Recap: Austin Fashion Week 2011 Awards

The Austin Fashion Week 2011 Awards Show last Saturday put an end to this year's Austin Fashion Week, and as I write this blog post, I am currently in Austin fashion hibernation.  After a week of: fashion events, runway shows, mingling, heel wearing, cupcake eating, and champagne drinking, I have felt a need to: hide, eat healthy, stop drinking, wear flats and cowboy boots, and do yoga.  But don't worry, this extreme behavior should only last for about a week.

For the Awards I wore another vintage find from Feathers (are you starting to realize I am obsessed with this store?)

Style Watch: Austin Fashion Week Kick Off 2011

Where: Cowboy Harley Davidson Showroom

When: August 20, 2011

I'm not sure what to say about the style from this night, because there weren't any big trends that stood out to me.  It was honestly kind of a cluster f*ck of outfits.  But I guess that sorta represents Austin, right?  We are just a motley crew of individuals.  I'm totally a fan of weird and unique style...I just wish the outfits from this night had as a group been more stylish.

Recap: Austin Fashion Week 2011 Kick Off

Clearly I was too excited and anxious to get to the Cowboy Harley Davidson Showroom for the Fashion Week Kick Off last night because I got pulled over by a cop for: speeding, changing lanes without signaling, and following too closely.  When the officer asked me if there was an emergency I really wanted to reply "Yes officer. A fashion emergency."  But I restrained myself.  I must have been looking good in my beaded bustier from Feathers though, because I was let go with just a warning.

My hope for Austin Fashion Week is that it gets better and better each year, so I arrived at the Kick Off with hope of improvement.  The venue for this year's Kick Off event was reason enough for this year to be better than last year because it was indoors.  Last year was held outside at GSD&M and it's not hard to imagine how hot and uncomfortable that was for people.  It's hard to stand around and look cute in your nice dress and heels when sweat is running down the side of your leg.  Luckily this year there was none of that!  The downside to the venue was of course that we all had to sit through a runway show that featured Harley Davidson MotorClothes.  "Oh that one is kind of cute...in a slutty trailer park kinda way..."  That was the only comment I had during that portion of the show.  

Upcoming Events: Austin Fashion Week FREE events

Austin Fashion Week kicks off tonight with a runway show featuring designs from the Austin Fashion Week Mashup Teams plus collections from Betsey Johnson and MotorClothes by Harley Davidson.  Along with live music from LC Rocks, there will be plenty of cocktails and treats to go around.  I'm excited!

But while the Kick Off event tonight requires a ticket, there are plenty of awesome showcase events coming up this week that will be FREE and open to the public.  Here are some of the free events that I am most looking forward to!  Most will have free cocktails, some treats, entertainment, but all will definitely have fashion:

Austin Fashion Week Pick: Margot Wolf

It's hard to stand out when you are a jewelry designer in Austin.  There are over 100 designers participating in Austin Fashion Week this year and a majority of those are jewelry makers.  But what makes Austin based designer Margot Wolf stand out is not only her unique designs, but the professional result her hands on talent and skill creates.  It's easy to find hand made jewelry in Austin, but it's not as easy to find handmade jewelry in Austin that doesn't look like an arts and crafts project.

Margot Wolf has been making jewelry for almost a decade now, so she's no newbie to the scene.  Although she didn't always know jewelry making would be her craft, from the moment she picked up her first jewelry-making tools she was hooked.  Margot fell in love with jewelry making and feels empowered to have found the perfect outlet for her creativity.  Her pieces are inspired by every avenue of her life from industrial elements such as a rusty nut from antiquated machinery, the fletching of an arrow, or even nature in its most pure and original form.  Margot often casts found natural specimens into metal, mainly silver, bronze, and gold vermeil.  Items that most people would find disturbing or treat as garbage such as a found dead scorpion corpse, Margot finds inspiring and beautiful.

Hearing her describe the process of using a cuttlefish bone to make one of her rings was intriguing and made me realize the skill and creativity that goes into each one of her pieces.  While her pieces are simple and can easily be layered with patterned garments or other jewelry, is is the uniqueness of her work that still makes her designs eye-catching.

AFW Mash Up Team Photos

The Austin Fashion Week Mash Up Team photos are up!  There are some beautiful photos here.  Check em' out and make sure you go to the Austin Fashion Week website for all the details on the teams and to vote for your favorite photo!

