Austin Fashion Week: Part III

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photography by hanan exposures.

for the final installment of my austin fashion week recap, i have photos from the runway representing the driskill designers from nights 1, 2, and 3.  many thanks to POM PR for sharing!  such amazing talent is on display here. i can’t wait to see what’s to come from these designers.

in order of collections pictured here, designs by:

1. isabella rose, austin, texas.

2. bobby k, gainesville, florida.

3. ashley zaba, ontario, canada.

4. lisa kaminiski, jacksonville, florida.

5. boudoir queen, smithville, texas.

6. sarah eileen, georgetown, texas.

7. house of krimson, san antonio, texas.

8. house of victoria, lagos, nigeria.

9. rare trends, buenos aires, argentina.

10. ken tyler, richardson, texas.

11. herff christiansen, austin, texas.

12. league of rebels, dallas, texas.

13. vian hunter, seattle, washington.

14. parrott by sarah parrott, marietta, georgia.

15. jag saint joi: nzimiro oputa, new york, new york.

16. nikki poulos, delray beach, florida.

xoxo natalie

Austin Fashion Week: Part II

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to continue my austin fashion week recap (how fitting is it that i’m getting around to these posts at the same time as NYFW?  see, sometimes procrastination does pay off…), i have my own {very amateur} iphone photos of the looks from the driskill nights (wednesday through friday) and then a few at the end of the ross bennett collection, which he debuted on saturday night at the austin music hall.  these photos were just snapped from my phone while sitting in the front row, and edited {can you even call it that?} on instagram or pic stitch.  i don’t have photos of all of the collections here– these are just some of my favorites from the week. the following is the order of the designers represented in this slideshow and links to their websites:

1-7. isabella rose, austin, texas.

8-9. bobby k, gainesville, florida.

10. ashley zaba, ontario, canada.

11. lisa kaminiski, jacksonville, florida.

12-19. boudoir queen, smithville, texas.

20. sarah eileen, georgetown, texas.

21. house of krimson, san antonio, texas.

22-26. rare trends, buenos aires, argentina.

27. herff christiansen, austin, texas.

28-30. league of rebels, dallas, texas.

31-32. parrott, marietta, georgia.

33-35. the ross bennett collection, austin, texas.

some very inspiring work from these designers, don’t you think?  i loved the variety of the collections shown at AFW. for those of you who are fortunate enough to attend NYFW, enjoy! and for those of us who don’t get to attend, here’s a link to the live stream schedule. no matter whether you are there in person or live streaming, in NYC or omaha, enjoy fashion week and get inspired for fall fashion!

xoxo natalie

Austin Fashion Week in Instagram: Part I

hello my friends! i’m back! well, i’ve been back from austin for quite a little while but i am FINALLY getting around to blogging about one of the most memorable trips of my life, to date. there are almost no words to explain how magical my first trip to austin was. and i owe it all to my darling friend kaleigh, of meldeen and the modern creative (you may remember her precious little family from here). kaleigh is a very talented creative and an incredibly ambitious business woman. she did all of the branding for austin fashion week, which was amazing, and i was honored to be her guest to austin fashion week. i also want to thank matt swinney, the producer of austin fashion week, for the most well-done fashion week i have attended. the VIP treatment was so special. i especially enjoyed sitting in the front row every evening to see the work of such talented designers (which i will get to in my next post). one of the most memorable parts of the trip was unexpectedly being able to attend the final night of awards and collections (thanks to the terrible weather in texas and american airlines for canceling our flights). overall, it was an unforgettable experience and i can’t wait to go back to austin again.

to start, a few of the highlights from the trip captured on instagram (from upper left):

