SXSW What to Wear?!

We are only one month away from the free booze, free tacos, live music, and complete madness that is SXSW.  Because SXSW comes at an awkward seasonal transition time in Austin where the weather is as moody as a pregnant woman, it’s essential that you put some thought into your wardrobe.  SXSW brings in people from all over the country and even the world, so it’s also important to show Austin style in a good light.  (Plus, you’ll wanna look good if you want to score with that cute out of towner.)  

Here are my suggestions of what to wear during SXSW in order to stay both comfortable and stylish.

Get ready to do some walking.  Comfort is a must here and should definitely outweigh your desire to look cute.  But luckily you don’t have to choose one or the other, you can have both!

Toms are undeniably super comfy and easy to walk in, and their newest style is their cutest shoe yet.  What perfect timing for Toms to introduce a cute ballet flat!  Cute, comfy, and full of good karma.  These come in several different colors and patterns and will be available soon at both SoLa locations, or can be purchased online.  

Toms ballet flats, $79

SXSW is the perfect time to meet people, talk about ideas, or promote your business.  So, it’s a good idea  to let people know what you’re all about right off the bat.  Austin is a casual town, so t-shirts are totally acceptable, convenient, and comfortable for SXSW.  If you’re not wearing a t-shirt representing your startup or your favorite band, go for a vintage tee with a fun eye-catching graphic that will get people talking. 

Plus, t-shirts are essential for layering, which you should be prepared to do.  When the weather can drop by 30 degrees in one day (yes this happens sometimes in Austin), you’ll be happy you opted for a t-shirt. You can easily throw on any jacket or a cardigan over your t-shirt once it gets chilly.  Plus, I love the idea of wearing a nice blazer over a grungy band tee at night.  

Thrift and vintage stores are your friend for finding cool graphic tees. 

Laced with Romance vintage tee, $185 

Walking around in the Austin sunshine you will definitely need some shades.  Besides providing functionality, sunglasses are an accessory that can easily add some cool style to your look. Even if your outfit consists of simply jeans and a t-shirt, you can look like you put some thought into your outfit with a stylish pair of shades.  

If you’re looking to travel light, try these foldable Ray-Ban wayfarers.  They fold up into a little compact shape that takes up about half the space of regular wayfarers and can even fit in your pocket! This way you won’t lose your shades once the sun goes down and your blood alcohol leves goes up. These come in a variety of colors.

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It’s usually really hot during the day at SXSW, so shorts are a good option.  Plus, with all the drinking, galavanting around, bike riding, and possible weather changing wind gusts, they are a good consideration over skirts or dresses.  But do take consideration that your legs might get cold at night.  Past SXSW attendee Kerissa Bearce suggests throwing some tights in your bag to put on underneath when it gets cold.  

While some shorts can be an outfit snore, the jean shorts at Dog and Pony are anything but.  With dyes, studs, and distressing, Dog and Pony makes jean shorts a style statement that transition well from day to night.

You’ll need a cute comfy bag that’s big enough to hold all your shtuff, but not too big or uncomfortable that it’s obnoxious to carry all day.  

These X-Ray Love handmade backpacks from local designer, Christopher Franks are a perfect combo of comfort, utility, and style.  These babies come in a variety of colors and patterns and you can find them at Laced with Romance, Charm School Vintage, or online.