Thanksgiving Style with Jaleh Clothing

Turkey day has finally come y'all. Every year, after I'm done helping out in the kitchen, I sit in my room and stare at my closet like the "perfect" outfit is going to appear. Looking cute on Thanksgiving has never been a priority of mine, but this year I figured maybe I could switch it up and grub in style.

One of my favorite local womenswear lines, Jaleh Clothing, let me pull some gorgeous pieces from their collection to make a few different Thanksgiving Day outfits. One of my Aces, (see what I did there Jess!) Rosie and I brainstormed a few outfits we thought were perfect to wear to dinner tonight. Before you decide on sweatpants, an old shirt, and throwing your hair in a bun, consider these ideas:

1. Comfy Comfy Comfy: For the girl who just wants to eat whatever she wants and not feel constricted by the pants she wears.

Bonus: the jacket hides the belly!

(Pictured: Lily Crossover Jacket, Ella Leggings, Nordstrom BP T-Shirt, Steve Madden Boots)

2. Casual: For the girl who wants to look extra good while eating good.

Observation: Scarves prevent stains or catch crumbs...hey, snack for later!

(Pictured: Della Bows Top, Ella Leggings, Nordstrom Rack Scarf, Rag & Bone Booties)

3. Dressy: The name says it all. This outfit is for the girl who takes dinner outfits seriously, wants to work it from beginning till the end and doesn't care how cold it is outside.

Thought: Skirts give the tummy a little breathing room too, so eat up!

(Pictured: Jacki Draped Top, H&M Leather Skirt, F21 Shoes & Necklace, Pitaya Belt)

My personal favorite is the casual outfit, which one would you wear? A huge thanks goes out to to Jaleh and Rosie for helping me out. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

**If any of the Jaleh pieces caught your eye, they're having a huge Black Friday sale!

Fresh Faves: RPM West

RPM West is a new innovative denim company out of San Francisco that strives to bring you the best fitting and best-priced pair of denim you have ever possessed. They use Japanese fabrics, but the denim is made here in the United States.

RPM West

I got a chance to have a Google hangout with the man behind RMP West, Manuel Rappard. He's been a denim enthusiast since the age of 12, when he first convinced his mom to buy him a pair of Diesel jeans. Since then, denim has been a passion of his. Manuel grew up in Germany, moved to Michigan, and then attended NYU. After school, he began working for Google, but is now pursuing his denim dreams. His main goal is to sell the best jeans in the simplest way possible.

RPM West

RPM West started out as a Kickstarter campaign that got over $104,000 contributed to their project in 40 days. The growth was very organic, and spread via word-of-mouth and blogs. 36 hours after launching, they met their funding goal.They have currently fulfilled 1500 Kickstarter orders, and will be making the denim available to the public soon.

What makes RPM so unique is that they are introducing their Home Try-On Program. The Home Try-On Program will let you choose 3 denim styles or sizes, and you keep the one you like the most, and then send back the 2 you do not want free of charge.

RPM West

RPM has decided to keep their denim at wholesale price so that the consumer can get the best price possible.  RPM West eventually wants to have a full product line in the next coming months.

RPM West

You can sign up to their website here to learn more, and to join RPM West as they begin their journey. I encourage you to check them out, and follow them @rpmwest on Twitter and Instagram.

Side note: If you have a boyfriend/husband/brother that does not like to shop for denim, this is the perfect solution for you!

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My name is James Kim and I am 22 years old. I am from Tacoma, WA. I work at Urbanity in Seattle. I co-own a screen printing company called Saltwater Graphics, and am working on my own line with some friends called FAM apparel. I am also a youth group leader at my church, and enjoy doing that a ton. Fashion, sports, and movies are some of my favorite things. I love playing sports, and spending time outside, especially when we have nice weather here in Seattle. Looking forward to getting to know the readers!

Find James on Twitter.

Concert Recap: Jojo & Leah Labelle

Ever been on Cloud 9 after a concert? My inner 13 year old just about died and went to heaven after I got to see Jojo and Leah Labelle live in concert last week. It has literally been a dream of mine to see Jojo perform and 10 long years later, it has finally come true. Jojo came to the Crocodile along with another soulful singer and a Seattle native herself, Leah Labelle.

Photo credit: Leah Labelle's Instagram

Simply put, these ladies are crazy talented. Jojo is my girl. The one I grew up with, the one who sang songs that reflected how I felt in middle school and the one who sang about liking that boy, but not knowing what to do about that boy.

You know we all had that one artist who got "us" like that.

Quite frankly I could go on and on about how amazing the concert was. It was nothing but, good music and good vibes with good company. I can't wait till they come back to town again!

Mentionable Concert Moments:

- Jojo performed her infamous "Marvin's Room" remix to which she confessed, "I wrote this when I was hella hungover."

- Leah Labelle had a special and emotional moment on stage. She was finally performing in her hometown in front of family, friends and fans. I absolutely loved it.

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Sarah Basto is a born and raised Seattleite. She’s a former merchandise marketing student of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and is currently working as a marketing manager at a local nanny agency and serves as the PR & marketing intern for local luxury swimwear company Adicora Swimwear. She’s obsessed with all things Seattle and is interested in just about everything – this explains why she considers herself an entreprenista in the making! Outside of work Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, baking, exploring the city, and being a full-time happy hour guru.

