Golden Boots Awarded at the Austin Fashion Awards

It was the night everyone was waiting for and if you’re in the Austin fashion industry,  where else can you see folks get the boot,  but in a very good way, of course.  Even though the name of the event is Austin Fashion Week,  nine days of fashion events of around town featured  local retailers, restaurants, designers, trunk shows and more and ended with the traditional red carpet and the presentation of Golden Boots to this year’s class of Trailblazers, Rising Stars and the new Philanthropist of the Year. Matt Swinney, founder of AFW should be commended for the most smoothly run event to date and felt after six years of fashion weeks, this one was special. “I feel like this year is a real turning point, it feels like real high fashion, especially with last night’s show (Friday’s Project Runway).  We’re not just in Austin, TX we’re on the map now!” said Swinney.
Radio personality EJ from KISS FM looked dapper dressed in Bonobos and Time Warner Cable News/KASE 101’s Anne Hudson (who announced baby #3 is on the way) wore MJVO by Megan Jones Von O’Dor Couture and did a great job co-hosting the event  keeping the crowd pumped up entertained while moving the show along nicely. The show started with the participating Mash Up team models taking to the runway strutting their individual looks which competed for the coveted People’s Choice and Critic’s Choice awards.  This is one of the most exciting awards as more than 40 teams originally submitted photos with some of the most creative entries to date. The teams Three local designers were selected to show collections during the Austin Fashion Awards.  Isabella Rose, Raven + Lily and Rare Trends.

Each designer put on a top-notch show and could easily  be compared to anything I have seen in New York. Isabella’s collection, marketed for the “tween” gal,  featured helium balloons in the model’s hair that lifted into floating pigtails down the runway. Raven + Lily, a fair trade business, were soft, elegant and graced the runway in true Austin style. The Rare Trends collection, styled by Edie Henry and was the most elegant and well-styled and beautiful show I have seen in years.  Each piece that came out on the runway topped the next.  We’re in luck too, the new Rare Trends Boutique will open soon. After the show, the after party goers headed over to RIO where we all danced and celebrated a very successful event and week long schedule of events.
Now that we are done with Austin Fashion Week and going thru event withdraw, one thing we can look forward to…only 50 weeks until we get to do it all over again.
Trailblazer Awards:  Lingerie Designer Megan Summerville, Designer LInda Asaf, UT Human Ecology Educator Eve Nicols, Boutique Owner Elizabeth Gibson.
Rising Star Awards:  Jewelry Designer Jessica Bird, Handbag Designer Kelly Wynne and Stylist Cristina Facundo.
Philanthropist of the Year – Urban Betty’s Chelle Morrison for her work with Project Princess and her clothing swap benefitting SafePlace.
Click Here to see the Golden Boot winners 
Click Here to see the entire red carpet, award-winners and party pictures.
Click Here to see the recap video by Todd White.