Daydreaming about Fall

Daydreaming about Fall by longhornfashion featuring a bangle bracelet

This new vintage inspired dress has me daydreaming about Fall! Some of my favorite things about fall include the break from the heat, the changing of the leaves and of course, the tailgating. As soon as the temps drop, I am going to pull out my boots, long sleeve dresses and bangles!

What do you love most about the fall?

A Texas Gal’s Guide to the 2013 Longhorn Football Roster

This post is part 1 of a new series called Friday Football Chat with Tori, where she will blog about everything from football stats to Game Day outfit necessities!  Tori is a Texas Ex, Longhorn Fan, Internet Marketing Specialist and most of all, a fabulous friend of mine! I am thrilled to have her guest post on the blog and even more excited that she broke down the roster for us all so we can all be ready to cheer LOUD in 29 days! 

Now, whether you’re seeking to impress a new beau, wreck stereotypes that girls can’t talk shop about football or embarrass a Sooner who’s trying to diss your team*, every Longhorn lady should know who the leading men on the football field are.

*my favorite Sooner come back is “Score-board” because the Red River Rivalry record is 59 Texas wins – 43 OU wins.

Key Offensive Positions:

Quarterback: #14, David Ash

Ash is poised to take the next step as the Longhorns' main man in charge (say what you want, haters gonna hate). He is set to have a breakout season under the tutelage of Longhorn legend and campus hunk Major Applewhite as one of just two starting QB's returning in the Big 12.  If he performs inconsistently, it’s likely #6 Case McCoy will jump in.

The QB is probably the most important player to know, and I’m not just saying that because I was a freshman when Vince Young scored the National Championship winning touchdown in the 2006 Rose Bowl game.  I’m saying that because 11 of the last 13 Heisman winners have been quarterbacks.  (*Universal Longhorn scowl to the 2005 Heisman selection committee for not choosing VY*)

Runningbacks: #32 Johnathan Gray, #28 Malcolm Brown, and #24 Joe Bergeron

If you’ve watched Texas the past few years, you heart Bergeron.  He scored 16 touchdowns last year, and won’t disappoint this year. Though he’ll probably be third string behind Gray and Brown, he'll likely do the majority of the TD scoring (because he can pummel through defense when we’re in the end zone) while Gray and Brown split most of the carries and yards. Gray is a baby (sophomore) and an electrifying speedster while Brown is the most well-rounded, all-purpose back (runningback), although he was hurt a lot of last season.

Runningbacks are the guys who get handed the ball from the QB and run straight through what looks like a line of defense on the opposing team.  If the offensive line is good, they hold off the defense and open up room for the RB to run through and advance the ball down the field, but sometimes <read: most of the time> these plays can sort of just look like a big clustered dog pile.

Wide Receivers: #1 Mike Davis, #8 Jaxon Shipley

You'll be hearing Shipley's name a lot, even though Ash (and not a McCoy like previous seasons) will be throwing it to him.  We love that Jaxon (like older brother Longhorn alum, Jordan) is a reliable WR. “Magic” Mike Davis is so good he almost went to the NFL last year but decided not to with the hopes of helping the Longhorns make a run at the Big 12 and National Championships this year.

Wide receivers are the players that get thrown the ball, unlike RBs who are handed the ball.  In my experience, they get the majority of my anger and/or praise (“omg, HOW COULD YOU DROP THAT? You had ONE job!” and/or “TOUCHDOWNNNNNN! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH JAXON”) but that comes with their position.

Offensive Line, “O Line”

#75 Trey Hopkins: Offensive Guard, #51 Donald Hawkins: Offensive Tackle, #72 Mason Walters: Offensive Guard, #78 Josh Cochran: Offensive Tackle, #55 Dom Espinosa: Center

These are the big boys standing in front of/protecting the QB; you may remember Michael Oher from The Blind Side – he was on the O line. They rarely get any glory because that isn’t their role on the field. However, if they suck, you’ll notice the QB is always getting sacked, RBs can’t seem to gain any yards, and we are generally sucking, yada yada… so they’re important.

Tight Ends:

This position doesn’t seem narrowed down by various reports; it’s very much up in the air. Keep an eye on M. J. McFarland, Greg Daniels, Geoff Swaim or John Harris in order of likelihood. They'll be doing their best to catch Ash's passes when needed and help the O line block for the running backs.

A tight end is a really flexible player, typically bigger than wide receivers because part of their role is to help the O Line block and defend the QB.  However, they are also fast and agile and can run out and catch passes like a WR.  So, they can really act like an additional member of the O Line or another WR.

Notable Coaches:

While there are more specialized coaches for the ‘horns who aren’t listed below, these are the main three making calls:

·         Mack Brown - Head Coach

·         Major Applewhite - Offensive Coordinator, former UT football player

·         Manny Diaz - Defensive Coordinator

I know this isn’t completely comprehensive, it completely ignored the Texas defense (no hard feelings, bros), and is pretty straight forward… BUT, for those of us who didn’t know all the players or positions, it’ll give us more incentive to cheer, bleed orange and wear Longhorn Fashions in just a month!

Hook ‘em horns!

Tori

Don't forget to look out for more guest blogs every first Friday of the month from Tori! Follow Tori on twitter @toritica, on instagram @toriklem and on Google Plus!

Also a thank you to @joelpwright for editing the stat portion of the blog. If you don't agree with any of them, find him on twitter and let him know ;-). JK, Joel!

Outfit for University of Texas Game

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.

What Makes Longhorn Fashions Different

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

Burnt Orange Bow Back Dress Day to Night!

Burnt Orange Bow Back Dress Day to Night! by longhornfashion featuring pointy-toe high heels

Burnt Orange Mini Skirt Outfit!

Burnt Orange Mini Skirt Outfit! by longhornfashion featuring a white enamel bangle

Crochet & Lace Skirt 3 Ways

Crochet & Lace Skirt 3 Ways by longhornfashion featuring kendra scott jewelry

This versatile crochet and lace skirt is a new arrival that I just can't get enough of! It seems to be the perfect choice for a variety of occasions, ranging from a quick trip to Kendra Scott to pick up a necklace to church with my family. I am already excited to pair it with cowboy boots and the burnt orange tank for a football game this September and with a white silk top and sandals for my friend's birthday dinner this week. If you are still loving the white and black look that was a big trend this spring (I know I am!), you will love pairing this skirt with a basic black cami.

Being at the Kendra Scott store reminded me how much I love all of her jewels and just how much I love Kendra in general. Talk about such an inspiring lady! She has come such a long way since starting her business with $500 and her success is a reminder that hard work really does pay off. All of her jewelry looks fabulous with this skirt because they both are made for a fun loving, stylish girl. I included some of my all time favorite pieces as examples!

Which look is your favorite? Gameday ready, white on white, or black and white?