Lookbook Love: Kenneth Cole S/S '13 (+ A MAGICal Opportunity!)
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Kenneth Cole's latest collection - and an ask from me!
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Aces Interview: Vogue's West Coast Editor, Lawren Howell
/If I worked in the fashion industry, Lawren Howell would have my dream job. This San Francisco native spent some time studying art history in Paris and in the creative department at Kate Spade and Jack Spade before landing in the offices of Vogue. Oh yes, she worked as an assistant to editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour and executive fashion editor Phyllis Posnick before being promoted to West Coast editor for the publication in 2006.
Lawren now manages all of Vogue's West Coast editorial shoots, as well as the annual Vogue CFDA Fashion Fund show and other Vogue sponsored charity fashion shows. She's in town today for the Nordstrom Designer Preview, and spent some time with me last night to answer a few of these questions. This is the first time Vogue and Nordstrom have partnered for Designer Preview, and speaking with Lawren got me that much more excited for tomorrow night's show. Get to know her, and follow us at #NordstromxVoguePromos on social media for behind the scenes shots and more from the show!
Image via Vogue
How did growing up in San Francisco inspire you to pursue a career in the creative and fashion industries?
San Francisco is such an international city. I had an eclectic upbringing and grew up with exposure to such rich culture. San Francisco has beautiful architecture and is such a creative place; there was always art shows to go to. I also grew up in a family of creatives; my sister is now an artist and my brother's in graphic design.
Is there a project you've worked on that's near and dear to your heart? Why?
The Vogue CFDA Fashion Fund is really cool and so much fun to work on. I've made so many friends and learned so much about the different designers that have been a part of it. The show features new, young designers (this year's finalists were just announced yesterday!) I style the show; we do all of it, from casting to hair and makeup, so the designers can breathe and be a part of the audience in their own show. It's fun to see how far they've come. The show first happened 8 years ago, in Pebble Beach with a partnership with Lexus. I've been involved for 6-7 years.
Image via Vogue
Describe your personal style.
There's definitely a 'menswear-y' vibe. I like simple things. Very all-American. I don't heavily accessorize. Less is more; not overdone. I think that's a very California, Northwest mindset. [true!] Not ostentatious. Understated.
What are you most excited about in the coming months?
That's easy! Moving into a house in the next couple of months that we've been working on for the last year and a half. That'll be nice!
Thank you!
Read all of my Aces interviews here.
Nordstrom Designer Preview - 2013 Sneak Peek!
/Every summer, Nordstrom hosts its Designer Preview show benefiting the Seattle Art Museum. This Thursday, these beautiful creations and more will be gracing the runway as Nordstrom gives us a preview of their fall designer collection offerings. I'm so excited to cover the show and can't wait to share my favorites with you!
In the meantime, here are some sneak peeks Nordstrom slid on over to me of some of my favorite designers - Oscar de la Renta, Dries van Noten, Jason Wu, Proenza Schouler and more.
More info on the Nordstrom Designer Preview and tickets here.
Holla if you'll be there! Would love to see you! To follow the action on social media, follow the #NordstromxVoguePromos hashtag for tweets, Instagrams and such from Nordstrom and yours truly.
On Emilee's Playlist: 7/10/13
/In light of my most spontaneous weeks this summer from scrambling to find tickets to Mrs. Carter's show in San Jose, CA to an unexpected getaway to visit family in Hawaii. I've collected a few of my recent favorite tunes that help me keep on keepin' on! Cheers! Enjoy these beautiful summer days.
J Boog - Lets Do It Again
The Steppas - Lost at Sea
Capital Cities - Safe and Sound
The Neighbourhood - Sweater Weather
Bee Gees - Night Fever
alt-J - Breezeblocks
Beyonce - 1+1
Destiny's Child (Cyril Hahn Remix) - Say My Name
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is an aspiring creator and adventurer living in Seattle, WA. She's currently a senior at the University of Washington double-majoring in communications and interdisciplinary visual arts. She was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but is Seattle-grown and Hawaiian at heart. She has had past experience working with Nectar Communications, State Farm Insurance, TEDxUofW, UW PRSSA and BSSP. She is a fashion enthusiast thriving on travel, food, culture, art and photography. She loves to blog ever since she discovered blogging with a friend during her high school years, and is now introduced to a whole new world filled with creative people. She loves sharing her interests over at her own blog,
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Find Emilee on
, and view all of her posts
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On Showing Up
/One book I love to read every year is Bill Gates Sr.'s "Showing Up for Life." The book is part-memoir, part-lessons learned, but in short, the message is that Mr. Gates Sr. attributes much of his success simply to "showing up."
