Austin Fashion Week 2010: The After Party.

Forgive the Society Pages nature of this blog post, everyone. It's about to get all picture-y.

I did attend the Austin Fashion Week Awards, but I was backstage, dressing models. If you were in the audience, did you see the René Geneva portion of the show?  (Indiana at Adored Austin shot a great video of it.) Gorgessitty, non?

Anyway, I was steaming/zipping/pinning those little ladies pre-show, and as a result, schlepped my tired feet back home until the After Party began. As in ... I literally took off my uncomfortable ass shoes, carried them barefoot across the parking lot behind The Long Center, scampered across The Long Center lawn, glanced wild-eyed at the fancy people on the red carpet, ran - still barefoot - across Riverside Drive, flanking The Long Center, threw open my car door, tossed the offending shoes inside, and tossed myself, panting, into the front seat.

That whole description was possibly more dramatic than it needed to be.

How I wish someone had a video of that entire ridiculous incident, so we could laugh at it together.

If you were one of those people on the red carpet, and saw a redheaded, sweaty, HOT MESS clad in a big pastel dress, running across The Long Center like a lunatic, then A) I'm sorry you had to see that, and B) you looked really pretty!!

Where were we? Ah yes. The After Party.

Well frankly, I was pretty excited it, mostly because it was held at the Frost Bank Tower. Which felt delightfully Gotham to me. Haven't you always wanted to party up there, inside the bizarre little points? Are there rooms up there?  Rooms that slant diagonally? 

The answer is no, there aren't rooms up there, inside the "points." But on Saturday night, there were plenty of well-dressed individuals.

Left to right: The fabulous Anslee Connell of Savannah Red Couture, man-about-town Jeremiah Newton, designer Amanda Fay, who MADE the pink top you're looking at, and moi.

On the left: my girl Cory Ryan, aka Austin Fashion Awards 2010 Critics Choice Winner: Best Photographer! And on the right, her completely adorable man, Tom Hudson.

On the left, Maureen Toribio, beauty and brains behind Inglenook Decor.

 Left: Austin Fashion Awards 2009 Critic's Choice Winner: Best Designer, René Geneva, middle: Austin Fashion Awards 2010 People's Choice Winner: Best Model, Jessa Peters.

A fairly typical shot of René and I.

As you can see, this was one of those nights where I had a drink or two, waved my camera around, and insisted strangers take pictures of my friends and I. Girl's all class!

PHOTOS: A Hair Affair Fashion Show.

On Monday night, The Phoenix hosted A Hair Affair Fashion Show & Fundraiser, as part of Austin Fashion Week. 

With gloriously large, 18th c. French-inspired wigs, body painting, and lacy tights aplenty, A Hair Affair ties with Fashion Freakout for the best local fashion show I've ever seen.

We waited for the show to begin ...

Emcee Marcus Swagger, of LegitArt Entertainment, introduced the show in full French regalia.

I couldn't get enough of those tights and frothy skirts. Buffalo Exchange provided the clothing, while Brandy Joy Smith provided the luscious styling.

Backstage, I got to talk to a few of the models.

Lovely Cameron.

Austin Eavesdropper reader, Lauren! Her top is entirely painted on.

Are you wondering where this wild make-up and hair comes from? That would be Waterstone Aesthetics, and hair stylist Ana Castro.

Finally, I didn't get a decent shot of the grand finale model - the one with a SHIP ON HER HEAD. I was so busy staring slack-jawed that I forgot to to get my camera in position, and by the time I did, it was too late!

But it's ok, because guess what you guys? I got to interview that model, Teresa Cantu - who made it to the finals for America's Next Top Model - for News 8 Austin. Go laugh at my little tiny microphone! I had such a blast doing that, and was honored to be asked by the station to help out with reporting. Maybe I'll get to do more of it in the future!

René Geneva's dresses are really growing on me. No, I'm serious.

In the last few years, much has been written about eco-couture. Repurposed fabrics, organic cottons, upcycled belts made out of old tires and milk cartons: I don't have to remind you how far we've come since the days of hemp drawstring pants.

Here in Austin, eco-chic designer René Geneva has always been one of our little green gems. She won Critic's Choice for Best Designer at last year's Austin Fashion Awards, and this Fall, she's headed to Vienna for a show titled “Grüne Mode - American Style."

Now, gowns have long been René's bread and butter. But see this dress below?

It's  alive.

What you're seeing (pardon the pixelated screen still) is a living dress. Check out the interview with René and Cathy Benavides on News 8 about this. Actual plants (specifically, sweet potato leaves) are growing down the back, and a solar-powered umbrella that attaches to a water pump hangs over the dress, watering it.

When René first told me about this dress, I was like: "come again?"
  

I wish I could create a whole photo shoot around this dress! Imagine the possibilities. But René was generous enough to provide something even better: A time lapse video that shows the whole 40-hour construction of this dress, condensed into a few magical minutes. The final result? The dress's exihibition last weekend, at Austin Museum of Art.