New Salon Mirror Mirror Helps Me Face The Mirror

Mirror Mirror owner, Martha Lynn Barnes

Among the gorgeous painted walls and the appropriately beautiful mirrors, several golden boots add to the decor at the new salon on Burnet and West 45th Street.  Austin Fashion Week award winner Martha Lynn Barnes is proud to admit her previous accomplishments in the local salon industry.  But even with a successful run at Jose Luis Salon and Luxe Apothetique, opening her own salon Mirror Mirror is her proudest accomplishment thus far.

Having not had even a trim in more than a few months, I took Martha Lynn up on her offer to give me a cut and redo my highlights at her new establishment.  Poor Martha Lynn... if she had known the state in which I would be arriving to her salon, she might not have been so giving.  I confess that the morning of my Mirror Mirror hair appointment I was looking rough.  Really rough.  Like the kind of rough when you wake up and don't even want to look in the mirror because you can feel the hideousness seeping out of your pores.  If I had asked that morning "Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?", unless we had been talking about skin color, I would not have been declared the fairest of them all (I blame the bartender at Chinatown for this.)

But Martha Lynn didn't get mad at me when she realized her brush was going to get stuck in the contents of my hair.  Like the sweetheart that she is, she continued to work her magic and made me feel like I might actually be able to show my face to the rest of Austin that day.  Good thing too, because the White Party was that night and I wanted to look good.  But Martha Lynn made me look better than good.  She gave me exactly what I wanted which was a trim and some natural looking highlights.  My hair instantly looked healthy and fresh.

Already satisfied with my experience so far, something magical happened when I asked "do y'all do makeup here too?"  That's when Martha Lynn directed me to one of the other makeup and hair stylists at Mirror Mirror, Alisha Jurkevicz.  Alisha hooked me up with one of the best makeup applications I have ever had.  Although the application of it felt odd, the airbrush makeup made my skin look flawless.  She also made my eyes look amazing with a few expertly placed false lashes.  I almost jumped out of my chair with joy to start dancing to Flashdance's "What a Feeling" which was appropriately playing out of the speakers.

After my experience at Mirror Mirror, I was more than ready for the White Party and was happily no longer afraid to look in the mirror.

First Look: Austin Fashion Week 2011 posters

Check it out.  Your first look at this year's Austin Fashion Week posters.  You once again have Pixel Peach's Gary Dorsey to thank for these beauties.  I thought last year's main poster bared a resemblance to Christina Aguilera, but this year's artworks actually do incorporate the images of some pop culture icons. Audrey Hepburn, Gene Wilder, and Josephine Baker all make up the strange and somewhat random Austin Fashion Week 2011 threesome.  I think these are pretty rad though, what about you? 

Unfortunately I've been hearing more and more negative comments from people within the Austin fashion community about Austin Fashion Week.  What's your opinion?  Do you plan on attending or participating in this year's events?

Joanna
keep austin stylish

Backstage With SavannahRed

How often do you get to see what goes on behind the scenes of a fashion show up close and personal? Unless you're a model, designer, hair stylist, or makeup artist, the chances are that your seat has been on the other side of the stage.  Lucky for y'all, my friend and local designer, Anslee Connell of SavannahRed volunteered to give us a behind the curtain look at what goes on before a fashion show.   Here are Anslee's thoughts on the "Texas A State of Fashion" show which was held at none other than the Capitol building during this year's Austin Fashion Awards...

I’m not just your average clothing designer.  I create fun, funky, vibrant, and dare I say well fitting, pieces of art that fit ladies of the curvy variety.  I'm here to give you a glimpse of what we do when we get ready for shows (and perhaps some glimpses of things we shouldn’t do).

Anslee Connell (me!) of SavannahRed in the process of getting my makeup done by Coby Simcoe before the show!
Photo taken by Cathie Hutchins.

Austin Fashion Week Awards Winners

Austin Fashion Week came to a close Saturday night at the Long Center with an awards show wrapping up the week's events.  Of course we don't give out any regular old trophies for the Austin Fashion Awards.  Winners receive the coveted "Golden Boot."

photo by Cory Ryan (winner of Critic's Choice Award for Best Photographer 2 years in a row)

Click here for a little explanation of the difference between the Critic's, People's, and Peer Choices and how they were chosen.

