Coony love.

Fellow blogger (and bestie!) Kelly and I took outfit pictures together yesterday before going to Becky's birthday party!



Dress: Wal-Mart ($12 on sale!)
Sparrow necklace: Wet Seal ($3 on sale!)
Tights: Target ($3.50 on sale!)
Boots: Forever 21 ($22.80)

Kelly Love!

Yesterday my parents came down to give me my social security card and my brought a GIANT GROCERY BAG OF TIGHTS! Spanning every color of the rainbow from lemon chiffon to gradient green to sparkly turquoise and everything in between. Kelly dubbed it "like an orgasm in a bag". INDEED COONY. INDEED!

(picture of tights soon!)

I accidentally sprayed mace indoors

Oh dang. I thought it was a pocket flashlight! Instead, I fumigated Becky's teeny tiny dorm room. I'm sorry, Bex. It was pretty funny though. We evacuated and screamed and squealed and giggled and generally acted exactly as stereotypically 18 year old girls would act. Fitting since tomorrow Becky will be 19! Epic Birthday party planned for tomorrow.

As for today -- pretty busy day. Classes, rain, honors program info session, Which Wich, networking, editing, party shopping, stressing out, eating food, now I'm gonna go to Swegler's and bake!

Here's the outfit, hope you like it! It's one of my new ModCloth dresses!

detail of print on dress

Dress: Mod Cloth ($15 on sale!)
Belt: Wal-Mart ($5)
Leggings: Forever 21? ($6.80)
Shoes: Delias ($25)
Necklace: Vintage from my Grandma

total: $54.80

Coming soon ... more street style fashion, a review of the Creative Research Lab on E. MLK, discussion about the Nobelity project, editorials, and more.

A wall designs (and crafts!)

Har har -- aren't I pun-ny?

But really ... check out A. Wahl Designs. Tobie Alexander Wahl is a Washingtonian turned Austinite student/crafter. I met her yesterday when she so graciously posed for a street style photo for me even in the cold and wet weather. I especially noticed in her outfit a precious stitched head band that read "I Love You" and a beautiful pair of ivory Eiffel Tower earrings. When I inquired where she got them, I learned all about A. Wahl Designs!

Visit A. Wahl here

And look for Tobie in the second edition of Student Street Style, coming sometime this weekend!

Quote of the Day

" Don't be intimidated. The faculty are generally dumber than you are -- they just do a better job of hiding it. "

- Bob Jenson, Professor in the UT Department of Journalism & Direction of Senior Fellows Honors Program on the faculty of the Senior Fellows Program

Student Street Style: 1/20 - 1/27

Kathryn O'Connor

Senior -- Radio/TV/Film

Spotted at the Burdine psychology building before an RTF screening

Sunglasses: Fred Flare
Coat: The Gap
Leggings: American Apparel
Shoes: Nieman Marcus, by Tori Birch

"I just moved back to San Antonio a few weeks ago and thought 'Thank God I don't have to go to a fucking mall anymore!' "

Zephyr Jarmon
Freshman -- International Relations

Spotted in front of the Welch chemistry building while walking to class

Dress: Fire Los Angeles (borrowed)
Shoes: Urban Outfitters
Purse: Thrifted (Aunt's)
Belt: Buffalo Exchange
Leggings: Forever 21
Sunglasses: Vintage (Best friend's Grandad!)

"I like floral patterns, and the 60's are definitely a fashion
influence."

Pia Siaotong
Sophomore -- Radio/TV/Film

Sweater: Target
T-shirt: "Some Canadian record store"
Scarf: Urban Outfitters
Leggings: Department Store
Boots: Thrifted (San Antonio)
Shorts: Hollister
Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

"I gravitate toward dark colors because they're interchangeable. I'm frugal -- reusing pieces in my wardrobe is important."

Best quote of the day

"You can be anyone you want to be in Austin."

So. True.

Orange sherbet + vanilla ice cream = so good

Not too exciting of an outfit, only wore it to class. Tuesdays are my really loooong class days; I wouldn't have time to do anything else even if I wanted to! I really like purple, can't you tell?

T shirt : Target ($10)
Shorts: Dayna gave them to me
Leggings: Wal-mart ($12)
Sweater: Wal-mart ($10)
Boots: Delias ($25)

I should probably be embarrassed because of the amount of Wal-Mart in this outfit. Meh. It's cheap and I think it looks cute. When I'm a famous performance and multimedia artist a la Miranda July, I'll shop at classier venues.

