Bob Mackie and More...

Tonight I was invited by my friend, and FGI cohort, Courtney Russell of Half Past Lavish Events to attend the Spotlight Night for "Catch Me If You Can" at the 5th Ave Theater in Seattle.

I wasn't sure what to expect because I had no idea they did these spotlight events and wasn't sure what they entailed. Plus, it's free so I was even more baffled.

However, I am really happy I went because they introduce you to the people who have come up with the idea, or in this case have taken a story and made it into a musical. I saw the movie and really did enjoy it so I can only imagine I'll feel the same way about the play. We did get to hear a few songs from the performance and I must say they sounded amazing.

Infamous fashion and costume designer Bob Mackie is doing all of the costumes for the musical and they even showed us some of his sketchers... They were awesome! One thing I wish would have happened - more conversation with Bob Mackie. I would have liked it if more questions would have been asked of him, especially about the costumes. Oh well... I'll just have to go see them myself!

If this show takes off it will be another win for Seattle (Hello, Hairspray!) as it is being started here. It will be showing July 23rd - August 16th. I can't wait - the guy who plays Frank Abagnale Jr. (Aaron Tveit) is just a cutie and has an amazing voice. As you can see by the picture I have posted for you - A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!


Here is how the evening was broken down:

Act 1
The Incredible True Story
Catch Me If You Can is inspired by the real life story of teenage con man Frank Abagnale who lived the high life during the swinging ‘60s by successfully posing as a Pan Am pilot, a doctor, and lawyer while passing millions of dollars in forged checks. David Armstrong will recount Frank’s amazing journey and bring us up-to-date on Frank’s true crime adventures on both sides of the law.
Special Guest – Ken Kirkpatrick, President of US BANK

Act 2
Meet the Dream Team
Catch Me If You Can’s creative team is an extraordinary collection of Tony Award-winning artists. Songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray), playwright Terrence McNally (The Full Monty), director Jack O’Brien (Hairspray), choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Legally Blonde), musical director John McDaniel and legendary costume designer Bob Mackie will give you an inside look into their creative process and show us how a Broadway musical is conceived and created – from page to stage!

Act 3
Meet the Stars
Catch Me If You Can features a remarkable company of actors from New York and Seattle and led by some of Broadway’s brightest lights. Meet three of our show’s leading men: Tony Award-winning star Norbert Leo Butz, exciting Broadway newcomer Aaron Tveit and Broadway and television star Tom Wopat. You will also be the first audience anywhere to hear songs from the brilliant ‘60s pop-infused score!

Featuring Musical Performances by Marc Shaiman, Norbert Leo Butz, Aaron Tveit and Tom Wopat.

Ok, so go tell some friends and let's all meet at the theater in July! Who's with me?!

Save the Girls - May 31st - Komen Event

Seattle's Save "The Girls" 1st Annual Designer Bra Fashion Show

Fire Up at Spit Fire! Come to SPITFIRE for a fun night of Fun, Fashion, and Entertainment all for a cause!

The event will be produced by Little Black Dress Events and Productions benefiting the Puget Sound Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, aka Komen. This is an organization supporting breast cancer research, education, and support services.

Since its inception in 1982, Komen worldwide has raised over $1 billion for research, education and health services, making it the largest breast cancer charity in the world. Today, the Komen organization is recognized as the leading catalyst in the fight against breast cancer, with more than 100,000 volunteers working in a network of 125 U.S. and international affiliates.

When: Sunday May 31, 2009 at 5pm to 9pm ~ Fashion Show begins at 6 pm

Where: Spitfire 2219 4th Ave Seattle, WA 98121 ~ (206) 441-7966

"Bras for a Cause" Event
"Bras for a Cause" will bring the Seattle community together for a fulfilling night showcasing fashionable bras all in support for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Don't miss your chance to be a part of this exciting and entertaining event with a fashion show featuring bras designed by a variety of designers and individuals. They will be decorative in wild and wacky ways in order to raise money for the Komen foundation. The event will also feature a silent and live auction.

