Never Too Late for Inspiration - Front Row Fashion

Yes, the Birdy is still on a runway photo-posting-whirlwind.  Bellevue Fashion Week may be over, but that's no excuse to throw on a fleece hoody, some ratty Uggs and forget about looking presentable. This is my last-hurrah post from this year's runway shows, where I was snap-snap-snapping away on the camera. Here's photos and themes from the big Front Row Fashion Show by Vogue Magazine.

You can just hear Madonna's song, Vogue, playing in your head when you think of the Front Row Fashion runway show, presented by Vogue Magazine. It's the show that sells out the quickest, given its Vogue pedigree, it's a trend-driven vs designer runway show, it has the widest array of clothing from different shops throughout The Bellevue Collection, and of course, there's the marvelous goodie bag they have for each attendee. Front Row Fashion is like the big Saturday night fashion party, where people get inspired by the runway and immediately head out to "shop the show" with new ideas over how to give their wardrobe a refreshing hit of style. 

Vogue's Anne Vincent was back to introduce the show, as well as talk trends with style expert and television host, Lawrence Zarian, who was a Fashion Week special guest. As always, there can be no style without substance, and this year's tickets went to benefit The Moyer Foundation, a favorite local charity that reaches out to families in need and provides them the support they need during difficult times.     

As always, this is the most crowd-excited show. It's a Saturday night, you see groups of girlfriends in their highest heels and most favorite new outfit, getting together to get excited about style. It's the night I have the most fun for Fashion Week, as I usually get together with a group of friends and we wander the stores and make an evening of it. I kept the merriment to a minimum this year, but still had a great time with runway photos. The show selects wearable trends and it's meant to make fashion feel accessible. I think sometimes high fashion becomes almost too theatrical, which makes it feel unattainable to most people who just want to feel put-together. I love edgy looks and high-concept ideas, but I do agree that at the end of the day, we live in the clothes we wear, and sometimes five-inch platform heels studded with jewels and spikes might be a bit much for a quick trip to the grocery store. So let's appreciate fashion for its wearable quality, as much as its innovation, shall we? 

These are some of the favorite photos from Front Row Fashion. There were many more outfits, but these looks had the most impact, interest or best represented the trend themes the show was divided into. I hope you feel inspired to give some of these looks a try!

Layer Logic: fall-ready combinations that mix textures, materials and lengths to create interesting layered looks. L to R: Talbots, Eileen Fisher, Vince


Sport Chic: active wear mixed with everyday casual; making fitness fashionable and giving an everyday look a sporty, urban feel. L to R: Lucy, Hugo Boss, Lucy


Power Play - Suiting: traditional suit styles don't have to be boring. Use unusual layering, accessories and material/color choices for interest. L to R: Banana Republic, Hugo Boss, Banana Republic 


Power Play - Dresses: the daytime dress can be as strong as a power suit. Colors and materials ensure a dress means business. L to R: Nordstrom (Cynthia Steffe), Hugo Boss, Nordstrom (Robert Rodriguez)


Bold and Beautiful: a monochromatic or neutral look is a perfect canvas to showcase bold accessories. L to R: Nordstrom (Kristen Blake, Vince Camuto), Nordstrom (June, J Brand, Marc Jacobs), Nordstrom (Haute Hippie, Michael Kors)


Urban Mix: don't fear mixing prints and patterns! Use them as you would color blocking,  making sure one print is clearly dominant over the other, and that they compliment each other in color or pattern. L to R: Ann Taylor, Aritzia, 7 for All Mankind 


Coat Crusade - bold colors and shapes: say goodbye to the all-black overcoat; embrace different silhouettes and colors/materials. L to R: Ann Taylor, Hugo Boss, Hugo Boss 


Coat Crusade - outerwear as a statement: let your outerwear be as fierce as your outfit with leather or fur (faux is fine). L to R: Hugo Boss, Vince, Hugo Boss


Show Stoppers - color and texture: use an all-over jewel-toned color or a luxe-textured material to light up a room for your next special occasion. L to R: Hugo Boss, Hugo Boss, Nordstrom (Abi Ferrin)  


Show Stoppers - classic shapes with sparkle and detail: never let a cocktail dress or LBD be "basic." Seek out dazzling details to be the hit of the party. L to R: Macy's (Xcape), Nordstrom (Sean Collection), Nordstrom (Sean Collection)


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

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

As promised, here are some photos from the recent Bellevue Arts Museum's (BAM) first Finally Friday event, a party where they celebrated recently opened exhibits such as the shoe designs of the fashion forward Beth Levine. To keep the stylish theme, BAM's Finally Friday also featured a runway fashion show, organized by Steven Matsumoto and his team at Stigmare Couture Marketing, featuring the works of local Seattle designers: Poirier Couture, Built for Man, Bri Seeley, Last Wear and Neodandi Couture. 

Because this Bird understands the power of a picture being worth a thousand words, I'll just let the clothing speak for themselves, showing off a small sample of the stylish talent we are lucky enough to have in the Emerald City.

Here are some of the strong, feminine designs from Poirier Couture:

Here are a couple of the dramatic pieces from Built for Man:

Feminine silhouettes mixed with menswear fabric - pieces from Bri Seeley Designs


Steampunk style, fresh from the pages of Jules Verne, the look of Last Wear:


Ethereal and ghostly, the hauntingly beautiful work of Neodandi Couture:


Much Jaunty Thanks to the Bellevue Arts Museum and their sponsors for helping to put together such a stylish Finally Friday event! And the tipping of a Jaunty hat to Stigmare for organizing such a great sampling of Seattle designers. Still wanting more fresh fashion from the Pacific Northwest? Keep an eye out for the upcoming Emerald City Fashion Week!

Jaunty Fine Print: photos by Denise Sakaki

 

Sometimes it's the anticipation and energy before the event that makes for the real show to see. The Magpie was a lucky bird, able to take a peek at some of the behind the scenes preparation before the runway show at Bellevue Arts Museum's first Finally Friday event for 2010.

A chance to show off the talents of local Seattle designers, Built for Man, Bri Seeley, Poirier Couture, Last Wear and Neodandi Couture, the preparation behind a fashion show can be as interesting to see as the runway result. Tables full of rainbow-hued makeup kits, hair being styled, models in everyday wear being transformed into something other-worldly and truly imaginative -- it's like a little bit of magic happening before one's eyes. Stay tuned this week to see more photos of the Finally Friday fashion show, so you can see the final result of this creative and artful event.

Jaunty Fine Print: photos by Denise Sakaki