1. upon landing in austin, we had lunch at the cutest little place: blue dahlia bistro.
2. delicious brie apricot walnut tartines for lunch.
3. after some shopping (first order of business, obviously) we were ready for night one of austin fashion week.
4. what i wore: dress: bcbg max azria, shoes: shoemint, clutch: gift from a friend.
5. up close: nails: butter london, watch: michael kors, jewels: banana republic {similar here}, j.crew, gifted.
6. kaleigh’s logo for austin fashion week.
7. outside the driskill hotel, home of austin fashion week.
8. lighting at the driskill.
9. even the bathroom was gorgeous. photo op (…thinking “am i really here?”)
10. kaleigh’s branding above the runway.
11. my lovely hostess!
12. front row fun every night with kaleigh and stephanie.
13. one of my favorite designers of the week: isabellarosefashion.com. she’s 11. yep.
14. wall projection of kaleigh’s logo.
15. out for champagne and oysters at parkside after night one with new friends in austin. cheers!
16. so fun.
17. photo of us sitting front row, by the statesman.
18. after the after-party at lustre pearl on rainy street. a little photo shoot in this darling bar.
19. bikini-clad dog walker on the runway. this little one reminded me of sophie as a baby pup.
20. getting into trouble shopping at zara at the domain. must-have trends for fall: leather peplum and snake print pants.
21. feather butterfly installation at neiman’s at the domain.
22. most unique coffee shop: houndstooth in austin.
23. houndstooth is so charming. and we’re talking real coffee- like no cream and sugar… it’s that good.
24. getting my makeup and hair done by kim barnes woolery in her airstream. what an experience!
25. austin fashion week night two at the driskill.
26. what i wore: jumpsuit: bbdakota from statement, heels: zara, clutch: zara, headband: forever21 {similar here}, jewels: jewelmint, brandy melville, banana republic {similar here}, michael kors.
27. the haunted bridal suite of the driskill. eerily beautiful.
28. austin fashion week night three. what i wore: dress: ladakh from statement, heels: zara, leather jacket: zara, clutch: michael kors, and…
29. THE gloves! perforated leather lambskin driving gloves made by my new friend ross bennett, of the ross bennett collection. photo credit: ross.
30. utterly entranced in the front row.
31. awesome shot of the driskill.
32. my new babies.
33. leaving austin fashion week. until next time! (or so we thought…)
34. saying goodbye to austin and new friends at houndstooth.
35. what’s that? our flights are cancelled due to the weather after waiting for hours at the airport? sounds good. we’ll just grab some energy strips and head to the final night of austin fashion week!
36. running in to the awards show.
37. we threw it together, but we made it. what i wore: greylin dress from piper {same print here}, jacket from zara, ash wedge booties {similar here}.
38. new friend lauren polt of chika-d accepting her award. naturally, a golden boot.
39. ross and erin bennett after debuting the collection– it was the icing on the cake that we could make it for this!

i’ll be back with more on austin fashion week. next up: photos from the runway…
xoxo natalie

Remembering

photo from my instagram (@natalieallison)

i try not to share too much personal information on my blog– after all, it is a style blog– but i’ve noticed a trend among bloggers lately {even style bloggers} to share bits and pieces of their life. personally, i don’t mind it at all. i like feeling that i know them a little bit better, and relate to them a little bit more. if you’re like me and don’t mind those kinds of posts, read on. if you’re exclusively looking for fashion-content, that’s okay too- please come back and see me very soon. but for today, i want to take a little departure from the usual programming to remember someone who touched my life in a way that changed me forever, someone i miss all the time: my cousin elliott. today marks the five-year anniversary of his passing– an amount of time that is almost impossible to comprehend. on one hand, it seems like yesterday that i saw his smile and gave him a hug, but on the other it seems like forever since he’s been here with us. as much as august 15th always brings the heart-aching reminder of how much we miss elliott and how much it hurts that he was taken from us so early, it also brings about the much-needed reminder that life is short, we are not guaranteed tomorrow, and today is all we ever really have. the nearly 21 years we had with elliott will never be enough, especially for his parents, but the memories of those years are what we have in this lifetime, on this earth. so today i remember elliott, and i am reminded to be thankful for each moment i have with those i love. tell the ones you love that you love them, and hug them tight. you never know when it will be the last time you get to say those words or give that hug. elliott, we are forever thankful for the gift of your life. we miss you today, and every day.

