Austin is already known nationally for it’s music scene, in large part due to the music festivals that are held here, such as SXSW and the Austin City Limits Festival (this year’s exciting lineup includes M.I.A., Muse, The Strokes, LCD Soundsystem, Spoon, Vampire Weekend, Sonic Youth, Band of Horses, Yeasayer, The Gaslight Anthem, Devendra Banhart, and many, many more). What many people don’t know is that there are also numerous cool venues for artists who perform on their own, away from the festival circuit, and this summer is no exception.

Two shows in Austin already being hotly anticipated (at least by me) this June are the La Roux show on the 1st at La Zona Rosa and the June 6th MGMT show at Stubb’s BBQ. You might recognize La Roux either for her shock of crimson hair or her catchy, David Bowie and Madonna-influenced tunes like her hit, “Bulletproof”. In actuality, La Roux is comprised of both the lady in question (Elly Jackson) and her producer/partner/keyboardist, Ben Langmaid. La Zona Rosa should be an ideal place to see them because of it’s intimate setting.

The MGMT show also promises to be a good time. Another danceable duo, whose sound is dubbed ‘psychedelic pop’, they are comprised of Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWynGarden, and formed their band while both were freshman college students. MGMT are now a Brooklyn-based band and are quickly picking up steam with their newish album, “Congratulations”. With a Grammy and a growing fan base under MGMT’s belt, the concert should be packed. What shows are you looking forward to this summer?

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Zooey Deschanel is just one of those quirky fashion girls everyone seems to love (though some think her twee cuteness is overkill, I disagree). Basically, I like the interesting roles she plays and her band, She and HIm, with M. Ward is a-mazing.  Oh, and the movie Elf is hilarious.

Regardless, I also like her style because she is unique without being ironic (as she says in her own words in the Nylon magazine picture below, taken by Terry Richardson). She references the past with her vintage ensembles and despite her secondhand garb, never looks sloppy and is always groomed properly (note the perfect makeup and hair). She doesn’t embrace trends but looks current anyway. She wears, gasp, color frequently and doesn’t look like a fashion victim in revealing, bland or boring styles like many other starlets. In short, she is fashionably adorable and has rightfully earned her place as this week’s style star!

Above all, to steal some of Zooey’s sartorial charm, don’t be afraid to be unique though try to err on the side of not trying too hard. Taking a trip to your local Goodwill (only choose things that are in perfect condition or are fixable) or a good vintage store doesn’t hurt either. In the collage above, I used all Marc Jacobs clothing because somehow, I think M.J. and Deschanel would be a good fit. She usually sports cute ballet flats or classic heels for dressier outings. I recommend trying the French dance brand Repetto for flats, as seen in the collage, because they are good quality, comfy and come in a rainbow of colors. She is also always in a dress or skirt, so make room for pretty spring frocks in your closet. Generally, Zooey sticks to fifties and sixties style clothing and silhouettes that flatter her petite frame, though occasionally, she’ll sport a great 1920s look with sequins. Lately, for appearances with She and Him, she wears halter top maxi dresses which somehow proves that she is at home in every decade of clothing.

Deschanel’s makeup and hair is mostly natural with a vintage flair. She wears her pale pallor with pride and plays it up with pink blush on the apples of the cheeks. Her sometimes winged and retro black liquid eyeliner is equally fabulous. The overall beauty look is soft, glam and feminine, with an emphasis on pastels. Zooey’s hair is a shiny dark brownish black that contrasts with her blue eyes nicely. Make sure to choose natural hair color that suits your own coloring. The cut is just as crucial to nailing that Zooey style….It’s all about bangs, either blunt or longish and pushed to the side, and long, wavy length for the rest of the hair. For dressy occasions, upswept hair is the norm for Zooey. Throw a vintage hair pin or clip in there and you’re good to go.

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I travel to NYC frequently on business or to visit friends and being a pretty hardcore foodie, love to visit all the different types of restaurants New York has to offer. Famed chef Daniel Boulud’s downtown restaurant, DBGB Kitchen and Bar, is one of my favorite places to eat when I visit the Big Apple. Described by it’s web site as “where the French brasserie meets the American tavern”, it is a delicious and one of a kind addition to the downtown food scene. The 14 varieties of house-made sausage are mouth-watering (I can vouch for this) but if exotic savory sausage isn’t your thing, there are also burgers, seafood and seasonal French cuisine available. 22 craft beers on tap and affordable wine are some of the other pluses at this modern but cozy restaurant. Dessert specialties include yummy crepes, souffles, and ice cream sundaes and there is a menu of small ‘bar bites’  and an occasional prixe fixe menu as well.

