Holly Radom, Audrey White, Allie Fields and Julie Longoria Chen
This year marked the 15th anniversary of the occasion, which has had a measurable impact on Hermann Park and its six-million visitors each year. Event co-chairs Kristy Bradshaw, Kelley Lubanko and Leigh Smith greeted guests during the Champagne reception preceding the seated lunch on the verdant lawn. Bradshaw shared updates regarding the park's forthcoming McWilliams Dog Park and Commons projects — the latter of which will include a "40-foot rocket ship slide and whimsical carousel" — and Mayor Sylvester Turner also gave remarks, praising the Conservancy for its preservation and betterment of the community resource.
The afternoon honored Ann Short and Susie Criner, who chaired the very first Hats in the Park lunch in 2008. In total, the event raised upwards of $520,000 — a record! Hats off to that.
Valerie Dieterich and Roslyn Bazzelle Mitchell
Alex Blair, Brigitte Kalai and Aliza Fan Dutt
Stephanie Tsuru, Elizabeth Wagett, Katie Tsuru and Donae Chramosta
Alice Mao Brams and Yoon Smith
Sanford and Susie Criner
Bethany Buchanan, Hallie Vanderhider, Fady Armanious and Chita Craft
Rachel Solar, Brooke Bently-Gunst, Lindsey Brown and Maria Vilchez-Lowrey
Chelsea Pacey, Lori Speier, Anne Calder
Nicole Katz, Carolyn Tanner and Tracy Hale
Demetra Jones, Kenneth Allen and Doreen Stoller
Nicola Fuentes Toubia and DeVaun Barbir
Duyen Nguyen, Debbie Festari and Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl
Lynn Wyatt
Heather Waters, Kim Tutcher, Brenda Love and Jana Arnoldy
Lesia Crumpton-Young and Anne-Laure Stephens
Kelley Lubanko, Leigh Smith and Kristy Bradshaw
Anne Calder, Rae Solberg, Jayne Johnston and Heather Safi
Isabel David and Rishma Mohamed
Kate Bellin
Katie Forney and Linsay Radcliffe
The Houston store, which accepts walk-ins and appointments for one-on-one accessories guidance, debuts with an exclusive “Houston” headband design. Adorned with hand-sewn charms of boots, hats and the state of Texas, the piece will be available in store for a limited time and retails for $175.
The new location marks the brand’s fourth store opening within the last two years, and there are plenty more to come. Sadoughi says it is important to open stores where there is history and community. “Our HQ office is in New York, I spend most of my time in Dallas, and my family is in California,” she says. “Houston is a great addition to our fleet of stores, as it is a city I frequent and have grown a loyal community there.”
A Texas native, Sadoughi began her namesake brand after pioneering the jewelry division at J.Crew, developing and expanding the category for the brand. Fast forward to the present, Lele Sadoughi has built an accessories empire with collectible jewelry, colorful sunglasses, signature headbands, handbags, hats and more. Seen on celebrities including Kate Middleton, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Hudson, and Zendaya, Lele headbands have been rated the “most comfortable in the market.”
When it comes to store design, Sadoughi continues to forge ahead with a customer-first experience model that parallels her brand philosophy: open, bold and tactile, allowing customers to enter into a world where everyone is encouraged to play and experiment with a new look.
As backdrop and inspiration for the store’s color palette, Lele tapped into the Custom Lele Sadoughi x NuWallpaper that launched earlier this year. Taken from the brand’s most iconic lily earring, the print features a smattering of pastel-colored lilies across a cheerful pink backdrop, another signature statement brought to life for the consumer.
