It's Vacation Time!

Sorry friends, but I'm taking a few weeks off for a well needed vacation... So rather than keep you hanging on what's going on out there I have updated my Seattle PI blog for the entire month of September.

Please check it out as it will update automatically for you... just like magic!!

See you soon!

P.S. Don't forget to come on back here October 1st!!

Something Blue Wedding Event

UFN Members/Readers, are you or someone you know getting married in the near future? Courtney Russell of Half Past Lavish Events, has a boutique wedding event called Something Blue: The Premiere Eastside Wedding Event coming up on 9/26/09 and wants to give you free tickets! If you'd like complimentary tickets please just email crussell@halfpastlavish.com or let the girl's at the check-in table at the event know you are UFN members/reader. It's that simple! Hope you can join us!

Click on the image for all the details!

Wow...

Wow is really all I can say. Tonight was so. much. fun. I just got home from the Neiman Marcus Gala in Bellevue. I had been trying to get a press pass for awhile and finally acquired one! It was worth all the email stalking!

Dawn met me at Neiman Marcus at about 6:45pm. After our media check-in we walked in to the beautiful new Neiman Marcus. I feel the need to mention that all the people greeting us and working in the store were beautiful and well styled. You know who you are Mr. "male model who I have seen before".

First thing was first, we posed for our inaugural picture taken by Team Photogenic and then we grabbed a glass of bubbly.

Oh wait, I am way ahead of myself. The clothing... It was a black tie affair so I picked out a black lace dress I bought at Anthropology years ago... on sale mind you for a ridiculously low price! I was planning on wearing my strappy satin red heels but then Dawn reminded me of "the shoes". "The Shoes" being my $800 Christian Louboutin shoes I won at Barneys... Do you remember that post? I hadn't even thought of them, shame on me, this was the perfect occasion for them. Man was she right. I fit right in! I have never seen so many high end shoes in one place... on people that is as the shoe department actually carried all the high end designers so my statement would be a lie if I didn't mention that.

Ok, so anyways back to the event... Dawn and I headed up to Mariposa's, the Neiman Marcus restaurant/bar, for the VIP party. We found a place to stand so we could people watch but it just so happened to be the perfect place for food as well. Ah the food, everything was so tasty! More champagne please!

At around 7:30, Magic Johnson (Yeah, the basketball player!) and his wife were announced (Cookie Johnson is doing a designer preview tomorrow) and then everyone dispersed into the store to mingle, eat, drink and shop.

Dawn and I carefully examined every floor, tried numerous hors 'd orderves and had another glass of champagne. We chatted with people we knew and didn't know along the way. The clothing and shoes were just amazing. If only I had an endless supply of funds to throw at Neiman Marcus, life would be good... or at least look good.

One of my favorite parts of Neiman's was their shoe department - it was like Barney's on steroids. Barney's has an amazing shoe selection of designer brands but Neimans will definitely be a rival. I guess it's good that one is in Seattle and the other is in Bellevue.

After walking around for 2 hours, we decided to call it a night... actually my feet called it a night, they felt dead, as those shoes were not made for comfort... They look hot though! We were handed an amazing gift bag as we excited - now the excitement will be "what is inside"... (The answer is a Neiman Marcus pop up book, $25 perk card and Anthousa home ambiance perfume with scent sticks.)

If you have a free moment this weekend, head on over to Bellevue to the new Bravern shops and check out Neiman Marcus - its beautiful. They officially open on September 11th.

P.S. I saw a must have for me - a GIANT book on Barbie... Ignore the fact that it was $500 (GULP!)... I just need it for my collection. Take note Santa!

Check out the rest of my pictures from the evening.

Jackie Kennedy Photos & More

This morning I got an email from LIFE.com which "features exclusive never-before-published Jackie Kennedy photos. In honor of her wedding anniversary to JFK, Editors share their favorite unpublished frames from the Camelot era."

The photos are being shown "to celebrate the anniversary of the day she became a Kennedy on September 12th 1953, LIFE presents bonus never-before-published shots from its famous coverage of John F. Kennedy’s stunning, stylish wife. See photos of Jackie taken during the couple's 10 years together: on her wedding day, on the campaign trail, and more."