Guests will have a chance to win wonderful prizes and be entered into drawings while enjoying fabulous food and drinks from the SPITFIRE.

Bring your friends and enjoy yourself for an evening of fashion and entertainment – a great night out!

Little Black Dress Events and Productions will roll out the PINK carpet for over 400+guests in order to raise money for this year's beneficiary, the Puget Sound Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Event Overview
Bras for a Cause is all about celebrating the Seattle style, showcasing fabulous designed bras, as well as merchandise from supporting retailers in the fashion community, while raising support for breast cancer awareness.

Fashion is everywhere and our mission is to remind everyone from all walks of life that their vision of beauty is a work of art through vendors, fashion, entertainment, trends, and a cause.

Our goal is to generate excitement for the Seattle Fashion scene and help support local businesses while throwing a fantastic party in the spirit of giving back.

If you are interested in being a sponsor for this event please respond to Carli Smith and Audrey Clark at littleblackdresseventsllc@gmail.com

Bras are the main focus of the event and will be designed by listeners. The rest of the clothing to be provided by OPAL, shoes by Report, handbags by Clutch and some key models will be wearing Rock Star Jewelry. Rock Star Jewelry will also be selling at the event!

Not a Typical Wednesday Night...

If only all Wednesday nights could be this fun! Tonight was an FGI networking event held at the 24/7 staffing agency (they have an amazing space and are always so kind to us!) where local student designer, Tera Bacon showcased 7 of her designs.

The night started out with Tera being introduced and a mini Q&A with Janaea and Susan of Beauty Revolution Magazine. One interesting fact I learned that not only is Tera a designer but she also works in construction. She is multi faceted!

Tera's models came out wearing 3 beautiful dresses! I didn't take notes on how they were constructed as I was taking videos but I do remember that she said she liked to use vintage pieces she finds in her creations. The red dress was the dress she created for Project Red Dress.

Here is a video of the first dress:


Watch the videos!* there are 3 more.

After the fashion show ended the networking began, along with enjoying cupcakes by Wink and drinking wine. I got the opportunity to chat with several women who I have been communicating with via email - putting a face to a name makes all the difference!

Nina Ummel, the owner of Ummelina, invited us over to do a tour of her day spa and treated us all to some delicious tea created there at the tea spa. I have personally been to the day spa many times and know that it is a wonderfully relaxing experience. (They have a fantastic couples package called the Pacific Rim that I highly recommend!)

The night was a wonderful success and completely planned by FGI board member, Courtney of Half Past Lavish Events. Great job girl!! (insert standing ovation here.) ;)

If you weren't able to attend this event, don't fret, we will be having many more and I'll mke sure to notify you here. Hope to see you soon!

Here are the pictures I took from the event. Photographer Mike Adams will have some better ones shortly!

*The videos were taken on my camera so the quality and sound are not greatest. You'll get the general idea though. It's like you were there but forgot to wear your glasses and your ears are a bit plugged up. :)

Girl Power Hour 'Recessionista' Event - April 16th

UFN will be part of this event and would love to spread the word to you as we think this will be a great networking event that you would enjoy!

We hope to see some familiar faces and as always keep us up to date on any events or sales you want promoted on the site! :)

Girl Power Hour Hosts Exclusive Professional Networking Event ‘Recessionista' at Alchemy Collections in Seattle

Thursday, April 16, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Girl Power Hour, Seattle’s premier woman’s professional networking experience, hosts the final installment of a special 4-part series called The Power Of Focused Intention with guest speaker and author Jill Keto who will offer money saving tips and discussing her book Don't Get Caught with Your Skirt Down.

Girl Power Hour occurs the third Thursday of every month for young professional women to connect and share ideas at stylish venues across town. Each event explores an empowerment theme, boasts an inspirational guest speaker and a charity connection. Girl Power Hour also offers a fun, friendly environment, swag bags, door prizes and cocktail specials.