In his book, Gates Sr. talks a lot about raising Bill (Trey) and his siblings; life with Mary (his first wife) and Mimi; his childhood and his career. Over and over, his stories reaffirm that throughout life, people will ask you to show up. To speak to a group of people. To come to an event. To be there for family dinner. To plan the family summer vacation.
To be present.
It sounds like such a simple thing to do, right? But as life goes on, people to the left and right of you are looking for excuses to not "show up." "I'm not good enough. Fit enough. Smart enough. Confident enough. Funny enough." We've made it so commonplace nowadays to hide behind the biggest excuse: "I'm too busy" or "I don't have time for that." More and more, the people who can actually 'show up' and see things through are few and far between, making them that much more special.
Show-Up-For-Life
Image via Pinterest
I take the concept of "showing up" everywhere and in everything I do. As someone who's produced events in a past life, nothing sucks more than when people don't show up in the very literal sense of the word. For that reason alone, I try to be honest when I say I can come or not come to an event. If I say I can make it, then I try my damnedest to be there.
When people ask me how I got into blogging or social media, and how I've built a following. Usually the best answer I can give them is "I just kept doing it." I just keep blogging. Keep writing. Keep tweeting. Keep updating the Facebooks. Keep myself open to meeting new people who I might learn from and vice versa. As people are now starting to notice a difference in the way I look, they ask me how I can keep on a meal plan or keep getting up for 6:00a.m. workouts (I am NOT a morning person, by the way.) I just tell 'em that I keep doing it. I'm not perfect, and fall off the 'eating healthy' or 'working out everyday' trains all. the damn. time. BUT - I get right back on and keep going.
I don't talk a whole lot about my relationship, but Jacob and I have been dating for many years now. People ask us how two young people can keep it together, especially with two totally ambitious minds and careers. How do we ever have time for each other? We get on each other's nerves and piss each other off all the time, but we still show up for each other and work on this every single day. And we show up for Spike, of course :)
One area that I feel I have a lot of work to do is in friendships. It's hard trying to be at and do everything your friends are a part of. I do a lot of things and write a lot of posts that I'm hoping my close friends read and show up for, but it's insane to expect them to be there all the time. I've found that the best, most fruitful friendships are those where you may not see or speak to each other in awhile, but there's a mutual understanding that you're both on your hustle. When you do see each other next, you maintain that level of closeness and realness with each other. None of that awkwardness or "I thought you were mad at me." When times get tough, they tell you when they need you, and you do your best to be there.
It might not be a grandiose or groundbreaking message for some, but to me, it's become an essential way to approach life, love and business. One big piece of showing up is to show up again and again over time.
Persistence. That's the fundamental difference between a flash in the pan and someone like Bill Gates Sr.
Which do you want to be? How are you showing up for life?
Smiling Bright with Phillips Sonicare PowerUp (Sponsored Post)
/I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client.
Everybody wants to look their best all the time, but especially in the summer, right? We're out all day, enjoying the sun and preferably looking and feeling amazing, right? Working out is usually the biggest priority, followed by eating well and staying hydrated. What about that beautiful smile of yours? If your friends and family are anything like mine, you're spending the summer constantly documenting every barbecue, picnic, camping trip, vacation, spontaneous road trip or water excursion via photos and video. Keeping your smile fresh is also key in maintaining good health and appearance.
I'd never had a power toothbrush before, so I was excited when I got the chance to review the new Philips Sonicare PowerUp battery toothbrush. My trusty manual toothbrush became part of my cleaning toolkit for the house - for scrubbing the grout between tiles and such - and the Sonicare PowerUp took its place on my bathroom counter.
Philips-Sonicare-PowerUp-toothbrush
Hey there, new friend!
I've been using the Sonicare PowerUp for just about two weeks now, and I've definitely seen a big improvement over my old toothbrush. The sensation definitely took some getting used to the first time around, but my teeth and gums felt SO much cleaner after just that first go 'round - and has obviously improved worlds overall since.
Philips-Sonicare-PowerUp-toothbrush
Getting ready to use my Sonicare PowerUp toothbrush for the first time!
