Oct 28, 2008

Maple XO Jewelry


The annual Thread show happened over the weekend at Fisher Pavilion in Seattle. Due to the current state of the economy the show was smaller than it has been in the past- but it still featured some of Seattle's best fashion labels including Sabrina Love Handbags, Jeepney Clothing and a full range of dresses from Suzabelle.

My favorite find at the Thread show was jewelry from the Maple XO line by designer Lindsay Holmes. Her business concept is simple (and eco-friendly):


1- Collect old, discarded and damaged skateboards from local skate shops


2- Assess the damage of each board and review pieces of the wood that can be salvaged


3- Create fabulous jewelry by recycling the wood and wheels


Lindsay makes earrings and bracelets and since every item is one-of-a-kind it goes without saying that it's, well, limited edition. In recent months Lindsay has also added adorable make-up mirrors to her product mix. For more info check out www.maplexo.com





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Oct 19, 2008

Heelarious Baby High Heels


Well first I have to thank my girlfriend Amy for being pregnant with a little baby girl because otherwise I might not have had an excuse to buy satin pink baby high heels. You may have seen these Heelarious Baby High Heels on The Today Show or in The New York Post (who wouldn't want their baby to be fully decked out in high heels for a long stroller ride in the park?)

I'm happy to annouce that I got the last pair off Amazon.com but don't worry- there's a ton of local boutiques that carry them including Curtsy Bella (2920 NE Blakeley Street). The baby high heels are so popular the staff at Curtsy Bella can barely keep them in stock.

The company is called 'Heelarious' because that's generally people's first reaction when they see babies wearing high heels. For more info check out http://www.heelarious.com/
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Oct 16, 2008

Seattle Fashion Events



When it rains it pours and in this economy even the savvy girls can appreciate a good sale. In Seattle we are fortunate enough to have an entire slew of regularly scheduled shopping events including Thread, Unzipped and of course, the Crave Summer Sample Sale. Below is a brief list of upcoming fashion events that you’ll definitely enjoy if you love to shop.

October 18th - YWCA Shop Sale

From 9am-3pm the public is invited to the YWCA Closet Treasures Sale which features deep discounts on gently-worn designer apparel and accessories from Jimmy Choo, St. Johns, Donna Karan and more. Many items are under $50 but come early because the best items go first. Proceeds benefit Seattle’s YWCA Dress for Success Program so come early, spend generously and enjoy your "new" winter wardrobe. For more info visit www.closettreasuresale.com
Date: Saturday, October 3rd
Time: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Place: Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center. 104 17th Ave. S. Seattle, WA


October 25th - Eco Lavish Fashion Show
Join the Half Past Lavish crew for an eco-friendly fashion show sponsored by Dry Soda, The Urban Fashion Network and Seattle Picks. Tickets are $10 cash at the door and include a reception following the show. I believe this is their first annual show and they have not announced their line up for the runway show- but it still sound awesome and the tickets are cheap. For more info visit www.halfpastlavish.com
Date: Saturday, Oct. 25th
Time: 8 p.m.
Place: Abbey Art Center. 4272 Fremont Ave. N. Seattle, WA

October 26th - Thread Seattle
I love a great shop sale and this is one of the best the city has to offer. My suggestion is to grab some girlfriends and head to Pesos for brunch and then wander down the hill to the Seattle Center. You can generally find some great underground designer fashion at the Thread show and also other well know labels like Jeepney, Suzabelle, Michael Kors, Upper Playground and more. Tickets are $10 at the door and you can also check out more info at www.threadshow.com
Date: Sunday, Oct. 26th
Time: 12-5 p.m.
Location: Fisher Pavilion. Seattle Center.
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Oct 15, 2008

New Ballard Boutique > Dolce Vita



I love weekends for several reasons but mostly because it gives me time to SHOP. Recently I stopped by the Ballard Sunday market to pick up some fresh flowers for the apartment and stumbled upon a great new boutique called Dolce Vita. This store is part of a chain that carries women’s apparel, accessories and footwear and has locations in New York, Santa Monica, Los Angeles and now….Seattle! Designers carried in the store include Black Halo, Bravo, Doma, Douchette Duvall, Rory Beca and Twelfth Street by CV. They also have an amazing assortment of shoes under the Dolce Vita brand and also several styles by DV. If you are in the neighborhood you should check it out. It’s a great store and the merchandise is worth the trip off the beaten path. You can also check out their website at www.shopdolcevita.com
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Oct 10, 2008

Spring 09 Trends



Spring 2009 is going to look amazing. Plan to wear hot pinks, bright purples, royal blues and lemon yellow.


