Poolside With Bayou

Bradley Bayou looks like a true Californian. Casually dressed in jeans and sandals and sporting a healthy tan and a laid-back attitude, the Texas native hosted an intimate soireacute;e on Aug. 6 at the newly opened Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica, Calif. Guests mingled poolside and sipped complimentary margaritas while checking out the designer’s couture gowns, which were anything but casual.

Bayou’s a favorite with the celebrity set and it’s easy to see why. A sexy backless number in red silk chiffon is perfect for the young ingeacute;nue, while a strapless cream gown ribboned with black had a more classic look a la Audrey Hepburn. And an artfully draped gown in black-and-white polka-dot chiffon had a timeless elegance suitable for a screen siren of any age. —Joselle Yokogawa and Alison A. Nieder