What was most refreshing, however, was that the PowerUp delivered on what it promises ("more brush strokes (expected over my manual one)" "improved gum health," etc.) but isn't a huge hit on your wallet. While there are great, expensive options out there, the PowerUp gives you Sonicare high quality for under $20. Such a steal if you ask me! I was never hooked enough to spend cheese on a powered toothbrush before, so that's why I stuck with manual toothbrushes for so long (Philips probably could've cast me in their "Odyssey of the Manual Toothbrusher" short vid LOL) The Sonicare PowerUp's affordable price point should definitely appeal to those on a budget.
Philips-Sonicare-PowerUp-toothbrush
Smiling bright on a sunny Lake Union boat ride!
Catch my smile along with a few of my fellow Social Fabric® Community members over on Instagram and Pinterest! Just look for the #PowerUpUrSmile hashtag.
How are you staying fresh and healthy this summer?
Quality Control
/I've had a lot of conversations around the topic of 'quality control' lately (thanks David and TigerBeat!) Maybe it's because I'm getting older; maybe it's because I'm getting wiser - but in all aspects of my life, it's become a priority - a NECESSITY - to demand the best of myself, for the situation I'm in and for those around me. I've alluded to some of this on Fresh Jess through my health and fitness posts, but I've been working hard on applying this in my professional endeavors and personal life too.
When you up the bar on yourself and make a commitment to (TRULY) do better every day, you find yourself alone in your own mind a whole lot. Practicing your craft. Learning new skills. Researching. Journaling. Jotting ideas down so you can try and capture them as quickly as they come. Writing EVERYTHING down. Mind-mapping. Brainstorming. Trying things and failing. Trying again. Trying new things. Reading and absorbing the words of people you want to learn from; who inspire you. Who don't necessarily make you want to be like them, but who make you want to do better.
So where does that leave room for family, friends and acquaintances? Family's easy, because I will always have (or make) time for them. Acquaintances are even easier, because they are more than likely 'acquaintances' for a reason. You have a really loose tie in common, but other than that your personalities or interests don't mesh well enough for y'all to hang out on a regular basis. Friends are where it gets tough. When you're on a warpath and going absolutely 100 on chasing your dreams, you'll discover which of your friends are genuinely supportive of you, and which aren't. It's a tough pill to swallow to discover a friendship's reached its expiration date, but necessary to wish them well and move on with your life. Your people should never make you feel bad or guilty about doing you, because they never see you or hear from you. They should know not to take it personally. Treasure those who uplift you, challenge you and make you stronger.
Quality control.
Image via Rachel Roy's Instagram
Over time (and over social media), it's getting easier and easier to weed out the people whose energy I need and want in my life, and those whose energy is just toxic. If you have time to tweet or update your Facebook criticizing how people dress, talk or live their life, I ain't got time for you. Social media is amazing, but it's also made it real easy for people to (passively) complain, criticize and throw shade. I can think of a handful of people who've taken indirect jabs at me personally, but I find solace in the fact that while you spent time thinking about me, I spent it working hard. Unless you're a professional comedian or writer making money off of your sarcasm, I'm hitting that unfollow, unfriend or hide button on ya. Turn that energy into something positive for yourself - or better yet, for your community.
Quality control.
I used to blog about every news article, Seattle event and new, cool, shiny thing that caught my attention. When I posted 5 things a day, no one read anything. Now I try to only post when I have something truly meaningful to share or talk about, sprinkled in with sponsored posts that are a necessary reality for someone who wants to make something out of their blog. I pay painstaking attention to my traffic patterns and other analytics, constantly staying on the pulse of what people like and don't like to read here on Fresh Jess. I wrote an article for IFB this week called "The Mid-Year Blog Check-In" about taking time to take stock of your blog and see how you can do better. A fellow IFB member left a comment saying she'd redesigned her blog 6 months ago and didn't think she needed to change anything about what she was doing. No disrespect to her, but IMHO, you should ALWAYS be on your toes, changing, taking risks and trying new things. Doesn't have to be big things, but little tweaks can always be made to make your blog supremely great over time.
Stay hungry. Quality control.
I've been blogging a lot this year about my adventures in mind, health and fitness. I am definitely not perfect, and have a long way to go, but there's a definite shift in my life around the food choices I make and the way I spend my time. i.e. More of my time is spent working out, and with others who like to eat healthy and are active too. Trading happy hours and excessive time sitting down for walking meetings and getting fresh air has been one of the best resolutions I've made - and stuck to - this year.
Quality control.