Floral Prints Spring Into Style

Retailers predict '90s revival, vintage trends as season heats up

By Kayla Freeman

Daily Texan Staff

Although the calendar may say it’s still the middle of winter, the recent blessing of Texan sunshine and balmy temperatures shout spring’s awakening. It’s time to put away the cozy — but unflattering — uniform of sweatpants and UGG boots and explore the emerging fashion trends for the new season.

Malinda Ballard, a retail merchandising senior and employee at the Buffalo Exchange clothing store, predicted that heavy floral patterns as part of a ‘90s revival will gain popularity. Hemlines, as well as eyebrows, will raise while everything mini, including skirts and dresses, will remain staples of a fashionable wardrobe.

Students who are fond of the flower trend can find fashionable pieces like floral patterned Mary Jane slip-ons, tights and jumpers at close-to-campus locations like Urban Outfitters or American Apparel on the Drag. Because of their classic nature, shoppers can find miniature-length skirts and dresses of both solid and printed varieties in nearly every apparel store in every price range from Savers to SoLa.

When asked about her thoughts on the emerging ‘90s revival trend, Cathy Casias, a former UT student and sales associate at Cream Vintage on Guadalupe Street, said fashion is frequently inspired by popular bands, like Sonic Youth.

“Everyone will always be into the Kim Gordon style,” Casias said. “Especially girls with alternative tastes.”

Casias predicted sized-down vintage dresses will also be popular, referencing a green-and-blue floral print sleeveless dress that had been bought and altered by Cream Vintage to a shorter, more flattering silhouette.

“One-of-a-kind, reconstructed and redesigned pieces are cool,” she said.

To recreate an authentic 1990s look, you can visit vintage stores such as New Bohemia, located on South Congress Avenue, or Cream Vintage, which has an additional location there. These stores often feature authentic vintage clothing reconstructed to be more flattering and attuned to modern style. Not only are reworked fashion items one of a kind, they also become economical and environmentally friendly by reusing old clothing instead of throwing it away.

If you’re searching for a rewarding challenge, try shopping at thrift stores such as St. Vincent de Paul on South Congress Avenue or one of the various Goodwill locations located on Lamar Boulevard and in the Lake Austin area. With a little bit of time and effort, you can find a plethora of authentic ‘90s pieces donated from closets rivaling those of the kids on Melrose Place. Unlike the vintage boutiques with in-house design teams like New Bohemia and Cream, you must make any alterations yourself when vintage shopping at thrift stores. However, it is worth the extra effort because the prices at Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul are garage-sale cheap, and a portion of every purchase will be used to fund charitable causes in the Austin community.

Some of these trends have already been spotted around campus as the spring semester commences. Zephyr Jarmon, an international relations freshman, sported a blue floral mini dress over lace tights Monday that channeled Courtney Love circa 1991. When asked about which fashion trends she was most excited about for the upcoming season, Jarmon said, “I want to get some really light-washed baggy jeans from the ‘90s, turn them into shorts and then wear them with girly floral shirts.”

It’s a new decade, a new semester and a new season. Students in Austin are becoming inspired to be both creative and environmentally conscious as they recreate the 1990s fashion era of grunge-rock, acid wash and girly florals.

Read article here!

Published fashion writer???

Dress: Wet Seal $17
Tights: Target $5
Flats: Burlington Coat Factory $13
Scarf: Target $5
Total: $40

(Sorry for the gross picture. I hadn't applied make-up until after I took this picture! gah!)

Today was a huge learning experience in the realm of fashion and fashion writing. I've probably spent more time today and last night on my blackberry and email then I have all semester. I've been in correspondence with The Daily Texan, the student newspaper on campus, because I'm writing a spring style predictions piece as a try out to become a staffer. The world of journalism is intense! I had a different phone call or voicemail every 10 minutes offering a new bit of information or instruction on the piece, with a deadline of less than 24 hours.

I made phone calls to resale shops while sitting at the Which Wich patio, camped outside vintage stores waiting for them to open so I could interview employees, typed up my article at a picnic table and finished just 15 minutes before the deadline. It's crazy!

