AW20 Editor's Picks
We're delighted to present our picks for the Autumn/Winter 2020-21 season based upon excellent craftsmanship, comfort, sustainability, and presentation that sparked joy in our editorial team, and we believe will spark joy in you as well.
The following list, in no particular order, represents these themes with timeless elegance and ease-of-wear that offer beautiful pops of color and meaning to anyone's well established capsule wardrobe. And for those beginning a capsule for the first time, we've identified excellent monochromatic separates that pair well in a variety of styles and combinations.
Many businesses are offering limited-time sales and special promo codes, so be sure to follow the bold text to receive your special offers.
SCHAI
Bellevue based fashion designer Suk Chai established her label SCHAI in order to explore an ungenrered reimagining of contemporary womenswear that elevated functionality as well as one's sense of personal agency.
Featuring a wonderful assortment of free-flowing silhouettes and skin-tight shapewear made with the highest quality Italian wool, cashmere, and leather, SCHAI offers the modern person a bit of everything, which for many, is exactly what fashion is all about.
As we've reported before, Suk has largely stepped away from producing new collections, making what remains of her inventory instant classics. Her showroom pieces and one-of-ones are a buy-now-or-regret-it-later proposition.
CASHMERE FUNNEL NECK SWEATER, 595
STRIPED MAGNUM BELTED TROUSER, 385
ATOMIC STRETCH WOOL JACKET, 398
ZIP STRETCH LEATHER LEGGINGS, 448
SSKEIN
New to the Seattle market, knitwear label Sskein (pronounced skān) focuses on elegant and comfortable separates made from incredibly soft baby alpaca textile. For those new to the material, the term "baby" refers to the portion of an adult alpaca's fur that's softest, and in the case with Sskein, is sheared with the comfort of the alpaca in mind. The textile is generally 7x warmer than sheep's wool, yet remains lightweight, and is even water and fire repellant. And since alpaca fiber contains no lanolin, it remains hypoallergenic during its production lifecycle.
While the company is new, Sskein's founder and creative director Elisa Yip has a long track record of success in knitwear. A graduate of FIT and formerly a knitwear designer for Nordstrom, Elisa has finally fulfilled her dream of launching her own label built around end-to-end sustainability. Her production cycles begin with a pre-sale business model eliminating the possibility of overproduction and guaranteeing timely delivery of products.
Sskein have alpaca beanies and scarves available to ship immediately, with pre-orders expected to ship between 12/15-12/30. And as a bonus, Elisa has kindly offered our readers a 10% sale on clothing with offer code "AW20" at checkout. Offer expires 12/3.
RIBBED BEANIE, 95
RIBBED SCARF, 125
SHAWL NECK LONG CARDIGAN, 595
CREW NECK BOXY PULLOVER, 325
PIRKKO. FINLAND
pirkko. Finland is, in fact, a Seattle based stockist located on 1st Avenue near Pike Place Market specializing in fine Scandinavian fashion and goods. Featuring a delightful mix of fashion, home furnishings, and notions including fine chocolates, pirkko. Finland makes its goal to exemplify the beauty, timelessness, and functionality inherent in Scandinavian design.
pirkko. Finland's founder and owner, Pirkko Karhunen, was born and raised in northern Finland. After studying at Columbia College in Chicago as well as Parson's in New York City, she led a fulfilling career working for companies including Land's End and Eddie Bauer before opening her shop on 1st Avenue.
Pirkko's philosophy on curation is simple: "It must bring you joy and pleasure every time you look at it, every time you use it. . . .These items are not throwaways, they are investments.” A delightfully understated philosophy that we happen to share in common.
pirkko. Finland is offering free shipping on all orders over $100 and offers wonderful hand sewn face masks for sale in limited quantities.
SALINA JACQUARD UNIKKO SCARF IN PINK, 225
JAATIKKO OSTJAKKI SILK DRESS, 495
VILSKE EXTRAFINE MERINO CARDIGAN, 225
TSAVO LINEN SCARF, MINT/BLUE, 75
A.OEI STUDIO
A.Oei Studio is a contemporary womenswear brand focused on modern silhouettes and original textile prints. One of their signature characteristics is the simplicity with which their silhouettes are executed that allows for the richness of their print’s story to really shine. Textile selections are made from sustainable and luxurious stocks such as Tencel and Japanese cotton, while construction of the garments occurs both in Singapore and in their studio in downtown Seattle.
Founder and fashion designer Angeline Oei studied at Amsterdam Fashion Institute before working for fashion brands in Antwerp, Singapore, and New York. We covered Angeline’s story here where she describes her move to Seattle as well as her brand’s international influences in some detail. Her latest print “Sunday” is inspired by Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, 1884, and has been applied to a fabulous made-to-odrer 100% silk scarf.