Find Sarah on  Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

Fall Style Guide with Courtney Liu

Seattle has seemed to skip over the crisp air that fall typically brings and jumped straight to the bone-chilling wintery weather—even though it’s still October…

This means one thing: breaking out the down jackets, boots, woven hats and knitted sweaters. In the past, I know I’ve been one to complain about how it’s impossible to look cute while still trying to maintain body warmth but after living in Seattle for nearly three years, I’m here to show you several ways to play it smart in cold yet still be stylish!

Turban Outfitted – Pair a turban with a black leather jacket like for an edgier look this season. The color of the turban model, Katy, is wearing is perfect for fall and was purchased from Urban Outfitters. It serves the same purpose of a beanie – keeping that head warm – but in a uniquely fashionable way.

Turban Outfitted

No more North Face? – People in Seattle are known rock the North Face jackets to beat the rain but let’s be honest, it’s nearly impossible to look cute if you have to cover up your outfit with a black rain jacket. Take a look at stores like Ross or T.J. Maxx for designer jackets at really low prices! The Kenneth Cole rain jacket Katy is wearing, will surely keep you dry and I purchased it at Ross so you know that it didn’t break the bank!

Side note: Since rain jackets aren’t worn for warmth, pair your rain shielder with a knitted printed sweater underneath, to add pizzazz to your look.

Raincoat

Leopard Grunge – When is it really the right time to bring out the animal prints? This season, keep warm in an animal-printed (leopard, zebra or giraffe prints all work) jacket. Be bold and match your favorite animal print – mine is obvi leopard—with a colored jean and combat boots! Try a raspberry or plummy-colored jean since both shades are popular for fall.

Side note: If an animal-printed jacket is a little too much on the “wild” side for your taste, go for an animal-printed accessory such as the leopard beanie, which I’m pictured wearing (it’s from Free People) with a neutral-colored sweater and a chartreuse over-the-shoulder purse for that pop of color.

Faux Fur, Duh! – When you think of fur you probably think bougie, huh? But who says it has to be? I purchased this H&M faux fur vest for $12 at Crossroads…what a deal! You could either pair a faux fur vest with a long sleeved dress or as shown on Katy, with a simple knitted sweater and leggings. You’ll be sure to stay snug in this simple yet trendy get-up.

(Girly) Military Mayhem – There’s two looks if you enjoy the military look. You could go more literal with a camo jacket or you could go for the subtle military look with an olive green jacket and leather accents.

Camo jacket: Pair your camouflage-printed jacket with a ripped jean and a colored hat (see how raspberry color appears again in the beanie!). Since camo is usually a combination of neutral colors, it’s nice to throw a bright color into the ensemble. Side note: It’s cool to mix prints these days! Don’t be afraid to wear your camo jacket over a printed sweater like the one on Katy, which is tie-dyed. Olive green jacket with leather accents: Similarly when wearing this jacket, because the color is very neutral, try adding a colored hat (in this case, Katy is pictured wearing an ox blood-colored beanie). Also to keep with the rough look, wear a pair of black booties with buckles.

Cozy Chic – After a long day at work or school you just want to curl up in bed with a good book but instead of throwing on some sweatpants and a big T-shirt like you may usually do, try putting on a soft, pastel sweater; leggings and bright, fuzzy socks!

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Courtney Liu is a Hawaii native in the journalism program at the University of Washington. She loves clothes and styling herself and her friends. She hopes to pursue a career in public relations or in the fashion industry.

Find Courtney on Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

Summer Style Recap w/Emilee Goo

In the season of endless peaches and cherries comes opportune moments to dress for those hot summer days. Every morning is a different challenge to dress depending on my mood. Sometimes I'm feeling preppy with a pop of pastel and other times I feel like mixing and matching my prints. Some may say it's a fashion faux pax to mix florals with stripes or even stripes and animal prints, but I like to take advantage of a mix not usually taken. Usually, I pick one piece of clothing i want to wear for that day and choose the other pieces along the way to somehow match in a somewhat functional outfit for either work or play.

Though, some Summer days in San Francisco, my hometown aren't the most sunniest of days, there are ways to bring a little bit of brightness by adding a pop of color. For example, I paired an orange Splendid tank with my go-to army green/leather sleeved Zara jacket and some black yoga pants to the recent music festival in SF, Outside Lands.

And lastly, of course you need some funky shades to protect from the sun rays. I found a stellar steal on these sunnies at free people.

Here

is another pair currently online.

Happy Summer Days my friends!

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Emilee Goo is an aspiring creator and adventurer living in Seattle, WA. She's currently a senior at the University of Washington double-majoring in communications and interdisciplinary visual arts. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but is Seattle-grown and Hawaiian at heart. She has had past experience working with Nectar Communications, State Farm Insurance, TEDxUofW, UW PRSSA and BSSP. She is a fashion enthusiast thriving on travel, food, culture, art and photography. She loves to blog ever since she discovered blogging with a friend during her high school years, and is now introduced to a whole new world filled with creative people. She loves sharing her interests over at her own blog, Life of Goobers.

Find Emilee on Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

Raid The Warehouse! Gilt City Warehouse Sale Recap

Four words: Gilt City Warehouse Sale. A huge sale put on by Gilt that pops up in major cities such as San Fran and Boston. Items featured include women's and men's clothing from top brands, shoes, beauty products, home furnishings and much more. Bonus: all items are marked up to 90% off! Heaven for anyone who loves a good deal.

Now, Seattle was never on the map to host the event, but this year that all changed. The Gilt Warehouse Sale finally came to the good ol' Northwest and once I saw the event pop up online I cleared my schedule. Prior to the days leading up to the sale, I decided to educate myself by watching YouTube footage and reading endless reviews of shoppers in other cities. All they did was make me nervous.

On the day of, there were 4 different sessions scheduled for crowd control purposes. I was in the 2nd session with a couple of my girlfriends, and we thought we were in a good position to still snatch up the good stuff. We decided it was a good idea to divide and conquer by taking over one specific category - shoes, bags, clothes. Once we walked in and saw the rows of racks, pile of handbags and the stacks of shoes the plan flew out the window and it was "you're on your own sista!"

This doesn't even capture the madness of the clothing racks.

Total shoe chaos. The ladies were diggin!

The sale takes tons of patience and lots of energy. After a few hours digging through all the goodies, I ended up purchasing just a necklace. Many of the items I fell in love with had been snagged by fellow shoppers, didn't look good on me or were much more than I wanted to spend (ie: $500 dress came down to $150). I walked out of the building with my newest accessory, bottles of Aqua Hydrate, loads of VitaCoco and CocoCafe and an Uber gift card (which I may have been more excited about than my necklace.) Still walked away a happy girl!

My nOir necklake I copped! The neon got me.

My friend's Rag & Bone shoe find! Orig. $500 Sale. $99

If you went to the sale, I'd love to know your thoughts and if you purchased anything!

10 Fashion & Style Instagram Accounts You Must Follow

Nowadays, who doesn’t have an Instagram account? Fashion and style have created a huge presence on the hip social media site and I’m here to show you my top 10 picks for “Instagrammers” that are a must-follow for you fashionistas!

sydney fashion blogger instagram

1) @SydneyFashionBlogger

This Sydney-based stylist and creative producer is one of my favorite Insta-fashion accounts. Although she tends to rock a lot of expensive designer wear, including that Chanel brooch that appears in many of her posts, I love taking inspiration from her “bougie” outfits.

Beyonce Instagram

2) @Beyonce

The famous singer jumped on the Instagram bandwagon fairly late in the game but nonetheless she has an account that I turn to a lot for style tips. I bought a pair of houndstooth print loafers and leather leggings earlier this year because I saw that Beyoncé posted a photo of herself clad in sexy leather leggings and an eclectic pair of loafers.

Sincerely Jules Instagram

3) @SincerelyJules

Julie Sariñana is a fashion blogger and a popular “Instagrammer.” I found her account one day while browsing through some of the photos that made it to the Popular page. I enjoyed her laid-back style and how she puts together sophisticated feminine clothes and accessories with some designer pieces (like that irresistible pair of studded pointy-toed Valentino stilettos she owns!)

jnelv instagram

4) @JNELV

This Insta-famous fashionista has an urban flair to her style and she’s not afraid to take a risk with bold prints and bright colors. I love how she doesn’t try to follow any trends but instead she forges her own personal style with her eccentric clothes, accessories and shoes.

katrinacamille instagram

5) @KatrinaCamille

Another Insta-famous fashionista, Katrina Camille, posts cute and mostly casual ensembles. She spreads the pieces of clothing, the accessories and shoes out on her floor – unlike the majority of Instagrammers who model their #OOTD (outfits of the day).

Jessica Fang Instagram

6) @JessicaFang

This account is for jewelry lovers! She showcases accessories from body chains to stackable rings that you can purchase on her website: mod4rntrend.com.

karrueche instagram

7) @Karrueche

The infamous on-and-off-again girlfriend to R&B singer, Chris Brown, has the best Instagram account if you’re one for streetwear. Karreuche Tran sports clothing from Karmaloop, Dimepiece, Crooks & Castles, and Jeffrey Campbell among many others.

ewat24 instagram

8) @ewat24

The other half of football player, Victor Cruz, has an Instagram account that will have you drooling over her high fashion and designer style. Although her photos don’t typically make it to the Popular page, her everyday ensembles and red carpet gowns are going to wow you.

monicarosestyle instagram

9) @MonicaRoseStyle

The stylist to the Kardashians has created a name for herself by posting pictures of her adorable toddler, Alaia, in miniature versions of outfits that her mom would be dressed in. She also showcases her picks of the latest trends and of course, photos of the Kardashians styled by her.

3.1 Phillip Lim Instagram

10) @31philliplim

The fashion designer has a high-end clothing line but that’s why I love following the Instagram account of 3.1 Phillip Lim! I enjoy looking at pieces from his collections and taking inspiration from them. I saw his embroidered Souvenir Jacket (which looks like a floral bomber jacket) and soon after purchased my own from Crossroads in the U-District.

Who are your favorite fashion and style Instagrammers?

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Courtney Liu is a Hawaii native in the journalism program at the University of Washington. She loves clothes and styling herself and her friends. She hopes to pursue a career in public relations or in the fashion industry.

Find Courtney on  Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

Seattle Style - Nordstrom Designer Preview

I've always found it exciting when any fashion event takes place in Seattle 'cause let's be real, not many big productions occur here. I haven't been to many shows and when I was presented with the opportunity to attend Nordstrom’s 2013 Designer Preview Show, I jumped at the chance! (Thanks Jess!)

