Fashion Week at The Bellevue Collection 2018: Independent Designer Runway Show
I'll never forgive myself for missing the opportunity to meet Christian Siriano at last year's Bellevue Fashion Week. I had the worst FOMO for about two weeks. Luckily, I didn't waste any time getting my tickets to all three shows this year. Unfortunately, as far as I know, there isn't a celebrity designer attending this year, but that's not going to stop me from having a good time.
The Bellevue Collection decided to switch things up this year for IDRS. Instead of hosting a six-month mentorship program where local fashion industry professionals like Bruce Pflaumer of Michael Bruce Image Consulting, Marj Turner, Regional Director of FGI Seattle, and Jennifer McCullum, Managing Editor at GRAY Magazine guided the participants, designers were hand-selected by The Bellevue Collection to showcase their collections. The goal was to focus on designers that were in the "second stage" of the design business process, like what happens after the first collection, I assume.
Held at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue, designers for this show included Poppyseed by Rebekah Adams, Valentina & Valentia by Milena Natanov, Chany Venturini Couture by Maria Venturini, Cute Like Mad by Jeanette Svensk Li, DEVONATION by Devon Yan, LOURDES é EVA by Nora Suarez and Deyonté Weather Collection by Deyonté Weather.
Even though I arrived a little more than fashionably late, I was excited about the show. But I didn't realize how excited until I got to my seat. The thrill of fall fashion seemed to wash over me as I somehow managed to upload Instagram stories to both my profile and FGI Seattle's profile.I honestly had trouble voting for a Fan Favorite because I loved pieces from every single collection. I ended up choosing Rebekah Adams of Poppyseed though since the new Launched collection was the most cohesive and wearable in my opinion. Ok, I may be a little biased, especially since I designed a lookbook concept for this very collection, but whatever.
Ultimately, Cute Like Mad by Jeanette Svensk Li took home the title along with a $2,000 cash prize, special displays in The Bellevue Collection shopping areas, and a featured editorial spread in Seattle Met Magazine. I can't say enough about the number of talented designers that call Seattle home. But I'm thankful that events like #BellevueFW exist so I can marvel at the detail in every stitch of the collections.
Now on to the Posh Party Trend Show!
