the life of his native Houston. They both started out humbly but stretched to reach around the world in spectacular fashion. Both drew on their natural resources and talents, but as they grew, they began to draw the world to themselves. Costa was always at ease in Paris and New York while being professionally successful and inspiring. Yet Costa’s roots in a city like Houston enabled him to see a market need in the fashion industry, particularly the middle-class woman with good taste and a desire to look resplendent in a crowd. Not that the wealthy elite did not also covet the Victor Costa label, but it was the mainstay consumer that really distinguished Costa in the world of international designers.

DRESS-UP MOVEMENT

While Houston has become quite the global metropolis, it has done so in a

The New York Times reported in a 1987 profle, and Costa noted, “It’s very pleasing to me that women who can aford to buy anything feel secure in my clothes. I’m hooked on this whole crazy dress-up movement. I hope it will last, but I know the tape of fashion has speeded up. I’m going to enjoy it while it’s here.”

It’s no surprise that Victor Costa has always been well-regarded by his peers despite the occasional controversies over his designs. For years, he has been a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America based in New York. This prestigious invitation-only organization has fewer than 500 members but includes all the biggest names of the industry including Vera Wang, Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera, and Donna Karan. The organization is not just about prestige in an already status-conscious business, but also provides scholarships, business funding and serves as a fashion incubator program intended to help young designers launch their own businesses. Victor Costa loves the attention given to the next

Now, at a spry 84, Costa has slowed only slightly. When not at his midtown Manhattan apartment, or his home in Connecticut, he spends time in Houston, where he and his wife, Jerry Ann Woodfn-Costa, returned a few years ago to a palatial home on the twelfth tee of the Houston Country Club where they love being a part of the social community. People still talk about Jerry Ann’s triumphant chairing of the Houston Ballet gala in 1992 when she raised over a million dollars for the worthy cause, and the décor was highlighted with life-size balletic centerpieces on each table.

It’s also true that Houston and the Costas are very comfortable with each other. They are active in the Houston arts and culture scene and quite visible at society events. They have also generously established an endowed scholarship for Retailing and Consumer Sciences students at the University of Houston.

Costa is optimistic about the future and is enthusiastic about the next generation of designers. “The key thing is to have a dream, and to know you’re going to achieve it,” he said. “When you get knocked down, you’ve got to get up again.” It’s good advice for people in general who, like Victor Costa, seek to create beauty and success in the world. s

Victor Costa gown, 1980s

Victor Costa Vogue pattern, 1980s

Victor Costa and models, People magazine, August 22, 1988

Victor Costa dress, in tafeta, 1980s. Photo courtesy of 1st Dibs

Jerry Ann and Victor Costa, 2019

IN EXCESS

The 70s and 80s, in Texas and beyond, were a time of unbridled prosperity for the state’s movers and shakers. The can-do attitude of anything being possible unleashed a wild, unabashed party and caused a glorious hangover that exists to this day. Join our merry band of marauders as they time travel to the not-so distant past to recapture the Texan magic of yesteryear.

Baker Hotel, Downtown Dallas, 1970s

The cast of Dallas, 1979

Charles Ward, Caroln Farb and friend, 1970s

Christian Dior ad, 1982

Hanes ad, 1980s

Coty ad, 1979

Fashion in San Antonio, 1980s

Ultra Magazine 1980s

Fred Joaillier Houston jewelry ad, 1980s

Preppies, 1980s

Kelly Emberg, Cointreau ad, 1982

Frost Bros. ad illustrated by Max Jordan, San Antonio, 1970s. Courtesy of UTSA Libraries Special Collections

Driskill Caberet Disco, Austin, 1978

Sakowitz ad, Houston. 1984

Logan's Run flm location, Market Center, Dallas

Lou Lattimore, Stoneleigh Hotel, Dallas, 1974

DESIGNER NIGHTS

Phillippe Starck, Designer & Creator of Starck Club, Dallas

And to think it all started in Paris, New York...and Dallas. Dallas? French designer Philippe Starck created a sensation in the mid-80s by creating the frst European-style nightclub in Dallas, named appropriately, Starck Club. It took the city by storm, as well as the state because it was in complete contrast to the ostentatiousness of the times. Then something happened. Philippe Starck brought cool and clean to what was, at that time, a very cluttered state. From his fve-minutes-from-now contemporary vision sprang a streamlined, white warehouse club that the world, and certainly not Texas, had ever seen before. There was the night Grace Jones came in riding an elephant during the 1984 Republican Presidential Convention. And, the night Prince had a party after he performed at nearby Reunion Arena. Everyone has a story about the Starck Club.

Lance Avery Morgan: How diferent is Dallas now than when you were here in the 80s?

Philippe Starck: It’s a huge diference. When I arrived decades ago, downtown Dallas was a ghost city; everything was empty. And when I said that I wanted to make the Starck Club downtown, people laughed. They said, ‘Oh, you’re completely crazy–nobody will come.’ And because of those presumptions, I think we were the frst.

LAM: Without a doubt, you were the frst big city night club of that level in Texas.

PS: Yes, and the frst thing like it downtown, and I think we really rocked. Just for being downtown. The cultural level of Dallas has incredibly increased in the decades since the 80s. The sophistication. The people.

LAM: And J.R. Ewing-types. No more of those, really.

PS: Ah, yes.