I am always seeking new opportunities to flex my skills, writing, guest blogging, doing press and sponsored brand campaigns. I share my successes and those of my peers and Aces on social media all the time. I work in social media, and it's pretty much in my nature to share, so I'm just always online sharing, period. I've lost followers and Facebook friends for one reason or another, but that won't ever stop me from seeking more doors to kick open, new friends to meet and more resources and celebrations of success to share on my social media profiles. I'd rather do that anyway than complain about my life. I don't have much to complain about!
Quality control.
As I get older, I get bolder with owning my opinions. If there's anything I've learned about social media, it's that everyone wants to share their opinion, but they're never ready to see people opposing their beliefs and a lot of times, don't care to see others' opinions in the first place. I have a lot of respect and patience for the opinions of my friends, digital and real-life. I'm just better now about demanding respect for my own.
Quality control.
I know this is a long post, and thank you for letting me wax poetic on it. This has been on my mind for weeks, and I've written this about ten times and deleted or abandoned it every time. It can be tough to own convictions when they get strong, but that's when we need to own them the most.
How are you practicing quality control in your life?
Happy birthday, Spike & Meatball!
/Happy 4th of July to you! Hope you're somewhere sunny and warm eating good food with family and friends, celebrating all that we are blessed to have in this free country. I'll be with my family today, and I'm whipping up a few superfood recipes to balance some of the other food we'll be eating.
We're also celebrating our babies' birthdays! Yesterday was Spike's birthday, we think. Haha! When we adopted him, we got all his papers; read through all of his medical records and found four different birthdates. Awesome! We decided July 3rd would be the one since today is his big brother in heaven Meatball's birthday. Spike is now 6, while Meatball would've been 8. Time flies and so does bulldog slobber!
Spike reflecting on life as the sun sets on Alki - one of his favorite drives.
Yung Meatball in my tiny studio apartment back in my UW days.
Spike trying to get to the Ministry of Magic :)
Meatball inspecting his birthday cake, which he decided not to eat.
Spike practicing butterfly guard with dad
Meatball was Georges St. Pierre for Halloween one year.
Hanging with my boo Spike at Greenlake.
Meatball getting some quality time with dad.
More about Bulldog Haven NW:
A list of available dogs can be found at Bulldog Haven NW's adoption page. If you're interested in adopting one of these bullies, please look over their information carefully and fill out an application at BulldogHavenNW.org.
Not wanting to adopt, but still want to help out?
BHNW welcomes donations at anytime! Visit their homepage for benefit online auctions too.
For the most up-to-date info on BHNW, check their Facebook page!
Want to talk more about adopting a bulldog from someone who's been there? Email me at jess(at)freshjess.com!
Bloggers Know Best: Featured in Styled Right Magazine
/Last month, I had the honor of being a part of Styled Right Magazine's "Bloggers Know Best" feature. Seattle's inimitable stylist and power girl, Darcy Camden enlisted the help of Swink Style Bar and photographer Nicole Firestone to make us look so fly. We met up at University Village on a beautiful weekday for these shots, then answered a few questions about our personal style and why we blog. I had a wonderful time getting dolled up for the event (Swink did my hair but I did my own makeup - a very big feat for me!) I think Darcy did a great job pulling together four women with distinctly different styles, who are all very much Seattle in their own way.
Thanks again for letting me be a part of it!
Peep the top shots and the full issue below:
L to R: Dana of It's My Darlin, Mollie of MollieinSeattle, Kate of All Things Kate and moi
Zara bag, heels and tank; AllSaints sequined skirt via Poshmark (similar); Aritzia's Wilfred Free satin bomber jacket (fun print option here); vintage Alexander McQueen denim jacket (pictured above & below)
Subscribe to Styled Right's quarterly magazine on iTunes.
4th of July Denim Fresh w/SearsStyle
/Woo! Hope you're all staying cool in this wonderful, hot weather!
As part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias®, I trekked down to Sears for some 4th of July denim affordable fashion ideas. My challenge was to find some summer Sears style with denim that wasn't jeans - easy peasy when chambray, denim vests and jackets, and printed or floral denim is all the rage right now (you can peep my shopping experience at Sears on Google+.)
I scoped out my denim non-jean options on Shop Your Way before heading into the store, but it didn't take long to decide that a simple, classic denim vest was the choice for me. This cropped style from Bongo goes perfect with all of the black, white and geometric styles I've been wearing a lot this season, and adds some sass while still allowing me to keep cool. I took it with me on our family retreat to Portland this weekend (these pics were shot in the beautiful "secret" garden in the backyard of our rental home!) I'll definitely be wearing it this 4th of July as I host my family for some BBQ and fireworks.
