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TH E N EW AM ERI CANA WITH ALLIE EKLU N D

The Style Issue S E P TE M B E R 2 02 6

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

The Style Issue There is a particular energy in Austin right now— one that values both progress and roots. We want efficiency without emptiness, tradition without stagnation, and experiences that feel personal rather than performative. This issue sits right at that intersection. Inside these pages you’ll meet Hannah Laster and the Body by EMS team, whose 20-minute concierge sessions are redefining what effective training can look like for busy Austinites. Their story is less about technology and more about intention: reclaiming time, rebuilding strength after injury or life transitions, and creating space for people to feel capable again. It’s fitness designed around real lives instead of the other way around. You’ll also spend time with Allie Eklund and Triple E, the Hill Country ranch and mercantile that has grown from family land into a living expression of contemporary Texas values. Allie isn’t recreating a romanticized West. She’s refining what already exists—stewardship measured in generations, craftsmanship with provenance, and a quiet insistence that heritage stays relevant only when it’s actively lived. Together these stories capture something essential about the way many of us are choosing to live here. We want results that last. We want connection that feels genuine. And we want to honor where we come from while still evolving. Whether you’re a longtime Austinite or newly planted, I hope these pages offer both inspiration and a sense of belonging. This city rewards people who show up with purpose. We’re glad you’re part of it.

September 2026 PUBLISHER

Joe Kerby | joe.kerby@citylifestyle.com CO-PUBLISHER

Montannah Kerby | montannah.kerby@citylifestyle.com C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R AP H E R

Kayla Swayze

Corporate Team CEO Steven Schowengerdt President Matthew Perry CRO Jamie Pentz CoS Janeane Thompson AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall

J O E K E R B Y, P U B L I S H E R @ AU S T I N L I F E S T Y L E M AG A Z I N E

LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com//franchise. Proverbs 3:5-6 Austin Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Austin area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions.

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inside the issue SE PTE M B E R 2 02 6 | STYL E

14 Featured

24 30

Print Prestige Meets Digital Power.

WHY CHOOSE BETWEEN PRESTIGE AND PLACEMENT?

Departments

The New Americana How Allie Eklund Is Reframing the Texas Tradition

Smarter Training

The concierge EMS experience changing local routines

Lifestyle Letter

Inspired By HOME + DESIGN

Must See FITNESS

Trend Setter STYLE + BEAUTY

Happy Hour FOOD + BEVERAGE

Wear Colors That Truly Love You A Quick Guide To Finding Flattering Shades For Life

On the Cover Allie Eklund is reshaping Texas tradition through Triple E, her Hill Country ranch and mercantile rooted in craftsmanship, stewardship, and a living American heritage that evolves with every generation. Photography: Kayla Swayze

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THE NEW AMERICANA

HOW ALLIE EKLUND IS REFRAMING THE TEXAS TRADITION PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAYLA SWAYZE

I NSP IR E D BY | HO ME + D E SIGN

Triple E doesn’t fit neatly into one category. It is a working ranch in the Texas Hill Country, the foundation of Triple E Mercantile, and increasingly, a framework for thinking about contemporary American life. For Allie Eklund, those distinctions were never particularly important. The ranch wasn’t conceived as an identity or a business. It was simply where she grew up. As she began sharing that life publicly, she noticed people responding less to the setting itself than to the values it quietly carried. “I grew up thinking ranch life was normal,” she says. “People weren’t just interested in the land or the animals. They were drawn to what it represented.” That response altered the trajectory of Triple E. What began as family property expanded into a larger creative project rooted in craftsmanship, hospitality, and stewardship, ideas that have long existed on the ranch but increasingly resonate beyond it. CONTINUED >

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Rather than preserving an imagined version of the American West, Eklund is interested in the one that already exists. “It’s important that it isn’t treated like a costume or a moment in history,” she says. “There are families, ranchers, entrepreneurs and communities living these values every day.” At a moment when provenance carries as much weight as the object itself, Triple E Mercantile reflects a broader shift in how value is assigned. The emphasis isn’t on novelty but on origin, process, and permanence. “Knowing who made something, understanding its story and trusting the people behind it creates a level of value that simply can’t be manufactured.” Growing up in the Hill Country also shaped Eklund’s understanding of tradition. She speaks about it less as something to preserve than something that remains relevant through continual use.

