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Fashion First Seattle styles up Seattle
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With an impressive lineup of local designers and boutiques ready to parade their clothing down the Fashion First Runway at the Qwest Field Events Center on Thursday evening, the stage was certainly set for a stylish evening for northwest fashionistas.
"I think everyone had an awesome time, and we raised a lot of money - approximately $65,000 - for Starlight Children's Foundation," noted Fashion First executive producer and founder Joan Kelly at the conclusion for the event.
The women in the crowd were treated to an impressive selection of clothes that ran the gamut from casual to clubby and flirty to formal, from local designers as well as ones from well beyond the northwest.
Models on the runway at Fashion First. (Photo by Patrick Lagreid)
The men's turn down the runway was notably different than the women's however, which served as a reminder that men's fashion in Seattle has a ways to go before it's put on the same level as women's.
With a cast of local celebrities serving as models, as well as only one store showing menswear, the gentlemen seemed to be left longing if they were looking for ideas and inspiration as fall quickly thrusts itself upon the Emerald City.
Outfitted by Oslo's on Queen Anne Hill, the men were treated to a mix of "fun, casual, easy stuff for guys to wear," owner John McDowell said.
Runway walkers included politician Dino Rossi, former Seattle Mariners Norm Charlton and Paul Sorrento, as well as Jason Mesnick of The Bachelor and Captain Keith Colburn of Deadliest Catch, who got a notable round of applause as he came down the catwalk.
McDowell embraced the idea of having personalities walk the runway as opposed to traditional models. "I wanted it to be about the celebrity and I didn't want to make a big deal about the clothes, which is one of the options at Oslo's that works," he noted.
The new men's line from WyattOrr caught some eyes at Fashion
First. (Photo by Patrick Lagreid)
For men, the lack of formal wear and fashion-forward pieces was noted, although Kelly has seen a pullback from the edgier pieces of previous years. "You have to have wearbility and usablity - everything is at that point," she commented.
That included the new line of menswear from WyattOrr - although only two pieces out of about twelve were shown, it caught the eyes of many men in the audience as a blending of practical style with a mixture of fabrics, brought together with a keen eye towards sleek lines. Hopefully they will be able to find homes for their new collection in local stores, as it would certainly seem to have a place in the Seattle man's wardrobe.
As for getting more menswear on the runway, McDowell said "it's all in time; I think the Seattle guy - regardless of what he's wearing - has his own mindset and his clothes will reflect that."
Hopefully, the northwest gentleman will be treated to more options on the runway at next year's event, one that is certainly recommended as something any fashionable individual would be wise to attend.
