Posh Pets

I'll be the first to admit that photo shoots are FUN. You get to pretend you're in another world for a few hours with people making you fabulous and showcasing knock out clothes. I was a part of a photo shoot organized by blogger, The Shop Tart, Columbia, SC aficionado for a local magazine!

photo via the Shop Tart

As you can see pets were involved! My animal was a grey cat named Insley, who we joked, had a perfect name to be a contestant (perhaps a VIP cocktail waitress?) on the Bachelor!

I was decked out in merchandise from the store and got the special opportunity to be a part of this shoot with a close friend of mine who works at the store next door to mine!

We were joking that we had great outfits that represented out respective stores but they were also outfits that we'd normally wear in real life!

I can't wait to see the final choices from the shoot. I was able to snag a few for my own Instagram--you can even see Insley poking out of my bag--too cute! Sweater, tote, cuff, and shoes all still available. I'll post the fish critter jeans as soon as they're live online!

Big thanks to Columbia Metropolitan Magazine (see you in March!), The Shop Tart and Pawmetto Lifeline and Pink Sorbet!

xxKatie

LulaKate Wrap Up

original via

So a little over a week ago I leaked a few photos from when I visited LulaKate in Charleston, SC for a fitting. I kept what I was doing there a secret, but it was for a friends-and-family runway show before the delightful girls at LK make their way to New York for NY Bridal Market! Local Charleston bloggers and wedding industry professionals were at the show and I had such a fun time being a part of it.

The LulaKate studio is gorgeous: lots of natural light and exposed brick right on King Street in Charleston.

Not only does LK design bridal dresses, but also bridesmaid and mother-of-the bride options. Racks of color were popping all over!

I'm sure you've heard of an LBD, but what about a L-White-D? They have a line of their own! 

I could have looked at the wedding gown racks for HOURS.

original via

I was lucky enough to wear this beautiful long dress as well as an LWD that was all-over lace. I loved being in this dress and seriously felt like a million bucks in it!

It's always fun to be a part of events like this as a blogger as well as actually being in the show! I want to thank LulaKate for such a fun opportunity to be a part of their event--kinda from both sides!

I wish the LulaKate team the best of luck in New York at bridal market and I know that it will be a smashing success!!

xxKatie

Tailgate City, USA: The Dress

Your choice of outfit is among the most important choices that you'll make for Gameday! PS: How cute are all my models with their Swoozie's gear?

It's not an easy feat, but we have four FAAAABulous models all with different Gameday looks!

Jami

Jami's look is Traditional Carolina Gameday: black dress, pearls, cowboy boots and a sorority button! And she looks awesome!

Hannah

Hannah's look is Classy Carolina Gameday: patterned ruffle shift, garnet sash, black Jacks, Ray Ban Wayfarers and a sock bun! Isn't she our little Carolina Audrey Hepburn?

Jordy

Jordy's look is Cool Carolina Gameday: eyelet dress, strappy sandals, aviator sunglasses and a great garnet belt! Her look is perfect for games like the ones we've had so far when it is SO hot out!

Colleen

Colleen's look is Sassy Carolina Gameday: ruched sweetheart dress, bow belt, garnet crossbody bag, and flowery flats! Colleen's look is great when you're looking to get an awesome tan during those day games and tailgates!

What's the dress code for games at your school? Do you wear dresses or is it more of a t-shirt and jersey campus?

A quote from ESPN College GameDay sums it up perfectly:

"If South Carolina isn't the essence of Southern hospitality, I don't know what is. Those women sure know how to dress. Of course, in the South, a college football game is practically a formal event. Everyone – especially the ladies – gets all dolled up. But USC takes it to a whole new level. That football crowd is like something you would see in Vogue magazine."

xxKatie

USCFW12

Monday kicked off USC Fashion Week 2012! I'm excited to tell y'all that I'm a part of it this year and couldn't be more excited! Since Columbia has gotten a little bit more of it's own "fashion scene" this year, it's exciting to be a part of such a fun week on campus!

Last night was the student-designer competition! The above photo is from the designer's personal Instagram account. He did ALL OF THOSE designs! They're even more incredible in person. I'm all the way on the far left, and my dress was constructed in less than a week if you could EVER believe that! He scrapped my original look citing, "I just ended up hating it!" and opted for this second dressier look. 

More designers included Ashlyn of Southern Beaus, we had a giveaway with her, and Emma Mahon of Emma Graham Designs, another LBP fave! It was such an action-packed night of hair, makeup, and designer fashion! You can see the fabulous designs and judges' table! That's Emma on the far left!

Thursday is the next night of events that I'm involved with and is the night of sponsor designs! Big on the blogger scene, I'll be wearing an AMAZING LaRoque look that may or may not include the coolest hostess skirt and ruffle top combo that y'all will FLIP over! The above look is one of my most recent favorites from the LaRoque storefront!

