HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I had an amazing time last weekend at 12th & Broad's Christmas party.  My best friend Codie who you may know around town or from her contributions to The Tennessean & her plus size style blog, A Brunette is a serious party queen and knows how to throw down.  She helped put together this fun event - in addition to being a founder of 12th & Broad. If you haven't checked out what the fuss is all about, I highly suggest you get with it. 

You can find 12th & Broad on Facebook or visit their newly launched website HERE. 

I hope you're all having a great holiday season and I'm looking forward to seeing you all out and about!

NASHVILLE STREET STYLE / THE NASHVILLE FLEA MARKET + THE GULCH

BANG-UP BETTY 40 CALIBER SHELL DROP EARRINGS: BECAUSE YOU LIKE TO PACK HEAT & LOOK GOOD.

I'm always on the lookout for anything made from recycled goods. 

I feel a little happier inside knowing I'm not contributing to the endless trash pit of rejected material possessions cluttering up our poor Mother Earth. Even more thrilling is when I find a brand who creates beautiful, easily wearable accessories out of unexpected items. 

Case in point: Bang-up Betty - a full on fun fest of bullet shell earrings to add that unexpected bit of badassery to your summer wardrobe. 

You can find these hand-made southern charmers on Bang-Up Betty's ETSY or purchase them through Bourbon & Boots a great online resource for southern finery. 

NASHVILLE FASHION WEEK NIGHT FOUR // GRAND AVE WORLDWIDE

FRIDAY 4/5/13

The dust is finally settling from an incredible Nashville Fashion Week, and I couldn't be any happier. Not happy that it's over of course but that it happened! I'm just so thrilled that this tiny community of fashion lovers has grown into a mass collective of fashion forward and fabulous ladies and gentlemen with the same passions and hopes for the growing industry here.

I've been in Nashville for something close to seven years now and the industry has grown so exponentially here that you wouldn't even recognize it - I swear! The fashion gods have smiled on our sweet, southern city! 

If you get a chance - be sure at thank all of the volunteers, sponsors, designers and co-founders for putting on such a spectacular event. We are so lucky to have such creative and hard working people on our side. 

LAGI NADEAU

The type of woman I'd envision in a Lagi Nadeau piece is effortlessly stylish. The Blair Waldorf type or a modern day Jackie O. Classic and sophisticated but with a girly edginess. She'd have a book in her bag for light reading and a Starbucks cup full of hot tea. She'd also have on sensible heels and probably won't ever admit to owning a pair of sweat pants. 

ABI FERRIN

Abbi Ferrin has immaculate taste in embellishments - just look at the variety in her collection! I was obsessed with the mesh/sheer maxi skirt with the side slit. I'd wear it everywhere! Let's not forget all of the fringe and feathers, either. Embellishments really make an outfit and you can tell she paid close attention to placement and construction with each piece. What an eye for detail! You can also lust after her inventive convertible dress too. Put it on your  wish list, ladies, you need to own it! 

LEONA

I hope I see 1970's Mod all over the place this fall because I'm so in love with it! Leona's jewel toned colors were all perfect for fall and the silhouettes were boxy and boyish but in the sexiest way imaginable. Bright prints were everywhere along with a selection of shirt dresses and cut-out shapes to complete the collection. I was really drawn to the peplum jewel color block top and the complimentary royal blue trousers. If I had this outfit I'd absolutely have to wear it with a set of spider like lash extensions Twiggy style. Perfection. 

SAND

Fashion label SAND has been around long enough to know exactly what works. They define themselves by three virtues: Passion, innovation and timeless design. I think we'd all make better wardrobe choices if we filled our closets only with things that met those standards. SAND just goes to show what hard work and an understanding of design will get you - a beautiful timeless collection for men and women. Everything about the line looked wearable and fun. I think they should add those two attributes to their list too!

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.

NASHVILLE DESIGNER AMANDA VALENTINE KNOWS HOW TO "MAKE IT WORK!"

PROJECT RUNWAY SEASON 11

Very, very rarely do I find myself getting excited about television. 

I'm not a fan of reality TV, I hate politics and CSI sounds more like a sexually transmitted disease - but every once in a while I'll set my DVR to something worth while: PROJECT RUNWAY. I've been a fan of the cut throat, seven circles of sewing hell television series since its onset in 2004, howling at the screen when I saw something amazing, and scoffing at those pieces that I thought were better suited for a Macy's sale rack. 

