The Webster greets Houston with South Beach swagger
The Webster’s much anticipated grand opening brought a bevy of emerging designers to the Galleria. With the few hours of fleeting sunshine, a wave of South Beach crashed into the Bayou City.
Simon Mall insiders have dubbed the space in the parking lot that the Webster occupies the “jewel box,” and fittingly so. The newly constructed building’s sleek exterior is as sparkly as the $745 Dolce & Gabbana phone cases inside.
Leading the charge of Wednesday’s pretty young things was The Webster’s CEO, founder and Parisian transplant Laure Heriard-Dubreuil; her husband, notable New York artist Aaron Young, also attended.
Why did the Miami staple choose Houston for its newest locale?
“I had requests from Houston women who came to Miami during Art Basel,” Heriard-Dubreil said. “It’s kind of like a new market. Clients here are a mix of both (the New York and Miami) customer. She’s looking for a curated selection and is very sophisticated and refined.”
As if on cue, Lynn Wyatt appeared in black satin with Art Deco accessories. “I’m so excited to meet you,” Heriard-Dubreil gushed. Afterward, Wyatt gave the boutique’s décor high marks for wallpaper and art installations that are “alike but not too alike.”
Diane Lokey Farb, in sequins, blended perfectly with one coral and rose corner of the shop. Phoebe Tudor and Carla Valencia donned glittering cocktail garb, matching paillette pants.
Editors, DJs and designer muses flooded into the room with a flash of bulbs and hashtags.
“W” magazine’s Rickie de Sole, style consultant Kate Foley, mix master and brand ambassador Harley Viera-Newton, and designers Monique Pean and Karla Martinez (jewelry and pajamas, respectively) formed a squad. Half of the crowd lingered behind to shop while a few moved on to destination No. 2, an exclusive “supper” at Susan and Fayez Sarofim’s abode in River Oaks.
The latter festivities were unmistakably Texan. Upon arrival, guests had a choice: margarita or Corona? City Kitchen played to the crowd — which included a Laura Arnold cameo — with empanadas, crab claws, jalapeño tostada bites and a fajita bar.
A mariachi band took requests and led a poolside conga line until Heriard-Durbeil gave the final toast, 100-yearold Louis XIII de Remy Martin.
“My family originally made the cognac we’re having tonight,” she shared before thanking hostess Allison Sarofim and Stuart Parr. “It’s the best of the best of the best, and I’m not biased at all.”
Guests left with swag, the Webster candles and an assortment of notebooks — no doubt for scribbling down a summer-shopping wish list. amber.elliott@chron.com