I'll be sure to keep everyone updated with USCFW12 happenings!

xxKatie

Through the Looking Glass

As much as I complain about my phone, I was thinking how funny the compilation of the pictures on it is. Think of your phone photos: snapped quickly, usually under silly conditions, or maybe in a funny place. Here are a few of my last phone photos:

My favorite study snack...you can see all my econ notes and econ textbook opened to Cobb-Douglas Productinon Functions and Other Examples of Technology (Chapter 18 for anyone in my class...).

My little baby Little smushed between two big trucks in my parking garage!

My first fashion show outfit!! 

My first USC baseball game! How do you like my pink Hunters on their second day out?

...More studying!

Showing off my bowtie-tying skills at work! A must during Carolina Cup season!

I couldn't help but share my fortune cookie a few days before I went home for Spring Break!! TOO cool!!

MMMMM, the pecan squares before being cut...still gooey and cooling! I'll be sure to post this recipe soon, so easy and so good!

What do your most recent uploads say about you? Clearly I've been snacking and studying a good bit of my time!!

xxKatie

I Walk the Line for Wine, Dine, and Design

Y'all, TODAY IS THE DAY!

I am walking in my first real fashion show!! I can't wait! I will be modeling Lilly Pulitzer and Sergio Hudson (made famous on Real Housewives of Atlanta!) and I couldn't be more excited! We're all required to wear nude pumps and I'm wearing my pair from Target. I bought BlisterBlock and have been walking in my room in them to make sure I have a handle on how they feel! I've had them for awhile, and wore them for a Columbia Style Week event awhile back. 

I made sure to get ahead of all my schoolwork for Tuesday and prepare for the week early on this weekend so that tonight I could focus on the show! 

I hope everyone's weeks get off to a GREAT start, after all, we're also in the final stretch for CAROLINA CUP!

xxKatie

Weekly Gratitude

1. I am thankful for my parents for listening to me complain about the coming week. It's homecoming week here at USC and is very fun, but I'm a homecoming chair, so it's also very VERY stressful and intense. Major props to Brandon, Jenn, and Sara who have all been in my position in the past.

2. I am thankful that this week will be over soon enough. See above point ;)

3. I am thankful that I've found two GREAT fall nail colors to choose from on Sunday! Check them out:

Geranium

Size Matters

4. I am thankful for the WONDERFUL employees/volunteers of Charleston Fashion Week! They have been SO helpful with rescheduling with my schedule and both friendly and flexible. I imagined they would have been rigid but instead CFW was great! (My manicure will occur after the audition so a potentially bright nail color isn't distracting!)

5. I am thankful for the retreat I was a part of on Saturday. It was so nice to be away and out of Columbia in the cool weather as well as on the water. Water and being close to water helps calm me and I believe does wonders for the soul.

6. I am thankful that it's really starting to get cold here in Columbia!! I can transition into full-blown tights and boots and dresses! It's so exciting!

7. I am thankful for all the exciting events coming up before the semester ends! I'm also thankful that this semester of tough lectures and tougher exams is coming to an end. To think that first semester of my junior year of college is almost over BLOWS MY MIND!

8. I am thankful for all the new candles in my room. I find it relaxing and calming which is ironic because my Momma HATES candles! I can't think of very much she hates more than candles!

9. I am thankful that I am almost done using my BlackBerry!!!! I hope I can get an upgrade over Christmas break or after the new year and I can say sianara (how do you spell that??) to this stinky phone!

10. I am thankful that I get to see some of my cousins this week! I haven't seen them in a few months and they'll be spending some time down in my neck of the woods from New York!!

xxKatie

Big News!

So awhile ago, I tweeted about a big chance I had taken. I didn't know where it would be going and I think my tweet startled a lot of people (including my Mom and sister Grace). I promised y'all that it was a good thing but didn't spill any deets besides that!

I didn't really tell anyone what I was doing, I just asked for a few extra prayers and good thoughts on my behalf! I must say thank you to everyone who said me friendly tweets and even inquired about what I was doing! Your happiness was contagious and I'm SO excited to finally tell you!

I  have officially booked my first runway show, working with Columbia Style Week in June! This was a two-part deal though too. I also applied to walk in the runway shows affiliated with Charleston Fashion Week. I made it through the application round and will be going to the audition in a few weeks!

I won't know about Charleston Fashion Week for a few more weeks but I was so excited to have made it to the second round! I applied for both of these totally on a lark and had zero expectations of what could happen! Never in a million years did I think I'd book one and get to the second round of another!

I just wanted to thank everyone including ALL my Twitter followers, Bayside Bride, Natalie Franke Photography, good friends and family, and all you lovely readers for all your encouragement and excitement for me! Here's to a VERY exciting couple of weeks!!

xxKatie