Nothing makes me happier than watching pure, undiluted fashion related madness unfold on screen. I'm sick and twisted like that.

As Heidi would say, "One day you're in, the next you're out." 

So with that thought in mind, all of my  fashion obsessed friends should either set your DVRs for record this Thursday (and every Thursday for the next several weeks) at 8pm, or if you're a Nashville local - join Amanda to celebrate her talent and general badassery at No.308 (Thursday 1/24) for a viewing party. (Event info HERE) 

No.308 will have the big screen set up starting at 7pm until 9pm, so make your presence known, come say hi and rub elbows with Nashville's latest fashion celeb, Amanda Valentine. 

You can find more information on Amanda's ultra amazing line, Valentine Valentine HERE. (Lets just say that if holograms and unicorns had babies together, this line would be the resulting offspring.)

PLUS read more about her Project Runway debut in The City Paper, on Marie Claire, Lifetime's round up HERE, and in The Nashville Scene. 

*All photos via Amanda's Facebook / Lifetime

WARBY PARKER CLASS TRIP // NASHVILLE

My favorite eyewear brand, Warby Parker just passed through the Volunteer state recently spreading joy, good music and vision to all! I was thrilled to be invited by the crew to a little shindig, celebrating the recent launch of the brand's eyewear showroom inside Imogene + Willie, a rustic chic jean shop that caters to a wide variety of denim loving clientele. 

I+W also carry a few other products & clothing items but tend to stick to a very strong standard of quality - only picking high quality products and only producing the best of the best when it comes to their own apparel line. {Meaning it was only natural for them to want to include products from Warby Parker!}

WP went the literal extra mile by re-purposing this adorable yellow bus into a traveling show room.  They will be in Nashville till December 9th, (The Gulch, 2nd Ave N.) so don't miss this opportunity to check them out! If you're not in or around Nashville, don't worry - the crew has a few stops to make before they settle back in at home in New York. You can find the itinerary online HERE or below: 

WARBY PARKER CLASS TRIP DATES 

December 12th - 23rd - ATLANTA, GA

January 11th - 27th - DALLAS, TX

January 31st - Feb. 10th - SAN DIEGO, CA

February 13th - March 10th - LOS ANGELES, CA

You should give a pair a try - for each pair purchased, one goes to someone in need! Brilliance. Especially during the holiday season! What a great way to tell someone you care, in addition to helping someone else in need. Thats what this time of year is all about, right? Or of course, you can buy yourself a pair and not feel guilty. ha. 

But really. What better an opportunity to pick your poison? Of course if you can't make it out you can always give WP's AT HOME TRY ON BOX a go - but wouldn't it be nice to be able to see all of their available frames in one place? 

Plus, another thing to remember is: They sell sunglasses too! So if you're fortunate to have perfect vision and glasses just aren't your forte, then maybe a little something something for the upcoming warm spring and summer months? I know there's a pair on MY list. 

FASHION ON THE FLOOR BOARDS

NASHVILLE LOCALS: WANDERLUST + GIVEAWAY

WANDERLUST

1. HERE // 2. HERE

When you combine a love affair with jewelry and an equally as passionate love of geology, you end up with the kind of scientifically chic genius that practically pours out of Nashville local Misty Madonna Hays' mind. 

She's brought her wares to the attention of crystal and stone lovers alike with a great eye for color, texture and wear-appeal with equally as appealing prices.

MISTY MADONNA OF WANDERLUST:

"I started Wanderlust because I've always loved geology ever since I was a kid. I first went gem hunting in undergrad for spring break and ever since then I was  hooked. I go at least once a year. All the gems are handpicked / discovered by me. 

I came up with the name from my love of traveling & the Johnny Cash song "Don't Take Your Guns to Town." It launched Jan.13,2012.

Wanderlust has been featured in Meuse Magazine-Washington, Non Magazine-Latin America & several publications in California.

Wanderlust specializes in crystal & gem jewelry including quartz, amethyst, Australian opal, emerald, moonstone, black tourmaline, ruby, aventurine, kyanite & iolite."

You can find Misty & Wanderlust on Etsy // Facebook // MistyMadonna.com

1. HERE // 2. HERE // 3. HERE 

GIVEAWAY


Win a Tourmaline Ring!

Like WANDERLUST + LE MINIMALIST on Facebook for a chance to win! Leave your comment below and let us know that you've liked us and leave us an email address where we can contact you. Winner will be chosen randomly October 26th and notified via email!