Let me break down the evening and my thoughts during the show:

1. The venue was absolutely amazing and came with a gorgeous view. Seattle you are beautiful!

2. Cocktails + Desserts + Shopping = Deadly Combination.

3. We saw F/W 2013 Collections from 15 designers total.

4. Jess posted a ton of my favorites in her post, but majority of my favorite pieces came from Oscar De La Renta, Valentino and Givenchy.

5. The accessories caught my eye - shoes, handbags, earrings, clutches galore!

 6. The head-scratchers.

Although I love me some fashion, there were a few pieces throughout the show that left me wondering, would someone really wear that?

 What do you think? Let me know your thoughts!

All photos credit Team Photogenic

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Sarah Basto is a born and raised Seattleite. She’s a former merchandise marketing student of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and is currently working as a marketing manager at a local nanny agency and serves as the PR & marketing intern for local luxury swimwear company Adicora Swimwear. She’s obsessed with all things Seattle and is interested in just about everything – this explains why she considers herself an entreprenista in the making! Outside of work Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, baking, exploring the city, and being a full-time happy hour guru.

Find Sarah on Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

On Emilee's Playlist: 7/10/13

In light of my most spontaneous weeks this summer from scrambling to find tickets to Mrs. Carter's show in San Jose, CA to an unexpected getaway to visit family in Hawaii. I've collected a few of my recent favorite tunes that help me keep on keepin' on! Cheers! Enjoy these beautiful summer days.

J Boog - Lets Do It Again

The Steppas - Lost at Sea

Capital Cities - Safe and Sound

The Neighbourhood - Sweater Weather

Bee Gees - Night Fever

alt-J - Breezeblocks

Beyonce - 1+1

Destiny's Child (Cyril Hahn Remix) - Say My Name

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Emilee Goo

 is an aspiring creator and adventurer living in Seattle, WA. She's currently a senior at the University of Washington double-majoring in communications and interdisciplinary visual arts. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but is Seattle-grown and Hawaiian at heart. She has had past experience working with Nectar Communications, State Farm Insurance, TEDxUofW, UW PRSSA and BSSP. She is a fashion enthusiast thriving on travel, food, culture, art and photography. She loves to blog ever since she discovered blogging with a friend during her high school years, and is now introduced to a whole new world filled with creative people. She loves sharing her interests over at her own blog, 

Life of Goobers

.

Find Emilee on 

Twitter

, and view all of her posts 

here

.

Oh Beyonce, How I Admire Thee!

I was scrolling through my Instagram a couple weeks ago and saw this post from Dimepiece LA. I immediately fell in love with it and knew I had to share it with Jess, cause we all know she loves herself some Queen B!

It wasn't until this past weekend, that this quote really resonated with me. In the midst of all the exciting things that were happening and yet to come, I found myself uninspired, void of passion and in a rut. I realized I was at a point where I needed to make a move whether it be a career change, exploring internships, trying a new activity or even taking a vacation.

Random thoughts and personal goals had been weighing heavily on my mind and I thought to myself, "what's next and how can I possibly achieve it?" I looked back at this quote and it hit me.

I've got the same 24 hours in a day as Beyonce and look at all she's accomplished and done so far! With that time, I'm going to knock things off my list and continue to make things happen. Here's to getting back on track, staying inspired and focusing on what I love!

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Sarah Basto is a born and raised Seattleite. She’s a former merchandise marketing student of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and is currently working as a marketing manager at a local nanny agency and serves as the PR & marketing intern for local luxury swimwear company Adicora Swimwear. She’s obsessed with all things Seattle and is interested in just about everything – this explains why she considers herself an entreprenista in the making! Outside of work Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, baking, exploring the city, and being a full-time happy hour guru.

Find Sarah on Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

Kube 93 Summer Jam RECAP!

Have you ever found yourself just wanting to relive an amazing weekend? As I write this, that feeling has been running through my body since Saturday - the night of KUBE 93's Summer Jam. I couldn't have asked for a better venue, weather, line-up and group of friends to go with! (well, if Miguel was there it would've been perfect!) My friends and I decided to escape the city for a weekend in Eastern Washington and to enjoy the talents of Drop City Yacht Club, Wale, J.Cole, 2 Chainz, Trey Songz and the King, TI.

The whole day consisted of dancing, drinking a few cocktails and singing at the top of my lungs - my voice is shot by the way. This was by far one of the best outdoor concert experiences I've had! I want more!

A couple Summer Jam tidbits I'd like to share:

1. My left side of the body is darker than the other.

2. 2 Chainz has been in heavy rotation on my car playlist.

3. Crop tops and jean shorts were the "unofficial" outfit of Summer Jam.

4. Trey Songz is undoubtedly amazing live.

5. I wish I knew why 2 Chainz wore a long sleeve sweater in 85 degree weather.

I've posted a few pics below to recap the night!

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Sarah Basto is a born and raised Seattleite. She’s a former merchandise marketing student of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and is currently working as a marketing manager at a local nanny agency and serves as the PR & marketing intern for local luxury swimwear company Adicora Swimwear. She’s obsessed with all things Seattle and is interested in just about everything – this explains why she considers herself an entreprenista in the making! Outside of work Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, baking, exploring the city, and being a full-time happy hour guru.

