Save the date: Texas Style Council 2012

Just a quick little note to let y'all know that I'm hard at work on organizing the Texas Style Council conference, which is the third annual style blogger meet-up during SXSW this year. (Don't go to the website, though. It's a hot mess while we try to move everything from last year to a 2011 subdomain and start from scratch on a fresh, more simple redesign for the 2012 conference).

If you're a style blogger or a lifestyle blogger, you've got to come to Austin for the Texas Style Council conference. We're doing it March 9, 10, and 11th, and we're hard at work getting things under way. Those dates happen to coincide with Austin's famous SXSW, so it's an amazing time to be in town. Last year we played host to over 150 bloggers and shop owners including Jen from Jen Loves Kev, Kendi from Kendi Everyday, and James from Bleubird Vintage and tons more.

It felt a little like summer camp where we made fast friends and were sad to part ways at the end of the long weekend. This year is going to be some more of the same fun, so start planning your trip and carpools now. Registration and sponsorship opportunities will be available after January 1st, and we sold out of both in less than six weeks last year. I hope you'll make it. It's going to be great fun!

If you don't believe me, you've got to check out Nathan Russell's photos from last year.

Check out the Facebook album >>>

Final TxSCC recap: Sunday

Our last day of the Texas Style Council was one week ago. We rented out Ballet Austin, which proved to be the perfect downtown venue for a symposium on style and social media. This was the day that I was most nervous about. I had never been to a blogging conference before, and I was flying blind as to how to actually throw one. Despite all my hand-wringing, we were able to present a very informative and very fun event.

I was dressed by one of our conference underwriters and well-known Texas shop Strut.

date: 13 March 11 | occasion: TxSCC symposium
shorts: Strut | blouse: Strut | boots: Wanted | watch: TIKKR | bag: Le Mode

Do you recognize that bag? It's the Le Mode traveling bag that was previously seen on Kendi and is going to Chelsea next!

It ended up being the perfect size for the weekend, and the long strap made it an easy wear. It comes in four different colors: navy, mocha, maroon, and camel. See them all here. The mocha one that I got to use is my favorite.

I wanted to take some time to do a TxSCC Sunday recap on all the panels, but alas, I'm feeling the burn of being a week behind on blogging. There are so many other great blogs out there that have excellent recaps, and Grechen and I are going to take a week off from all this and then come back and pound out a really great recap eBook that will be available online. We'll also be revamping the Texas Style Council website. But, man, I feel like I haven't slept in ages, and I bet Rachel (the intern) and Grechen are feeling the same way.

I will say this, though: I left the conference with a renewed sense of drive and determination to make Adored Austin better and more interactive. I've been meeting with people to figure out the best way to make that happen. I hope to roll out some great changes in bits and pieces over the next few months.

TxSCC recap: Saturday Go-Game and Bo Concept Party

Saturday was the fullest day of the Texas Style Council. We started the day off doing registration, and signing people up for The Go-Game, which is a tech-based scavenger hunt company we hired to do a team building game all around the 2nd Street District. We thought it was a creative way that our attendees could get to know each other and the 2nd Street District better. We had fabulous prizes from Lulu*s ($100 gift cards), ModCloth (purses), Langford Market, Girl Next Door, and Estilo, ($50 gift cards), Lofty Dog (Austin shirts for puppies), Glass Art (statues), Bo Concept (candle holders), Mercury (candles), Peyton's Place (travel packages), and lots more!

Here's a couple of the teams, mid-competition:

Psst!-
The rest of the photos from the hunt are online at http://www.thegogame.com/private.asp
Username: Texas
Password: Style

Since I was running around like crazy, I wanted to wear shorts. I picked out this amazing romper from Lulu*s and paired it with my nude wedges:

date: 12 March 11 | occasion: The Go Game
romper: Lulu*s | wedges: Franco Sarto | watch: TIKKR

After the scavenger hunt, we headed to Bo Concept where we had a pop-up shop event. I changed into a LBD for that and Rae Cosmetics came and did my make-up:

date: 12 March 11 | occasion: Bo Concept party
dress: Kate Moss for Top Shop, thrifted | cami: Target | wedges: Wanted

[Lulu*s and TIKKR are Adored Austin partners]

The party was perfection. Dillar and Ryan and the rest of the Bo Concept team made it one of the most fun events I have ever been to in my life. I was even able to relax and socialize, instead of playing party planner all night. Treaty Oak Rum and Graham's Sweet Tea Vodka dropped off some drinks. VOGA Italia and the Great American Cookie Company kept us in great spirits with their amazing wine and cookie cakes:

I pretty much ate one of these by myself after the conference. So good!

I wasn't a wine drinker until I tried theirs!

