Meet-and-greet with Tortoise & Blonde.

First, I would like to thank everyone for their encouraging comments regarding the (upcoming) final quarter of my undergrad career. My diligence throughout the Summer Quarter has paid off, and now I can say I earned B's in all of my science classes.

Second, since writing my last post, I feel as if everything has happened.

For instance, I now have a roommate, who owns a bunny rabbit named Marley. When you consider that I also have a medium-sized mutt, my apartment's been a little cramped, I've been a little stressed, and I spent my entire Autumn Break moving furniture around when I wasn't at work.

Womp, womp, womp (I strongly dislike complaining, so whenever I do make a complaint, I imagine the Teacher Noise from Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang. Strange? Maybe.).

On to my final point, and what this post is truly about:  I consider the following to be a unique brand that I trust y'all will like.

I mentioned Tortoise & Blonde a few posts back, as they were hosting events in Austin during the Austin City Limits Music Festival.  A couple Wednesdays ago, I had a lovely chat with Evan Weisfeld, one of the founders of Tortoise & Blonde.

 Mr. Evan Weisfeld, putting the "son" in "father-and-son team".

The meeting, which took place at Jo's Coffee (1300 South Congress) was a crash-course in the beginnings of Tortoise & Blonde, as well as eyewear lingo. Here are a few of the highlights:

-- Tortoise & Blonde was founded by three people: Dr. Steven Weisfeld, who has practiced optometry for over thirty years; Evan Weisfeld, Dr. Weisfeld's son who recognized the market's need for affordable, stylish eyewear;  and Phil Cobucci, who as a long-time patient of Dr. Weisfeld's and founder of BAM! Solutions has played a major role in the brand's marketing strategy.

--Tortoise & Blonde's products, though manufactured in the same factory as sought-after fashion frames, is remarkably well-priced. Their motto is "one today, another tomorrow", meaning that your glasses are as integral to your personality as any other visual trait (e.g. hairstyle). If you choose to switch it up, you shouldn't have to worry about breaking bank, as T&B's frames and prescription lenses start at $97.

The Quincy in "Black Cherry".

--The numbers on the inside of the temple actually mean something! For example, on this pair of Quincy sunglasses, there's a 50, followed by a square, and then 19-145. Those numbers are measurements in milimeters for (1. the "box" size, the width of each lens measured at the widest point across;  (2. the "bridge" size or the distance between the lenses, this measurement is sometimes abbreviated to DBL as in Distance Between Lenses; (3. the length of the temple.

--Tortoise & Blonde believes in the power of the consumer, and what consumers want is a variety of choices: many of T&B's frames come in three different "colorways" or color schemes, and within that, many styles are "double-laminated", or two-toned. What does that mean exactly? The outside of the frame is a different color than the inside. So you could totally be rockin' a black frame, but the inside could be cherry. How slinkster cool is that? Pretty rad, if you ask me. They also offer a generous selection of styles for both men and women.

--The brains behind Tortoise & Blonde are inspired by their everyday adventures and travels, and it shows in their naming of styles. The style names are a tribute to the unique (The Laurel is named after Laurel Canyon, a neighborhood canyon in Los Angeles), the iconic (Sunset takes its name from Sunset Boulevard, also in Los Angeles), and even the classic, as such is the case with Nottingham ( a city in England).

 The Quincy in "Black Cherry".

Once I get a new prescription for glasses, you bet I'm going to get a pair of glasses from Tortoise & Blonde. I just can't decide between the Sunset in "Black & Blue" and said-frames in "T&B". Now that I've done a slew of outfit posts, y'all know what colors I generally wear. Which colorway do you think I should get?

 Sunset  in "Black & Blue".

 Sunset in "T&B".

You can check out all that Tortoise & Blonde has to offer at their website. It's easy to navigate through, and let me know if you decide to snatch up a pair! They're definitely a brand that is worth following; I have a feeling big things are in store for them.

What I wore while conquering South Congress:

Sunglasses: Dots; Bow Halter: Esley, via Blackbird Clothes & Curios; 
Floral Shorts: Dots; Leather Flats: J. Crew.

3/4 views of glasses and logo courtesy of Tortoise & Blonde.

I Spy...

Summer break has ended, and you know what that means? I have internet access again!

Luckily, I took photos during my hiatus, so here's a peek at my adventures over the break.

Dress shorts at maya*.

INVENTORY: the book I won from The A.V. Club over Twitter.

Sparklies at New Bohemia.

One wicked shoe at Feathers Boutique.

More baubles at New Bohemia.A robot card from Monkey See, Monkey Do.

The best "I love you" card.
A gorgeous 1920s flapper dress at Feathers Boutique.

A key with pearls.

Food trailers on South Congress.

Shoe laces at Feathers Boutique.
The capitol building.A gnarly Winnie the Pooh.

Order number at Austin Java.

Round Rock Express tickets I won from Austin Monthly over Twitter.Records at Friends of Sound.

Austin Street Style: Friday on South Congress.

This might as well be a companion post to "13" Years of Blackmail, as these photos were taken before and after the Blackmail "13" Fashion Show that took place on October 29th. These fashionable Austinites captivated me almost as much as the fashion show itself!

Cheryl Bemis of Fashionably Austin and Fashionably Connected.

Onlookers before the show: I love the hats.

What a wonderful coat!

Decorative tights and shoes.

I am obsessed with corset-styled tops.

My favorite dress of the evening!

"13 Years" of Blackmail.

Gail Chovan, owner of Blackmail and designer of "13 Years".

On Friday, I had the honor of attending the debut of Austin designer Gail Chovan's newest collection.

Titled "13 Years", the exact number of years her boutique Blackmail has been open, Chovan dedicated the collection to the memory of her late father. Chovan further explained how the designs were a culmination of the past thirteen years. In her own life, the past thirteen years have included the birth of her children, breast cancer, a strengthening of her marriage, and the loss of her father.

The theme of "13 Years" was prevalent throughout the entire gathering: local musician Alejandro Escovdeo, a dear friend of Chovan's, even played a song before the show that was a favorite of Chovan's titled "13 Years".

Makeup was done my W3ll People.

A collection of original designs, I did not know what to expect from the owner of the nearly-monochromatic store. While black was predominantly featured, ivory was mixed in and sometimes even took over the look completely. The show was split into five different themes: Leather & Linen, Asiatique, Japan Meets Vivian, Toile Poeme (translates to "canvas poem"), and Dentelle Clarksville, and incorporated layers, sheers, feathers, and lace, among other visual textures.

I can't be certain of the segments through the following photos, but I hope you enjoy the photos as much I did the show. Here's to many more years of Gail Chovan and Blackmail!