Jump! Plus the Etsy Austin swag bag winner!

Hubs and I are enjoying the posh life at Seymour, Indiana's nicest hotel for my cousin's wedding this weekend. I am very excited to be back in my old hometown, so we celebrated by jumping on the beds immediately following the rehearsal dinner:

I plan to hit up the local Goodwill on Sunday, and when I return on Tuesday, I'll have a belated Delightful Dozen/ ModCloth post as well as a Weardrobe/ PacSun post. Thanks for your patience with me!

Also... today is Giveaway Friday! Today is the day a winner is drawn for the Etsy Austin swag bag. I usually do a video and draw the winner in a funny way, but unfortunately, I am without my trusty video camera here. There were 180 entries, and I used Random.org and drew #21:

Congrats, Stephanie H! I'll mail you your bag as soon as I get back to Austin!

Like you need reminding?

Just a quick little reminder that today is the last day to enter to win this Etsy Austin swag bag:

Go here to get more details and to throw your lucky hat into the ring.

Doing the rounds

Well, folks, I made it! Hubs and I woke up this morning and caught a 6 a.m. flight to Indianapolis (with one layover in Memphis). From there we rented a car and drove up to visit my college roommate and her husband who live an hour north of Chicago. Spending that much time on a plane and in a car will cause a person to dress with comfort as the key. I finally got to wear this darling dress that I received a while back from Kristin of Leproust Vintage as part of the Delightful Dozen exchange. It originally belonged to Elizabeth of Delightfully Tacky who passed it on to Tieka of Selective Potential before it went on to Kristin:

date: 24 March 2010
occasion: traveling- hours on planes and in a car
dress: ModCloth (Delightful Dozen exchange)
leggings: Matty M
boots: vintage Hunt Club (Style Station)
vest: vintage Karen Silton (Blue Velvet)

I am exhausted but extremely happy to be able to visit so many friends in such a short trip. Tomorrow morning I get to see my friend who just had her first baby two days ago, then I'll drive a few more hours to visit another friend who is expecting. It's going to be another full day with lots of driving. Luckily I've packed a ton of comfy clothes. Who knows? I may even wear jeans and a t-shirt tomorrow. Gasp! We shall see!

Where's Indiana?

I love Where's Waldo and this town knows it. I mean, I am the person who led Flash Mob Austin's live Where's Waldo search last year! When I saw this dress, I had to have it for it's Where's Waldo-like appeal. I love it so much that I'm even smiling with my teeth! I hardly ever do that!


date: 23 March 2010
occasion: dress hunting
dress: courtesy of American Apparel (SXSW flea market). My other Le Sac will be given to the Delightful Dozen.
hair bow: Lulu (hair-do inspired by this)
shoes: thrifted Nine West (Buffalo Exchange)
tiger ring: Buffalo Exchange (new merch, purchased today)

I am sorta feeling like Where's Waldo lately! Forgive me for a wee bit of an absence on outfits posts and for not updating The Man Makeover. Battling weeks of morning sickness, then executing the New Media Fashion events, then doing SXSW, and now traveling to Indiana for my cousin's wedding is keeping me super preoccupied! But I finally feel better and after I return on Monday, I think I'll be able to hunker down and get back to my manic amounts of postings! I've missed y'all like crazy!

Coming April 25: Zac Posen for Target

I don't know about y'all, but I really love the designer capsule collections that Target has been offering up for the last couple years. I know everyone flipped for the Rodarte pieces last winter, and currently Liberty of London and John Paul Gaultier are available at Target, but I'm really looking forward to the Zac Posen pieces coming April 25th:

I covet that black gromet dress and just may buy it as a pre-baby weight reminder when I'm trying to shed pregnancy pounds after the birth of Baby Adams.

See the entire Zac Posen for Target lookbook here on Fashionista.com.

Interview: The Gloss- Growing a Local Fashion Community

If last week's brunch and boutique crawl taught me anything, it's that it's not enough to just take photos of myself in my backyard and then simply write witticisms about my outfit from the comfort of my office. I feel most alive when I get to know the people who stop by Adored Austin, when I'm out and about meeting my readers and other bloggers, and when I'm exploring Austin and falling more in love with this eclectic city. Reading comments, reading emails, and meeting people in person is what makes this blog such a rewarding part of my life. So, thank you for that!

