Easter Tuesday.

Here's the outfit I wore to go to Mother's (mmm) with the lovely Katy and also to spend Easter with my family in San Antonio. I played Pokemon cards for the first time in a DECADE. Also, Easter marked the end of my contact celibacy. My mom brought me more contacts so I no longer have to wear outfits that only compliment my very flamboyant purple glasses. YEAH!

• shirt: Buffalo Exchange $10
• skirt: Target $12
• necklace: gift from Dayna
• shoes: Payless $15

I might just one day migrate from my trusty fire escape stair case. But then again, I don't know. It's cozy. :]

A cute little bird necklace my sister made for me! Plus, a close up of the print on my shirt.

Here are the flats I customized when I was 15 a la Miranda July in "Me & You & Everyone We Know". They survived many years of rain storms, teen angst, and sockless days. Can't you tell?

ATTENTION AUSTIN FASHIONITES

Q: What are you doing tomorrow between 10 am and 6pm?

A :Um. Going to the Omni Hotel at San Jac & 8th (or at 7th & Brazos if you're confused and disoriented like Kelly and I). 

DUH.

ATX Auctions bought a barrel load of vintage clothing from the 40s 50s 60s 70s and 80s from a Vintage Store that had to close due to bankruptcy before they even opened. Now they are selling over 4000 PIECES  all for less than ten bucks a pop.

The event was held in a conference room in the hotel. It was a very minimal set-up, lacking hangers, dressing rooms, or any lasting organization. However, I didn't mind too much -- it's all part of the thrill of the hunt! Also, let me say how pleased I was with the lack of catty wedding dress outlet-esque women brawls that one would normalyl expect from such an event. But maybe it's because Kelly and I went an hour before they closed at 10 tonight and all the best finds had already been fought for to the death. Perhaps. Anyhoo, I bought a kimono, a vest, and a dress for $18. SUCCESS.

Today and tomorrow are the only days so GO GO GO and spend to your thrifty and fashionable hearts' desires!

Link to the Facebook event can be found HERE

Find it in Austin @ the Omni Hotel, 700 San Jacinto

Now with bigger outfit photos!

Now that I have this spiffy new wide three column layout, I have more room to make my outfit photos a little bigger. Woo! 

Here goes it: 

Dress: Thrifttown $10

Tights: American Apparel Flea Market $5

Shoes: Target $17

Belt: Thrifttown $3.50

This is sort of an outdated outfit, back from the last day of SXSW. I'm a naughty blogger! Maybe just busy. Anyway, voila! 

What I've Been Up To/Why this Outfit Post is Ridiculously Late

- Working on applying to internships! One is to work in a contemporary art museum on the interactive program and the second is to edit footage of humanitarian aid testimonials

- SCHOOL. Cliche right? I have two tests this week (government and nutrition) and a paper about Citizen Kane and it's historical influence due 

- Creating my Humanities contract. It's this honors program at UT where you get to create your own degree, but you have to comb the course catalog, write letters of appeal, visit advisers, yadda yadda yadda.  I'm centering mine around art and culture's social and political influence.

- Having office hours/dinner with amazing professors. Laura Dixon is my young, nerdy-cool Film Narrative teacher. She and I had a long conversation about Miranda July and living in NYC and other cool things. Dr. Barbara Harlow was my Humanitarian Aid professor last semester. 2 other students and myself had dinner with Dr. Harlow on Thursday and I'm feeling really inspired to use art and media for social change. 

- Going to wicked concerts. Ted Leo & The Pharmacists and Julia Nunes. Be jealous.

Mother superior jumped the gun

I'm a fan of retro fashion, outdated photographs, bringing back kitsch, and nostalgia. I love this site. And I think you should visit it and fall in love, too. I present ...

"My Mom, The Style Icon"

(Above) Autumn raiding her mother, Linda's, closet in a patchwork dress from the 70's.

LOVE IT.


EDIT: Just to clarify that picture nor the blog itself is mine or about me/my mom. Sorry for the confusion!

Tomorrow Night! Are you going?

"The Austin Eco Fashion Show will feature all organic and recycled fashion from over a dozen local designers, including several fashion design students from UT! Meet the designers, enjoy free food and grab a drink from the bar during our "mix-and-mingle" before the show!

Everyone will have the chance to buy some of the outfits, jewelry and accessories from the designers after the show! Stick around for the after party because there will be a DOOR PRIZE!!

Come support your local artists!

Doors open at 7PM, fashion show starts at 8PM!

