Apr 29, 2009

Inside Seattle Online Boutique: La Rousse


Amanda Rosenthal, a self-described fashion junkie opened up Seattle boutique 
La Rousse back in 2005. (The name “La Rousse” is French for “female redhead” and coincidentally Amanda has red hair.) The business flourished and quickly became known as one of Seattle’s best boutiques and meanwhile, Seattle fashionistas fell in love with Amanda’s fresh perspective on personal style and her commitment to showcasing up-and-coming designers. It wasn’t until last fall when the economy took a turn for the worst that La Rousse closed their brick and mortar store in favor of a hip online boutique. “There are so many reasons why I decided to move my boutique online,” says Amanda, “Business trends were showing that E-commerce was growing, my son Graydon was born and my lease was up.” It all seemed like a natural progression for La Rousse and for Amanda the flexible hours and option of spending more time at home with her son sealed the deal.

Since settling in to its new home on the web, La Rousse has flourished and the move has also allowed the online boutique to reach clients all over the country. The well-edited mix of brands including Sophmore, Mary Meyer, Margarita Saplala, Serial Cultura, and Grey Ant are among the brands you’ll find online at La Rousse and although translations of spring 09 trends are mixed in Seattle, Amanda Rosenthal knows what she likes. “We love the oversized, downtown trend in jersey lines such as Mary Meyer and Sophomore,” says Amanda. Additional favorites include the tie-dye work of Margarita Saplala and items designed for layering to create a variety of looks.



The current promotion that has been creating a lot of buzz is the
$19 denim grab bag which lets customers pick from two categories: “Skinny and Straight Leg” or “Boot Cut & Flare”. From there, the La Rousse team selects a pair of premium denim from brands like Blank, Del Forte, Grey Ant, Karen Walker, SaddleLites, or Tag. It’s a gamble because you don’t know what you’re going to get, but for $19 how can you go wrong? The surprise is half the fun! Scoring a pair of premium denim for under twenty bucks is priceless!

Another perk of a Seattle based online boutique? Saving money on shipping! Seattle fashion junkies can pick up their purchases directly from the La Rousse showroom located on Capital Hill. Normal business hours are M-F from 9am-5pm by appointment only. Additional ways to save include signing up for the La Rousse
mailing list to receive coupon codes for discounts or by visiting the La Rousse blog to hear about upcoming promotions.

You can also check out La Rousse at their quarterly
Spa Noir events featuring 20% off La Rousse merchandise and discounts on Spa Noir retail products. You’ll get a sneak peak at vintage fashion not available online, plus apparel and accessories that are affordable and one-of-a-kind. The next La Rousse + Spa Noir event is June 7th from 11am-1pm.


Share:

Apr 27, 2009

Polite Society Set to Close it's Doors


Eric Akines, President and Founding member of Polite Society has confirmed that the rumors are true. Sadly, Polite Society will be closing their doors on May 13th for the last time. The good news? Customers have about two and a half weeks to save 40-80% off all merchandise in the store. The bad news? Seattle is losing a great boutique and we're sad to see it go!




Share:

Apr 26, 2009

Designer Warehouse Sale



You may have heard the buzz- but if not, stop what you’re doing and block out your calendar immediately for next Sunday, May 3rd when some of Seattle’s best boutiques will gather together for a huge warehouse sale! We’re talking about savings of 50-90% on apparel and accessories for men and women from stores like Blackbird, Clutch, Dolce Vita, The Finerie, Impulse, Marqsmen, Magnotti Antiques and Horseshoe. Event organizers have even added a “Buy Green” section to the sale which featuring vintage and recycled designer goods. Plus, there will be dressing rooms available and free parking!

Date: Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

Location: Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Center
Hours: 10am to 5pm
Admission: $10 at the door (kids under 12 are free)
Payments: Cash is preferred. Some vendors will take checks or credit cards.
Dressing rooms: Yes
Parking: On-site lot (free) or street parking
Share:

Global Street Style


Street Style is one of my favorite displays of public art. It’s fun, stylish and it gives people an intimate view of a given city not from a catwalk but from the candid view of the sidewalk. Here’s a list of my favorite street style websites.

