From Austin To the World: Ashley Hansen takes A. Renee Jewelry from “Drag” to Riches

Ashley Renee Hansen, designer and owner of A. Renee Jewelry, began featuring her first sets of earrings and necklaces on “The Drag,” in Austin, Texas. Now her dreams have taken her from the drag to designing custom-made lines for weddings and special occasions. “I have a client who wants pearls, pearls, pearls, for her October wedding,” Hansen explains, “Gray pearls, white pearls, pink pearls, pearls of all sizes! And she said to me, ‘we were so excited- we wanted to design the jewelry first, then design the girl and dresses based around the jewelry.’”



Hansen’s story is such an inspiration, not only because she went from The Drag to managing a jewelry line for a “custom-made” client base, but because believe it or not, she has a day job too. A Registered Client Associate at the brokerage firm, RiverStone Wealth Management, Hansen balances both passions. “I’m basically the client’s administrator; I assist the Financial Advisor’s with planning strategies and execute trades, but now with my promotion I’ll be doing more regulating. I’m hoping to lighten that position,” Hansen laughs. When asked how her jewelry comes to play in such a serious job she explains that her office is full of guys and those guys have wives, moms and daughters. “I try not to talk about it too much, but, you know, they celebrate Valentine’s Day, birthdays, Christmas and other special occasions.

However, Hansen’s style is perfect for both special occasions and every day events, because her jewelry is clean and classic, which she refers to as, “organic.” In addition, it’s light weight, earthy and calming. “It feels like you’re not wearing anything at all, and yet it’s so complimentary to the female body, and makes you feel very sexy and empowering,” Hansen declares. Depending on the piece, her jewelry may include gemstones, a bit of Swarovski, and are either gold-filled, gold-plated, or a unique copper. The splashes of colorful tones like blue, green, pink, as well as Native American Red and Indian Paint Brush, give off a very earthy vibe. Similarly, Hansen claims that many of the stones she works with have calming and healing agents that ward off negative energy like anxiety and depression, and instead encourage positive energy, like compassion and strength. “People have told me that they feel my energy when they wear the jewelry, which is funny because I get excited and pumped up when I’m making it,” Hansen explains, while adding, “My favorite gemstone is the Opal because it promotes feelings of love, passion and spontaneity. It’s also said to aid in visualization, imagination, and dreams- all of which have been huge components in getting me where I am today.”

Also previously featured on the famous site, “365 Things to Do in Austin,” A. Renee Jewelry hosts jewelry parties throughout the Austin area. Hansen’s upcoming events include a jewelry party at Simplicity Wine Bar and Bella on Sixth Street. She also hosts parties at clients’ houses and can host your party as well. If you’re in the Austin area, you can check out her jewelry display at James Allen: The Salon. The very affordable price point runs between $25- $75. You can also visit A. Renee Jewelry online and make a purchase through her website via the safe third-party partner, PayPal.

Fiesta in South Texas: Fashion Victims and Their Flair

Too much Fiesta flair can get one arrested, make others intoxicated, and get a certain Fashionation writer in trouble, as it invites too much inspiration for criticism. After attending a few Fiesta events this year, I’ve amended the slogan from, Viva Fiesta! to Muerte Fiesta!, as I wouldn’t want to be caught dead in some of the Fiesta outfits I saw, and hope that next year you aren’t either. In response to my new slogan, I’ve been asked the following question: “Just how much flair is too much flair?” A good rule of thumb: If ever in doubt, take something off.

For example, consider the culprit, pictured in her mug shot above. A committed Fiesta fanatic, she wore black and rainbow-colored cowboy boots to flatter a white, fiesta-embroidered house dress. Typically, a colorful flower—a-la-Carrie Bradshaw—adds a punch of flavor to any outfit, however this flowered creation ensures a swift punch in the face instead.

To compliment—or contrast—her off-the-shoulder flowers, the culprit accessorized with a little more Fiesta flair around the wrists. However, it is her hat that really ties the costume together and is worth mentioning as it is an example that more really is more. In my opinion, it even deserves an award—or perhaps a few more of those prestigious Fiesta medals. Tangled in cascarone eggs, confetti, streamers, and I think I saw a blinking night-light somewhere in there, stood a giant Toucan-Sam look-a-like. Whether or not the bird found the exit in time to make his grand escape is uncertain, however it is possible that he laid more eggs while up there. Where is PETA when you need them? Of course, such a costume would not be complete without a large, sky-blue sequin purse, possibly stolen from an 11-year-old daughter or Claire’s Boutique. Because if there is anything else this Fiesta fanatic still needs, it’s definitely reflective sparkly gear so similar comrades can find her.

If you have any other great pictures commemorating my new Fiesta Slogan, Muerte Fiesta! Please forward along to fashionation@sacurrent.com. I’m already looking forward to next year’s flair!