One of the hottest trends seen at New York Fashion week was the jumpsuit. It was seen all over the runways in a variety of shapes with a plethora of features including zippers, exxagerated sleeves and a rainbow of colors. Designer Donna Karan celebrated her 20th anniversary collection (which includes jump suits and minis) and the party was only briefly interrupted by animal rights protesters who felt the need to protest during the finale. (Which was slightly ackward considering she didn’t feature any fur in her spring collection…..) Miuccia Prada did another solid collection for Miu Miu that featured everything from pleated burlap skirts to graffiti.




Ok, well first of all I have to say that my co-worker Beth loves DVF…I mean, you can’t go wrong with a wrap dress and apparently thousands of people feel the exact same way because the Diane Von Furstenberg Fashion Week show was packed to capacity and some of the fashion editors in attendance said it felt more like a concert than a runway show. For Spring 09 DVF channeled the 70’s and adorned her models hair with flowers and feathers. (So adorable!)


My favorite collection was from BCBG Max Azria they kept it light and that’s exactly what we needed when it comes to Spring 09 fashion. The color story, the outfits and of course the accessories completely rocked the runway. It’s all about pant suits and pockets. Period. Highlights from the BCBG show included champagne colored wrap dresses, monochromatic greys, ruffles, corals, jumpsuits, high waisted trouser pants and royal blues.



Badgley Mischka did a nice collection for Spring that included a flat palette of taupe, black, white and grey. The monotony was saved by shots of hot pink and turquoise.



The Lanvin collection was another favorite of mine. The volume aspect of each piece makes it looks impossibly trendy and absolutely beautiful for women of all shapes and sizes. The main focus of the entire collection was balloon sleeved blouses and one-shoulder tops. There was also some great detailing in the nude colored stiletto shoes with a bow at the ankle and rhinestone detailing. I also loved the overly dramatic chandelier earrings featured on a handful of models. 



The John Galliano collection reminded me of Marie Antoinette meets British Dollhouse. Everything from the rainbow colored wigs to baby pink cheeks made the models look like dolls. At one point in the show a second wave of models with spray painted Mohawks pranced the runway in printed blue, green and neutral colored dresses. This was a very whimsical collection with many points of underlying social commentary I’m sure.



We can’t do fashion without Zac Posen (although I know some people beg to differ) so I saved the best for last. The spring 09 collection did not disappoint. Every show he puts on is a celebrity photo op and this time around was no exception. Special guests including Jada Pinkett, Venus and Serena Williams and Claire Danes were in front row attendance. Zac Posen always has me at HELLO but this time around what really sealed the deal were the pink champagne colored dresses, the chandelier earrings and the volume in the hair. I also loved the cheetah print (always best in moderation) and the embellishment on the dresses that took them from innocent to uber sexy. The color combinations of lemon meringue and grey suede was a great update for spring.
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Oct 8, 2008

Sway & Cake Featured in LUCKY Magazine


Seattle boutique Sway & Cake was featured in the November edition of Lucky Magazine (in stores now). Lucky Editor Kim France even mentioned the boutique in her Editorial notes by saying that "Sway & Cake is just the type of boutique that makes you feel loved". The boutique was also listed as a "Reader Favorite" on page 131.

Sway & Cake has been in our Fashion First runway show for 5 years in a row and they have a fierce following among Seattle's fashion elite.
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Sabrina Love Trunk Show


Handbag designer Sabrina Love will be hosting a trunk show at Canopy Blue on Friday October 17th. Enjoy 20% off all Sabrina Love Handbags while you shop. The trunk show runs from 4-7pm so be sure to stop by and get a handbag to complete your fall wardrobe. Sabrina's handbags are amazing. She was featured in our Fashion First 2008 runway show and the set was amazing. Canopy Blue is located at 3121 East Madison St. Suite 108. Seattle, WA 98112. Be sure to tell Summer at Canopy Blue that I said hello! :)
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Oct 5, 2008

Fashion First- Seattle's Best Runway Show



In order to understand boutique fashion, you have to know a little bit about why I’m so into Seattle’s independent boutiques. For the past five year’s I’ve worked as a producer for Fashion First and that is precisely when I fell madly in love with boutiques.

Fashion First started in 2004 by Jared Seegmiller and Joan Kelly. The original goal was to provide much needed exposure to the small, independent boutiques in the Belltown neighborhood of Seattle and give them the opportunity to participate in a fabulous runway fashion show. Many of them had great apparel and accessories but just like many small businesses they had very little money to do marketing or promotions. Fashion First helped to fill that void and five years later continues to showcase the best designers and boutiques in the Seattle area.