LAM: During the ‘80s, when your club was so popular, he probably came there…J.R…you know, Larry Hagman.

PS: Lots of important people came to the club.

LAM: Right.

PS: So, before, it was really difcult to bring a new idea and things like that. Now, Dallas is one of the main important international cities in the world. That’s why everybody’s here…our tribe. That’s why we don’t have

PREP 101

Lisa Bernbach, author of The Offcial Preppy Handbook

It was like a shot heard ‘round the world when The Ofcial Preppy Handbook appeared in 1980 after a raucous 70s. “Thinking back, for our moment in time, it was big,” confdes the book’s author, Lisa Birnbach. “What I didn’t know in the intervening 30 years was that it was still big. People are so proprietary about what Preppy means to them. Preppies do love their art museums as well as conservation societies, which are both about preserving that which is old. It’s also a way to give without being reminded that people are sufering. Giving to the mentally disabled is a big one–look at the Kennedy’s who created the Special Olympics as an example.” “Let’s face it,” Birnbach muses, “I knew the Preppy world from the inside and outside. It has helped insiders feel more inside and has allowed people to understand more. I am a social observer and majored in Semiotics [every cultural phenomenon can be studied as communication], which is about what things represent. I didn’t try to change anyone’s life or make it over with The Ofcial Preppy Handbook. I didn’t want to be famous.”

to fght for the vision, no need to explain.

PS: I worked with people everywhere… Dallas, Miami, Hong Kong, and other key hotspots. And when a place needed us, they would call us, and we would come. If a city didn’t call us, that meant a part of our “tribe” wasn’t in that city. I’m not a fancy guy. I started in night clubs just by luck. Some friends found this place and we said, ‘Oh, perhaps we can make something to bring the tribe all together.’

And because I arrived completely away from the nightclub business, I brought fresh ideas, and a sort of natural violence, so it was a huge success. We completely exploded because we were naive and pure. At that time, the night club was the people. The nightclubbers were people working in the day, and they would go out to have fun at night. It was not like some nightclubber people now. Now, they sleep all day and go to clubs all night. In my nightclubs, years ago, there were all the best people, the people who now drive the world. Everybody was there. And that’s why it was very interesting.

(Excerpted from an interview, 2006)

LET’S GET SOCIAL Robert Godwin, Austin’s Society Scene

From the leftover hippie-dippie 1970s to the Dynasty-esque 1980s, the clothes may have evolved, yet Austin’s social elite never wavered in their aim to help the plethora of causes for those much less fortunate. “When I started covering the non-proft scene in 1976, the big four social events were already in place—Admirals Ball in August, Symphony League Jewel Ball in September, Bachelors Ball (which was in the fall, but moved to January) and the Helping Hand Ball in February,” remembers Robert Godwin (who now chronicles the St. David’s Foundation events) in his book about the city’s pre-1990 social scene. He goes on to say, “Philanthropy is a thread found throughout the fabric of everyday life in Austin. I’ve documented that thread running through three generations of families and am beginning to see the initial eforts of the younger fourth generation,” muses Godwin.

“As that fabric is woven, it extends to cover friends, neighbors, and draws in those newly arrived. As it grows to shelter those in need, those clients add their own stitches to the fabric to create a cloth that is uniquely Austin. The city is a patchwork quilt of diferent colors, diferent hopes, and diferent dreams—but a common desire to be of service to others.”

TEXAS-STYLE BEAUTY

Dana Rogers

Martin, Miss Texas

1983, San Antonio & Las Vegas

In the 80s, everything was big. Big hair, big shoulder pads, long nails, lots of makeup, tanned skin—that was the 80s pageant girl. We personifed Madonna’s Material Girl and pageants ruled because everyone was trying to be a Miss Somebody long before social media.

The 80s proved to be an incredible decade for pageants since each year the competition for the highest TV ratings was between the two annually televised giants: Miss America and the Super Bowl. Miss America was big business. Everyone in America, and hundreds of countries around the world, tuned in to hear ‘There she is, Miss America’ and see a beautiful crowned Barbie doll walk down the runway in Atlantic City. The Miss Texas telecast was also a ratings giant–each year the pageant was broadcasted to millions of people in Texas and the surrounding states. There was no shortage of contestants, either. In my year, 1983, a record number of 82 girls entered. That record is yet to be broken.

After I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 1984, I competed in the Miss America pageant the same year (the state title is one year behind the national title in name only even to this day). There were a couple of frsts: Vanessa Williams, Miss New York would be crowned the frst African American Miss America, and I would be the frst contestant to admit publicly that I had undergone plastic surgery. Vanessa and I were interviewed by every major TV morning news and entertainment shows. Ironically, I was considered the scandal of the pageant that week. We know who beat me out in the ultimate scandal that year.

STEEPED IN HISTORY

Charity Ball, San Antonio

A constant in the social history of Texas is San Antonio society. The Charity Ball Association of San Antonio, lnc. supports the children of Bexar County by distributing grants each year since 1954, now totaling more than $21 million.The Association's tenet is Children Beneft Always

The 1980s were particularly prosperous times for the organization and its annual Chrysanthemum Ball. Full tafetta gowns and elaborate hair, that was also scene in the rest of the state’s society circuit then, was in full force in that decade of decadence.

