Nordstrom GQ Menswear Collection - Bellevue Fashion Week

When you see runway shows, the majority of the looks are all for women, but what about the fellas? Doesn't a Jaunty Gentleman deserve to feel stylish and be a fashionable standout?? Nordstrom and GQ Magazine was the match made in heaven at this year's Bellevue Fashion Week. For the last few years, the Nordstrom show has always been one of my favorites, putting some really beautiful ready-to-wear looks together, reminding you that you don't have to do haute couture to make a statement. This year, they made the bold choice to go with nearly all menswear (as you can see from this shot of the final runway lap, there were a few ladies in the mix!). This was a great decision, not just for bolstering the spirits of fashionable fellows wanting inspiration, but for this annual fashion week as a whole, mixing things up and showing that style is not owned by any single person or gender, it's an expression we can all participate in.

It's probably the most dangerous runway show of Fashion Week at the Bellevue Collection -- as in, dangerous to your wallet, but friendly to a closet needing something new and fabulous. The annual Nordstrom Fall 2012 Fashion Runway Show is the most interactive runway event for the now 5 day-long fashion event that takes over downtown Bellevue every autumn. The runway showcases curated looks and pieces from various designers, but you also have the chance to "shop the show" with an ad hoc accessories and makeup boutique that's set up before and after the show. That's always the marvelous danger of attending this event, I've had more than enough moments of temptation where that McQueen scarf wouldn't seem as indulgent as getting a whole outfit, or just that one beautiful clutch from Marc Jacobs wouldn't hurt -- I don't need to heat my house when I have something stylish to keep me warm! I think the overly generous pours of wine and cocktails probably add to that mentality, but I'm all about mixing business with pleasure. Hey, it's serious business when you want to upgrade a wardrobe!

But it's not all glitz and glam, those sky-high platform heels are supporting a purpose behind this show, namely the Detlef Schrempf Foundation. They do impressive work to provide assistance and support for organizations who provide care and assistance to families throughout the Northwest. They've been with the Nordstrom runway show every year, and they highlight a different group who will be the beneficiary of the evening's proceeds. It brings more awareness to smaller organizations that may not have the resources to become a household name -- yet. This year's show supported the Bellevue Youth Theatre, a fantastic group of volunteers who mentor children of all ages towards getting involved in the performing arts, and they put on regular shows. Every child is involved, they have a part to play and I know from personal experience how wonderful this group is because I have a friends whose children have been involved for many years and the kids LOVE IT. It's absolutely changing lives and introducing the arts to those at a young age, which is about as Jaunty as it gets. Even more exciting, the proceeds from the Nordstrom show will only further along the BYT's major project of getting a new, larger theater over in the Crossroasds neighborhood. If you get a chance to see a BYT performance, please do, and it's something to definitely get your kids involved in, if they want to be a part of the arts. 

Of course you're saying: what about the runway show?! Consistently a beautiful show of clothes every year, Nordstrom choose pieces that are mindful of trends, but definitely suited to fit the audience. These are wearable combinations of pieces, for both men and women, ranging from special occasion to office attire. It's a way of seeing clothing that you would normally find hanging on a rack and instead putting them on full display to reiterate that age-old saying: Just Try It On! 

These certainly aren't all the outfits, but they're some of my favorites. I've got more shows to photograph and share, so keep coming back for more photos from this year's Bellevue Fashion Week!

Milly: smart, quirky and with a nod to retro styles. Very feminine, but not girly. There were gorgeous pieces with prints and intense color. 


Vince: beautiful warm fall hues in simple styles. Sweater knits with leather make for a nice contrast, and even the all-leather look can be feminine. 


Kelly Werstler: artful combinations of textures and patterns to build an outfit. Love the layering of contrasting prints, and colored tights peeking through a leather cut-out skirt. 


Marc by Marc Jacobs: geek graduated to hipster. The pieces are darling and can be worn separately -- and no, skinny jeans and artsy glasses are not required.


Rachel Zoe: ladylike and classic with a bit of disco glam. Nicely polished looks that go from power lunch to cocktail hour. 


Billy Reid: relaxed style doesn't have to just mean jeans and a t-shirt. Mixing materials and jackets galore for a nicely finished, put-together look. 


Elizabeth and James: add a little rock n' roll to your wardrobe. Small details like leather gloves or studded shoulder patches on a sweater balance out a soft look. 


Haute Hippie: unleash your inner rockstar goddess. Bold prints and patterns, their pieces aren't for the style-shy. Sky-high boots and heels are a must.  


Haute Hippie: clearly a Magpie favorite, the evening looks range from sweet to full-on golden goddess.  


Theyskens' Theory: simple, but bold. Mixing materials and textures to create contrast and wearable pieces ranging from day to night. 


Tory Burch: it's fun to be a girl. Not totally stuck in a MadMen episode, but with a nod to vintage, the pieces modernize classic looks by mixing materials and a streamlined fit.  


Rag and Bone: casual with a touch of quirkiness. Taking everyday outfits and having one special item, like a bold color, unique pattern, or mixing patterns on classic separates.


Diane Von Furstenberg: a stylish lady who will never be out of fashion. Feminine and fun-to-wear pieces, these are outfits that celebrate what it means to be a woman.


Diane Von Furstenberg: cocktail dresses that are never boring, and wave the Jaunty banner that sparkly, shiny things will never, ever go out of style!