The first show was held in 2004 at the Bada Lounge on First Avenue. The slogan was "There is only one style that suits you- your own". The lineup consisted of Sway & Cake, Ian, Baby & Co., Endless Knot, Moda Express, Ottica Seattle, Kuhlman, Karan Dannanberg Clothier, Alhambra, Carol McClellan, Maxwelton Aerie Apaca, Nuvo Moda, Mercer & Co., David Lawrence and J.Gilbert Footwear. The show was a huge success and even before the evening concluded guests were inquiring about next year’s showcase and how they could buy tickets in advance.

Tragically, eight months after the first show co-producer Jared Seegmiller passed away from cancer. It was then that Joan Kelly and I made the decision to continue doing the show in his memory as a tribute and also as a benefit event for The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. The 2005 show was bittersweet but it was beautiful. We upgraded the venue from a bar into the Palace Ballroom on Fifth Avenue. We even got to work with a larger lineup of boutiques including Ian, Encanto Barcelona, Alhambra, Nuvo Moda, Betty Blue, Cinti Jewelry, Lizzie Parker, Ottica Seattle, Moda Express, Great Jones home, Endless Knot, Mercer, Planet Lulu, Carol McLellan, Sway & Cake and Butch Blum.

The 2006 show was sold out just like the first two and our scope of boutiques changed from Belltown Businesses and expanded to all over the city including West Seattle and Downtown. Our line up that year included Karan Dannenberg Clothier, Ericce, Blackbird, Canopy Blue, Nuvo Moda, Lizzie Parker, Furla, Carmilia’s, Renee Bassetti, Ottica, Manhattan Boutique, Cintli Jewelry, Moda Express, Alhambra, Derek Andrew, Encanto Barcelona, Promesse, Sway & Cake, Riveted Jeans and a finale set by Mario’s.

By the fourth annual show (Fashion First 2007) it was clear that we were the biggest and best runway show in Seattle and the best part was, we were still having a fabulous time doing it! This was the year we upgraded the venue to Fremont Studios and gave VIP guests a lounge of their very own. The lineup included La Ree, Polite Society, Illi, Posh on Main, The Finerie, Carmilia’s, Ragamoffyn’s, Marqsmen, Lizzie Parker, Tatters, Renee Bassetti, Pine IV Denim, Alhambra, Riveted Jeans, and Sway and Cake. The event also featured a finale with a special final dress by students at The Art Institute of Seattle worn by former first lady of Washington, Mona Locke.


This past year was our fifth annual show (Fashion First 2008) and we’re proud to say it was a completely sold out as expected. We moved the venue to Lake Union and prayed our plan to naturally air condition the building by keeping the windows open all day would work. We had a solid line up including Sway & Cake, Marqsmen, La Ree, Tatters, Opal, Illi, Canopy Blue, Ragamoffyn’s, Rock Star Jewelry, Marilyn Berg, Petaline.net, WCM Belts, Rocco E Dante, Shoefly, Clutch, The Finerie and a final dress by students at The Art Institute of Seattle worn by celebrity model and former Melrose Place Star, Josie Bissett.

Working with the best and brightest boutiques in the city has given me an immense amount of respect for all of their hard work bringing the hottest apparel and accessories to Seattle. It’s truly a labor of love and I’m honored to have been able to spend the past five years working amongst them in order to produce Fashion First.

Since then I've moved on from Fashion First and have been focusing on working in the industry as the Mens Private Label Sourcing & Production Manager for a local apparel company and of course, doing freelance writing for fashion publications in addition to writing for my blog. But with all that being said, Fashion First will always have a special place in my heart!
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Taking it From The Top



For the past 5 years I've produced the largest runway show in Seattle aka Fashion First. This past year we hosted our 5th Annual Show at The Lake Union Naval Reserve Building and welcomed over 1,000 guests. The goal of the show has always been to feature Seattle's best and brightest boutiques because they are the ones who truly bring the best fashion into the city. Over the years we've worked with Ian, Karan Dannenberg, La Ree, Marqsmen, Sway and Cake, Alhambra, Polite Society, and The Finerie just to name few.


This blog is dedicated to the boutiques in the city who work hard, play hard and strive to keep Seattle fabulous. We love you!



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Oct 3, 2008

The Engagement Party




We had our engagement party last night at The Triangle in Fremont with 25 of our closest friends! Beth made white sparkly cupcakes with faux diamond ring and Ciel brought mini-cheesecakes and other amazing desserts! It was a lot of fun! Thanks for everyone who came out to help us celebrate. And thank you Sarah for the nice bottle of champagne!


I'm getting married!!!!
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