7.23.2009

Perfect Preview

As I walked towards the Paramount, I felt confident in my Pencey dress and purple tights. I broke all the rules by pairing them with peep-toe studded heels. One of my favorite fashion bloggers, Kam, stopped me on the street to take a picture of my outfit. Not only was I flattered, but I was really excited to meet her! I've never met another blogger before! Big step.

After the confidence boost, I walked into the venue and it was full of fashionable Seattlites. I had no idea that a following like this existed in Seattle! I saw women strutting around flashing red-soled stilettos, Fendi bags, designer dresses, and statement hair pieces. Everyone was sipping cocktails and mingling among great work from designers like Dolce & Gabbanna, Chanel, Prada, and Marc Jacobs. Each piece felt like butter as their rich fabrics slipped through my fingertips. I can only hope that one day I might be able to afford such luxuries.

I turned to my photographer, and said, "I feel like my dress is so last year..." She replied, "Mine is more than last year!" She was wearing vintage (Thrift Store Confessions).


There were dressing rooms lining the boutique area, and it seemed quite humorous. Who gets all dressed up, only to change at an event? Just the thought of pulling a shirt over my head and messing up my hair, to walk out of the dressing room and see the entire fashion scene in Seattle! It puts a whole new spin on seeing a crowd in their underwear.

Since the event was hosted by Nordstrom, I was surprised I didn't see more store managers in attendance. However, I did run into fashion designer, Francisco Hernandez. I will be posting an interview about his clothing line on Monday.

As everyone took their seats around the runway, Pete Nordstrom and SAM President, Silvia Waltner,began to discuss the important union between fashion and art. Nordstrom has been in partnership with SAM for 24 years, and the net proceeds from the evening were donated to an upcoming exhibition. The Designer Preview raised over $170,000. This union between fashion and art is integral in gaining support for future events. I think this lays a rich foundation for the growth of the Seattle fashion scene. Pete made the crowd laugh when he said, "We have our anniversary sale going on too!" I guess while people are actually buying things, it doesn't hurt to plug-in the stores.

The lights dimmed, and techno music bumped to the steps of each model working the runway. I saw Johnathan from Bravo's Make me a Supermodel, which made me feel happily relieved. Finally, REAL models in Seattle. The whole show put me in a mental state of happiness. I thank Nordstrom for single-handedly taking the Seattle fashion scene by storm. I sat with the other local bloggers, and I could tell that we all looked at the runway with hopes that we won't one day have to move to New York to do what we love -- write about fashion.

11 comments:

stilettolover91 said...

Love all the pics!! It sounds like u had a great time!!

http://www.hottheels.blogspot.com

lydia said...

Sorry the pictures did not turn out great. I hope to have a faster lens next time! I am going to window shop today.
Great post, I agree, outside of Francisco's studio, I have never felt such soft fabrics.

needle+thread said...

nice work darrah ! and lydia, good job on the pics, don't be hard on yourself, i got approximately 2 pictures of the runway, and they're blacked out... yay ! fun meeting you ladies, let's do it again. : ) k.

shanon said...

I'll deny it if anyone asks, but I love seeing all the layers, it makes me want Fall/Winter right now. =)

And I really like the use of black and blue.

debra@dustjacket said...

How exciting and how proud must you be for Seattle.

Sounds like a blast, lucky you. Loving the pictures.

Thank you,
xxx DJ

. said...

Awesome slideshow!

ONiC said...

oh my talented. i love the pictures.

Amelia said...

Your description is so lovely!!! I'm really envious that you got to go.

Laura McLaws Helms said...

Meow! Thanks for stopping by my blog! Numero is a French fashion magazine- http://www.numero-magazine.com/index-en.html Definitely check it out- the editorials are always fantastic.

Anonymous said...

I love all the pictures. It seems you had a blast.

Dana Landon said...

Great Pictures! I was unfortunately out of town and did not get to attend so I loved looking through the slideshow and reading about your experience. I would have loved to have been in town to get some shots of the outfits people wore to the event for my blog...
Thanks for sharing! Your site is lovely.