Jonathan Blake at home
FASHION DESIGNER JONATHAN Blake didn’t have to dig too deep for inspiration for Lynn Wyatt’s dress for the Menil’s 35th anniversary gala in early December. The woman herself was inspiration enough.
“One look at the gown,” he says, swooning a bit, “and you know exactly who it’s made for.” It’s a red silk crepe number emphasizing good tailoring and timeless taste. And the cuffs of the sleeves and neckline are trimmed in ostrich feathers that themselves have a glitzy backstory. The Houston-based designer brags they’re from the same place — a South African vendor he won’t disclose — that famous designers have been calling on for 100 years. Why, it’s where Bob Mackie and Óscar de la Renta got plumage for the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland! Talk about fine-feathered friends.
“It may not sound like that big of a deal,” Blake acknowledges, “but to even purchase the feathers, I had to have five references.” He says the quality is much better than he could find elsewhere.
Such are the wiles of a young luxury womenswear designer who, after a long break, is very much back — and booked solid through the new year. He has a whole new business model, and he’s ready to make a big splash with lavish looks, for Wyatt and other grand dames, set to debut at year-end’s most anticipated gala.
Between Covid and challenges in his family — you may have heard the gossip — Blake had been off the radar almost entirely. “Originally, the plan was for the hiatus to be a year,” says the third-generation Houstonian, once a widely celebrated wunderkind, “but I traveled and pursued things that I had not been able to pursue.”
Among other off-the-grid interests, the shy, soft-spoken and still boyishly cute Blake turned to his pet snake for companionship. They’re incredibly misunderstood, he says of venomous reptiles, and he often feels misunderstood himself. “People don’t get me, and that’s okay.” His break gave him the opportunity to obtain the necessary permits and to educate himself on safe snake handling.
He was the opening designer for Runway Houston’s 10th anniversary show and unveiled his first collection in two years, Regal, in April. “It was inspired by powerful, independent women,” says Blake, now 31. Moving forward, the designer will focus on one collection per year, filled with what he describes as seasonless pieces. “What I call ‘seasonless’ are those you can wear for both fall and winter — all you have to do is request a change of fabric or color, and the option to have it made to your measurements.” Fans of the collection include Saudi royals and Paris Hilton, he says.
Crowds turned out in the spring to see Blake's first collection in two years.
A new piece by Jonathan Blake, who has reemerged after a two-year break
Lynn Wyatt, in a jacket Blake made for her a few years ago, has long been a fan of the young designer.
Blake's sketch of a gown from his latest collection
Celebrated "pink hair, don't care" fashionista Vivian Wise has long been Blake's friend and patron.
Blake's friend and client Elia Gabanelli, in his creation earlier this year
Blake had a crowning moment — in a stylized promotional portrait from earlier in his career.
Blake's pieces were highlighted at the 10th anniversary of Runway Houston, at Downtown's Post in the spring.
The designer named his newest line "Regal."
Crowds turned out in the spring to see Blake's first collection in two years.
A new piece by Jonathan Blake, who has reemerged after a two-year break
Lynn Wyatt, in a jacket Blake made for her a few years ago, has long been a fan of the young designer.
Blake's sketch of a gown from his latest collection
Celebrated "pink hair, don't care" fashionista Vivian Wise has long been Blake's friend and patron.
Blake's friend and client Elia Gabanelli, in his creation earlier this year
Blake had a crowning moment — in a stylized promotional portrait from earlier in his career.
Blake's pieces were highlighted at the 10th anniversary of Runway Houston, at Downtown's Post in the spring.
The designer named his newest line "Regal."
The label operates like a small-scale couture house solely focusing on made-to-measure. Blake has measurements on file and even mannequins made explicitly for his top clients — so if they see something in the collection that catches their eye, he can make it without them having to come in every time.
“Even though I can’t say Jonathan Blake is haute couture, because that’s a very special label that’s really only for Parisian designers, I operate very similarly,” Blake says.
Blake became a staple in Houston’s social/fashionista circles in 2012 when he, barely legal at the time, released his first collection at the Junior League. Ten years later, he’s sticking to what he knows, with the heavy, expert use of jewel tones. “They look good on almost anyone, and they are never going away.”
Blake is dressing Wyatt and several notables for the Menil gala Dec. 3, including Carolyn Farb, Elia Gabanelli and Vivian Wise. The pieces are a little bit rock ’n’ roll, with an infusion of celestial motifs, the combo yielding a bit of dreamy old Hollywood.
Farb will stun in a gown Blake originally envisioned in a liquid silver ottoman fabric from France, with the skirt in soft veil tulle. Farb and Blake opted for Italian lace for the top and Spanish tulle that is an ombré of deep sapphire blue to gold with platinum foils for the skirt. The gown has more 75 yards of the unique tulle, and the petticoat inside is all handmade, while the lace top has a complete corset with satin ribbons built in.
When Elia Gabanelli reached out to Blake, her inspiration was the late actress and muse of Cartier, Maria Felix. As a result, she will be wearing an embroidered Chantilly lace corset with a high-low genuine Alencon lace, both handmade, all lined in silk and cashmere. The lace for the corset was hand embroidered in Switzerland and took almost six months to make, with her corset taking well over 100 hours to construct.
For her part, Wise, whose gown is 100 percent handmade and also took months to complete, will be covered in Swarovski crystals reflecting shades of pink, lavender, blue, green, orange, red and yellow.
The designer himself will also attend the Menil ball, perhaps a kind of second coming out party. What has he come up with to wear? His jacket will be a deep, almost aubergine purple, trimmed in black handmade French lace. “I chose a smoking-jacket-inspired jacket instead of the typical tuxedo,” he says, “because the theme is ‘surrealiste,’ and what’s more surreal than a dream?”