1) Copenhagen Street Style-
www.copenhagenstreetstyle.dk
This site has great street style pictures including stylish shots of models, students and even art gallery openings.

2) Tokyo Style Arena- www.style-arena.jp  If you love the fast pace of Japanese fashion you will love this site. The colors are bright and the fashion is way ahead of the curve. 


3) Glam Canyon: London- www.glamcanyon.blogspot.com
You’ll find lots of gems on this site including leotards, denim shorts and black tights and a healthy handful of drunken pub shots. There’s also a great assortment of legit street shots you won’t find anywhere else. This site just might become your guilty pleasure past time.


4) Berlin- www.stilinberlin.blogspot.com
StilinBerlin explores the style of Berlin from a celebratory standpoint. The pictures on the site aim to capture the spirit of the city and document fashion trends. Each picture on the site also has a list of key items in the shot.


5) Garance Dore Paris- www.garancedore.fr
The best thing about this site is the mix of street style pictures and amazing fashion illustrations. I think this is one of my new favorite sites!

6) Buenos Aires-
www.onthecornerstreetstyle.blogspot.com
The great thing about this site is that it’s inclusive of everyone who calls Buenos Aires home, from the little old ladies at the market, to the artists in the street and the colorful passersby.
This style site out of Zurich is great because it focuses on music, fashion and art. Press passes at all the hottest fashion events in Zurich means exclusive pictures and behind-the-scenes shots.


8) Face Hunter- http://facehunter.blogspot.com/
The self-described concept behind this site is “A man out and about in London and beyond… Eye candy for the style hungry”. The site has hundreds (maybe thousands) of pictures of global street style from cities including London, Madrid, LA, Jakarta, Helsinki, Paris, Singapore, Sydney, Copenhagen and more.

9) Style Clicker-
http://www.styleclicker.net/
Style Clicker is all about Munich street style from a male point of view. There are also images from London, Italy and other fashion-forward European cities. I love the picture captions and comments.

10) Toronto Street Fashion - www.torontostreetfashion.com
Canadian style comes full circle at Toronto Street Fashion.com. The photos are great and the site is easy to navigate. This site also has great pictures and coverage from Toronto Fashion Week.

Looking for Seattle Street Style? Check out the "Needle Plus Thread Blogspot" by Style Scout Kam Martin by clicking here.  "I wanted to collect all the little bits from those around me and show that regardless of what you hear about Seattle... we do have style," says Kam. 

If you love global street style you should also check out Lookbook.nu which is an amazing site that has various viewing options for optimal searching. 
Share:

Apr 23, 2009

Lizzie Parker Opens Issaquah Boutique



Seattle Designer Lizzie Parker is opening up a boutique in Issaquah's Gilman Village this weekend! Lizzie is known for beautifully draped knit garments in an array of organic fabrics and silhouettes. She's also going to carry an assortment of handbags from Clutch (approx. 12 styles which will rotate every 2 weeks). To catch up with Lizzie online, check out her blog. Lizzie's new "eco-atelier" is located at 317 NW Gilman Blvd. Suite 41. Issaquah, WA 98027.
Share:

Apr 16, 2009

Theoutnet.com goes LIVE

Finding great deals on designer duds just got a lot easier because TheOutnet.com just went LIVE! As the sister-site of Net-A-Porter.com, TheOutnet.com features designer apparel, accessories and shoes at amazingly low prices. We’re talking Zac Posen dresses at 50% off, Marc Jacob tops at 70% off, and Christian Louboutin shoes at up to 60% off! (I think I’m in love!) There’s also a full selection of “IT” bags including a black leather Jimmy Choo marked at 40% off and a hot pink patent leather Chloe clutch at 50% off. Deals on accessories include Bottega Veneta sunglasses at 40% off, Michael Kors scarves for 50% off and Viktor & Rolf silk belts marked at 60% off.



