To look at Diannetta Chargois, you’d never know she was just months away from turning 76 years old.
Her youthful look and energy show in the passion this Beaumont native displays as the owner of The House of Chargois (HOC). Chargois’s Third Ward shop (1709 Rosewood, 77004) is a multi-faceted boutique that offers original/custom designs, ready-to-wear items, bridal and formalwear and vintage couture pieces.
And though she founded her Houston business in 2004, Chargois developed her passion for fashion at an early age, inspired by her grandmother, Clara Waddy.
“She taught me how to, first of all, knit, then I went from there to making my own clothes,” Chargois said. “I used to see models and other ladies, like Jackie Kennedy, for instance, who wore beautiful clothes, and I could make those clothes. So that’s how I got started.”
Chargois taught her daughter, Tramaine Chargois Singleton, how to sew. But Tramaine was more interested in drawing. Tramaine started drawing the pieces of clothing her mother made. Years later, Chargois used her daughter’s designs to make fashion masterpieces.
Tramaine, a lawyer, is now her mother’s business partner.
But it all started for Chargois, who went from “a little girl of eight years old to junior high and high school, continuously sewing; even sewing competitively, to the work she does today.
House of Chargois
Chargois’s Third Ward business is really a continuation of the design work she did in Beaumont before she was hired by Shell Oil and moved to Houston.
The rest is history.
The HOC enjoys a fiercely devoted clientele that grows by the day.
“We cater to people who love formal wear. We have some ready-to-wear suits, dresses, shorts, just about anything that you want to wear,” Chargois said. “Our main focus is formal wear. We do rental and sales, tuxedos, formal gowns, bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses and more.”
But the magic Chargois makes in her boutique is only half the story. One could argue that Chargois is even more impactful in the community.
Community
Not only is she an energetic advocate for area Black businesses, but she is also active in her church (Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church; Women’s Auxiliary member) and her sorority (Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc.).
But Chargois has reached near-legend status as someone more than willing to pass along her sewing acumen to others.
“My daughter and I, we started having fashion shows, partnering with other designers to have those shows,” Chargois said. “We started an organization, the Alliance of Fashion Professionals, created with the idea of businesses working together and supporting each other.”
Sewing instructor
But where Chargois really shines is in her role as sewing instructor.
“I presently teach sewing at the Imani School, to little girls from third grade to eighth grade,” said Chargois, who will soon be conducting sewing classes in her shop starting June 3.
Those classes will be for girls eight years old to adults.
“We will also be doing sewing parties, all kinds of parties, that will be set up so that you can learn a skill that will benefit you the rest of your life, plus have fun doing it,” added Chargois.
“Ms. Diannetta Chargois is referred to as ‘Ms. D’ by those of us who absolutely love her,” said friend and business next-door-neighbor, Shearone Lewis, owner of UnWine on Almeda. “There’s not enough adjectives to describe Ms.D and what she means to me. She is the hardest-working senior citizen in our community. I know for a fact she is a God-fearing, churchgoing woman. That lady has more energy than all of us put together.”
“Ms. D is our inspiration, foot soldier, pillar, advocate and team player for all the good in our community,” Lewis continued. “She participates and always encourages and promotes all of us in business to stand up, participate and put our very best forward. If you don’t know her, I recommend you visit her at the House of Chargois. No matter what you’re going through, you will feel better when you leave her business. I love her to the moon and back 10 times.”
Advice
Along with being an avid Black business advocate and world traveler, Chargois willingly shares words of advice for anyone interested in going into business, but especially for Black women over 50 who are contemplating taking the entrepreneurial plunge.
“I believe if you want to do something, and you’re inspired to do it, then you should do it,” said Chargois, who wrote an article about this very topic, titled “Fake it until you make it.”
“Don’t allow anything to keep you from reaching your goal. If you don’t have the money, nobody knows that. Just get started somewhere. That’s how I did it. I don’t have a bunch of money to do anything. But with the support of my daughter and my family, I’ve been able to do what I do today.”