I think I work best under pressure though. It inspires me to work my ass off. I like the chaos.


Part of all that collaboration included getting together with a Daily Texan photographer, (the amazingly talented Mari Kang), and taking our model, Zephyr, to back alley record shops, little pastel houses, octopi grafitti, and parking garage with amazing shadows for the photo shoot.

It was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed the company of those two classy, artsy ladies. We talked music (hipster slowdance! ha!), the importance of personal style, and our love for Austin.

Later, I got a phone call from the Life and Arts editor, Ben, asking me to come to the office. We went over edits together. He was pleased and had little he wanted to change -- only structural and style stuff (journalism-y things I never knew of before!) Honestly, I learned more about journalism and fashion writing in that 30 minutes than I ever have in my life. So cool.

Ben was just so chill about everything, I was almost convinced I mis heard him when he said he was going to run my piece in the DOM SPOT. See, you're probably wondering what the dom spot is. I did too until he showed me. We're talking front page, center. Woot woot! Not sure if that will actually happen, but I guess tomorrow when I wake up I'll just have to check the news kiosk myself and see.

I hope to get permission from Mari to post some of the pics of Zephyr up here so you can see her beautiful work and how we spent the day. It was really amazing.


But on a tangent: As I'm gaining writing experience and personal confidence, I wanted to make an even greater effort to make this blog successful! It's only been 2 weeks or so since I've really started working on Austin Etc, and it makes me feel really good and creatively stimulated in a way I feel like I've been missing for a while. Please be patient as I, little Bambi, try to stand up on this slippery ice. Give me some time and I'll make this something you can wait to get your little paws on and comment, subscribe, interact, and ENJOY. Optimism!

Duct Tape Masquerade

Friday was Alejandra's 22nd Birthday Party! She cooked a delicious meal (baked chicken, stuffed tomatoes, french green beans, acorn squash risotto and a 3 tiered funfetti cake in the shape of a heart with pink strawberry icing!) for all of us and we ate, drank, and were merry. It was masquerade theme, and being a broke, crafty college kid -- I made my own mask out of a piece of cardboard, markers, a knitting needle and duct tape. It was classy. I wore my vintage green frock from Cream vintage in 2007 for the first time! I've had it for a while but never had the guts to wear it. I got a lot of compliments and had an amazing time. Afterward some of us went to Spiderhouse and played cards.

Close up of the epic eye shadow

Dress: $18 - Cream Vintage
Shoes: $25 - Delias
Necklace: Vintage from my Grandmother
Belt: Stolen from the Birdville Costume Shop!

Halcyon and on and on and on

S'mores? Yum!
Camping in January? Effing cold. Even in ATX.
Solution? Halcyon's Personal S'more Station!

Halcyon is a coffee shop, bar, and lounge on 4th street in between Congress and Lavaca. But more popular than any drink on the menu is the unique dessert choice that Halcyon is serving up: Personal S'mores stations delivered to your seat in increments of 2 or 4 servings. Each station is complete with indivudally wrapped graham crackers, Hershey bars, giant marshamallows, wooden skewers, and a teeny wittle fire pit with which to roast them. It. Is. Genius. It's the sort of thing that makes people facepalm and say: "Why didn't I think of that?"

Halcyon (as in the Halcyon Days) is an appropriate moniker for this place -- what could possibly bring more tranquility and joy than a safe haven to eat fire-roasted s'mores without all that campfire business? The groovy music taste (Coconut Records anyone?), modern minimalist furnishings and enormous velvet pillows in cantaloupe orange and honeydew green add to the hip and relaxed atmosphere.

Kelly, Ariel, Becky and I went for a Thursday's girl's night and gossip session á la "Sex and the City". I can proudly say that I was labeled the Carrie in the group (huzzah!) with Kelly coming in as the sassy Samantha, Ariel as the reasonable Miranda, and Becky as the slightly naive Charlotte. Oodles of superficial girly talk ensued, and everyone ended up with gooey marshmallow all over their fingers or face at some point. Definitely a successful night.

Halcyon is located at 218 West 4th Street.

Keeping Up With the Kar-TRASH-ians.

Really hate that show. It irks me that people who are born into a life of privilege waste the opportunities that money can provide. Despite my distaste for it, this show is playing in the background right now courtesy of my room mate. *sigh*

To be fair, I'm sure I am equally annoying with my folky music and my tendency to wake up before ten and hit the linoleum running.

