So there I was with my friend attempting to zip me into a dress that was admittedly a little on the snug size.  When the zipper suddenly stopped and felt like it might completely refuse to go up any farther, I held my breath and just said a little prayer to the fashion gods.

About a week ago I had the pleasure of being a judge for something called the “Black and Tan” fashion show, a fashion design challenge that took place during the beginning of Austin Fashion Week.  The dress I chose, and the one which ended up winning the challenge, was designed by local Austin designer Amanda Yilmaz.  I am so happy that the fashion challenge introduced me to her, because her work is beautiful.  Amanda graciously let me pretend to be important for a night, and I wore her fancy red carpet worthy black lace gown to the Austin Fashion Week Awards last weekend.  I lost count of how many compliments I received, and I was so happy to be able to introduce so many people to this lesser known Austin designer.  It’s time for Austin to know about Amanda!  I mean, just take a look at this other total couture gown she has made… pretty fantastic, no?

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I don’t shop at MOSS a lot because, even though it’s a consignment store, it’s still a designer store and designer clothes are never gonna be super inexpensive.  But, I went to MOSS a few months ago during one of their sales and I tried on this red Gucci dress “just for fun.”  In the dressing room I briefly imagined what it would be like to actually wear this dress in public and the thought seemed ridiculous and also scary.  Then, something came over me and I snapped a photo of myself in the dress and uploaded it to Instagram (I am fearless on the Internet).  I left the store without the dress but my phone quickly blew up with comments by friends telling me to buy it. Considering it was Gucci and amazing, the price was actually quite a steal.  But “where the heck am I going to wear this dress?” I thought after making the purchase.  The Austin Fashion Week Awards seemed like the only appropriate time.  And now I’m fearless in real life too (as long as I have double-sided tape).

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The Summer is truly not meant for blogging.  It’s meant for fun in the sun!

I’ve spent the last week away from Austin and the blog (mostly) and instead spent time with my family at our usual Summer vacation spot – a small little beach town near Pensacola, Florida.  Although I may look like someone who never goes out into the sun (so very pale), and may seem like I enjoy spending all my time on my computer or phone (hello blog and twitter), the beach is really where I am most comfortable.  I think Austin is pretty much the perfect place to live, but if it had a beach it would be like heaven on earth.  After a week of being away from Austin I was mostly missing the people, but also the food.  There are about 6 restaurants in Navarre Beach and besides their quirky names (“Helen Back”, and “The Slippery Mermaid” to name a few), there’s not anything noteworthy about them (except for the “Tex-Mex” place that had fajitas that tasted like the chicken was marinated in bbq sauce from a jar – yuck.)  The style choices of the locals in this area are equally as bad as the food, so I could have worn the same stained t-shirt all week and no one would have cared, except for myself of course.

Take a glance at my photos from my beach trip and see what fashions from Austin I was representing while on vacation:

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“Is it Spring or is it Summer?” he asked.  ”Well, technically it’s Spring” I replied.  ”But, in Austin, I always consider it to be Summer after SXSW.”  Summer is my favorite season so even if it is technically Spring, in my mind it is already Summer.  The weather has been gorgeous lately and I have been trying to spend as much time outside as possible.  This of course means I have to squint extra hard to try and view my lapotp screen outside in the sun, but it’s totally worth it.  All this time spent outside in the nice weather gets me thinking about backyard Summer barbecues and this dress I bought the other day is perfect for one.  I can already tell this fruit punch dress is going to be my go-to dress this Summer.  And, my new neon Rebecca Minkoff purse is the perfect bright accessory I have been craving.  Speaking of cravings, are you really wanting a piece of watermelon now?

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Sometimes when I’m driving I imagine that just beyond the farthest buildings I can see, lies an ocean with a sandy beach.  I love Austin, but, I’ve never been much of a lake girl.  Swamp monsters, alligators, and diseases live in lake water, right?  Growing up my family would take yearly summer trips to Florida and ever since, I have been in love with walking barefoot on the sand and swimming in clear blue water.  In fact, I think part of the reason I decided to dye my hair red was just so that I would look and feel more like a mermaid.  The weather in Austin has been absolutely beautiful lately and has felt more to me like a beach Summer than an Austin Spring.  I even put on my surfing Bart Simpson t-shirt the other day, which usually only makes his appearance mid-Summer.  If I don’t make it to a beach this Summer I might cry, but at least I have my imagination and my Bart Simpson t-shirt.

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Happy Valentine’s Day from me and my lovable cuddle bear.

xoxo
Joanna Wilkinson
keep austin stylish

Joanna Wilkinson
keep austin stylish

Joanna Wilkinson
keep austin stylish