Mississippi-born and NYC-shaped, Audrey Muse blends fashion, art, and storytelling into everything she touches. Her brand, By Audrey Muse, has evolved from hand-drawn tees to collectible bandanas, and is now fueling her next chapter: an art-forward Houston boutique that brings back the magic of shopping IRL.
The MNY Spotlight
Meet Audrey Muse, A Creative Redefining Southern Style & Artful Living
Introduce yourself!
Hi! I’m Audrey - I love all things fashion, art, and fun. I’m from Jackson MS… went to Ole Miss for college. I moved to NYC after college for a few years, did Austin for a few years, and now living in Houston with my fiancé :) I majored in integrated marketing communications with a minor in business and an emphasis in magazine publication. I worked a few different jobs in the fashion industry, all different departments, throughout my years in NYC. Learned SO MUCH! Covid caused a small pivot in career for me, as it did for most people. I started working for the brand Aloha Marina.. such a fun, happy brand. I still to this day work with the brand. And now currently working on my biggest endeavor… a store in Houston. My mom has had a women’s boutique in MS my whole life so I grew up in the store and shopping in person. I think the love for shopping in person has gotten a little lost.. makes sense with how amazing online shopping has become, but nonetheless opening a RTW, art driven, community boosting store!
Audrey wears the Fiona Mini Dress in Mulberry Arbor
You’ve been surrounded by fashion from a young age — with both parents in the industry and your mom owning her own boutique. You’re also a content creator! How do you decide which designers and pieces make it into your wardrobe?
I definitely have my favorite designers, but I never limit myself — I love discovering new brands and creatives, whether they’re big names or smaller emerging designers. I grew up with parents who both dress incredibly well and have always worn what they truly love, conventional or not. Being raised in the industry taught me to appreciate the construction, the fabrication, and the intention that goes into every piece. To me, clothing is a form of art we get to wear every day. So the pieces that make it into my wardrobe are the ones that feel inspiring — the ones that make me feel something.
Tell us more about “By Audrey Muse”!
I started By Audrey Muse during Covid—like many side hustles that were born during that time. I’ve always loved to draw and paint, so the brand began with graphic tees that a local shop in Mississippi printed for me, all featuring my hand-drawn artwork. The bandanas actually started at the very beginning too, but in a different way. My grandfather and dad always carried a “hanky,” usually a bandana. So when we all had to wear masks (so early on it was before we had to wear the special medical ones, you just had to have your mouth and nose covered). , I had the idea to paint on the corners so people could wear them around their neck and pull them up over their face when needed.
The brand has evolved over the years from a white label brand to a private label—now creating more lounge and everyday pieces. But the main attraction has become the bandanas. Over time, people began hanging them as art (genius and brings me so much joy). They’re also creatively limitless, which keeps the process exciting and inspiring for me.
Follow along @byaudreymuse
You’re recently engaged – congratulations! Tell us a little bit about your love story and engagement.
Ah we have a fun one… to spare keeping you here an hour I will try to give spark notes. We met in college, I was a freshman and Christian was a sophomore. I needed a date to a date party and our brothers were friends.. My brother suggested taking “Anthony’s younger brother”, Christian, who I had never met. I took him, we had a great time, and sorta kinda didn’t talk again the rest of college (depends which one of us you ask on how that happened). Nothing in particular, we just didn’t run in the same circles (Christian claims he asked me on a date, but I know he didn’t). After college, I was living in NYC and Christian was visiting a friend for the weekend. A boy from South Carolina always threw this party on a boat the first weekend of the summer… so random, but so fun. My roommates and I barely made it on to the boat from work. As soon as we got on my one roommates said “there’s a really cute boy in a red shirt.. but he’s too short for me” … lucky for me all my roommates were tall and I was “short” 5’6 for the record which isn’t that short. Anyway, I knew that was my cue so I turned around and was like “I think I know that guy??? But I would know if he lived in NYC” because if you live in nyc.. you know Manhattan is the smallest, biggest city. From there, pretty much the rest was history… we had 1 hiccup (long distance was hard and I was a bit vocal about that lol). After of year of not seeing each other or talking… he wrote a letter to my office then THAT is really when the rest became history.
Have you started planning the wedding yet? What are some of the most important pillars or values guiding your big day?
I have barely scratched the surface… we have a wedding planner, date, and venue so key things, but a long way to go. At this point I have been in 15?? Pretty sure… 15 weddings. AKA gathered lots of thoughts throughout the years.
Something about me is that I’ve collected friends from every stage and place in my life, and I genuinely try to keep up with all of them. Because of that, nothing excites me more than getting to marry my favorite person in the world and trapping all of our favorite people together in one place for a full weekend.
For a long time, I thought we would get married in NYC—it fits our story, and it feels like home to me. But I realized that if we married there, everyone would naturally go off and do their own thing in the city and as they should, but I’m too excited about everyone being together for a weekend. So it got nixed. At the heart of it, I just want every single person there to feel their absolute best and have the time of their life. I’ve been workshopping a dress code that’s basically “wear whatever makes YOU feel like a million bucks.” My thought is life is short—wear the dream dress you think you have nowhere to wear, or the white tux you’ve always wanted to wear but never had a reason for. I fully believe — look good, feel good. And we need everyone feeling their best because, as I told my wedding planner, “I want the most elevated dinner party that turns into a party-party.”
And honestly, what better place than Italy? The wine, culture, food, setting—it’s the perfect place. Our goal for the weekend, aside from Christian and I becoming husband and wife, is for it to feel like a true vacation for our favorite people: a time to look their best, feel their best, fall in love with life, and just have a great time.
With Mestiza’s new Bridal Collection, which pieces would you wear for the below events?
Oh!!!! I love this!
What’s inspiring you right now? Whether it’s a city, a person, or even a mood — we’d love to know what’s fueling your creativity these days.
This question is always so hard for me because genuinely every thing and person around me inspire me. Here is rapid fire answer: the change of seasons, color, bandanas, Pinterest, music!
My mom and boss are two constants in my life that inspire me. Something they both have mastered is the art of getting dressed and the art of hosting. In my opinion, styling an outfit is very similar to styling a table and curating a vibe.. they take talent and attention to detail.
My creativity is constantly fueled by nature, music, photography (I LOVE going back through old photos of travel and life), other creatives, and art.
What’s one piece in your closet you’ll never part with? Tell us the story behind it!
This is so hard… am I allowed to answer my denim collection?? (Which is embarrassingly large.)
Not to toot my own horn, but I have a pretty amazing denim collection… vintage, designer, classic, crazy, painted, colored - you name it I have it. Denim is the base of so many great outfits.. the options are endless.
What do you love most about the Mestiza brand?
The attention to detail and versatility. Oh and the colors!!!
How do you feel when you wear Mestiza?
Comfortable and you cannot say that about many special occasion brands. I feel fancy and so put together but so comfortable at the same time (so rare).
Posted on December 09 2025