I was interviewed last week by Brooke, the founder of Fashism for an article on The Gloss. In the interview I talk a lot about how I went about helping to create a fashion community in Austin-- a town that is more known for it's BBQ than its fashion. This is the longest, most serious interview I have ever done, but because I was so honest, I think it's still worth the read... especially if you're curious as to who my early inspirations were and how you, too, can use your blog to start to create your own local fashion community.

A big thank you goes out to Brooke for choosing to interview me and The Gloss for featuring Adored Austin! Please surf on over and read the whole interview here.

Apparently, it's hard to miss me when I'm wearing a skirt this fluffy.

I think I may have worn my favorite outfit of all time yesterday! I keep scouring Flickr for photos of me because people kept stopping me to snap a shot of my hilarious outfit:


date: 19 March 2010
occasion: SXSW
petticoat: vintage (Style Station)
t-shirt: American Apparel
belt: vintage (Buffalo Exchange)
hen necklace: vintage (Seymour, Indiana Oktoberfest flea market)
purse: gift/ prize from Grace's Birdcage (thank you!)
sunglasses: Buffalo Exchange
sandals: thrifted (Savers)

Quick note: check out the cute, baby pomegranate tree Hubs planted for me. I hope it grows up well and bears us lots of fruit!

I ran into so many people yesterday, and that's why I love SXSW! At the American Apparel sale, I found myself shopping on the same rack as my friend Emily. I ran into some old modeling/ acting friends of mine, Irish Rose and Bobbie Ragsdale. Outside, I finally met Stephanie from Colors Marie. As I was leaving, I saw Stacey, the owner of Fashionique (the secret store where I get a lot of my animal jewelry). While having lunch with Michelle at the Driskill, David Spade was seated at the table next to us (for the record, his hair is luxurious. I think he uses a Chi). On the street I ran into some old Friday Night Lights friends, and then GET THIS! I ran into my old high school boyfriend from North Vernon, Indiana! He lives in California now and his band is in town, so I was able to catch up with him briefly. He was even wearing the same necklace he had back in 1998! Isn't that nuts? I hope I have my hen necklace as long as he's had that old thing!

Review: SXSW American Apparel Factory Flea Market Sale

Yesterday I met up with Michelle from Wicked Whimsy and we attempted to hit up the American Apparel Factory Flea Market sale together right at the noon o'clock opening. Little did I know that it would take me over an hour to fight the traffic and find a parking spot. Still worth it? Heck, yes.

I snagged an evergreen triblend pocket dress ($12), a sheer tank dress ($8), the sheer ribbed tunic ($8), the convertible bandeau dress ($12), and a Where's Waldo inspired Le Sac dress ($12).
The leotard was $5 and the cardigan and hoodie were $10 each.
I ran into my friend Ashley and squealed when I saw her clutching these amazing navy blue, silk, pleated pants. I rushed the racks and was able to snag the only other pair in the entire tent! These are an American Apparel test sample, and sadly, they are way, way too small for me in the hips and waist. I plan to take them to a tailor to see if anything can be done. These were the most expensive thing in the tent, priced at $25. It's a shame they don't fit!
The accessories table was fun. The vintage goodies are mixed in with the new merch. The scarf, necklace, and socks were $2. The fanny pack, vintage bag, and glasses were $4.
The vintage section was a little overwhelming because it was so crowded. It's still worth a gander, though. The t-shirt was $4 and the dresses were $8 (I think).
Some tips if you're planning to take advantage of this sale on it's last day tomorrow:1. Bring a friend to entertain you in line because the wait to get into the tent can be up to 30 minutes at peak shopping times.2. If you can, wear close toed shoes. The racks are close together and your toes may get squished. To make matters worse, it's a little bit muddy. 3. There are no dressing rooms, so wear something that enables you to try things on over or under what you've got on. Yes, try things on! The tagged sizes are of little guidance here. For instance: the leotard I got was a size large, the yellow cardigan was an extra small, and the convertible dress was a size extra large, and all of them fit me perfectly.4. Search absolutely everything for holes, stains, writing, and damage. Double check zippers, hems, and armpits. Be willing to live with tiny defects for the amazing price you're getting.5. If you need help, feel free to ask one of the many floor assistants. They're the incredibly good looking kids in STAFF shirts that they've cut and customized themselves. Every one I talked to was ridiculously sweet. 6. Lastly, if you drop something on the ground, be a dear and pick it up. It is a teeny bit muddy in there, and being courteous makes the shopping experience a lot more enjoyable for everyone!
I want to give an extra special thanks to Ryan at American Apparel. He gave me a skip bracelet that enabled me to bypass the entry line and he picked up my tab for all the things I was planning to purchase! On top of that, he made my dog a special little American Apparel rope toy. He loves it!Both Jimi and I are extremely happy with our new American Apparel goods!