A.Oei Studio is offering free shipping within the United States as well as free international shipping on orders over $100.
PATCHWORK LACE JACKET, 248
”JIL” TOP IN BLUE, 98
TAILORED CULOTTES - BLACK, 208
“SUNDAY” PRINT SILK SCARF, 149
SARAH ALEXANDRA
Sarah Alexandra shirts are instantly recognizable. Designed by renowned bespoke tailor Renee Bassetti and perfected over the decades, the Sarah Alexandra Signature Shirt provides a ready-to-wear experience like very few others.
Made from fine Italian cotton textiles, and manufactured in Canada, the brand can be found at home in their Madison Street location in downtown Seattle, as well as from stockists around the country.
Fun facts: Sarah Alexandra’s brand name comes from Renee’s daughter, Sarah Alexandra McKinney, whom together worked to adapt the bespoke Bassetti experience to meet the demands of a wider market. And the company’s blog offers fun insights into their brand history as well as style guides and interviews with local fashion professionals. Ever wonder what goes into an SA lookbook shoot? Look no further than here.
Sarah Alexandra is currently offering a 20% sale with promo code “BF2020” at checkout. Offer expires 11/30.
“CHECK ME OUT” WEEKEND SHIRT, 310
”HOLLYWOOD SQUARES” SIGNATURE SHIRT, 365
”SNOW DAZE” SIGNATURE SHIRT, 415.00
”VA VA VEUVE” SHIRT DRESS, 495.00
THE OULA COMPANY
The OULA Company is perhaps the living embodiment of joy. In fact, founder and CEO Erika Massaquoi specifically set out to create a label that captured the essence of Black Joy and the Black Is Beautiful movement seen at its peak in the 60s and 70s in the United States, and reimagining it for a contemporary audience. What results is a fully inclusive brand that invites everyone to celebrate both OULA’s brand aesthetic as well as the liberating empowerment of the original movement. It’s incredibly hard not to feel immense joy when wearing the vibrant colors and free-flowing fabrics of OULA’s easy fit tops and dresses.
Erika herself is brilliant. Literally. She’s a modern day Renaissance person, having served as Assistant Dean at FIT and then receiving her Ph.D. in Cinema before working as a fashion journalist for the Oxygen network and curating exhibitions for Frye Art Museum, Seattle Art Museum, and MIT, to name but a few of her many accomplishments.
We spoke with Erika for our TALKS series earlier this year where she discusses local entrepreneurship as well as many other relevant topics in great detail. Check it out if you haven’t already.
The OULA Company is currently offering free shipping on orders within the United States as well as 10% off your purchase when you sign up for OULA’s newsletter. Additionally, OULA is currently offering 40% sale on all dresses and tops on their website 11/26 - 11/29.
“MIDI” IN RED AND BLACK SWIRL, 275
”THE SHIFT” WORK-FROM-HOME SALE, 120
SKY & ECRU BANQUET NAPKINS, 32
OULA FABRIC FACE MASK, 25
RIYYA COLLECTION
Riyya Collection has recently relaunched their label with a fresh look and a redesigned website while maintaining their modest fashion aesthetic. Riyya Collection was founded by designer Rahma Yusuf in 2016 who showed her first collection at Seattle Fashion Week's SS17 season runway event, which we covered way back before our own website existed.
Riyya Collection's latest offerings include vibrant prints, maxi dresses, easy-fit suits, silk hijabs, and promises more innovations in the weeks ahead. And be on the lookout for their upcoming blog where they share their brand's origin story in more detail.
To celebrate their brand's relaunch, Riyya Collection is currently offering 30% sale on all items on their website, with the discount applied automatically at checkout.
BENGAL TIGER CULOTTES PRINT SET, 74
FLORAL MAXI SUIT DRESS, 84
TERRACOTTA BLAZER SET, 145
CAMEL STONE BLAZER SET, 145
GUSTAVO APITI COUTURE
Gustavo Apiti Couture is a Seattle based label specializing in formalwear for special events and everyday occasions. Founded by fashion designer and bespoke tailor Gustave Apiti, the brand has evolved to style celebrities including Macklemore for red carpet events. At its heart, the brand's aesthetic favors joy and encourages a bon vivant sensibility, and one can't help but feel like celebrity themselves when styled so boldly.
Gustavo Apiti Couture have appeared on red carpets and runways throughout the Pacific Northwest, including Seattle Fashion Week and FashioNXT, and have recently announced their intention to appear at Paris Fashion Week in 2021. Gustave has appeared on television numerous times, including his most recent feature on KING5's Evening program. Yet for all his accolades, Gustave remains remarkably gracious and disarmingly kind, and his humility is as genuine as is his vision of beauty for the Northwest.
