October 08, 2014

Look Inside: Seattle Art Museum's Pop Departures Exhibit

October 08, 2014/ Jess Estrada

Not since the Picasso exhibit have I been so taken by a Seattle Art Museum feature exhibit. Pop Departures is opening tonight, and you're in for quite the treat, Seattle. Curator Catharina Manchanda took us on a media tour of the exhibit, which highlights the work of American Pop Art icons Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldbenburg and Robert Indiana. My favorite piece is from New York artist Mickalene Thomas; 'Hair Portrait' is for sure inspired by Beyonce and Lauryn Hill although she won't say exactly who.

There's a packed calendar of events around Pop Departures and other new SAM exhibits this fall, including Takashi Murakami works at Seattle Asian Art Museum, talks from featured exhibit artists, Warhol movie showings and of course, SAM Remix. Hard to choose just a few favorites, but because I don't want to spoil the exhibit I whittled it down. Enjoy!

Pecan Pie, Claes Oldenburg / The Electric EAT, Robert Indiana

Hair Portrait, Mickalene Thomas

Roy Lichtenstein

Muhammad Ali, Andy Warhol

American Mall, Josephine Meckseper

Pink Panther and St. John the Baptist (back), Jeff Koons

Attila the Hun, Nam June Paik / Untitled (Not Cruel Enough), Barbara Kruger

Vocho, Margarita Cabrera

Pop Departures is on view at the Seattle Art Museum starting Today, October 9th, 2014 - January 11th, 2015. Tickets here

September 16, 2014

Lookbook Love: Maison Scotch (+ Scotch & Soda/Fresh Jess Event Details!)

September 16, 2014/ Jess Estrada

One of everything from Maison Scotch's newest collection, please!

August 12, 2014

Photo Faves: Nordstrom Designer Preview 2014

August 12, 2014/ Jess Estrada

Nordstrom Designer Preview is probably my favorite event to cover. I've had the honor of attending for three years now, and each show has such unique character, it's a treat to watch every year. 2014 was the year of pop art, with proceeds benefiting Seattle Art Museum's Pop Departures exhibit coming October 9, 2014.

I remember gravitating towards a lot of black, hunter green and dark jewel tones in the past; this year my eyes drank in those bold, bright colors and in-your-face prints. The trends are heavy in glam feminine this year; flowy or structures shapes meant to really flatter the body juxtaposed with boxy outerwear, high collars and big accessories.

I had a blast at the show and even got a #NordstromPreview selfie in. Check out my favorite looks below:

AllSaints sleeveless trench coat // lululemon Noir dress // Shoemint wedges

Talking shop with Carolyn of Hey Pretty Thing. Photo by Miguel Marino.

All photos below by Vivian Hsu for Team Photogenic.

Dries van Noten

Yellow striped oversized 'Rhonda' coat / Fuchsia pinwheel-print 'Vedas' short jacket / Black broken-pinstripe slim 'Paola' pants

Christian Dior

Electric blue wool/angora coat with three-quarter bell sleeves

Michael Kors

Vanilla cashmere boucle chunky v-neck cardigan / Java silk sleeveless peasant top / Taupe python-print chiffon peasant skirt w/ruffle bottom

Michael Kors

Slate metallic printed drop-waist dress

Gucci

Sour cherry halter dress with leather top

Akris

Black long jacket w/front closure / Black/shore open face jacket

Stella McCartney

Black/emerald wool jacquard zip-front anorak w/hood / White/emerald/midnight long-sleeved turtleneck dress

Stella McCartney

Black sleeveless jumpsuit

Stella McCartney

Claret sleeveless dress w/cord detail

Dolce & Gabbana

Purple floral-print silk chiffon long-sleeved empire-waist gown

Lanvin

Black/white jacquard sculpted dress w/ flare skirt

Lanvin

Midnight blue dress w/jewel fringe detail

See more of my photos from Nordstrom Designer Preview 2014 on my Facebook page.

August 04, 2014

Photo Faves: Capitol Hill Block Party 2014

August 04, 2014/ Jess Estrada

Decompressing from the last week or so and wanted to share my favorite photos from the official photogs of this year's Capitol Hill Block Party. There was a very indie vibe to this year's festival and we had a great time as always!

