5th Annual Women’s Home reNew and reDux Fashion Show 2014

I really love the idea of seeing local thrift shops host a fashion show, especially one as high caliber as the one The Women’s Home at The Cottage Shop put on recently. It was their fifth annual show and held in the Grand Foyer of the Wortham Center in downtown Houston. The event featured vendors, silent auction, light bites, the ever-popular Cottage Shop pop-up boutique and the fashion presentation.

Before the show, I checked out the pop-up boutique. It was filled with designer and vintage clothing and accessories. I also browsed the outfits that were on display (and available for purchase) from the closets of some of Houston’s notable style icons: Mandy Kao, Yasmine Haddad, Joanne King Herring, Phyllis Williams and Duyen Huynh. Seasons 52 Fresh Grill had a delectable sampling of treats and light appetizers that could satisfy any discerning palate. The folks at Kendra Scott were on hand, having a jewelry pull for guests. For $100, guests could pick a box, where inside the box was a piece of jewelry valued at $100-300. But the catch was that they couldn’t peek. Needless to say, I’m sure they weren’t disappointed, as the Kendra Scott brand is very popular. There was a section of vendors that showcased their services that evening, which were SoK Salon on Kirby, W by Worth and Q the Salon.

The fashion show was emceed by Fox26 news anchor- Rita Garcia and was distributed into eight ‘scenes.’

Scene One was “Berry Nice,” where they featured all black clothing, but with pops of orchid, fuchsia, berry and rouge. Designer labels included: Christian Dior, Valentino, Tory Burch and Kay Unger.

Scene Two was “Autumn Sonata” and highlighted Fall-like colors, textures and layering. Coats (both newer and vintage), tights and color/print mixing were key trends for this scene. I loved how knits and woolens were paired together to create a cozy yet chic outfit. Designer labels included: Peck & Peck, Clements Ribeiro, Jason Wu, Etro, Burberry and Marc Jacobs.

Scene Three was “Haute Stuff” and displayed show-stopping cocktail dresses paired with a swanky leather jacket or a statement accessory. Designer labels included: Roberto Cavalli, Donna Karan, Gucci, Missoni and Halston.

Scene Four was “Gray Expectations” and spotlighted neutrals such as black and gray, which were anything but “gray.” Solids mixed with metallics or sequins to create looks that were office friendly yet could take the wearer straight to happy hour. Designer labels included: Ralph Lauren, Valentino, Chaiken and Piazza Sempione.

Scene Five was “The Art of the Dress” and brought attention to dresses that were simple, yet had a small detail that just “made” the dress; such as the trim, a fabric manipulation or print. Designer labels included: Lela Rose, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta and Marchesa.

Scene Six was “Call of the Wild” and stressed looks that involved animal print. Leopard print took center stage as either the main garment or accessory. As not to be overdone, the looks were completed with a solid neutral print or color. This was also a good time for vintage furs to finally get noticed. Designer labels included: Fendi, Chloe, Valentino, Michael Kors, Sue Wong, BCBG and Versace.

Scene Seven was “Color of the Night” and emphasized formal statement-worthy gowns that were ready for the dance floor. Designer labels included: Chanel, See by Chloe, Nicole Miller, Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta and Monique Lhuillier.

Scene Eight was “Fade to Black” and underlined lovely black cocktail and evening wear. Most of these looks were paired with stunning feather pieces and pearls. Designer labels included: Jenny Han, Tocca, Sonia Rykiel, Valentino, Monique Lhuillier, Armani, Vera Wang and Tadashi.

After the show, guests waiting anxiously for the runway looks to become available at the pop-up boutique. During that time, it was literally a feeding frenzy as people grabbed the coveted items from the racks. I ended up scoring the Oscar de la Renta scarlet silk and sculptured dress, which I’m just itching to wear to the appropriate event. All proceeds from the event went to help The Women’s Home.