Designer Jason Wu Shows Collection at MJ&M Fashion Show
It’s always nice to have Austin on the hot list of places for celebrities to perform, play and now call home. While the Austin fashion community has grown into something very special, it is, even more, fun to get the nod of approval when a named fashion designer comes to town to show their collection. On a personal note, I was giddy to find out Jason Wu was planning to show here in Austin. He is one designer whom I have not met and was looking forward to this always sold out show at the JW Marriott.
Mr. Wu, 35, is now a familiar name in the fashion industry. His inaugural gowns worn by First Lady Michelle Obama were considered career starters and he now has a long list of celebrities added to his clientele list.
Wu did have to make quite a trek to get to the Capital city. Prior to arriving in Austin, Camila Alves announced to the crowd, he was working in Germany with Hugo Boss and traveled directly to Austin for the show. (We appreciate his jet lag and dedication to get to the Lone Star State, btw). But trying to get Jason to Austin to be a part of the MJ&M lineup started months prior to Alves introducing herself to Jason at a fashion event. “I haven’t been to Austin in more than 10 years and quite excited to be here,” said Wu.
Wu’s inspiration for his spring collection was from artist Ugo Rondinone, a Swiss-born mixed-media artist. “He does these really amazing, bright, outdoor installations and you see a lot of influence a lot in the fabrics we developed”, Wu said. He also indicated that he is influenced by Charles James and his mother who taught him how to sew when he was nine years old and Camila was referenced as a new muse for inspiration for him.
Click Here to See the Entire Event Photo Gallery
The collection was a mix of romantic lace, neon-trimmed sportswear and asymmetrical hemlines accents on skirts and tops. Cutouts on tops were on trend with key colors navy blue, neon green, and salmon pink. His featured print, developed by his team, was a chiffon backed floral embroidered fabric accented on several cocktail-style dresses and the finale gowns were all floral all the time in nude and black versions, which were my personal favorites. But then who doesn’t love a good gown!
The local hair and makeup teams put the finishing touch on the models. Hair was styled off the face with a wet sleek look styled by local stylist Jorge Buccio of J Buccio Salon. The lead makeup artist for the model’s fresh face and the glowy look was Erin Lockard. Simple with the lips being the main focus in a poppy red.
As part of the annual MJ&M charity weekend bash (name for Mack Brown, Jack Ingram and Matthew McConaughey), the Fashion Show and Luncheon, golf event and music extravaganza has raised more than $5 million in the last four years with the 2017 tally being a very impressive $2.5M+ gross according to event organizers. Funds raised at MJ&M 2017 will support CureDuchenne, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, HeartGift, the just keep livin’ Foundation and the Rise School of Austin.
Thank you, Jason, for making a little fashion runway history here in Austin. Just don’t make it another ten years before you visit again!
———————————————————————
The host committee for the event: Jenny Aghamalian, Ellen Burt, Laura Craddick, Jamie Chandlee, Kelly Dodson, Katie Jaffe, Anna Hansen, Andra Liemandt, Tracey Marshall, Natalie Noble, Nicki Riley, Stacey Smith, Angela Smogur, Loren Stalcup, Wendy Topfer and Leslie Ward.
Fashion Show Chairs: Camila Alves, Amy Ingram and Sally Brown.
Also a big thank you to the press committee for allowing Fashionably Austin cover the runway show.