Friday:

Duke Evers. Photo by Ashley Genevieve

A$AP Ferg. Photo by Ashley Genevieve

Photo by Ashley Genevieve

Shaprece. Photo by Ashley Genevieve

Wild Ones. Photo by Jim Bennett

Saturday:

Beat Connection. Photo by Jim Bennett

Sol. Photo by Jim Bennett

Country Lips. Photo by cocofoto

Photo by Ashley Genevieve

Chromeo. Photo by Jim Bennett

Sunday:

Angel Olsen. Photo by Jim Bennett

Photo by Ashley Genevieve

Photo by Ashley Genevieve

A$AP Rocky. Photo by cocofoto

Very special thanks to Jameson for hosting us as well! They took over Sole Repair for the weekend and gave it a classy rustic treatment, with wooden walls depicting the history of the iconic Irish whiskey providing the backdrop for some refreshing cocktails and a chill vibe. Such a nice refuge from the heat and crowds outside.

Photo by Ashley Genevieve

Photo by Ashley Genevieve

Photo by Ashley Genevieve

Photo by Ashley Genevieve

April 08, 2014

Luly Yang's Crescendo collection: Prelude

April 08, 2014/ Jess Estrada

Music can evoke so much emotion, piercing our memories with the kinds of feelings that come rushing back when we reflect on the good, the bad, the passionate and the important stories that shape our lives. For Luly Yang, music has manifested itself in her newest collection, Crescendo.

Drawing upon the musical tastes that have spanned her life - from the classical piano training she picked up during childhood to the sweet sonatas that provided ambience for her time in Vienna - the pieces in Luly's Cresendo collection come together like notes, rhythms and melodies to create cohesive, solid songs of style.

Luly & team were kind enough to invite me to experience the Prelude set of the Crescendo collection last Sunday. Never one to overlook the tiny details that create an unforgettable experience, Luly and team took over The Capital Grille across from her boutique in the Fairmont Olympic for a luncheon runway show. We enjoyed mimosas, lobster cakes and petite lamb chops as models walked the Crescendo Prelude set down the restaurant's aisles. I can only imagine what the Sonata set in Vienna or the finale set in San Francisco will look like!

Thanks so much to Luly Yang and her team for having us this weekend. Enjoy some of my favorite looks below:

Visit the Luly Yang boutique in the Fairmont Olympic for a look at the entire collection, or schedule an appointment for a custom fitting for your favorite dress. LulyYang.com.

March 03, 2014

The Big Climb is Coming! Support Us?

March 03, 2014/ Jess Estrada

It's that time of year again! I'm doing The Big Climb up Columbia Tower with my family on Sunday, March 23rd. Won't you join us in support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society with a sweet donation?

The Big Climb is 69 flights of stairs, 1311 steps, and 788 feet of vertical elevation up the Columbia Tower - the tallest skyscraper in downtown Seattle. I did the climb for the first time last year and though it was a painful, sweaty, crowded experience, it's nothing compared to what blood cancer patients endure in their fight.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The mission of LLS is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Every day, more than 347 LLS sponsored researchers come closer to the goal of finding a cure for leukemia and related blood cancers. Locally, LLS funds 7 researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and University of Washington Medical Center. Your support and commitment to the mission of LLS enables us to continue this important work of saving lives and aids us in our ability to reach patients in our community.

I'm proud to be climbing again this year and look forward to helping raise even more to fund the efforts of the LLS.

Donate here

Thank you so much for your support!

February 14, 2014

You're Invited! Sassoon Seattle 5th Anniversary (+ Blogger Event Recap)

February 14, 2014/ Jess Estrada

Sassoon Seattle invited me to host a night at the salon for fellow Seattle bloggers. It was basically like having a girls' night out at the coolest salon in the city! Special thanks to my favorites, Trophy Cupcakes, Skoah and Sarah Lovrien for being part of the night as well. Check out Sarah's photos from our night, my personal loyalty to Sassoon, and details on their fifth anniversary party next Tuesday below. You'll want to attend the party for some truly amazing giveaways!

Classic Rounded silk shirt c/o Everlane / Zara heels / Topshop 'Joni' high-waisted jean (on sale!) / vintage Dior belt / Nike FuelBand

Edward prepping Alexis for her blowout

Thanks again, Trophy and skoah! Our special treats for the night.

I am admittedly low-maintenance when it comes to my hair routine. My mane is thick and grows exponentially fast. I hate putting tons of product in it, and it's often up in a top bun thanks to workouts and just having it out of my face. Basically, I like it to look amazing without having to actually do too much to it. Impossible? Not at all, thanks to the magic hands and shears at Sassoon Seattle.

