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Crowned Bird's Priscilla Barroso accepting her "Golden Boot" Award.
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Austin Fashion Awards Golden Boot
It wasn’t until my recent attendance, along with fellow fashionista and the brains behind
The Stylist Handbook- Devon de la Poer at the 2013 Austin Fashion
Awards that it dawned on me… I’m really digging the golden boots. Not
just because they are handed out to lucky individuals in the Austin
fashion crowd for their fashionable achievements, but they look
ahem, fashionable! I would pair them with a pair of skinnies, a skirt or vintage dress. Possible Texas trend starting here...
All analogies aside, the ceremony took place at the
Austin Music
Hall and was hosted by Sandy McIlree from the
JB Sandy Morning Show on Mix 94.7. The event featured
The Golden Boot Awards, with
headlining fashion shows entertaining us throughout the ceremony. There was also an intermission where
guests could shop the pop-up shops by such vendors as
Raven and Lilly and
Goorin Bros. hats, check out
Facecake-
who’s concept ‘Swival’ allows users to be able to virtually try on
clothing and accessories in real-time; and get have some fun in the
photo booth. The host was witty and kept the audience entertained
throughout the show, while also excusing himself during intermission to
quickly have a tie made by
Ross Bennett.
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"Vintage Deity" Designer Sarah Eileen
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Huge congratulations should be in order for the following winners:
2013 TRAILBLAZERS:
~ Stephen Macmillan Moser
~ Kendra Scott
~ Rochelle Rae
2013 RISING STARS:
~ Isabella Rose Taylor
~ Daniel Esquivel
~ Jennifer Martinson
~ Sandra Antoun
~ Priscilla Barroso
2013 Mash-Up Team Winners:
~ Best Mash Up Team (Critic’s Choice):
EON
There were five runway shows that evening. The first show offered
looks from forty mash-up teams (meaning a team of at least a
Photographer, Hair Stylist, Makeup Artist, Apparel Designer and Model-
who then had to put together a concept for one amazing image). Then the
last four involved four of Austin’s most distinguished designers: Kendra
Scott, Boudoir Queen, Gail Chovan and Stephen Moser.
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Boudoir Queen
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Boudoir Queen
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Boudoir Queen
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Boudoir Queen
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Boudoir Queen
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I would like to begin with Boudoir Queen by Dawn Younger-Smith. Her
collections are always ethereal and hauntingly beautiful, each with
vintage influences. This collection was no different. Younger-Smith used
antique fabrics (mainly from the 1800s-1930s) and based her inspiration
on a juxtaposition of numerous ideals: ‘Rock n’ Roll Belle Époque’,
‘Paul Poiret’, ‘Ballet Russes’, ‘the Rolling Stones in Morocco in the
60s’ and ‘Diana Vreeland.’ The collection that flowed down the runway
was apptly named “The Vreeland Collection” in which visually stunning
gowns that could have come straight out of an F. Scott Fitzgerald novel
danced down the runway. Being such a huge fan of vintage, I felt a fond
appreciation of the collection, where everything is not only “green” but
also one-of-a-kind works of art. Go to
TheBoudoirQueen.com for further information and to shop the collection.
After several awards were handed out, it was Gail Chovan’s turn to
take the stage. Gail Chovan was been an Austin staple for over
twenty-five years, designing for her boutique and atelier-
Blackmail,
which is located on S. Congress Avenue. Chovan is known for creating
artisanal couture in limited quantities and one-of-a-kind pieces. The
Fall/Winter 2013 collection that glided down the runway was titled
“Abiquiu” and was influenced by the painter Georgia O’Keefe and her life
and work in the southwest town of Abiquiu, New Mexico. It is said that
O’Keefe wore black in the fall & winter and white in the spring
& summer. “The ephemeral nature of dust and the timelessness of
stone…the idea of movement as opposed to the sedentary. A silhouette in
black, a silhouette in white against the light of the desert and the
mountains..The fabric chosen to represent this feeling was leather and
hand-washed linen, at times dipped or sprayed in rubber to give it a
stiffer form,” Gail explained about her inspiration and design
technique. I loved the deconstruction and the simplicity of the designs.
