NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK INDUSTRY PANEL

The stylishly smart side of fashion - industry panels - will be presented this coming Wednesday, April 3rd in our fair city as we all gear up for the lovable madness of Nashville Fashion Week. 

I'm excited that some of my favorite people will be speaking on my favorite 'business of blogging and fashion' topics including Amanda Valentine of Project Runway, the owner of the brilliant fashion-for-all website Thompson Fifteen, Chelsea Eager along with a panel moderated by Nashville fashion icon, Libby Callaway and many other big names in our fashion industry. 

Check out the full rundown in their press release provided below:

AND remember, panels are FREE but they do ask for a donation. If you want to be sure and reserve your spot, click HERE so they can send you your confirmation ticket. Space is limited, so get going ladies.  

- Katie 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 22, 2013) – Nashville Fashion Week is proud to announce the 2013 Fashion Industry Panels, which will take place Wednesday, April 3, 2013 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Emma's Bistro (9 Lea Avenue) at The Trolley Barns at Rolling Mill Hill.

 

Industry Panels are free for all Emerging Designer applicants, All Access Pass Holders and ticket holders, however reservations are required for admission and there is a $10 suggested donation at the door. Reserve your space at www.NowPlayingNashville.com.

INDUSTRY PANEL SCHEDULE: 

 

10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

THE BUSINESS OF ATTIRE: HOW TO BUILD A FASHION BRAND 

Experts dish the nitty-gritty of growing a fashion company from the ground up. A must for all designers as well as anyone who wants “real world” insight into how the fashion industry works.

Moderator: Sophie Simmons, designer/owner of a small luxury fashion company 

Panel: Design, development and production specialist David Perry of The DSP Group; entertainment attorney Robert Darwell of Sheppard Mullin; designer and Nashville Fashion Fund 2012 winner Lauren Leonard of Leona; NFW 2013 designer Cally Rieman of Kal Rieman; retail recruiter for the Nashville Downtown Partnership Crissy Cassetty

 

1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

MUSIC CITY RETAIL ROCKS! SELLING FASHION IN NASHVILLE

Leading local retailers tell what it takes to run and buy for a fashion boutique. A variety of different business models will be explored, including online, direct sales, and traditional designer-driven stores.

Moderator: Elizabeth Broyhill, veteran Nashville retailer and brand and media consultant 

Panel: Nashville-based designer and boutique owner Kayce Hughes; Thompson Fifteen owner Chelsea Eager; Sevier Skirts founder Suzanne Sevier Rowland; Kathy Hadley of POSH Boutique; Whitney Dunn, co-owner of The Perfect Pair

 

3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

LOOK SHARP! SELLING THE IMAGE

Pros weigh in on how strong visuals, good press assets and a solid social media plan sell a brand. It’s a boon for anyone who’s curious about the world of marketing and image. 

Moderator: Libby Callaway, fashion writer/media consultant 

Panel: 2013 Project Runway contestant and fashion designer Amanda Valentine of Valentine Valentine; Bismarck Phillips Communications (BPCM) owner Carrie Phillips; Nashville Pinterest superstar and social media expert Lauren Zwanziger; Next Model Management agency director Alexis Borges; fashion/celebrity stylist and former contributor to Vogue andLove, Sally Lyndley 

 

Tickets, the full Nashville Fashion Week schedule and additional details on each industry panel moderator and speaker can be found at www.NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

SWALLOWED BY THE SEA

MDKN cotton shirt, $54 / Ksubi denim skirt / Cutler and Gross sunglasses / Le Labo perfume, $210 / Lux Art Silk Cactus Arrangement

OPENING CEREMONY x SPRING BREAKERS

If you aren't already well aware of the latest soon to be cult classic Spring Breakers directed by Harmony Korine, you need to be. I'm not just talking about the movie, because more importantly - you're going to be seeing a capsule collection based on the movie by one of my favorite lines, Opening Ceremony. 

The capsule collection consists of mesh tops, unicorns and alien prints galore, lighters, teeny tiny string bikinis and of course, my favorite - crop tops. Best of all, you won't have to worry too much about the prices, as items range between $6 - $90. Score. Downside? The collection will only be available in the London, New York and Tokyo stores. Don't be too sad though - you can shop the look online HERE. 

