Jul 26, 2017

Must-See Shows at Bellevue Fashion Week


Bellevue Fashion Week kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 21 and you won't want to miss a moment of the action. This year's line-up includes a showcase of seven local designers at the Independent Designer Runway Show, a Posh Party Trend Show produced by Terri Morgan of TCM Models highlighting must-have fashion trends for fall, and a Collective Runway Show featuring fashion from Bellevue Collection retailers. Tickets are on sale and going fast. Check out our breakdown of each event below to help you decide which ones to add to your September fashion calendar ASAP.

Independent Designer Runway Show - Thurs. Sept. 21
This show kicks off the Bellevue Fashion Week ticketed events and hands-down my favorite local runway show. The Independent Designer Runway Show, a.k.a. IDRS, has served as a launch pad for many noteworthy local designers including Paychi Guh and Silvae. The final runway show is the result of many months of mentorship to help designers define their point of view and edit their collections. Each designer will present 10 looks on the runway and compete for a $5,000 cash prize. 
This year's judging panel includes Marj Turner of Fashion Group International, Bruce Pflaumer of Michael Bruce Imagine Consulting, designer Lisa Vian Hunter, and Jennifer McCullum of Gray magazine. 

Posh Party Trend Show - Friday, Sept. 22
This event is a runway show that highlights must-have trends straight from the pages of the Bellevue Collection Look Book. The fashion show is always beautifully styled and designed to inspire. Event proceeds from this event benefit Bellevue LifeSpring. 

The Collective Runway Show- Saturday, Sept. 23
The final event of Bellevue Fashion Week is The Collective Runway Show, featuring curated fall fashion picks from The Bellevue Collection retailers. Proceeds benefit the Special Olympics of Washington. 

In addition, Bellevue Fashion Week will also feature a variety of events that are free and open to the public. For more info visit http://fashionweekbellevue.com/.
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Jul 12, 2017

Colette to close in December


The news it true, although it's still hard to believe. Colette in Paris will close its doors at the end of the year and fashion world is heartbroken. For those that are unfamiliar with Colette, let me fill you in. In a nutshell, Colette is the store that all other stores look to for inspiration, direction, and insight on how to support emerging brands, create a unique customer experience, and create a store that simply has that "je ne sais quoi", the thing that you can't describe because there simply aren't words for it. After 20 years in business setting the pace for other retailers to follow suit, Colette will close for good, citing the upcoming retirement plans for founder Colette Roussaux.

The closing of the store signals tough times ahead for traditional brick-and-mortar retailers who are already weary of how the industry continues to change and evolve. The New York Times reports that Colette was fully owned by Ms. Roussaux and her daughter Sarah Andelman. Annual sales exceeded $32 million last year, and 25% of that came from e-commerce. The end of an era is near.

Photo credit: Menswear Style UK


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3 Easy Seattle summer getaways


I love living the city life, but when Friday rolls around I'm ready to explore wide-open spaces. Summer is the perfect time to get out and experience all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. The skies are blue, the wildflowers are in bloom, and the weather is just right. Here are my favorite Seattle summer getaways that are fun, easy, and totally worthy of adding to your list.


Summer Getaway #1: Bellingham, WA
Located just 90-minutes north of Seattle, Bellingham is a fun and easy getaway that is absolutely gorgeous during the summer months. On our last trip, my family and I stayed at Hotel Bellwether which overlooks Bellingham Bay, and had a fabulous time! The rooms were spacious, the views were stunning, and there's a bike path that leads you straight to Zuanich Point Park. Our Bellingham trips usually involve stopping for a bite at Bob's Burgers, visiting the historic Fairhaven District for coffee and shopping, and letting the kids run around in the splash pad at Fairhaven Park.

Shop
Village Books
1200 11th St.
Bellingham, WA 98225

Eat
Anthony's Hearthfire Grill
7 Bellwether Way
Bellingham, WA 98225

Stay
Hotel Bellwether
1 Bellwether Way
Bellingham, WA 98225



Summer Getaway #2: Cle Elum, WA
If you prefer to head east over the mountains where the sunshine is more consistent, Suncadia Resort in Cle Elum is a great choice. It's also 90-minutes from the city by car if you go east on Interstate 90. The resort has two swimming pools, an amazing spa, wine tasting experiences, golf, bike rentals, complimentary nightly smores, and more.

I've experienced Suncadia on both girls getaways (shown above) and family trips, and both have been amazing. When I'm with the girls I always make time for the spa, but when I'm with family I usually rent bikes, take a dip in the pool, head to one of the on-property playgrounds, and then unwind over dinner with a nice glass of Swiftwater Cellars wine. Don't forget to check the event calendar before your trip to find out what on-site events are happening during your stay. They usually have LIVE music in the lodge on Saturday nights.


