10 gowns and a $1 million announcement. Inside the Chronicle's annual Best Dressed photo shoot
As a pre-party to the Houston Chronicle Best Dressed Luncheon and Neiman Marcus Fashion Presentation, the 10 honorees gather for a formal gown photo shoot. Essentially, it’s a black-tie dress rehearsal before the annual event benefiting the March of Dimes.
This year Houston’s Best Dressed list celebrated its milestone 40th anniversary with the Sept. 20 event at the Post Oak Hotel, chaired by Hallie Vanderhider. After an in-person-event gap due to the pandemic, it was time to break tradition — and fundraising records. Shortly before Labor Day Weekend, an unexpected $100,000 gift from within the Chronicle Best Dressed family helped push fundraising efforts into seven figures.
At the local level, March of Dimes has three neonatal intensive care unit family support sites at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, which is a presenting sponsor for the Best Dressed luncheon; the Woman’s Hospital of Texas; and Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital. “The latter is coming soon and was really funded by Best Dressed donors,” Torres said.