Pelosi’s Notable Necklace Came From Houston

The speaker chose a recycled-glass piece by Mariquita Masterson

Nancy

Her sarcastic applause moment from last night's record-setting 82-minute-long State of the Union has been seen around the world, both in TV coverage of the annual event and also in endless social-media memes. Everyone noticed not only Nancy Pelosi’s feistiness but also her all-white getup, worn in solidarity with many of her fellow congresswomen. But Houstonians will also be particularly interested to know that the pop of color worn around her neck — that striking chunky necklace — was a one-of-a-kind piece designed by Houston’s own Mariquita Masterson.


Madame Speaker’s daughter purchased the necklace, made of recycled glass set in sterling silver and incorporating blue agate beads, for $650 at the designer’s River Oaks showroom (2505 River Oaks Blvd.) last year.

Masterson, who has been creating wearable art for three decades, often uses repurposed, upcycled and antique glass in her pieces, which are all individually crafted. Items similar to the one worn by Pelosi last night are available online and at her store.

Politics aside, we’ll definitely clap for that!

Style
Leadership in Action: John Kuykendall Traded Newcaster Dream for Success in Luxury Retail

John Kuykendall, Showroom Manager, Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove

How did you get to where you are today? Growing up I had envisioned myself as a news anchor, living in NY and enthusiastically saying into the camera “Good Morning America!”. To this day, I am still a news/political junkie. My mother owned fur salons so specialty retail, luxury retail was in my blood through the family business. Eventually, mom shuttered the stores and I was recruited to a large specialty retailer. Over the next 30 years, I was in commissioned sales on the sales floor, became a department manager, worked my way up to buyer and store manager. Although I never became a newscaster, I did live in NYC for a few years. But Texas is home and with aging grandparents, I felt the pull to come back to my roots. A headhunter approached me. I never envisioned myself in the high-end appliance market, but there are so many similarities. Clients want a memorable experience; whether shopping for diamonds and fur or remodeling their kitchen.

Keep Reading Show less

Ally Shell and Martijn van Koolwijk

BLAME IT ON the Moon! Mercury Chamber Orchestra’s 2025 gala at the Thompson hotel — themed “Moonlight Serenade and chaired by Ally Shell and Martijn Van Koolwijk — was a night of glamour and big band vibes, raising more than $350,000 for the company.

Keep Reading Show less
Art+Culture

Glenda and Russell Gordy and Alicia and Garrett Gordy (photo by Wilson Parish)

EVEN AS RODEO season winds down, the party people at the Stage Houston theater company were still donning boots and shouting yahoo — and taking in a record haul of $1.4 million!

Keep Reading Show less