Jaunty Fine Print: photography by Denise Sakaki, designers listed above

The house lights dim, a hush blankets the crowd. A blitz of color and light appear from the background and a booming sound of percussive beats and electronica fills the air. Tall, lithe models walk along the u-shaped catwalk, swaying in step to the music with focused stares towards a faraway place. The proverbial curtain has risen on the modern theater of Nordstrom's Fall 2009 Runway Show. Let the drama begin.

The French popularized salons in the 17th and 18th centuries, creating public spheres of intellectual and cultural gatherings, as well as showings of art. It was a place to see what ideas were presented as much as it was a place to be seen, and the fashion catwalks of our 21st century continue to keep that flame alive. The Bellevue Collection's Fashion Week presented yet another dazzling event on Wednesday night, with Nordstrom unveiling pieces from the fall 2009 collections from ten designers, including: Vince, Boss Orange, Elizabeth & James, Milly, Rag & Bone, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Leifsdottir, Haute Hippie, Boss Black, and Diane von Furstenburg.

Runway shows exemplify why fashion is exciting. The music, the excitement of the crowd, the clothing itself -- it's truly an expression of the mind's concept of style, fully realized in a physical form. It is performance art, rooted in emotion and aesthetic. A glint of light off a silvery sequin or the subtle sheen of hammered silk against a moving form are amplified in the public sphere of music, rhythmn and an eager audience. The heightened senses elevate the experience far beyond wandering through a department store.

Overall, the show presented a wide display of very wearable styles. Nothing too avant-garde or wild, which is respectful of the audience -- most people want to be inspired off the rack and not try to decipher a conceptual or absurd menagerie straight out of Derelicte, Mugatu's arcane collection from the movie Zoolander. This was a show to elevate everyday and evening wear, influencing people towards thinking smarter and making intelligent choices.



The presence of layering has been apparent across the fashion board, and the menswear of Boss Orange and Marc by Marc Jacobs really exemplified the visual interest of incorporating a variety of materials (knits, silks, leather) in smart combinations and slim-fit silhouettes. These looks stood out in comparison to looks from Rag & Bone, which went for safer pairings of loose, casual pieces, which seemed dull in comparison to the more bold choices. The womens' clothing of Rag & Bone were more compelling, with confident tailoring and sleek layering that did not add extra heft to the outfits, while maintaining their urbane look.

Hipster-nerd chic appeared in several collections -- thick-rimmed glasses were worn by several of the models, adding a distinctive but purposeful edge to looks. This particular accessory has been making the rounds of late, both on and off the runways. While more visual decor than visual aid, it's a fashion prop that is both delightfully self-aware, and with a sense of Pacific Northwest humor this Bird can appreciate.



Similar combinations of materials and detail were present throughout women's pieces in the collections: refined silks and crushed faux furs from Elizabeth & James, chunky-tweedy coats woven with metallic thread and crisp ruffles from Milly. A tactile presence appeared on several items, ranging from soft and feathered bohemia to rock and roll metal hardware. Women of course have the delightful dilemma of a wide array of options for clothing styles, and the variety of textiles and fit made it clear that in this season, individuality is celebrated, and there is an encouragement to break rules and wear pieces that can span seasons. The presence of tights and leggings continued their reign, giving summer sandals a second life as autumn footwear options, and grounding the silky, diaphanous pieces from Haute Hippie for layered outfits in winter's chill.


Not that this Bird likes to play favorites... but she will. The collections that were most vibrant and full of stylish life were the pieces from Leifsdottir and Haute Hippie. With their graphic bold prints and vintage flourishes, Leifsdottir is like the smart, romantic art student who dreams of strolling the rain-soaked streets of Paris, and Haute Hippie is the free-spirited socialite who spends as much time in London as she does New York, swathed in a dramatic swirl of fur, feathers and sequins to herald her comings and goings. The fashion show crowd definitely gave Diane von Furstenburg's pieces the most audible support of cheers, especially the final tah-dah piece of a black and white 60s style paillette dress, but Leifsdottir and Haute Hippie were the ones that truly stole this Bird's jaunty heart.

Not to forget the real show of the night -- watching over five hundred of the Eastside's elite, dressed in their finery, showing off their fashion sense in the wide expanse of the Hyatt Regency's Wintergarden wing. It was an interesting thing to see that the runway looks were not much different from what the guests were wearing, as the style mood was bold and intrepid. Even the young children in attendance were adorned in their precocious best, as if they stepped straight from a page of The Sartorialist. People wove about the displays of items from Nordstrom, laid out on tables and pedestals like rare art. Colorblocked cashmere scarves with butter-soft leather gloves folded over each one like delicate hands, pumps and boots set up along tables like scupltures -- an appropriate decor that was both aesthetic and available for purchase. Observing all the beautifully-dressed guests inhabit the space, it was hard not to expect someone to break into song, and everyone suddenly step in time to a number reminiscent of the Ascot Race Day sequence in George Cukor's film, My Fair Lady.

The most fashionable thing about the evening was of course the $35,000 raised to benefit the Detlef Schrempf Foundation. Now in its fourth year, the Nordstrom runway show has proven yet again that fashion and goodwill are a most stylish pairing, indeed. Great thanks to Nordstrom for putting on an exciting show and raising awareness for a worthy cause.