Location: St. Regis Hotel

Haute couture designer Fe Zandi was recently in Houston, and Susanne Dawley Byram hosted a glamorous high tea and champagne event showcasing Zandi’s Fall 2016 line. The crowd of over 50 ladies were treated to a beautiful and extensive fashion show that included  embellished daytime suits, stunning evening gowns, feminine dresses and lots of color. Fe’s husband, Kamran, was on hand and told me that all of their clothing is made by hand by master embroiderers and tailors. Fe designs and all the sketches are done by Fe’s talented daughter,Yasi. “Fe is a perfectionist and will change something 10 times sometimes” he laughed. Susanne has known Fe for 25 years. Robert Sakowitz first brought Fe to Houston and Susanne did her show for the Costume Institute. Some of the ladies enjoying the fashions included Shelby Hodge, Sima Ladjevardian, Joan Schnitzer, Shahia Ansary, Guity Zolfaghari, Suzanne Ebrahimi, Rania Daniel and Diane Lokey Farb.

Fe Zandi began designing clothes as a child for her dolls. She says that her parents discovered her talent at an early age and encouraged her to develop it. She went on to graduate at the top of her class from Paris Academy of Fashion Design. Her first job, at the age of 19, was as a costume designer for the prestigious Sadler Wells Theater, then apprenticed for Balmain. At the age of 20, Zandi opened her first atelier in Paris with a formal showing to the rich and famous. She looks back and says “But I was 20, how did I get the nerve”? Well, we are glad you did Fe.