I NSP IR E D BY | HO ME + D E SIGN

CONTINUED >

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I NSP IR E D BY | HO ME + D E SIGN

“The Hill Country taught me that tradition and innovation don’t have to compete with each other,” she says. “You can honor where you came from while still evolving.” That philosophy extends to the way Triple E is being built. Ranching, she says, teaches stewardship, a perspective measured over generations rather than seasons. “You’re constantly thinking beyond yourself, about the land, the animals and what you’re leaving behind. We focus less on ourselves and more on creating something that feels meaningful, intentional and built to last.” The long-term ambition reflects that same pace. Eklund describes Triple E as an ecosystem that will continue expanding through hospitality, education, agriculture, retail, and shared experiences, all connected by the same underlying principles. “It’s never been just about products,” she says. “The goal has always been to build spaces where people can come together.”

Television and social media introduced audiences to Eklund. Triple E offers a more complete portrait, one where entrepreneurship, family history, and place converge into a single practice. “Social media and television capture moments of my life. Triple E reflects the values that have shaped it.” Heritage, in Eklund’s view, is not fixed. It gains relevance through participation. “I believe heritage is something we continue to experience through the choices we make. The best traditions evolve.” Asked what she hopes Triple E represents a decade from now, Eklund describes atmosphere, rather than expansion. “I hope it becomes a place where people feel inspired, peaceful and connected. Connected to Texas, connected to each other and connected to something bigger than themselves.” CONTINUED > S EP TEMB ER 2 0 2 6 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / AUST I N

I NSP IR E D BY | HO ME + D E SIGN

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SMARTER

Training The concierge EMS experience changing local routines

Hannah Laster walked into her first EMS session in Los Angeles with healthy skepticism. Visiting a friend’s company, EMS Concierge, she thought there was no way a 20-minute workout could live up to the hype. By the end of that single session she was completely sold—not only by how effective it felt, but by the unexpected energy that followed. The experience rewired how she thought about fitness. At the time she was pursuing a petroleum engineering degree at the Colorado School of Mines. Starting a fitness company was never part of the plan. Yet the more she experienced whole-body electro muscle stimulation, the clearer the opportunity became to her and her desire to bring this method to people who needed it. Texas was a virtually untapped market, and the technology’s efficiency seemed perfectly suited to busy lives. She took the leap, left the traditional career path, and in late 2020 opened Body by EMS in Houston. The biggest surprise was how quickly the community responded. Nearly all growth came through word of mouth from people who had began experiencing the results of EMS. Clients weren’t simply seeing results; they were bringing spouses, coworkers, and neighbors because they wanted others to feel the same shift. Austin was the natural next step. The city’s strong fitness and wellness culture, combined with its connected, relationship-focused character, stood in contrast to Houston’s larger, more corporate market. People in Austin value experiences,

M UST SE E | FI TNES S

support local businesses, and respond to brands that prioritize personalization. That ethos shaped how Body by EMS operates in Austin to serve the people here and their goals. As a concierge service, the company does not function as a traditional gym or studio. Certified trainers arrive with medical-grade Miha Bodytec equipment, meet clients where they are—home, office, or elsewhere—and design each session around individual goals, schedules, and limitations. Director of Operations and Master Trainer Lysandra embodies that approach. She fell into EMS after a friend’s recommendation and quickly realized it was exactly what she had been looking for. A longtime fitness professional and former top-rated Pilates instructor, she loves the one-on-one nature of the work. Every client arrives with different needs—building strength, recovering from injury, or simply fitting effective movement into a packed day. Watching people grow stronger, feel better, and regain confidence remains the most rewarding part of her role. A first session begins well before the suit is zipped. Trainers walk clients through consultation, goal-setting, and fitting, explaining the sensations they will feel. Intensity is fully adjustable; the technology delivers approximately 85 muscle contractions per second across major muscle groups, creating a highly efficient stimulus in just 20 minutes. Trainers stay engaged throughout, monitoring form, checking comfort, and refining the settings in real time. The most common reaction afterward is surprise: “Wow, that was a lot harder than I thought it would be.”

