Austin Street Style: Katie.

Katie, at Zilker Botanical Garden on Saturday.

Guess who done graduated from college? That's right, this girl! I am so incredibly happy and relieved to have it all over with. I will miss some aspects of the academic life, especially my friends and professors. I will also miss my job at The Art Institute of Austin--I was the Fashion Assistant to the Fashion Department. Now, I'm down to the one retail job. Life will be a lot less busy now!

With my diploma, during graduation.

My entire family came to Austin for graduation. I spent most of the past week with them, as they flew in from California and Montana. It was a nice little break from reality to have them here. We ended up spending a good chunk of the visit just bumming around Austin. My graduation was on Thursday, so on Friday and Saturday we went downtown and to Zilker Park. 

I ended up snapping these photos at Zilker Botanical Garden! The botanical garden is a great place to visit, if you're ever in the city of Austin. There are 8 gardens, including a pre-historic garden, as well as a Japanese garden. It's one of the few places that is beautiful all year-round in Austin, as there are plants specifically for the winter months, as well as the spring. 

I also took a few other photos; hope you enjoy them! 

What a festive little handbag!

 My family at Zilker Botanical Garden.

 The Butler Window.

 Chillin' by the pond. 

Austin! Something is always "under construction". 

Austin Street Style: Marina.

Marina at The Art Institute of Austin campus today.

Marina's oversized button-up is from Zara.

Marina, a fashion student at The Art Institute of Austin, is in my physics class. Marina recently spent several months in New York City for an internship, and her authenticity as a style maven shows through every time I see her. Short in stature but not personality, Marina has a wardrobe any true fashion follower would be lucky to see.

Having a friendly face around class, especially in physics, helps. I'm beginning to think physics won't be my forte, as the homework goes something like this: Look at the problems while listening to music or The Colbert Report on Hulu. Google the formulas needed. Google words within the formulas. Ask for a calculator. Repeat until homework is complete.

I decided to take all of my science requirements for graduation at the same time which, looking back, was not the smartest thing to do when I haven't taken a science class in a good four years. Over the weekend, a friend of mine made flash cards for me, and I am putting them into use. I like to think I am getting into a nice Biology, Environmental Science, and Physics groove. We'll see when report cards come around.

Speaking of report cards, today was also the Honors Reception at The Art Institute of Austin, and guess who made the Dean's List? I was stoked about it, as I had taken two electives (Acting & Movement and Music Theory I) and had worked hard on the Fashion Capstone magazine. With graduation coming up, I realized today might be the last time I attend one of the school's receptions. Then the announcer called me out from the crowd, telling the crowd how I worked for the Fashion & Retail Management Department. With a mouthful of broccoli, I waved sheepishly as the announcer mentioned my blog.

Have you ever had random strangers talk to you about your blog? Well, when it's a reader, I say "Thank you," and ask how they found it (market research!). When people approach me after hearing about my blog, the conversation turns into "Yeah, it's about fashion...and stuff..." I need to make a concise, 30-second response (I'm told it's called an "elevator pitch") to this question. It's my goal for the week, folks!

Do you make weekly goals? Or are you in love with Marina's ensemble as much as I am?

After the Honors Reception with my friend, Maricette.

Thread: The Art Institute of Austin's First Ever Fashion Magazine.

Thread: Fashion Capstone's magazine cover.

As promised, The Art Institute of Austin's first student magazine, Thread has been posted online. I am incredibly excited that I get to share this experience with y'all. The class was made up of eleven students, which is a funny twist because we only had eleven weeks to make the final copy.

I cannot tell you how much time was spent on the magazine. Countless hours between the graphic designer, editor-in-chief, and creative director were used to meticulously create a tangible product.

As the copy editor, I read and reread the magazine dozens of times. Not to mention the other editors, who put together their own pieces that concentrated on the city of Austin, including a seamless fashion editorial.

My story about moving to Texas for a boy (yes, really, a boy).

It's bittersweet to know that this will be the only edition, as it was for a class. If I were a less advanced student, I would push to make it a quarterly publication. As a senior, I only have six months left at The Art Institute. I have bigger things to focus on! But this was a nice stepping stone from the classroom to the real world. I am so happy at how it turned out, and cannot express how lucky I have been to work with all the individuals who helped create Thread.