In addition to the already insanely low prices Theoutnet.com also has limited-time “Pop Up” and “Going,Going,Gone” sales that give fashion fiends a way to snatch up designer labels at shockingly low prices. “Pop-Up” sales feature a group of items from a brand or theme and are only on sale for a limited amount of time (usually up to 72 hours). “Going, Going, Gone” sales allow you to choose the price you want to pay for a particular item. The sale begins at the featured item's original price and then drops continuously throughout the sale until the stock sells out or the sale ends (as indicated by the timer).



Another great feature of the site is the “Dress Me” feature which lets users select an occasion from a series of themes including “Vacation Planner”, “Chic Essentials”, “Working Wardrobe”, “Fashion Trends” or “Social Events” and then offers up instant outfit solutions. Users can then shop results by designer, category or color story.



With over 200+ designers and brands (and new merchandise added each week) the Outnet.com is a hip and exciting way for even the most frugal fashionista to enjoy fabulous designer fashion. Check out the site now by clicking here.
Share:

Seattle Fashion Week Begins Today!

Attention Seattle Fashionistas: You may have seen the fabulous write up about Seattle Fashion Week (above) in last weekend's Seattle Times newspaper but if not, here's a newsflash: Seattle Fashion Week begins today!

Here are the Seattle Fashion Week Highlights:

Thursday, April 16-
Independent Designer Showcase sponsored by Vitamin Water 10 at Fremont Studios featuring New York Fashion Academy grad, JME of Salvation Ware (known for her Eco-friendly fashion), Alfred Lape of Lavsh, Naomi B, Emeka Arms of Live from the Coast, Heart on my Sleeve, and the winners of the Student Fashion Design Competition. Tickets are $20 at the door, cash only.


Friday, April 17-
Urban Fashion Show at Fremont Studios featuring United Colors of Benneton, EQPT, Strut Boutique and Ducati. Tickets are $25 at the door, cash only.

Saturday, April 18th-
Seattle Fashion Week ’09 Couture Fashion Show at Fremont Studios featuring Blayne Walsh (Project Runway Season 5), Logan Neitzel and Wai-Ching, known for her Eco-friendly Couture Bridal Gowns. Tickets start at $40 at the door, cash only.

Seattle Fashion week sponsors include Comcast, Gene Juarez, Verizon Wireless, Ducati Seattle, D List Magazine, Fremont Studios, Fremont Chamber of Commerce, Red Bull, Fuze, Aston Martin, Dress for Success, MAC Cosmetics, Pearl Vodka, Kiss 106.1FM, Global Vortex Radio, Peroni, Y.E.S., Vitamin Water 10, Whisper Entertainment, Whe Productions, Gobo Foto, J Promotions and Events.
Share:

Apr 15, 2009

Dress for Success - Girls Gone Glam Event


Join Dress for Success for a glamorous evening of shopping and fundraising as they gather for the “Girls Gone Glam” event on Thursday, April 23rd at the Purely Paige, Zavida Gemstones, Abaloria Jewelry, America Jane Mercantile, Lemon Meringue, Sweet Petula and Blackbird Tees. “It’s the perfect girls night out,” says Monique Smith, Program Manager for Dress for Success Seattle, “Sipping, tasting and shopping!” Admission is $10 and includes a complimentary raffle ticket for guests to enter to win great prizes including airfare from American Airlines and vouchers for free hotel stays! All event proceeds benefit Dress for Success Seattle (including 10% of the proceeds from the sale of merchandise during the evening). Full event details are listed below. Sponsors for the evening include Alexis Hotel, Hotel Monaco, Hotel Vintage Park, Library Bistro & Bookstore.