How ridiculously cool is that?

TONIGHT: Pre-Revolutionary France in Austin, Texas

Wow, three posts in one day? It's like this is a real city blog!

So tonight, I'm headed to A Hair Affair, a fashion show fundraiser for Locks of Love at The Phoenix. I've been looking forward to this event ever since Austin Eavesdropper superstar commenter, Le Tigre, turned me onto it.  Also, I overheard Ana describing the event at As You Like it Agnes last weekend (see? Am real eavesdropper), so I knew the show was going to be avante garde, pre-revolutionary France style. Or in other words, bonkers.

Ana sought several images to give her some hair-spiration for the show tonight. Here is a small sample.

Question: Why did we ever get rid of ship-themed wigs? I see real potential there.

Ana was also kind enough to give us the pre-show scoop on A Hair Affair. After reading this, how could you not go?

"I chose to showcase the three pre-revolutionary French classes: proletariat, bourgeouise, aristocrat. Why? Because they:

1) Were fun to create hair and makeup concepts for, and

2) Provided an exaggerated, eccentric example of the current imbalance in socio-economic conditions here in the US.

France went broke fighting other people's wars. Its aristocracy got away with numerous tax exemptions, while its middle class was taxed heavily. The nation was near bankruptcy at the time of revolution.

On a purely stylistic note, hair styling saw its boom in this time period. Hair styling became a legitimate profession. Stylists were in high demand to create the most ornate wigs, often themed after whatever party one was attending that evening. Women in the pre-revolutionary French aristocracy would compete to see who could have the biggest hair ... quite hilarious, but this part of the 18th century spawned the most ornate, largest hairstyles in Western history.

So while their hair was getting bigger and bigger, their lower classes were getting hungrier and poorer. Interesting contrast."

I'll say, Ana. I can't wait to see how she translates all this history on the models' heads tonight.

Also exciting?  In honor of Austin Fashion Week, News 8 Austin put together a little fashion street team for reporting.  I get to join these lovely ladies in helping out!  I'm so excited!  

So tonight, I'll be interviewing Ana Castro, the hair stylist for A Hair Affair, as well as a couple of the models, for News 8. Fingers crossed that this opportunity somehow involves me wearing a ship wig.

Austin Fashion Week starts tomorrow.

Just so you guys know, my outfit today is very Joan Holloway à la Mad Men. I realize you couldn't enjoy your weekend until you knew this information.

But I'm not taking a picture of it, because:

A) I am horrible at taking pictures of myself; I don't know how fashion bloggers do it, and

B) I think I'm going to save it for one of the many Austin Fashion Week day parties going on next week.

Did I ever tell you it was the character of Joan Holloway who inspired me to dye my hair red? Before that, I was a blonde, for years. (Evidenced in yesterday's post. Wasn't that a great look?)

Speaking of Fashion Week. We were chatting about it a bit on Monday, and did you know it starts tomorrow? With Tiffany?

Sigh. Don't you miss the days when you could go see a really cool concert, AT THE MALL?

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Austin Fashion Week: Where are you partying?

Let's play the game Two Truths and a Lie. Are you ready? I'll start.

1. At my last office job, I set my desk on fire,
2. About four years ago, a woman in an elevator mistook me for a retarded person,
3. I've always had a natural knack for fashion.

Which one do you think is the lie?

If you guessed #3:

"I've always had a knack for fashion"

Ding ding ding! You are correct, and congratulations.

(Yes, I really did set my desk on fire, accidentally, during my first week.

Yes, the woman in the elevator really did think I was retarded. That's because I was pressing all the buttons in the elevator when she walked in, because it wasn't moving, and it was right after a dentist's appointment, so half of my jaw was slack/numb, and when I asked her if she knew the right button to press, it came out as: "Doufhiw? Yoaknawr. THANAAEMW!!"

Which, naturally, prompted her question, "sweetie, do you need some help?"  With LIFE? was the subtext.)

Anyway: Fashion.

So, fashion is something I've admittedly had to work at. In high school, I wore sweater sets. I am not joking. I sort of dressed like a soccer mom, only, I was 17. Then, in college, I suddenly became an environmentalist / feminist / a slew of other "-ists" overnight, and was far too concerned with the state of the world to care about anything as shallow as fashion! Not when there were plastic bottles to recycle, gender stereotypes to shatter, PARADIGMS to be SHIFTED!

And then, I went to Italy.

Oh my God, people. Have you ever been to Europe? I studied abroad in Milan for a semester, and my whole perspective on fashion changed. Because really, if not in Milan, then where else?

Everyday women (and men) on the street were so inspiring in the way they put their look together. I began to see the act of getting dressed as a creative, expressive art form, and my jaw would hang open at the people on the subway. Sharply-dressed businessmen, in perfectly tailored suits, paired with bright orange sneakers; girls in knee length silk cargo pants, with - not sneakers - buckled heels, and layered mesh tees on top.

If I had spoken Italian, I would have turned to them and whispered: "PSST. HOW DID YOU THINK OF THAT?"

