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Yesterday was my favorite day so far in 08.  It was kick-@#$. I started the morning meeting with my new tailor/alteration partner, Ivy, who has 30 years experience in costume, dress making and teaching construction. As you may know, I do in-home tailoring appointments for my clients. It is part of my full image consulting service.  I can’t wait you all to meet her. She is a gem

I went from Ivy to a meeting with Lizzie Parker, a local designer who just was featured this week in WWD (Women’s Wear Daily) highlighting her innovative use of design with less fabric use.   On top of that, she uses bamboo and is all about sustainability. I have shown one of my favorite Fall 08 look of hers. “I think it is a compliment when people ask me if it is okay when they wear my pieces dirty cause its their favorite and the can’t bear to be parted with it” is a fabulous quote from my lunch with Lizzie which put a smile on my face.  Watch for her. 

After lunch, I ran a few errands which included bring my husband some dinner at the office; how 50’s is that? Yikes…then I ran up to Capitol Hill to Moe Bar to do a bit of schmoozing at the City of Seattle’s Film & Music Offices’ monthly Happy Hour. Some fabulous conversations about film in the Seattle area and got to complain, with no sympathy, about the not so cool crowd at Bryant Park that I am going to encounter next week in New York.

Then, I ran back down the hill to my favorite tapas place, see my blog in fav places, to meet Julie the rock star owner of Olivine in Seattle. I couldn’t believe that she has been open for ten years…that is amazing and her store on Ballard Ave is a destination location for shoppers.  We had a fabulous conversation about her move to make the store sustainable and stylish.  She and I will be partnering in the fall on one of my les Egoistes Wardrobing Salons…stand by for more info on that.

After that I ended my night at Zoe; my favorite place to end up where the bar tender, Tom, makes the best flatliner in town, besides my hubby.  I wound down reading a movie script that I will be working on as costume designer in the near future. Why do I bother to share all this with you? The day was full of meetings and conversations about things I am passionate about.  I have spent the last twenty years keeping my passion alive and being consistent with building how I want to see my life…today was an example of that. I encourage you all to go for it. RL

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Weekend Maintenance is tough for us gals, and some guys. Not only are we doing laundry, hanging up a weeks worth of outfits, catching up with friends, paying bills, trying to get to the gym, etc. We have have to maintain on the “personal grooming”.  Now usually its the manicure, facial, massage, brows…general stuff, but every 4 - 6 weeks we have to handle our bikini area…

Gal Pals are the best when it come to recommendations; especially for all things maintenance related. My oh so glamorous gal pal, V, turned me on to sugaring about 9 months ago.  I’m a bit addicted and obsessed and never reschedule my sugaring appointment. I go to the Sweet Spot in Seattle.  The process is ancient, literally,and much easier for us delicate types vs. waxing. Bikini day is universal, this past Saturday, my best buddy in NYC, L,  got waxed too and we were able to share the moment together….now that is bonding.  I am researching the sugaring options in NYC my east coast friends…I will let you know as I find one. RL

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I am a fan of womens’ shoulders. As a designer and stylist, I love seeing the curve of shoulder; weather it is through a sheer fabric or bare with a strapless top.  I personally wear a lot of strapless looks and love using a strapless top as an underpinning. My strapless dresses can double as cocktail attire as well as day attire.  How do I do that you ask? I slip a thin tee or turtle-neck under, and, voila’, super appropriate for the daytime.  I have been doing this for years and have found that I have kept my strapless pieces for years.  This season’s one shoulder trend is back better than ever.  When this trend came back from the 70’s in the early 00’s, I often suggested it for clients in an underpinning; it is an unusual and fun silhouette under a jacket. For spring, I recommend doing this trend in a dress. Remember, it is all about the dress. Why not hit two trends with one sleeve? RL

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Last night I got a chance to meet with Janelle the owner of illi in Seattle to review what she is getting in for spring.  I do this with most of my favorite retailers as well as have good head start each season from my trips to NYC.  Some of my favorite items from ill will be the pencil skirts from “Love Moschino” ~ the re-branding name for Moschino Jeans. They look like they will have a fabulous shape, perfect length and great stretch in the fabric ~ needed ‘cuz the skirts should be on the fitted side. Another line that I love from illi is Nolita.  I am a bit addicted to their bottoms and they will have a good selection of them as well as some fab jackets this season. sorry guys, I couldn’t find great shots of these mentions, so I put up a shot of Nolita bottoms from fall. RL