Alix getting the skoah makeup treatment

Gluten-free Cherry Jubilee! DIVINE

Hey Kate!

Back when I worked at the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, my colleagues and I were invited to come try out our new neighbor, Sassoon. It was the first and remains the only presence the legendary house of hair has in the Pacific Northwest, and I was so impressed by Todd, Sassoon Seattle's former salon director, that I have stayed pretty loyal to the salon in its five years.

skoah makeup

I'll occasionally try other salons out there just to see what it's like - mostly so I can say what I'm about to say in full confidence. Sassoon is the best in the city. Their attention to detail and shape is far and above anything else I've seen in the city. Their stylists are busy not only with loyal followings, but in teaching new and upcoming stylists here in the city as well. They are always down to give back to the community however they can, most recently hosting a Valentine's Day makeover for a local couple. Since I only get my hair cut a handful of times a year, and want to stay low-maintenance at that, I always head back to Sassoon Seattle for a haircut and style with staying power. Their staff is always so warm, friendly and accessible; which is hard to say for a lot of other salons who try to be as hip and stylish as the Sassoon Seattle team seems to exude so effortlessly.

Hi Darcy!

Before...

LOOK AT ALL THIS BEAUTY!

Top: Chanel, Seattle Fashion Blogger / Andrea, SkinnyPurse / Alix, AlixRose

Middle: Kate, All Things Kate / yours truly / Alexis, StyleLogical

Bottom: Darcy, Styled Seattle / Sydney, Seattle Boutique Blogspot / Ilse, The Ultimate Makeup

I didn't realize I'd cut so much off until others said so! Haha. I'm exploring different styles for this new shoulder-length 'do, and so far am loving both the sleek and tousled looks.

Thanks again to

, and

for making the night spectacular. Peep even more photos on the

Fresh Jess Facebook page

, and on Sassoon's

Facebook

Twitter

and

Instagram

February 03, 2014

Super Bowl XLVIII Champions Seattle Seahawks!

February 03, 2014/ Jess Estrada

Like many of my fellow Seattleites, I'm writing this with a sore throat, bloodshot eyes and delirious exhaustion from watching our Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII last night. I didn't partake in any drinking or #HowSeattleRiots gatherings (click on that hashtag BTW. So funny!), but I did my fair share of screaming, jumping up and down, hugging my family members, and pacing around the house. I didn't want to go to bed last night, and shot right up less than five hours later. Turns out the first Super Bowl win in franchise history is better than Christmas and my birthday COMBINED!

I don't need to relay the sad plight of the tortured Seattle sports fan here. History and the lack of love and attention from national media will tell you all you need to know. That perpetual heartbreak we've felt in this city from close calls and "not quite"s from the Sonics, Mariners, Seahawks and Sounders alike is one that, although painful, is something we've grown to live with. I have vivid memories of fogging my glasses up (LOL) from sobbing after the Sonics lost to the Nuggets in the first round of the '93-'94 playoffs.

Image via Nike

So forgive us for basking in our moment - because we will, for weeks to come. Finally, tears of joy and elation! Our boys not only played in the Super Bowl, but dominated a team that was supposed to trounce them. As the underdogs! Who would've thought that a team with 21/53 undrafted or unsigned players would make it to the top? They did, and we did too. It's so weird how much the national media played up the other team's everything and doubted the Seahawks' everything at the same time. It was almost enough for me to have some anxious doubt, but no matter what, the confident anxiety won out. The nation got a taste of just how good our team is when every piece of the puzzle comes together and goes off without a hitch. Young, hungry, with everything to prove and nothing to lose. I cannot be any prouder for this team.

I watched this Super Bowl with my big ol' Filipino family, and there's nowhere else I would've rather been. This morning, since I couldn't sleep anyway, I got up and drove out to get my Super Bowl Champions tee and commemorative newspapers. I'll be soaking up all the articles I can about the mighty 2013 Seahawks squad, and all of the excitement (parade!) to come this week. Probably the sweetest thing in all of this is that this is only the beginning. Russell Wilson and most of his squad are in their twenties. They have so much ahead of them...maybe even a dynasty in the works!

THE SEAHAWKS ARE SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!! GO HAWKS!!!

January 31, 2014

Fresh Picks: Super Bowl Weekend in Seattle

January 31, 2014/ Jess Estrada

Happy Super Bowl weekend! Some of my favorite Seattle businesses have some fun stuff going on for the 12th Man right now, so put your Seahawks gear on and head out to one of them before the big game to get you even more hype for our boys!