Starck Club, 1980s

The 70s and 80s Preppie scene

Phillipe Starck, 1980s

James and Frances Billups, Charity Ball, 1980s

Kittie West Ferguson, Charity Ball, 1980s Patsy Steves, Charity Ball, 1980s

Betty Cavender, Charity Ball, 1980s

Dana Rogers, Miss Texas 1983

Bachelor's Club Ball, Austin, 1978

Michael and Susan Dell, 1980s

Lowell Leberman and Former Texas First Lady Linda Gale White

Joan Collins and Charles Duggan

Starck Club team, 1980s

Grace Jones, The Starck Club, 1980s

Brooke Shields, Model, and Actress, New York

For me, the 70s was a rather extraordinary time. I was able to meet and work with people like... Debbie Harry. I was able to be in rooms with Warhol and those incredible photographers who were renowned in what they were doing. The artistic matrix around that was so free and unfettered. There was a purity to it, I think.

Plus, I was working with extraordinary directors and talent. I mean, to come out of the gate and your frst photographer is Scavulo, and your frst director is Louis Malle? Clearly, I thought then that it was always going to be like that. It was a really beautiful and creative time. Sure, it was also tumultuous and political, but I was so young, that part didn’t really afect me. (Excerpted from an interview, 2019)

MODEL BEHAVIOR

Jerry Hall, Model and Muse, Gonzales & New York

God that was a fabulous time. I was so young, hanging out with Andy Warhol. Neither of us drank so there we’d sit with our Perrier’s. Can you imagine? I adored it. It was so much fun, and I met every movie star there was...people such as Nureyev and Baryshnikov. I’d only read about them, and then I got the chance to know them.

(Excerpted from an interview in 2006)

DRESS TO IMPRESS Bob Mackie, Fashion Designer, Los Angeles

The 70s were really busy for me. I was doing both The Carol Burnett Show and dressing Cher. Sometimes dresses for them had to do double duty. Carol liked to accentuate her beautiful back and legs, so I’d make something backless for her. Then, later, to repurpose it for a Cher costume in a pinch, I’d turn it around and make the back of Carol’s dress into a low plunging neckline for Cher, and it usually worked fne.

Also, in the 80s, I could always tell a woman from Texas walking down Fifth Avenue. She always wore color amongst a sea of black.

RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME Bradley Bayou, Designer, Dallas & Los Angeles

What happened to me and my wife, Twinkle, at the time, could never happen today. All of us then thought, why is everyone coming here? Yes, Dallas was the #1 show in the world and the Dallas Cowboys were the #1 team in the country. In fact, Twinkle and I were even in a couple of Dallas episodes at the time as extras. Instead of looking to New York, Los Angeles, and London for style and energy, the world seemed to look to Dallas because there was a sort of mystique about the city then. Before that, they just associated Dallas with Kennedy.

I’ll never forget when we hosted three parties for Andy Warhol since we knew him from the New York scene. He was dying to come to Texas. He and JeanMichel Basquiat stayed with us when they each visited. Our parties were legendary–Catherine Oxenberg, who was on Dynasty at the time, came to stay with us, and we hosted a dinner party for Rock Hudson...two weeks before he announced he had AIDS. It was all like being in an episode of Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous which we actually appeared in, too.

But, really, it was all about Twinkle since she had the big blonde hair and a huge personality. People naturally gravitated to her. I just happened to be the guy standing there wearing a Zegna suit. It could never happen again–the innocence, timing, and over-the-top life that people lived vicariously through us like they saw people living on TV. Could you imagine if we had Instagram then–we weren’t ready for that. Life was more mysterious. We were in the right place at the right time.

OH, WHAT A NIGHT

Wendy Ward Payne, 1980s Debutante, Houston & Dallas

Party, party, party comes to mind when I think of the 80s. Of course, there were grand cultural events such as the opening of the Wortham Center in 1987, and thinking about events at Tootsies, as well as going to events at the Metropol, Michele’s, and Riches brings a smile to my face. At my deb party, at Rich’s in 1985, I wore a lovely Arnold Scassi dress. In fact, the dress happened to end up on the cover of a fashion magazine the following month. The party was called A Neon Night How 80s is that?

GIVING BACK PASSIONATELY Carolyn Farb, Philanthropist, Houston

The 80s was a life-changing decade for me, and I was on the front line of the call to duty. I was asked by the Challenger Space Shuttle widows and their families to create a living legacy in memory of the fallen heroes. We gathered at the Museum of Natural Science, where Jane Smith and June Scobee ofcially asked me to create the frst Challenger Learning Center out of the nation’s collective grief. There are now 50-plus Challenger Centers across the nation and they are a favorite of Queen Elizabeth in England.

The late folk humorist from Austin, John Henry Faulk, said that I needed to help people with AIDS. So, the Evening of Hope came to be, and it began a movement of compassion.

Marvin Hamlisch and I joined together to fulfll a promise to Dr. John Stehlin to raise a million dollars in a single evening for the Stehlin Foundation. This raised the bar for all fundraisers to follow and was the frst in the state of Texas that reached that goal. We invested our energy and passion enlisting superstars Ann-Margaret, Liza Minnelli, Crystal Gayle, and Allen King who donated their time and talent on behalf of cancer research.

Clint Eastwood and I did a beneft for the premiere of his movie, Sudden Impact, and his star power was so bright that we needed security to keep the guests at the after-party in check. I learned that Clint liked Mexican food and so that's what we prepared for the dinner in his honor. We left in a motorcade of white cars that took us to The Galleria, where there were once movie theaters. I was accidentally quoted as saying, “The dog stole the show.”