Hi. I miss you.

I miss you, blog. I'm running around like an insane person during SXSW. This is the first year that I've been in town for it and my kind and wonderful new friend Suzanne gave me her all access badge on Sunday. I'm trying to take full advantage of it!

Thanks for understanding! In other news, my friend Melissa and I got snapped for a street style blog yesterday. I didn't feel like I looked particularly cute. But check out how stylish my buddy is with her little baby!

And yes. That's me with two cell phones. Hubs thought that I should take his iPhone for the week so no one would make fun of me using a Windows Mobile phone. Little did he know that I just looked like an even bigger dork toggling between the two phones all day!

Giveaway: Etsy Austin swag bag

UPDATE: 26 March 2010- contest closed and winner drawn! Thank you!

One of the unawesome things about me is the fact that I can't even sew a button on without it immediately coming off. I admire those who create crafts that are so wonderful that other people want to buy them.

This is one of the many reasons why I admire the women at Etsy Austin. Some of their members generously provided swag for goody bags during the New Media Fashion brunch, and I thought it'd be awesome to introduce some of these crafty women to you guys-- my dear readers who live all over the world. You can win the very same swag bag that was given to the New Media Fashion brunch attendees last Friday. How's that for awesome?

Inside the swag bag you'll find:

copper and silver earrings by Adorn Modern.


a Scrabble tile necklace by Amelia Beth.


a mini wallet by annemarie.


an obi belt by Craft Chi.


a cameo necklace from Diamonds and Guns by Action Jackson.


a stone and silver guitar pendent from Gem Junkie.


a yo-yo ring from The Good Shoppe.


a jewelry cloth from Merritt Gade.


a business card holder from Paired Hearts.


black and white beaded earrings from Polished Two.


an oki-obi tie belt kit from The WonderCraft (as seen here on Cass).
Now that you're chomping at the bit to enter, here's how you can win all that loot:
1. Make sure you're following Adored Austin either on Google Reader, Blog Lovin', or on Networked Blogs on Facebook.
2. Leave a comment by Thursday, March 25th saying:

• Your first name and last initial,
• Answer this question: "What is something you wish you could make?",
  
• Your email address (so I can contact you if you win. Don't worry. I delete all comments at the end of the contest period, so your privacy remains protected from spam bots), and
  
• Your webpage and/ or your Twitter address (optional)
  example:
  - Indiana A.
  - I wish I could sew summer dresses!
  - indiana at adoredaustin dot com
  - www.adoredaustin.com/ @adoredaustin

This contest is open to almost* everyone, worldwide, and you are not required to repost or retweet this. I'll be drawing the winner on video on Friday, March 26th, and I will contact you via email to let you know you've won. Prize must be claimed by Friday, April 2nd.

*I say "almost everyone" because New Media Fashion brunch attendees should not enter because that'd be weird, considering you already got a bag.

Please visit the following individuals to learn more about what they create. I am certain that these Austin based, independent artists would appreciate your business!

Etsy Austin | Adorn Modern | Amelia Beth | annemarie | Craft Chi | Diamonds and Guns by Action Jackson | The Good Shoppe | The Jasmine Gallery | Merritt Gade | Paired Hearts | Polished Two | The WonderCraft

Could you take my picture, 'cause I won't remember...

Don't you hate when you do something awesome and you even remember to bring your camera but then you get so super busy that you forget to take photos? Welcome to my life.

I didn't take a single photo from Friday's New Media Fashion outing. FROWN FACE. But I did steal this one shot from Diya. I regret that we didn't get one big, group photo, but um, here's half of us:

from L-R: Janette from Fashion Loves People, Pamela from Market Publique, Grechen from Grechen's Closet, Rachel from Walls are Imagined, Kelly from We Hate Nike Shorts, someone that looks vaguely familiar, Diya from In Her Stilettos, Kayla from Austin Etc, Tiffany from Austin is Burning, and Jacqueline from Fashion Leak.