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Yesterday was a fun day. I was asked to pull some folks together by Kelley Moore for a photo-shoot about “green entertaining”. I was able to pull from our fabulous friends at Sustainable Style Foundation that included film writer/director Megan Griffiths, and green building diva Lynne Barker. Our task was to have a conversation about sustainability while we were shot for the beautifully designed story.  I will post the editorial when it come out in a couple of months.  The best thing about it were the wonderful conversations that were started about how we can continue to be design and style minded while still saving the world.  Kelley is a true go-getter and someone to watch emerge out of the northwest. RL

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If you are a guy that’s been checking out Spring 08 trends, or a gal wondering how you will dress your man for spring, you can’t ignore the amount of short and cropped pants on the runway.  Now, my guy, P, is a pretty open and stylish bloke, but I doubt I am going to talk him into a cropped pant…however, I think we could talk most of our men into a rolled up cuff look; especially in the heat of summer months.  This whole look from J Lindberg I love, the burn out tee with vest and scarf, all in a monochrome presentation keeping things quite simple.  You should be able to duplicate this look easily without breaking the bank.  RL

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It is pretty clear that I like to go out.  I love checking out people, design of the space, the food…but since New Years Eve, we have been hosting intimate dinner parties in our small condo.  We can’t have more than six, three couples including us, over, but we dine like we are at a fine restaurant.  It has been really fun to try recipes, keep the fire going and spend up to six hours visiting and eating dinner.  I love to set the table beautifully and do a coursed meal and, I am serving what is in season and selecting as much as I can that is local and organic in order to be sustainable.  It is also fun for our guest to participate by bringing something for the meal. We are continuing our weekly entertaining through the late winter season as we await the light, sun and good weather.  RL

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I love supporting local ~ It’s always great to shop at a local retailer.  The extra bonus is when I find a fabulous locally produced product as well.  While shopping with a client today, the lovely crew at Polite Society introduced us to a  jean that was absolutely fabulous. After seeing the fit, I knew I would be blogging about it. What I didn’t know was the sustainable and local story behind it. Pine IV is a design company based in Redmond, WA. They have joined forces with American Forests in a global tree planting program aimed at offsetting CO2 emissions to help fight global warming.  So, for every pair of Pine IV jeans purchased, a tree will be planted through American Forests.  Now that is a Sustainable Choice.  To top it off, it is the best fitting trouser jean I have run into to date.  Polite Society is really aware of sustainability not only from a product point of view, but they are big into giving back to the community.  They hosted an event for Sustainable Style Foundation over the holidays that raised quite a nice sum for Seattle Children’s Hospital and donated the most adorable teddy bears to the hospital I have ever seen.  Go to their site to check out what they are up to and definitely note these jeans to put on your list.  For spring they will have two styles I suggest you consider, the Hiroi and the Hiraku. RL

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We know that trench coats were all the rage last spring and early this fall…I don’t see that trend changing for Spring 08. One of my favorite newest ones is a Burberry style that I recently picked up for a client.  It is the most beautiful navy and is constructed the way a garment should be.  The fabric is dreamy and this piece is a keeper for years.  So far it is only available on-line, special order at Saks Fifth Avenue.  A knock off version can be found at Banana Republic, but it is a knock-off. Let me know what you think. RL

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Admittedly, I pine for most things french or from “the city” (code for NYC). Tonight I met my ever so stylist gal pal, LV, at a newish little tapas, or pinixos, place ~ Txori.  I felt like I was in “the city” and could have stayed there for hours, much to our waitress’ chagrin, the flavor combos are fab both with the food and the drinks, and the prices even better. Top it off to the presentation is fabulous. I am hoping the slower service was because they were doing the “euro” thing ~ I choose to ignore it because I loved it so much that I want you to keep it between you and I. However, we want this place to make it in Seattle, so do check it out. RL

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