My beloved son, Jake, got his frst car as I watched him grow into a handsome young man. That was an interesting decade in my life with so many changes, and I feel I lived through the 80s with passion and heart.

Brooke Shields in Calvin Klein jeans ad, 1970s

Carol Burnett and Cher, 1970s

Jerry Hall, 1970s

Jerry Hall, Studio 54, 1970s

Wendy Ward Payne and Michael Smith, 1980s

Wendy Ward Payne and John Duncan, 1980s Wendy Ward Payne, 1980s

Bob Mackie, 1970s

Carolyn Farb

Photo by David Woo, Texas Women book,1984

Henry Kissinger and Carolyn Farb, 1980s

Baron Francois duhua Berenx and Carolyn Farb at Houston Ballet's Soiree on the Sewanee, 1980.

Dr. John Stehlin, Carolyn Farb, Ann-Margaret, Marvin Hamlisch, Liza Minnelli and Alan King, Houston, early 1980s

Brooke Shields, 1970s Valerian Rybar and Carolyn Farb, 1980s

Bradley Bayou, JeanMichel Basquiat and Twinkle Bayou, 1980s Bradley Bayou and Twinkle Bayou, 1980s

REAL LIFE, IMITATED

Dwight Adair, Television Director, Dallas TV series, Austin

My frst job in the movie business was serving as the dialect coach for John Travolta on Urban Cowboy. Dallas, at that time in 1979, was the number one show on the planet. I became the dialogue coach for the cast and guest actors in the series’ ffth season and became one of the principal rotating directors four years later.

To be one of the directors was the triumph of my career; that and directing another 80s icon, Dynasty. The inner relationships of the two casts could not have been more diferent. Everyone on Dallas understood what a fantastic ride they were on and were having a great time together, creating the frst night-time soap opera. Dynasty, however, was another matter altogether.

Larry Hagman’s character, JR, was the quintessential 70s and 80s conniving, hedonist manipulator. In real life, you could not fnd a more generous, supportive, or loyal friend than him. The series was a worldwide phenomenon, and everything would stop everywhere on Friday nights for the show. And, I must say, one of the most humorous depictions of the character of JR was the version on Italian television. Hilarious.

THE ULTRA EFFECT Ultra Magazine, 1980s

In the world of glossy magazines, Texas fnally got its own in the 1980s, and it became the must-read for the afuent set and those aspiring to climb the social heights. It represented oodles of jewels, sky-high hair, and yes, lots of furs.

Appropriately titled and similar in spirit to Town & Country and Tatler, the Houston-based Ultra presented the richness, literally, of the Lone Star State. From its very beginning, the magazine refected the upscale, grandiose, and intelligent personality of its reader.

The covers ranged from Patrick Swayze to Dennis Quaid to Jaclyn Smith, and other potentates of the era with Texas ties. Liz Smith, Liz Carpenter, and Rex Reed were just a few of the high-life chroniclers the publication enlisted to capture the essence of the globe-trotting Texan, from ballroom to night-club.

Gone, but not forgotten since it folded in the 90s, Ultra was the frst publication to showcase the glamour of this state’s residents, and it remains a robust historical reference where we can refect back to the way Texas was.

STUDIO 54’S MAGIC Neal Hamil, Model, Houston

Of course, there had never been anything like it before, or since, like Studio 54. It was a moment in time that I can’t imagine will ever be fully replicated. I was a 19 year-old tall Texan model, which opened the door to Studio 54, and many other hotspots. I truly had the most fun ever. What a time to be alive.

I was lucky the frst time I attempted to go, I exited my cab, looking over and past the throng of people hoping to gain entry. There was Steve Rubell, who pointed at me and signaled to me to come forward, and whooooosh I was standing inside. I went back for the next 120 nights and a million more over the years. I was never denied entry, and I met and made so many friends there because it truly seemed to be the center of the universe. Every night the place was crawling with the most glamorous people from all over the world, and I saw a lot of famous people doing a lot of naughty things.

My favorite moments were those when I was on the dance foor tripping the lights fantastic, and all of a sudden in the DJ booth would appear Michael Jackson, Diana Ross or Donna Summer... so many mega-stars.

One night Peaches & Herb were performing on the movable bridge over the dance foor–it was surreal. Betty Ford, Liza Minnelli and Liz Taylor hosted a party once that was beyond fun. This was pre-Betty Ford Center, of course.

Plus, the fashion was really experimental and outrageous. Glittery and glamorous. I’ve always felt lucky to have experienced Studio 54 in its prime and to have been allowed “all access”.

THE IT GIRLS

Farrah Fawcett and Gray Hawn, Corpus Christi, Austin & Los Angeles

I’d been friends with Farrah since junior high school and I knew intuitively that there was something really special about her... and we remained dear friends all of our lives. Hollywood pursued her because she was that All-American golden girl. After being pursued by talent scouts at The University of Texas in the 1960s, she decided to go Hollywood, fell in love and then, married Lee Majors. It didn’t take long until she was cast in Charlie’s Angels. While working on that series, the iconic poster and the role really made her career take of. She was a phenomenon. I think America was falling in love with her, and it was for more than just beauty. I can remember everybody cutting their hair to try to make it look like Farrah’s...and she was on the cover of every magazine.