“i am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow, a wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind, still you hear me when i’m calling, lord you catch me when i’m falling, and you’ve told me who i am, i am yours.”

xoxo natalie

Life Lately… According to Instagram

just a little glimpse of my life lately, according to instagram (follow me @natalieallison!)…

1. cutest cupcakes at my dear friend allison’s bridal shower
2. allison and the girls in her wedding party– we can’t wait for august 4th!
3. my friend/roomie abi’s new baby
4. meet beans– too cute for words
5. birthday cake {strawberry wedding cake}
6. sweet sophie girl
7. birthday gifts from abi, sweetest roommate ever
8. my mom’s homemade cherry cobbler
9. memorial day picnic in the park
10. my friend kaleigh is an amazing hostess– signature drink for her backyard bbq
11. new glasses {from warby parker}
12. pasta, peonies and wine– what more could you ask for?
13. margarita toast to start summer
14. shopping with my babcia
15. fresh peonies from the farmer’s market
16. one of my favorite restaurants: pitch
17. my sweet girl
18. lovely patio dinner at j.coco
19. darling packaging from jewelmint
20. sophie’s smiles make my day
21. throwback to childhood: dirt cups
22. new stripes from madewell
23. bow by inezgill (absolutely loved styling this bridal shoot!)
24. sunbathing

i just realized how puppy-heavy this post is. i just can’t get enough of these little babies.
xoxo natalie

Hello 28

image from pinterest

birthday girl

be grateful to have been given one more day, let alone one more year.  remember to dance in your nightgown, sing in the shower, ride a bike, fly a kite, and take an occassional “wind bath” in your bare skin.  give those you love big kisses, huge hugs, and the words “i love you” often and always.  nurture you body rather than starve your soul with fad dieting.  spend time with the old and weary to better appreciate your life.  on your birthday, call your mother and father wherever they are to thank them for all that they have done for you, even if you think they haven’t done enough.  watch the movie “life is beautiful” at least once a year.  remember that you are not guaranteed tomorrow and that today is as good as it gets.  thank god for every thing, every day, every moment. — philosophy

so grateful for today, for 28, for sharing a birthday with this inspiring star, and, of course, for all of you.

xoxo natalie

Style It Social App Launch

hi my readers! do i have an exciting announcement to share with you! yesterday, the fabulous mal pearson launched her new iPhone app, style it social, and i am proud to announce that i am one of the stylists participating in the app! watch the commercial here. this means that my style advice is just an iPhone tap away, as long as you have the app downloaded. it’s so easy to upload a photo in just a moment if you need a second opinion from very knowledgable stylists before you head out the door. mal has spent a lot of time creating this app to be beneficial for so many women (watch her story here), and i am honored to be a part of it.  stay tuned to malpearson.com for giveaways all month in celebration of style it social!  the first giveaway is announced here.  please go download now and let me know what you think!
xoxo natalie

SOHA {Style Omaha, Help All} This Saturday!

hi my readers! i’m so sorry i’ve been a bit absent lately– my schedule has been busy (to say the least) and this is one of the reasons why: SOHA is this weekend! i am the lead stylist and assistant producer of the event, and we have been working like crazy to bring you an amazing fashion show for charity, featuring thirteen local boutiques and headliner seer outfitters (hair and makeup by rain salon).  all proceeds go to this year’s charity: abide network. it takes place at house of loom this saturday night! and just to give you a little preview (though i’m completely self-conscious about this, as it’s my first live TV appearance) i wanted to share our interview on the morning blend here with you all. please don’t pay too much attention to my awkwardness on camera (clearly i had no idea which camera to look at) and instead get excited about the inspiring looks you’re going to see at SOHA– all available from local boutiques!
here are a few more photos from this morning:

all decked out in piper! dolan top, ketz-ke shorts, piper belt, cuff, and ring.

