Austin Designer Sample Sale: Recap

I went to check out the Austin Designer Sample Sale today at Linda Asaf's studio.  It was fun to get to see up close some of the clothes I have seen in fashion shows recently, such as Malissa Long's designs that I saw in the Les Artistes show.  I also got to see some new stuff and meet some designers that I was not as familiar with.  There were also some really good deals to be taken advantage of.  I, however, was not in the position to be spending ANY money, so I stayed away.

5th Annual Austin Designer Sample Sale

It's time to save on some local couture.   Discounts on designs by local Austin designers.

Shimmer & Bliss Spring 2010 Launch Party

My Cherie amour, pretty little one that I adore... I couldn't get that Stevie Wonder song out of my head last night after returning from the Shimmer and Bliss Spring 2010 launch party. My Cherie Haley is the creator of Shimmer and Bliss, an accessories line consisting of hand dyed silk scarves. My Cherie personally dyes each scarf in her own home and says "Dye is everywhere in my house. On the kitchen cabinets, everywhere." But My Cherie loves putting so much persoanl care into each and every scarf because she wants them to be special.

Local band, Suede brought the jams with my personal favorite song of the night being Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On." Oooooh yeeeaaaah.

The lovely girl on the left there is Kappie Bliss, owner of the W.2nd street boutique Beyond Tradition where this event was held and also where you can go to buy a Shimmer and Bliss scarf if your heart desires.

My Cherie spent the night showing everyone how to rock a scarf. The cool thing about these scarves is their uniqueness. Each one is hand dyed, so no 2 scarves are exactly alike. And like the scarves themselves, the people that wear them are unique and can choose to wear the scarf in their own special way.

I had to go back for seconds at the Cannoli Joe's table. Is it wrong to go back for seconds when the food is free? It was too good for me to care about etiquette.

Here was my unique way of wearing my scarf. I used it to tie my hair into a ponytail. My Cherie said she had never seen someone wear the scarf like it before, but this is actually my new favorite hair accessory now. Plus, the big hair bow is going to be a trend this Spring. I am shimmering blissfully.


keep austin stylish

Shimmer and Bliss Spring 2010 Launch Party

Austin's local accessories line, Shimmer and Bliss, is launching their Spring 2010 collection featuring dip dyed silk scarves for women and men.

Austin's variety band, Suede will be providing the jams while Cannoli Joe's is bringing the appetizers.

next Tuesday March 9th from 6:00 - 9:00 at Beyond Tradition.

If you would like to attend this party please RSVP by emailing 2010launch@shimmerandbliss.com

Yours truly will be there to hopefully snap some photos so if you can't make it, make sure you check back on my blog to see what you missed.


keep austin stylish

Beauty From the Inside Out

"What I wear is a reflection of who I am on the inside." This is a statement that many fashion oriented folks have said at one time or another. How we look on the outside projects a certain image to others, whether we like it or not. It is up to us to decide what image we want to portray. This is one of the most interesting things about fashion and style. Personal style develops over time and is always changing depending on our lifestyle choices, our moods, etc. No matter what is going on in our lives, we always have a choice with fashion. Even with the rough economy and little to spend on clothes, we can shop at a thrift store and put together an outfit that represents who we are.

What message do you want to say to people with your fashion choices?

During times of tragedy or struggle in our society, this question usually turns up a different answer that is not so self oriented. Many fashionable efforts are being made to help with the situation in Haiti. Lady Gaga has designed a special t-shirt in which 100% of the profits will go towards Haitian relief, and the Golden Globe dresses worn by the stars are being auctioned off to also help Haiti.

While it's great that celebrity powerhouses like Lady Gaga can fund these types of efforts, it's probably a lot more difficult (especially in this economy) for local businesses to be generous. This is why I was pleasantly surprised to hear that local accessories line, Shimmer and Bliss, will be donating 10% of their profits from 2010 to relief for Haiti. Shimmer and Bliss is "an accessories line designed to inspire beauty from the inside out." It's important that we not forget it is what's on the inside that matters. Because without a beautiful core to represent, then what's the point of fashion?

You can find Shimmer and Bliss's versatile and eco-chic scarves at Beyond Tradition in the 2nd st. district or you can shop Shimmer and Bliss's online store.


keep the world beautiful and
keep austin stylish