The Pattern of Coffee and People

It's unusually fitting that a coffee house named after a classic fabric pattern would mix coffee sipping with vintage shopping.  With "Fancy Fridays" happening every Friday for the month of February, Houndstooth Coffee welcomes you to put on your "fancy" frills, enjoy some hand brewed coffee, and maybe walk out with a special vintage find.  But don't let the word "fancy" turn your t-shirt wearing self away.  The people behind Fancy Fridays say "fancy" is subjective and open to interpretation.  Good thing, because this is Austin after all and the phrase "casual Fridays" is much more likely to get participators.  However, I did really appreciate the well dressed baristas and customers that I saw on Friday, so I encourage everyone to embrace it if you're feeling fancy. 

Last Friday was not only the first Fancy Friday for Houndstooth Coffee, but was also the first pop up shop ever for Hold Vintage owner Stephanie Press.  While the selection was seemingly small occupying just a tiny corner of the coffeehouse, there were surprisingly many great appropriately priced pieces.  Stephanie is pretty new to the vintage game, having been curating vintage for only about a year now.  However, Stephanie already has a great collection of not only vintage clothing and accessories, but housewares and decor as well.  Stephanie showed what she called her "Urban Pioneer" collection with Southwestern printed bags, gingham dresses, plaid button downs, and bolo ties to name a few.  Stephanie plans on having the pop up shop themed differently every Friday.

My Outfit: Ugly Christmas Sweater

Happy Holidays everyone!  I hope your days are merry and bright!

Obsessed With: Leopard Skirt

I am currently obsessed with this vintage leopard print skirt from Splendor, the newest vintage addition to the North Loop shopping district.  The skirt is a size Large but has an elastic waist which means I can kinda make it any length I want depending on how I wear it - high waisted with a belt, or low waisted for a slouchy and longer look.  It works for daytime or nighttime, and is also super comfy.  I've decided that it goes with pretty much everything in my closet.  I'm in  leopard love!

Upcoming Event: Vintage Style Fest

Skip on the malls this weekend because the merchandise they have is a snoozefest.  Instead, why not check out all the amazing vintage this town has to offer and go to the Vintage Style Fest.

What:

• 2 day vintage clothing tour
• vendors: Frock On Vintage, Second Time Around Boutique, The Fresh Up, Lovely Austin, Cream Vintage, Hog Wild Vintage, Room Service Vintage, Splendor, Blue Velvet, Flashback Vintage, Bead It, Retro Rubbish, American Icon Austin, My Saucy Mustache, Ermine Vintage, Jewelmint, The Ultimate Message, 5 Stack Vintage, Vagabond Vintage Clothing, Redemption Garb
• benefits Movember
• Admission is free but a wristband will get you free food and beverages, special discounts, a Movember goodie bag, and Free entry to SLACKER Magazine's Movember party
• $5 pre sale wristband - you can buy your wristband at any participating vendor
• $10 Day of - Tickets day of the event are CASH ONLY and available at each location.

Where:

http://www.austinvintagestylefest.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/map2.pdf

When:

• Saturday, Nov. 26th 10am - 6pm
• Sunday, Nov. 27th 10am - 6pm

Joanna Wilkinson

keep austin stylish

Upcoming Event: American Icon Presents Spider House 29th St. Yard Sale

Every second Sunday of the month, there is a magical event where vintage stores and vendors get together and fill up the Spider House ballroom with tons of goodies from the past.  If you haven't made it to the 29th St. Yard Sale presented by American Icon yet, I highly recommend checking it out.  The prices and the selection are both great.  I have been a few times and so far I have scored: a star spangled button down (how appropriate), a 70's high school band letterman jacket, a suede fringe skirt, annnnnd probably some other items that I can't think of right now.

Some photos below of my last 29th St. Yard Sale trip...

