Written and Photographed by Grace Diarra

Austin Fashion Week F25

A Photo Diary by GRACEE

If the 17th Fall Austin Fashion Week were a song, it would be a sweeping classical piece: stylists as violins, hairdressers as brass, designers as conductors. Each part is essential, coming together to form a singular, expressive composition.

Models right before walking the Resilience show.

INCUBATOR – Thursday

On Thursday, ACC’s INCUBATOR Show opened the week with a burst of energy. The pieces immediately stole the stage, brought to life by models who knew exactly how to wear them. The runway’s diverse casting offered the rare satisfaction of knowing that everyone in the audience saw someone who looked like them. The same was shown through the pieces themselves, flowy skirts, entirely crocheted dresses and sharp Rick Owens like tops.

At first glance, Qorilazo might appear to be a classic women’s Texas boot brand, but it’s anything but cliché. Texan and Peruvian culture weave together in the design, creating a collection of vivid, eye-catching leather boots. Each pair feels like a small pendant of individuality for every woman who steps into them.

As models slipped out of their final looks and the lights dimmed, Day 1 closed on a high note, and Day 2 stepped up with even more to say.

Black Designer Showcase – Friday

Day 2, Friday 11/7, arrived with the Black Designer Showcase. One standout brand, Davis Atelier, delivered a collection that was absolutely neck-breaking. Bright sequins, saturated colors, and silhouettes that felt straight out of a technicolor dream made the runway feel like a reimagining of The Wizard of Oz. It was unforgettable.

Before the show, Caleb of Davis Altier explained that he wanted to invoke a sense of magic, something that would captivate anyone who laid eyes on the collection. He succeeded.

Later, Petia Dogale, walking his first-ever runway, strode down the aisle for Survoler with such ease and intensity that it was hard to believe it was his debut. He carried himself like someone born for the stage.

Final Day – Saturday

The final day of Austin Fashion Week, Saturday, 11/8, hit like a ton of bricks. Three runways in a single day meant a 12-plus-hour marathon for many. Back of house was swarming, a hive of stylists, dressers, models, and designers moving on pure adrenaline. Everyone knew it was time to put their best work into the world. And they didn’t disappoint.

During the Resilience show, Morgan Xenos of PinXxXenos delivered a collection that felt pulled straight from a bright-eyed child’s imagination. Holographic dresses bent and molded into dramatic shapes, as if they’d been dipped in flowers, glitter, and pure fantasy. The palette was pastel, sweet, and ethereal, but the sculptural forms kept it unexpected and forward-thinking.

Later, BIBIANE NEW YORK seized the entire day by the throat. A dozen child models strutted down the runway with the confidence of seasoned supermodels, a stark contrast to the fluffy technicolor pom-poms perched on the benches beside them, glowing under the light of iPhone cameras. The juxtaposition was sharp, playful, and instantly memorable.

By 9:00 PM, the orchestra reached its finale. After three runways, countless looks, and a full day of creative stamina, the curtain finally fell, and the audience exhaled.