Peep more summer fun from Sears and other brands in LiveSoFab's Summer Digital Magazine:
Bongo juniors' dsitressed denim vest
courtesy of Sears via Collective Bias / Zara culottes & tank top / American Apparel striped bandeau / Dolce Vita sandals
Let It Go
/This phrase has been popping up a lot in my life lately. So much so that it's stuck with me, like it's asking me to reflect on it. It's definitely been a busy and stressful few weeks full of changing times. Wrapping up work with my biggest client, figuring out what's next, working out a lot and trying to adhere to a superfood diet. I take on a lot and I know it. (See also: Jessie Spano moments.)
My reiki teacher/friend Rachel taught me that sometimes the pain and sickness we bear is a manifestation of imbalances in our lives. I often will get pain in my shoulders and neck, which usually means I'm taking on the 'weight of the world' (a.k.a. doing too much.) I've been under the weather this week with that familiar shoulder pain coupled with major sinus pain. I know some of this is due to seasonal allergies, but I also have no doubt that my body's giving me a little nudge to do some reflection.
Image via Pinterest
While I've had amazing consulting clients so far who've taught me worlds about...everything, I find myself itching to do something different. LUNA events will help, but I'm yearning to take on more writing gigs too. It's not the end of my consultant days by any means, but it is a clear sign to remember to focus on only doing the things I truly, truly want to do. I also still struggle with being rigid about saying "no," especially when it comes to stuff I'm pitched as a blogger. I always want to help however I can, which isn't great for discerning what's best for me and what works for Fresh Jess.
It's time to let go of taking on too much.
Let go of the fear of not being enough or having enough to change my course.
Let go of negative thinking.
Let go of thinking I don't have what it takes to pursue my dreams.
Let go of excuses.
Let go of the paralysis that comes with having too many tasks on my to-do list and not enough mind space to devote to the big picture of things.
Let go and get out of my own way.
Let go and get it!
Oh Beyonce, How I Admire Thee!
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I was scrolling through my Instagram a couple weeks ago and saw this post from Dimepiece LA. I immediately fell in love with it and knew I had to share it with Jess, cause we all know she loves herself some Queen B!
It wasn't until this past weekend, that this quote really resonated with me. In the midst of all the exciting things that were happening and yet to come, I found myself uninspired, void of passion and in a rut. I realized I was at a point where I needed to make a move whether it be a career change, exploring internships, trying a new activity or even taking a vacation.
Random thoughts and personal goals had been weighing heavily on my mind and I thought to myself, "what's next and how can I possibly achieve it?" I looked back at this quote and it hit me.
I've got the same 24 hours in a day as Beyonce and look at all she's accomplished and done so far! With that time, I'm going to knock things off my list and continue to make things happen. Here's to getting back on track, staying inspired and focusing on what I love!
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Sarah Basto is a born and raised Seattleite. She’s a former merchandise marketing student of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and is currently working as a marketing manager at a local nanny agency and serves as the PR & marketing intern for local luxury swimwear company Adicora Swimwear. She’s obsessed with all things Seattle and is interested in just about everything – this explains why she considers herself an entreprenista in the making! Outside of work Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, baking, exploring the city, and being a full-time happy hour guru.
Fresh Style: Le Voyager Coquette Raincoat by Elizabeth Roberts
/The reason I mention Seattle weather so much is because it's so variable, you really never know what to expect on any given day. Earlier this spring, I was gifted with this amazing raincoat by local designer Elizabeth Roberts. I figured it'd be cloudy and possibly rainy the day I chose to take these photos (in early April) but of course, the weather gods decided to throw a beautiful sunny day our way instead.
Elizabeth Roberts designs for the quintessential Seattle style-conscious in mind. She combines functional elements that are very tech-friendly with attention to detail and fabric that rivals the most coveted couture lines. This particular style, "Le Voyager Coquette," features a hidden hood, deep pockets that fit EVERYTHING, midi mitts, a forearm pocket and waterproof, breathable fabric. All of Elizabeth's jackets protect wearers from the invisible but real dangers of electromagnetic frequencies from cell phones via Elizabeth’s exclusive SMARTSHIELD pocket linings.
