The Product Runway Wrap-up

Last night was the 2nd annual Product Runway. I wasn't sure what to expect since I missed last years event but I will say I was pleasantly surprised. It was very well organized and the people we met who were involved were friendly, helpful and knew what they were doing. It was an amazing evening!

Youa and I went to the dress rehearsal on Thursday night to get a preview of what was in store. I posted those pictures on our UFN Facebook account if you would like to check them out.

Friday night I arrived at the Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center around 6:30pm, checked in as press and then wandered around taking pictures and chatting with other bloggers and people involved in the show. The doors opened at 7pm and men and women started streaming in. Most were dressed up but there were many dressed pretty casual (myself included as I came straight from work). There didn't seem to be a consistent dress code but I'm ok with that - Seattle is a casual city but those who do enjoy dressing up seem to know what they're doing.

For the guests, there were many delicious looking appetizers and a bar where they had a few signature drinks and wine for the evening. They ended up running out of white wine so I had a glass of red. I should have tried a cocktail though as it looked like they were mixed with Dry Soda and I LOVE Dry Soda!

Before the show started, Youa and I went back stage to get some pictures of the models having their hair and makeup done. Seeing the hair and makeup done made the "show" we saw Thursday quite different but that's a given! It was a lot of fun to see the behind the scenes side of the show. I also loved that the "models" were chosen by the firms and weren't "official" models. You wouldn't have known it though as they carried themselves really well and seemed to know what they were doing!

The show began at about 8:30pm and was introduced by two woman involved in the organization, Jill Marasigan and Heather Nye. They then introduced Jack Mackenroth and Kevin Christiana from Project Runway Season 4 as the emcee's for the evening. They were entertaining hosts and pretty cute I must say. The judges were introduced and then the show kicked off (all are pictured above, except Andrea Venecko)!

There were 18 outfits from various architectural firms from Seattle and the Eastside, oh and one from Vancouver. I was thoroughly impressed by what they came up with! They had rules they had to follow and the garment has to remain intact 2 months after the show. Here are the rules.

My favorite dress didn't win, it did win 3rd place though. The winner of the event was beautiful and very wearable - it was a sassy suit that went from office to evening wear. The metal handbag though was my favorite part of the outfit (pictured to the left). I want that bag!

Check out the photos.

If you weren't able to attend this year I suggest checking it out next year - it really was a fantastic time and a great show!

I must put a shout out to the other blogger gals I chatted with last night: Vu Society, Darrah's Dresser, Sydney Loves Fashion and of course Youa! Always great to see you ladies!!

Product Runway is Tomorrow! R U Ready?

Tonight, Youa and I went to watch the dress rehearsal for tomorrow's Product Runway. All I can say is there are some amazing outfits that have been put together! I'd show you the pictures I took but I promised not to... You'll just have to wait... It's worth the wait though. ;)

Product Runway is tomorrow, August 28th, at the Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center (305 Harrison Street)! The emcee's for the evening are Jack Mackenroth and Kevin Christiana from Project Runway season 4 (YAY!). Doors open at 7pm. There will also be a Jason Wu dress in the raffle! (If you didn't know, Jason Wu's was the designer of Michelle Obama's beautiful Inaugural gown).

Buy your tickets now for the chance to win a Jason Wu Design!

Official info about the event:

Design-savvy Seattle is buzzing about PRODUCT RUNWAY, part runway fashion show, part theatrical production and part indulgence for guests, PRODUCT RUNWAY is the showcase for innovative and creative design, and the fashion event of the year!

18 leading interior designers, architects, and students will flaunt their creativity by sending couture garments crafted from a diverse range of interior materials and finishes down the runway. Innovative teams from regional firms will design and construct their creations using everything from carpet to lighting – as they compete for prizes and bragging rights!

Part runway fashion show, part theatrical production and part indulgence for guests, PRODUCT RUNWAY promises to be the event of the year and a show case for the Puget Sound design community.

Event Information:
Friday, August 28th, 2009
Doors open at 7pm
Seattle Center Exhibition Hall
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109

Portland Fashion Week 2009: Emerging Designers Auditions

I just wanted to post this in case there are any designers out there who weren't aware this was this weekend!

Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009
Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Art Institute of Portland (Room 263) 1122 NW Davis St Portland, OR
Email: talent@portlandfashionweek.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Portland, Ore | 30 July 2009

Portland Fashion Week announces OPEN audition date for the Emerging Designer Showcase.