She did the series as long as she could, until she was ready to leave, which was not easy to do. I remember her wanting to pursue more serious flm work. Later on, she was nominated for her television flms, like 1981’s Murder in Texas, and her work became more appreciated. In 1983, she did Extremities on Broadway. We went to New York to watch her perform, I was totally blown away by her performance. After the show, we had dinner with Farrah, Liza Minnelli and Robin Williams. After that, Farrah kept reinventing herself. She was very smart and always negotiated her contracts. She was an advocate for the equality of women in Hollywood long before any of the things we see today had come to light.

Throughout all her fame, she never forgot her friends. She would always call when she knew someone might be going through a hard time, to check on them and see she what she could do to help. I had so much respect for her. I remember so many times that I’d meet her in Houston, but the very last one stands out. I was with my daughter, Joy, who was sitting between me and her and she said to me, ‘Even today, it’s hard to be Farrah Fawcett.’ It was a couple of months later that she found out she had cancer, she had more courage and bravery than anybody I knew. She wanted to share this experience to give hope to other people; She was a fghter and she was fearless. In the end, it took her life, but her legacy lives on in her diverse work generations to come will enjoy.

Dallas cast, 1980s

Studio 54

Farrah Fawcett and Gray Hawn, 1980s

Neal Hamil, 1979

Farrah Fawcett, 1977

Patrick Duffy and Larry Hagman in Dallas, 1980s

Joan Severance

Jacklyn Smith

Sam Elliott and Farrah Fawcett in Murder In Texas, 1981

The Quaid Bros. Georgette

Patrick Swayze

INTERNATIONAL GLITZ

Evelyn Haney Anastos, Austin and New York

I loved being a model in the 80s...you would have thought I hit life’s lottery. I have been obsessed with fashion my entire life, so getting to work with creative people from around the world, who would style inspirational outfts on me in unique locations, was a dream come true. It was mind blowing to me that I got paid to travel, wear beautiful clothes, and have so much fun. I worked with so many photographers over the years like Chris Micaud, Gregg Stevens, and Ian Lowry.

Modeling in Texas, we were always doing the shoots during the opposite seasons of the clothes. So, it would be 100 degrees outside and I’m wearing a wool coat and acting cold or… wearing swimsuits in the Texas winter, while jumping into a production car with the heat blasting in between shots.

I traveled around Texas quite a bit and then other parts of the US in my teens, and then in my early 20s, I moved to Barcelona and then Paris to model. This was a time when it was extremely uncommon for semesters abroad so for me to get to live in and travel around Europe for months was a life changing experience and one that was very uncommon for other young Americans at the time.

Reviewing my 80’s modeling pictures, I thought my hair was going to look bigger, but in the professional shoots, they actually made my hair look normal. I remember teasing and spritzing my hair all the time. Once I went to a casting at Christian Dior in Paris, the frst week I moved there, and a guy came up to me and said, with his European accent, ‘Where in the United States are you from?” And, I proudly said, Texas. He then said, ‘It’s obvious because of your hair,’ turned his back on me and walked away.

I got to travel to so many interesting and beautiful places and met so many fun, fascinating, and cool people. I am still very close to many of the models I used to work with, and we have all stayed in touch over the years.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB Charles Ward, PR Wiz, Dallas & Houston

I represented public relations for the hottest club in Houston in the 70s and 80s, élan. It was unique because there were no private clubs like it 40 years ago.

In our initial teaser ads, we showed Clark Gable with the headline, Clark Gable Had élan, yet it had no address or phone number. You had to fnd us. In the beginning, we assembled 7,000 names of afuent Houstonians and sent them complimentary 90-day memberships. Then, we deleted every fourth name, knowing that they were all friends, and the deleted ones we knew who would immediately buy a $125/year membership. The exclusivity worked.

Our client, Lance McFaddin of McFaddin Ventures, allowed our agency to do outstanding creative, unlike most club operations. The club attracted all ages and was known for having beautiful people as members. Happy hours were packed to prime the pump for an evening of socializing and dancing.

There was room to roam because we Texans love our space. The club was multi-level, with 17,000 square feet of game tables, dancing, a cozy library, bars, and an elegant restaurant. Backgammon was becoming popular, so we had backgammon tables in the bar, and that was a great way to meet new people.

Halloween was always a crazy, packed theme night. We targeted high profle Houstonians to throw parties for their friends. We published a magazine for members showing élan activities around the country.

Many may recall that élan was a major location in the 1979 flm, Urban Cowboy...and my personal high rise was another location in it, too.

SUPERMODEL? SENSATIONAL. Jan Strimple, Model, Dallas

I tip my hat of to J.R. and Sue Ellen for piquing the fashion world’s curiosity of Texas. My savvy European agents played up the Dallas angle by marketing me as ‘the 6-foot redhead from Texas’ and, the world’s top fashion houses took the bait. I’d slip on my Sergio Valente jeans, or a new pair of stirrup pants and dash of to my show fttings. While I couldn’t muster a sugared Texas accent, I non-apologetically delivered the fantasy glamour the fashion biz expected, wearing peplum jackets with projectile shoulders, dramatic scarves, and earrings large enough to foat a family of four down the Nile. While sporting Madonna’s colored mascara or playing the Pac-Man between fights was not my thing, Flashdance-inspired layering was perfect for traveling. Donna Karan provide the biggest moments of the 80s good taste fashion which she split from Anne Klein and introduced gender power into the workplace.