Tonight is Halcyon night! Woo!


T shirt - Ben Folds concert 2008 ($20)
Shorts - Forever 21 (on clearance! $4.80)
Leggings - Wet Seal ($8)
Boots - Forever 21 ($21.80)
Glasses - Eye Masters (Insurance? They're my real, rx strength glasses! haha)
Total: $54.60

Story about this shot: While taking pictures in this back staircase, the friendly cleaning lady I walked in. Twas awkward. I looked like a goober.

Have a great day!

Why does this Dream Theatre song sound like Dream Girls?

Second-first day of school. I woke up this morning for my 8 am and it was DARK outside. Do you *know* how long its been since I've woken up when it was still dark? I've certainly stayed up to see the sunrise since coming to UT but it was nice to awake to it through my poolside window. I was suprisingly not too tired -- I made it to the second row of my Intro to Nutrition class wide-eyed(ish) and bushy tailed(ish). I'm really excited for this class, which I suppose is a good thing because I may not even end up using the science credit that inspired me to sign up for the class in the first place.

Welp. Here's the outfit post. The setting is this nice little piece of foresty land between Moore-Hill and the alumni center where all the raccoons and albino squirrels hang. Concrete staircase made a good tripod.

Berry-colored sweater - Wal-Mart ($5)
Navy and lime striped shirt - Kohl's ($10)
Beads - Wet Seal ($7.80)
J. Crew Jeans - Ross ($13)
Brown sneakers - Urban Outiftters ($10)
Total: $45.80

Close ups of the shoes and necklace ...



Oh, and the song in question from the post title? "Through Her Eyes" by Dream Theatre. Hmm. Not sure where they were going with that one.

Waffle-gasm

Ode to the Waffle Cart
Oxymoronic, define it-- I waffle.
Single solid circular perimeter framing
Copious cubic crevices
Crevices collecting amber sweet
Firm and golden outer dresses
Modesty of sensitive pillowed white
Inside -- Moved on site

Aye, waffle!
Renegade lover out on the road
Like a missionary, venturing out to the abyss
To sell the waffle beyond the abode
It is both a muse and a canvas
Receptive to the whims goute de jour
Fruit and sweet adorned

Lay it all on me, the vessel, -- I, waffle,
Saturday morning commercials show
Like Helen, historically warred for
There is little propensity to just l'eggo
Without greater tussle of war
Universally craved, loved, esteemed
As simple and modest it may seem

Its fair to say: Life would be awful
In a world without the waffle.

And if that wasn't enough waffle for ya, here's some food porn:





Photos courtesy of flickr


Why the waffle inspired post? There's a little waffle cart just off of campus called Austin Waffles. I think it would be rather nifty to be a waffle monger, so I sent them an email inquiring about job openings and decided that a sardonic (*cough* I mean SERIOUS) poem would make an impression.



Ain't she a beaut?


Austin Waffles is located at 2316 San Antonio, across the street from the Starbucks behind the Drag.

We stole 18 pieces of fruit from the dining hall

Today is the first day of classes of the Spring semester. I'm pleased with my schedule, it should be fairly interesting (dare I say fun?). I'm taking Nutrition, Government (American Presidency), Development of the Motion Picture, Narrative Film Strategies, Reading Poetry, and Practice in Spoken French. It's wet and gray outside -- my favorite.



Although its definitely not intentional, nor guaranteed, it's safe to say that the daily outfit photos on ATXETC will be of the frugal fashionista variety. Mainly because I'm a student, and a currently unemployed one at that. Enjoy!

Dress: Forever 21 (found at Campus Garage sale!)
Belt: Thrifted
Necklace: Import One
Leggings: Wal-Mart
Shoes: Trends Too
Outfit total: $16

Are YOU going?

Because I am.



This Wednesday, January 20th, The Paramount Theatre in collaboration with The Nobelity Project is showing Turk Pipkin's documentary "One Peace At A Time". In it's own words, it's "a film about a messed up world and how we can fix it."

I've seen the trailer and it looks great. Plus it has an *amazing* soundtrack that features two of my favorites: Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens (swoon!).

Austin's Paramount Theatre is located at 713 Congress Avenue.
Read the full promo here.