Find Sarah on Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

Court’s Summer Essentials for 2013

EOS (Evolution of Smooth) lip balm

I am absolutely OBSESSED with this lip balm that I just got for my birthday! In general I cannot go a day, let alone an hour, without applying lip balm to keep my lips moisturized. I absolutely hate chapped lips, especially in the summer. It’s a must-have to protect your lips from the sunshine! Pick up this no-mess lip balm in a variety of flavors (mine is “Honeysuckle Honeydew”) from your local drug store for just $4.

Dolphin shorts

This is one of my favorite latest trends! This style of shorts is very casual (with its slightly athletic flair), yet stylish. I just picked up my first pair from the Buffalo Exchange in the U-District for only $10! But you can find dolphin shorts in an assortment of prints at Forever 21.

DIY crop top

Crop tops are an essential for summer – need I say more? How can you possibly go through summer in the sweltering heat without rockin’ a crop top?! I recently purchased a graphic tee (a white T-shirt with a black and white graphic of Tupac) off of eBay. I then DIY’d it so that there was a bow-like design on the back and I also fringed the hem of the shirt. Pair your DIY crop top with dolphin shorts for a chic summer look!

Simple bangles

All the celebs are workin’ this trend, from Kim Kardashian to Rihanna! This is such a simple look that all ladies can pull off this summer. Wear multiple bangles together and remember that the colors can be contrasting! Pair a couple of gold bangles with a rose gold one! I purchased a few open double-skull bangles on eBay and I also found a simple rose gold bangle from H&M.

Something neon

Neon has become so trendy rather than tacky – from a chartreuse-like neon green to a neon, highlighter pink! My favorite is the neon green look. Neon colors are so necessary for summer because of the shock factor that it brings to any look. I recently picked up a textured, chartreuse skater skirt from H&M (for only $17.95) that I am completely in love with! I paired my neon green skirt with a cream lace top to balance out the brightness.

(Almost knee-high) Gladiators

These sandals have been an on-and-off trend over the past couple of years but they’re back for this summer and you should all get a pair! The style that I’ve really come to love is the grid-like patterned, almost knee-high gladiators, which celebs such as, Kourtney Kardashian, have been seen wearing ‘em.

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Courtney Liu is a Hawaii native in the journalism program at the University of Washington. She loves clothes and styling herself and her friends. She hopes to pursue a career in public relations or in the fashion industry.

Find Courtney on Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

Get Scattered.

I had the opportunity to check out a screening of Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s. For someone who has gone to fashion school, I’m almost ashamed to say that I was never really familiar with Bergdorf Goodman. The only assumption I had was that it was a New York Department Store on 5th Ave that sold expensive things to rich folks. 

The documentary consists of collected footage that spans over about 1 ½ years. It includes a look into the store itself – the history, the employees, and the culture. Mixed in were numerous and hilarious interviews with designers that I absolutely adore; Marc Jacobs, Marchesa, and Karl Lagerfeld just to name a few. They shared their story of how they got into Bergdorf Goodman and how the road in wasn’t easy, in fact some designers still aren’t in yet! I was fascinated by all the stories shared and how iconic this store is and how it will be forever.

Although the film does jump all over the place, behind all the footage, there was a little story! It focused on the work of the Visual team at BG. (I feel so cool now saying BG, just like a true Nordstrom shopper says Nordys.) Viewers got to see the behind the scenes planning, preparation, and unveiling of their Holiday window displays. Unbelievably gorgeous! 

To sum it up, I now know Bergdorf’s is the best of the best! I would love to make a trip to NYC to see it for myself. If you want to get a dose of fashion or get a look into the BG world the film starts playing this Friday, May 24th at the Varsity Theatre in the U-District! 

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Sarah Basto is a born and raised Seattleite. She’s a former merchandise marketing student of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and is currently working as a marketing manager at a local nanny agency and serves as the PR & marketing intern for local luxury swimwear company Adicora Swimwear. She’s obsessed with all things Seattle and is interested in just about everything – this explains why she considers herself an entreprenista in the making! Outside of work Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, baking, exploring the city, and being a full-time happy hour guru.

Find Sarah on Twitter, and view all of her posts here.

Life as Creative Director of TEDxUofW (Contributor Post)

*Please meet Emilee Goo, my fifth and final new contributor to Fresh Jess! Emilee will wax poetic on Seattle, travel, college life and more. She recently served as creative director for the TEDxUofW conference. Read on to see what her experience was like, and peep her bio at the end of this post. Enjoy!

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A week ago, a student organization I'm a part of, TEDxUofW, hosted our second annual event on the University of Washington campus here in Seattle. It was without a doubt one of the most inspirational days to have come out of this campus. I wish more students could have attended. We heard from nine speakers all with varied backgrounds and stories to tell, some of which were current undergraduates, faculty and alumni. Somehow everyone was connected not only to this fine establishment but for a bigger and brighter cause. To purely spread ideas worth knowing. The entire concept behind TED itself is "Ideas worth spreading". It seems so simple yet so empowering and can really go beyond your imagination and yourself.