You can view the online copy of Thread here. Let me know what parts you enjoyed (or didn't; everyone's a critic), and I'll be sure to pass along the info. And, as I CANNOT SAY IT ENOUGH, thank you for all the support. It means so much to me! Hope you have a lovely day.

Screenshot of my interview with Tolly Moseley, the Austin Eavesdropper.

Austin Street Style: Victoria.

On Tuesday at The Art Institute of Austin.

Okay, folks, since posting about how I moved to Texas for a boy and my interview with Austin Eavesdropper, Tolly Moseley, I've been thinking about the future of my blog. Yes, I am a fashion blogger, but from the response I've received for my autobiographical post, that's not just all that I am.

I've always written in my spare time, whether it be my journal or my tumblr (which has an effective use as an emotional outlet), but I never post outside of the fashion realm on Bella Vogue. As I gain more confidence in my non-fashion writing, I hope that my readers will join me on my journey of redefining my blog. Not that I'll ditch fashion together; I'll add more personable components and go from there.

Again, I cannot say thank you enough for all the great comments everyone has left recently. The Fashion Capstone class recently presented our magazine, and I cried four times. It was incredibly overwhelming.

I felt like I just gave birth to a baby. A glossy, 50-page baby that reads like a love letter to the city of Austin. This, this right here, is what I want to do with my life. I want to write and live in Austin. It's a peaceful feeling to have an idea of what I want to do after graduating.

My class has discussed making our project available online for family and friends to read, so if that happens, I'll be sure to link it. Thanks everyone for your feedback! And I hope you have a lovely day.

A Conversation With the Austin Eavesdropper: Part Deux!

Wow, I have gotten so much great feedback from Part I of my interview with Tolly Moseley, writer of Austin Eavesdropper. 'Tis greatly appreciated, as always. You may or may not know this, but in Fashion Capstone, my class created a magazine. I wrote a piece about my move from Montana to Texas, and had the opportunity to do an interview. I chose Tolly because not only is she a fun-lovin' gal, but she's an amazing lifestyle blogger. Basically, I just wanted to pick her brain. If you do not read Austin Eavesdropper, be sure to ASAP! It will make you laugh and cry and pee your pants, simultaneously.

As was promised, here is the remainder of my interview with Ms. Tolly:

As someone who does have another career, along with a husband and a psychotic kitty cat, how do you find the time to sponsor events such as the Austin Bleet-Up and P.S. a Paramount/Stateside Affair?
I don’t know! Haha. I’m honestly working on cutting down my commitments. I’m just a sucker for a good party.

You have had amazing opportunities, including interviewing musicians for SXSW with Express Rocks. How did these opportunities come about/was your blog a part of these opportunities?
Yes, my blog was indeed a part of these opportunities. Often, a friend-of-a-friend will know someone who’s looking for on-air or writing talent, and they’ll send them to my blog. This happened with both SXSW (a publicist friend at Giant Noise recommended me to Express when they were looking for a TV host) and SheKnows.com. A friend of mine at Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau recommended me to them when they asked about local Austin writers. So it was partly my blog that landed this stuff for me, but honestly just having some really amazing buddies out there!

Your blog is now a for-profit blog with both a healthy readership and sponsorship. What made you decided to become for-profit?
I think the first time a business (Birds Barbershop) approached me, asking if I’d be interested. I said: “yes of course” and bam, for-profit blog. It was never an explicit aspiration of mine, but hey, if I can support local / worthwhile businesses and they support me back – I call that a mutually beneficial partnership.

What’s the best and most frustrating aspect of blogging? How do you respond to negative feedback?
The only negative feedback I’ve gotten is when I’ve posted about something political (like when I wrote about universal healthcare a few months ago). But shockingly, that’s the only time anyone has ever written something negative to me. No one has written anything overtly nasty (knock on wood) or borne out of jealousy. The most frustrating aspect of blogging is feeling like I just don’t have enough time for it. I always feel like there is so! Much! More! I could be doing! But, all in due time. Someday, I’ll get a good camera for it. Someday, I’ll create a Facebook page for it. If I have to let it improve gradually, then that is ok by me.