Location: Alexis Hotel, 1007 1st Ave. (1st and Madison), Downtown Seattle, WA
Date: Thursday, April 23rdTime: 5 to 7 pmAdmission: $10

Share:

Apr 13, 2009

The Inside Scoop- Straight from Seattle Boutique: Polite Society


A lot has changed in last year at Polite Society. For starters, in an effort to dedicate more shelf space to their favorite women’s collections like Ports 1961, Hoss Intropia, Catherine Malandrino and Brian Reyes they no longer carry menswear. They’ve also dedicated the entire back section of their store to Seattle couturier Madina Vadache who specializes in Ready-To-Wear and Bridal. The Spring ‘09 collection features beautiful cocktail dresses (like the one pictured above) adorned with organza petals and beautiful French lace. Madina is currently in the process of moving to New York and has decided to retire 15 of her designs which means that a handful of floor models and samples are 50% off! All of Madina’s designs are all handmade here in Seattle and each piece is one-of-a-kind. Polite Society even has several Madina Vadache bridal gowns in stock. 

If you’re pinching pennies and looking for sale (who isn’t in this economy?) check out the sale rack at Polite Society which has a ton of merchandise from last season marked at 60-80% off.

Polite Society is located at 1924 1st Ave. (between Stewart & Virginia). 
Share:

Silhouettes of Style Raises $100,000



The Act Two Guild is happy to report that the first annual Silhouettes of Style 2009 Fashion Show & Luncheon Event, held April 3rd to benefit Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE), raised over $100,000! The fashion show, directed by TCM’s Terri Morgan, featured Spring 09 Collections from David Lawrence, Mercer, 7 For All Mankind, Martin + Osa, Eileen Fisher, Louie Permelia, and Voletta Couture. “On behalf of The Bellevue Collection, we were honored and thrilled to sponsor the fashion show for the Act Two Guild,” said Jennifer Leavitt, owner and operator of The Bellevue Collection. “The addition of PACE is such a gift to our community that we look for opportunities like this to demonstrate our support for their mission. It was a perfect match for our brand and gave us the opportunity to showcase some of our best fashion stores to a dynamic group of PACE supporters.” Fashion and Compassion go hand in hand!

To view photos of the event go to
www.mikenakamuraphotography.com
and use the password Act2.

Photo: Mike Nakamura
Share:

Art + Fashion at 7 for All Mankind

Come be the first to view the Spring 2009 collection by 7 for All Mankind at Bellevue Square on Saturday April 18th from 2-5pm and catch at sneak peek at exclusive artwork created by NADA (The New Art Dealers Alliance). NADA is a non-profit collective of artists working with contemporary art. Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries will be served!

Share:

Style 09 Fashion Show

Look Good, Feel Good and Do Good at this year’s Style 09 Fashion Show on Thursday, April 30th, featuring Carmilia's, Coastal, Canopy Blue, Lululemon, Nuvo Moda, The Finerie, Clutch, Oslo's, Asher Anson and Kick it Boots. "We are so happy to be part of the runway show for the first time this year,"says Kimberly Arrington, owner of Clutch, "In previous years we have been part of the audience." The 7th annual event to benefit Northwest Hope & Healing is designed to provide financial assistance to patients in need, for non-medical support services such as child care, meal service, transportation, and emergency rent. Tickets start at $40 for General Admission and range up to $1000 for VIP. 
Share:

Rock Star Jewelry is Making a Statement



Martha Driver from Rock Star Jewelry is on top of Spring 09 accessory trends. Her statement necklaces made from agate, semi-precious stones and silver are exotic and affordable. Who can’t appreciate that in this economy? Prices range from $120-200 and that’s a steal considering brands like Barneys NY and Gucci are showing similar styles from $780-1200+. The entire Spring 2009 Rock Star Jewelry collection is available at Around The Block Gift Store in the Magnolia Village. These necklaces, bracelets and earrings are the perfect pieces to spice up jersey knit dresses for Spring and add charm to dark denim and a pair of leather boots.



