Front Row at Fashion Week at The Bellevue Collection 2024
Fashion Week at The Bellevue Collection celebrated its 19th annual fashion show at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue on October 4th and 5th, and though I hadn't originally planned on attending this year, a special invitation changed my mind. Jennifer Leavitt, VP of Marketing at Kemper Development (the company behind The Bellevue Collection), unexpectedly invited me to sit in the press section, and I couldn’t say no to that!
The invitation to Saturday night’s show, titled The Collective Runway Show, brought me back to my Seattle socialite days before the pandemic, where every September was packed with fashion and beauty events. I used to attend up to twenty events in one month, leaving me both exhausted and inspired. Nostalgia set in, and I decided to turn the night into a solo date with dinner at Cantina Monarca before heading to the show.
The pre-party was vibrant, filled with music, stylish guests, delicious drinks, and savory bites. It was the perfect opportunity to catch up with old friends and meet new faces in the fashion scene. By 8 pm, the show was ready to begin. Jennifer Leavitt took the stage to welcome everyone and introduce the evening's theme—travel. She also shared that the show was supporting KidsQuest, a children’s museum, with 100% of the ticket proceeds (an impressive $56,000) benefiting the nonprofit.
One exciting tidbit Jennifer revealed was a sneak peek into next year's 20th-anniversary show. Bellevue Fashion Week will be partnering with local colleges—Central Washington University, Seattle Central College, Seattle Pacific University, and Washington State University. Students from these schools will have the opportunity to showcase their designs on the runway, with mentorship from their educators. This aligns with something Jennifer and I had discussed a few months ago, regarding the potential return of the Independent Designer Runway Show. Engaging with fashion students seems like the perfect way to cultivate the next generation of designers.
I was lucky enough to have a front-row seat, which gave me an up-close look at every ensemble that came down the runway. The show featured 8-10 looks from popular retailers, including Banana Republic, Eileen Fisher, Escape Outdoors, Tommy Bahama, Johnny Was, Ralph Lauren at Macy’s, Canada Goose, Ann Taylor, Rodd & Gunn, and Nordstrom. Accessories were provided by Camper, ECCO, Frankie4, and Macy’s.
The entire evening was such a treat, and it even inspired me to add two more fashion shows to my schedule in the coming weeks. It was truly a fashionable night to remember, and I’m already looking forward to next year’s milestone event.
