Get It Right: SXSW Style Tips From a Fashion-Savvy Alum

By Jordan Schraeder in Special, The Style Section on March 13, 2012 at 4:40 pm | 1 Comment

Coachella: hippie couture. Bonnaroo: country with a rock-and-roll twist. ACL: earthy, hipster chic.

Every American music festival has its own style aesthetic, but none more so than Austin’s South by Southwest. The influx of tens of thousands of music, film, and technology fans this week creates a fashion scene that’s more NYC than Lone Star State.

Mallory Hublein, BS ’09, is store manager at Feathers, a South Congress boutique that’s known for its selection of vintage clothing, jewelry, and footwear. Her take on SXSW style: “It’s an eclectic mix of boho meets rock and roll,” she says. “It has a New York and L.A. edge to it. Everyone is more fashion-forward and open to risks.”

A Textiles and Apparel graduate, Hublein has worked at alice + olivia, Isaac Mizrahi, and Anne Klein in New York City. She says this week is one of the busiest times of the year for her boutique—so she’s an expert in creating SXSW-chic outfits, like the ones below, for trendy festivalgoers.

Check out her SXSW must-haves below!

Printed Pants

“This is a more sophisticated look for SXSW,” she says. “A big trend this season is printed pants—you see them everywhere these days! Just pair them with a basic tank and cool jewelry, so the outfit doesn’t become too busy. A clutch is an added elegant touch.”

Get the look:

Reversible silk tank, $36
’60s black and white print pants, $36
Sweedish Hasbeens sandals, $128
Suede feather clutch, $68
Via Christa skull necklace, $190
Via Christa multi-chain necklace, $180

Leather Shorts

“For me, SXSW has a rock and roll edge,” she says, “so we sell a lot of leather shorts during this time. The big, drapey jacket is an easy way to dress up the outfit or dress it down; plus, you could go without the jacket during the day, then pull it on if it’s cold at night. This look is really a mix of different styles.”

Get the look:

Blue drapery jacket, $78
Alchemy “Realm Of Chaos” tank, $48
Black leather shorts, $88
Ax and Apple “Nix” necklace, $108
Bad Panda black arrow head ring, $180
Bad Panda stackable raw quartz rings, $180
Pamela Love tribal spike ring, $250
Pamela Love mood ring, $230

Floral Maxidress

“Floral prints are big for spring, and the circle sunglasses are very Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen,” she says. “This is very street style to me—it’s funkier, and a maxidress is really practical at a festival like SXSW.”

Get the look:

’70s floral maxi dress, $58
Vintage ’70s sunnies, $48
All For The Mountain honeycomb necklace, $248
Seaworthy pyrite necklace, $58
Brass bangles, $18

Jumper

“I love this ’60s jumper. Onesies, either with shorts or pants, are an easy way to put an outfit together,” she says. “I imagine this girl riding around Austin on her bicycle. And the black and gold shoes are very sporty, which is on-trend. The sporty look is coming this spring.”

Get the look: