River Oaks’ Grand Fashion Extravaganza is a Smashing Success: Fashion X Exceeds Expectations, Brings Cool Crowds to District

Three nights of fashion, four leading ladies and dozens of store parties — Fashion X Houston in River Oaks District was by all accounts a smashing success. Even if the River Oaks District folding fans were a necessity due to the unseasonably hot October nights, the crowds surged in, creating a vibrant energy in the center.

Each night began with in-store events then proceeded to stunning runway presentations and introduction of the 2018 Style Setters.

We made the Saturday night event that honored Alicia Smith, who selected SBP (a disaster recovery non-profit founded in Louisiana’s St. Bernard Parish) as recipient of the night’s charitable proceeds. In introducing Smith, Fashion X founder and director Matt Swinney noted that a criteria for selection as a Style Setter is authenticity, “a beautiful person with a beautiful soul.”

The fashions presented had many in the audience of several hundred pulling out their credit cards. Bentley & Lace, Abi Ferrin, Travis Cal, Capsule, Rana Noman, Erum Khan, Modish & Swank, Nava by Ayesha Qasim and Mysterious by NPN were Saturday night presenters.

Happy times for the Saturday night crew, by midway through the presentation, the temps dropped, a breeze kicked in and all were happy campers. Among those is Smith’s posse were Laurel D’Antoni, Warner Roberts, Joanna Marks, Hannah McNair and Franco Valobra. In fact, Smith was adorned with about half a million dollars in jewelry from Valobra Master Jewelers.

On the first night, said to have been the most rocking of the three, Vivian Wise and Lori Raijman were honored with evening proceeds going to Wise’s Texas Legacy Foundation and Raijman’s The Arts of Healing. Featured on the catwalk were fashions from the district’s luxury retailers including Akris, Etro and Cavalli.

Friday night, the Vintage Contessa, aka Donae Chramosta, held the spotlight, while local designers — Chloe Dao, David Peck and ModChic — hit the runway. Her designated charity was Crime Stoppers. Keeping the ladies lovely each of the three nights was Arched Beauty Architects by Edward Sanchez.