“Our growth came through word of mouth. Clients weren’t simply seeing results; they were bringing spouses, coworkers, and neighbors.”

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“One client who arrived relying heavily on a walker experienced meaningful improvements in mobility and Fatigue and delayed soreness often follow, yet the dominant response is excitement and curiosity about the next session. After experiencing the results, clients look forward to additional sessions and tracking their progress. The medical clearance of the equipment allows an unusually broad range of clients. Body by EMS has worked with people managing Parkinson’s, severe injuries, chronic joint and back pain, mobility limitations, and those previously dependent on assistive devices. Postpartum mothers use the low-impact format to rebuild strength when time is scarce. Older clients focus on maintaining mobility and quality of life. One client who arrived relying heavily on a walker experienced meaningful improvements in mobility and independence after incorporating EMS into his routine—moments that continue to define the work for the team. On the performance side, athletes and high-output professionals find equal value. Golfers in particular have embraced the method, including research involving PGA professionals. For many, EMS serves as both training stimulus and recovery tool, allowing the body to repair while still progressing. “Train smarter, not longer” is more than a tagline in Austin. Clients balance ambitious careers, entrepreneurship, family, travel, outdoor pursuits, and social lives. Twenty minutes of focused, personalized work can replace longer gym sessions or fit into the narrow windows before school pickup, between meetings, or ahead of a flight. For some it becomes their complete workout; for others it is the one protected moment in the day dedicated solely to themselves. The relationship built with a trainer and the post-session feeling keep people returning. While the technology supplies efficiency, the trainers remain the essential element. Hannah trains her team to stay fully present—monitoring intensity, correcting form, and adjusting in the moment. The one-on-one concierge model is intentional; no trainer is asked to split attention across multiple clients. That focused care, clients often say, is what differentiates the experience and keeps them coming back.

M UST SE E | FI TNES S

independence after incorporating EMS into his routine— moments that continue to define the work for the team.”

Looking ahead, the Austin team is focused on careful growth: expanding the roster of talented trainers, exploring partnerships and events, and continuing to invest in the latest Miha Bodytec technology. The longer-term vision is to become the leading name in EMS across their markets while never losing the personalized attention that defines the brand. Hannah is especially proud of the team that has been built, and of Lysandra’s leadership in shaping the Austin location. Most of all, she values the community of clients who have placed their trust in the work. After more than five years, the moments that matter most remain the ones that change how people move, feel, and see what their bodies are capable of.

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ARTICLE BY STACY LEACH PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

Wear Colors That Truly

LOVE YOU A quick guide to finding flattering shades for life.

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ARTICLE BY ALLISON BANKSTON | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

INGREDIENTS: • • • • • •

1 bottle, standard size, of pinot grigio 2 1/2 cups fresh apple cider 1 cup club soda 1/2 cup ginger brandy 3 honey crisp apples, chopped 3 pears, chopped

DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients together and stir. Refrigerate for an hour or so (or longer) before serving. The drink can be enjoyed immediately, if desired, but the longer you let the ingredients sit and mix, the deeper the flavors will be. Giving it time to develop will make the drink more captivating and interesting.

NOTE: Regular brandy can be used, but ginger brandy gives it an extra kick of flavor.

APPLE CIDER

sangria A LATE SUMMER/EARLY FALL TREAT

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