When: Thursday, April 16, 2009 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Alchemy Collection 2029 Second Avenue Seattle, WA 98121

This very special, exclusive event will host only 150 women - first come, first serve. Tickets are $25.00 online at www.girlpowerhour.com

Enjoy complimentary food and drink provided by Gourmondo, Pearl Vodka and Propel Water. The first 50 women will receive swag bags and the 50 to sign up will receive either an eyebrow consultation and wax or a 5 minute massage at the event from Radiance Medispa.

Girl Power Hour will also hold a mini-"swap" hosted by Urban Fashion Network and invite attendees to bring one viably fashionable accessory for this fun and free activity.

Washington CASH (Community Alliance for Self Help), a non-profit that helps small businesses get the funding they need is the charitable partner for this event.

Needed: Volunteers for Project Red Dress

We need your help! Volunteers for Project Red Dress (PDR) are needed in the following catagories:

* Graphic Design assistance - we need a volunteer with experience in graphic design to create our program. We have the copy, we need the skill of a graphic designer to put it all together. Can you help? You don't need to be a pro, just have some basic skill and lots of interest!

* Swag Bag Coordinator - we are currently collecting items for our 100 VIP swag bags, but need a coordinator to oversee these get done for the show. We can help supply student volunteers.

* Swag Bag and Judge donations - we are still procuring sponsor donations for items in the swag bags as well as gift packages for our Judges, Emcee, etc. If you have a company, work for a company, or know of companies that want some prime exposure please encourage them to consider sponsoring via swag bag donation.

In general, we can still use sponsors. Contact us via email or the PRD website if you are interested in being one!

Closer to the event we will be sending out a request for assistance the week and day of. Please email us if you have an idea of how you can help with the event.

Otherwise, we hope you can support the show by purchasing tickets and encouraging your Seattle network to come out to the event as well!

Please contact Courtney & Janaea via email at projectreddress@gmail.com

Buy your tickets online at www.projectreddress.com

November Networking Event

Tonight was our November networking event which was hosted by Pat Nugent at her business Patricia Nugent Textiles in Queen Anne.

We had a really nice turnout of about 30 members and guests. Thanks to all of you who came, we look forward to seeing you all again real soon!!

The details of the event were:

Come for an evening of Networking and A Trend Report by Pat Nugent. Pat's archive of Vintage and Antique textiles, hand painted original designs and wallpapers date from 1790 to 1970. It is from these designs that Pat will select examples to illustrate textile design trends for 2009 and 2010. She will cover trends for women's, men's and children's apparel and home textile design. With the belief that "Beauty comes from all Ages" we will see designs that are over one hundred years old yet apply to the trends we will be wearing next year!

Patricia Nugent Textile is located in a Cottage, the first house south of West McGraw Street on the west side of 8th Avenue West. This event is complimentary for all members, but guests/non-members need to pay $35.00 for entry.

I snapped several pictures so those of you who couldn't make it could check it out as well. Here they are!

Our next event will be December 4th at Clutch in downtown Seattle. Watch your inbox for the evite! Make sure to add seattlefgi@gmail.com to your address book so our emails don't end up in your spam box. :)

If you would be interested in hosting a networking event at your business just let us know!!

See you soon!

Upcoming Networking Events

We will be having a networking event on November 12th and December 4th. Stay tuned for updates on where these events will be held.

We'll be sending out an Evite (watch your inboxes!) and putting the details up on the Seattle FGI website and this blog.

Welcome to FGI Seattle!

The Fashion Group International is a global, non-profit, professional organization with 5000 members in the fashion industry including apparel, accessories, beauty and home.

The FGI mission is to be the pre-eminent authority on the business of fashion and design and to help its members become more effective in their careers. To do this, FGI provides insights on major trends in person, online and in print; access to business professionals and a gateway to the influence fashion plays in the marketplace.

This blog is all about the Seattle chapter, it's events, pictures, meetings, and much more!

If you are interested in membership or just more information please check out the FGI website or feel free to contact me with any questions.