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The Buzz at Tootsies Billy Reid & Bendel's Bendel's Fashion Fever Katy McNeill Billy Reid Haili Pue at Billy Reid Claire Cormier Thielke at Tootsies BY SETH VAUGHAN AND CATHERINE D. ANSPON. PHOTOGRAPHY FULTON DAVENPORT, SETH VAUGHAN. "Why Don't You … … have a cocktail and meet Lisa Immordino Vreeland," blithely read the invitation to the book signing of Jim Reid at Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Lilly Tootsies Lazarus Travel. Hosted by Tootsies, it at Tootsies was the perfect convergence of literary and fashion worlds — but then again, what isn't perfect about anything invoking the name Vreeland. Guests snapped up the book, which chronicles Vreeland's career as an editrix and shines new light on her genius. Written by her granddaughterin-law, Lisa Vreeland, it's a visually Marisa stunning ode to the oracle of originality. Ollins FYI: The book's publishing this year at Bendel's concurs with Venice's Palazzo Fortuny's exhibition, "Diana Vreeland After Diana Vreeland," and a feature-length documentary set to premiere this September in London. Among those first in line: Tootsies' own, Mickey Rosmarin; Mayor Parker's arts aide-de-camp Minnette Boesel; bright young thing Ann Claire Cormier Thielke; Michelle Wilde Aviña Found's Ruth Davis; John at at Bendel's Tootsies Bebout, in summer whites; Adrienne Lilly Lazarus; Tootsies' pasha Wilde of panache Fady Armanious; at Bendel's Antiques of River Oaks' Josie and Fred Neville; decorator Bill Stubbs; new Tootsies addition Ashley Jackson; John Evatz; and Gabriela Gerhart. Seth Vaughan Krystle Simmons at Bendel's Imani Talib at Bendel's Stacy Hailey Weber Langley at at Billy Reid Billy Reid Maisha Amusa at Bendel's Jessica Dennis at Bendel's Ashley McDonald at Tootsies John Bebout at Tootsies Margaret Michiels at Tootsies Bethany Buchanan at Tootsies Lisa Vreeland, Mickey Rosmarin at Tootsies Fady Armanious at Tootsies Kendra Smith at Bendel's Sylvia Forsythe at Tootsies Sean Sandoval at Bendel's Valerie Anderson, Elvia Francis at Tootsies Lisa Stryjewski at Bendel's Roz Pactor, Bill Stubbs at Tootsies Alabama imported candy at Billy Reid Charlie Chanaratsopon with Taylor at Bendel's Never before have I have seen more women, more excited — but I have to admit they had just cause, as Henri Bendel's storefront in Galleria II was an absolute vision during its grand opening. With the retailer's Curtis Bickers trademark tones of chocolate brown and at Monica crisp white covering every surface of the Billy Reid Bickers well-appointed boutique, plus a decadent at Billy Reid array of artfully arranged accessories, it was the equivalent of a souk for today's fashionable fille. Taking it all in: Chris Fiore, president of the New York shopping institution, along with Tess Hall, Houston store manager; Bendel's brass Marisa Ollins and Jessica Dennis, who at Billy welcomed Charlie Chanaratsopon Reid of Charming Charlie fame and daughter Taylor; Jennifer Bak; Jodi Bethany Hatton Brilliant Lecture's Scott Camp at at Brogan; Lynn Huan; Tootsies Tootsies Karina Barbieri; Tien Do; Ann Wilde and daughter Adrienne; Glory Chi; and Donna Peters. Seth Vaughan Hayes Carll at Billy Reid Neda Zafaranian with Yasmin & Lilli at Tootsies Rachel Tyler, Shelley Ludwick at Tootsies Donna Peters Ashton Kaminski at Bendel's Tess Hall, Chris Fiore at Bendel's Ryan Cotter, Rine Diaz Thomas Gribble at Billy Reid Karina Barbieri at Bendel's Tien Do, Glory Chi at Bendel's Crystin Pactor Tessa Del Grande at Tootsies Hog Wild at Billy Reid How often does a 175-pound pig, albeit on a spit, make a PA at a grand opening party? Well, if the retailer is all about the authentic and the American, it's a natural fit. So it was when CFDA 2012 winner Billy Reid came to town to inaugurate his glorious new down-home store, tucked into a stylish RO bungalow with a patina Chris Ellermann Barbara Seymour Robynne Trifiletti at Billy Reid Saundra Wiley at Bendel's of beautiful wood, heirloom touches and his brand's signature men's and women's ready-to-wear, which reflect its southern roots. The night won our vote for one of the most charming openings ever because of its clever, memorable details — bourbon slushes, the aforementioned South Texas pig roasted by Revival Market and Goode Co., and tunes crooned by Hayes Carll and the Wrinkle Neck Mules, who had us humming Sweet Home Alabama. Reveling in the reveal: Reid partners Katy and K.P. McNeill and Jake Szczepanski, Houston store director Alex Sandlin, and the Dallas contingent, store director Dave Gates and Philip Harrison; plus ardent shoppers including artist Hana Shoup with husband Randy, Levi Goode, James Bell, Meredith Crockett with Gibson Hall, Diandra Anwar ogling the platform shoes, Thomas Gribble, Ryan Cotter, Michelle Kay, Levi Johnson, Haili Pue, and Mickey Rosmarin, who dropped by to welcome Reid to the 'hood. Alex Sandlin Meredith Crockett Nik Joe, Bryant Black Catherine D. Anspon at Billy Reid Gibson Hall at Billy Reid at Billy Reid K.P. McNeill at Billy Reid Diandra Anwar at Billy Reid Levi Goode, Kristin McKean, James Bell at Billy Reid