A native New Yorker now living in the Pacific Northwest, Elizabeth says:
“What I want more than anything, like so many women, is more time, so I created the first jackets to minimize the transitions in a woman’s life. Designs that could take me from a morning walk to midday meetings to a night out on the town, from nonstop rain to bright sunshine and everything in between. The result is what I call high yield, scalable fashion.”
Like so many others I enjoy writing about, Elizabeth also fuses style with philanthropy, focusing her efforts on the Landesa Center for Women’s Land Rights, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and early learning.
Special thanks to my aunt Penny for taking these photos! She's second from right, and we're here with my mom and sister.
Elizabeth Roberts 'Le Voyager Coquette' raincoat / Duro Olowu for JCPenney dress (similar) / Report Shoes coral wedges (similar) / TOMS sunnies
Aces Interview: Eddie Borgo via Nordstrom
/Eddie Borgo recently launched his latest collection at Nordstrom with an appearance in their Downtown Seattle store. I love Borgo's aesthetic and style and was delighted to get some insight on the inner workings that eventually become fuel for his designs. Read on:
Who or what inspired you to be a jewelry designer?
I am specifically interested in the jewelry and adornment that we attribute to the different realms of NYC subculture; how and why a padlock around someone's neck can immediately establish their identity. My collection plays with the ideas we have of subculture, and then how those points of view trickle up into the luxury fashion market. My aesthetic has to do with this idea; it is high-end meets street.
What's your favorite piece you've designed so far?
Our cone bracelet; it has really become such an instantly recognizable piece for our brand - and also within the jewelry space today.
Who are some of your modern-day muses?
Our ad campaigns reflect who we see as modern-day muses. Each season, we photograph our friends as models. Past campaigns have included: Vanessa Traina (fall/winter 2009); Lauren Santo Domingo (spring/summer 2010); Kate Lanphear (f/w 2010); Giovanna Battaglia (s/s 2011); Tabitha Simmons (f/w 2011); Cecilia Dean (s/s 2012); Alison Mosshart (f/w 2013); and Anja Rubik (s/s 2013.)
What's one of your favorite highlights in your career so far?
Winning the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, being awarded the CFDA/Swarovski Award for Accessory Design, and being awarded the Tiffany & Co. Development Grant - all within months of each other.
What's on your music playlist right now?
David Bowie
Iggy Pop
Lou Reed
The Rolling Stone
Patti Smith
The Kills
Describe your personal style.
Uniformed.
What are you reading?
I always seem to be reading a few books simultaneously. I recently started I Dreamed I was a Very Clean Tramp by Richard Hell and it's great!
What are you most excited about in the coming months?
We always have special projects in the works at the studio - I continue to be excited and inspired by the innovate, progressive development processes our team consistently realizes.
My concentration for the time being is spearheading our fine jewelry division.
Thank you! All images and video courtesy of Nordstrom, via The Thread blog.
Read all of my Aces interviews here.
Aces Interview: Ray Page
/
In the social media & tech scene here in Seattle, there are people who are at every meetup, Ignite talk, SMC event and more. Then there are others you never see, because their job has them being a full-time badass here, there and around the country.
Ray Page is the latter. Like so many others, I met him on Twitter and then in real life over happy hour with our dear friend Carrie. All I remember was laughing as hard as I've ever laughed before at the most random jokes the three of us were telling each other. Getting to know Ray since then has shown me he is every bit as creative, curious and passionate as he is hilarious. Anyone that knows Ray knows that he's incredibly fucking good at what he does (he's executive creative director of POSSIBLE's Seattle office.) I am personally grateful to Ray for believing in my future. He was one of the most instrumental figures in helping me find the confidence to pursue my dreams. Read on to see what inspires him:
What's on your playlist right now?
Del the Funky Homosapien
Kitten
The National
Pavarotti
Biggie Smalls
Nas
Daft Punk
Wu-Tang
Rufus Wainwright
Dinosaur Jr
The Cure
& The Smiths.
At any given time, these get me through the week. However, when I need to crank out a presentation deck or ideate around a concept, it’s continuous hip hop every single time.
Describe your style.
Understated, with clean lines. Simple, with mostly solids. I’m a sucker for details, so moods of norway, scotch & soda and nau are my sweet spots. I will never wear pants that resemble salt water taffy. Men, please stop that.
Who inspires you?
I have many, but they have shared traits.
I’m inspired by individuals who fearlessly pursue their passion.
The extremists. The makers. The ones who live without balance. The ones who go against the grain without any other objective except to be the best at what they do. The ones who are motivated only by their internal dialog and not by financial gain, awards or recognition.