Give us a slice of a “day in the life” of Ms. Tolly Moseley.
7:30 : WAKE UP / breakfast / make myself coffee (even though I promised day before I was giving up coffee)
8:30 – 10:30 : BLOG STUFF / post / respond to email or comments / Tweet / Facebook
10:30 – 5:30 : WORK (from home) on book publicity: Email, write press releases about books, make calls to media, assure authors, bitch/laugh with colleagues, take lunch break, try not to get on Twitter or Gawker too much, walk outside, notice sun, vow to take walk after work, write more emails, attempt to charm a TV producer into booking my author(s), hug husband when he walks inside, dodge accusations (all true) of leaving dirty dishes in sink, pet my kitty.
5:30 : JOIN FREE WORLD via happy hour, samba school (husband and I take each Weds), aerial silks class (I take every Tues/Thurs), dinner or porch time with friends

10:00 : Remark that I should go to bed, start a blog post

11:00 : Say, “ok ok really I should GO TO BED” then sneak in a little Top Chef or book tim

12:30 : Finally turn off light (or, sometimes, realize I have a freelance story due the next day, four-letter expletives follow).

Do you have any tips for those who are currently blogging and/or aspiring bloggers?

Figure out what you are in it for – writing, photography, vlogging, displaying your art, etc. And then focus on that thing and try to do it really well. The other aspects of blogging will follow suit. Also, keeping a balance of consuming / producing art. I am a better blogger (and writer) because I am an obsessive reader. If you are a photographer or artist, study those who inspire you; if you are a vlogger, watch camera personalities who delight you. I think 60% of being successful, creatively, is seeking out quality examples and role models.

How would you describe Austin to someone who is visiting the city for the first time? What sights would you tell them are a must-see?

I would say that visiting Austin will probably make you want to move here. No, really. It’s so pretty, people are so nice, it’s funky and offbeat and there are lots of trees. So just be prepared for that, I will tell them. Next, I will say that you have to eat at a food trailer – DUH – and recommend Anthony Bourdain’s favorite, Odd Duck on S. Lamar. I would also tell them to get a fancy cocktail at East Side Show Room, and that even though you’ll have to wait a while because it’s tiny and disorganized, it’s oh-so-worth it. The drinks and the gypsy jazz music are just incredibly. Finally, if the weather is nice, I would tell them to go stand-up paddling on Town Lake! I discovered that last summer and it’s a blast. As well as easy, even though it looks like a feat of balance and abdominal muscles. You can go home and tell people, “dude, I totally did that.”

And, lastly, how would you describe your personal style from day-to-day? Where do you like to shop in Austin?

A (gay) friend described me as a little Stevie Nicks, a little Audrey Hepburn. I think that’s about accurate. My style is somewhat polished, somewhat bohemian. I ADORE vintage, and for that, go to Blue Velvet (on North Loop), Buffalo Exchange, and sometimes the vintage stores on S. Congress. New Bohemia has great bags, Feathers has killer boots. When I’m buying new, I tend to stick to Strut. But I fantasize about Anthropologie. I make an annual trip to Urban Outfitters and get a few things – skinny jeans, lockets, orange heels. Thanks Chelsea!

Thank you, Tolly!

If you did not read Part I of our interview, you can access it here.

My class is presenting our magazine as a whole tomorrow, and hopefully I will get some great photos in. Might even load the entire magazine as a PDF on here...we'll see! Hope everyone has a happy Monday!

Thank you to Tolly for the photo.

A Conversation With the Austin Eavesdropper: Part I.

In addition to writing about how I moved from Montana to Texas for Fashion Capstone, I had the pleasure of interviewing Tolly Moseley, the writer of the Austin Eavesdropper. If you're not reading her, leave now and go check out her blog. Seriously. Tolly's not just an Austin blogger; she's one the most personable lifestyle bloggers I've come across. Which is why I thought she was a perfect subject. Unfortunately, in our magazine there was limited space, and I had to cut our interview short. Lucky for you, I have a blog, so I get to share Tolly's golden drops of wisdom with y'all. I'm breaking it up into two sections, as it is pretty long. Without further ado...

Tolly and me at The Austin Bleet-Up in December.