Walking the fnest runways in the world in the 80s was a wild ride. Theatrical shows ruled with the backstage consisting of a mélange of the top walkers, drag queens, the press, and supermodels. I seldom saw Cindy Crawford without her laptop, Anna Bayle without her cigarettes, Iman without her diva attitude, and Diane Dewitt without her Texas-bred warmth. They were all beauties with their own distinct style. We were like thoroughbred racehorses being prepped for the races–except those tracks were the runways. We were traded by agents to make zillions for them and hundreds of thousands for us. We’d hop on planes to do the circuit, starting in Paris, followed by a long weekend of shows in London, then it was of to Milan for fttings and shows.

Occasionally, the shows in Barcelona could be slipped in before New York and the Spanish designers were thrilled to get us on their runways. They encouraged us to return by giving us clothes in appreciation, which was a lovely job perk. Then, we were back on American soil to walk for the New York designers. That was the twice a year schedule of the fashion rat pack––seven weeks of non-stop fashion insanity. I’d be at tents in London, on Avenue Marceau in Paris, on Corso Garibaldi in Milan, or in New York’s garment district for fttings and see the same people in the airports, the showrooms, and at the shows. By the time the core models landed back in New York, we had all reduced one full size and the New York designers had to reft our looks. Madness. Complete, fabulous, fashion madness.

PLAYED BY Todd Allen, Actor, Austin & Los Angeles

I became an actor while being a business major at UT. I was driving to our ranch in Johnson City to get my head together and think about what I wanted to do in life–I was supposed to be the one to take over my father’s insurance empire, but I knew that was not what I wanted. As I was driving, I saw movie trucks and lights at another ranch of the highway. I pulled over and walked in the gate. They, mistakenly, assumed I was the son of the property owner and immediately whisked me over the meet the director (an Oscar winner, which I did not know at the time) and the producer. After a couple of minutes, the director asked if I wanted to help rehearse the actors. So, I did. And then he asked if I’d like to be in the scene. So, I was.

After a scene where I thought I royally messed up, the director looked at me, reached into his wallet and pulled out a card. He said, ‘This is my private number in LA. When you get home, and you think about today…and you decide that this is what you are going to do for the rest of your life, and if you move to LA...call me. I’ll help you.’

I then decided to go to New York to attend acting school, and toward the end of my frst year there, I was invited to attend a screening of Walter Hill’s great 1981 flm, Southern Comfort As luck would have it, I sat next to Hill. I introduced myself and we had a good chat. He told me he was about to do a flm in Los Angeles called 48 Hours. A couple of weeks later, I got the call to come to LA, got an agent and got the role.

My ICM agent team kept trying to drag me into Brat Pack since I was young and the age of most of them. I was always invited to parties with Judd Nelson, Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, and the others, but I never wanted to be part of that group. I met Lawrence Kasden and was cast in Silverado which meant I couldn’t play Demi Moore’s husband in St. Elmo’s Fire, the ultimate Brat Pack 80s movie.

I did tons of flms, like Witchboard, which remains a cult hit, Swing Shift with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Mask that was directed by Peter Bogdonovich and starred Cher, Uncommon Valor where I played Gene Hackman’s son and tons of television. One of my favorite times was researching a role in an F-4 Phantom jet to play test pilot Chuck Yeager. There were so many fun times and rich experiences. It never occurred to me that I would not be successful. I just put my head down and went to work. s

Charles Ward, 1970s

Jan Strimple in Pierre Cardin, 1984

Jan Strimple, Geoffrey Beene, 1980s

Ed Harris, Fred Ward and Todd Allen in Swing Shift, 1984

Todd Allen, 1980s

Todd Allen preparing for a role as Chuck Yeager, 1980s

Jan Strimple, 1980s

Charles Ward, 1980s

Evelyn Haney Anastos 1980s

Evelyn Haney Anastos, 1980s

rising up

The Rise School Austin's Travel The Vine Event Raises Key Funds

By Rob Giardinelli |

THE SETTING: The Hotel Van Zandt in Austin was the recent setting for The Rise School’s annual Travel the Vine event. The evening featured over 300 of the city’s philanthropists and wine lovers for an evening of food, wine, and conversation.

THE STYLE: The Austin-chic crowd kicked of the night with a cocktail hour in the ballroom foyer of the Van Zandt where VIP’s sipped their favorite spirit, and many wines of choice, while searching through the impressive array of silent auction items up for bid.

The action then turned to the main ballroom for the evening's program. As guests dined on a scrumptious multi-course meal, they were treated to words by Chris Wilbratte, the board co-chair, and Hannah Bricker, the organization’s program director. The evening was capped of with the main event, the annual wine auction. Bidders had the opportunity to purchase one of thirteen luxury wine packages, which included a getaway to Telluride, Nestled in Napa, and The Best of Sonoma wine experiences and a seven-night getaway for eight in Siena, Tuscany.

