Local Style Experts Weigh in on Spring Fashion

Ask any Seattle-based designer about style in our city, and the discussion will inevitably lead to three words: casual, quality and versatility. Garments that layer and transition stay in high rotation, and become formative staples in a Seattleite’s wardrobe.

Though, as the seasons change and we lose our layers, and weather becomes more permitting, what will the style landscape look like? I caught up with several Seattle-based shops and designers to talk spring collections and find out what Seattleites should be wearing. 

Suk Chai, designer, Schai
Suk Chai spent years designing and consulting at Nordstrom before she left to explore her own textile endeavors. The result was her womenswear label Schai, now in full force, seamlessly merging minimal design and luxury Italian fabrics. Schai’s 2015 spring line Water was inspired by her childhood memories of fishing in the cold waters of Alaska where her father was a fisherman.

The collection draws from the juxtapositions in life and from these memories–the powerful yet fragile, mysterious yet lucid, strong yet vulnerable. The color palette is indicitive of the Alaskan shores, pairing wispy water-like hues with Indigo, and a yellow-green color inspired by fishermen’s attire. The materials are all sourced from Italy, and pair featherweight lambskin garments with water-resistent nylon, fluid silks and a shimmery copper material that represents the surface of the ocean at sunset.

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Schai’s SS15 collection “Water” was inspired by her memories as a little girl fishing in the cold waters of Alaska
Describe your line in three words: Timeless. Relaxed. Luxury.
Guiding design philosophy: I must love every design and know that I would be proud to wear every design myself. It has to represent who I am as a designer and as a consumer.
What were some of the biggest trends you saw on the runway for SS15 at NYFW?: To quote Anna Wintour: “Trend is such a dirty word.” I truly believe it’s not about trends, and it’s more about your own distinctive style and point of view. 
What garment from your SS15 line appeals most the the Seattleite?: The Ultime Shirt Dress and Archetype Trench. The trench is a no-brainer as it has water-resistant finish, and the sleeves are detachable. The shirt dress is the go-to piece for me. The material feels so sensual but it travels really well, too! 
How would you style the shirt dress? It can be worn as a dress (and hello, the huge pockets!), or as a shirt with long shorts or leggings, or as a cardigan or a jacket. You can belt it front or at back, or leave it untied. You can wear it with sneakers, slip ons for more urban relaxed chic look, and you can wear with heels to feel more sexy and sensual. Fit is relaxed and flowy without feeling overwhelming.
What styles can we expect to see a lot of this spring? Dresses/Long tunics with sneakers or leather lace ups. 

 

Cameron Levin, designer, Cameron Levin
Although the desert-like hues of Cameron Levin’s SS15 line inspire thoughts of lands far warmer than Seattle, she channeled the Seattle consumer when designing her newest collection, Asali (translates to honey in Swahili). Expect rich suedes hand-dyed in Napa Valley and rusty, Earth tones.

“Many of the colors in this collection are what some would consider off limits, like pairing blacks and browns together,” Levin says. “But these colors are found alongside each other all the time in nature, and nature doesn’t lie about what is beautiful.”   
Cameron Levin’s SS15 Collection “Asali” utilizes rich earthtones found in nature; Photo Credit: Cameron Levin
Color palette: Rich Earth tones: gold, brown, sage, gray, black
Construction/materials used: Lamb suede and sueded/brushed silk
Guiding design philosophy: I never produce something that I, myself, wouldn’t wear on a frequent basis. If I like something but feel like it’s a bit of a stretch in terms of wearability, I cut it.
What were some of the biggest trends you saw on the runway for SS15 at NYFW?: I’m not a huge follower of trends that are dictated by other designers; having said that, I tend to keep more on trend with color palettes (sometimes on purpose and sometimes by coincidence). Seeing marsala and other red family tones on the runway was a refreshing alternative to the perfunctory pastel options. Also, suede was kind of a big hit too. 
How can these looks be translated to the streets of Seattle?: Seattleites have always been good at tailoring high-fashion trends to their daily lives. I think the 2015 Pantone color is a great fit for Seattleites—it’s one of the few things I incorporated into my collection from the runway.
What garment from your SS15 line appeals most the Seattleite?: I think my easy three-quarter length bolero jacket is the most Seattle-esque. It dresses up every ensemble easy but it’s super easy to wear, and transitions well from spring/summer to fall easily.
How would you style this piece?: With absolutely anything—little black dress, jeans and tank, wide leg trousers, crop shorts—or mini skirt. I think there’s still one more of these boleros left at Butch Blum now.
What’s one look you would love to see Seattleites really embrace this spring? Hats, there is something timeless about them and their ability to complete an outfit. 