You started blogging after returning from grad school in Davis, California (Yay for former Davisites!). What drew you to blogging?
I’ve always been addicted to text. I majored in English and went to grad school for English Literature. I wrote for my high school and college newspapers, interned at a Sacramento magazine. But the ability to publish my own writing – whenever I wanted – was the siren song of the blogosphere. I came of age in a time (not that long ago, actually) when seeing your writing “in print” meant submitting to a magazine or literary journal, and hoping against hope that they’d publish it. But blogging lets you decide what’s good enough for the public to see. And for a long time, mine wasn’t. (Even though I repeatedly hit the “publish” button anyway).

From my understanding, “The Austin Eavesdropper” is not your first blog. Why did your other forays into blogging fizzle and why did “The Austin Eavesdropper” succeed?
Austin Eavesdropper is my third attempt at blogging: The first one was a Livejournal (a Livejournal!) about my daily activities, such as, what flavor of Frappuccino I had that day. It was really boring. I think Austin Eavesdropper stuck because at first it was sort of a local resource – like, what’s going on in Austin – then it became more of a girl-about-town chronicle, and now, it’s 75% introspective and personal. That was a big surprise to me: That people had any interest in, say, my cat. Or my alcoholic friend. I’m still trying to understand the appeal. But I think the real reason this one has been more successful is because I’m a better writer and storyteller than I was when I first started.

How did you come up with the name “Austin Eavesdropper”?
It used to be called “That Austin Girl” and then I decided that was really lame. It was supposed to be be a “That Girl” reference but no one got it. Anyway, everywhere I go around town, I love to eavesdrop on people (to my husband’s embarrassment). I think it’s a writer thing – your ears are always perked for interesting tidbits. I don’t really publish the private snatches of conversation I hear around town, BUT about half a year into “That Austin Girl,” I was ready for a new name – and I decided “Austin Eavesdropper” was not only catchy, but kind of autobiographical.

You write about many different topics, from food and fashion to music and the various on-goings in Austin. Where or from whom do you draw inspiration for story ideas?
Sometimes pitches. Bands / designers / artists / restaurants (or their publicists) will write me and ask if I’d be interested in trying out their music / clothes / show / food. From time to time their creations really resonate with me. But mostly, I think that listening to KUT, reading the Chronicle, going to coffee shops and checking out fliers, reading other blogs (both local and non), my friends – all of these funnel down blog post ideas to me. I’m so lucky to have these wildly creative, smart people as friends, and to be married to a musician. They all help me tune my awareness to the crackling sparks of weirdness in Austin – weirdness that, as all Austinites know, is beautiful too!
That and NICENESS. If a band, restaurant, whatever is not only talented, but genuinely comprised of lovely people, I try to support them. Nice is a very big deal to me.

How do you plan your posts—do you go by a calendar, or when you are inspired?
I try to post 3x/week minimum, and write them down on a “schedule” I keep on my laptop. The weekly schedule look something like this:
--MONDAY: Mouth Rejoices: Dinner at Foreign and Domestic
--WEDNESDAY: My session with a psychic
--FRIDAY: Sponsor Spotlight on Birds Barbershop
As you can see, my writing is part reviews – part personal stories – part business hustling. ☺ As I get more advertisers I try to be good to them and show them a little love in blog posts. (It helps that I happen to adore my sponsors).

Aesthetics is a big part of blogging. You recently changed up design on your blog. Did you source this out, or are you an HTML whiz? How important do you think it is for a blogger to know basic HTML?
Changing my design was one of the BEST decisions I ever made! I hired a company called Freckled Nest, and specifically, a designer named Kelly Ann Mount. I found her before I found her company – she’s an artist with a blog called “The Flowerchild Dwelling,” and I stalked her. Seriously. I wrote her in November asking her I could hire her for a redesign, and she couldn’t … I kept asking … finally in February her schedule freed up and she took me on as a client. Power of persistence!
I think it IS important for a blogger to know some basic HTML (which is why I prefer Blogger over Wordpress; Blogger is easier for newbies to tweak their own templates). But, if you’re serious about blogging, or have been doing it for a while and are ready to take the next step forward – hire a template designer. I can’t recommend Freckled Nest enough. My traffic increased substantially after I launched the new design. I think people like spending time in pretty, eye-pleasing corners of the Internet.