Go Beast Mode on that Lil Woody's 12th Man burger:

Image via Lil Woody's Facebook page

Get your nails did with a Gene Juarez fanicure, makeup and hair ties, available at all Gene Juarez locations.

Seahawk French Fanicure ($40 regular - $53 shellac): Traditional French polish utilizing Seahawk colors with a white accent between green and blue.

Image via Gene Juarez.

Seahawk Ombre Fanicure: Traditional polish fade of colors using Seahawk colors. Available in glitter (shellac) ($60) or basic polish ($40).

Image via Gene Juarez.

Seahawk Accent Fanicure: Solid nails with either glitter (shellac) or no glitter. Options include: alternate green and blue, all blue with one green accent, or all green with one blue accent. (Prices vary due to shellac or glitter.)

Image via Gene Juarez.

Hawk hair ties: Ponytail holders from "Love Me Knot" are fabulous, hair-friendly and chic knotted elastics. $12

Image via Gene Juarez.

Eye makeup: Mirabella and Gene Juarez have teamed up to select eye shadow inspired by the Seahawks. Get a "All about eyes" service ($30) or purchase your own shade ($10 each)

Image via Gene Juarez.

Stock up on some Kukuruza Beast Corn, available at all locations & online. ($13/gallon)

Sweeten things up with

Trophy Cupcakes' Super Bowl cupcakes:

Trophy Cupcakes Super Bowl XLVIII Cupcakes

Image via Trophy Cupcakes Instagram

$4.50 each/ $44.50 dozen. Available at all Trophy Cupcakes locations or call 206-632-7020 ext 1 to order.

Plan the drinking game you'll have with your Hilliard 12th Can Pale Ale:

'The 12th Can' has less alcohol content than many craft beers allowing consumers to enjoy it before, during and after the game. Brewed with Cascade Hops ,along with Maris Otter and Crystal Malts, the beer has an unmistakably Northwest flavor, and as Hilliard's says, it "pairs well with victory." I HEARD THAT! Hillard's 'The 12th Can' pale ale is sold in 12-packs of 16-ounce tallboy cans for $20 per pack and can be found throughout the Pacific Northwest or at HilliardsBeer.com.

Also, peep Visit Seattle, Fresh Picked Seattle and Yay Today for their Seahawks / Super Bowl picks around the city. Sarah Lovrien and I have something fun coming for you this weekend. The blue & green party don't stop!

GO HAWKS!!!

January 26, 2014

Fresh Jess in The Spoiled Life, YFE & Goodwill Glitter Gala

January 26, 2014/ Jess Estrada

Just because I wasn't blogging this past holiday season doesn't mean I wasn't up to other things. I've had the honor of being a part of some really cool shows and sites recently and want to share what I've been up to!

In November, I volunteered to be in the Seattle Goodwill Glitter Gala's runway show. This year's theme for the show was "Through the Woods" a fairy tale depicting a metaphor for the journey overcoming adversity that many who go through Goodwill's programs experience. I was in the Dark Forest segment, where we depicted witches and wolves. To me, this was the perfect night to channel two of my favorite bad Bs - Bellatrix LeStrange from Harry Potter, and Beyonce. The amazing team at Salon Circa totally transformed me into a Filipina Bellatrix - which is a look I've been wanting to do for Halloween for years! Goodwill raised a record amount of fundraising that night, and I was so grateful to be a part of it.

Jess Estrada - Goodwill Glitter Gala 2013

I'm at 1:05 and 1:52 in the video:

You betta WERK

Photo via Goodwill

In December, I joined the Young Female Entrepreneurs for their weekly Thursday live chat, talking about everything from consulting to content. It was thirty minutes that just flew by! I also may have shown off my cool outfit of sweatpants at the end :)

I was mad humbled when Emily of The Spoiled Life, an L.A.-based lifestyle site, reached out to me to do a LifeStyler interview for them. She came over and took these beautiful photos of my personal assistant Spike and I in our natural habitat/office.

All photos credit Emily Shearing for The Spoiled Life

Forever thankful for the love and support you've given Fresh Jess, so much that these doors have opened for me. I've got a couple more things lined up before the end of the month - stay tuned! :)

GO HAWKS!

November 09, 2013

The Art of More

November 09, 2013/ Jess Estrada

[My Facebook status update yesterday]

It's funny how we can know so much about what to do and not do to be productive, and yet let ourselves get distracted to avoid actually doing them. The path to making things happen is so much easier said than done.