Being a part of this opportunity and taking on the creative director position has made this entire rollercoaster of an experience worthwhile. It truly astonishes me how incredibly smart young people can be. Three years into my undergrad career, I've realized the capacity we, the young and creative "potentials" have from turning someone's day through random acts of kindness like buying a random person a coffee, creating an ingenious organization to better your community or why not, just create a start-up out of your 10x10 square foot dorm room. Having surrounded myself with such positive and bright people has made me realize how incredibly blessed I am to have what I do have.

Days before the event, while talking with some friends on our way to pick up some last minute items at my favorite store (Costco), it hit me how we were able to hustle our asses off in putting together this event. With a hardcore group of rad people, we collectively came up with sponsors, speakers, our own website, the aesthetics of the room, the center piece cut outs, the lighting, the audio, the video and even the swag bags. We, us measely ol' students, had the capacity to truly accomplish such an amazing day to spread ideas worth knowing.

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Emilee Goo is an aspiring creator and adventurer living in Seattle, WA. She's currently a senior at the University of Washington double-majoring in communications and interdisciplinary visual arts. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but is Seattle-grown and Hawaiian at heart. She has had past experience working with Nectar Communications, State Farm Insurance, TEDxUofW, UW PRSSA and BSSP. She is a fashion enthusiast thriving on travel, food, culture, art and photography. She loves to blog ever since she discovered blogging with a friend during her high school years, and is now introduced to a whole new world filled with creative people. She loves sharing her interests over at her own blog, Life of Goobers.

Ariana Grande: Mariah, is that you? (Contributor Post)

*I've got a doubleheader today! Please meet another one of my fabulous contributors, Sarah Basto! She'll be sharing new music, fashion and more here on Fresh Jess. Peep Sarah's bio at the end of this post.  Enjoy!
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I've been abusing my repeat button lately bumpin' The Way by Ariana Grande. Some of you may know her as Cat Valentine, the red-headed friend of Tori on Nickelodeon's Victorious. And if that doesn't ring a bell, then you're probably someone who doesn't follow these teeny-bopper shows, unlike me who's intrigued by them. (I have no shame whatsoever!)

I'm usually a little skeptical when it comes to hearing music made by teen stars coming from huge networks, but a friend of mine insisted I give it a listen and boy, I'm glad I did. She is seriously a young Mariah Carey in the making.

This song embodies everything I love about the 90's and represents what I believe the music industry has been lacking lately.  It samples Big Pun's classic, "Still Not A Player" and once I heard the beat combined with her voice I was absolutely mind-blown. Ariana can sing! The song takes me back to Mariah Carey's Daydream album days and just puts a big fat smile on my face. Everytime I hear it, I can't help but clap my hands and dance.

I'm eager to hear what she has in store for her debut album, Daydreamin' (gee, I wonder where she got that from!) out later this year. Give it a listen and let me know if you dig it too!

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Sarah Basto is a born and raised Seattleite. She’s a former merchandise marketing student of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and is currently working as a marketing manager at a local nanny agency and serves as the PR & marketing intern for local luxury swimwear company Adicora Swimwear. She’s obsessed with all things Seattle and is interested in just about everything – this explains why she considers herself an entreprenista in the making! Outside of work Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, baking, exploring the city, and being a full-time happy hour guru.

Find Sarah on Twitter.

10 Menswear Brands to Look Out For (Contributor Post)

*Now that 30Fresh is over, I'm toying around a lot with the direction I'd like to take Fresh Jess. One thing is for sure, and that's my new, amazing team of contributors. I'm delighted to introduce you to James Kim! Watch for James' insights on menswear and streetwear on the blog on a regular basis, and peep his bio at the end oft his post. Enjoy!

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For all the guys looking to upgrade your wardrobe, today I will introduce you to 10 brands I think you should look out for this year. Some of the brands have been around for a couple of years, and others just started recently. In no particular order:

1. En Noir

En Noir has impressed me from the jump. They pretty much started the renaissance designs on t-shirts trend. Rob Garcia, formerly of Black Scale, has really impressed me with his leather quality and his wax gradient tees. En Noir has been around for less than a year, and are already doing NY and Paris Fashion Week shows. Celebrities like Kanye West rock en noir religiously. The use of black and minimalistic/ready to wear designs is the foundation of this brand. This is young brand is definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with in the fashion world. You can check out more of their collection here and check out their video to learn a little more.

2. John Elliott + Co.

First thing I want to say about John Elliott + Co., is that I LOVE this brand. John Elliott + Co. are masters of the basic essentials game. Custom blended cotton, breathability, and the perfect silhouette make John Elliott tees some of the greatest. They do everything to make the tees quality, comfortable, and aesthetically appealing. They also have a wide range of quality zip ups, hoodies, sweaters, and denim. You can find them here. You can also check out their Spring/Summer teaser.

3. Superb

Hailing from the streets of LA, Superb has been one of my favorite streetwear brands for a while. I became friends with the owner via Twitter/Instagram, and I respect the guy a lot. They definitely stick with their streetwear roots. Their creativity and originality cannot be overlooked. Locally they can found at The Cool in Southcenter, or online.