After looking up images of the late great painter, I envisioned that if
O’Keefe were alive today, she’d be dancing around the beautiful New
Mexico landscape in Chovan’s designs. Gail further explained her design
aesthetic, “My work is unique because I eschew mass consumption and over
industrialization. My designs shouldn’t be disposable. They should be
timeless, each one made by hand with careful attention paid in my south
Austin atelier…What I do within my designs is a study of weight, balance
and texture. There is a playfulness and organic nature in the designs
that let them take on a different dimension each time an individual
tries on a creation.” If you are in the Austin area, take a trip over to
Gail’s boutique…or if you aren’t local, go to
BlackmailBoutique.com.
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| Kendra Scott |
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Kendra Scott
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Kendra Scott
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After a few more awards were given out, we were feted to a rather
lavish presentation provided by famed Austin jewelry designer- Kendra
Scott. Kendra launched her brand in 2002 with just $500 and now has a
global multi-million dollar label. The extravagant statement pieces,
although designed for editorial use only, just screamed ‘wear me!’
Kendra’s inspiration for the collection is not only by current and
upcoming pieces, but is also associated with the seasons, as she
explains, “infusing rich colors and textures to create mega statement
pieces reminiscent of spring, summer, fall and winter. A parade of bold
baubles merging layering chains, tassels, ornate caging, feathers and
organic etched metals with a kaleidoscope of colors, from turquoise and
cobalt to abalone shell and tigers’ eye, created a season sensation on
the runway.” It indeed created an audience sensation that night. This
blogger was literally wide-eyed and oooooing-and-ahhhing the entire
show. It was visually intense, but in the best way possible! If you’d
like more information, shop the collection or create your own piece of
jewelry at the Color Bar, go to
KendraScott.com.
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| Stephen Moser |
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| Stephen Moser |
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| Stephen Moser |
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Stephen Moser
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Stephen Moser
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The grand finale show combined a mixture of theater and over-the-top
fashion by none other than the iconic Stephen Moser. Moser launched his
brand,
Made in Heaven by Stephen MacMillan Moser
in 1987 and has been a household name in the Austin fashion industry
ever since. This was literally the show to end all shows in a sense that
Moser once again portrayed illustrious showmanship and skillfully
crafted twenty-six looks for men and women. This collection was called
“Fashion As Theater: A Pagan Royal Wedding” in collaboration with
headpiece designer- Jennifer Ayers. The story opens with a shaman
(portrayed by Grant Hicks in black cut velvet trimmed with iridescent
peacock fringe) chanting an invocation for the awards audience to join
in a matrimonial celebration. Then we watch as a procession of royal
guests from various unknown cultures parade across the stage, leaving us
making up stories with our imagination about their origin. The ceremony
then commences when the three high-priestesses arrive, with Pagan
prince’s attendant and then the Pagan prince himself (portrayed by Fets
Benevides in silver-on-silver silk lamè and velvet brocade trimmed with
Blue Arctic Fox) in tow. Then we see two bare-breasted mistresses of the
Pagan princess appear, followed by the Pagan princess herself
(portrayed by Elle LaMont, star of the new
Machete movie, in a
silver stretch foil column topped with crystal-beaded mesh and trimmed
with Blue Arctic Fox). After the union is consecrated, the shaman makes a
blessing. The end. Oh and did I mention there was a flame swallower in
the middle of the action?! It was pretty intense. I must say, this is
the second time I’ve witnessed a Stephen Moser runway show and I must
say that he’s outdone himself in this being one of the most unique shows
I’ve seen. As Moser states, “Seeing is believing…”
It was a great show and turn-out. Again, huge congratulations to all the winners!
Fashionably Yours,
Heather Petrey
Fashion Events Contributor
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| Heather Petrey of LA Fashion Snob |
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Devon de la Poer
Editor In Chief |
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