You are a passionate and open writer, from your first house-hunting experience to an intervention you had with a close friend. What leads you to write about such personal experiences? What is something that you would definitely consider a taboo subject to write about?
I went to a naked yoga class last year and it is SUCH a good story – but I don’t think I can blog about it! Maybe I can save that one for a magazine somewhere. Anyway, nakedness + sex are pretty much the only off-limits topics for me. I admire sex bloggers a lot, but that’s a topic I keep just between Ross and I. ☺
Anyway, as for the other personal experiences, I think I just have a craving to tell good stories. I’m not a very good story-teller in person. But I’m good in writing. Shaping my experiences into narratives helps me make sense of things (both when they are happy things, and also when they are very, very hard things). Also, you know those people who just LIVE to cook? They love shopping, picking out all their special ingredients, marinating chicken breasts for hours, etc? I am so not like that with cooking. But I can relate to the passion. Picking out words, shaping sentences and dialog, the satisfaction that comes with a really punchy story conclusion – that all just makes me feel like a badass when I can pull it off.

You work for the local boutique publicity firm PR by the Book. How has your work as a publicist influenced your work as a blogger and vice versa?
Being social media savvy in any realm – whether you’ve got a ton of followers on Twitter, you post on Facebook all day long, you blog – always helps in publicity. I train my authors how to use these tools, and further their message by building up their own social media networks.
But being surrounded by books helps my writing, too. I read diverse items for work – cookbooks, memoirs, sci fi, children’s books. I’ve learned that there is a market for nearly everything, which encourages me as I think about taking on more serious writing projects in the future. Also, being a book publicist taught me how to publicize myself! I mean, I don’t really send press releases out about the blog, but I’ve got good relationships with local media, and they know they can call on me for quotes and media appearances. Part of being a blogger is “selling” the blog, and although I don’t do that enough – I don’t even have a Facebook page for it, and I really need to make one! – I’ve learned how to offer myself as a helpful source without being pushy.
There is also the question of: What are you an expert on? I teach all of my authors early on how to answer that question. I am (sort of) an expert on Austin, and (sort of) an expert on transitioning from kid to grown-up.

Stayed tuned for Part II of our conversation!

(And thank you everyone for the positive feedback on my post about moving to Austin. 'Tis greatly appreciated, and I am honored to be an inspiration to a few of you. If you haven't read it, please do, and tell me what you think! It is by far the most personal thing I've written for my blog, and it's exciting in a daunting sort of way. Happy Wednesday!)

Austin Fashion Week 2011 & Austin Street Style: Matt.

Mr. Austin Fashion Week, Matt Swinney.

At school today, I had the joy of listening to Matt Swinney, founder of Launch787, talk about Austin Fashion Week. I learned about how much goes into the process of creating AFW, and how someone who looks like Mr. Swinney can have a hard time "herding people who don't want to be herded." I also discovered that AFW is not all about the sexy bits of the fashion industry--there's still trash that needs to be taken out, coffee that needs to be fetched.Also, there's a lot riding on Austin Fashion Week, as it is named after the city. "It takes balls to associate an event with the city. If I screw up, it screws it up for the whole city...If I think about that too hard, I need to go have a drink."

That's why it's such a relief that the community has taken a liking to AFW. Last year alone, over 12,000 people went to various events during Austin Fashion Week. Swinney would like to see that number grow this year to 20,000.This year, AFW will take place from the 20th through the 27th of August.

The breakdown is simple: Saturday is the Austin Fashion Week Kickoff at the Cowboy Harley Davidson Showroom.

From Sunday-Friday there will be showcases throughout different parts of Austin, and Monday-Friday will also have runway presentations.

Monday has accessories, jewelry will be shown on Tuesday, and Wednesday-Friday will be broken up by resort, "edgy/funky", and evening wear.

Saturday wraps it all up with the Austin Fashion Awards, followed by the official Austin Fashion Awards After-Party.

Sounds like a fab time, and I cannot wait!If you're interested in volunteering for Austin Fashion Week, e-mail them at volunteers@launch787.com. Visit the Austin Fashion Week website for more details.