The photos are beautiful! Make sure to check them out!

I have a soft spot for Jackie-O. She was so stylish and unique. I saw an exhibit at the MET a few years back which was amazing! It was an exhibit of her clothing while in the white House. Here are some of the photos from that as well.

Lastly, to top it all off, Neiman Marcus sent out an email titled: RETRO FIT: '60s polish with a twist from today. I went to their site to check out the clothing and I feel it fits in perfect with the Jackie-O pictures and her style. So I have to share it with you.

I am so in love with clothing for this era... The dresses, the belts, the coats, the accessories... Love them all!

P.S. If you like this beautiful silver coat pictured you can own it for a mere $14,650. It's a Valentino hand-embroidered coat: Silver with allover embroidery and dyed mink (Italy) collar; snap front. Long sleeves. Side slash pockets. Wool/cashmere. Made in Italy. I have a feeling I won't be getting that for Christmas...

IADT Imagine 2009

Imagine will be September 18th at 8pm - IADT Seattle 645 Andover Park W. Tukwila, WA



Purchase your tickets NOW!

Fashion Night Out in NYC

Fashion Night Out will be kicking off September 10th in NYC. What is it you ask? It's "a global initiative to promote retail, restore consumer confidence, and celebrate fashion, U.S. and international editions of Vogue are coordinating evening extravaganzas in their respective world fashion capitals.

In the United States, American Vogue has joined with NYC & Company, the City of New York, and the Council of Fashion Designers of America to enliven again the consumer spirit that churns the economy and boosts the local industry of America’s fashion capital, New York City. Next only to finance, fashion is the second-largest sector of industry in New York City—the headquarters of more than 800 fashion companies employing 175,000 people and generating $10 billion in total wages. At City Hall’s May 20 press conference to announce Fashion’s Night Out, Vera Wang said, "To put it bluntly, if people don’t shop, people lose their jobs."

The first evening of New York Fashion Week, Fashion's Night Out will encompass festivities galore— from inventive window displays to model and celebrity appearances. Champagne may flow; hors d'oeuvres may be passed. Rumors of musical performances, downtown barbecues, shoe capsules, limited-edition rings, and sweepstakes abound. Apparently there will be makeovers, brow bars, and haircut stations at sundry spots, too." (the above info can be found here.)



I also found an article about a more frugal approach to Fashion Night Out in NYC. It's worth a read if you're headed to NY anytime soon.

Unfortunately for me (and maybe you), this won't be taking place in Seattle anytime soon (Idea!)... It's apart of the NY Fashion Week which runs from September 10-17th. Next year, next year I have to go!!

P.S. I am bummed... Going to miss NY's fashion week (September 10-17th) AND Japan fashion week (October 19-25th)...

Neiman Marcus is Opening Sept 11th!

Today it has been confirmed, I'll be able to cover the Neiman Marcus Gala on Thursday September 10th for UFN! Dawn will be accompanying me so I can take pictures and have someone to help me re-cap the event.

Not only will it be a fetching event (you like that?) but it's also for a good cause. The company will be donating all the money raised from their ticket sales to Hopelink, Overlake Hospital Medical Center and PONCHO. I have learned it is pretty much SOLD OUT!!

From what I have been reading online from a Bellevue Blog, "Bellevue's new store is the only new Neiman Marcus opening this year in the nation, and it's just the 41st store in the country. Read more about why Neiman picked Bellevue in this story by Seattle Times reporter Amy Martinez from last year. "

Also, "The Bellevue store will also feature 166 works of art from 27 artists who reside in, or have strong ties to, the area, the company says. And the Texas company appears to have noticed our passion for recycling. From the press release: "An exciting theme, 'the art of recycled material,' runs throughout the art collection. Various artists have interpreted the use of found and recyclable materials. Their unique and dynamic translations of this theme are exhibited storewide"."

UFN Featured Boutique for September

This month we are featuring the Bellevue boutique, La Ree.

La Ree not only carries some big name designers but they also carry some amazing local designers such as Jamie Joseph Jewelry and Rachel Burklund Jewelry.

Their tag line is FIND BEAUTIFUL STYLE, check out their Q&A and pictures and you'll see why!