Plaid Pigeon did the decorations, and I'm now a huge, personal fan of theirs:

Best planters, ever! Rawr!

TIKKR set up a VIP lounge with a curtain of TIKKR watch bands. This curtain tempted me, and I traded my mint green band for a baby pink one and now I'm having deep regrets, by the way:

Check out TIKKR at StyleX if you haven't already!

Our official photographer Nathan Russell brought in a photobooth area and posted every photo taken from the party here. These are howl worthy! I love them, and the Russells have made themselves an indispensable part of my parties from here on out. I've already asked them to work TxSCC 2012! See the whole set HERE. Here are some of my favorites:

I love these girls! Those were not prop costumes! That's what they came to party in!

TIKKR founder Cory Stout with Peacock Plume owners Holly and Cara.

These are a few of my awesome friends who came to the party even though they don't have fashion blogs! They had a great time!

[all party photos by Nathan Russell]

Stay tuned. I"ll recap the last day of the TxSCC, including the panels. It was a blast, and I can't believe it's already over! Save the date for TxSCC '12: March 9-11!

TxSCC recap: Friday Clothing Swap

The Texas Style Council Conference, for me, kicked off a couple months ago when Grechen and I really started planning it. But for everyone else, it started a week ago, last Friday, March 11th.

One of our incredibly generous underwriters was Swap.com and The Swapaholics. I had been a longtime fan of Swapaholic Amy from Punky Style and The Haberdash, so I was super duper excited that she was one of the first people that I met on Friday.

[Jen, me, Amy, Suze, Amy, Kelsey]

And do you see who that is on the left? Oh, yes, people, that's Jen from Jen Loves Kev. I was a little star struck, but very happy to meet someone that I truly consider an inspiration and now get to call my friend. I insist that she comes back next year with Kev and Rowan. Kev can hang out with Chris, and Rowan and Jude can fall in love.

The swap was amazing! I have been to a few clothing swaps here in Austin, but this one was top notch. Amy and Melissa have the set-up down to a science. Women dropped their clothes off at the empty store front that was given to us to use for the weekend by the 2nd Street District, and at 7:00 for the next hour and a half, we organized and tagged, while the swappers lined the block outside. By 8:00 there were close to 100 people in line already!


At 8:30, the doors promptly opened, and the swappers blew through the store, gathering new treasures.

[Swap photos by Adam Towner]

The organizers were pretty casual about it: it was bring a bag, take a bag, but no one was very strict. We were instructed to bring what we loved but only take what we love. In the end, there were even a few items Swap.com was able to donate to Goodwill. I was able to snag a pair of white jeans that fit like a dream.

Since this was the first event of the Texas Style Council Conference, I wanted to match the poster as best as I could. Our theme for the weekend was "Cowboys and Ballerinas":

date: 11 March 11 | occasion: Swap.com clothing swap
dress: Lulu*s | jacket: Langford Market | boots: Steve Madden | watch: TIKKR | tote: Wikifashion

Look at this adorable Wikifashion bag. They generously provided our totes for the Texas Style Council Conference, and I'm so excited that it's something that I'll actually want to carry around and use!

More recaps to come! Please tweet @2ndStreetDistrict and @Swap to tell them thank you for making the swap possible.

[Langford Market, Lulu*s, and TIKKR are all Adored Austin partners]

What I've been wearing

I'm going to be slammed busy with StyleX and SXSW commitments until Saturday, and I've created quite a back log of outfit posts. I'll start recapping the Texas Style Council tomorrow! In the meantime, here's a glimpse at what I've been wearing.
Friday night Swap.com clothing swap:
dress: Lulu*s | denim jacket: Langford Market | boots: Steve Madden | tote: Wikifashion | watch: TIKKR
Saturday day Go Game scavenger hunt:
romper: Lulu*s | wedges: Franco Sarto | watch: TIKKR
Saturday night Bo Concept party:
dress: thrifted Kate Moss for Top Shop (BX) | cami: Tara Jarmon for Target | wedges: Wanted
Sunday Style and Social Media Symposium at Ballet Austin:
blouse: Strut | shorts: Strut | bag: Le Mode | boots: Wanted | watch: TIKKR
Monday talk/ presentation at SXSW:
maxi: Lulu*s | belt: vintage, thrifted (BX) | sandals: thrifted (Savers) | camera/ laptop bag: Epiphanie Bags
Tuesday lunch at Takoba with BurdaStyle:
tunic: American Apparel | jeans: swapped | wedges: Wanted | necklace: Accessorize | watch: TIKKR
Wednesday breakfast mixer at The W with The Glamourai (missed it due to terrible traffic):
maxi: Lulu*s | belt: Target | sandals: thrifted (Savers) | necklace: The Jasmine Gallery | clutch: Louis Vuitton | watch: thrifted, Michael Kors

Here's a sneak peak at what I'm wearing on Saturday's StyleX panel:

I used my 20% TxSCC coupon at Plain Ivey Jane (discount good until the 20th, y'all!) and I was given an adorable shrug from my new friend Holly at Peacock Plume. I'm not sure they go together, but ima gonna make it work.