Upcoming Event: Frock On Vintage Grand Opening

Austin is already full of a fabulous and diverse selection of vintage boutiques, but, having one more couldn't hurt, right?  Frock On Vintage is the newest addition to Austin's vintage scene and they are kicking things off with an awesome Grand Opening party this Saturday.  One of the great things about Frock On is that they will have both womens and mens clothes in one store.  I can't wait to check out their selection!

Style Profile: Nikki Cloud

Every time I am out and about I notice people's style.  I have decided to start documenting even more of this by profiling interesting Austinites who I find over and over again to be sporting a fun unique style.  It's time to get to know the people who are keeping Austin stylish a little better!  I hope y'all enjoy....

One of my favorite boutiques in Austin is Feathers.  I try not to visit it TOO much because of fear of going broke after buying everything they have.  But it's a great place to go for some unique style inspiration, not only because of the clothes on the racks, but also because of the ladies who work there.  It's always fun to see what outfits these gals are wearing.  Lately I have been digging the style of Feathers' own Nikki Cloud.  Just when I'm thinking I need to wear more body hugging outfits, she has me longing for oversized drapey apparel.  

One of the rare born and raised Austinites, Nikki also studied apparel design at the University of Texas.  Her Altered Vision blouses can be found at Feathers (when they aren't sold out.)  

Keep reading to learn more about Nikki and find out her must haves for summer!

Outfit: Grandma's Flowers

Spring has sprung and so have my grandma's famous flowers.  They only last for a few weeks so I got some photos in front of them while I had the chance.  It was unexpectedly cold yesterday which I was not a fan of since just the day before it was starting to feel like summer (my favorite time of year).  But I took advantage of the cool weather by wearing my suede fringe coat that I bought at the end of the winter and thought I wouldn't get to wear until next year.

Austin Fashion Trunk Show

This Saturday you have the opportunity to find original designs by local designers and vintage finds in one spot, Gallery Black Lagoon.  Check out the Gallery Black Lagoon website for a list of all the designers and collectors you will see at the trunk show.

This event is free to attend, and there will also be drinks from Dripping Springs Vodka as well as cupcakes from Lick It Bite It Or Both.

Free gift bags to the first 15 attendees!

Outfit: Be My Valentine

And the black and white polka dot obsession continues with this sheer polka dotted crop top that I got from Feathers the other day.  I assume this top is from the 80s since it has sewn in shoulder pads.  Woo!  Love is in the air.  Is it okay to be in love with an outfit for Valentines Day?  I think so.

Cheap Vintage, Free Music, Flowing Booze

Tonight! Live music by Brass Crab Beef Chip, complimentary alcoholic beverages, AND 20% off all clothing at Blue Velvet vintage.

What:

• Blue Velvet sale

Where:

• Blue Velvet
• 217 W. North Loop

View Larger Map

When:

• Tonight, Feb. 13
• 7 - 9 pm

Joanna

keep austin stylish

Fashion Freakout 4 Video

If you chose not to go to Fashion Freakout 4 last Friday because you wanted to stay inside your warm house, you might have missed out on your toes becoming numb from the cold but you also missed out on a really fun fashion show.  But lucky for you, I caught it all on film.  Check out my video of Fashion Freakout 4! :




I really loved the styling by all the stores in this show, but Laced with Romance is the store that inspired me the most.  I now want a crochet dress, a flapper dress, and a crazy headpiece with feathers on it.


Joanna
keep austin stylish

Recap: Fashion Freakout 4

Halfway through Fashion Freakout 4 I realized my toes were numb.  I then realized I was wearing open-toed shoes outside on one of the coldest nights Austin has seen in a long time.  But I was happy to see I wasn't the only one to brave the cold in order to get a view of the local vintage fashion.  Hundreds of stylish Austinites huddled around the few heaters, ordered hot chocolate at the bar, and dreamed of warmer weather while they gazed at the lace, feathers, top hats, canes, chains, and masks that appeared on the Mohawk runway.