I bought the backpack... I can't possibly live without it.

The design takes inspiration from the wild display of teenage debauchery in the film, and more importantly - reminds me of my childhood. Not the debauchery part, silly! I just really, really love unicorn hoodies and alien t-shirts. I had a collection going as a kid! Oh the 1990's. 

FLEA MARKET FINDS: NASHVILLE

BEYONCE - THE NEW FACE OF H&M

Title of image: “Beyoncé as Mrs. Carter in H&M” 

H&M has a new fresh face this season post Lana Del Rey. Lana is definitely a hard act to follow, so naturally H&M feels they need to out do themselves. How can they do that?  Call up ol' queen B.  Good choice! 

Although I can't seem to find any other sneak peeks of this collection online, I'm sure they'll be flooding in soon enough. I'm sure it'll be incredibly classy meets beach-chic. I need an excuse to take a sun filled vacation ASAP before this spring snow drives me crazy.  Yeah I just said spring snow. #palmtoforehead

Photography perfection via  Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin. 

DIY: GOLD LEAF EASTER EGGS

Remember me going on in previous posts about my love affair with gold? Well if you don't, I did! I've also been experimenting a lot with gold leaf - which has been quite the learning process. This stuff is finicky, but the end result is worth the effort. 

SUPPLIES:

+Package of loose gold leaf (Found at any craft store!)

+Glue (I used Martha Stewart Craft's All Purpose Glue because everything she makes is awesome.) 

+A sponge brush with wooden handle (found in paint section)

+Masking Tape

+Toilet Paper Tube

+Scissors

DIY INSTRUCTIONS:

+Tape off sections of the egg you'd like to gold leaf with masking tape. 

+Using the sponge brush, apply glue liberally to area that you'd like to cover.

+Take your fingers and grab a wad of gold leaf, then lightly tap the whole area as carefully as you can with your fingers to press gold leaf to the egg. 

+If you have difficulty with getting the gold leaf to stick, use the handle of the sponge brush to press down on the pieces section by section.

+If you want to do the entire egg, I'd suggest doing one end at a time. Cut down the toilet paper tube to a short length so that the egg rests on top and can dry one side at a time (this will keep the gold leaf from peeling off or getting stuck to whatever you set it on)

+Once your gold leaf pattern has dried - remove masking tape carefully. 

SPRING INSPIRATION: DIY FLORAL SUNGLASSES

I've been in a spring craft frenzy lately. 

Maybe it's all this warm weather going to my head, but I've been obsessed with floral sunglasses and all the incredible DIY variations I've seen floating around on the all-powerful interweb the past few weeks.

  I've been mulling over creating a few for the flea market this coming weekend. A great craft for the official start of the Spring Equinox this Wednesday, the 20th - don't you think? 

As a little spring treat, let's revisit these fun sunnies I created last year for some inspiration: 

DIY: FLORAL SUNGLASSES

ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE

Cheap Monday , $42 / River Island short heels, $98 / ASOS / Delfina Delettrez bracelets bangle, $950 / Cutler and Gross black eyewear / BOBBY hair accessory / BYREDO Perfumed Candle 300g, $73

LM + A BRUNETTE VINTAGE POP UP SHOP AT THE NASHVILLE FLEA MARKET

Myself and Codie of  the brilliant plus-size style blog A Brunette will be selling our wares this coming weekend inside 'The Rabbit Barn'  at the Nashville Flea Market. 

Get excited!

We'll have a little of this and that. Vintage clothes, handmade designs and jewelry - plus a selection from our own closets, so they'll be something for everyone.

Flea Market hours:

Friday 8am–5pm

Saturday 7am–6pm

Sunday 7am–4pm

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK 2013 EVENT INFORMATION AND UPDATED FEATURED DESIGNER LIST

Image - NFW 2012 / Red Doll 

It's that time of year again.

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK!

If you haven't already seen the line-up of designers (More to be announced soon!) and marvelous event spaces, here's your chance to get caught up! 

I've included the NFW2013 press release below and hope you'll all try to make it out to at least one night of fashion forward fun. It really is an unforgettable week and I look forward to it every year. I hope to see you all out looking stylish, and you better have your game faces on, because I'll have my camera. Watch out. 

