Fashion Houston is officially past its infancy and, like all toddlers, may be searching for its footing as it moves into the next stage of its growth. The team's recent announcement of a new partnership with Houston fashion heavy hitter Vivian Wise, may be their first step toward improvement. Wise is known to have an eye for style and heart for community, so she may be just what Fashion Houston needs.
"I can't carry a tune in a bucket, but I can wear it," said the El Paso native who credits her West Texas roots for her noteworthy fashion. "They're just now getting their Whole Foods, so you could imagine although it is a large city in Texas, it's still kind of behind," she says with a proud smile. "We didn't have the interference or the influence of the big department stores. Which is why I think my sense of style was solidified when I was younger because I was allowed to follow the beat of my own drummer."
And Wise's style, including her cotton candy pink hair and flair for infusing humor into her every day, is definitely something to see.
Now, don't go dismissing Wise based solely on her address or her dress, she has more than earned her fashion stripes as a business owner and philanthropists, in both Colorado and Texas. As the founder of the shoe boutique Velvet Slipper, Wise has been a part of the industry from store front to the front row for over a decade. Since the closing of her boutique, Wise created Velvet Slipper Divine, a mobile platform for artists to showcase their work throughout the community. With the help of her beautifully appointed Airstream trailer Babette, she has translated her expertise into an organization through which others can find their path and reach their potential.
As for Fashion Houston, this is no pet project. Wise has a real vision for what the event can be in the community and how it can garner a position on the global stage.
