Thursday, July 23, 2009

Collaboration: Vogue and The Bellevue Collection's Fashion Week '09

It is not hard to miss the major development and renovations in downtown Bellevue these past few years especially the endless expansion of The Bellevue Collection. This place easily became one of my favorite spots to shop for luxury brands and it continues to get better with new retail store openings such as Michael Kors, Hugo Boss, True Religion, and 7 For All Mankind (yes, you can now find these stores in Bellevue Sqaure).

Every year The Bellevue Collection hosts their own fashion week on the Eastside and today they announced some very exciting news - The Bellevue Collection will be collaborating with Vogue to bring you Front Row Fashion! This will be a runway show produce by the fashion magazine and will feature fashion from The Bellevue Collection. Ann Vincent, the director of merchandising for Vogue will be sharing fall fashion must-haves. Also included in the six day extravaganza is a special screening of The September Issue at Lincoln Square Cinemas. Yes, all very exciting stuff!

Here are all the details of what you can expect to see...

BELLEVUE, Wash., July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The Bellevue Collection announces today a collaboration with the recognized authority in haute fashion coverage, Vogue magazine, for Fashion Week '09, September 29 - October 4, 2009. In addition to a special Vogue fashion presentation, this fourth annual event will include proven favorites such as the Nordstrom Fall Fashion Show, a runway show by David Lawrence showcasing Italian designer fashions, a cutting edge hair and fashion show by 7 Salon and Zebraclub, and VIP Shopping Night at The Bellevue Collection.

New this year is Front Row Fashion presented by Vogue, a spectacular runway show designed and executed by Vogue magazine with fashions from The Bellevue Collection. This exclusive presentation will bring the fall trends straight from the pages of Vogue to Bellevue's Fashion Week runway. Special guest, Anne Vincent, director of merchandising for Vogue, will be sharing this fall's must-haves.

In addition, Lincoln Square Cinemas will be the site of the greater Seattle/Eastside director's screening of the new documentary The September Issue. Offering unprecedented access into the making of the world's most famous fashion magazine, The September Issue illustrates Vogue's extraordinary influence on fashion, culture and on the market. The debut will be followed by a special Q & A reception with Director R. J. Cutler.

"With all of the new luxury brands choosing to open at The Bellevue Collection (Burberry, Michael Kors, 7 For All Mankind, Hugo Boss, True Religion) plus the broad collection of haute designers featured at Nordstrom and boutiques like David Lawrence and Mercer, partnering with Vogue to present our major fashion event was a perfect match," says Jennifer Leavitt, vice president of marketing, Kemper Development Company (KDC), owners of The Bellevue Collection. "This partnership speaks to the affluence, sophistication and fashionable sensibility of our core customers. We are ecstatic to be able to bring Vogue to the Northwest for Fashion Week at The Collection."

Anne Vincent, who has been with the business side of Vogue for eight years spearheading events, presenting fashion and beauty trends and serving as TV spokeswoman will be on hand for media interviews.

Major events planned for Fashion Week '09 are as follows:

Sept. 29 The September Issue Special Screening with director R.J.
Cutler, Lincoln Square Cinemas

Sept. 30: Nordstrom Fall Fashion Show, Hyatt Regency Bellevue

Oct. 1: Italia: Life in 'I' Style presented by David Lawrence and the
Italian Trade Commission, Hyatt Regency Bellevue

Oct 2 Sweat and Spice Spectacular, lululemon athletica, Hyatt
Regency Bellevue

Oct. 3: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Tiffany & Co. at Bellevue Square

Front Row Fashion Presented by Vogue, featuring Anne Vincent,
Vogue magazine, Hyatt Regency Bellevue

VIP Shopping Night at The Bellevue Collection, featuring a
host of exclusive offers from stores throughout The
Collection.

Oct. 4: Urban Blowout, cutting edge hair meets cutting edge fashion,
7 Salon and Zebraclub, Hyatt Regency Bellevue

For more information, visit www.thebelleuvecollection.com/fashionweek.

About The Bellevue Collection

Located in the heart of Bellevue, Washington, The Bellevue Collection includes Bellevue Square, Bellevue Place and Lincoln Square. With a distinctive collection of 250 of the finest shops, 19 sit-down restaurants, a 16-screen premier cinema, 700 luxury hotel rooms and 10,000 free retail parking spaces, all in one location. The Bellevue Collection is an experience unlike any other in the region. It is located on Bellevue Way between NE 4th and NE 10th Street in downtown Bellevue, just across Lake Washington from Seattle.

SOURCE The Bellevue Collection

So ladies, save the dates: September 29 - October 4, 2009 for The Bellevue Collection Fashion Week! Stay tuned and UFN will certainly keep you posted on more info, tickets, etc.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

2009 Nordstrom Designer Preview Fashion Show

Honestly, I didn't sleep well last night because I was too excited about attending tonight's Nordstorm Designer Preview Show. There were three things, to be exact, that I was anticipating: 1) testing out my new Canon SLR because I was getting super tired of producing poor photo quality to all you readers; 2) Fall fashion! I love love love fall fashion; and 3) the designers! Oh, I'm talking about Chanel, Oscar de la Renta, and my girlfriend Versace! Yes, they were all there.


Held at the Paramount Theatre, the doors opened at 6:30pm for guests to enjoy cocktails and hors d'oevuvres while they mingle and did some boutique hopping. Each designer featured in the fashion show had their own little boutique set up for guests to get a better look at the garments that were being featured in the show. Guests were also able to pre-order the featured fashion; however, the only thing missing were the actual designers. Oh how a girl can wish...


So just how I like it, the show started at 8:30 as promised. Guests were seated fairly quickly and the show was rolling in no time. Already too ecstatic about the show and antsy to see what's to come, I was thankful that there weren't any long speeches. We got the chance to meet the new Seattle Art Museum's president to whom the show was benefiting and then out strutted Gucci.


The featured designers in the Nordstrom Designer Preview show were Gucci, Missoni, Stella McCartney, Marni, Versace, Nina Ricci, Marc Jacobs, Dries Van Noten, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana, and Chanel.

This was by far one of the best fashion shows I've attended thus far. It was so well organized and the fashion did not disappoint. I will go to bed a happy girl tonight!

You can see all of the photos I took from the show here.