Who are your favorites? Why? If you could choose any designer in the world to be featured here in Nashville - who would you pick and why? 

Just some food for thought - and I'd love to hear your responses! 

- Katie

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK IS PROUD

TO ANNOUNCE 2013 LOCATIONS &

INITIAL LIST OF DESIGNERS

TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 14, 2013) – Nashville Fashion Week is proud to announce the initial list of designers that will be showing collections during the series of events, which take place April 2-6, 2013 in locations across the city. In addition, the 2013 schedule is now live and tickets are on sale at www.NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

This year's festivities will kick off on Tuesday, April 2, 2013 with runway shows at The Pinnacle at Symphony Place featuring womenswear collections from Kal Rieman and Red Doll, two lines based in NYC. The Official Nashville Fashion Week Kick-Off Party sponsored by Opry Mills and Williams Edge Salon will take place at The Southern immediately following those runway shows.

The Wednesday night runway shows on April 3, 2013 will take place in the courtyard space at the Trolley Barns of Rolling Mill Hills overlooking downtown Nashville. That evening will feature collections from T. Rains, who will headline that night of shows and Kat Seaton as well as Tuft, Pink Elephant Designs and Black by Maria Silver, all three of which were featured in 2012 in the Emerging Designers Showcase and have since gone on to create full collections that will walk the runway in 2013. Wednesday daytime events include industry panels from fashion professionals that will take place at Emma's Bistro, also located in the Trolley Barns at Rolling Mill Hills. (Look for a separate release with full details on the industry panels coming soon.)

The runway shows on Thursday, April 4, 2013 will take place at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion with shows starting mid-morning at 11:30 a.m. Collections from Modern Trousseau and Memeka by Gustavo Cadille will be the highlight of the day with a luncheon to follow at nearby, brand new eatery - blvd., located at 2013 Belmont Blvd. The duration of Thursday will be dedicated to SHOP Nashville Day, a city-wide boutique crawl sponsored by The Gulch. That event will be capped by a cocktail party hosted by Pine Street Lofts in the Gulch later that evening. (Look for a separate release with full details on participating boutiques coming soon.)

On Friday, April 5, 2013, a collection from the 2012 Nashville Fashion Forward Fund recipient, Lauren Leonard, designer of Leona, will be shown as well as looks from Danish fashion house SAND, presented by Levy's.  Those shows will take place at Grand Avenue's new event space in downtown Nashville with a pop-up dinner to follow in the same location. 

Nashville Fashion Week will conclude on Saturday, April 6, 2013 with a grand finale event sponsored by Red Bull featuring soon-to-be-announced emerging designers. That event, along with the official Nashville Fashion Week Closing Night Party sponsored by William Edge Salon will take place at Anthem, a new, stylish nightclub and events space recently opened in the north gulch at 125 12th Ave. N. 

Additional designers and events will be announced in the coming weeks and all specific times and locations will be added to the official schedule on www.NashvilleFashionWeek.com.

THE FIRST SPRING DAY

It's so beautiful and warm in Nashville today! Only a few more weeks of crap weather, then hopefully this is all I'll be wearing until Fall. 

See you later, Winter. 

H&M skirt, $20 / Swim Top  t by alexander wang  / H&M flat, $7.50 / Ring  / GUESS wide brim hat / American Apparel plastic sunglasses

FEATURED: SIMON & RUBY - CREATIVE CRUSH

One of my favorite Nashville based jewelry brands, Simon & Ruby so sweetly decided to feature me this month on their blog in an upcoming monthly feature, CREATIVE CRUSH.  We had so much fun during the photo shoot - there were so many pretty things to play with and Lindsay's home and studio were absolutely immaculate! 

Along with a fun photo shoot featuring pieces from Simon and Ruby's Mexico Collection (My favorite piece being the Maggie Necklace), S&R asked me to shed some light on what makes me tick with a little Q&A. 

Visit Simon & Ruby's blog for this month's spotlight feature HERE and while you're at it, do some spring accessory shopping via their WEBSITE. You'll fall in love. Another tidbit for those of you in the Nashville area - S&R's designs are available over at Wax Nashville! 

The Maggie Necklace

{Images via Simon & Ruby}