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Plain Ivey Jane brings affordable fall fashion, gives 'best bets'
Second Street shop Plain Ivey Jane carries handpicked local designers, luxury lines and artisan accessories that are hard to find elsewhere in Texas—for a fraction of what you'd pay at bigger boutiques. How? By snapping up overstock items from some of the world's biggest designers. If you're looking for an excuse to splurge, fall's right around the corner, bringing new trends, new ways to wear your summer favorites and plenty of events to show it all off at.
Shop owner and merchandise buyer Sarah Reeves' secret to success lies in her constantly rotating stock. “Usually, I try to get new inventory every two weeks,” says Reeves, who's heading out to L.A. to search for new pieces this week.
Since Plain Ivey Jane gets new items so often, they can stay on top of trends without worrying about accumulating their own overstock. Frequent buying also helps the store collect pieces that fit Austin’s unique, of-the-moment style.
What are some of Plain Ivey Jane’s bestsellers? “Brights, one-of-a-kind stuff and dresses,” explains Reeves. “I always have a standard area of black dresses, but so many ladies come in for a big event and don’t want to wear black. People are looking for functionality, texture. We just got this new line of dresses, Stasia, and it’s made of soybean, tinsel and bamboo. It’s so soft, like butter. Plus, bamboo is antibacterial, so it’s great for summer.”
The shop’s light, colorful dresses are perfect for 100+ degree days, but they’ll also last you through the next few months. Here are some of Reeves' top tips for transitioning into next season:
Perfect Pairings
“I like light gray with pastels, I’m obsessed. The combination still has that spring look, but pairing grays and charcoals with everything adds a little touch of fall. I’m crazy about it.”
Add Some Color
“Jewel tones are always cute for cool weather.” Try layering bright tights under neutral dresses.
Invest in Accessories
“If you’re looking to invest in some long-lasting pieces, boots or bags are always a good choice. They extend the life of your summer wardrobe; throw a cardigan with a belt over a dress, add some boots, and you can wear it all year.”
Get Heavy
“Pick up some dresses made from heavier fabrics. Last fall I carried a bunch of heavy tweed dresses; they were stylish, fitted, with little straps and corsets. It’s tweed so it’s still appropriate for cool weather; people want to wear dresses year-round in Austin, but to make it comfortable you have to change up the fabrics, you can’t wear light cotton or silk as much.”
Break the Rules
“The only fall-ish rules I feel like you have to follow are, first, by October maybe you should cover your toes. Lots of style blogs go crazy when people wear sandals in the fall, but it’s different in Austin—we have to work with the weather. The second rule? No linen.”
Football Fashion
UT games—arguably some of the biggest social events of the season—demand more than a burnt orange tee and some sneakers. And when you're stepping up your fashion game, you can stretch the definition of 'burnt' orange and play with pieces of all shades. Check out the above slideshow for some of Sarah's favorite game-day outfits and accessories.