Best Designer (Critic's Choice): Dean Frederick
Best Designer (People's Choice): Tracy Tenpenny Design
Best Designer (Peer Choice): Megan Summerville

A Hair Affair Benefiting Locks of Love

Fashion Wonderland with Linda Asaf and Rachelle Briton

Monday night Austin Fashion week continued with the fabulous "Fashion Wonderland" event from Linda Asaf Design Studio and Rachelle Briton Designs. The inspiration for the event came from these 2 pieces:

Alice in Wonderland Swimsuit by Linda Asaf

Queen of Hearts dress by Rachelle Briton Design

I got the chance to briefly speak with Rachelle about her thoughts on Austin fashion and her rockin line. Here's what she had to say...

Denim And Lace

Hi all! Sandhya here from livinwide, covering the Denim and Lace Austin Fashion Week Event for Joanna who is (hopefully) shopping her way through Taiwan.

The event was held at Hem Jeans and while I was a little disappointed that it wasn't an actual runway show, I still had a great time:

Megan Summerville, a friend from the Austin Fashion blogger's lunches, the fabulous brainchild of Sew Sister, and Texas' Next Top Designer of 2009 had a presentation of a never-before-seen corset...

...and an interview with KVUE!

Austin Fashion Week Kick Off!

Last night's party and fashion show at GSD&M Idea City marked the beginning of the second year of Austin Fashion Week. It was a very eventful night and I had a blast. Here's what I wore:

Here's what everyone else wore:

Designer Louise Black who you might remember from Project Runway.  She also happened to have one of my favorite looks on the runway this night.

                           

Austin Fashion Week Kicks Off This Saturday

Austin Fashion Week is just a couple of days away now!  I will be next to the red carpet at the Kick Off event with the rest of the media being all legit and stuff.  The best part about getting to be at the Kick Off...80s pop icon Tiffany will be performing!

Everyone in the Austin fashion circle that I run around with has been like "Wooo! Tiffany!"  And everyone who is NOT in the Austin fashion circle that I run around with has been like "Who?"  I attribute this to the fact that Tiffany started off her career in 1987 touring malls in America.

Anyway, due to the fact that Tiffany is performing at the Kick Off, there has been some talk about people wearing 80s inspired outfits to the event.  I don't think anyone is going to show up in leg warmers or anything, but, who knows.  I honestly have no idea what to expect or what to wear.

So, what do YOU think I should wear?  I put together a few options.  Please vote and help a girl out:

For more info on Austin Fashion Week and to purchase tickets to the Kick Off click here.  And, I will of course post coverage of the event including photos of the runway show.

I also have some fabulous guests who are going to guest blog for keep austin stylish all during Austin Fashion Week. Stay tuned for awesome Austin Fashion Week coverage!



Joanna
keep austin stylish

Lights Camera... Fashion with Jackson Ruiz Salon

Jackson Ruiz Salon is bringing old Hollywood to Austin with their 2010 Austin Fashion Week event, “Lights, Camera… Fashion!”  The salon is teaming up with neighboring boutique, Touch of Sass, and designers Lana Chu and Jessica Ciarla. Guests will be greeted by Austin’s own paparazzi as they walk the red carpet.  Upon entering, attendees can sip on Tito’s “Glamtinis”, snack on hors d’oeuvres, and watch a unique fashion show featuring Jessica Ciarla’s “little white dresses” complimented with hats by Lana Chu.

Many hair stylists would find it challenging to style around the one of a kind hat designs of local Austin designer Lana Chu, but the Jackson Ruiz team sees it differently.  When speaking with owner Allen Ruiz, he expressed his excitement for the salon/designer pairing.   Instead of viewing the hats as a challenge, he views it as inspiration.  However, ask Ruiz what he’s most excited about and he will quickly answer… the fashion awards show.

The team is responsible for hairstyle and make-up designs on all 24 models walking in the show. Joining forces with six different designers, Ruiz feels that it’s his responsibility to channel each designer’s message through his team’s hair and make-up creations. They are looking forward to exceeding the success of last year’s fashion show and winning the support of local beauty enthusiasts.

Interested in attending the events? Make your red carpet debut at Jackson Ruiz Salon on August 18 from 6p.m. and then show your support for the team with the 2nd Annual Austin Fashion Awards , August 21 5:30 p.m. at the Long Center.