Between the Seattle Interactive Conference (recap and thoughts coming soon) and today's Creative Mornings Seattle talk, I've realized more than ever before that I need to keep myself around other creatives as much as possible. Working for yourself means you're by yourself a lot, and when I'm in the zone working, I need space and solitude to get things done. That's fine in moderation I guess, but I definitely let that become the norm and don't give myself enough time to just do.

Chase's talk today centered around "The Art of More" - of giving and sharing more of your work; of putting more of yourself out there. The abundance of will(ing): to share, to fail. It was the kickstart I needed to look at my blog anew again. Blogging is like working out; once you fall off the wagon, the battle is not just in getting back on that wagon, but getting a groove going again. The writing I do here is my creative outlet, and it gets put on the back burner way too much. I chose the freelance life so I could blog more. Chase's perspective was a great reminder to me that I need to get back at it.

He also talked about bravery in imperfection. I loved this point, because I let myself think that careful, edited blogging is better than blogging about things that give me life, no matter how often that might be. "I don't blog unless I have something meaningful to say." That became a crutch instead of a helpful perspective for me. Create something and just put it out there. Just write, Jess, and put it out there.

This morning's talk was so moving to me (obviously) and drove me home to absorb more at Chase Jarvis Live and Creative Live. Special thanks to my friend Imei, who interviewed Chase after the event and shared these clips with me:

Tonight I watched his Live episode with Mark Ecko, another current fascination of mine.

If you're interested in watching Chase's talk, it should be up on the Creative Mornings Seattle Vimeo channel soon. If you're in the city, you should definitely check out one of their events sometime for some serious inspiration! Follow them on Facebook.

October 29, 2013

Concert Recap: Jojo & Leah Labelle

October 29, 2013/ Sarah B

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.

------

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.

October 21, 2013

Seattle: Get Fresh with the Microsoft Surface 2 (Event & Giveaway!)

October 21, 2013/ Jess Estrada

Hey Seattle! Want to win a Surface 2? Then meet me at the Microsoft Store in Bellevue Square for the Surface 2 launch event, tonight from 10:00p.m. - midnight!

A year ago almost to the day, I traveled to NYC with Microsoft for the launch of their pop-up store in Times Square along with the launch of their first Surface tablet (Reminisce here!) It's follow-up, the Surface 2, is faster, thinner and lives longer (battery-wise) than its predecessor. The Surface 2 is touted as a powerful laptop packaged neatly in a tablet, and the buzz is already starting around its improvements. I'm excited to check it out tonight, and so pleased to share the fun with you!

I'm hosting a launch event scavenger hunt to give away this Surface 2. This is all going down on the social mediaz, so you MUST do these two things in order for each of your entries to count in the contest:

Follow us on Twitter: Follow @MicrosoftStore and Follow @JessEstrada
Include the hashtags #Surface & #FreshSurface

Here are all the different ways you can win:

Tweet us a Surface selfie! This can be you in line for the launch, in the store with a Surface 2, whatever. Show me you're there!
See a cool pair of shoes or a smart shirt at the launch event? Tweet us a photo showing some Surface launch event style.
Tweet a way a new Surface device can help you stay productive.
Meet someone you don’t know and find something you have in common. Make sure to mention their handle in your tweet!
Answer this trivia question: How long is the Surface 2’s battery life?
Check in on FourSquare at the event, and share it to Twitter.
Share this blog post on Twitter! Tweet #FreshSurface

So how can you do more with the Surface?

Here are some of the key features of the new Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2:

A 10-hour battery life that keeps you charged throughout the day.
Ultra lightweight, at less than 1.5 pounds and just 8.9 mm thick.
A more powerful, always-on processor, so it’s ready to go when you need it.
Office 2013 RT is pre-installed with touch-optimized versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint and OneNote - so Surface 2 can go from plaything to workhorse right out of the box.
The Docking Station for Surface Pro delivers the power you need so you’re ready to go at a moment’s notice. Charge your Surface Pro and a cell phone, and run your external hard drive while making a Skype call on your USB headset, and you’ll still have plenty of power to work with.
Whether you’re a business executive needing to power through important business or a student looking for the ultimate portable device to tote around campus, there’s a storage option to fit your needs.

What's happening at the launch event, you ask? Well...

