Austin Fashion Week takes the runway

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austin may be known for embracing casual Friday just about every day.

Yet, starting Saturday the city becomes the center of high fashion. That's because the second annual Austin Fashion Week begins.

"This is all 1920's beading and embellishment," said Boudoir Queen owner Dawn Younger-Smith,  as she showed off her designer clothes.

Tucked away off Burnet Road is one of the most unique fashion studios. It's called Boudoir Queen.

Owner and designer Younger-Smith creates everything from cocktail dresses to evening gowns.

"It's kind of ghostly, ethereal, bohemian," said Younger-Smith.

She has dressed people such as Patty Griffin, Courtney Love and Emmylou Harris.

And next week, Younger-Smith will show Austin her one-of-a-kind designer clothes during Fashion Week.

"I feel like so many people say to me, 'I didn't even know you were here. This is so great,'" said Younger-Smith.

Austin Fashion Week was started last year by Matt Swinney.

He wanted to showcase not only Austin's many boutiques but everything else that deals with fashion.

"Hairstylists, makeup, models, retailers, salons, designers, anything you can imagine," said Swinney, Austin Fashion Week founder.

However, this year there's a new way for anyone to take part.

"Fashion is about self-expression. It's about confidence. It's about transformation, and that's what we're about, really helping women transform their lives," said Leslie Fender, program coordinator with Dress for Success Austin.

Dress for Success, a non-profit that helps women get prepared from head to toe for a job interview, is teaming up with Westbank Dry Cleaners to collect professional-looking clothes.

"Like, here's a jacket with a top that can be layered underneath it," said Angie Charnes, with Westbank Dry Cleaning.

You can drop off your clothes through next Friday.

It's all about helping women feel good about themselves so they can land a job.

Austin Fashion Week starts Saturday and wraps up the following Saturday with the Austin Fashion Awards at the Long Center.