AUSTIN FASHION WEEK 2014…and a look back!

It’s the most…wonderful time of the yeeeaaar (are you singing with me?).  I’m talking about my favorite week of the year…AUSTIN FASHION WEEK!  It’s the sixth annual Austin Fashion Week and has expanded to “Austin Fashion Ten Days” but that’s fine with me.  Austin Fashion Week kicked off when I was just ten months out of beauty school and it has been incredible to see the event grow and for myself to grow alongside it.  I consider myself fairly plugged in to the Austin fashion scene and even I can get overwhelmed by the schedule so I thought I’d share the in’s and outs of Austin Fashion Week along with a look back below to my favorite Austin Fashion Week memories from the past!

THE KICK OFF – THURSDAY APRIL 24th

This year the whole week will kick off with “Spectrum” the UT Fashion Show!  This event has always been a “must attend” and now it’s colliding with Fashion Week to make a huge splash.  Students will presents 120 original designs and I can’t wait to check out Fashion Alley “a display and exhibition of some of Austin’s most innovative and exciting fashion- and beauty-oriented businesses”.  Oh and did I mention general admission is FREE?  Don’t miss this!

THE BRUNCH – SATURDAY APRIL 26th

Join us Saturday morning at Seersucker for a fashion brunch benefitting The Rise School of Austin.  Myself and the entire Mirror Mirror gang will be doing hair and makeup for a very ready to wear fashion show!  Elie Tahari, Valentines Too, UAL, and Estilo will be showing and tickets are only $70 and include a 3-course brunch with wine!  Great cause, great fashion and great food!  See you there! 

THE MENS EVENT – TUESDAY APRIL 29th

This is a brand new event that is all about the guys!  He wont be showing his collection until THURSDAY NIGHT, but Austin’s own fashion designer, Ross Bennett is going to be at The Mens Event teaching men about made to measure suits.  Make sure you check out the Rolling Revival (featuring IV Treatments for Hangovers), Bryan Ashley Clothiers (super cool local sock brand), APC Metal Works (think custom BBQ and hunting rigs), Edwin Jagger (shaving) and tons of other manly vendors.  Why am I so excited about the mens event?

THE FASHION

It is FASHION week so you can expect tons of fashion!  From the kick off event with fresh talent from UT all the way through the awards show, there will be something for everyone.  Did you know that on Monday, Shop787 has over 50 ALL LOCAL brands that you can shop?! Did you know that Friday night will feature six designers that have all appeared on Project Runway?!  Did you know the awards show will feature local superstar designer Isabella Rose Taylor who is only 13 years old?!  Did you know they are expecting over 800 attendees each night?!  It’s all too much and I can’t wait!  If you haven’t yet, spend some time with the full list of events and designers participating.

THE AWARDS – MAY 3rd

The Austin Fashion Awards are the big finale for the week and it’ SO worth it if you’ve never been.  They will be giving out 4 Trailblazer awards and 4 Rising Star Awards and of course there will be incredible shows from three of Austin’s most talented designers along with the Mash Up Teams.  Oh and word on the street is that there will be a HUGE surprise this year but that’s all I can say!

If that doesn’t get you excited then I’ve included a few snapshots and memories from past years.  I’d love to hear what you are MOST looking forward to?

I hope to see you there but now a trip down memory lane…

THE PARTIES

It makes me tired just thinking about all of the Fashion Week parties I’ve attended but the most memorable has to be La Belle Vie!  Co-hosted with Cory Ryan, planned by Caplan Miller Events and the launch party for Mirror Mirror, it was over the top!

THE FRIENDS

It’s incredible to think about how many friends I have made throughout the years during Austin Fashion Week.  The very first AFW party we attended was in Dean Fredrick’s studio and a few years later he designed my engagement ring!  It’s been so fun seeing the Austin fashion community come together to support one another with various endeavors.

THE BOOTS

Of course I have to include the TWO times I got on stage and cried like a baby (like couldn’t talk and the emcee made fun of me) accepting my golden boots for “Best Hairstylist People’s Choice”.  Such a surreal experience and now all of my boots sit on display at Mirror Mirror as a reminder of all of my fashion week memories!

THE SUPPORT

I couldn’t have made it through all of the parties, photo shoots and long days at the salon without the support of my family, friends and clients!  I’ve had friends come from out of town to attend the awards in support, the salon family has helped keep the salon moving so I can attend a week of festivities, and my precious mom who has stood by my side to walk the red carpet and accept my awards!  It’s overwhelming to think of those of you that have supported me!

THE HUSBAND

This guy.  I mean where do I start?  He has carried purses, sat through fashion show upon fashion show, shaken hand after hand and now taken on extra baby duty just to let me follow my dreams.  Fashion Week is just ONE example of how he shows his support and he does it with a smile on his face (and looking very dapper I might add)!  I don’t know how I got so lucky to have a husband that has immersed himself into the fashion and beauty industry the way he has but it wouldn’t be an Austin Fashion Week recap without a HUGE thank you to him!

Cover image via Austin Fashion Week and Cory Ryan.  The rest of the images have been gathered from various social media, if you know who took any of the above pictures I would be happy to credit them!