I want to give a huge thanks to Etsy Austin, Elizabeth at Eliza Page, Catherine at the 2nd Street District, Tracy at Polished Two, and The WonderCraft for helping me make this happen. The positive responses I've gotten has been so heartwarming, and I'd love to see this become an annual event. Extra special thanks to Ryan at Crú for the free champagne and strawberries, the girls at Delish for the free cupcakes, and all the shops on 2nd Street that provided us with snacks and beverages during the boutique crawl. I already loved this city, but I now I feel especially enamoured and forever betrothed to it.

To see photos from people who got their priorities straight and actually managed to snap some photos of this event, see:
Rachel's wrap-up, Diya's wrap-up post, a post from Cheryl of Fashionably Austin, Anna's News8 story, Fashism's Flickr photo set, The WonderCraft recap, Tran's take, and We Hate Nike Shorts.

And in honor of this great day, I'm doing a giveaway. You can win the very same swag bag that each of the brunch attendees was given! See this link for more details.

SXSW fashion events

Admittedly, SXSW is usually all about computer stuff, music, and film, but amongst all those types of parties there's a few fashion events going on, too. Did I mention all these events are free?

Today is the Fashism party at Dress Shop. I met Brooke from Fashism at yesterday's New Media brunch and boutique crawl, and she's a riot. The event should be awesome:

The American Apparel Factory Flea Market Sale starts Thursday. I spoke to Ryan, the American Apparel hero who is coordinating this thing, and his eyes got all big when describing the truck loads of stuff they're bringing in for the sale! It's going to be amazing, and I may even try to do a video blog there. RSVP on their Facebook.

Friday is the Buy Definition/ Magnolia Family Vintage party. I know both Esti from Buy Definition and Sarah from Magnolia Family Vintage, and I can promise you that there's going to be some amazing goodies at their shindig. They are easily a couple of the most stylish women in Austin and their inventory is breathtaking:

If there were ever a time to take a trip to Austin (if you're not a local) now is the time to do it!

News 8 sums up what I did today...

Just ignore that I'm chewing gum in my clip, okay?

Thank you to everyone who came out to today's New Media Fashion brunch and boutique crawl! I had an amazing time shopping with you and getting to know you and Austin a little better this weekend!

American Apparel is doing another famed factory flea market!

For me, one of the highlights of last year's South By was shopping at the American Apparel Factory Flea Market sale. Thus, I was over the moon when I found out that they're doing it again this year:

Last year I got some amazing vintage priced at $5/ item. I also got some slim sack jeans for $12, a navy dress for $15, a skirt for $7, and some good, basic tanks for $4 each. I'm not about to miss out on this event this year, and I hope you'll check it out, too.

Right now there are thousands of people confirmed on Facebook to come, but no worries. They bring in the inventory by the truck loads, and no matter what time you get there, you'll still be able to find something you love! Happy hipster digging!

[ RSVP here on Facebook. ]

My dream shoe is coming!

Toms + wedges = true love, always!

Apparently these are going to rock my world come summer. I can't wait! I'm already dreaming of the red and white striped pair. As if I needed another reason to will summer to get here faster?

Comment of the Day: Oh, I share your sentiments! I want a pair in every color. Looks like every kid in Africa will have a couple pairs of shoes thanks to me! -Ideé Géniale

Where have you been all my life, yellow coat?

The trench coat I ordered last week from Tulle came today. I looooooove it, and I'm so glad I got this one instead of the traditional khaki colored one I had my eye on at Lulu's. Now that I own it, I have no idea how I lived so long without it!


date: 9 March 2010
occasion: City Group
trench coat: Tulle
dress: Marshalls
sweater: Costco (holla!)
owl necklace: Room Service Vintage
sandals: thrifted (Savers)

This color yellow is my absolute favorite color to wear. It all started with a yellow gown I bought for my county fair queen pageant way back in the day (first runner-up and Miss Congeniality- what what!). Anytime I wear this color, I feel buoyant and effervescent.

Owl necklace, power color, and ballerina bun. Ding, ding, ding! I think I may have just found my go-to spring outfit!

Now I'm curious: what color makes you feel like you can take over the world?

A fly cape and ring

"I don't know if I'm rocking this cape as hard as I could be."

My buddies Miranda and Kristin laughed as I said this at lunch because honestly! How many people have ever said that sentence in the history of mankind?