Originally from Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gustave grew up around fashion and went on to gain his education in South Africa, overcoming obstacles including language barriers and incredible uncertainty. But if there was one word that encapsulated Gustave's outlook, it would be resilience, which is a worldview he personally sews into the hem of every garment. We spoke with Gustave for our TALKS series earlier this year where he shares his inspiring story.
“ESTELLE” SNAKE PRINT SUIT, 1700
“GUSTAVE” RED TUXEDO SUIT, 1950
“MORION” FACE MASK, 55
“CIARA” FACE MASK, 50
KFLY SEATTLE
"Hello, Goddess." These are the words we're first greeted with by what is certainly one of the most fabulously inclusive brands in Seattle. Founded 8 years ago by designer Katy Flynn, KFLY caters to the female form in all its wonderful diversity. Known for their reversible tops and dresses, most prints can be worn backwards, while most solid colors can be worn both backwards and inside out, giving the wearer options to style for a plunging décolletage or backline at their discretion.
When not at the helm of her KFLY label, Katy can be seen at Belltown mainstay Sassafras as both Stylist and Jewelry Manager. KFLY's primary home is at Sassafras, while the brand can also be seen at stockists in Oregon, California, Chicago, and Minnesota.
In celebration of their 8th anniversary, KFLY is currently offering a 20% sale on all items on their website with promo code “FEMGEM” at checkout.
KFLY FACE MASKS, 25
BELLBOTTOM JUMPSUIT, 218
BLACK LACE DRESS, 88
BLUE FLORAL BOLERO, 88
LEIREN DESIGNS
Bespoke designer and dressmaker Madison Leiren is many things—CEO of a fashion business, designer of custom and ready-to-wear-apparel, lingerie aficionado, fashion stylist-at-large. But did you know she's also a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy? Or that she lends her support to environmental activism? Or that she's a true Viking at heart? Warrior Queen is a title that's rarely bestowed upon a fashion designer, but in this case, it's certainly appropriate. Throughout all of her work, one can see the power and refinement she bestows into every garment and calls out in every person she styles.
Madison grew up with Norwegian stories in her home which sparked her imagination with tales of romance and intrigue. And that romanticism and storytelling is very much alive in her textile selections, often juxtaposing sheer lace and silks with rustic pewter and silver embellishments, giving one the feeling that they have stepped into an ancient story where the stakes are high and the rewards even higher.
Leiren Designs is currently offering a 10% discount on face masks at their sister-site, as well as offering our readers a free consultation and 10% sale on custom clothing with promo code "AW20" at checkout.
“LIV” DRESS, 2500
”SKREIA” TOP, 349
”HAGEN” PANTS, 195
”LEAVES” FACE MASK, 35
GUILLERMO BRAVO
Guillermo Bravo is a luxury streetwear brand quickly gaining the world's attention. Based in Capitol Hill, the brand began when fashion designer Luis Velez imbued his love for all things basketball into his first sneaker which quickly gained local attention.
From there, Guillermo Bravo expanded to include activewear, then outerwear, and has now matured into a main-line label elevating streetwear with high-end textiles, ungendered silhouettes, and a DIY design process intended to empower the customer to transform garments based upon their utility at any given moment.
Although plans for production have been placed on hold throughout the pandemic, Luis and crew have been able to bring a handful of garments to market in a capsule collection entitled Mixed Metals which is available for pre-order now.
For more info on Guillermo Bravo, as well as our in-depth interview with Luis Velez, click here.
“AMOEBA” PATCHWORK BUTTON DOWN, 265
”APM” TRENCH COAT, 885
”FRANK” DOUBLE CUFF TROUSERS, 305
”SPK” FIELD SHIRT, 225
CRESCENT DOWN WORKS
Crescent Down Works has specialized in timeless outerwear since 1974. Founder Anne Michelson began with a down vest and her love of the outdoors. The family-owned company has since expanded into jackets, parkas, hoodies and sweaters made for and inspired by the Pacific Northwest in their Pioneer Square factory.
This year, Crescent Down Works have expanded into a series of collaborations that produced limited runs of wonderfully innovative and seasonally appropriate outerwear. The Countryside Classico Down Parka collaboration with Seattle based style influencer Jeff Depano was a rare highlight, the kind of which we'd love to see more often.
Crescent Down Works is currently preparing for their "Once In A Blue Moon Sale" which begins Thanksgiving at midnight PST and ends the following Monday at midnight PST. If you've ever eyed a CDW parka or sweater before, now is your rare opportunity to receive a 20% sale on all items on their website using promo code "BLUE MOON" at checkout.