Detail shots of the previous outfits and recaps of my days coming soon! I also owe you a review on/ interview with Epiphanie Bags and a little post about the Le Mode Accessories traveling bag that I got from Kendi. Thanks for your sweet patience with me, y'all.

What are you doing tomorrow?

Oh, nothing. Just doing brunch at the W Hotel with The Glamourai...

She dropped by Ballet Austin on Sunday for the Texas Style Council Conference, and I was invited to the brunch she's hosting at the W tomorrow. Then on Saturday we'll be on panel together during StyleX.

She's like a Disney Princess, y'all. People are constantly snapping her photo and smiling at her in awe. I'm like the Disney popcorn peddler in the background, but because I might get caught in the line of her fans' photography fire, I should probably wash and brush my hair the next time I'm within photo range.

My outfit from Sunday:
shorts & blouse gift from Strut.
Boots gift from Wanted (cream sold out).

HELP!

Hi! I miss you! I miss you SO HARD.

I did this to you last year during SXSW. I really need someone to tell me how I can blog during the madness of SXSW, The Texas Style Council Conference, and StyleX. I am trying to convince Chris that an iPad is the solution. (Back me up on this, okay?)

To help me with the insanity that is my life, I got an intern!

Photo by official TxSCC photographer
Nathan Russell
Photo taken at our Bo Concept party

You guys! She is the dream intern and she is ONLY FIFTEEN. She writes a fashion column for her high school paper, and she is smart and funny and an absolute joy to work with. She remembers where I put my keys, she reminds me to eat when I get too busy, and in four days she has become an essential part of my life. You see, I have the tendency to bite off more than I can chew, so Rachel is here to help me digest some of that. (Ew. That was a creepy analogy, wasn't it?). Anyway...

I have so much to say about the wonderfulness of this weekend, but alas, a cookie cake from The Great American Cookie company is calling my name. And so is my bed.

If you missed my talk at SXSW today, I'll be speaking at StyleX on Saturday. In the meantime, please say hello to Rachel!

Call for entries: BurdaStyle DIY Fashion Show

Austin is full of super talented designers, and if you're one of them, I hope you'll consider being a part of the BurdaStyle/ Etsy DIY Fashion Show, which is also the closing event for the Texas Style Council Conference. Entries for consideration are due by the 10th and there is no fee to enter. Cool, huh? Please see the BurdaStyle blog for more info.

They're choosing 15 designers and "This is your chance to take center stage with a dream audience: 500 guests, including influential fashion bloggers, DIY world influencers, and the BurdaStyle family. Our fashion show is your chance to gain some great press and some wonderful networking. Each participant will be featured in a new BurdaStyle blog series, Meet the Designer. BurdaStyle will also be heavily promoting this event in a newsletter going out to 185,000+ world-wide subscribers and to a membership of near 500,000 members."

To enter:
1. Submit your entry via email to submissions[at]burdastyle[dot]com, with the subject: “BurdaStyle Fashion Show”
2. Submissions need to include: Link to your BurdaStyle profile or Etsy profile, one paragraph about yourself and high res photo of you or your model wearing the 1-3 piece(s) you would like to showcase. Please include information about what you do and why you want to be part of this event.
3. Submission deadline is Thursday, February 10th at 9am EST.

I hope you'll consider entering or passing this along to anyone else who would be interested. Clothing designers and accessory designers are invited to enter. It should be a fun show and it's open to the public!

SXSW 2011

I'm as pleased as punch!

Why? Well, because Katy from Kansas Couture and Kyla from Blue Collar Catwalk are coming to the Texas Style Council Conference!

And something else that makes me happy? I've been asked to lead a Core Conversation at SXSW on fashion blogging!

Date: 19 January 2011 | occasion: vet visit, quiet dinner at home
dress: thrifted vintage via Savers | shoes: thrifted Nine West via Savers | belt: Buffalo Exchange new merch

I'm going to speak about the brand/ blogger dynamic and my main love: how blog writers can connect with their readers in person. I don't consider myself an expert by any means, but I do know what works for me. And I think I'm funny. I'm honored that SXSW asked me to speak. If you have an extra $675, oh, I don't know, laying around in your couch cushions, you can get your SXSW badge here. Now what ever should I wear?