THE PURPOSE: The event raised over $460,000 for The Rise School Austin. The mission of The Rise School is to provide an education of the highest quality for all children ages 12 months to fve years–gifted, traditional, and developmentally delayed in an inclusive environment to allow all children to reach their fullest potential. s

Rebecca and Jeff Langen

Sara and Michael Dodd

Hannah Bricker

Bill and Jamie Bayless Jennifer Beese Patrick and Brittaney Cook Scott and Rebecca McCormick & Chris and Stephanie Bomely

Ryan and Ana Jackson, Susan and Tom Devitt & Javier and Amanda Aguilera

Tracey Marshall, Emily Greer & Al and Amber Koehler

Dr. Randy House and Donna Stockton

Chris Wilbratte Chase and Megan Navarro

Photography by Tyler Schmitt and Nostalgia Photo Booth

game plan

Witte Museum’s 49th Annual Witte Game Dinner Breaks Records

By Leanne Raesener | Photography by Greg Harrison

THE SETTING: The 49th Annual Witte Game Dinner, presented by Naylor Ranch, and held at the Susan Naylor Center, Mays Family Center, and Zachry Family Acequia Garden, is the Witte’s largest fundraiser. The lively crowd of over 1100 guests included notable multi-generational Texans and those flled with overfowing Texan pride. All eagerly participated in one-of-a-kind silent and live auctions and took delight in a country music concert with none other than the Josh Abbott Band. The evening kicked of with the 2nd Annual Texas Heritage Awards, honoring Mary West and Richard Traylor, and Valero. The awards honor supporters of the museum who are outstanding stewards of San Antonio and Texas and have values and a personal brand that aligns with the mission and vision of the Witte Museum.

THE STYLE: This year’s theme, Branded by Time, celebrated the Witte’s extensive timeline narrative of Texas, from millions of years ago to today and honored those who have made an impact on the Witte’s past, present, and future.

Guests at the event also experienced a true Texas culinary experience provided by Rosemary’s Catering, which included Texas game stations with perfectly roasted and smoked meats, such as herb-roasted Veal and Lamb Racks to Texas BBQ beef ribs, all carved to order, a Texas Quail Showdown with chicken-fried quail and ancho-honey grilled quail, a Texas slider bar, a Hungers TexMex station with venison enchiladas, a Gordita station, a Texas Coastal Area with a seafood boil, blackened redfsh, and a Paella station, and last but not least, an array of specialty desserts served in the South Texas Heritage Center. Bolner’s Fiesta Products served as the culinary sponsor. cont'd...

Marise McDermott

Mark and Julie Rutland & Alison and Charlie Bagley

J.J. and Tracee Feik, Amy Garcia & Ryan Berg

Lindsay and Jackson Nahoun Jami Kowalski

Dick Roberts, Rick Cavender and Joey Tomlinson

Angel and Robert Myers

Michael Zucker and Trish DeBerry Maggie and Gabe Ortiz & Judi and Jesse Travis

WHY CHOOSE PRE-JUVENATION?

PRE-JUVENATION is a new concept of using self to rejuvenate self and to slow the aging process of facial tissues.

THE PURPOSE: The 49th Annual Witte Game Dinner ushered in an all-time fundraising record of over $1.2 million to support the museum’s operations, educational programs, and exhibitions. The event co-chairs, Kathy and Jef Bolner and Anna and Robert Sigman, selected the theme, Branded By Time, for this year’s event.

Everyone joined together to enjoy the most cherished traditions of Texas, while also raising over $190,000 in feld trip funding for students to visit the Witte Museum. All proceeds from the event raised essential funds that will also allow the museum to continue its mission to inspire people to shape the future of Texas through transformative and relevant experiences in nature, science, and culture. s

JUVENATION treatments are performed in our ofce with

blood to harvest specifc cells that will activate the rejuvenation cascade within the facial skin. The feld of biologic therapy stimulate your own body to heal an injury, enhance a surgical rapidly expanding feld within the fast-growing sector of rejuvenative medicine. Presently, an extensive body of research

feld of facial rejuvenation.

Lauren Gordon, Scott Courtney & Molly and Clint Truax

Laurie and JD McCoy, Lori and Rusty Young, Anna and Robert Sigman, DeeAnn and Mark Schofeld & Amy and Michael Mulholland

Kristan and Tom Northington, Anna Sigman & JD McCoy

Janette Fisher Surrett, Susan Naylor and Brandi Vitier

Heather Russo Aguacito and Colleen Ferguson

Susan Naylor, Rosemary Kowalski and Jami Kowalski

Rosemary's Catering

walk on the wild side

Dallas Zoo’s Gala Captures The Spirit Of The Wild

By Cynthia Smoot | Photography by Thomas Garza and Monika Normand

THE SETTING: This year’s Zoo To Do fundraiser, presented by The Eugene McDermott Foundation, was, without a doubt, the most Instagrammable party of the year. In addition to being greeted by Dawn and Steve Moore, this year’s event chairs, the 700 guests who entered the front gates of the Dallas Zoo were welcomed by animal ambassadors, including famingos, an anteater, and penguins as a reminder of why Zoo To Do is so important.

Honorary Chef Chair Dan Landsberg of Dragonfy at Hotel Zaza, along with Chef Wrangler Brett Kraft from the Hilton Lincoln Centre, joined guests at the award-winning Giants of the Savanna exhibit for a strolling dinner among the 30 restaurant stations representing the fnest restaurants in Dallas. How often can one say they had lions, elephants, African painted dogs, and cheetahs as dinner companions?