The interior design of DBGB is as sleek and accessible as it’s menu and is inspired by the neighborhood it’s located in. The Bowery is known as the city’s industrial restaurant supply hood so the stocked shelves in DBGB are plainly visible with copper cookware and dry goods. The partially open kitchen is not only a nod to this area, but emits a warm and homey vibe. Boulud’s favorite culinary quotes are scrawled on the mirrored walls, giving you something to ponder as you chow down on delicious food. DBGB’s overall design and feel is minimal, yet with an elaborate history behind it. It is both an homage to the past and tradition, but with a contemporary spin that is definitely worth checking out.

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I heard about B. Witching Bath Co. from a friend and it is exactly the kind of company I like to support. Not only are their products formulated from mostly natural ingredients, they are truly a quality line of bath and beauty products. They use the finest fruits, herbs, natural ingredients, fragrances and minimal preservatives and their products are unique and creative, with fragrances that are refreshing and relaxing. They are also made batch by batch in limited quantities, ensuring that each finished product is up to snuff. At their three northern New Jersey corporate stores, as well as with  their thriving online and wholesale business, they are renowned for their friendly customer service. B. Witching Bath Co. additionally never tests on animals and donates a portion of their proceeds to the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT, making the company a socially conscious and natural addition to your bath and beauty product lineup.

With a celebrity fan base as diverse as screen legend Goldie Hawn and rapper LL Cool J, you’ll be sure to find a product and scent (I like the Sea Glass and Chamomile ones)  that matches your mood and personality. My personal favorite items from B. Witching are their Exfoliating Sugar Scrubs, which contain naturally exfoliating sugar, rich emollient oils, and delicate fragrance and are extremely gentle, and the hand and body lotion, which is made from shea butter, aloe vera, goat’s milk, natural herbs, floral extracts, and essential oils to smooth and soothe your skin. Check out their web site for more info!

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I am often asked where I get my inspiration from for crafting new hairstyles. Well, I’m clearly inspired by fashion shows and what the forerunners in the design/art industries in general are doing but I’m also intrigued by what’s going on with street fashion. Designers of every stripe take inspiration from the creative and utilitarian styles often seen on normal people and I, as a hair stylist, am no exception.

Although I travel all over for my job and see many people attired in interesting clothes, I’m usually simply too busy to just wander the streets of a city people-watching. Instead, I turn to increasingly popular street style blogs for my fashion fix and The Sartorialist is one of my favorites.

It’s like the granddaddy of all street style blogs and is partially responsible for making them extremely popular in the first place. As you may know, it features clean, uncluttered photographs of stylish people on the streets of urban areas the world over as well as stylish vintage photos. The blog is as much about the photography as it is about the fashion. The two work together to produce photos that are compelling artistically and style-wise.

Scott Schuman (that’s him above in a GAP ad), who started it, worked in the fashion industry for many years before turning his lens loose on the street. Inspired by the disconnect between what was going on in high end fashion showrooms and what real people were wearing, he decided to document the latter. Usually, the most interesting part of the pictures featured is the details and how they work together to form the composition. With press from GQ and Vogue magazines, the blog became popular in little under a year, amazingly, and the rest is history.

*Just as a side note, these pictures are not from The Sartorialist because they have very stringent copyright rules and I didn’t want to run into trouble. They are, however, very similar in spirit and style to what Mr. Schuman does. Check out his site directly to get the real deal.

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I couldn’t continue doing the Eco-Chic section of this blog without a shout out to Stella McCartney (pictured below right), perhaps the most mainstream and chic, as well as respected, sustainable fashion designer. She is, after all, a famous champion of animal and eco-friendly clothing and accessories (she doesn’t use leather or fur in any of her designs).

What does all this mean? She supports the eco/social cause through her work by using mostly natural fabrics (McCartney usually uses fabrics that are a blend of synthetic and organic, unless it is a collection separate from the rest of her work that is designated as totally sustainable) and makes sure that the production of the garments is socially responsible (no taking advantage of underpaid, overworked employees). McCartney has also mentioned in the press that she thinks sustainable style is where fashion is headed. I couldn’t agree more.

It’s no surprise that she operates on these principles considering she was raised by hippie, vegetarian parents, Beatle Paul McCartney and photographer wife Linda. McCartney remains a vegetarian and is now an ardent supporter of PETA as well, bringing another famous face to the cause.