Great dads inspire me. The ones who blossomed as people because of their kids. Those that get giddy recounting weekend stories with their children. Yeah, those guys.
What are you reading?
I mostly stick to industry publications; Monocle, Contagious, IDEA, CommArts and various websites. I’m currently reading Present Shock by Douglas Rushkoff, where he introduces the phenomenon of presentism. He shares thoughts around how the “future” we used to talk about pre-Y2K is happening now. And, frankly, how we’re not hard-wired to deal with living in the present. It impacts global economics, social economics and everything in between.
The next book in the cue is Finding Ultra by Rich Roll. He’s the epitome of one of the inspirational types described above. An extremist, who in 5 years went from an overweight middle aged man, to one of Men’s Health Magazine’s top 25 most fit men in the world.
What are you most excited about in the coming months?
My 6 year old daughter choses not to pick a favorite of anything. She loves too many things. So, I’ll take her lead and mention all the things I’m excited about in the coming months.
Summer in Seattle. Zanny. The final episodes of Breaking Bad. Decatur. My daughter’s dance recital. Home renovations. raygr. Continued badassery the creative department produces. Dinner with friends. The Perfect Bite. Tennis lessons / tournaments.
Thank you!
Read all of my Aces interviews here.
Kube 93 Summer Jam RECAP!
/Have you ever found yourself just wanting to relive an amazing weekend? As I write this, that feeling has been running through my body since Saturday - the night of KUBE 93's Summer Jam. I couldn't have asked for a better venue, weather, line-up and group of friends to go with! (well, if Miguel was there it would've been perfect!) My friends and I decided to escape the city for a weekend in Eastern Washington and to enjoy the talents of Drop City Yacht Club, Wale, J.Cole, 2 Chainz, Trey Songz and the King, TI.
The whole day consisted of dancing, drinking a few cocktails and singing at the top of my lungs - my voice is shot by the way. This was by far one of the best outdoor concert experiences I've had! I want more!
A couple Summer Jam tidbits I'd like to share:
1. My left side of the body is darker than the other.
2. 2 Chainz has been in heavy rotation on my car playlist.
3. Crop tops and jean shorts were the "unofficial" outfit of Summer Jam.
4. Trey Songz is undoubtedly amazing live.
5. I wish I knew why 2 Chainz wore a long sleeve sweater in 85 degree weather.
I've posted a few pics below to recap the night!
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Sarah Basto is a born and raised Seattleite. She’s a former merchandise marketing student of The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and is currently working as a marketing manager at a local nanny agency and serves as the PR & marketing intern for local luxury swimwear company Adicora Swimwear. She’s obsessed with all things Seattle and is interested in just about everything – this explains why she considers herself an entreprenista in the making! Outside of work Sarah loves spending time with her family and friends, baking, exploring the city, and being a full-time happy hour guru.
Aces Interview: Jaclyn Johnson
/The Aces interview series are a little look into the lifestyle of people I admire who are doing amazing things for their community and world.
Today, please meet Jaclyn Johnson!
L.A. is home to most of my favorite fashion bloggers. One of those is Jaclyn, whose Some Notes on Napkins blog I've been following for a couple of years now. The graphic design in her posts drew me into the blog, so it was no surprise to find out she'd founded a creative agency, There is No Subject. The hustlers who use their blog as the gateway to pursue their dreams are the best kinds of inspiration to have. Read on for what's lighting up Jaclyn's life right now:
What's on your playlist right now?
The new Jai Paul album is amazing. I also love Night Time Sound Desire, RHYE and Lorde.
Describe your style.
Consistently changing. Some days I feel like a good drop crotch and others a baby doll dress. I tend to stick to earth tones and simple silhouettes. so ever changing simplicity, maybe?
Who inspires you?
People who are loyal. There are very few people in this life that can pick you up when you are down and generally be on your team. I am lucky to be surrounded by amazing hard-working women and business owners that all lift each other. To name names, Alisa Leonard (French BK), Jasmine Takanikos (Jas Consulting Group), Geri Hirsch (leaftv), Jeanine Pesce (We Are Range) - they all have businesses but are creative geniuses as well and they consistently inspire me.)
What are you reading?
I just finished Contagious by Jonah Berger which was a great read. I also finished Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In between flights to NYC-- a must for any lady getting her hustle on.
What are you most excited about in the coming months?