Guest post by Kara Marshall from Austin Beauty Blog

keep austin stylish

Austin Fashion Week Pick: VINCA

Some women might put out on a pair of diamond earrings in order to say to the world "I am a sophisticated woman."  The VINCA customer, puts on a pair of diamond shaped earrings made out of wood and makes the world laugh.  This laugh is what VINCA jewelry designer, Amanda Dimova, strives to achieve with her work.  Amanda claims she is "incapable of making something that's not either cute or funny."

I first came across Amanda's jewelry when I was shopping on South Congress and went into one of the best stores to find local jewelry, Parts and Labour.  A little bear ring made out of acrylic seemed to be shouting my name.  I could almost see him bouncing up and down like a little anime character saying "pick me pick me" in a high pitched voice.

While VINCA jewelry is playful and happy-go-lucky, Amanda is serious when it comes to her design process.  While most jewelry designers use materials that are already made, Amanda makes the actual components.   Amanda got the idea to work with acrylic when her family, who owned a shoe factory, bought a laser cuter for industrial purposes.  Amanda quickly learned that some pretty cool things could be produced with the precision of a laser cutter.  These pretty cool things include jewelry pieces titled "Rocker Bear", "Super-Power", and "La Grappa."

VINCA jewelry seems like the perfect jewelry line for a lot of the Austin gals I know.  Amanda says she has a friend who

Austin Fashion Week Mash Up

For Austin Fashion Week, randomly selected photographers, models, makeup artists, hair stylists, and designers were matched up and asked to create a unique look, photograph it, and have it walk the runway at the Kickoff Party.

I have no idea why this whole experience hasn't been videotaped for a reality series titled "Austin's Next Top Fashion Team."  Designers were just thrown together randomly with other artists that might not have necessarily matched their aesthetic.  I bet this would have gotten good ratings on Bravo.

Anyway, the results are pretty awesome.  Here are some of my favorite photos:

Austin Fashion Week Pick: ax + apple

Have you noticed that in Austin everyone and their dog thinks they can be a jewelry designer?  I do love the "do it yourself" attitude that the people of this town have.  However, I feel like everywhere I turn these days someone is trying to pull off their basement made arts and crafts projects as wearable art.  Okay, some can actually succeed at this.  Some can't.  When the participating designers in Austin Fashion Week were announced, I scoured the list of jewelry designers to find some designs that stood out above the "basement crafters" and the "pretty, but seen it befores."

I succeeded when I came across "ax + apple."  Jamie Lyn is the designer behind this classic jewelry with a modern edge.  Originally moving from South Florida, Jamie has since lived in 7 different cities.  Growing restless in her surroundings easily, Jamie eventually found her way to Austin.  She calls Austin "my kind of town" and says she feels lucky to call it home.  And lucky for us, Jamie says she will be sticking around for awhile.

I did a little Q&A session with Jamie to find out more about her interesting jewelry:

Of all the artistic outlets to choose from, what made you choose jewelry design?

It took me years to hone in on jewelry.  I studied fibers and fabrics, ceramics, and specialized in photography in college.  And while I was well received in these outlets, I was still restless and often found myself feeling creatively stagnant.  I had to push too hard.  It wasn't until years after I graduated that I started dabbling in jewelry making.  I started teaching myself basic techniques and fell in love with metal.  I love the sound it makes, I love watching it melt and oxidize...  I love all the tools and the fire and the endless possibilities, and I love that when you finish a piece you get to put it on and keep it with you.  I am constantly buzzing with ideas... which made me realize this was my match.

Admiring the Hem Window Art

Have y'all ever noticed the awesome art that is in the windows of Hem Jeans?  It's pretty cool because it incorporates 3 iconic Austin things: the Frost Bank tower, the Capitol, and the Alamo Drafthouse;  but everything is all denim-y.  I think this artwork was designed by Pixel Peach Studio which, in spite of making websites (including their own) that automatically play music, they make some of the most badass websites and graphic design. 

Everyone: please stop making websites that automatically play music when you go to them! This is beyond annoying.  The Hem website is awesome, but make sure your speakers are turned down low or off. Ugh.

Pixel Peach Studio is also behind this year's Austin Fashion Week posters.