Annoucing the TxSCC

Oh my gosh, you guys! I'm sorry I missed posting the last two days. My friend Grechen and I have been obsessed with cranking out stuff for the Texas Style Council Conference. And look what happened yesterday:

Registration opened! Beware. I'm about to use a lot of exclamation points below to attempt to convey how excited I am about this event.

Thanks to the 2nd Street District, we've been given an empty store space on the corner of 2nd Street and Colorado to use as our headquarters. Joanna from Keep Austin Stylish will make our space cozy and stylish. Friday's and Saturday's events are open to the public and Sunday's event is insanely affordable, so get a load of this:

We'll be using our space on 2nd to have a clothing swap on Friday night (the 11th) and to be our base camp for an exciting scavenger hunt/ boutique crawl on 2nd Street on Saturday. Honest Tea is bringing us some delicious tea and we have some mouth gaping prizes for the winning scavenger hunt team! Start organizing your teams of five now. Or not. We plan to divvy you up in teams when you get here.

On Saturday night, after our scavenger hunt, we'll be having a dance party (location TBA)! How do you feel about a "Clueless" themed dance? 90's plaid and knee socks? AS IF! Cover will be very low for the public, but free for Sunday's pre-registered attendees.

We're in talks with some major brands to partner with us on all this. We'll be announcing them as they are confirmed. We are still seeking out underwriters, sponsors, and partners, so if you're interested in getting your name out there and on this, please see the official TxSCC sponsorship page.

Sunday is the heart of everything. For the insanely low price of $45, you can get what we're calling a "Texas Style Council Passport". This passport gives you a weekend parking pass (probably worth $45 on its own since parking skyrockets during SXSW), the "2011 Texas Style Council discount card" (which will offer you exclusive discounts to local and online shops), Saturday's scavenger hunt/ boutique crawl, free admission to Saturday's dance party, admission to Sunday's pre-symposium brunch, a conference tote bag full of little goodies (for the first 100 registered attendees), admission to Sunday's symposium held at the beautiful Ballet Austin, and a very special invite to an off-site Sunday dinner and shop tour. Passport holders are all eligible for the "Bloggers' Favorite Things Drawing" in which our sponsors have provided some squeal- inducing prizes. On top of all this, you get to network with each other, connect with some exciting brands, and learn from some of the best and brightest bloggers, social media experts, and brands out there. This symposium is perfect for all fashion/ style/ beauty/ shopping bloggers, aspiring bloggers, shop owners with blogs, or even just curious folks who want to see this side of blogging. (I just used the word "blog" a lot there and the word is starting to look SO WEIRD to me).

We've confirmed some super well known, super knowledgeable symposium panelists including our keynote speaker Jennine from The Coveted and IFB, Pamela from Market Publique, Miss James from Bleubird Vintage, Jen from Jen Loves Kev, Kyla from Blue Collar Catwalk, and Kendi (and Bryan) from Kendi Everyday. There are a few others who are trying to figure out travel, so I can't announce those just yet. Registration opened less than 24 hours ago, but among the attendees, we've got Krystal from This Time Tomorrow, as well as Erin from Work with What You've Got and Diya from In Her Stilettos! I would love to add you to the list!

It all sounds too good to be true, right? If that's not enough, we've set up an online forum for you to request or offer lodging, organize shared transportation, or to just say hello. Go check that out here.

Anyway, all that to say this: This is huge! This is awesome! This is something that I hope everyone attends! TexasStyleCouncil.com. Jump on it!

Texas Style Council Conference

Apologies for such a quick/ short post, but -gasp!- I have an audition tomorrow. I forgot that I told my agents that I'll be available for work starting again this month, so I was very surprised to get a call from them for an important audition up in Dallas tomorrow afternoon. It'll be my first audition in ten months, and truth be told, it's one of the hardest characters I've ever had to study. I'll be spending most of the day working on my script. I wonder if this old girl can do something this serious! I guess we'll see!

In totally unrelated news, after getting excellent feedback regarding our fashion bloggers' conference, Grechen and I are pleased to announce that our website for the Texas Style Council Conference is now suitable for viewers. Granted, it's not all the way done yet, but it does contain a bevy of information that you may want to know:

Confirmed speakers include Kendi and Bryan from Kendi Everyday, Miss James from Bleubird Vintage, Jessica from What I Wore, and others TBA. Jennine from The Coveted and IFB will be delivering the keynote. If you're a style blogger, beauty blogger, or want to be, you should come or if you're a shop owner who uses a blog to help your business, you should come. Registration will be opening soon (cost will be around $45), and we are currently accepting business sponsors are underwriters. Save the dates of March 12 & 13 and plan to be here in Austin, Texas during SXSW. Y'all have no idea how giddy I am about this!