Bellevue Fashion Week coming Sept. 20-24

Red on red, velvet, leather, chic folklore and Americana.

These are just a few of the trends that will dominate the runway at the annual Bellevue Fashion Week this September.

From Sept. 20-24, The Bellevue Collection will feature three runway shows – the Independent Designer Runway Show Sept. 21, the Posh Party Trend Show Sept. 22 and The Collective Runway Show Sept. 23 – at the Hyatt Regency in Bellevue.

Throughout the week there will be pop up parties, mini makeovers, small runway shows throughout Bellevue Square Mall and other activities that promote beauty and fashion.

“What we really like about Fashion Week is Fashion Week is not about telling you what to wear, it’s about celebrating fun ways to show your unique style,” said Jennifer Leavitt, the vice president of marketing at Kemper Development Company, which owns The Bellevue Collection and is comprised of Bellevue Square, Bellevue Place and Lincoln Square. “… Everyone’s built differently and we have a trend that might work for them.”

This year, Fashion Week will feature a guest appearance by Council of Fashion Designers of America fashion designer Christian Siriano at The Collective Runway Show. The 31-year-old designer has had his work worn by celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Solange Knowles, Celine Dion, Tina Fey and Victoria Beckham to name a few. Last year, he dressed First Lady Michelle Obama and has been dubbed “the new king of old-school glamour” by Elle magazine. He is the youngest person to appear on the Crain’s “40 Under 40” list and was a member of Forbes’ “30 Under 30” in 2015, among many other accolades.

VIP ticket holders will be able to meet Siriano before The Collective Runway Show.

“We’re honored to have Mr. Siriano, an innovative and recognized young designer, to guest host The Collective, our show designed to bring our customers the best of The Bellevue Collection’s premier brands,” Leavitt said.

Participating stores of The Collective Runway Show include Allen Edmonds, Armani Exchange, Eileen Fisher, kate spade of new york, Max Mara, Nordstrom Via C, Ted Baker and Tommy Bahama.

Proceeds from ticket sales to The Collective Runway Show will benefit the Special Olympics of Washington and sales to the Posh Party Trend Show will benefit LifeSpring.

Leavitt said the Posh Party Trend Show will feature trends from The Bellevue Collection’s Fall 2017 Look Book. She describes it as a perfect girls night out.

The Look Book features the following trends:

Red: Whether it’s red on red, a jacket, sweater or suit, this trend is sure to pop. It can be added to an outfit with red boots or a clutch for a more subtle, yet still impactful, touch.
Americana: Leavitt describes this trend as “vintage cowgirl.” It’s a combination of high to mid-range fashion with rivets, leather, prairie skirts and fringe accents.
Plaid: Plaid shoes, leggings, purses and clutches.
Chic Folklore: Think a lot of layers of different fabrics, such as lace, velvet, wide belts, long maxi skirts with a sweater, floral prints, earthy meets colorful. Leavitt said this trend can be described as “maximalism.”
Velvet: Velvet heels, clutches, military jacket with a velvet twist or a pair of slip on tennis shoes in, of course, velvet.
Luxe and Shine: This trend can take a daytime piece to night. Think silver pumps or clutches with high gloss.
Leather: Leavitt said this trend goes from the little black leather dress to a pair of heels with rivets, to bags, totes and belts.
Coats: Coats have a big impact this fall, from trench to a beautiful wool style. The key, however, is to cinch the waist for this trend.

Designers who participate in the Independent Designer Runway Show will compete for a $5,000 prize awarded by a jury and a $1,000 cash prize voted by the audience.

Meagan Kruz, the designer of Jersey Virago, a swim and evening wear line, said she made a new collection for Bellevue Fashion Week. The collection features creative swim suit cover ups in nude, black and burgundy. She describes her designs as being wearable for a cocktail party in Miami or an event at a nice pool party at a hotel.

Kruz said she grew up in Camano Island where there wasn’t a lot of fashion. But it didn’t deter her. She would sketch designs and eventually made a pattern with the help of one of her teachers who saw her sketches. Although she took a break in her teenage years and when she had a child at age 23, she picked up her passion again after her friends liked some swim wear she made. Her first fashion week was in 2012 at a Seattle benefit show for a girl with cancer. That show opened up doors for the designer and she landed a spot at the Seattle Fashion Week last year.

Now, she’s hoping to expand her business and get her many designs ready for manufacturing.

“I’m prepared to go to buyers,” she said, adding that she’ll be focusing on the business side of her work after the show.

The Bellevue Collection announced Aug. 29 that last year’s winner of the Independent Designer Runway Show, Devon Yan with DevonNation, will join seven other designers. Coming from an artistic family in South China, Yan brings his passion for art to his apparel collection, which he launched in 2010, according to a news release.

Other designers participating in the Independent Designer Runway Show include Gustave Apiti of Gustavo Apiti Couture, Jennifer Charkow of Stone Crow Designs, Maria Venturini of Chany Venturini, Nora Suárez of Lourdes é Eva, Paloma Hurtado of Paloma Hurtado and Rebekah Adams of Poppyseed.

“For the designers, there’s a lot of press that we do for them,” Leavitt said. “There’s an exposure to an audience they wouldn’t normally be exposed to. It’s a really wonderful opportunity for these new designers to be involved in.”

For more information on Bellevue Fashion Week or to purchase tickets to the any of the three runway shows, which have about 500 seats each, visit fashionweekbellevue.com.