Every year, Saint Louis Fashion Week kindly shares its events with the STLFW VIP bloggers. I already took you to the runway and still presentations; now it’s time to check out all the events that fell in between. Get ready for some eye candy—we went to some of the prettiest parts of the city.
Dinner at 360 St. Louis with Socially Jen
After the first STLFW show, we headed to 360 St. Louis to take in some amazing views of the city, get to know Jen behind Socially Jen, and grab some dinner.
Please note the amazing chandeliers at 360. // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
Dinner with Socially Jen
Shopping at The Vault
Thursday morning I met a friend for breakfast, then headed to The Vault in Brentwood, Missouri, for some discounted designer shopping. Brought to you by the women of Resale Royalty, The Vault features new and gently-used designer items at amazing prices. I found an item so on sale it was nothing less than a steal: I purchased a new with tags Marc by Marc Jacobs dress on sale from just under $800 to $80. I can’t even. (See the dress later in this post!)
Of course I went straight for the purses. // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
Cheers!
Dishing to Psyche about my mad-rad MBMJ deal at The Vault. // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
STLFW blog squad, freaking out over sweet, sweet sales. // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
Lunch at Katie’s Pizza and Pastaria with The Normal Brand
After shopping around The Vault, we all headed to Katie’s Pizza for lunch with The Normal Brand. This St. Louis company (which recently made headlines for its new funding) is focused on creating attire for a midwestern lifestyle. Carbs at Katie’s Pizza were the perfect fuel to get me through a few hours of work before heading back out to STLFW events.
Lunch at Katie’s Pizza with The Normal Brand.
Lance trying out his new hat care of The Normal Brand.
Dinner at Element with Collections by Joya
You know how much I love Collections by Joya, so I was thrilled for this dinner. Not only did I get to hang with the amazing women behind the company, but I got to finally try hot spot Element. The only thing better than the atmosphere was the food.
Plus, this dinner (and the STLFW show after it) were the perfect place to rock my new MBMJ dress from The Vault. Isn’t it great?
Wearing my new MBMJ find from The Vault before heading to Element.
The amazing light fixture theme continued at Element. // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
Stay tuned to see more from the Collections by Joya monthly subscription box.
Cheers! // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
Brunch and Shopping with the Naturalizer
Ah, Naturalizer. Maybe I don’t talk about them enough on here? Ha! I was ecstatic to be invited back to the Naturalizer blogger brunch, as I had so much fun at last year’s event. Per the norm, I left with boots. (Booties this time.) I think I have a boot problem.
You know me: I’m perpetually drawn to leopard.
Shoes sweet shoes at Naturalizer. // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
Lunch with Lu Lu Seafood
I have driven by Lu Lu Seafood for years, but I never stopped in because I’m not a seafood fan. We grabbed lunch there after shopping at the Galleria, and I was pleased to find out the eatery’s full menu includes more than what swims. Extra perk: I finally tried steamed buns!
First time trying steam buns at Lu Lu Seafood.
Happy Hour with Fauxgerty
After heading home to get some work done, I changed looks and headed to St. Louis’ Central West End. We first met up at Fauxgerty, a veg-friendly boutique specializing in vegan leather moto jackets you would bet $100 were real leather.
And yes, I had to wear my new Naturalizer booties the day that I got them. I get too excited to be patient!
Testing out my new Naturalizer booties with an Anthro midi skirt.
Champagne in a can with Lindsay at Fauxgerty. // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
This new “#Tenacity” cuff was a gift from Socially Jen.
One of the women behind Fauxgerty hand-paints some of the items.
Circle skirts for life.
Inside Fauxgerty.
Dinner at Central Table with the Missouri Eating Disorder Council
After heading to that evening’s STLFW show, we went to a very special dinner at Central Table sponsored by the Missouri Eating Disorder Council. This organization is doing some amazing things to increase social awareness, improve access to treatment, and more. (Did you know Missouri is the first state in which insurance is required to cover eating disorder treatments?) Check out the organization’s powerful new campaign here.
Seeing the Missouri Eating Disorder‘s powerful new ad before the informative dinner at Central Table. // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
Shopping and snacks with Free People
The next morning we met up for the perfect morning bite with Free People: water and pastries, aka heaven after a long night. After days of back-to-back events it was great to take a mini mall break before heading back out.
May I just live here? Thanks, Free People. // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
Shopping and brunch with Living Collective
Because we were the best-fed group in STL last week, we stopped by the Living Collective HQ for more food, drinks, and shopping. Equal parts quirky and cool, this eBoutique offers the weird, memorable items you want for yourself and the people on your holiday list. I couldn’t leave without something for myself and a present for a friend. I am also still contemplating a sweatshirt that says CAKE CAKE CAKE. Priorities.
One of the many hilariously-awesome things available through Living Collective.
Dinner at the Budweiser Brew House at Ballpark Village
Our crazy four-day weekend wrapped up at Ballpark Village, starting with dinner at Budweiser Brew House before a tour of the location. I’m a meat-and-potatoes kind of gal, so I was thrilled and thoroughly impressed to try a perfect mid-rare steak at what I (mistakenly) assumed was a sports bar. New date location!
Wrapping up STLFW at the Budweiser Brew House in Ballpark Village. // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
It wouldn’t be a St. Louis adventure without toasted ravs.
Lucky us! We took an exclusive tour of Ballpark Village. // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
Can we talk about this view?
Drinks at Howl at the Moon at Ballpark Village
And finally, we headed up to Howl at the Moon for Champagne and entertainment. This dueling piano bar was a fun way to close out the season and relax after nonstop movement. Cheers!
We ended the evening at Howl at the Moon, the piano bar in Ballpark Village. // Photo: Ashley Kuenstler Photography
Thank you so much, Explore St. Louis, Midwest Influencer Network, STLFW, and all other partners. I had so much fun at this year’s events and cannot wait until 2016! At least I have some new, amazing pieces to tide me over until then.
Remember: I was invited to these events and asked to blog about my experiences. However, as always, all opinions are my own!