There'll be a DJ, food & beverages and swag giveaways (hats, tees, gift cards, etc.) throughout the night;
Microsoft Store will also be hosting a series of challenges for a chance to win a trip to the Orlando store opening, complete with a live performance by Pitbull.
The winner will be whisked away the following morning (10/22) for VIP treatment at the event, including a meet and greet with Pitbull.
Seattle Seahawks' All-Pro Cornerback Richard Sherman will be also be in attendance to meet and mingle with fans. He’ll also be giving out autographed photos to the first 150 guests at the event!

RSVP on Facebook. Good luck!

This is a sponsored post, though all opinions and editorial direction are my own.

Read the official rules for the Microsoft & Fresh Jess Surface 2 giveaway.

October 02, 2013

Aces Interview: Seattle Works' Tara Smith Gets SWANKy

October 02, 2013/ Jess Estrada

Fall brings a lot of fun reasons to dress up, and here in Seattle we have no shortage of fundraiser galas. One of my favorites is Seattle Works' SWANK, coming up on Saturday, October 12th. Seattle Works has worked tirelessly to foster a lifetime commitment to community involvement in Seattle's young adults through innovative volunteer activities and educational opportunities. I first learned about Seattle Works back in my chamber of commerce events director days, and these days the organization is led by Tara Smith. Tara and her board members have created a whole palette of different ways you can give back to your community - from board training, one-off or ongoing group and individual volunteer opportunities, and special community events. SWANK is the one time Seattle Works volunteers and fans can get fancy and raise money to keep these programs in business.

I asked Tara to share a little more about herself, life at the helm of Seattle Works and about SWANK. Read on & see details on SWANK below:

What's on your playlist right now?

This is a little embarrassing*, but I will confess to having spent the past few weeks totally rocking out to the new 103.7 radio station that replaced The Mountain. That crazy lady in her car at the stoplight belting out Leona Lewis? That might be me. *Don't be embarrassed. That new radio station is AWESOME.

Describe your style.

My everyday style is casual and approachable, but put together. I go for simple, classic looks and then be sure I’m incorporating in color or print to keep things interesting.

My style at Swank is very intentional. Being up on that stage and asking people to support us, I need to visually embody the Seattle Works brand: fresh, contemporary and vibrant. At the same time, asking people to provide their financial support is a serious business. I love the people who look fun and sexy at Swank! But that can’t be me. My look is about being professional and credible, without going a traditionally conservative route.

Who inspires you?

The people who volunteer with Seattle Works. I get the privilege of being in an environment where I’m inspired every single day. From board members who strategize on how to take our game to the next level to Project Coordinators and Team Captains out there making it easy for people to jump in and make a difference in our community, I see caring, smarts and passion in action on a continuous basis.

What are you reading?

I’m digging into a series of articles on board governance and adaptive leadership. They’re relevant to the leadership training courses Seattle Works offers, and they also are helping me think about how to be a better partner to our board of directors in my professional role and how I can be a better board member in my personal life as a volunteer.

What are you most excited about in the coming months?

Next year is Seattle Works 25th Anniversary! I’m excited for the opportunity this milestone brings to gather and share stories, and to reconnect with our volunteers and supporters from the past quarter century.

Thank you Tara! Find out more about Tara at SeattleWorks.org. Details and tickets for SWANK 2013 here.

Read all of my Aces interviews here.

August 30, 2013

FJ @WWDMAGIC: The MAGIC Market Week Recap

August 30, 2013/ Jess Estrada

Reporting from the biggest fashion tradeshow in the world!

August 26, 2013

August Fresh: A Recap

August 26, 2013/ Jess Estrada

It's been a ridiculous August and I have a severe lack of blog posts to show for it. I'm sorry my dear readers! As I'm sitting here watching Justin Timberlake and *NSYNC light up the MTV Video Music Awards, I thought it'd be fun to share some photos of what I've been up to this month. Tomorrow I'll back with the first of some seriously amazing interviews, outfit shots and recaps of my time as a WWDMAGIC Official Blogger :)

Most of my time has been devoted to LUNA & CLIF Kid Bar. It's our busiest couple of months in the year, but winding down now. I've been having such a blast at all of our events but I'm excited to have a little quiet time to blog in the coming weeks.

I'm stoked to be on the team bringing Slideluck to life this year in Seattle! Part potluck, part art extravaganza. Coming in November to Pioneer Square! Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates leading up to the event.

Still getting my workouts & superfood diet on. Been traveling a lot so it hasn't been as consistent, but I refuse to give up on it completely. Never that.

