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Classic Beauty: The Personal Fashion of Allison Andrews

by: Minh Huynh

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long with the waves and ocean breeze coming from the Pacific, there is a movement happening in San Diego. The laid-back little sister city south of Los Angeles is slowly becoming a fashion capital of Southern California. In between the burgeoning music scene and the eclectic art progression, the fashion culture is quietly gaining momentum thanks in large part to a few crafty leaders. Allison Andrews, the founder and director of Fashion Week San Diego (FWSD) is the leader of this pack. A powerful woman in all respects, she has conquered the competitive world of business and now she is embarking on a journey to unite the awakening fashion collective in San Diego.

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ver the next several months, Mahal Style will give fans an unprecedented look at the anatomy of FWSD through a series of “FLASH” mini-documentary episodes. If FWSD is a living being, then Allison is the heart and brain of the awaking beast. But just who is she? I’ve spent the last few weeks traversing San Diego with her, unearthing fashion talents, and I’m just beginning to learn about her brilliant personality.

Before the Filming

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he first time I arrived at Allison’s house, I was greeted by three adoring canines - Atlas, Zinc and Riley. Having three creatures of my own, I instantly felt connected to the warm energy of her loving home. My ears perked up as I heard the familiar tunes of KCRW playing in the background, a stable music station at the Mahal Style office.

The rich tones of her classic home décor made way to interesting found objects like a beautiful vintage sewing machine to a turn-of-the-century mannequin. Allison and I chatted away on many mutually interesting subjects ranging from fashion to dog care, and to the delicacy of soda bread. Of course, fashion was a recurring topic as we made our way to her walk-in closet. Neatly organized shoes and blazers scaled the walls, with each item having its own history. I then turned my camera on and asked Allison, “What’s your Mahal Style?”

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ahalians, I invite you to sit back and discover Allison’s Mahal Style as we embark on a journey into one of the most exciting events in the San Diego fashion scene.