Shop
Coal House Caffe
The gift shop at Suncadia has snacks, gifts, smores kits, sunscreen, and anything else you might need on your trip, including wine. They also make a great cup of coffee when you need a caffeine fix.

Eat
Swiftwater Cellars
201 Rope Rider Dr.
Cle Elum, WA 98922

Stay
Suncadia
3600 Suncadia Trail
Cle Elum, WA 98922



Summer Getaway #3: Vancouver, B.C.
Most Seattleites agree -we don't get to Vancouver B.C. nearly as often as we should, and that's a shame because it's such a beautiful city! Our dollar goes further in Canada which is reason enough to get your passport in order and head North for a long weekend. We always stay in downtown Vancouver so that we can walk to shopping on Robson Street.  We also like being close to Gastown because it has a plethora of dining options and it's home to Noir Lash Lounge and Blo.

Shop
Holt Renfrew
737 Dunsmuir St.
Vancouver, BC, Canada

Note: Holt Renfrew is a Canadian department store that specializes in luxury goods, comparable to a Nordstrom or Saks Fifth Avenue in the USA. It's owned by the Selfridges Group (my favorite department store in London) and was founded in 1837.


Eat
Cactus Club Cafe
1136 Robson St.
Vancouver, BC

Stay
Hotel LeSoleil
567 Hornby St.
Vancouver, BC, Canada


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Jul 11, 2017

5 Must-Have Summer Beauty Products

Summer is my favorite season of the year but as a girl with combination skin, the heat and humidity can sometimes wreak havoc on my complexion. Luckily, I've found these 5 beauty products that have quickly reached "holy grail" status in my beauty bag.


At just $12 per tube, the Sephora Collection Rouge Lip Tint is perfect for summer. It gives just the right amount of color and lasts all day. When you're going for the no make-up look this lip tint instantly adds color to your face. My favorite shade is Magenta.

I'll make space for any product that multi-tasks in my make-up bag. Any product that protects my skin from the sun and preserves my make-up is a game changer, especially in the summer months. Coola's Make-up Setting Spray is SPF 30 and provides UV and broad-spectrum protection from the sun. It helps keep my makeup matte and the green tea and aloe feel refreshing when I re-apply during the day.


I love the ritual of taking off my make-up at the end of the day. When I complained of my oily skin to a friend, who also happens to be a make-up artist, she suggested I check out Supercleanse by GlamGlow. From the first time I tried it, I was instantly hooked on the clean feeling it provided post-cleanse. It's a mud to foam cleanser and it's perfect for blemished and oily skin, which makes it the perfect cleanser for me during the summer months. It's gentle, yet effective, and works differently than other cleansers because you apply it to dry skin and then add water to lather.


A few years ago my friend Natasha worked as a PR manager for Seattle brand Julep. Every now and again she would show up to our coffee dates armed with new beauty products for me to try.  I vividly remember the day she casually handed me a dual-ended eyeliner and promised it would rock my world. "Seriously, you can use the black to line your waterline and in a pinch use the brown side to do your brows," she said. She was right. The Julep Kajal eyeliner is one of the best things that has ever happened to me and I panic every time I run out. Last time I placed an order I doubled it at check-out, just in case. This is the only eyeliner I've used that doesn't irritate my waterline and the rich pigment lasts all day. Note: This eyeliner isn't available at Julep nail parlors, you have to buy it online.


I strongly believe in using a good serum at night to treat and repair skin. Lately, I've been loving the isClinical Active Serum which helps smooth fine lines and reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation.  I've noticed a huge difference in the tone and texture of my cheeks since using it. isClinical makes several serums but the Active is my favorite because it has a slight cooling sensation that feels clean and refreshing, especially during the summer months. Available locally at Skin Spirit, University Village.


BONUS product!
During the summer months, I also like to exfoliate a few times a week to keep my pores clean and lately, I'm loving the Umbrian Clay FaceEexfoliant by Fresh. This product helps absorb excess oil and regulate sebum production, plus it's easy to use. After cleansing you rub a pea-sized amount all over your face for about 30 seconds and then rinse. It's super easy and works great for oily skin!
Sept. 2017 update- I'm STILL using this and love what it does for my skin. I ran out of the first tube and definitely noticed a difference in my skin when I wasn't using it. For maximum benefits, use this in tandem with a clay mask once a week. This is especially great for people with acne-prone skin.


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