Keep Austin Trending

Afscheid! Lebewohl! Au Revoir!

I am jet-setting away tomorrow for the trip of a lifetime with five of my best friends! I wanted to write a farewell post to my loyal readers because I have decided to journal and Instagram while I am in Europe instead of keeping up with daily posts. In case you are curious, some highlights of our trip are staying at the InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam overlooking the famous Amstel River, visiting the chocolate museum and beer gardens in Cologne, Germany, skydiving in Interlaken, Switzerland (if I can build up the courage), spending countless hours on the beaches of Saint Tropez, and of course… indulging in one of the fashion capitals of the world, Paris, France! I can’t wait to blog about my experiences overseas upon my arrival home, but until then … see you in a month!

I mentioned in an earlier post that I was recently chosen as Roar’s “It Girl,” and I had the opportunity to get my hair colored and cut over the weekend! I instagrammed a few fun details at the dainty little salon that was filled with rustic furniture, gleaming wallpaper, and signature lions placed aesthetically throughout the parlor.

This award-winning “urban oasis” as they like to call it, is nestled in the heart of downtown, right around the corner from another favorite spot of mine, Edge Boutique. My stylists Briana and Matthew were absolutely wonderful, and by far, some of the best in the business! Their styling techniques and added Kerastase treatment made my hair look beautiful, and I shared countless laughs over a mimosa and good company! Thank you to Elese for setting everything up for me, and stay tuned for more posts about my blow-out I’m getting done for graduation!

Follow Roar on twitter and facebook if you haven’t already!

Mother’s Day Must-Haves

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, so this means last minute mailing cards and purchasing gifts for that special lady in your life! I’ve rounded up a few items, perfect for your mother dearest and sure to make her beam! Also, I want to thank my wonderful Mom for being my biggest fan, strongest support system, and huge inspiration in my life. I love you!

Milk + Honey gift card - great for some relaxation time with mom
Anthropologie garden pot $98
Michael Kors iPad case - for that tech-savvy mother of yours $138
Keurig coffee brewer $179.99
Rifle Paper Co recipe card box $135
Bobbi Brown balm rinse $58
OPI nail polish - I know my Mom always loves a great shade of red! $6-8
J.Crew bangle set $29.50
Blue Mountain e-cards FREE and such a great alternative to old-school mail

Baggage Check!

Happy May 1st everyone! Can you believe that the year has flow by so fast? School has been extremely hectic lately, and I haven’t had much time for blogging with graduation, a trip to Dallas, and of course… my Europe vacay around the corner. Although my life has been chaotic lately, I have a few fashion necessities to purchase before I venture across the world. I put together an inspiration board to help myself prepare and give you all some summer must-have ideas!

How flirty and fun is this Betsey Johnson suit, perfect for the sandy beaches of St. Tropez? Or, a zesty lemon suitcase by J.Crew, great for traveling in style! And of course, you can’t forget a good pair of Chaco walking sandals to stroll the streets of Paris and visit the museums in Amsterdam. Another item that has me swooning is Esther boutique’s pastel pink dress! Are any of these items catching your eye?

What is a Nasty Gal? Don’t worry, it’s not what you think! The company deems her the coolest girl in the room, pulling off just about anything you can imagine from vintage gems to current trends. I’m sure you are all familiar with this online clothing sensation, but in case you aren’t… here are a few of my favorite new looks! Can you tell I’m a little captivated by shades of blush at the moment? These rosy pink hues and hints of tangerine scream springtime!

You can’t go wrong with a cut-out top like the neon pocket shirt above, and the high-waisted scalloped shorts paired with a flowing blouse are oh so flattering! Shop Nasty Gal’s new looks for all your spring/summer necessities, and enter their blog contest for a chance to win a $10,000 gift card!

I had the honor of representing Tidbits and Keep Austin Trending last night at the University Fashion Group’s Contour runway show. Trendsetters graced the audience, goody bags full of fashion favorites filled empty seats, and special guests Brad Goreski and Ross Bennett sat front-row - dressed to impress in their signature bow-ties, suspenders, and polished prep looks.

I was amazed at the talent that came down the runway. From playful color-blocked Resort pieces, to avant-garde men’s wear and a wedding dress made entirely of feathers, these students expressed themselves throughout their individual collections. Congratulations to all of the designers, and great job to those who received special awards for their stand-out pieces.

Follow austintidbits and rachelkschultz on Instagram for all of the snapshots from the show!

It’s a Brad Brad World, and we’re just living in it! Bravo’s own celebrity stylist and quirky fashionist-o, Brad Goreski, will be holding a meet-and-greet book singing tomorrow at Brooks Brothers on 6th street from 5-7 p.m. You can snag a copy of his new book, Born to be Brad, and meet the man of the hour who is sure to be dressed to the nines in a bow-tie, bold frames and color blocked suit!

Follow @austintidbits today on Twitter for a chance to win an interview and picture with the trendsetter himself!

It’s a Block Party!

I browsed my calendar last night and realized that my last day as a college student is only three weeks away! Can you believe it? This also means that my Europe vacay is crawling closer, and being the super-organized planner that I am, choosing outfits for this incredible trip has already crossed my mind. Have I mentioned that I will be spending a week in the fashion capital better known as Paris? Five weeks and counting!

As you all know, color blocking is a huge trend right now, and I anticipate that it will be popular for many more seasons to come. Anything goes when you pair together showstopping shades of pastel, neon, and neutral.

This collage is by far one of my favorite inspiration boards I have created! I love Shea’s electric cut out dress of Cheyenne Meets Chanel, and I’m a tad obsessed with mixing prints and solid hues! Don’t you agree?

*Images {row 1} j.crew color block ad, male color block suit, cut out dress {row 2} group color block, pastel color block {row 3} color block sleeve, color block shoes, brad color block

I was recently chosen to partner with awarding-winning Austin salon, Roar as a part of their “It Girl” experience! Their impeccable brand, highly esteemed staff, and selection of services couldn’t be any more appealing. Stay tuned for Instagram snapshots of the luxurious salon, and a review by me once I get the chance to book an appointment. Check them out on Twitter and FB for updates and customer reviews!

I will be attending the University of Texas Apparel Design Program’s annual fashion show “Contour” next week, and I couldn’t be any more thrilled to see what these young designers bring to the stage! Over 120 original creations will walk the runway, ranging from bridal gowns to digital printed pieces (which is the collection that I am looking forward to most!)

The event takes place at the Frank Erwin Center on April 19th at 8:00 p.m. It is free and open to the public. Check out their Facebook invitation here for more details. Above are some of the 23 designers featured this season, as well as images from the 2011 spectacular showing! Among these talented creators is my fashion-forward zeta sister, Sam Kidd! Stayed tuned for a post after the event, and of course … follow me at rachelkschultz for tons of Instagram snapshots and tweet updates during the show!