After a week of in-store events, fancy fashion shows, swag bags, and special promotions, Bellevue Fashion Week 2009 has come and gone. Bigger and better than Bellevue Fashion Week 2008, more stores from The Bellevue Collection participated this year with promotions or fashion shows of their own. Although each fashion show put on its own unique production, the highlights of the week were certainly Nordstrom’s 4th Annual Fall Runway Show and Vogue’s Front Row Fashion.
With the runway show tickets ranging from affordable to more expensive, there was certainly something for anyone interested in this season’s latest looks. The Nordstrom Fall 2009 Runway Show featured practical styles with edgy details. Italia: Life in ‘I’ Style, presented by David Lawrence and the Italian Trade Commission, was definitely the raciest of the fashion shows. Women in high-fashion swimwear and men in, well, tighty-whities certainly encouraged more whoops and hollers from an audience that was already ready to see some skin! Lululemon Athletica’s Sweat and Spice Spectacular featured local trainers and teachers demonstrating fitness moves and striking yoga poses down the runway.
Front Row Fashion, presented by Vogue, showed off fashions from many of the Bellevue Collection retail stores. After the Vogue show, The Bellevue Collection stayed open until 10pm for coffee, dessert, and shopping. Many of the stores were offering treats, free gifts, or promotional discounts as a part of the Bellevue Collection VIP Shopping Night. The final show on Sunday night was Urban Blowout, which featured hair styles from Bellevue Square’s Seven Salon and fashions from Zebraclub.
Overall, Bellevue Fashion Week 2009 was a great success. Thousands of dollars were raised for local charities that help children and families, the Bellevue community was educated on what the hot pieces for fall fashion are, and Bellevue Square entertained many guests with their mini runway shows all weekend. I personally liked the intimacy of the new location – Hyatt Regency Bellevue’s grand ballrooms – compared the vast openness of previous years’ Fashion Axis. I had so much fun at the fashion shows this year that I wish they would’ve lasted a little longer. The hype is so great, but the show flies by so quickly that I think there should be more of an after-party event for each show.
Hopefully this year’s Fashion Week has inspired many of us to step outside the box with our fashion this season!