Create + Cultivate, my company's creative event series is hitting the road! We are hosting our first one in Portland on July 27th and another one in Brooklyn in late August. I am so excited for Portland as we are working with super dope brands like WildFang, Betsy and Iya and more! Plus the space we are hosting it in is like a creative playground.
Thank you!
Find Jaclyn at Some Notes on Napkins (her blog), There is No Subject (her agency) and Create + Cultivate (the event.)
Read all of my Aces interviews here.
Fit & Fresh: Tmber, The Pacific Northwest Hiking Guide
/Living in the Pacific Northwest, you can't help but get outdoors and into nature for a good workout. Hiking in the many beautiful trails is one of the most popular outdoor workouts, with a plethora of options just a short drive out of Seattle or Portland. If you've been hiking in this area, you know how hard and time-consuming it can be to find a good trail. State and national park sites are text-heavy and hard to navigate, and most other trail-finding sites are just plain boring and uninformative.
Enter the hiking guide & community for the digital natives. Hey Tmber!
Tmber caught my eye when they started following me on Twitter. A few weeks later, my boyfriend wanted to try a new trail with some water, scenery and challenge but that wasn't too far away from Seattle. I went to Tmber to peruse some routes and immediately fell in love.
Tmber is centered around making your entire hiking experience enjoyable and not a complete mystery. They know over 63% of the 2.7 million people who hike in the Pacific Northwest research routes online before heading out into the wilderness, and they've created a site and community that answers all the questions you might have (source.) Most sites will tell you how long, how far away and how challenging a trail is, but Tmber will also tell you if that trail is good for kids, what to pack, the nearest place to get some fuel after the hike (both for your body & your vehicle) and what to expect.
The absolute clincher for me was the fact they've got short, 90-second videos of their people hiking specific routes, and describing their experience along the way. Peep the one on Franklin Falls - that's the one we chose. So simple, yet so incredibly helpful! Now I won't feel like I'm wandering lost into the wilderness next time I want to try a new route.
Peep Tmber's site, but check out their fun Pinterest too. Tons of helpful resources for hikers everywhere.
How are you getting fit & fresh this summer? Any favorite trails you like to hike - in the Pacific Northwest or beyond?
Court’s Summer Essentials for 2013
/EOS (Evolution of Smooth) lip balm
I am absolutely OBSESSED with this lip balm that I just got for my birthday! In general I cannot go a day, let alone an hour, without applying lip balm to keep my lips moisturized. I absolutely hate chapped lips, especially in the summer. It’s a must-have to protect your lips from the sunshine! Pick up this no-mess lip balm in a variety of flavors (mine is “Honeysuckle Honeydew”) from your local drug store for just $4.
Dolphin shorts
This is one of my favorite latest trends! This style of shorts is very casual (with its slightly athletic flair), yet stylish. I just picked up my first pair from the Buffalo Exchange in the U-District for only $10! But you can find dolphin shorts in an assortment of prints at Forever 21.
DIY crop top
Crop tops are an essential for summer – need I say more? How can you possibly go through summer in the sweltering heat without rockin’ a crop top?! I recently purchased a graphic tee (a white T-shirt with a black and white graphic of Tupac) off of eBay. I then DIY’d it so that there was a bow-like design on the back and I also fringed the hem of the shirt. Pair your DIY crop top with dolphin shorts for a chic summer look!
Simple bangles
All the celebs are workin’ this trend, from Kim Kardashian to Rihanna! This is such a simple look that all ladies can pull off this summer. Wear multiple bangles together and remember that the colors can be contrasting! Pair a couple of gold bangles with a rose gold one! I purchased a few open double-skull bangles on eBay and I also found a simple rose gold bangle from H&M.
Something neon
Neon has become so trendy rather than tacky – from a chartreuse-like neon green to a neon, highlighter pink! My favorite is the neon green look. Neon colors are so necessary for summer because of the shock factor that it brings to any look. I recently picked up a textured, chartreuse skater skirt from H&M (for only $17.95) that I am completely in love with! I paired my neon green skirt with a cream lace top to balance out the brightness.
(Almost knee-high) Gladiators
These sandals have been an on-and-off trend over the past couple of years but they’re back for this summer and you should all get a pair! The style that I’ve really come to love is the grid-like patterned, almost knee-high gladiators, which celebs such as, Kourtney Kardashian, have been seen wearing ‘em.
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Courtney Liu is a Hawaii native in the journalism program at the University of Washington. She loves clothes and styling herself and her friends. She hopes to pursue a career in public relations or in the fashion industry.
