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October 9th, 2009
We have a new obsession—fashion documentaries. It all started with “The September Issue” and the Valentino movie, but this week we haven’t been able to tear ourselves away from our television, where we have been immersed in watching “The Day Before” on the Sundance channel—a behind-the-scenes look at fashion houses and designers, the day before their runway shows. Fendi, Sonia Rykiel, Proenza Schouler, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton—we’ve watched so many that we feel like we might be able to do the job ourselves now. Well, we wish, anyway. For the record, people who think fashion is silly and shallow have clearly never seen these shows and the pure genius/hard work that goes into fashion and design. It may not be saving lives, but it’s still impressive. It’s truly its own art form, and we bow down to masters like Lagerfeld and Jacobs. But what we really want to know is… how can we get them to hire us? |
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Seattle Picks: |
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| 1 | Golden Goddess The recession has taught us vital lessons in shopping: We need to support our local businesses, we need to know our spending limits (put the credit card back, that Forev 21 blouse is so not worth it), and perhaps most importantly, we need base our purchases on quality, not quantity. And what better place to practice these new shopping rituals than a farmer’s market—as local as it gets! So we headed to the Ballard Farmer’s Market to take a peek at what we’re putting on our holiday wish lists. During our stroll along Ballard Avenue, we were blinded by the light radiating from the display case at Itali Lambertini Jewelry. Gorgeous, post-consumer-recycled gold and conflict-free gems are used to create rings, bracelets, and necklaces that make you feel like an ancient Egyptian queen. The stories behind the gems and gold are as charming as the jewelry is mesmerizing—rubies from Thailand and emeralds found in Burma are used to create the one-of-a-kind pieces. Although we discovered Itali Lambertini in Ballard, you can also find them at the Edmonds and Port Townsend farmer’s markets. Here’s to shopping local! Itali Lambertini |
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| 2 | Paris, J’taime Recently, some of our girlfriends visited Paris—a trip which we regretfully had to decline. To be honest, we threw ourselves a mini pity-party upon their return, because as thoughtful as their souvenirs of Eiffel Tower key chains were, it just was not the same! To mollify our untraveling pants, we visited Bastille Café and Bar, a new and inviting French restaurant reminiscent of all things Parisian. The front of the house is stylishly old world-mod with soft touches like clean white tile, 19th-century sconces and even a glowing fire pit around which you can enjoy your meal, and the hidden "back bar" has a gloriously oversized crystal chandelier—tres romantic! And the food! The menu is thrilling even to read, but pales in comparison to taste. Everything was delicious, the Croque Monseiur, the Gratub Dauphinois Aux Legumes…le sigh! In short, Bastille met our palate du jour while creating a warm, inviting atmosphere, and making us feel, if just for a moment, that we had been to Paris, too. Bastille Café and Bar |
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| 3 | Nice Day for… Hot Hair Billy Idol… he may just be the biggest trend-setting punk-pop rocker that ever lived. And along with his chiseled cheeks and pouty lips, he also had the kinda hair that you want to run your fingers through. It’s not just us…right? Off a gravel road, in a 1,500-square-foot loft, above an auto shop in Georgetown, is the newest hair salon, IDOL—and it lives up to its legendary name. They feature cuts, color and styling for men and women ranging from edgy, fashion-forward rock n’ roller to classic. With a graffiti-style interior art installation by up-and-coming Seattle muralist, Joey Nix, and walls adorned with skateboards and Sex Pistols, this salon is not your cookie cutter chick digs—it’s got rock and roll running through its veins (or should we say, hair?) Still, it has the right touch of femininity—in the form of a Hello Kitty-sportin’ stylist who blasts Amy Winehouse and shows vintage Jayne Mansfield flicks on a big screen TV—the perfect balance of sass and badass. What makes an idol? Glamour, guts, and always, always great hair. IDOL StyleStudio |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Pining For You We’re all about the Northwest. We cheer on the Huskies, Seahawks and Mariners every season and even find joy in the frequent rainy days. So when we find a stylish way to show our hometown pride, we do it. Amy Bengston’s latest collection, Pine, is perfect for that—stylish and unique, and totally Northwest. Taken from her personal photos of pine-needle clusters in and around Seattle, the designs make us feel proud to wear these gorgeous little pieces of the NW. |
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| 2 | More to Love These days our curves are plumped up with a little extra padding thanks to a summer full of cocktails and very little—okay, no—exercise. Luckily we found this eye-catching handbag at Mojo to take the attention off our derriere and onto our fab sense of style. Handcrafted of gray velvet corduroy and adorned with plush layers of chiffon ruffles to create a bold blossom, this bag screams romantic of-the-moment cool and can easily rock workwear and jeans, making it versatile to boot! |
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| 3 | I Feel Pretty People don’t get dressed up enough these days. We want more events to which we can wear a flirty, fun dress. We’d gladly wear cute dresses to the office every day. So, when we stumbled upon Sunday Brunch, we knew we were home. This site only sells dresses, and most are from smaller, harder-to-find labels, and they are all about finding the elegance in the everyday. We’re currently dying over the gunmetal gray dress from Yoana Baraschi with a bow bustier and pearl chain. Love! |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Just Let Me Hear Some of That Rock-N-Roll ACT Theatre has done it again! Their new show, Rock ‘n’ Roll, which won rave reviews on Broadway, focuses on Jan, who returns to his native city of Prague with his only luggage: a suitcase full of rock albums. Inspired by – and including – the music of Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and Velvet Underground, you won’t be able to stop talking about it after the curtain falls. What: Rock ‘n’ Roll, by Tom Stoppard |
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Mon Amour With Fashion Week 09 over, we’re so grateful for Ella Mon and their fall launch party for the new THINKNOW Fall Collection, to fill in our eco-fashion void. With this season's jewelry debut, paired with Ella Mon fall pieces, a wine tasting hosted by Swirl, and a live DJ, it sounds like the perfect party to us! What: Launch Party for THINKNOW, an eco-fashion line of jewelryWhen: Saturday, Oct. 10, 6–8:30 pm Where: 5404 22nd Ave. Call: 206.297.2800 Visit: www.ellamon.com/events |
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| 3 | Feel the Boom The Capitol Hill institution that is Sonic Boom Records is moving! You know what that means—moving sale! Now is your chance to make that dream of becoming a kick-ass DJ come true…or just stock up on the latest albums like Jay-Z and Pearl Jam in vinyl. All non-sale items are 20% off! What: Sonic Boom Record’s Moving Sale |
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