4. Rich Kids Brand

Seattle’s own Rich Kids Brand has been steady growing from the start! They have been getting love from major sites like Complex, The Source, and Upscale Hype, just to name a few. The list of celebrities rocking their gear is impressive for this young brand. Everyone from Lil Wayne to Ludacris to JAY-Z! I am lucky enough to be part of the RK family, and to experience the growth first hand is great. You can find Rich Kids locally at Urbanity in Seattle. You can also catch me working their events! RK events are really fun so if you’re in the Seattle area you should definitely come out! RK will continue to put out quality, and the growth will not stop. RK caters to the ladies too so definitely go buy some shirts and represent! You can find RK here, and you can check out their Spring 13 video.

5. Us Versus Them

Us Versus Them has been around for a while now. They started as a creative outlet for the SoCal store Versus. They have been around for a while, but I still do not see that many people wearing Us Versus Them. I love their logo, their rebelliousness, and their creativity. I respect them for wanting to build the culture up, for giving respect where it is due, and for inspiring the youth to take their own paths. You can find Us Versus Them online.

6. Kith NYC

Ronnie Fieg is one of my favorite designers ever. Anything he touches is gold. His creativity is something I definitely respect and admire. He owns boutiques in NYC called Kith. He does footwear collaborations with Asics, New Balance, Adidas, Sebago, Saucony, Red Wings, Clarks, and many more. Pretty much anything Ronnie puts his hands on, they sell out with a quickness. His apparel label with Kith has been of the coolest things I have ever seen. Kith releases apparel collections in colored labels. It started with the Red Label which included a lot of camo prints and leopard prints. Then the Blue Label introduced mercer pants, floral M-65 style jackets, and oxfords. Now they just released the White Label which includes varick side zip sweaters, mercer pants, Seattle’s own Ebbets’ satin field jackets, and even made a kid collection if your kid is bout that life. You can peep the lookbook and cop some gear here.

7. Beastin

Reigning all the way from Germany, Beastin’s spring collection has really impressed me. Their lookbook for spring is one of the dopest I have ever seen! They shot it in Portugal, and the views are amazing to say the least! This lookbook makes me want to buy all their clothes, and makes me want to hop on a flight to Portugal right now. On a very random side note, I just listened to Lil Jon- Snap Yo Fingers. Who remembers this? Don’t judge me. Peep the lookbook here.

8. Still Good

Still Good is a line from Paris by Clement Taverniti. Taverniti has worked for brands like Drives Van Noten and Kitsune. I love his take on classic pieces, and how he just makes everything his own. He does a great job incorporating different details, geometric shapes, and patterns into his garments. You can check out Still Good online.

9. Bee Line by Billionaire Boys Club

Bee Line by Billionaire Boys Club started as a shoe project that turned into a full collection. The legendary Mark McNairy and Pharrell Williams brought the best of both worlds in the Bee Line collections. I personally describe my own style as street mixed with menswear, and this collection nails that perfectly. Street aesthetics with classic American fits. View the whole collection here.

10. Publish Brand

Publish Brand has been around for a couple of years now, and most of you have probably heard of them already. I feel like this brand has a lot of potential to get even bigger than they already are. Each season their garments are getting more and more impressive. I am a huge fan of their Jogger pants because they accentuate your shoes so nicely! Publish aims to deliver you classic pieces that are essential to your wardrobe. You can find Publish at Urbanity in Seattle, or online.

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My name is James Kim and I am 22 years old. I am from Tacoma, WA. I work at Urbanity in Seattle. I co-own a screen printing company called Saltwater Graphics, and am working on my own line with some friends called FAM apparel. I am also a youth group leader at my church, and enjoy doing that a ton. Fashion, sports, and movies are some of my favorite things. I love playing sports, and spending time outside, especially when we have nice weather here in Seattle. Looking forward to getting to know the readers!

Find James on Twitter.

The Renaissance Man (Contributor Post!)

*Once a week, you'll hear from one of my amazing team of contributors. This week, I'm delighted to introduce you to Titus Kimbowa! Peep Titus' bio at the end of this post. Looking forward to Titus' perspective on entrepreneurism, business, music and life in general. Enjoy!

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Last week, I read somewhere on Twitter that Jay-Z was selling his stake in the Brooklyn Nets to become a sports agent. I was surprised, to say the least. Where does opportunity lay within the sports agency arena? For the next few days I pondered on why he’d make such an unconventional move.

Looking at all of Jay-Z’s past moves, from starting Roc-A-Fella to selling Roc-A-Wear, there’s something they all have in common: he actually never “leaves.” He’s still reaping benefits on every deal he’s made since leaving the drug game. He only uses each milestone to build onto another.

Diversifying the hustle per se.

Image via Book of Hov

Let’s look at the current move and see how much opportunity lies ahead. Jay-Z has created a brand in which everything he touches turns gold. He has a reach that is respected at every level. He was able to create a lot of buzz and support for the Brooklyn Nets - this is how he was able to get an ownership stake in the Nets at a discount rate. Being part-owner made it easier for the Nets to not only move to Brooklyn, but also gain New York’s support of the team. This is Jay-Z’s main role. He’s the face of an organization in midst of transition.

Selling his stake in the Brooklyn Nets and becoming a sports agent gives Jay-Z a new opportunity to use his brand in the sports arena. Using his ownership of the Brooklyn Nets as a stepping stone, Jay-Z’s out to challenge the likes of David Falk and Bill Duffy. Jay’s popularity and brand puts pressure on David and Bill’s business strategy. I’m interested to see how they’ll react to the new competition.