San Antonio, Texas: International Academy of Design and Technology to host runway show with Project Runway’s Shirin Askari

This Thursday March 31, 2011 from 6:30 p.m – 9:30 p.m., the International Academy of Design and Technology (IADT) presents, “Imagine.” An annual fashion runway event, featuring ten of IADT’s graduating fashion design and merchandising students, this year Shirin Askari of Project Runway Season Six will host. Tickets are $20 and VIP tickets are $35 and can be purchased here or by calling IADT at 210-530-9449. Doors open at 6 p.m. for photo opportunities and interviews.

Art fans will want to arrive by 6:30 p.m., as the evening begins with, “The Ten Show,” the graphic design and art exhibit from IADT’s graduating graphic design students. Sponsors of the evening include Dillard’s North Star, Top Knotch Officials, Lari Nelson Fashion Group, Circle of Influence, Sam Paniagua, Jonathan Moreno and Makeup Team, Bare Escentuals, Melendrez Entertainment, Banned Entertainment, Bisli Event Services, Gialex Cosmetics, Normas Creations, Sociallite Marketing, and David Constante. Show proceeds benefit Eva’s Heroes and Career Education Scholarship Fund (CESF).

With more than 30 years as an established institution, the International Academy of Design and Technology offers students a hands-on education with experienced faculty dedicated to providing students with the necessary skills, knowledge, support and guidance to pursue fulfilling career opportunities in the design and technology fields. The San Antonio campus (IADT-San Antonio), which opened in 2007, offers degree programs in graphic design, fashion design and merchandising, merchandising management and advertising design. Students also have the opportunity to take a portion of their coursework online through IADT-Online. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). ACICS is a national accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. IADT-San Antonio does not guarantee employment or salary and is part of Career Education Corporation network of schools (NASDAQ: CECO). For more information, visit the IADT San Antonio website or call (210) 530-9449.

South By Southwest's Style By Global Theme: Fashion For a Cause

I’m left with many impressions of SXSW’s first ever fashion component, Style X. However, among those impressions I’m referred back to a comment I made in an earlier Fashionation blog: “Fashion is not just a passion; it is a lifestyle that tells a story about ourselves, from something as ubiquitous as what kind of coffee we drink, to something as controversial as what kind of politics we practice.” While at Style X, I learned that many brands and designers are doing just that with their clothes today—getting political and striking up a conversation about it. I ran into a few fashion companies that are not only donating a portion of their success to their chosen non-profit but who have—surprisingly and profitably—built a fashion line for the sole purpose of supporting their cause.

Blake Mycoskie, the founder of Toms Shoes who also happened to speak at SXSW this year, is a successful and famous example of fashion for a cause. A native Texan, Mycoskie went on a trip to Argentina a few years ago, and, shocked to find children without shoes on their feet, returned to the states to create Toms Shoes, a for-profit footwear company which designs the traditional Argentinean shoe, the Alpargata. Each time an American buys a pair of Toms Shoes, a pair is sent to a child somewhere around the world, preventing diseases that over a billion people in the world suffer from as a result of not wearing shoes on their feet.



Open Arms, a sustainable for-profit company featured at SXSW’s Style X, maintains that they’re, “a company with a conscience,” as they enable a better life for refugee women by providing them with jobs that pay livable wages. Open Arms engages the community by asking for donations in the form of old t-shirts, which they recycle to create one-of-a-kind clothing products. The company not only accepts recycled clothing, but volunteers as well.



Krochet Kids International, “Buy a hat, change a life,” teaches developing countries how to crochet to break the cycle of poverty. The non-profit company, while only three years old now, was created by three guys from Spokane, Washington who were even featured in their local paper as the “Krochet Kids,” as their love of snowboarding inspired them to crochet and sell beanies to their high school friends. During college, the friends separated but were inspired by their travels, in particular a trip to Northern Uganda, in which one of the friends learned that the Ugandan people rely heavily on their government because rebel armies had torn the northern country apart. Today, Krochet Kids International teaches the Ugandan people how to crochet so that they can pay them a wage to be independent and support their family.

Krochet Kids International Fortunately, you did not need to attend SXSW’s Style X to get involved with the mission of Toms Shoes, Open Arms, or Krochet Kids International. Next time you need to buy a pair of shoes or a beanie, or get rid of some old t-shirts, you’ll know where to look.

For more “Fashion for a Cause,” join me in San Antonio, Texas this Saturday evening March 26, from 5:30 – 7:30 at the Pearl Brewery’s Aveda Institute. Aveda San Antonio will premiere their first “Catwalk for Water,” a national, annual Aveda event that raises funds and awareness for clean water. Beneficiaries for this runway show include the Gulf Coast Restoration Network and Global Greengrants Fund.