Thoroughly enjoying summer but looking forward to fall, because that means SEAHAWKS FOOTBALL! Caught the last day of training camp a couple of weeks ago. Thanks Bing for having me!

My family is everything to me, and now we will have one more to add to the mix (officially!) Congrats to my cousin Erick and his beautiful longtime girlfriend Ashley on their engagement.

Super honored to be included in "The Voices of Fashion" piece in 425 Magazine this month! Read the article here.

If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram then you know my last week was spent in Vegas covering WWDMAGIC. Such a life-changing experience. I'm still trying to comprehend all the wonderful things that happened there, and you'll see a few posts going up in the next few weeks detailing them!

August 08, 2013

Go Places By Yourself (& More Lessons Learned from Create + Cultivate PDX)

August 08, 2013/ Jess Estrada

Two weeks ago I rolled down to Portland for Create + Cultivate. As a regular attendee of fashion, tech, and blogger conferences, C+C was such a breath of fresh air from what I'd gotten used to. To be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to last all day (starting at 9:00a.m. and going well past 10:00p.m.) but I truly enjoyed and savored every moment. It's days like these where I find myself learning so much - not just about new things, but about myself. Little shifts in perspective, if you will. I left C+C with a lot to ponder. Here's a snippet of lessons learned in my reflections (along with my photo diary):

The perfect setting on a perfect day

Go places by yourself.

Like a lot of events, I chose to attend this one alone. It used to be scary (sometimes it still is), but I've always found that I try harder to start conversations and meet other people than when I have a networking buddy. Don't get me wrong - it's always nice to have a friend and familiar face with you, and a lot of people just don't go to things unless they have a +1. I got in the habit of going to events alone back when I'd attend them as part of my Chamber of Commerce job. I've always looked at it as 'part of the job.' Going places alone gets you out of your comfort zone and puts you in an environment that's ripe with new ideas and people. Try it sometime, whether it's an event you've always wanted to attend like I did, or just a new coffee shop or park. Try having a meal or going to a movie by yourself.

I couldn't fit into this vintage skirt last year so I thought it merited a gratuitous selfie.

Zara tank & heels; vintage skirt & bag; Nike FuelBand + various vintage bracelets; wooden polka-dot ring gifted from Anisa in Africa

Alright. There was one familiar face. Thanks Jaclyn for a fabulous day!

Get outside of your own bubble.

When you go places alone, you are bound to get out of your own bubble. I have never considered myself a "creative" type, perhaps because I had a pre-conceived notion that 'creatives' had to be, look and act a certain way. If you would've told me I'd be right at home and really (REALLY) enjoying getting my hands dirty in a crafty way, I would've asked you if you maybe saw someone else who looked like me. Yet here I was, thoroughly enjoying making flower crowns with Riley of Erba Floral Studio; constructing my own earrings with Betsy + Iya and mixing the perfect summer farm-to-glass cocktail with Rachel of Art in the Age.

Our team even won Best Drink (a Thai-inspired, bell pepper rinsed sage spirit concoction) and I won Best Cocktail Name (for our other drink, the Blackberry Hussy!)

Makin' earrings with Betsy + Iya

Tahitian princess vibes with my DIY flower crown taught by Erba Floral Studio

Talk to everyone.

This is one thing I continue to work on. It's one thing to work up the courage to go to an event like this alone. It's a whole 'nother thing to come completely out of your shell. I still get shy, but do my best to force the fear away and just strike up some conversation - with my table mates, sponsors, speakers, vendors, etc. I like to look at it as getting my part out of the investment - I took the time, energy and money to be here, so I better make the most out of it!

Dang Jess look at all these new people to talk to!

Katie and I caught intensely focusing on our photo art. We were talking, promise.

Everyone is inspiring.

The beauty of trying to talk to everyone is that each person presents an opportunity for you to be inspired. About humanity. About challenging yourself to do better. About your passions. About life. Some people can be like inspiration espresso shots, jolting you into a new frame of mind. For Create + Cultivate, the No Subject L.A. team brought in a few female powerhouses to do just that. How to look at things differently.

I loved hearing from everyone, but Jeanine Pesce of Range and the ladies Emma and Tara of Wildfang especially struck me. Jeanine's perspective on trend forecasting and personal branding stems from a background I feel is very similar to mine - heavy in fashion and marketing, but with a yearning to bring more of her real passions (sports and the outdoors) into her career. Emma's tenacity, wit and fire has helped make her e-commerce site, Wildfang, a true community for tomboy lifestyle. She not only filled a business niche that's hugely missed by the rest of the industry, but she's managed to make thousands of girls feel like they have a team that's always behind them.

