Local Austin Fashion: Essential Oliver

I am a part of the University Fashion Group at the University of Texas. I am a part of the blog, public relations, art, and dressing committee. The group offers great opportunities and gives me valuable experience in the fashion world. I am currently working on collecting points to attend New York Fashion Week Spring 2015 in September. The dressing committee had the privilege of dressing backstage at the Essential Oliver Launch Party and Fashion Show on February 1^st. Designer, Tasha Petty, creates the Essential Oliver line. The show was located in a warehouse in East Austin. The line was casual for men and women and featured other designers including: Paleo Denim, Shauns California shades, B.Stellar Jewelry, Teysha shoes, Satchel and Page bags, and Fortress of Inca shoes. The atmosphere of the warehouse embodied the designs perfectly with a vintage, androgynous feel. The line is perfect for the young, hip community of Austin. The colorful, aztec printed shoes made the washed out colors of the line pop out. The show lasted 10 minutes long with the help of a bumping DJ and struts of messy haired models. The audience was having a great time flashing their cameras to capture every look, and then proceeding to socialize at the venue with music blasting and access to an open bar. Pictures featured below are a look from backstage from pre-show preparation, models practicing their walks, and the team celebrating a show well done.

be joyful in everything,

 Clare

For the coffee addicts.

I am not going to lie, even if this sounds extremely lame, the number one thing I was most excited for when I moved to Austin this past fall was to experience all the amazing coffee shops that really help you get in the "Austin zone."

I am from, what I call, a big town, not a small farm town but not a big city. Basically, I was just stuck in the suburbs where coffee shops and everything else closes at 9pm. I also only got the small option of Starbucks or Saxbys. Don't worry, I made sure to take advantage of the typical Starbucks visits by becoming a gold card member. Let's just say Austin is a whole lot different, and a whole LOT better because there are 24 HOUR COFFEE SHOPS.

Coffee shops make me enjoy studying. Maybe because I know I am about to make an incredible instagram post or I am actually being productive in a place rather than my dorm room or the dreadful campus library. I have been to many coffee shops in Austin, but I know I still have many more I would love to visit.

I typically treat myself with a caramel or hazelnut latte to begin with then stick to a regular cup of coffee with room for a little almond milk and sugar in the raw (who am I kidding, I have about 4 more cups of regular coffee after my latte).

Here are my favorite coffee shops:

1//Cafe Medici [on guad or on congress downtown]

The one on guadalupe is perfect to study with a hipster vibe surrounding, and the one downtown gives a modern city feel. I love to study on the coffee bar in the middle of the coffee shop downtown, and I love to study upstairs at the one on the drag (aka guad).

2//Walton's Fancy and Staple [on west 6th]

Definitely not much of a place to study, but it most definitely is the best place to have a yummy brunch with your gal pals. Yes, the mocha latte was delicious, but you MUST try the oatmeal. How does one make oatmeal so delightful??

3//Mozart's Coffee [on lake austin]

Mozarts is perfect for the fall and spring time in Austin when the weather is perfect outside. You get a nice mix of vitamin C, coffee, and a beautiful view of Lake Austin. It's a fantastic place to study or just dive into a good book in the fresh air.

4//Bennu Coffee [on east MLK]

I love to study here because it is open 24 hours. They also just leave you a tab open, so that you can continue buying your coffee and just pay for everything before you leave. Also, across the street is this fantastic wall art, pictured above, that makes for a great insta.

5//Flightpath Coffeehouse [on 51st and duval]

Thank goodness I really enjoyed this coffee shop because I skipped a football game last October to study all day with some good friends. Like Bennu Coffee, they keep a tab open for you. They have a nice patio deck and almost a 50's vibe on the inside. A fantastic place to take the whole day off to be productive with a nice cup of coffee in hand.

There are still many more coffee shops I need to explore, and if you know of any great ones please let me know. Now go out and grab yourself a hazelnut latte or coffee of your choice at one of my top five favorites in Austin.