I'm not in the habit of buying capes, but I do think this one is quite adorable. I was so excited to get this last Thursday from Leproust Vintage as part of the Delightful Dozen clothing exchange.

I stopped at Ross to look for a dress for my cousin's wedding, and I found this amazing $6 ring:

date: 8 March 2010
occasion: first sonogram day, midwife interview, lunch, shopping
cape: Leproust Vintage (via the Delightful Dozen)
dress: Jovovich-Hawk (via a clothing swap)
over the knee socks: American Apparel
shoes: thrifted Nine West (Savers)
ring: Ross

The manager at Ross was so happy to sell me this ring. He said, "I thought we'd never sell that ugly thing!" He obviously does not appreciate kitschy animal baubles. I love it! I think my eagle ring is hilarious!

In other news, huge congrats to Jen over at JenLovesKev who announced that she's pregnant, too! She's due about six weeks before I am, but it will be fun to have to be the Pregnant Pair together out of the Delightful Dozen girls!

Comment of the Day: I think the only word for that ring, is FIERCE!! I would never mess with someone wearing that ring...it looks like it instills special eagle powers...let me know if what I suspect is true! -Melissa W

Live chat with me tomorrow.

The title of this post sounds weirdly like one of those sketchy chat lines, doesn't it? Ick. Well, I didn't mean it to sound like that. It's all actually quite innocent.

Well... kind of. It could be potentially dangerous. News 8 Austin asked me to be one of the hosts for their live, online Oscar chat tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. If you're not doing anything, why don't you join me?

Here's a photo of some Oscars because I've never made a post without a photo.

Join me online tomorrow for my witticisms about the fashion at the Academy Awards. Y'all know I'm pretty much the Joan Rivers of Austin, right? It should be hilarious. Well, maybe. Hopefully. Join me, and we shall see!

April 8: One Day Without Shoes

Dare I say it on a fashion blog? *big breath* Yes. Here goes...

Confession: I am not a shoe person.

There. I said it.

Oh I like wearing shoes, but I don't get all Carrie- Bradshaw- "Hello, Lover" when I see an amazing/ super expensive pair of shoes. The frugal froo froo in me will immediately gasp and say, "I can't spend $965 on a pair of shoes when there are starving children in the world!" Thus why most of my shoes come from places like Shoe Carnival, the thrift store, Buffalo Exchange, and just the boring 'ole clearance rack at Macy's.

But one brand of shoes that I've been enamored of since I learned about them is Toms. I spoke about it a while back, and that's why I'm pleased to announce that April 8th is One Day Without Shoes, a worldwide event that the folks over at Toms came up with to raise awareness about the need for children in developing countries to have access to simple foot covering.
I really hope that Austin has an official One Day Without Shoes Event, but if not, I'll definitely be doing my business about town without shoes, and I hope you'll consider doing the same.

For more info, visit OneDayWithoutShoes.com.

leopard love

Yay! Look! It's my first Delightful Dozen post! For those of you who are following our journey, you may have seen this amazing Merona skirt making it's way around the country:

1. JenLovesKev, 2. Ideé Géniale, 3. Leproust Vintage

I am so happy that it came to me before I got too giant to wear it! I did it the Ideé Géniale way and decided to make it into a top. I put the zipper in the front, belted it, and let my bra straps hang out (out of character for me, but because it was warm enough to go bare armed today, I left my trusty cardigan on its hanger). Hope this isn't too saucy for a momma!

date: 3 March 2010
occasion: McDonald's run (dear baby inside me, please forgive me)
skirt (as shirt): Merona via The Delightful Dozen clothing swap (originally JenLovesKev)
skirt: American Apparel
belt: thrifted (Savers)
wedges: Shoe Carnival (what what!)

Here's a tidbit y'all don't know about me: Before my animal jewelry obsession, waaaay back in my college days I used to have an animal print obsession. My college roommates can attest to the fact that I owned at least ten pairs of leopard print pants, in every imaginable shade. It's like I was the long lost fourth member of Josie and the Pussycats.

I have since let go of this obsession, and I think the only leopard print that is in my wardrobe is my beloved cord blazer. I am promptly sending this skirt on to Elizabeth at Delightfully Tacky in hopes that my leopard print obsession does not come back to me.

[follow the Delightful Dozen on Facebook]