Thanks to Austin Fashion Week for the posters.

Happy Singles Awareness Day!

I celebrated my singleness by making cards for that other holiday: Valentine's Day. The Art Institute of Austin donated

the decorated cards to a local children's hospital.My hard work for the children.

Krystal, the most slinkster-cool graphic designer I know.
The more boys I meet, the more I love my dog: Biscuit!

Austin Street Style: Mimi & Candy.

Last week at the Art Institute of Austin campus.

Meet-and-greet with fashion designers Matthew Harding and Levi Palmer.

Matthew Harding and Levi Palmer, fashion designers and Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design graduates, spoke at the Art Institute of Austin on December 1st. Alumni of Central Saint Martins include the late Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane, John Galliano, Phoebe Philo, and Stella McCartney.

Harding, whose designs are currently available at Top Shop, is a London-based designer. He graduated from Central Saint Martins earlier this year. His postgrad collection, which was shown during London Fashion Week this past February, followed the school's Alexander McQueen tribute. Harding said that his "campy reference" was none other than Lynda Carter, aka Wonder Woman. Harding also mentioned that he wanted to create "something beautiful and chic after something cheap and nasty".

Palmer, who grew up in Belton, TX, knew from a young age that he wanted to do fashion. He moved to Austin at the age of sixteen with knowledge of sewing basic patterns. Palmer then became part of the Designers Guild of Austin, which was co-founded by Gail Chovan to promote local talent and and showcase the city as a creative hub.

In 2001, Palmer began his formal education at El Centro in Dallas. His graduate collection won a scholarship for him to study abroad in London and Paris. Palmer subsequently attended Central Saint Martins from 2005 to 2009, and stressed two things that have shaped him as a designer: first, he "worked anywhere" and, secondly, noted one should "always remember those who brought you". He said his graduate collection at Central Saint Martins reflected his homesickness and Texas heritage, while creating a "hyper-masculine image infused with feminine properties".

Vogue UK name-checked Palmer following the Central Saint Martins BA Fashion Show and Palmer was later recruited by H&M, where he currently designs. The following is his Central Saint Martins graduate collection from 2009.

In all, both Harding and Palmer were generous with words of advice that were very useful to the students at the Art Institute of Austin, myself included. They showed students how to write a business letter in this day and age and how to use the professional networking site LinkedIn to one's advantage. One tip I learned from listening to their talk: instead of sending letters to a company's HR, send it to the person you want to work for (in their case, designers).

"Find someone within the company rather than 'To Whom It May Concern'" Harding said, adding "if they're kind, they might meet you if they have the time...because it's all about connections".

Through the Decades Fashion Show.

Models after the Through the Decades Fashion Show.

Last Friday, September 10th, I had the privilege of sitting front-row at the Through the Decades Fashion Show at the Art Museum of Austin. Presented by the Art Institute of Austin's Event and Fashion Show Production Class of 2010, the show was comprised of 22 looks that spanned of a fashion timeline from the early 1900s to present day and beyond.

Before the show, I enjoyed delicious food provided by the culinary students from the Art Institute while listening to local band The FreeFlow.

Absolutely delish!

The FreeFlow played a medley of Bob Marley hits.

The show began at 7:30, and it was an absolute delight to be sitting in the front-row. As a definitive restrospect, the show was impressive, especially since the students only had 9 weeks to organize the event. Their hard work paid off, as I felt like I had gone on a journey through a fashion time capsule.

Enjoy going Through the Decades with these photos that were taken by Joe Gomez. Clothing, accessories, and shoes for the show were provided by local boutiques Blackbird, Buffalo Exchange, and Buckle.

1900s-inspired dress and jacket provided by Blackbird. 1920s: cream drop-waist mini-dress provided by Blackbird.1940s-styled button-down and vest from Buffalo Exchange. 1950s style polka-dot dress from Buffalo Exchange.60s retro maxi dress provided by Buffalo Exchange.
70s satin jumpsuit with pleated waist from Betsey Johnson.
1980s-inspired strapless gun print dress provided by Betsey Johnson. 1990s Grunge Era denim vest and plaid button-down from Buffalo Exchange. Futuristic Vagabond: brocade jacket designed by Kerstin Heitzke.
Shorts from Buffalo Exchange.
Stretch denim and liquid black romper designed by Kerstin Heitzke.

