Omaha Fashion Week

When Visit Omaha kindly contacted me about attending Omaha Fashion Week, I was excited for the opportunity but didn't really know what to expect! I love seeing what the Midwest has to offer fashion-wise, so I went in with an open mind. Let me say that I was blown away by the scale of this event! Think expansive white tents, a never-ending runway, red carpets, hundreds of attendees and innumerable regional designers. When one of the hosts mentioned that this is the fifth largest event of its kind in the country, I believed it! Here are three of my favorites from the finale event.

Susan Ludlow for Designs by Suey

 When I heard this designer's introduction, I thought it might be a good opportunity to freshen my drink. Children's clothes... crocheting... just not my thing. Boy, am I glad I didn't leave my seat! These were intricately crafted, whimsical works of art! And the kids with their wild punky hair were awfully adorable.

Juantiesha Christian for SuShe by J.

 As you may know, I'm more than a little bit partial to vintage fashion. This collection, with its Gatsby-era inspiration, had my name all over it. But beyond that, I was so impressed with the designer's ability to present pieces that felt fresh, modern and original, all while paying homage to the past. Not kitschy or costume-y... just gorgeous! It felt high-end yet accessible, and it was expertly executed.

Dan Richters, VESSEL

The well-deserved winner of the show! At once ancient and futuristic, this designer's otherworldly creations looked like they stepped off the screen of a sci-fi movie. I didn't really look at them as clothes, but more as elaborate, perplexing and breathtaking sculptures walking down the runway. It was a treat to witness this caliber of work.

Thank you to Visit Omaha for the lovely weekend!

Up in the Air

What with moving into a new place and getting settled, I've been all over the place in a lot of ways! Case in point: these outfit shots were taken weeks ago, and I'm just now getting around to posting! This outfit is also a good representation of my simple style of late...largely thanks to the fact that most of my clothes are still packed up. I did like the neutral color palette and simple elegance of this look though. And I really wish the richness of this faux leather top translated in photos! It has a great weight to it, and I know I'll be wearing it often this fall.

Coming soon...my recap of Omaha Fashion Week!

Shirt: Courtesy of Lulu's (get it here!)
Dress: Clothing swap
Shoes: Steve Madden, courtesy of Lulu's
Rings: Gift and Forever 21

Snail Mail

Thanks to the generosity of Visit Omaha, I had the pleasure of attending Omaha Fashion Week this past weekend! I was so impressed with the events! Check back for a recap post soon. In the meantime, here's what I wore to the finale event. While I've had this whimsical snail maxi dress for awhile now, this marks its official debut!

Dress: Vintage
Shoes: Lucky Brand
Necklace: Gift
Bag: Vintage

H&M 50 States of Fashion - Part 4

I'm a proud Kansan today. One of our own is a finalist in H&M's 50 States of Fashion Contest! Check out her Instagram post here. I love the menswear details and bright trousers!Très chic!

Off the Beaten Path

While I was packing for my recent move, I donated bags and bags of old stuff, but I rescued these leggings from their thrift store fate at the last minute. While I've always liked them, they're just more modern and bohemian than my typical style. Well, either my style is evolving, or I just wanted to mix things up. I'm glad I decided to hang onto them!

Dress: Thrifted
Leggings: Courtesy of Bluefly
Shoes: Courtesy of ModCloth
Necklace: Courtesy of Handmade by Sara Cramer
Bracelet: Forever 21

H&M's 50 States of Fashion - Part 3

Give me a "K"! Whether it stands for Katy, Kansas, Kansas City or Kansas Couture, "K" may very well be my favorite letter. Naturally, this H&M sweater had me swooning! I knew it was meant to be mine as soon as I laid eyes on it. Speaking of Kansas, today is the last day to enter the 50 States of Fashion Contest! Post your style shot to Instagram and include #HMShopOnlineKS (or replace the last two letters with your state abbreviation) for a chance to win some amazing prizes!

Sweater: Courtesy of H&M (get it here!)

Jeans: Fossil

Shoes: Steve Madden, courtesy of Lulu*s

Glasses: Urban Outfitters

Pretty Punk

I adore these two new pieces from Lulu*s, especially together! The combination strikes a perfect balance of girly and tough. The shorts are dainty and pink but have studs. The shirt is classic and white but made of edgy faux leather. So cool yet cute!

Top: Courtesy of Lulu*s (get it here!)

Shorts: Courtesy of Lulu*s (get it here!)

Shoes: Steve Madden

Necklace: Forever 21

Rings: Gift and Forever 21

Kansas Couture for Lawrence Magazine

Earlier this summer, I had the pleasure of working with Lawrence Magazine on a story about an electric railway that used to connect Lawrence and Kansas City. I had the fun job of styling an outfit and modeling for the photo shoot. One of the shots made it onto the front cover of the fall edition, and it's now in circulation! Check out the full magazine here, or pick up a print copy if you get the chance. In other exciting news, I will also have a regular fashion column in future issues of the magazine!

H&M's 50 States of Fashion - Part 2

Have you entered the H&M 50 States of Fashion contest? There's still time! In case you missed the original memo, you can now shop H&M online, and they're hosting an exciting contest to celebrate. It's super easy to enter, and the prizes are amazing. Just post a picture on Instagram that shows off your personal style and include hashtag #HMShopOnlineKS if you're from Kansas. Substitute the last two letters with your state abbreviation if you hail from somewhere else.

P.S. Don't I look tough in this jacket?

Jacket: Courtesy of H&M (get a similar style here!)
Shirt: Cheap Monday
Jeans: Courtesy of Fossil
Shoes: Steve Madden, courtesy of Lulu*s

Jumpsuit Yourself

As I've mentioned, I'm currently having a love affair with jumpsuits, and I can't get enough of this new one from Lulu*s! The soft grid pattern and ruffle detail keep it interesting, while the neutral color palette means it'll go with anything! I love the laidback look of the loose, long pant legs, but I MacGyvered them into a cropped version for my second wear, which I liked even more! I'll share that look with you soon. Long live jumpsuits...a lazy, comfortable way to look stylish!

Jumpsuit: Courtesy of Lulu*s (get it here!)
Shoes: Lucky Brand
Necklace: Gift

Feels Like Fall

The weather lately has been overcast and mild (even cool at times!), which is a far cry from the Midwestern summers I'm accustomed to. No complaints here, though. I'll take any opportunity to wear jeans, especially my go-to goldenrod pair!

Shirt: Urban
Jeans: Old Navy
Shoes: Courtesy of B.A.I.T. Footwear
Necklace: Forever 21
Ring: Courtesy of InPink

Two of a Kind

Here's the matchy-matchy (down to the suitcase) look I wore on the last day in Chicago. Awhile back I mentioned my plan to create a makeshift two-piece outfit, and I finally got around to sewing the skirt! I'm loving matching outfits and hope to add another to my collection, preferably one that doesn't require my shoddy sewing skills.

Dress (now two-piece): Clothing swap
Shoes: Converse
Sunglasses: Shop in Chicago
Bag: Vintage