2014

I'm beginning the new semester with bright eyes and bold ambitions. I am not the type of person who typically sets "new year resolutions" as I normally feel they are worthless and only last for a solid two weeks. But maybe being a little more ambiguous and just focusing on encouraging more positivity in my life can and will be possible.

I know all the new year posts are over and gone with since it is almost February, but I have been praying for what I truly want my future to look like, and I finally feel like I am starting to discover what I truly love.

I don't want to fear the world. I want to use the gift of intelligence to my best ability. I want to deepen my relationships with friends. I want to live selflessly. I want to give back to the people of this world more often. I want to make time every day just to sit in silence talking to our loving Lord. I want to indulge in all the tasty foods of Austin, TX. I want to learn patience. I want to incorporate the color of the year, radiant orchid, into my life more often. I want to have random slumber parties with my dearest friends. I just want to celebrate this amazing life we are blessed with daily.

I'm Coming Home

When it's time for college, you are so ready to get out of your hometown and begin your new journey. Let me tell you, by August 28th I was SCREAMING, "get me to Austin." I have enjoyed every second of my life at the university of Texas {besides the mini break downs from stress of classes}. This week was the first time I was able to actually come home longer than 12 hours, and let me tell you, I was so ready to get back to my roots. There is weirdly such a different feeling driving back into your hometown after being in college. It's inexplanible, and it may sound cheesy, but it gives you the CHILLS. I love being home for a little break from school to be with my beautiful family. The best part is being able to reunite with your best friends and being able to hear all about their new journeys that you don't get to first hand experience with them. So cheers to new found loves, new found interests, new found passions, new found friends, old friends, old hometown roots, old memories in the place you grew up, your full size bed at home, the hugs of your mom and dad, and baking gingerbread houses with your mom and sister. On this week of Thanksgiving, I am more than thankful for the life I have been given with the experiences I have endured and will endure in my future. Enjoy your family, friends, and hometowns this week y'all!

Fashion x Film

I love when my two favorite creative industries merge together to create something fabulous. Recently, designer, Rachel Antonoff created a short film to expose the inspiration behind her Spring 2014 collection. The whole collection is inspired by the idea of "crushes." She was heavily influenced by the personally story of her parents first meeting, to becoming crushes, to eventually falling in love. The inspiration behind her collection simply came from her daydreams that usually consisted of crushes. Check out the quirky short film that I adore and a little interview by Rachel Antonoff on Fashionista-

//only the cutest short film ever//

Wide Open Spaces

School has been so chaotic, and my brain has constantly been running at 100 miles per hour. I just needed a get away from the busy life of campus. This past weekend my friends and I did just that. We spent the weekend in Llano, TX to clear our minds of clutter and fill it with peace. 

"There was a day that free

Not a care that I could see

So good I could barely believe it was happening

Oh take me back again" Beautiful by Ben Rector

"Hope is springing up from this old ground

Out of chaos life is being found in You

                               You make beautiful things" -Beautiful Things by Gungor

need a little motivational monday

You know those times when there seems to be nothing creative that can stem from your brain? You feel like you are lost in a forest and you keep circling the same path without any knowledge of knowing how to get out? My brain has hit that point. I have three papers due within the next three weeks that all are no shorter than five pages each. I am stuck at that point where I feel hopeless. Like c'mon Clare there has to be something up there. just spit it out. I have realized that I struggle with getting the thoughts in my head onto the paper. It is definitely harder when all you want to do is either nap, watch netflix, go with your friends to Michaels to get some crafting supplies for your Halloween costume, surf the web, read the magazines you still have from Septemeber that you have YET to finish reading, or simply just want to blog. [ehh I kind of took a break and chose to blog] but seriously, I am at the point where I feel like there is NOTHING going on in my brain. You know that feeling where you just feel STUPID. I need some MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY in my life right now.

So to distract me from my negatives, here are a list of my positives:

• TGIF

• I get to see White Panda tonight

• I'm enjoying the best cup of coffee

• I have the chance to just have a relaxing weekend with friends