Just add salt and lime
T.G.I.F. gained new meaning when the Latin Women’s Initiative got a head start on Cinco de Mayo festivities downtown.
Supporters of the organization, which provides both monetary and volunteer support to nonprofits, gathered to toast 15 years of “Fashion for a Cause.” And toast they did. The annual fashion show and luncheon traditionally closes with a tequila salute around 1 p.m. Fortunately, the 650 attendees had an opportunity to raise a champagne flute even earlier, while they shopped the pop-up bazaar stationed on Hilton Americas-Houston’s fourth floor.
Then it was on to wine service during the threecourse meal that included a cauliflower and avocado salad, Vaca Frita with chimichurri sauce and fruit empanadas.
LWI president Michele Leal Farah joined cochairs Karina Barbieri and Daisy Mendoza onstage to introduce the soirée’s charitable recipients.
Homemade Hope, L.I.F.E. Houston, Shoes for Kids, Small Steps Nurturing Center, the University of Houston Center for Mexican-American Studies’ Academic Achiever Program and Undies for Everyone each were awarded a slice of the $250,000 proceeds.
Since its inception, the umbrella organization has distributed more than $2 million in support of women and children within the Latino community.
To match the occasion, Cooperativa fashion site presented Kris Goyri, Sandra Weil and Takasami’s latest runway collections before ecstatic onlookers. Colorful, festive and creative trends — off-the-shoulder blouses, ruffles and slits up-to-there, anyone? — were sashayed down the runway. A matador, flamenco dancer and several other characters closed the show with (what else?) a Titanium Tequila signature shot.
Some guests departed to finish out the work week; others lingered for some extended retailmarketplace therapy. All kicked off Cinco de Mayo with a lime and little salt. amber.elliott@chron.com