https://www.chron.com/life/society/article/The-Webster-opens-with-glossy-two-part-party-7287532.php

The Webster opens with glossy two-part party International guests fete the Galleria and River Oaks for new boutique

Laure Heriard Dubreuil and Lynn Wyatt at the grand opening party at The Webster Wednesday April 20,2016(Dave Rossman Photo) Laure Heriard Dubreuil and Lynn Wyatt at the grand opening party at The Webster Wednesday April 20,2016(Dave Rossman Photo) Photo: Dave Rossman, For The Chronicle Photo: Dave Rossman, For The Chronicle Image 1 of / 26 Caption Close The Webster opens with glossy two-part party 1 / 26 Back to Gallery The Webster's highly anticipated grand opening brought more than a bevy of emerging designers to Houston's reimagined Galleria area. With the few hours of fleeting sunshine, a wave of Francophiles, Manhattan "it" girls, and bit of South Beach crashed into the Bayou City for one-night only. Simon mall insiders have allegedly dubbed the former parking lot space the "jewel box," and fittingly so. The newly constructed building's sleek exterior is as sparkly as the $745 Dolce & Gabbana phone cases inside. Leading the charge of Wednesday's pretty young things was The Webster's CEO, founder, and Parisian transplant, Laure Heriard-Dubreuil; her husband – notable New York artiste, Aaron Young – was never far behind. "I had requests from Houston women who came to Miami during Art Basel," Heriard-Dubreil said of the Texas store's origins. "It's kind of like a new market. Clients here are a mix of both (the New York and Miami) customer. She's looking for a curated selection and is very sophisticated and refined." Video: Webster on Snapchat " class="ndn_embed hst-ndn-player" data-config-widget-id="2" data-config-type="VideoPlayer/Single" data-config-tracking-group="90000" data-config-video-id=" " data-config-site-section="houstonchron"> " class="ndn_embed hst-ndn-player" data-config-widget-id="2" data-config-type="VideoPlayer/Single" data-config-tracking-group="90000" data-config-video-id="" data-config-site-section="houstonchron">

As if on cue, Lynn Wyatt appeared in a cloud of black satin and Art Deco accessories. "I'm so excited to meet you," Heriard-Dubreil gushed. Afterwards, Wyatt gave the boutique's décor high marks for wallpaper and art installations that are "alike, but not too alike."

Diane Lokey Farb received the muted tones and sequins memo and dressed accordingly, almost perfect blending in with one coral and rose corner. Phoebe Tudor and Carla Valencia also donned glittering cocktail garb in matching paillette pants; none, however, shone brighter than the multi-hyphenate editors, DJs, and designer muses who flooded into the room with a flash of bulbs and hashtags.

"W" magazine's Rickie de Sole, style consultant Kate Foley, mix master and brand ambassador Harley Viera-Newton, and designers Monique Pean and Karla Martinez (jewelry and pajamas, respectively) did their squad thing while the party effectively split. Half of the crowd lingered behind to shop while a privy few moved on to destination number two, an exclusive "supper" at Susan and Fayez Sarofim's entertaining residence in River Oaks.

The latter festivities were unmistakably Texan. Upon arrival, guests chose between a duo of regional staples: margarita or Corona. City Kitchen played to the crowd – which included a Laura Arnold cameo - with passed empanadas, crab claws, jalapeno tostada bites, and a fajita bar.

A mariachi band took requests and led a poolside conga line until Heriard-Durbeil gave the final toast, 100-year old LOUIS XIII de Remy Martin.

"My family originally made the cognac we're having tonight," she shared before thanking legendary hostess Allison Sarofim and Stuart Parr. "It's the best of the best of the best and I'm not biased at all."

Attendees departed with The Webster candles and an assortment of notebooks, no doubt for scribbling down a summer shopping wish list.