It was already shocking that everyone in Italy apparently did not dress like Under the Tuscan Sun. I had never been to Europe before, so I was expecting a sea of flowy floral skirts and billowing white peasant tops, bandanas on the head ... eh, no. That's not how they do it in Milan.

That was my very first education in fashion, and moreover, personal style. An area I am still working on, but am lucky to be surrounded by people in this town with crazy style.

Which brings me to last night.  I was in a charity fashion show at Club DeVille (Runway to Peace), with my buddies Sarah (left), and Austin Eavesdropper reader, Lauren (right)! (But you may know her by her commenter name, "Le Tigre.")

Sorry that picture is a little grainy.  I am in the middle, and was wearing an outfit by eco-chic designer, Rene Geneva. Here's a better shot.

Now I know what you're thinking. "That's a nice bracelet."

Haha, just kidding. If you're anything like me, you look at that picture and think: "That right boob clearly wants to escape." Don't worry, it stayed in.

(Because this would be a whole 'nother blog post if my breasteses had a Janet Jackson-like wardrobe moment last night. Trust.)

Anyway, before the show began, a few girls and I were talking about Austin Fashion Week, so I thought I'd take a moment to tell you guys what I'm excited about, and ask you what you're excited about.

a hair affair / monday, august 16. I'm going to be posting more about A Hair Affair later this week. Beautiful Lauren will be walking in it, and Ana Castro - who did our hair yesterday for the show - is going to be using all kinds of weird, wonderful beauty techniques.  Think real charcoal, smeared on models' faces. Also, the clothing will be provided by Buffalo Exchange, and if you've ever seen the mind-blowing show they put on for Fashion Freakout each year, you know how they like to  bring it.

cupcakes and cocktails / wednesday, august 18.

First of all, this party is being held at Lovely Austin, which I have heard so much about and even visited once, alas, during non-business hours. So I'm excited to check it out, as well as Material, their featured designer.

Secondly, in addition to Lovely, Material, cupcakes, and cocktails, there is one more reason I want to attend this party. A percentage of all sales during Fashion Week will support Dress for Success, a non-profit devoted to helping disadvantaged women get work outfits for job interviews.

I always had a working mom growing up, and remember her being so excited when she found a good suit at Goodwill. This is another reason why my perspective on fashion has changed: In the right circumstances, "dressing the part" can be incredibly empowering.

Photo credit

lingerie, jewelry, and naked sushi / wednesday, august 18.  I bet you weren't expecting quite this level of boobies in our post today, were you?

Anyway, this party just sounds too intriguing to miss. It will be held at Teddies for Bettys on S. 1st, and will be catered by Kenichi. Along with a jewelry fashion show, they are totally going to have a live model layed out on a table, covered with sushi and flowers.

Right?

Because I am a 14-year-old boy, I will go to this. And stifle giggles the whole time.  I mean take note of Austin's vibrant fashion community.

So now, here is my question to you, friendlies:

what austin fashion week parties 
are you attending?

Click here for full schedule.

Austin Fashion Awards ROUND-UP

I've had basically three thoughts today.

A) I adore Lloyd on Entourage.

B) My husband is amazing. Last night in a dream, he saved me from a creature that was hissing at me from inside our bathtub: an unholy genetic union of Snake and Zebra. Literally my least favorite and most favorite animals combined (and a "znake" as we later christened it). It was humongous like a sandworm from Beetlejuice, and GRINNING at me while it was hissing, delighting in my fear this sick and twisted creature. So R. - being quite manly and capable - grabbed it, ran to the front door, and drop-kicked it into the street!

I felt a little bad because here was blatant animal abuse, occurring right inside my dream. But I also felt relieved that that thing was out of the damn house. And I also know that were this scenario to happen in real life, R. would behave as heroically as he did inside my brain.

C) So very, VERY proud of my girl Rene who won Critic's Choice Best Local Fashion Designer last night at the Austin Fashion Awards!!! Check out the full list of winners - which also includes photographer extraordinaire Cory Ryan and Broken Ear Productions - here!

Michael Barnes at the Statesman was very kind to take Rene and I's picture, with both of us wearing her original creations! Here are some more pics below from the evening...



Rene and I on red carpet, courtesy of Jake Holt Photography (who took GORGEOUS shots of everyone, see full gallery here).

Here is one more from Jake. One of my very favorite couples, Cory Ryan and Tom Hudson - bassist and drummer in Hollywood Gossip! And so very much more.




How insanely pretty is she.















A very fuzzy shot of Rene winning her Golden Boot:

The two of us holding a kryptonite-like substance at the AMLI After Party (what is this stuff??)

Hats off Matt Swinney, and the legions of people who made Austin's first Fashion Week happen!

But - before we close. It must be said that one of the celebrity attendees of the night, Kayne of Project Runway Season 3, is truly one of the sweetest men I have ever met. With absolutely flawless skin. Even high-res photography cannot do this complexion justice.

FINIS!