Aside from the environmentally friendly side of her work, Stella McCartney is an excellent designer from a design standpoint and celeb fans like Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna seem to agree. The best thing about McCartney’s designs seem to be that you would never have known that they were crafted with organic and nearly no animal-derived materials.

Although she managed to turn the crunchy, granola stereotype of sustainable fashion on its head, McCartney is also known for her feminine styles, suiting, vegan accessories, and even sportier looks (McCartney’s Adidas collaboration, below, was both hip and accessible). I have posted some of her more recent looks here but definitely check out her web site for more viewing. Although her stuff is clearly on the more expensive side, her collaborations with the GAP, H&M, Le Sportsac and Adidas have proved she is no snob and were worth the expense. Leave me comments and let me know what you think of Stella McCartney or sustainable fashion in general!

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You are probably already familiar with Urban Outfitters, the emporium of hipster cool and kitschy home goods for the masses.  While you may not have perused the home decor section in awhile, a visit to the apartment section on their website will surely change that. Reasonably priced but not necessarily cheaply made, their pieces are mostly sleek, design savvy steals (just avoid all the knick knacks). A recent collaboration with Pendleton, maker of interesting textiles such as the navajo print below, and a featured international artist community called Spcoety6, whose pretty and quirky artwork is being sold at an affordable price, has upped the style ante (which is, surprisingly, similar to that of their more sophisticated and expensive sister store Anthropologie).

I am particularly a fan of their furniture, especially the antique vibe of the sofas. Some of their decor pieces might still seem outlandish but sparsely placed, could proved a needed dose of whimsy to any plain room. After all, style isn’t just about clothes and hair, so add some spice to your home as well!

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Want to know the secret to having longer lasting eye makeup? Eye primer. Not only does primer increase the amount of time makeup stays on your eyes, it creates a smoother, smudge and crease-proof lid (much like foundation primer smoothes and fills in lines on your face) and can make you look younger. Though a good eye primer can be somewhat expensive, it is definitely worth its cost. If you’re looking for a way to add even more polish and vibrancy to your made up face, read on for my eye primer tips.

Alway apply eye primer to lids before makeup application, obvs. Use a small amount as most primers tend to go a long way. A thin coat should be fine. The primer, if you’re using a good brand, should dry quickly and you should be able to see the smoothing effects of it almost immediately. Apply eye shadow as usual after the primer is fully dry. If you don’t want to purchase eye primer or are running low, a foundation primer (such as my own) on the lids should be okay in a pinch.

When you’re shopping for an eye primer, look for an ultra-light, non-greasy, nude one. I would also avoid using the enclosed brush with the primer. I prefer to use my fingers to apply it because you have more control that way.

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Almost everyone can appreciate art but not everyone can purchase it. This thought was the direct catalyst for the creation of the Austin Art Garage, one of my favorite spots in which to discover and buy art from up and coming artists. The Garage’s aim is to provide exposure for unknown artists from the Austin area and to make beautiful art affordable to people from all social-economic levels.

Founded by two guys named Jake and Joel, the Austin Art Garage fuses common sense business and marketing practices, in their own words, to create an unpretentious environment in which to celebrate art. As a community, Austin’s diverse, innovative, and creative population produces artists left and right. At the Austin Art Garage, you can appreciate and admire art without the sales pressure. Visit their web site to read about, browse and purchase artwork, hassle-free.

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It used to be that nail polish remover was the pariah of green beauty products due to it’s essentially non-earth friendly properties. Karma Organic, based out of Ridgewood, New Jersey, is changing all that with their soy-based nail polish remover, featured in the April 2010 issue of Women’s Health magazine. Not only is the remover 100% biodegradable, it’s Lavender and Tea Tree essential oils (it also comes in unscented) will leave your hands smelling deliciously fresh. Unlike others of it’s kind, this nail polish remover actually works and is nourishing for your hands and nails as well as being non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. The product is derived from crops from American farms and is packaged in recycled glass bottles.

I am always on the lookout for green products that perform and smell great and Karma Organic delivers on all fronts. They also sell from their store/spa and web site, non-toxic nail polish (over 90 trendy and classic colors available), and organic lotions, scrubs and essential oils among other items. Opened in 2007, the spa itself was constructed using such materials as carbonized bamboo flooring and non-toxic paint, making your visit a truly eco-chic experience.

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