MARKET, TO MARKET

FOR NUTCRACKER ENTHUSIASTS AND HOLIDAY RETAILERS, IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

It’s hard to tell who’s more excited for the 2017 Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market. On the one hand, Cheri Fama, Caroline Fant, Regina Garcia and Jane Jones — self-dubbed the “fab four” — are set to chair the 37th annual “Rockin’ and Shoppin’ ” Wells Fargo Preview Party, which, in case you’re wondering, is no ordinary spending spree. On Wednesday, an anticipated 4,000 ticket-holders will shop ’til they drop at NRG Center, early-bird style. And though another 100,000 are forecasted to trickle through by week’s end, Wednesday is straight-up VIP. The $250 entry fee includes cocktails, a dinner buffet and live entertainment, in addition to first dibs at some 280 merchant booths showcasing some of the more unique home décor, gourmet foods, toys, accessories and apparel gifts in town. One such vendor is Trés Chic, a trendy mother/daughter-run boutique in Upper Kirby. Co-owners Susan Hancock and Elizabeth Hancock Berg, both market first-timers, are counting down the days until showtime. Understandably so. An entire back room of their store is dedicated to seasonal staples — sparkle, faux fur and Rudolph red — picked to pop inside the five-day retail wonderland. They offered some advice on what to wear to the event. “I love what she’s wearing,” Garcia said of Fama’s black-and-gold ensemble. “That’s the perfect look for Preview Party — just add cowboy boots.” Even in Houston, #winteriscoming.

NUTCRACKER MARKET PREVIEW PARTY CO-CHAIRS REGINA GARCIA AND CHERI FAMA MODEL FESTIVE HOLIDAY LOOKS FROM TRÉS CHIC