Fashion Freakout 4 was actually my first Fashion Freakout to attend, and I have to say that even though it was painfully cold, the fashion show lived up to the hype.  I now know why Austinites have claimed Fashion Freakout as THE fashion show of the year.  The styling by local vintage shops Prototype Vintage Designs, New Bohemia, and Laced With Romance was some of the most interesting and editorial-worthy I have seen at any local fashion show to date.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the show:

Upcoming Event: Fashion Freakout 4

If there was only one fashion show in Austin that I could suggest you attend, it would probably be this one.  Of course, I say that having NEVER even been to Fashion Freakout (I wanted to go last year but wasn't able to).  However, the things I have heard/ videos and photos I have seen from the Fashion Freakouts in the past lead me to believe that this show is amazing.  

The best part about Fashion Freakout is probably that the style they portray in the show is so Austin.  Example: at the Fashion Freakout show last year, one of the male models walked the runway with a beer in his hand and took a swig from the bottle when he "posed" at the end of the runway.  

Feathers Sale!

 

In addition to this awesome 25% off sale going on til Friday, Feathers also has right now two racks with items priced at just $10!

Hooray for end of the year sales!

Joanna

keep austin stylish

Dog and Pony

Ever since I graduated from UT I hardly ever make it over to the campus area, unless it's to quench my thirst for bubble tea.  So I was unaware of the new boutique near campus, Dog and Pony, that opened up recently.  Dog and Pony lives on Guadalupe next to Kasbah and has only been around for about 2 months, but I have already been hearing some good things about it.  I went the other day to check it out for myself.

What I found at Dog and Pony was a decent selection of trendy clothes that were priced pretty reasonably. There were actually some really unique pieces at this place.  Some one of a kind hand painted tanks were one of the more unique things I saw.  Although they weren't necessarily something I would want to wear since they reminded me of a preschool art project, the idea and artistry of them made me stop and look twice.

Happy B-day Feathers

I can't believe Feathers is old enough to go to kindergarten!  They grow up so fast.

The local vintage store Feathers is turning 5 and they are celebrating this Friday with discounts and cocktails.  I'm super excited about this because Feathers is one of my most favorite clothing stores, so I will most likely be shoppin up a storm on South Congress on Friday.

Magnolia Family Vintage

I've been meaning to write about Magnolia Family Vintage ever since the lovely Tolly over at Austin Eavesdropper told me about it, but, this month has been kinda crazy what with Austin Fashion Week and me leaving the country for a bit.  But, y'all should know that in my downtime I have been checking out this awesome online vintage store.

Magnolia Family Vintage launched the first week of August by fellow Austin blogger Sarah Jessica Dean of The Year of Living Thriftily.  If Austin does one thing right in the realm of fashion, it's vintage.  Not only do I love the clothing for sale offered on this site, but I love that a local blogger opened up her own online store.  It kinda gives me hope that maybe one day I could do something badass such as this.

If I wasn't so poor right now I would buy these things (yes I don't even have the ability to buy thrifted clothing. The 2 things I bought at Blue Velvet the other day don't count shhh):

A Petticoat Always Makes You Feel Pretty

I have decided that wearing a petticoat automatically makes you feel pretty.  It kinda makes me feel like a little girl and a woman at the same time.  Twirling around in one reminds me of my childhood.  Actually I think this exact one I am wearing here is one that I twirled around in as a kid.  But, the poofy prettiness also reminds me of a wedding dress so then I start to feel old.  Either way, I like it.  I think I should wear this petticoat under stuff more often.   I also got to wear my red boots yesterday which doesn't happen often in the summer, but, it had been raining so they seemed appropriate.

I wore this outfit to play with deer, go to Wholefoods, and take my computer to the Apple store to get it fixed.  I went to the Apple store in the Domain which happens to be right next door to the new Anthropologie.  So you can probably guess where I spent my 15 minutes while waiting for my computer. 

Prototype Vintage "Proto-Man" Launch Party

Prototype Vintage Design has expanded their Men's store and they are having a party this Friday to celebrate!  Beer, vintage clothing, and music.  What more could a stylish Austinite ask for?