 

Kayla Boehme, owner, Pipe and Row 
Fremont boutique Pipe and Row wants its customers to have fun with color and pattern this spring, and understand every standout piece needs its trusty basic.

Owner Kayla Boehme expects loose, boxy tops with cropped jeans and great shoes to easily fit into Seattle’s laid-back aesthetic this season, and picks a great pair of boyfriend jeans, a lightweight sweater in a light color and Stutterheim raincoat as some staples for the warmer days ahead.

Rue Stiic’s SS15 collection is definitive of easy, laid-back Seattle style; Photo courtesy of Pipe and Row
Color palette/standout color we’ll see: A lot of beautiful blues and pinks. Stripes are still standard. We have a great mix of basics in neutrals and black but some super fun prints in the bolder colors.
Construction/materials you currently lean toward: It’s all about the feel for us. We’re constantly on the hunt for fabrics that feel great. This season we really made a conscious effort to buy cottons, silks, and blends that feel great!
Describe spring 2015 style in three words: Easy. Modern. Texture.
Describes Seattle style: Practical and effortlessly cool, always keeping it casual. Not quick to follow trends, but still adventurous.
What are some prominent styles you saw on the runway for SS15 at NYFW? Long tunics and light jackets and cropped pants. Bold, graphic prints in classic cuts mixed with neutrals and lots of texture.  
What trend would you really like to see Seattleites embrace this spring? Socks with heels
Describe your personal style My personal style has always been lots of layers and twists on a classic, I love mixing colors and textures to get a modern look. I go through my all-black wardrobe stages, but I am not afraid to play with color. I always find myself playing with proportions, such as pairing jeans with longer dresses.
What’s one style your can’t wait to wear this spring: I am really pumped for culottes! They are so comfortable and can be worn dressed up at night, paired with a great bootie for day, then throw on a sandal for vacation or on those warm Seattle spring days.

Deborah Roberts, designer, Silvae
Silvae’s Deborah Roberts and her textile design partner Olivia Knapp combine their talents to create stunningly bold (and slightly oddball) fabrics for Roberts’ women’s label Silvae. 

In Silvae’s spring line, expect boxy tops paired with leg-bearing skirts, loads of chambray, details like raw edges and overlays and pieces featuring Inscaping, the latest pattern that mixes botanical and medical illustrations with themes of introspection and rebirth. Its neutral palette of white, black, blue chambray and light pastels lend a “clean, feminine and ethereal” feel.

“I gravitate toward interesting textural fabrics in clean silhouettes that easily transition from day to night,” Roberts says. For spring, she sees Seattleites taking to sporty sneakers and sandals, mid-length skirts, wide leg pants and boxy silhouettes.

Silvae’s “Ofelia” Shirt Dress from the SS15 Collection; Photo courtesy of Deborah Roberts
What garment from your SS15 line appeals most the the Seattleite?: I think the Ofelia Shirt Dress will be popular in Seattle this season. The silhouette has an exaggerated curved hem, which gives a bit of interest and the boxier silhouette and is super comfortable and forgiving in the summer. We’re offering it a a variety of fabrics: blue chambray, distressed linen and the botanical print for more of a statement piece.   
How would you style this piece?: You could layer it over pants, but I think it looks great as a dress with casual sporty sandals or dressed up with an oxford or ankle boot.      
Guiding design philosophy: I want the line to be unique but easy to wear.
What were some of the biggest looks you saw on the runway for SS15 at NYFW?: The standouts to me in the New York shows were Calvin Klein, Proenza Schouler, The Row, Delpozo, and 3.1 Phillip Lim. There was a lot of black and white this season in interesting textures as well pastels, chambray blues, and abstract hand-drawn prints and florals. A number of designers played with the collared shirt and shirt dress, round silhouettes and interesting proportions with long layers, belted waists and shorter skirts over dresses.