Clockwise from top left: Jeanine Pesce of Range and Jasmine Takanikos; Melissa & Jessica of Stay Forever Photography; Rachel of Art in the Age; Emma and Tara of Wildfang.

Liz, founder of Sseko Designs, has a moving story of how she's helping women in Uganda attend college through her products. Everything on the right came home with me :)

Be a sponge.

I stole this from Nike's list of Maxims - look them up because they're solid statements to live by and have stuck with me long after my time working there. Anywho, absorb everything. Remember how the colors, smells, vibes, and smiles make you feel. Take those knowledge and creative bombs that were dropped on you all day and give yourself the time and space to truly reflect on them. This is what I told myself as C+C was winding down. All in all, a fun day that will leave its mark on me long after those sensory memories fade.

Special thanks to the No Subject team for a great day!

August 02, 2013

Miss Wu Fall '13 Premieres at Nordstrom (Interview w/Jason Wu)

August 02, 2013/ Jess Estrada

Jason Wu's got a new collection exclusively for Nordstrom, and he spent some time with me yesterday to talk Miss Wu and answer a few lifestyle questions as well. But before we get into the interview, a little about what you'll find in various Nordstrom stores and online now. The Miss Wu collection is wrought with beautiful fabrics, bold colors (lots of fuchsia, chartreuse and cobalt blue), exclusive prints (confetti dot, Baroque lace, Ginko leaf and Jason's signature stripe) and impeccable detailing. Ranging from $195 - $995, Miss Wu is a clear nod to the 1960s, with a whimsical nod to the 1970s. There's a black feather evening dress, shearling moto-inspired jacket and red wool military coat that I know will do well here in the Pacific Northwest!

How did you get into fashion design?

I was 9 when I lived in Canada, and I would read my mom's fashion magazines. There was always a lot of inspiration in them. It wasn't one 'Eureka!' moment; I just realized fashion could be a career and it always felt right.

You spent some time growing up in Vancouver. What are your favorite memories about the area?

Vancouver is beautiful. It's so serene. I live in New York City now, and it's so bustling. Vancouver is so peaceful and quiet in comparison. It was a great place to grow up. The food is very good; there's a lot of really good Chinese food as there's a large Chinese population there. I discovered fashion, art, design, and myself there. My mom would take me to antique shows, which we don't have in Taiwan. I got my first sewing machine and learned how to sew in Vancouver. My appreciation for beautiful things definitely grew there.

Who inspires you?

My mother has always inspired me. The women I dress as well. Women in general, really! You can see in my work - it's all a celebration of the feminine form and femininity. It's the string that connects the aesthetic from collection to collection.

Tell me about Miss Wu.

The collection really came about organically; it's an extension of my design DNA. It's very reminiscent of my early work. While the Jason Wu collection is heading more femme fatale, Miss Wu is very feminine. Prints, srtipes, full skirt, feathers. I'm very inspired by the women of the '60s: Penelope Tree, Anna Karina. When Nordstrom approached me about an exclusive collection, it was the perfect opportunity to take affinity to that era and those beautiful things.

What do you like to do to take a break?

I like to go to the spa; my favorite in New York is Mandarin Oriental. It's very peaceful, quiet and nice. I'm not hard to please! I love going to dinner with my friends. I do that 3-4 times a week. They're my friends I went to high school and college with. In many ways, I designed the Miss Wu collection with my friends. We all grew up together and somehow all ended up in New York. I guess you could say Miss Wu was designed for the girls around me.

Is that you behind your social media?

Yes! I don't do my Facebook page, but it's pretty clear that's run by my team. I send my own tweets and Instagrams. I just did my first Instagram video here today for Miss Wu (watch it here.) It's really fun. I was never good at keeping a diary or taking photos. I'm a very spontaneous person. It's nice to be able to share something in a few seconds. It's like a peek into my world; no filter, very organic. I think it's important to be authentic in that way.

Thank you!

Shop Miss Wu at Nordstrom here.

Read all of my Aces interviews here.

August 01, 2013

Raid The Warehouse! Gilt City Warehouse Sale Recap

August 01, 2013/ Sarah B

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!

July 25, 2013

Seattle Style - Nordstrom Designer Preview

July 25, 2013/ Sarah B

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!