Black, white and chic all over
‘It Girls’ celebrate fifth anniversary hosted by Saks’ 51fifteen
Sorry, not sorry for the traffic jams outside Saks Fifth Avenue on Tuesday.
The luxury department store’s restaurant and bar space, 51fifteen Cuisine & Cocktails, hosted not one but two exclusive shindigs: a farewell lunch for outgoing general manager Bobby Dees and the Houston Chronicle’s first “It Girls” dinner.
Midday, an intimate group bid Dees adieu, though the bittersweet affair took a merry turn thanks to passed rosé, champagne and Old Fashioneds, the honored guest’s libation of choice.
Dees, a towering silverfox type with a warm demeanor, is retiring after a six-year run. During his tenure, he and wife Wezy Dees championed animalrescue initiatives and Saks’ signature glam aesthetic.
Later, as Dees’ admirers dug into their burrata salads, surf ’n’ turf entrees and panna cotta, Matthew Brown was introduced as his replacement. Brown, who previously worked under his predecessor as assistant manager, happily got reacquainted with Saks’ top customers.
By golden hour, a fresh crop of stylish young things trickled in for the second private event of the day.
Their destination? 51fifteen’s Tulipe Lounge, a moody and highly Instagrammable parlor flush with low banquettes and floral displays.
When owner Lucky Chopra, M.D., opened the restaurant in 2016, he tapped interior designer Nina Magon to commission special artwork for the swanky, dimly lit nook.
That’s where 20 of the Chronicle’s past and present “It Girls” celebrated the annual list’s fifth anniversary with a black-and-whitethemed bash. The motif carried through the entire evening, from attire to décor, specialty cocktails to dessert.
Attendees were treated to French 75s and Coffee Bean Dream martinis, bacon-wrapped shrimp, ahi tuna flat breads, charcuterie and cheese spreads to start. Over dinner, executive chef Luigi Shimaj’s delectable menu offered a choice of Caesar or wedge salad; filet mignon, Alaskan salmon or vegetable risotto; family-style truffle fries, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower; and white chocolate bread pudding or Godiva chocolate cake.
In keeping with “girls night out” tradition, partygoers kept things light and casual. The esteemed group of accomplished creatives, lawyers, financiers, nonprofit consultants and media personalities each introduced themselves and suggested which celebrity or actor might best portray them in a movie.
Endless selfies, group photos and toasts later, guests collected their blackand-white Saks swag bags and reluctantly headed toward the exit, long after the restaurant had technically closed its doors. Along the way, business cards and social-media handles were exchanged — as were nominations for next year’s class of 2020 “It Girls.”