We simply love the way that Fady Armanious steps full-on into the fashion oeuvre that he so colorfully represents as creative director for Tootsies. Consider the recent Oscar de la Renta trunk show, invitation-only darlings, held in a swank salon on one of the upper floors of The Post Oak Hotel. The daring dresser stepped out in a fiery orange, embellished ODL sweater over bright green slacks and for an Instagram moment sashayed down the hotel hallway in a matching coat with billowing train flowing behind.
It was a special fashion occasion for which Armanious costumed. In lieu of the typical in-store trunk show, Tootsies elevated the shopping experience for some of its most valued customers by presenting the Oscar de la Renta Spring 2022 collection amid the contemporary glamour of The Post Oak.
Champagne flowed and hors d’oeuvres were passed, though nary any of the size 4s in this clutch would touch the light bites. I mean just looking at the sample sizes on display was enough to send even the slimmest swans into near anorexia. For us larger ladies, the hell with it. Bring on the champagne. We will be just as glamorous in our 12s and 14s as any of the social x-rays.
And so the stylish ladies of all breadths oohed and aahed over the frothy feminine fashions for day and the dramatic gowns for the black-tie season. And they placed orders. Much to the pleasure of Tootsies senior buyer Penne Weidig, Donna Lewis, wife of Tootsies owner Norman Lewis, both of whom welcomed the femmes, and, of course, Armanious.
ODL designers Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia fielded a fetching collection for Spring 2022 that included a clever medley of painterly prints — the kitchen table, strawberries and magnolia blossoms splashed across skirts, slacks and shirts. We noted that the ladies were keen on the collection of pink and baby blue fashions as well as the white eyelet pieces. And then there were ODL’s signature red carpet gowns, models swirling through the hotel lobby for photos and then to the salon for up-close-and-personal inspection.
PC Seen: Melissa Juneau, Kristy Bradshaw, Joanna Marks, Ann Ayre, Hallie Vanderhider, Linda Eyles, Kelli Weinzierl, Roslyn Bazzelle-Mitchell, Julie Chen, Susan Sarofim, Jan Byth, Hallie Byth, Melissa Sugulas, Iris Shaftel, Jennifer Allison, and Amanda Boffone.