Whom: APPAREL designers only, please.

Accessories designers can email any questions about PFW participation to us at talent@portlandfashionweek.net.

Fashion industry leaders converge to select the next big stars; attractive award package to help catapult the best in emerging designers

Portland Fashion Week has long been a launching-point for emerging talent into the marketplace. By making a high-production fashion week affordable to independent designers through business sponsorship, PFW lowers the barriers to entry, and reaches a broad range of press and public.

Richard Klein, Publisher of Surface Magazine remarks, "Surface supports projects that promote innovation and emerging talent and for this reason we are excited and proud to be the media sponsor for PFW."

"With a history of accommodating up & coming talent during economically-strapped phases of their development, PFW has seen its emerging talents rise to new heights" says PFW Executive Producer Chris Cone, "This year it continues with the Emerging Designer Showcase, a juried-entry program that will feature upcoming designers, make their collections accessible to wholesale buyers at the PFW Buyers Hour, and for sale to the general public in the Designer Pavilion of PFW Plaza."

Designers selected by the jury will qualify for a $350, 7-look show at Portland Fashion Week on Thursday, October 8, less than half the cost of a normal entry-level show. Selected emerging designers can enjoy all the benefits of a PFW designer's attention from press, public, and buyers, and be featured in a high-end production, the best of the best in the Pacific Northwest.

For a designer, learning to establish the brand-identity for your fashion label is equally important as designing it" adds fashion designer Anna Cohen whose experience spans Portland and Italy, her SS/08 debut in Portland Fashion Week, and her upcoming launch at PFW this October, "Portland Fashion Week offers a wonderful and affordable opportunity to do it where the package includes putting on a high-end show and exposure opportunities; the sale opportunities are a welcome bonus"

The jury will include leading fashion industry professionals in Portland: (in alphabetical order)

Sue Bonde, Dir. of Apparel Design, Art Institute of Portland
Jo Carter, Owner/Buyer of Physical Element
Anna Cohen, Internationally renowned Eco-designer
Alice Dobson, Owner/Designer of Sofada
Marie Saturn, Owner of Saturn Style Studios
Marjorie Skinner, Managing Editor of Portland Mercury
Modi Soondarotok, Owner/Designer of IDOM
Lisa Radon, Publisher of ultrapdx.com, writer for Portland Spaces Magazine.

THE WINNER OF THE EMERGING DESIGNER SHOWCASE ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, WILL RECEIVE PRIZES INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING FROM THE PFW EMERGING DESIGNER SHOWCASE SPONSORS

Button Magazine will provide a spread for the winning designer in the October/November 2009 issue!

World class New York fashion photography and online media company Fashion Wire Press will provide full-res images of their runway collection to the designer, AND provide photography for a photoshoot for the designer's SS/2010 lookbook.

Creating innovative designs that tell compelling stories, Marketing & Branding firm 24notion will provide 3 hours of business/marketing consultation, AND will design the winner's SS/2010 lookbook.

Option Model Management is a premiere model agency based in Portland, Oregon. OMM will provide the models to the winning designer to shoot their collection lookbook and marketing materials. In addition, they will provide a hair/make-up artist from OMMStyle, their make-up/hair/wardrobe division.

THESE PRIZES ALL CARRY MARKET-VALUES IN THE MULTI-THOUSANDS!

AT THE SHOW, THURSDAY OCTOBER 8, 2009,
THE PORTLAND FASHION WEEK AUDIENCE WILL BE INVITED TO VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE DESIGNER COLLECTION!!! THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT THAT NIGHT'S PFW AFTER-PARTY!!

PFW Executive Producer Prasenjit Tito Chowdhury concludes, "Along with providing emerging designers a world-class showcase for presenting their talent, we are providing a jump-start to emerging designers through Portland Fashion Week's valuable partners. We will continue to work hard to strengthen this support system, so, that, Portland Fashion Week can continue to be launching pad for more Leanne Marshalls".

DESIGNERS,

PLEASE BRING A REPRESENTATIVE NUMBER OF FULLY CONSTRUCTED SAMPLES OF YOUR APPAREL DESIGN WORK FOR THE SELECTION JURY ON AUGUST 23. YOU MAY INCLUDE SAMPLES FROM PAST COLLECTIONS IF YOUR SS/2010 COLLECTION IS NOT YET COMPLETE.

