Celebrate The Holidays In Tees From Katydid Collection

There are two things I love with equal abandon: T-shirts and the Christmas holiday. So, when Dallas-based Katydid Collection sent me their new holiday look book I was squealing with excitement. Styles range from boatneck to baseball tees, and come in a range of cute holiday savings like "Eat, Drink and Be Merry", "Ho, Ho, Ho Y'All" and "Jesus Is The Reason For The Season". Cost is $32.95 per tee. Order this week to get FREE SHIPPING!  You can check out all of their fun holiday designs at http://www.katydidcollection.com/holiday-collection.html

Want to win a free Katydid holiday tee of your choosing?

I am giving one away today on Instagram! 

Click here to go to my Instagram profile and enter to win!!

Flip Flop Fashions from Katydid Collections

So many of the designers I work with are high brow and high-priced that it's always nice to get a box from the mail from Katy Messersmith at Katydid Collections.  Based in Dallas, Katydid Collections makes fun, everyday wear. Hers are the kind of shoes and tees that I wear in my daily life to work from home, run errands and hit the lacrosse fields to watch a game. Katydid's latest offerings include fun flip flop designs for college fans. Available for $24.95 in a variety of schools. Shop the collection online.

FGI Night of Stars Shone Bright Like a Diamond in 2013

Steelman and Mattox
photo provided by FGI

Last Friday, Dallas' fashion elite gathered at Dallas Market Hall for Fashion Group International Dallas (FGI Dallas) annual Fashion and Lifestyle Awards, ‘Night of Stars’ gala.

What I love about this event - outside of supporting FGI - is that it is the BEST event of the year for people-watching. Why, you ask?

Because in fashion, honey, they dress to impress. When you are dealing with the creme de la creme of the industry, I can assure you that they are going to pull out ALL the stops to make sure their look is flawless.

I was not disappointed. I have three words for you: Susie Straubmueller's Skirt. Those who were there know what I am talking about. 

The event was chaired by Neimans Chuck Steelman and Katy Messersmith Mattox of Katydid Collection.  Courtney Kerr, emceed the awards ceremony and provided wise-cracking jokes at everyone's expense. She was hilarious and a fresh breath of air from the usually stuffy moderators.

Holly Hmielewski, Dera Enochson, Mei-Chun Jau, Susie Straubmueller, Shay Geyer and Elizabeth Anyaa
photo provided by FGI

Shop for a cure! How Dallas businesses are supporting Breast Cancer Awareness month in October 2013

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and Dallas businesses are getting involved to provide us with fun ways to support breast cancer research, education, screenings and treatment. Here are a few of the ways you can help support this cause:

Buy a pink ribbon cupcake at any Bread Winners location and $1.00 will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Dallas County and help to support breast cancer education, research, screenings and treatment. To find a location nearest you, visit www.breadwinnerscafe.com.

Katydid founder Katy Messersmith Mattox with Fox 4's Heather Hayes at the Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure 2012

Katydid Collection is a local clothing company that has a passion for fashion and a huge desire to give back.  Founder Katy Maddox told me, "With a clothing line that focuses on women, it seemed like an appropriate way to not only give back but to help support awareness through design. Since designing the collection, I have been completely overwhelmed by the response to the tees and deeply touched by the stories of survivors, volunteers, friends and family. Just two weeks before the 2009 race, my Aunt Jean was diagnosed with breast cancer – a battle she lost a few years later. In that moment, the cause became deeply personal and I was all the more thankful to play a part. Breast cancer is truly a disease that impacts us all."

Get 20% off + FREE Shipping on any tee from the Katydid Pink Ribbon Collection when you use coupon code “OSC2013” during checkout online. Katydid will also donate 20% of sales to Oh So Cynthia’s Susan G. Komen fundraising team from any Pink Ribbon Tee purchased at Katydid.com today thru October 10. 

Start shopping at http://www.katydidcollection.com/graphic-tees-for-women/designs/pink-ribbon.html?limit=24

Light the Runway with Katydid Collection

Looking for something fashionable, fun and charitable to do? Then you are in luck because the second annual “Light the Runway” father-daughter fashion show, benefitting Dress for Success Dallas will take place Friday, May 17 from 7 p.m. to midnight at 129 Leslie in the Dallas Design District.

