The Symphony Fashion Show returns for its 21st year, with Marci Houff and Laura Kimbrell serving as co-chairs. Featuring designs by one of the most coveted fashion houses, Oscar de la Renta, and a performance by country superstar Lainey Wilson, the night promises to inspire and empower. According to the co-chairs, “an evening that blends a great cause, high fashion, and world-class music seems a f itting tribute to Nashville’s long-established reputation for philanthropy and commitment to art, in all its forms.” Ahead of the event, we spoke with Houff and Kimbrell to learn more.
Nashville Lifestyles: What does it mean to you personally to help carry the Symphony Fashion Show’s legacy forward?
MH & LK: We were honored to be asked to co-chair this important event. It is easy to find motivation in the success of years past and to work hard to deliver an evening of similar caliber. This is the 21st annual Symphony Fashion Show, so we are fortunate to have a long list of incredible women to learn from along the way.
NL: How do you see fashion and music coming together in a uniquely Nashville way at this event?
MH & LK: One of the world’s most prolific fashion houses and one of country music’s hottest artists coming together in the Schermerhorn Symphony Center — what could be more Nashville than that? With the clout, admiration, and beauty of Oscar de la Renta, and the talent and energy of Lainey Wilson, the evening will be unique and exciting.
NL: At its heart, the Symphony Fashion Show supports the Symphony’s education programs. Why is that mission especially meaningful to you?
MH & LK: We are both music lovers and huge fans of the Nashville Symphony. It’s especially meaningful to chair the Symphony Fashion Show because it raises funds to support the Nashville Symphony’s Accelerando program, an intensive initiative for promising young musicians that equips them for college and beyond. Research shows childhood music education programs offer comprehensive benefits, including enhanced cognitive development, improved academic performance, strengthened memory, and better emotional regulation. We live in Music City, and it’s important that we offer these programs to our community and nurture the young talent among us.
NL: How do your strengths complement one another when it comes to leading an event of this scale?
MH & LK: First and foremost, we have a lot of fun together! Once we started working together, we were thrilled to discover how much our skill sets complement each other, and that we have very similar tastes. We pretty much agree on everything and are united in our goal of making the evening memorable, special, and, most importantly, a successful fundraiser for the Nashville Symphony.
NL: What can guests expect the moment they arrive at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center on April 28?
MH & LK: Guests can expect a bright, colorful, welcoming environment upon arrival, filled with beautiful faces, cocktails, mocktails, and more! Drawing inspiration from Oscar de la Renta’s Fall 2026 collection, our brilliant event planner, Bruce Pittman, is helping us design an evening we hope will take everyone’s breath away. But we’re not spilling any secrets just yet…
NL: What made Oscar de la Renta the perfect choice for this year’s show?
MH & LK: It has been 14 years since Oscar de la Renta appeared at the Symphony Fashion Show, and we are so excited the wait is over. It’s truly a gift to see a design house of this caliber show a collection in Nashville on the Schermerhorn runway. We know from past Oscar visits, the wait will be worth it and the show will perfectly usher in many more years of high fashion at our beloved Symphony Center.
NL: How would you describe the overall energy and flow of the night?
MH & LK: The energy is palpable! From the moment guests arrive at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, there’s an overwhelming sense of fun and anticipation. The night brings old friends together, new friendships are made and our guests raise the bar each year on their fashionable looks. Although, no one should feel intimidated on what to wear; choose something you love and you will look smashing!
Practically, the evening begins with a fun and energetic cocktail hour in the Schermerhorn’s beautiful courtyard. Guests can enjoy cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres from our phenomenal caterer, Kristen Winston, while mingling with friends new and old and admiring all of the fabulous fashion on display. Guests will then head inside the concert hall to enjoy a runway show of the Fall 2026 collection from Oscar de la Renta, a high-energy performance from CMA Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson, and remarks from our wonderful emcee, Danielle Breezy. Following the show, our patrons enjoy a seated cocktail supper and general admission ticketholders return to the courtyard for some late-night bites and more mingling.
NL: Is there a moment during the evening you’re most looking forward to?
MH & LK: That’s a hard question! We will be awed when the first model hits the runway, and how could we not be equally enthralled when Lainey Wilson’s voice fills the renowned space of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center?
NL: What do you hope attendees take away from the evening beyond a beautiful night out?
MH & LK: Inspiration! We hope the event will inspire both regular attendees and newbies to the splendor of the Schermerhorn and the important role that the Nashville Symphony plays in our community.