The eighth annual Austin Fashion Week took place last weekend at the J.W. Marriott in downtown Austin. Thirty full length collections were presented by stars of the industry, successful local designers and up-and-coming designers.

Story by Ethan Elkins and Rachana Jadala

Photos by Miranda Chiechi

ORANGE Style weighed in on our favorite and least favorite collections from the largest three-day fashion event in Texas.

Sean Kelly

Ethan — 3/5: This was a great collection to kick off the presentation. The pieces were cohesive and complemented each other with the pink, mustard and black satin color palettes. A majority of the garments were adorned with a thick black feathered material that left me slightly less than satisfied. The feathers worked on some of the coats, but on the dresses and shoes, it appeared to be on the verge of a sleepwear look.

Rachana — 3/5: This was a very unique and inspired collection. I enjoyed the graphic deer print design and feather accents, even on the shoes. Overall, the look was a little too drab for me. The color scheme included mustard, pink and black, which I did not particularly enjoy.

Plenty FM

Ethan — 1/5: This collection might be fun for a teenager. It included zebra, leopard, snake and plenty of other animal-inspired prints paired with neon pinks and yellows that struck me as tacky. These prints were featured on spandex and athletic-wear material that did not seem more appealing than a typical sportswear brand.

Rachana — 2/5: The style of this collection, featuring short dresses, vibrant colors and animal prints, was very put-together. I like the way the collection describes a very well known athleisure style, but somehow made it new.

Samantha Plasencia

Ethan — 4/5: With modern cuts, non-traditional color pairings and electronic music to complete her presentation, Plasencia’s collection was well-deserving of the BERNINA Fashion Fund award, giving her two newly advanced sewing machines. One of the most  notable pieces was a smock dress depicting an open-mouthed shark.

Rachana — 5/5: I really enjoyed watching the collection, and I felt like the entire atmosphere, from the music to the clothes, felt like a high-fashion production. The clothes did not necessarily have a similar thread or pattern, but still felt like a cohesive collection.The streetwear section of her set was edgy and fun, and featured my favorite piece: a hooded jersey made of a mesh material.

Katie Kime

Ethan — 4/5: Fun fruit and pottery prints adorned each piece from Kime, taking an approach to evening wear comparable to Kate Spade New York. Kime’s creativity merged playful with elegant in a fanciful way that ended night one perfectly.

Rachana — 2/5: The prints were not particularly original or imaginative. They looked similar to fun prints I have seen before, but I commend Katie Kime for her commitment to a specific look.

Lauren Nicole

Ethan — 4/5: At age 15, Lauren Nicole blew me away with her mature collection. Her pieces followed a largely grayscale color scheme with an occasional touch of hot pink. Her seam lines and material choices were original and overall very impressive.

Rachana — 4/5: I loved this collection— I wanted to own almost all of it. I like the mix of textures and colors, and the combination of feminine and high fashion looks. The collection was very mature and flowed well.

Gail Chovan

Ethan — 4/5: Gail Chovan, impressed me with her interpretations of extravagant atelier gowns in navy blue and black fabrics. Chovan made a notable styling choice in covering each model’s face with a mesh bag to have the audience focus on the garments.

Rachana — 4/5: I loved every second of this show — the drama, the head pieces, the music, the clothes. The pieces themselves were all dark navy or black and the designer played with asymmetry and expectations. I  appreciated the way Chovan pushed the audience into a new realm of esoteric fashion. This collection definitely set itself apart from the rest of the show with its original and dramatic designs.

Bentley + Lace

Ethan — 5/5: With elaborate and colorful corsets paired with  long, thick tulle skirts, the majority of the collection’s gowns were fit for a red carpet — but they were all pieces for children. The attention to detail on a miniscule level was something I had never seen before.

Rachana — 4/5: I particularly liked the elaborate headpieces and stunning gowns. I was surprised to see children in such detailed evening wear. The collection was classic and beautiful. The outfits were gorgeous and though I am unclear where exactly children would be wearing these pieces, I adored them.