One of the most coveted party invitations, not just in Houston but also internationally, is from Becca Cason Thrash. You know you’ve arrived when the socialite and fund-raiser for the arts—she’s a board member for the Houston Grand Opera, the Contemporary Arts Museum, and American Friends of the Louvre—asks you to swing by to hobnob with celebrities and check out her gallery-worthy art collection. When she’s not busy entertaining, Thrash finds quiet time at her desk in the library of the 20,000-square-foot manse she shares with her husband, eCorp chairman and CEO John Thrash. Surrounded by paintings, this peaceful spot is where she writes countless letters and thank-you notes to artists, royalty, politicians, and philanthropists.
Learn more about Becca Cason Thrash’s favorite philanthropic causes: American Friends of the Louvre (aflouvre.org), Houston Grand Opera (houstongrandopera.org), and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston (camh.org).
• I only do white orchids. They are very East-meets-West. I have at least 75 throughout the house.
Buy almost any variation of orchid on orchids.com. A robust search engine lets users explore by type, color, light requirements, and bloom season.
• I always have a cache of invitations: a fundraiser for Madonna’s pet charity, dinner in Dubai, a party for Elton John’s AIDS foundation.
• We had a party for Barack Obama last year. We raised $1.6 million, the largest sum ever raised in one night in Texas for a political figure.
• I have a fetish for Nancy Gonzalez box handbags. They are sort of my signature.
Nancy Gonzalez’s super-luxe crocodile handbags, clutches, and satchels are symbols of understated chic. They come in every color under the sun and can be purchased at neimanmarcus.com and bergdorfgoodman.com. To see more of her collection, visit nancygonzalez.com.
• I was reluctant to get a BlackBerry, but now I love it. I learned how to use it when I was staying at the Lake Como home of the late Gianni Versace.
• My personalized Cartier stationery. I write a lot of thank-you notes.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Cartier in North America. Go to cartier.com and learn about the French company’s history, its celebrated jewelry and watch collections, and its boutique locations.
• I have a collection of Cartier watches, along with some faux jewelry that I store in Cartier boxes. The real stuff is in a vault at the bank.
• When I was young, my grandmother in Harlingen wore Arpège by Lanvin. I’ve been wearing it since I was seventeen.
Arpége by Lanvin can be found along with countless other perfumes on fragrancenet.com. The site gives in-depth information about each item, including strength ratings, fragrance notes, and scent life.
• My father played for the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers. This is my mom and me sending him off to a game.