with maya in jack dress from statement

maya, me, brittany in denim saloon, theresa (event producer), and brittainy in paperdoll.

check out SOHA’s facebook page for more information and to rsvp to the event. i hope to see many of you on saturday night!
xoxo natalie

A Beautiful Moment in Poland

hi my friends! i know this is a personal style blog, but it’s also a blog about being inspired by beautiful things and moments. so today i want to make a little departure from my usual content and tell you about one of the most beautiful moments in my life so far, that has absolutely nothing to do with fashion…

my maternal grandmother is one of the most important people in my life and has very much shaped the person i am today. i call her my babcia (grandma in polish), and i feel like that name perfectly describes her– a little polish babcia. by far one of the most meaningful experiences of my life was taking my babcia back to poland to see her family in the summer of 2010. she and my grandpa had immigrated to america after WWII, and she had not been back to see her family for about 30 years. watching my babcia reunite with her sister maria after so long was such an emotional, indescribable moment. it became even more meaningful to me yesterday, when my babcia called to tell me that maria had passed away. it breaks my heart to know my babcia is grieving for her sister, but i am forever thankful for our trip to poland and for the moments they could spend together one last time. to all of my family in poland, especially maria’s children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren, my heart is with you as you say goodbye to your own babcia. we will remember our time with maria forever.

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“death is not the end of our existence. we live on in our children and future generations. for they are us, and our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life” –albert einstein

thank you for bearing with me for this personal post. i promise to return to regular programming next time :)
xoxo natalie

According to Instagram

hi readers! i just wanted to share a little glimpse of my life via instagram. if you already follow me on instagram (@natalieallison), then you’ve seen some of these images of the things i’m currently loving or being inspired by, including recent purchases, what i’m eating, and sweet pictures of my pup sophie. follow along and i’ll follow you too! i prefer instagram to pinterest (for now, anyway).

clockwise from upper-left:
1. love bracelet from forever 21— a good reminder for me to wear around my wrist.
2. mint nails and leather jewelry– wrap bracelet from piper and leather flower ring, a gift from my friend lindsey.
3. my darling friend liz and i loving bright lipstick.
4. grey nails with a hint of glitter (one nail with glitter polish is so much easier to remove than all) and leather bow ring from piper.
5. zara leopard print moccasins and the little girl who wants to use them as her chew toy.
6. stylemint tee and bungee bracelets from angel court via tulip louise‘s giveaway (do you follow anna? she is hands down one of my favorite stylists and bloggers– major style inspiration and such a doll!)
7. drinking wine with my roomie abi, who is also my first friend in the world (we’ve been friends since we were 3!) the way our mothers taught us– liberal poors with an ice-cube (sometimes you just can’t wait for white wine to chill).
8. two of my favorite polishes– sephora by OPI already famous (a pewter/silver/champagne combo) with some serious glitter from american apparel (borrowed from abi).
9. macarons for my friend kristen’s oscars party, from jones bros. cupcakes.  thank you, kristen, for such a fabulous time!
10. massive gem double ring from all about me boutique, one of the participants in SOHA, the fashion show for charity that i am styling on march 31!
11. ootd: still my favorite lucca couture sweater from statement, maxi skirt from urban outfitters, my trusty rebecca minkoff MAB, and MAC russian red.
12. arm party: michael kors watch, gifted bracelets, including chain bracelet from piper.
13. oatmeal and ice cream while brunching with my friend kelly at dixie quicks— so unbelievably good.
14. sophie likes to be held like a baby, which i always encourage.
15. cadbury eggs are a staple in my house throughout march and april– a sign that spring is on its way!

i look forward to seeing you on instagram!
xoxo natalie