Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1488936
Conservatory The T he dashing Brian Bolke of Dallas/New York fashion fame quietly opened his swank emporium The Conservatory in River Oaks District last September. But it wasn't until late November that the retail visionary invited in friends and clients for caviar and potato chips, champagne, and, of course, shopping. And so it was on a perfect fall evening that a hundred Houstonians and a sprinkling of Dallasites perused the swank boutique where Bolke has assembled his signature luxury collection of emerging and hard-to-find fashion and lifestyle brands. Confirming that this would be the most stylish party of the season was the sexy clutch of co-hosts, which included Gillian Sarofim; Ceron, reminding us of the Tin Man, dressed shoulder to toe in silver Bottega Veneta); Meredith Flores Barker, on the arm of her devilishly handsome husband, Mason Barker; Marjorie Jacobe; Holly Moore; Melissa Ison; Monsour Taghdisi, who invited guests to late-night at his revamped Tanglewood home; and Becca Cason Thrash who was absolutely miserable to have missed the occasion due to an ankle injury. Rocking DJ RomiQ of Dallas amped up the turntable, and the lights went out — more than once. The intermittent darkness failed to dampen the high-energy night fueled with champagne by Lallier, Casa Dragones Tequila, and Kástra Elión Vodka. River Oaks District restaurant Toulouse, located just across the oak-shaded patio, provided the succulent bites. The Conservatory is something of a homecoming for Bolke, who occupied the airy, light-filled space when River Oaks District first opened. His store then was the famed Forty Five Ten. "I've always loved this location," Bolke told us. "It's funny that the only other store that's ever had this space was Avant Garden, which I founded in Dallas years ago then sold. I think this space has always had my name on it." For the party, Bolke dressed in a zebra-print jacket with pink lining by Tom Ford, "which I had made for me," he said. The pink lining? "That's how you know it's mine. Our holiday theme was pink and animal prints, so of course I had to wear it." PC Seen: Armando Palacios, Cathy Echols, Milton Townsend, Melissa Mithoff, Courtney Hopson, Carrie and Sverre Brandsberg-Dahl, Rick Nguyen, Marnie Greenwood, Ann and Eric Linden, Lily and Jonathan Schnitzer, JD Adams and Tony Gibson, Duyen and Marc Nguyen, Valerie Fuller, Gemma Joffroy de Valdés and Patricio Valdés, Fariba Taghi, and designer Amir Taghi (who created a capsule collection for the Houston store), as well as a contingency from Dallas including Bolke's partner, Faisal Halum; Brooke Hortenstine; and Suzanne Droese. IN RIVER OAKS DISTRICT WITH A HIGH-PROFILE BASH IT'S SOMETHING OF A HOUSTON HOMECOMING FOR DALLAS' BRIAN BOLKE. By Shelby Hodge. Photography Johnny Than. Patricio Valdés & Gemma Joffroy de Valdés Brooke Hortenstine, Ceron Carrie & Sverre Brandsberg-Dahl Armando Palacios Milton Townsend Brian Bolke & Faisal Halum Alan & Anooshea Taghdisi Marc & Duyen Nguyen 18