Stomping the runway - family style - will be the likes of:
Alison and Leonard Volk · Allyson and Hugh Aynesworth · Chef Brian Luscher of The Grape · Deanna Di Pizio of Salon Pompeo · Dr. Mitchell Fagelman · FC Dallas’ Daniel Hernandez · Former NFL player Odie Harris · Gene Gates of Batutto Restaurant (formerly of Gene and Julie on 103.7 Lite FM) · Jack Son of FLUENT · Jody Dean of Jody Dean & The Morning Team on 98.7 KLUV · John Conte, Wade College · Mitch Carr of CBS DFW 11 · Ryan Neufeld, former Dallas Cowboy · Stephen Giles, DIFFA Style Board and Vaughn and Gigi Miller.

Katydid T-shirts owner Katy Messersmith Mattox encourages local fashion lovers to come and enjoy a night of great wine, fashion and light bites. Event tickets are between $35 and $125 and can be purchased at http://dfsdallas.org/light-the-runway-sponsor-levels/. In addition to serving as the event’s host, Messersmith Mattox will be the show’s featured designer, and part of her spring collection will be featured on the event’s runway.

Fresh Faces of Fashion 2013

(left) Sherry Tilley & Yvonne Crum (top right) Marc and Katy Mattox (bottom right) Bri Crum, Jennifer Miller & Courtney Kerr

The 7th annual Fresh Faces of Fashion program all began several months ago when Modern Luxury magazine collected nominations for this year's roster. To be selected as a FFF, one has to be not only stylish on the outside, but be able to serve up a dossier of charitable works and contributions to the community at large. Every year, 12 lucky women are selected to represent the program and serve as stylish ambassadors to raise awareness and much needed funds to benefit the North Texas Suicide and Crisis Center.

This 2-tiered evening, co-chaired by Yvonne Crum and Martha Wyly Miller, kicked off at Stanley Korshak on Friday, March 22 with a runway show featuring fashions from Sachin + Babi and other various Korshak designers. Stomping the runway were this year's crop of "Fresh Faces" which included Nicole Barrett, Peyton Blackwell, Paige Hardison, Bailey Harrison, Bentley Hill, Jessica Jones, Cristina Lynch, Maddy McKinley, Priya Bhola Rathod, Rachel Riley, Melody Rogers and Nicole Stewart.

Katydid's Katy Messersmith marries Marc Mattox

The happy couple the night before their wedding (photo by Shana Anderson)

Katy Messersmith, owner or Dallas-based Katydid Collection, married Marc Mattox yesterday in a small private ceremony. She's made a mint selling blinged out tees and dresses,  but for her own special day the bride kept it classy with a classic strapless dress and just a touch of bling (see photo below).  They hosted family and friends at Royal Oaks Country Club for their rehearsal dinner and tied the knot at Marie Gabrielle Restaurant & Gardens.  The couple is by now enjoying their honeymoon destination of St. Martens.  I wish Katy & Marc all the best!

Katy Messersmith with friend Kati Shepard

Iron Fork 2012

The Dallas Observer hosted their 2nd annual Iron Fork event on May 8 at f.i.g.  This event was a dream come true for foodies looking to sample cuisine from a wide variety of Dallas restaurants like Bread Winners, Cafe Brazil, Dallas Fish Market, Greenz, Landmark Restaurant, Lockhart Smokehouse, Primebar, Torchy's Tacos and a whole lot more!  The trick to surviving this event is to not eat all day and come hungry!

Scott Romano (left) took home the giant skillet. Photo: Dallas Observer

The evening's big entertainment was a Chef's Challenge moderated by local culinary legend, Kent Rathbun. Last year's Iron Fork champion, Scott Romano, returned to battle TJ Lengnick from Whiskey Cake and for the second year remained victorious!  Each chef received a basket of ingredients and the challenge was to go head-to-head in a creative cook-off using provided items with celebrity judges Gene Gates from KVIL, Steven Doyle from Crave DFW and the Dallas Observer's Cheap Bastard columnist Alice Laussade selecting the winner!  Throughout the night, guests not only enjoyed the Chef's Challenge, but tastings from local restaurants, live music, a mixologist station, along with beer, wine and cocktail stations.

Here are some scenes from the event:

(top right) LeeAnne Locken and Kent Rathbun  (top left) Employees of Cafe Brazil
(bottom left) Gene gates, Kent Rathbun and Steven Doyle  (bottom right) Lockhart Smokehouse

(top left)  Mesa  (top right)  Katy Messersmith and Marc Mattox
(bottom left) Matt Russell and Danielle Latta (bottom right) photo booth fun

The best part of the night was an awesome swag bag from sponsor Whole Foods that came with my VIP ticket that was packed with gift cards from participating restaurants and a gorgeous pair of earrings from Kendra Scott.  Surprisingly, it did not include a copy of the Dallas Observer... This is one super fun and tasty event I encourage you to check out next year!