$10 at the door
http://www.makesenseofyourworld.net/makesense/?p=183
___________________________________________________________________

The Austin Eco Fashion Show is presented by
Make SENSE of Your World Magazine and Green Cheeks Boutique
http://www.makesenseofyourworld.net/
http://www.greencheeksboutique.com/

~Music by DJ ModChap, aka. David Page~

Special Thanks to:
United States Art Authority, Spider House Cafe, Wanderland, Austin Green Art, Sprouts Farmers Market, Go-GreenBanners.com, and Ginny's Printing"

Yes. I do ocassionally play Neopets. No, I am not 13.

As a  somewhat fashion blogger, I should know that purple corduroy, orange tie dye, and green felt should never be combined in one outfit. Especially when accompanied by a large, tacky beaded necklace.

However, would you really put it past me?

I am the queen of kitsch and odd combinations.

I departed from my usual location of the safe, private fire escape stairwell in exchange for the courtyard bcause it was such a beautiful day outside yesterday!

However, with my luck, I did run into an acquaintance and had to do the whole awkward "yes-I'm-taking-pictures-of-myself-for-a-blog" conversation.

Shirt - homemade, maybe $7?
Skirts - Savers $6
Shoes - Urban Outfitters $10
Necklace - Vintage from Grandma


And for those of you who are still not believers in the orange-purple color combination ....

This chia will kick yo' ass.

My thoughts exactly!

Found this great post about personal style via Clyde's Rebirth. A very good, quick read!

 "... the beauty that makes us, US is too often smothered by what Sienna Miller is wearing, and 'dear god I NEED to look like that' mentality. I'm not saying that people shouldn't admire those with that ability to wear the clothes, and not the other way around, but instead of shleping around the heels of those icons, step up in your big girl shoes, and carve out your own niche."

Fabulous! 

The dog days are over

I have that song stuck in my head since watching the trailer for "Eat, Pray, Love". I read that book in October and couldn't put it down until I had finished it!

Today's been a lazy/productive day in that I've remained with my behind firmly planted in a chair in a conference room for the majority of the day, however, I've been pitter pattering away at my keyboard trying to establish a little bit of organization and growth of my online persona, including work on a creative portfolio. Hmm.

Here's an outfit post!

Necklace - Vintage from Grandma!
Pants - Delias (you can't tell but they're CORDUROY c:) $25
Shoes - A little random store in an outlet mall in Grapevine, TX $12
Top - Forever 21 $14

And in case you are one of the only people in the blogosphere who has not yet seen the EPL trailer, here goes:

Not-so-uniform uniform

My daily fashion hasn't been too exciting this past week, seeing as I'd be volunteering at SXSW for the first four days of the week. However, although all the volunteers were required to wear their SXSW Staff t-shirts, I enjoyed making mine a little personal.


I know my legs look like they are all sort of blending together, my apologies. I'm really wearing navy shorts, grey leggings, and black boots. Speaking of which

I NEED NEW CUSHY BLACK BOOKS!

I bought these at F21 sophomore or junior year in high school and they have served me well. They are quite lovely, comfortable, and flattering. However they've been in various stages of falling apart since about 6 months after I bought them. It's a wonder they've held on this long!

Shirt - SXSW (free!)
Necklace - you can't see it very well but it's a tiny little orange Texas with a star on Austin. Very cute. Free from the New Media Fashion brunch swag bag ;]
Headscarf - SXSW (free!)
Shorts - Forever 21 $12.80
Leggings - Wal-Mart $5
Boots - Forever 21 $24

And while I'm on the topic of SXSW let me just say I had an absolute blast. Seriously. I realize that's pretty much the general consensus for anyone who went, but this was my first time and it's been so great. I loved volunteering, meeting new people, sitting in on interactive and film panels, hearing bands I've never heard, watching great movies, exploring Austin, eating lots of yummy food, and becoming generally inspired about my future. Wunderbar!

More detailed Southby post to follow including a SXSW photo haul.

SXSW New Media Fashion Brunch - part DEUX

Okay so in my last post about the brunch, I did the obligatory "here-is-what-we-did-and-here-are-some-pics-to-show-you" post. Nice, but inadequate. So let's talk. Feelings about the New Media Fashion Brunch?