Good Luck!!!!!

Portland Fashion Week
PFW Productions, LLC

Project Runway Starts Tonight!

Will you be watching? I WILL!!!

One article that you should check out if you're into the show is Seattle designer Logan Neitzel is a contestant on new season of 'Project Runway'.

Go Logan! Here is his website.

Stay tuned as I am sure I will have something to say about the new season - can't wait!! Feel free to share what you thought of the new season, the new channel or whatever!



One more interesting article, a Q&A with him.

The Ultimate Ladies Night!

Tonight was the highly anticipated CRAVE Summer Dreams Party at Teatro ZinZanni and it was completely sold out! (Success!) When Youa and I arrived, there was a long line of fashionably dressed women waiting to get in to see what the evening had in store. (Wish I had taken a picture, sorry!)

Melody Biringer, the genius behind CRAVE, has made quite a name for herself and the CRAVE events. They are never a let down and you know that there will be some of the hottest vendors, amazing entertainment, spa treatments by Derby Salon, delicious food (Built Burger was there! LOVE them!) and creative cocktails to satisfy any pallet.

Once in, we mingled around checking out the vendors, said our hellos to friends, sampled cupcakes (it's a hard job but someone has to do it), checked out the racks of adorable dresses from My Orchid (formerly known as Laura Victoria) and basically tried to just take it all in so we could share with you exactly how much fun it was.

Throughout the evening there were dance performances, fashion shows and live music. Something worth mentioning, the hottie firemen (and women) were in the middle of the big top signing their calendars. I am a fan, there, I admitted it.

I have never been to Teatro ZinZanni but it is by far the coolest venue I've been to in quite sometime. (Mental note: check out a performance ASAP! Especially while they are doing the Luly Yang fashion showcase!)


Check out the photos!

~Thank you Melody for the opportunity to participate in this amazing event. As always, looking forward to the next CRAVE event.~

My Inspiration for today...

Tonight I went to see Julie & Julia and found it oddly inspirational and relatable (is that a word?). For those who haven't seen it, it's about a woman trying to find something for herself to be passionate about. She doesn't love her job and she feels she never really finishes anything. The one thing she loves to do is to cook. She decides to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook and blog about it. (Here is the actual blog).

I love this story, I love it so much! I love that this woman decided to write a blog about something she loved and found her inner writer and ended up writing a book once her blog was noticed and now it's a movie. She took something she loved and it became a career for her.

I used to really want to be a writer when I was a kid. I wrote lots of mystery stories, they probably were terrible, but I enjoyed it. (I wonder if my mom still has those...) I also drew house layouts becuase I wanted to be an architect but I believe that desire faded away... but who knows, maybe it's laying dormant somewhere deep down. I am not considered a writer, I have not been trained as a writer, I can't spell all that great and I think I make up words (see first paragraph). Does that mean I can't be a writer? No, I don't think it does.

It makes me think about that big question that arose many times when we were younger, and for some of us maybe even recently... "What do you want to be when you grow up?" By day I am a designer and I actually enjoy pushing pixels around in Photoshop, it's fun, I like to design and make things... But then I also love writing my blogs and working on my UFN website. I love the local designers and boutiques and want to help them anyway I can... However, those last two things fall more into the hobby category as they don't pay the bills. Maybe someday, still trying to figure that one out.

So, what am I rambling on and on about? What is my point? Well, honestly I don't know. How did you figure out what it was you wanted to do with your life? Are you doing it? If not, what would you want to do?

Now here is one way I can relate to Julie... For quite awhile she felt she was just writing to noone, and maybe I am, but if you're out there I really would love to hear what you have to say. (Dad, I know you're out there and THANK YOU for that! And a BIG thanks to those of you who do comment and come back to see what is going on here, you rock!) ;)

Go see the movie, it's cute!

Ok, I'll end this post with a "Bon Appetit".

Clutch Turns 2!

Guess what! One of our favorite downtown shops, Clutch (1212 fourth ave at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel ), will be celebrating their 2 yr Anniversary on Thursday August 13th from 5pm to 8pm!

They will have Noshes by Conscious Catering, Champagne, Wink Cupcakes, Music, Swag for the first 50 guests and fabulous discounts and select Arm Candy!!!

It's going to be quite the shindig - you better be there! ;) See you there!!