Longhorn Fashions Blog: July 2013

Outfit for the Season Opener! by longhornfashion featuring white enamel jewelry

The season opener game is only 31 days away! I'm so excited to finally see the horns play again! I think this is going to be an amazing season for the Longhorns and I know they will get off on the right foot during the first game vs. New Mexico St.

If the weather is anything like it has been recently it will be HOT HOT HOT. Opt for light weight clothing that won't show sweat. The White Lace Skirt is adorable and the fabric breathes. Wearing white on bottom helps reflect the sun and will save you from those embarrassing under booty sweat marks. The Burnt Orange Cross Back Tank is another great choice because the chiffon like fabric is very cool and pretty much sweat proof. Pair it with a burnt orange bandeau or a fitted white tank and you are ready to go!

It is important to keep your accessories light. 103 degree weather is not the time to pull out your chunky necklaces or thick bracelets. The longhorn skull pendant, spade earrings and white bangle are all excellent choices for the first game.

Finally, footwear. Don't get me wrong I love rocking my cowboy boots every chance that I get, but sometimes it is just simply too hot to wear socks and boots. The first game is a great opportunity to wear your favorite leather sandals or these adorable burnt orange and white flats.

Can't wait to see pictures of everyone tailgating for the first game! Don't forget to submit them to tessie@longhornfashions.com to be in our Facebook Fan album.

Some exciting things are happening and while I can’t wait for these big changes, I am also a little nervous! I’ve learned a great way to channel those nerves is to either write it out or call my family and talk it out (thanks mom and sis for being great listeners!).

One thing I really wanted to reflect on before these changes is what makes Longhorn Fashions different. Everything that I think makes Longhorn Fashions stand out are in my initial business plans as my goals for the store. Longhorn Fashions is truly a dream come true for me and I am proud of what it has become over the past three years (with a lot of help from family and friends who I can't thank enough). I want to promise to you all that I will work hard every day to make sure that I am doing the best I can to accomplish the goals for this boutique and I want to share them with you all so you know a little bit more about the foundation of Longhorn Fashions and so you can call me when out whenever you think these aren’t ringing true.

Limited Quantities

Unlike some larger stores who pick 5-6 styles for the season and order them in mass amount, I strive to carry very limited quantities of each item. I want the Longhorn Fashions selection to be diverse, unique and continually updated. Instead of doing all the work before the season and pushing sales after that, I look at line sheets constantly, pretty much daily, so that I can add new arrivals as frequently as possible. I would rather purchase 6 of something than 600, even if that means less profit for the store at times. Who wants to show up to a tailgate in the same exact dress as 4 other people? Not me! And I’m guessing not you!

Exclusives

I’m so proud to say that Longhorn Fashions will have 7 exclusives this season! These tops, dresses and skirts will only be available through Longhorn Fashions and I think (hope!) you are going to love them as much as I do. A lot of work went into these exclusives and after narrowing it down, these 7 were chosen for their high quality, flattering fit and perfect color.

Local Designers & Manufacturers Based in the USA

I do my best to always carry local designers when I can and honestly this one of the main reasons for having the store. I think it is so important to support our talented Texas designers and I am always open to looking at pieces that a local designer made. I feel grateful that I was given the opportunity to start LonghornFashions.com and a lot of the first brands I carried were local designers who gave my small online store a shot (I am especially thankful for Jolie and Elizabeth who I placed my first wholesale order with!) so I want to pay it forward to other people that are pursuing their passions. I also try to carry mostly brands that are made in USA (gotta support the US economy, y’all!). I wish I could move towards a solely USA made model, but since I am trying to expand the selection right now it isn't always possible. I am definitely trying to keep the majority of the inventory made in the USA and if you have a favorite made in the USA brand or local designer that you would like Longhorn Fashions to carry, please email me or comment below!

Fast Shipping

I know how important it is to have your outfit by the game, so I promise I do everything in my power to get it to you. I have even been known to hand deliver orders that were placed late on Thursday so I could be 100% sure they arrived on Friday. This football season, we will have an even better system in place for shipping orders and with one of these changes you might just find it easier to get it in person ;-).

Lower Prices

Since the inception of Longhorn Fashions, low price points have been a priority. Everything on Longhorn Fashions is under $100 and most things are under $60. If I find an affordable brand that is of a high quality, I don’t look at it as an opportunity to mark it up 3 or 4 times the wholesale cost. I stick to a storewide rate that is the lowest I have heard any boutique offering. The hope in this is that customers will appreciate the savings and purchase more than one item or recommend the store to their friends as the best place in town. If you do see a brand that Longhorn Fashions carries for less at a different boutique, please let me know and I will price match. As a young adult, I know how hard it can be to make money stretch!

Give Back Tuesday

Give back Tuesday was started the first year (2010) and it is also one of the main reasons why I want to have Longhorn Fashions. I know that clothing boutiques can be materialistic and that there are millions of people without the option to buy multiple outfits, so I want to make sure that Longhorn Fashions is constantly giving back a large portion of the profit. Whether it is to the Texas Scholarship Fund, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, JDRF, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or any other charity that we have previously worked with, that is what matters. I am looking forward to growing Give Back Tuesday this year and would love to team up with any sororities or campus organizations that support a non-profit.

Internships

Internships are crucial and often hard to find in Austin. I loved working with the Longhorn Fashions social media intern last Fall and can’t wait to hire more this year. Whether you are interested in social media, search engine optimization, paid search, buying, or merchandising, I would love for you to join the team!

Any ideas on how I can improve Longhorn Fashions? I would love to hear in the comment section below. I can't thank you all enough for your support and know that there is still a lot of room to grow.

Work hard and be nice to people <3

Tessie