New-on-the-scene store ShopSeptember in Snider Plaza hosted a trunk show this past Saturday featuring New Orleans jewelry designer Ashley Porter.

ShopSeptember, a popular online shopping destination for the latest trends and hard-to-find designer pieces, opened its flagship store three months ago right in SMU’s backyard.

“We know Snider Plaza is a great place, with a lot of foot traffic and all the SMU girls, so we were really excited to find this location,” Laura Petter, the founder and store owner, said.

The store is organized into two sections, The Showroom and The Street. The front of the store, labeled The Showroom, houses hard-to-find labels and showcases pieces by up -and-coming designers. Moving to the back of the store, or The Street, shoppers will find affordable fast fashion of the season’s most popular trends. Unique to ShopSeptember, shoppers can have a say in what looks and pieces they want to see and purchase.

By visiting the shop’s interactive website, shoppers can put in requests and the store will find the perfect item and purchase it, rather than waiting for the look to arrive in-store. This interactive page also features weekly polls and chats that drive the merchandise in the direction of the customers’ preferences.

ShopSeptember loves hosting private parties. Girls can host an after-hours private party with their friends, sip on drinks and enjoy a discount when they shop. Shoppers can also look out for the occasional trunk show.

“We like to showcase up-and coming-jewelry designers and anyone we think is cool and new,” Petters said.

This month’s trunk show featured the jewelry designs of Ashley Porter, the founder of Porter Lyons. Launched about a year ago in New Orleans, Porter Lyons’ first collection features materials indigenous to Southeast Louisiana such as alligator and agate, the state mineral.

“Everything has a New Orleans tie back to it,” Porter said.

New Orleans and the Bayou, specifically the alligators that inhabit the area, inspired the collection. Porter was drawn specifically to the horned back of the alligator.

“I saw these ridges in the back and found these bones and thought they were so beautiful and organic,” Porter said.

Porter uses molds as well as the actual backbones of the alligator to make most of the collection’s cuffs, earrings, rings and necklaces.

Also in Porter’s first collection: Agate pendants, chain-linked bracelets and genuine Louisiana alligator belts.

The brand believes in preserving culture. Porter Lyons is committed to preserving and protecting a sustainable Louisiana coast by donating 5 percent of all profits to the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.

The collection can be found on their website at www.porterlyons.com or purchased in various boutiques in California, Louisiana and ShopSeptember in Dallas.

Petter was excited to host friend and former Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising classmate Porter at her store and introduce her line to Dallas.

“We went to Tulane [University] together, and then to FIDM in L.A. where we became friends,” Petter said.

“It has been fun watching each other’s careers in the same industry, but in different areas of it,” Porter said.

As shoppers marveled over Porter’s innovative designs, Petter was eager to style the jewelry with the season’s latest trends.

Cozy fur-lined vests are huge pieces for the season, noted Petter, as well as her favorite trend right now, 90s grunge. Layering plaids and leather over tights with big boots will complete the look.

Petter knows that everyone has a favorite look or trend they love.

“I think it’s all about doing you, so whatever you like is the trend that you should go with,” Petter said.

Whichever trend favored, ShopSeptember is a definite stop for fashionistas.

“It’s the one and only place where you are going to find a lot of the stuff we carry. Fun and quirky pieces by new designers and affordable fast fashion,” a store employee said.

ShopSeptember is located at 6606 Snider Plaza.