Photos by Samantha Jane Beatty
Styling by Kate Stukenberg
Grooming by Tonya Riner for Page Parkes Agency
Models Madison Johnston for Wallflower Management and Jake Atterberry for Page Parkes Agency
Photo assistance by John Lewis
Styling assistance by Molly Jodeit
Men’s styling consulting by Cody Sever
and Whitney Wiggins for M Penner
Shot on location at Hotel Alessandra in Downtown
Danielle and Derek Gillespie with Claire
The ballroom was decked out with glittery, glamorous floral arrangements and swaths of shiny fabric, in addition to several IG-worthy photo backdrops. Violinist Radu John warmed up the crowd with electrifying tunes played on a light-up violin, and JD Entertainment characters — like a Champagne-toting cat — roamed the room.
The main event was, as always, a fur-tastic fashion show, emceed by animal-loving television personality Frank Billingsley. Gala honorees strutted their stuff alongside their pets, and supporters Jody Merritt and Steve Spencer’s cat, Yuli, was named the Celebrity Pet of the Year. Other honorees included JD Adamson with Dolly; Deborah and Ernesto Bautista with Asher and Penelope; Rose Chen and David Webster with Muffin; Cortney Cole-Hall with Leo and Elia; Michael Gabbanelli with Daisy; Danielle and Derek Gillespie with Claire; Casey and Ryan Mitchell with Gabby Win; and Sonia Soto and Jeff Hoffman with Layla.
West Houston Subaru raffled off a 2023 Crosstek, which revved up the evening’s proceeds. The till currently stands at $725,000, with more donations rolling in.
Sterling Woerner and Kathryn Bonesteel
Yaritza and Alexander Scott
Austin and Marian Cornelius
Steve Spencer and Jody Merritt with Yuli
Bill Baldwin, Hallie Vanderhider and Fady Armanious
Cassidy Harriman and Dinah Linn
Shelby Kibodeaux and Bruce Padilla
JD Entertainment
Cindy Peoples and Mary Kenner
Rosemary McDonald and Jacqueline Swilling
Courtney Cole-Hall with Leo
Daryl and Amy Dichoso
Richard Ray, Tamara Bonar and Anthony Dowd
Michael and Ivanne Corsi
Deborah and Ernesto Bautista with Asher
Mica Piro and Anna Kaplan
Melanie Cizik, Alex Gonzalez and Reilly Cizik
Edna Meyer-Nelson and Julie Brookshire
Frank Billingsley and Kevin Gillard
Tony and Frances Buzbee
Gown, by Christian Dior; French-cut diamond earrings, $498,950, and emerald-cut diamond necklace, $172,025, both at Deutsch Fine Jewelry.
Gown, by Naeem Khan; ruby and diamond suite, $549,000, diamond and ruby bracelet, $198,000, wide diamond bracelet, $179,800, and rubellite tourmaline ring, $18,900, all at Tenenbaum.
Dress and wrap, by Michael Kors; Hot Crystal handbag, $265, by Creations by Niki Lassiter; tourmaline and pink-sapphire earrings, $7,690, by Barry Kronen, oval sapphire necklace, $11,385, and multi-row diamond ring, $18,475, both by IWM Signature Collection, all at IW Marks.
Dress and gloves, both by Versace; leopard cuff, $32,800, and lion cuff, $30,400, both by David Webb, doorknocker earrings, $48,900, by Sabbadini, and Navette ring, $22,500, all at Tenenbaum.
Gown, by Naeem Khan; emerald and diamond drop earrings, $849,000, and emerald and yellow diamond necklace, $790,000, diamond and emerald bracelets, $34,500 and $31,500, and cocktail ring, $7,000, all at Valobra Master Jewelers.
Blazer, by Michael Kors; diamond heart necklace, $4,500, mixed-metal bar necklace, $3,938, and mother of pearl butterfly necklace, $1,700, all at Bella Madre.
Sequin jacket and pants, and earrings, all by Chanel; Spirit of Big Bang King Gold with pink ceramic and diamonds, by Hublot.
Sweater and leather dress, by Versace; Disco earrings, $32,000, by Fernando Jorge, Patchwork necklace, $7,800, Geode cuff, $16,000, Chubby ring, $16,800, and Sparkle ring, $14,900, by Emily P. Wheeler, all at Elizabeth Anthony.
Sequin top, $4,290, and pants, $2,990, by Oscar de la Renta, and shoes, $825, by Saint Laurent, all at Saks Fifth Avenue; diamond and emerald choker, $42,768, diamond and tsavorite garnet ring, $11,858, mother and child ring, $8,712, diamond starburst bracelet, $14,685, flower bracelet, $10,846, cuff, $5,478, and emerald lattice bracelet, $55,000, all by Arman Sarkisyan at Lesley Ann Jewels.
Dress, by Naeem Khan, shoes, $845, by Christian Louboutin at Saks Fifth Avenue; sapphire earrings, $8,100, sapphire bracelet, $8,125, diamond tennis bracelet, $17,250, diamond ring with a center emerald, $10,965, and sapphire statement ring, $12,220, all at Zadok Jewelers.
Jacket dress, by Gucci; freshwater pearl pendant with white diamonds, $5,830, on handmade gold chain, $4,270, and pearl ring with white diamonds, $6,920, all by Lika Behar at Cotton Club.
Styling by Todd Ramos
Art Direction by Patrick Magee
Hair and Makeup by Edward Sanchez
Model Charlotte Stevens for Page Parkes
Shot on Location at the Memorial home of Michael and Lisa Holthouse