Left to Right: Rich Evans, Vikki Evans, Leah Oliver Christman, Kat Pressly, Alyssa Silver
THE EVAN'S TEAM mantra is to always go the extra mile for our clients; there is nothing that is “not in our job description."
Our secret sauce is simple: We share a mutual respect and genuine fondness for one another. Most of us have known each other for years and enjoy the winning combination of trust, friendship and similar work ethics, which has resulted in our many successes. Our cohesiveness creates a positive environment that enables us to produce maximum results for our clients.
We have a wide range of experience, skills and age, which gives us a unique spectrum of perspective in any situation. We work together to provide the same extraordinary level of “Evans Team” service to all of our clients, regardless of which team member you work with. We collectively cover a lot of ground and can offer clients our Real Estate expertise throughout the city. Together we bring unparalleled value to our clients — a wealth of knowledge, experience, resources and support. There isn’t a question we can’t get an answer to or a situation we can’t handle.
WE KNOW HOUSTON. WE KNOW REAL ESTATE. OUR TEAM IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING AN EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE TO EVERY ONE OF OUR CLIENTS.
Manhattan Roll (photo by Julie Soefer)
THERE’S NO SHORTAGE of interesting fusion food in Houston — but a groundbreaking combo of French and Japanese cuisine along with stunning interior design should place this latest restaurant at the top of your to-do list.
Opening Friday, Dec. 16, at 4411 San Felipe — a new development on Westcreek Lane near River Oaks District — Ciel is the first offering from Houston entrepreneurs Ryan Henry, Adel Sadek and Fasl Ty, who recently joined forces to launch a hospitality group. The kitchen will be helmed by Joseph Geiskopf, who will use fresh and sustainable ingredients to craft dishes that utilize the best of Japanese and French food and techniques. Think sweet-chili oysters, and smoked beef tartare with crispy quinoa.
Inspired by the Côte d’Azur, the 8,000-square-foot restaurant-lounge is named after the French word for “sky” — so it’s fitting that from floor to ceiling, the blue-and-white design is heavenly. Italian porcelain floors and marble tables are countered by deep-blue velvet banquettes, and light fixtures artfully hang from above; in the main dining room, the first-ever 360-degree Barrisol mirror installation helps with acoustics and also serves as a conversation piece.
Meanwhile, in the lounge, a white-marble bar with custom seating will be the perfect place to post up and enjoy inventive cocktails like the La Passion, with infused vanilla vodka, mint, banana liqueur, passion fruit and a bit of bubbly. Fancy vino instead? A wine list with more than 150 selections will have what you need.
“CIEL is an alluring, elegant and festive space designed for an impeccable dining, gathering and entertaining experience in Houston,” said Sadek in a release. “We painstakingly selected every detail in the interior to create a space built for unstuffy fine dining with exceptional cuisine, stylish presentations and beautiful art not found anywhere else in the city that will feel like a portal to a glamorous, fun-filled European getaway.”
Beef Tartare (photo by Julie Soefer)
La Passion (photo by Julie Soefer)
Inside Ciel (photo by Shannon O'Hara)
Sweet Chili Oysters (photo by Julie Soefer)
Filet Mignon (photo by Julie Soefer)
Mademoiselle (photo by Julie Soefer)
Neera Patidar and Amanda Abiassi
VIVACIOUS INFLUENCER AND fashionista Theresa Roemer and her husband Lamar hosted the fabulous Fashion Woodlands bash and Make-A-Wish Foundation fundraiser at their home, complete with a runway installed over the pool in the tented backyard.
The “over the top fashion show” had a “magical winter wonderland theme” with Christmas trees, holiday lights, shimmering metallic orbs of various types, and even chandeliers strung over the catwalk, said a rep for the event’s organizers.
Participating designers included Jose Sanchez of Mexico, London’s Dahlia Razook, Houston native Cesar Galindo who bases in New York, and H-Town’s own Jonathan Blake, who has recently relaunched his career after a long hiatus.
The party was abuzz with flashy style, on and off stage — and one of the night’s most special moments came when a Make-A-Wish kid named Sidney got to strut the runway in a custom look made just for her by Blake. Modeling mogul Page Parkes was also on hand, donating modeling classes for Sidney, who’s angling to make her fashion debut in New York sometime soon! (The gal will have something sparkly to wear when she hits NYC, as the guest who won the $20,000 Mark Pharo earrings donated them to her.)
Many notables turned up for Fashion Woodlands, including Vicki Gunvalson of Real Housewives of Orange County, pink-haired society diva and all-star fashionista Vivian Wise, NFL pro Adrian Peterson, five-time Olympic speed-skating medalist Chad Hedrick, and Hector Villarreal of the famous Lucho men’s store.
Models on the runway
A runway model with Theresa Roemer and fashion designer Cesar Galindo
Vivian Wise and Thor Foster
Five-time Olympic medalist Chad Hedrick and wife Lynsey
Joe Balderas and Corey White
Ashley Peterson and football pro Adrian Peterson
Blake Barber, Mariah McKinstrey and Reed Barber
Brandon and Brandi Berryhill
Claudia Van Harn and Diane Kink
Anthony Zogheib and LaTricia Willbanks
Courtney Wilkerson, Christine Goodson, Ashley Cooper, Lauren Charbonneau and Amanda Lynn
Christopher Mitchell
Model on the runway
Jean Wilson, Michael Pearce and Lois de Armas
Kaitlin Sliger and Page Parkes
Vicki Gunvalson of 'Real Housewives of Orange County'
Iraida and Danny Brown
Model on the runway
RJ Ramos and Marc Harvey
Maple Brown
Héctor Villarreal
Yvette Adams
Kel and Thess Elliott
Model on the runway
Shanna Burks and Lisa Eickoff