Growing up, many sports figures listened to Jay-Z’s music and many can connect to his story. Having him as their agent will give them access to him at a clock’s tick. I can already see a lot of young, up-and-coming athletes signing on to Jay-Z’s agency. You could look at Jay-Z’s relationship with Lebron James (among other professional athletes) as a catalyst for this move as well. Lebron is one of the top paid athletes in the NBA. If he is able to have Jay-Z represent him, this will keep the money within the clique (cue Jay-Z’s verse on“Clique”)

There’s a lot that Jay can do with the new venture and I’m particularly interested to see how this pans out. You never know, he’s known to move in silence.

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Titus Kimbowa is a young entrepreneur living in Seattle, WA. He was born in Kampala, Uganda & moved to the States when he was 12. He’s currently a senior at the University of Washington and serves as vice-president of the UW American Marketing Association, and he's interning as the product marketing analyst for stealthy start-up Webtuner. He’s got past experience as part of the Zagat team at Google, Crown Social, TEDxYouth Seattle, and starting up an enterprise travel company. In his spare time (which he rarely gets) he likes to play basketball, read, and hang out around Seattle.

Find Titus on Twitter.

30Fresh. 30 days of posts celebrating 30 years - and 5 of Fresh Jess!

How to Make Spring’s Top 10 Fashion Trends Work in Seattle (Contributor Post!)

*I'm so excited to present Fresh Jess' first contributor piece from Courtney Liu! Courtney is a bright young talent going to school at the University of Washington. She initially reached out to me for an interview included in this piece, which she then shopped around to different publications in the city. We met for coffee and I was drawn to her tenacity and willingness to put herself out there. Looking forward to her insights on fashion trends and more once a month on Fresh Jess. Enjoy!

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week concluded its showcases a couple of months ago, and recently Glamour Magazine presented the top 10 most wearable trends of Spring 2013. These include: Bermuda shorts, black and white, peekaboo pieces, statement sunglasses, bold stripes, luxe leather, beautiful beading, short suits, sporty dresses, and low or flat heels.

Seattle, the good ol’ rainy city, is infamous for its grungy, hipster fashion sense and its wet and cold weather. As a Hawaii native, I’ve gotten used to dressing up in spring trends without having to cover up my chic ensemble with a rain jacket.

Being a non-native of this Pacific Northwest city, I wondered whether or not Seattleites could pull off these spring trends. Contrary to popular belief, they can.

Local Seattle designer, Cameron Levin, is familiar with creating ready-to-wear pieces for women. One of her favorites of the top 10 wearable trend of this spring is black and white.

Long panel tunic paired with organic Tobillo leggings from Cameron Levin’s “Ruby” line

(Photo courtesy of Cameron Levin) 

“Black and white is my favorite because it's such a drastic variation from the typical spring trends of pastels and floral prints,” says Cameron.

The designer expects this trend to fall in everyone’s comfort zones because it’s a classic combination of colors. “It's still dramatic and stark so fashion-enthusiasts can play with fun variations of this motif [including] houndstooth, checkers, stripes, color-blocking, etc.,” she says.

Jess Estrada, editor of the Seattle-run blog FreshJess (Oh heyyy!), also agrees upon black and white as being a favorite of the top 10 trends. But she says she will experiment with short suits, Bermuda shorts and bold stripes as well, to see how they work on her.

The fashion blogger says that it’s all about drawing upon these top trends and exploring your own closet. This way you don’t need to break the bank to be stylish and trendy!

Katy Lohn, senior stylist of the Free People at University Village, recommends how to transform a typical grungy piece of clothing into a trendy spring one for this year…on a budget.

She says to take a band muscle tee and add beading detail to it then to pair it with a high-waisted, long, fitted skirt. It’s still grungy yet with a feminine touch.

Katy also loves the peekaboo pieces trend because she has crafted many tops with cutouts, which you can purchase on her Esty shop, Katy Featured.

Peekaboo pieces are another of Cameron’s favorite trends. She has incorporated this trend into her 2013 spring collection, Ruby. It can be found in the Tunic tops, organic Tobillo leggings and the organic spiral mini skirt, which will be available at Vian Hunter in late March.

“As a designer, I'm drawn to this trend because it makes the overall composition of the garment more interesting and artful. For consumers, it's an easy and accessible way to look sexy without feeling too revealing or uncomfortable,” says Cameron.

She also believes that most of these spring trends are successful because they're so accessible. “Low heels are easy to wear all day long, leather is highly functional, the stripes and black and white themes are timeless, and fun accessories like statement sunglasses feel less intimidating than a bold outfit,” she says.

Cameron feels that since they are all relatively low-maintenance, most of these trends will be appealing to the general Seattle market.

While examining Glamour’s selection of the top 10 Spring 2013 trends, I didn’t see how Seattle’s grunge or hipster scene could embrace them. At the same time, I didn’t think that it was possible to ever look cute or stylish in the cold rain. However, I was proven wrong. As a fashionista myself, I’m always looking for different ways to switch up my wardrobe for the Emerald City’s weather conditions.

“The key to being stylish in Seattle is layering smartly. Wear your peekaboo piece, girl, but bring your trench coat just in case!” says Jess.

Follow Courtney on Twitter, and peep more of her writing in future Fresh Jess posts!

30Fresh. 30 days of posts celebrating 30 years - and 5 of Fresh Jess!