It was ...
overwhelmingfunamazinginterestingexcitingintimidatinghelpfulAWESOME

Several times throughout the day I looked around and thought: "How the hell did I get here?"
These times were likely when:

• I found myself in a fancy private room of an even fancier downtown condo building eating a food-porn worthy brunch with a gaggle of ultra-glam femme fatales.
• I was given free refreshments and exquisite attention at some of Austin's nicest boutiques, places I'd never even dared to step within 100 feet of before that day.
• I sat in a swanky wine bar drinking champagne and eating chocolate strawberries au gratuit with a select group of really successful, beautiful women.

I said to someone while we were eating brunch:

"This is like a grown-up girls' tea party!"

And it was. Oh, how it was. If I had been a girlier little girl, I bet that this would have been my ultimate childhood dream.

I want to touch on a particular conversation I had with Diya while walking to the shops on South Congress. I was talking about my film aesthetic as an artist and Diya said: "You know, I can totally see that in the way you dress." And she was so right. I had just never noticed it before! I admitted how I had felt a little out of place with my kelly green vintage floral, pink plastic pig earrings, and knock-off grey Keds sneakers amidst the high heels, high glamour, and high fashion of the women around me. But Diya helped me to remember: Fashion is another form of creative expression, and its fitting that whimsy and colors just happen to be mine!


So, combined with this (rather obvious) epiphany and a boatload of advice and consultation from Indiana and the fellow fashion bloggers (thank yooou!), I think some changes will come into play:

1. I'm considering moving all fashion related posts and daily outfits to another blogspot blog in order to narrow the focus and be more organized. I envision a blog that sort of capitalizes on the whimsical kitschy anti-fashion sort of look I wear and thus, doesn't take itself too seriously.
2. With this new blog, I can sort of cater more to the fashion blog audience/sponsors/etc in hopes of making something really successful.
3. I'll keep Austin Etc. around to continue to write about all the fun stuff I encounter in this amazing city and all the little quirky things about Austin I love to write about.
4. I'm going to try and launch a personal web portfolio this summer with information about my film work and other creative ventures, staying in touch with this personal style I'm working on establishing.

Any thoughts? Ideas? Comments? Suggestions?

For those of you who DO read this, thanks for all the patience with the changes throughout the past 3 months since I've created this blog. It's a really intensive learning process that can only be mastered through experience, but I'm loving this blogging lesson every step of the way! Watch this space for any info on changes!

SXSW New Media Fashion Brunch - part one

Kelly, Kristin and I dragged our lazy selves out of bed early on Friday morning and haphazardly found our way to the luxe condo building on Cesar Chavez where Indiana was hosting the New Media Fashion Brunch on Friday.

Not gonna lie -- I was really anxious/nervous/twitchy about going. I had creeped on almost all of the attendee's blogs and was pretty intimidated by the amount of fabulous that was about to be contained in one small room!

We spotted Indiana's bright yellow trench from afar, and knew we were at the right locale. I wish I had taken better pictures of the brunch set-up itself, for it was beautiful! The food spread was super cute. Croissants, breakfast potatoes, a snazzy fruit salad with kiwi and berries, and NUTELLA. WIN. Nutella is AWESOME when stirred into coffee, yes?

Some of us helped Indiana to set-up and we were all given really cute handmade nametags that also held business cards as well as amaZING good bags from Etsy Austin. Ooh la la, I love le craft! It was filled with some rad jewelry and little knick knacks and each one was unique.

The mingling was great to take the edge off. The girls were all really beautiful, humble, and just as fabulous as I imagine them to be (but far less intimidating!). We took some pictures and then hit the boutique crawl.

The stores were each so wonderfully decorated. They were like individual rooms in a dollhouse of glam. Most everything was out of my student price range, but there was a lot of beautiful sights to see and means of inspiration. It was great!

I feel as though this is only EXPOSITION to what I really wanted to talk about regarding the Fashion brunch, and I've already written so much! If you've read this much without getting bored, please give yourself a round of applause (or just leave a comment that says "macaroni" a la Me & You & Everyone We Know haha)

That being said, I think I'll continue my raving about the brunch in a second post to be continued tomorrow or later tonight (with pictures!)


EDIT ---->>> NOW WITH PICTURES!

New Media Fashion Brunch TOMORROW

I've been fortunate enough to be invited to the first Austin New Media Fashion Brunch! Indiana Adams from adored austin has organized the event. The brunch is invitation only, but afterward there's a really nifty Austin boutique crawl WITH DISCOUNTS that everyone is invited to attend. It's going to be a wonderful day of food, fashion, shopping, networking and a FREE CRAFTING SESSION WITH THE WONDERCRAFT. Not going to lie, that's actually the part I'm most excited about. I love crafts. yayayayayyayay! Anyway, if you're going to be in Austin this weekend -- come on out and join us!

