While Austin Fashion Week may mean party hopping and cocktailing to you, but it also means serious business to the 50+ featured designers. This year, designers come from near and far to showcase their wares at the Driskill Runways & Marketplace or one of the many official events throughout the week. It was a hard task, but we've narrowed down the designers whose work we're dying to in person to a "Top 5."
Margarita Saplala is based in New York City and a popular line among the downtown boutiques. It suits Edgy, modern girls who are drawn to a sharp look packed in a relaxed form. Clean lines with room to move.We fell in love with Priscilla Barroso's playful, vintage inspired collection when we profiled Crowned Bird earlier this year. A nod to the 50s and 60s can be seen throughout each masterfully tailored look.
A collaboration between two women who tend toward urbanism, Herff Christiansen takes basic wardrobe staples like pants and cardigans and punctuates them "with a tuck, a drape or even a funnel neck." Layering goes chic.
You may remember this designer as a competitor (and frequent winner) on NBC's Fashion Star. Her architectural dress won over H&M (and us) and she's known for the clean lines of her shorts and pants.
Stacy Kenyon has paid great mind to the silhouette of the female form and turns out scorching hot swimsuits for the bold at heart. Each suit features high quality European and South American fabrics and trims, and is know for its seemingly custom fit.
We couldn't leave out the dapper dudes, so we had to include a shout out to the slim, expert suits of LoR, a brand that's currently seeing strong international growth. To see when each designer will be present at an event or tradeshow, visit AFW's schedule.