To view the full collection visit www.rockstarjewelry.com. 
Share:

Project Runway Casting in Seattle!


Seattle Fashion Designers: Start prepping your portfolios and making your audition tapes because Project Runway is casting for Season 7 right now! Invite-only calls will be held in Atlanta, Chicago, LA, New York and Seattle! Applications are due April 24th so if you have what it takes- don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity! For full details and to download an application click here.
Share:

Apr 11, 2009

Easter Sale Online at La Rousse

Online boutique La Rousse just got the rest of their Spring 09 shipments which means they have a ton of merchandise on sale this weekend for their Easter Sale Event. Enter EASTER25 at check out and save an additional 25% off your purchase. The discount also applies to sale merchandise which means you could save up-to 80%! The sale goes through Monday, April 13. Happy Shopping!
Share:

Apr 10, 2009

Jewelry to Adorn your Body & Soul

Celebrities including Scarlett Johansson, Courtney Cox and Rachel Bilson love Satya Jewelry! Come check it out for yourself April 10-12th at Ella Mon boutique in Ballard for a special trunk show. Designers Satya and Beth create jewelry with “truth, beauty and meaning” while incorporating spiritual symbols and healing stones into their works of art.
Ella Mon will be serving complimentary cheese and wine Saturday evening in conjunction with the Ballard Art Walk and clients will enjoy 15% off all in-stock purchases during the 3-day event.

Ella Mon is located at 5404 22nd Ave. NW in Ballard. (206) 297-2800
Share:

Apr 3, 2009

Local Design Spotlight: Carolina Pagano Shoes


It’s not every day that a luxury line of shoes can claim local roots but that’s exactly why there’s so much buzz about the new line of Carolina Pagano Shoes available at Posh on Main in Bellevue. Brazilian-born designer Carolina Sadowski (who calls Seattle home) named the line after her maternal grandmother and pulls inspiration from the natural beauty of her homeland. "I get most inspired by the vast variety of colors present in Brazil's rich landscape, everything from waterfalls to precious stones inspire me in my creations,” says Carolina. Materials used in the debut collection include suede, calf leather, silk, satin and linen. It’s Carolina’s passion for stylish footwear and focus on quality that brings the entire line together. This notion was confirmed by Angela from Posh who says,” She hand picks materials for every shoe she creates and works closely with the factories in Brazil to execute each style.” Paying special attention to design, fit and detail are what set Carolina Pagano footwear apart from the competition.


Silhouettes from the Spring line include the Bea (pictured at top), which is a satin ballerina flat featuring an oversized bow. This shoe has become one of the collection’s signature items and has been spotted on the feet of stylish women including model Carolina Bittencourt and fashion designer Ana Lerario (of Lerario Beatriz). Another Posh on Main Spring favorite is the Constanza. A patent leather hydrangea blue flat with tear-drop shaped straps and a small heel. “We enjoy being able to promote a local shoe designer with roots in our community!” said Angela Self, “Her designs will truly speak to our customers. They are just stunning!”

Stay tuned for the Fall 2009 collection which introduces 18 new styles including a zebra pump, a black bootie with a gold fish-scale heel, a deep-blue woven flat, a basic flat with a bow at the toe and a suede close-toe pump. All shoes are made in Brazil. For more information, visit www.carolinapagano.com. 
 
Share:

Apr 1, 2009

Current Obsession: Rock Star Earrings


I am obsessed with my new pair of earrings from Rock Star Jewelry (pictured above). These earrings go with everything from a little black dress to a pair of jeans and my brown leather boots. Made from18k vermeil, turquoise & pearl these chandelier earrings are constructed using 14k gold-filled wire. Rock Star Jewelry is available at Canopy Blue in Madison Park and Around the Block Gifts & Interiors in Magnolia. To view the full collection and to learn more about Seattle artist Martha Driver, visit www.rockstarjewelry.com. 
Share:
Blog Design Created by pipdig