Revenge of the Amish dress

"Duuude --- the dress got pocks."So says my face in this picture.

Got this dress for a steal at Buffalo. It's obviously an older piece, probably an Amish school teacher dress with scissors taken to it. I was super psyched to wear it and put non-Amish friendly things in my Amish-friendly pockets. Think blackberry cell phones. Yesssss

However, the Amish dress took its revenge on my Rumspringa and when I retrieved it from the wash it had frayed and unravelled to an absurd degree because it had not been hemmed when the previous owner cut the length. And I naively thought it would be fine.

Le sigh.

Quick blog post, more posting later. I'm off to work out and chill by the pool with some hep cats.

I must get better at this whole thing.

Consistency, that is.

I've been a bad blogger, but I'm still learning. I'm really good at collecting content every day, but I'm not so great at posting that content every day. It really makes no sense why I don't just put in the hour of work or so to compose a blog post. It must stem with my Writer's Block-inducing fears of taking words out of my head and putting them on a page! (Maybe that's why I am most productive late at night ... I'm too tired to feel inhibited.)

This was Wednesday's outfit. Wednesday was a beautiful day. No work AND no classes! All morning UT classes were pre-emptively canceled due to ice fears. HA! Wednesday was a beautiful, sunny, spring day. Oh Texas ...

I spent my free day down around 2nd street with Michelle as she applied for jobs. I visited the Cafe de Crepe (more on that later) while I waited.

Top: Savers -- $5
Belt: Birdville High School Costume Closet!
Shorts: Wal-Mart -- $12
Necklace: Hand me down?
Tights: Target -- $3 on sale!
Boots: Forever 21 -- $21.80

She wore a raspberry beret

The kind that you find in the second hand store
Raspberry beret
And when it was warm, she didn't wear much more


I've come to realize that The Universe will not excuse my procrastination. I took an outfit photo in winter wear about 48 hours ago and now it's spring (again?) in Austin. It looks kinda silly posting a picture of my snow outfit when I wore a sundress today!

Beret: Scarborough Faire! - $25
Jumper: Wet Seal - $12
Shirt: Target - $5
Tights: Forever 21 - $4.80
Rainboots: Forever 21 - $27.80
Necklace: Forever 21 - $7.80
Belt: Savers - $4

Tuesday was free pancake day at IHOP. Becky and I took the children (Travis, Debo, and Michael) to get pancakes down at the Cesar Chavez location. I gotta say -- free pancake day is probably the only time I'd ever go to an IHOP in Austin. There's just too many better breakfast establishments around here to visit instead! Although free pancakes aren't actually free after tip, and a donation to the children's hospital -- it's still fun to know that your dollars are going to a good cause instead of lining some pancake president's pocket. (huzzah, hows THAT for alliteration??)

Oh and the host at IHOP? Totally greeted me by singing "Raspberry Beret."

YES!

I was sort of hoping all day that someone would think of the song when they saw me. And when they called my party? "Raspberry -- table of five."

DOUBLE YES!


And when we returned back to MHD after the flapjacks?


This little tiny snowman was all that remained of the spontaneous snowstorm.

busy bee.

Hmm. It's going to be a busy week. Lots of assignments, applications, and essays to do. I need to come up with something fun to do this weekend to reward myself for surviving. We'll see.

I went to Savers for the first time yesterday with Kelly and Ariel! So great. I found some pretty amazing finds that you'll see over the next few weeks. I got: a groovy silverware set, this mustard sweater, two ugly-pretty tunic shirts, two belts (including the best freakin' belt ever!), a purple courduroy skirt with buttons down the front, a weird sort of 50's shirt with cute buttons, and red pants. For $45. Huzzah huzzah.

We should have taken a picture of the pile of our loot. Thought about it. Forgot about it.




Sweater - Savers $5
Dress - Target $25
Flats - Target $17 (I wore these shoes to prom!)
Belt - Target $14
Necklace - Hand me down from Grandma


I've been going sans-makeup lately to appease the nagging of my friend, Travis. He says that girls look better without it. I'm not sure. But, I like the exercise in becoming more comfortable with my appearance without a painted face, and it's nice to believe that maybe there's a breed of man out there who prefers this look? Hmm. Any thoughts on this?

Savers is located at 5222 Burnet Road

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.

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."

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.