Friday the 13th Fashion Massacre

Blood glittered from swan-like necks, girls hid their doe eyes behind hockey masks, and machetes were swung in the night.  It was just another typical Friday night in Austin *sigh*.  

Friday the 13th's Fashion Massacre celebrated the move of Austin's collective of independent fashion designers and artisans formerly known as Cypress Vanguard into Sugar Gay Isber's Sugar Factory.  The house on W.Koenig formerly used solely as jewelry designer Sugar Gay Isber's studio and personal home, is now the new showcase for the group of Austin designers.

While the downtown space of the old Cypress Vanguard provided a cute old house feel with a beautiful outside courtyard, the new house allows for more open space and more designs to be displayed.  The central location also adds convenience for potential shoppers and will hopefully expand the newly named Ensemble's clientele.

When a group of totally unique designers with independent aesthetics come together to put on a show, it inevitably turns out to be a bit of a hodge podge.  But, with Sugar Gay Isber's statement necklaces, hair by Ivy Kim, makeup by Lecia Harkins and Coby Simcoe, and Jennifer Cunningham's "frightful" accessories, the show was at least a fun, quirky, and somewhat consistent hodge podge.

Check out my freaky photos from the Ensemble, Austin Indie Designer's Friday the 13th Fashion Massacre.  This first look worn by model Dandilion Olsen was my favorite look of the night.

Forget the Mall and Shop Local!

Sure, you could camp out all night in front of that department store or mall for Black Friday sales (I shutter just thinking about this), or you could casually stroll into your local boutique, sip on some cider champagne (this sounds awesome Blue Elephant) and purchase some unique gifts for your loved ones or yourself.  I put together a list of local sales happening this weekend.  Check it out! 

Splendor (Friday 11/25)
-30% off entire store!
-50% off Clearance rack

SoLa (Friday Nov.25 - Sunday 11/27)
-Buy one get one half off Jewelry Sale

Stella Says Go (Friday 11/25 - Monday 11/28)
-15% - 50% off entire store!
-20% off Sale items
-get a $125 gift card for the price of $100

Cypress Vanguard
-check out their fb page to stay updated on all the deals this collective house has going on this weekend

ATown
-25% off select outerwear (Friday 11/25 - Sunday 11/27)
-Free scarf of your choice with a purchase of $100 or more (Friday 11/25)
-Free select jewelry with a purchase of $50 or more (Friday 11/25)
-buy one get one free OPI nail polish (Friday 11/25)
-free scarf and hat with a purchase of $240 or more (Friday 11/25)

Blue Elephant
-25% off all outerwear (now - 11/27)
-every purchase of $50 or more get a pair of leg warmers or gloves (Friday 11/25 - Sunday 11/27)
-every purchase of $100 or more get a free scarf or wrap (Friday 11/25 - Sunday 11/27)
-every purchase of $200 or more get a free scarf and hat (Friday 11/25 - Sunday 11/27)
-Clearance apparel Buy One Get One Free (Friday 11/25 - Sunday 11/27)
-buy 2 get one free OPI nail polish (Friday 11/25 - Sunday 11/27)
-first 20 shoppers to make a purchase on Friday get a free gift bag
-plus there will be cider champagne cocktails

Feathers
-2 sale racks with brand new markdowns
-get a $20 gift card for every $100 spent (Saturday 11/26)

Adelante (Friday 11/25 - Saturday 11/26)
-30% - 50% off select clothing, jewelry, gifts
-15% off sale items

Hem Jeans (Friday 11/25 - Sunday 11/27)
-20% off entire store

Kendra Scott (now - 11/28)
-20% off (online only) with code 20SITEWIDE

Besides all these awesome local sales, there is also the Vintage Style Fest this weekend AND the Renegade Craft Fair!  PLUS this Saturday is Small Business Saturday, which means you can get $25 back when you use your American Express card to buy something at a small business.  You can register your card here.






Happy Holidays! And Happy Shopping!


Joanna Wilkinson
keep austin stylish

Recap: Maison d'Etoile & Megan Summerville present Lingerie Cabaret

Maison d'Etoile was HOT... and so was the lingerie Monday night.  Although we were all sweating uncomfortably in the little old East side house that is home to wig shop Coco Coquette, Charm School Vintage, and Salon d'Etoile; we were all able to endure the accidental sauna due to the lovely eye candy in front of us.  Plus, singer Mistress Stephanie not only serenaded us with her lovely voice, but also kept us laughing with her outgoing charm.  If I ever have to sing in front of a sardine packed crowd in a sweaty house I too would probably fan my lady bits with an audience member's hat.  Not only to keep myself cool, but to also keep things classy.

Megan Summerville unveiled her latest lingerie designs at the Maison d'Etoile event for Austin Fashion Week, and although she told me beforehand that she was nervous, I knew she had nothing to be nervous about.   Megan Summerville is easily one of my favorite designers in Austin.  The attention to detail that she puts into her handmade pieces is what amazes me the most.  I love that her looks have a vintage vibe, but aren't too costume-y.  Her designs are unique and special, while still being completely wearable.  The wigs from Coco Coquette and fascinators from Madame Reverie added to the Cabaret vibe of the show and it all came together beautifully (despite the heat.)  

Style Watch: Fascinator Friday

What: Fascinator Friday

When: Friday July, 22

Where: Studio Downtown

Thanks to Austin milliner Laura Del Villaggio, you don't need to time travel in order to sport a fancy fascinator on your purty little head.  Laura's collection of handmade hats, millistarr, were previously housed in the Austin designer co-op Cypress Vanguard, but, millistarr has now moved next door into Studio Downtown along with makeup artist FaceKandy as well as Simmang Design jewelry.

Last Friday I went to check out Studio Downtown for Fascinator Friday which is a millistarr hosted event that will be happening monthly.  So get out your feathers, crinoline, lace, and frills gals.

Check out all the fascinating fascinators everyone was wearing on Friday:

Laura del Vellaggio of millistarr

Yep, Cypress Vanguard Has It All

I finally got to go check out the local designer fashion house, Cypress Vanguard today!  The space that was formerly home to Launch 787 and lingerie designer Megan Summerville transformed in December to the local designer fashion house now knows as Cypress Vanguard.  In addition to housing the designs of Megan Summerville, this shop contains the locally designed clothing and accessories from the Ross Bennett Collection, savannahred, milli starr, By Jeannie Jewelry, Tracy Tenpenny, and Foxy Fusions.

Here's a little bit of info. on the designer collections you will find at Austin's fashion house:

Megan Summerville

Handmade lingerie in styles varying from girly to sexy to everything in between.  Each month Megan is releasing a signature bra and panty set from her high end Megan Summerville Signature line, which is known for one-of-a-kind pieces that are made from extremely rare and luxurious fabrics.  For January and February Megan has released a romantic velvet set which is custom dyed with a 1920s vintage cotton lace accented and hand beaded cup.

Cypress Vanguard Launch

Back in October I talked to local lingerie designer Megan Summerville about her shop and she informed me that her space would be expanding in the future to include more local designers.  The goal of Megan and Launch787's Matt Swinney was to create a one stop shopping experience for people looking for locally designed clothing and accessories.

Megan and Matt's vision is now a reality as the Cypress Vanguard Fashion House is launching this Sunday with local designers such as Anslee Connelly of savannahred and Ross Bennett of the Ross Bennett Collection (to name a few) joining forces to bring you a power house of locally designed merchandise.