Special thanks to Joe Gomez. for the wonderful photos.

Austin Street Style: I fell in love with a girl at the car show!

Her name escapes me, but this lovely lady allowed me to take her photo at the car show that visited Austin last weekend. Her outfit reminded me of this old War War II poster of Rosie the Riveter.

The car show was amazing! I love seeing vintage hot-rods. I had a great time, walking down South Congress.

I still have no computer access at home and school is very busy right now (along with a few other students, I am making a window display for Mychael Knight's visit).

The good news? I am turning 21 in eight days, and am looking forward to that very much!

I am trying to come up with a giveaway idea, as then I can just let that run for a week or two...ha, this no computer access is making me so lazy.

Hope all y'all are having a gorgeous, fabulous day and remember, you're never fully dressed without a smile!

Fashionably Austin & A Night of MajK with Mychael Knight

Cheryl of Fashionably Austin came to the Art Institute of Austin campus to speak to the Fashion & Retail Management students. If you are not familiar with Fashionably Austin, it's the fashion-forward brainchild of Cheryl and her business partner, . You can find about all the fashion events and happenings in Austin at the website, along with information about local designers, sales, and even watch Cheryl's recent experience at New York Fashion Week. It was wonderful to hear from a fashion insider who has made their dream into their career, all the while living in the beautiful city of Austin.

In other news...

Mychael Knight, who you may know from Project Runway: Season Three, is coming to Austin!

Mychael Knight is visiting the Art Institute of Austin campus on April 14th, and will be the school's first Artist in Residence.

Mychael Knight got his start in fashion as a stylist for the music industry, and was voted the Fan Favorite of the third season of Project Runway and placed fourth overall.

Since his stint on the show, Knight has been awfully busy: he has since designed a line of custom tees for Starbucks, introduced a lingerie line for men and women (Kitty & Dick), created a unisex fragrance (MajK), and on the 17th, he debuted his Fall/Winter 2010 line at the Charleston Fashion Week in South Carolina.

At The Art Institute of Austin's Night of MajK, attendees will enjoy:

• the Austin debut of Mychael Knight's Fall/Winter '10 line "Carte Blanche".


• a fashion presentation and Q&A with Mychael Knight.


• a gallery show inspired by Mr. Knight.


• hors d'oeuvres by the International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Austin.

To learn more information and RSVP to the event, go here.

Austin Street Style & Wish Swimwear Fashion Show.

Myself, Dee, and Megan!

Last night was the Wish Ut Swimwear Collection Fashion Show at the Quarters' Nueces House. I went with my friends Megan and Dee.

Fun Tid-Bits: Megan is the former president of the Art Institue of Austin Fashion Club, Ai Style, while Dee is the current president (I'm the secretary).

I share all of my classes with these ladies this quarter, and over the past few months we've shared many adventures in Austin. Nothing compares to the unexpected undertaking we had last night, however: we had no real clue as to where we were going for the show. We knew where Nueces and 23rd Street were, but we didn't know where this 'house' was.

We got lost, parked, wandered around, and Megan bravely asked other people how to get there.

Waiting as Megan asked for directions.

Upon our arrival to the pool at the Nueces House, we found out the show wasn't starting for another 40 minutes (this is what happens when you make plans via Facebook). Dee, Megan, and I decided to go back to the Saxbys Coffee (2222 Rio Grande), where Megan had first stopped for directions (we got our final directions from boys at a rental agency).

At Saxbys Coffee.D & M walking back to the Quarters' Nueces House.

The show started at 9 o'clock, and let me tell you...I have never been so excited for a new swimsuit in my life. I have eight years of swim-team under my belt and one day I would like to design swimwear, so seeing a live swimwear collection prance before my eyes was the ultimate Wednesday night. Plus, it's always nice to go to other fashion shows in order to gain inspiration for future shows. Although it was a bit chilly out, the models did a swell job. I have to give them props, as they looked as if the temps did not bother them. Here are the photos I took:

Which swimwear look is your fave?