THE STYLE: At each station, the executive chefs served delicious gourmet treats of appetizers, entrée specialties, and desserts. Bars placed throughout the exhibit provided fne wines and craft cocktails, too. Following the dinner and live auction portion of the evening, the Zoo To Do 2 after-party crowd joined in the celebration at the Wilds of Africa Plaza, where everyone danced the night away to music from the Emerald City All-Stars, one of the city’s best live party cover bands. cont'd...

Chris and Robyn Chauvin

Jenna Owens and Franciso Rizo

Blair Raggio, Steve Moore & Dawn Moore and Brett Moore & Brooke Moore

Gregg Hudson Brittany and Michael Glendenning & Alex and Clayton Snodgrass

Steve and Dawn Moore

Susie Oszustowicz

Lydia and Matt Stubbs

Deirdre Robinson and Derya Deniz

THE PURPOSE: The Dallas Zoo, recently named one of the nation’s Top 10 Zoos by USA Today, is the largest zoological experience in Texas. Accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, the venue features a 106-acre park, thousands of animals, and an education department that ofers programs for all ages. This year’s event resulted in over one million dollars raised to help support the Dallas Zoo’s dedication to providing the best animal care, deliver unique education oferings, and strengthen its wildlife conservation eforts. s

Making Lives Better

Brooks Morrow & Deve Sanford Emerald City All-Stars Band Chuck and Lori Whitten

Sean and Tracy Greene Cynthia Smoot and Jane McGarry Don and Barbara Daseke Justin and Joanne McCord

Julie Ford & Rich and Tucker Entoven Jodi Falcone and Ed Belfour Emily Fancher and Doris Jacobs Hal and Diane Brierley

Corey McCombs, Matt Bohlke and Nick Blasco

Lisa DeMeyer

AUSTIN

February 1

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Project Transitions ProjectTransitions.org

February 1

Dell Children’s Ball Dell Children’s Medical Center SupportSeton.org

February 1

CASAblanca Gala CASA of Travis County CASAblancaGala.org

February 7

Unmasked Wonders & Worries WondersAndWorries.org

February 8

HRC Austin Gala Human Rights Campaign HRCAustin.org

February 8

Beyond the Glass Slipper Make A Wish Central and South Texas CSTX.Wish.org

February 8

Rodeo Austin Gala Rodeo Austin RodeoAustin.org

February 15

Serenata Wine & Dinner Auction Austin Opera AustinOpera.org

February 23

Feed The Peace Awards

The Nobelity Project Nobelity.org

DALLAS/FORT WORTH

January 11

2020 Bishops Gala

Catholic Charities of Dallas CCDallas.org

January 18

Jade Ball

Crow Museum of Asian Art CrowCollection.org

January 25

Toy Town: TBPP Turns 8!

The Birthday Party Project TheBirthdayPartyProject.org

January 25

The Great Adventure Hunt ChildCareGroup ChildCareGroup.org

February 6

St. Valentine’s Day Luncheon & Fashion Show

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Events.LLS.org/Pages/NTX/ VDay2020

February 7

Silver Supper Dallas Museum of Art DMA.org

February 7

UNICEF Gala UNICEF UNICEFDallas.org

February 8

Presentation Ball Dallas Symphony Orchestra League DallasSymphonyLeague.org

February 20 Soups On! Luncheon The Stewpot Alliance TheStewpot.org

February 21

Attitudes & Attire Luncheon & Fashion Show

Attitudes & Attire AttitudesAndAttire.org

February 22

2020 4word Gala: An Evening With Laura Bush

4word Women 4wordWomen.org

February 22

Genesis Young Leaders Masquerade Genesis Women’s Shelter GenesisShelter.org

February 24

10th Annual Symphony of Chefs Kidlinks

Kidlinks.org

February 28

Dallas Go Red For Women Luncheon American Heart Association AHADallas.EjoinMe.org

February 29

Focus On A Cause Aging Mind Foundation AgingMindFoundation.org

HOUSTON

January 20

Paint the Town Camp for All CampForAll.org

January 24

Rienzi Society Dinner Museum of Fine Arts, Houston MFAH.org

January 25

Crystal Winter Ball Crohns & Colitis Foundation CrohnsColitisFoundation.org

January 31

Wine Dinner and Collectors Auction Houston Symphony HoustonSymphony.org

February 15

Houston Heart Ball American Heart Association AHAHouston.EjoinMe.org

February 20

Picnic for the Park Memorial Park Conservancy MemorialParkConservancy.org

February 20

Making A Diference Luncheon El Centro de Corazon ElCentrochc.org

February 21

The Cornerstone Dinner Preservation Houston PreservationHouston.org

By Rob Giardinelli, Senior Social Editor

February 22

Ballet Ball Houston Ballet HoustonBallet.org

February 29

Bejeweled 2020: Going Places

The Center for Success and Independence TCSI.org

SAN ANTONIO

January 18

Let’s Rodeo Ball

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo SArodeo.com

January 21

Cowgirls Live Forever Luncheon

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo SARodeo.com

January 24

Dining with the Masters: Fashion Nirvana

The McNay Museum McNayArt.org

February 1

Khaki and Plaid Gala Archdiocese of San Antonio ArchSA.org

February 8

Valentine Luncheon, Style Show & Silent Auction

Friends of Hospice San Antonio FriendsOfHospiceSA.org

February 27

Menagerie of Marvels Mind Science Foundation MindScience.org

BRITISH ACCENT.