DOWN ITALIAN VEST IN NYLON RIPSTOP, 350
DOWN ITALIAN VEST IN GREY WOOL, 539
DOWN SHIRT IN BROWN, 557
DOWN SWEATER IN NYLON RIPSTOP, 600
MARIA CHRISTOFILIS
Maria Christofilis is a fine jewelry and fragrance brand based in Seattle. The eponymous company is named after its founder and owner whom launched the brand in 2014 after a brief hiatus, having sold her previous fragrance business Anthousa Home Fragrances just two years prior in 2012. But the world of fashion often creates a magnetic pull that attracts even living legends out of retirement. And sure enough, Maria sprang back with her delightfully unique eau de parfum Fleur09 in impressive form.
Maria Christofilis the brand has since expanded into rarified air, offering truly high-end jewelry products including diamond cluster and pink sapphire necklaces, statement-worthy diamond bracelets, and unique signet rings unlike anything you're likely to come across in the current Seattle market. As you can see, we've grown quite fond of the charm series pendants, which you can view below.
Maria Christofilis the person, however, is decidedly more understated, preferring to remain just outside the public's radar. Maria recieved her Bachelor's in Art History from the University of Washington before achieving her A.A. in Fashion Design & Marketing via Polimoda / FIT. And it certainly helps that she can converse in Italian, Greek, and English, appropriately making her an international person of mystery at home and abroad.
But at the heart of this story is an authentic person whom genuinely loves making people feel as beautiful as she sees them. For those whom love their refinement with a side of character, Maria Christofilis is certainly worth your attention.
MINI HEART NECKLACE, 880
FLEUR09 EDP 50ML SPRAY, 160
MYKONOS12 EDP 50ML SPRAY, 150
”EVIL EYE” SIGNET PENDANT, 2600
NUCIANO
Nuciano is a Seattle based premium leather goods brand specializing in bags and accessories, many of which are made and warehoused in founder Joy Egbejimba's home country of Nigeria. Each bag is made with state-of-the-art processes which provide two key benefits—exceptional quality and lower prices—which further underline Nuciano's strategy to democratize luxury in the accessories market.
Nuciano have become a favorite choice of celebrity stylists whom have featured Nuciano bags and clutches on red carpets and runways. But beyond the glamour and spectacle, one quickly finds that Nuciano's mission to empower women couldn't be more urgent.
There's no other way to say it. This has been a devastating year for Nigeria as well as Nuciano's in-country operations. But despite the loss of life as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in product during the Lagos riots over SARS, Nuciano customers have poured out their hearts, offering words of love and encouragement. And Joy has taken this to heart, pledging to return more emboldened than ever, using fashion to combat injustice wherever it may reside.
Nuciano have previously launched their "Hope" handbag which donates 100% of all proceeds from the sale of the bag to Nigeria based non-profit One Kind Act Foundation which sponsors their ongoing CancerAware Nigeria program to promote breast cancer awareness and other urgent initiatives.
Additionally, Nuciano created a new program called Nuciano Scholars for which 5% of all Nuciano profits are redirected toward the goal of educating young women in Nigeria who would otherwise not have the means to receive an education on their own.
It goes without saying, but in the interest of clarity, spending money with Nuciano tangibly makes life better for entire communities both locally and globally. We could think of no better gift this holiday season, nor a better use of fashion than to become a vehicle of healing for a world in need.
“HOPE” HANDBAG IN RED, 50
”PRISM” CLUTCH, 550
”ZINA” SHOULDER BAG, 350
”GODDESS” CLUTCH, 1300
SQUIRREL VS COYOTE
Squirrel Vs. Coyote is a fine art fashion and jewelry label specializing in instantly recognizable bespoke pieces that accessorize wearers in armor for everyday life. The brand is bifurcated into two lines: the Coyote line, which is dedicated to bespoke accessories and sculptural art; and the Squirrel line, which is comprised of ready-to-wear jewelry and accessories.
Founder and designer Alexis Devine is an accomplished artist who began the business after experimenting with mixed materials before finally landing upon the form Squirrel Vs. Coyote is most known for today—"Creating armor for those who dream of vulnerability."
Squirrel Vs. Coyote is unapologetically powerful and fiercely feminine while extolling the virtues of community and acceptance. There is no singular muse or personae. Rather, a corporate identity that encourages belonging.
Nearly everything is made by hand, including the life-affirming messages stamped upon many of the metal findings and embellishments. And everything has meaning, like the use of obsidian for its healing properties, and the fact that nearly all metal used is either recycled or recyclable. Everything comes from the Earth, and everything will one day return to it. And there is incredible beauty, healing, and expression to be explored in-between.
“BUKOWSKI” CRYSTAL NECKLACE, 66
”FOX” STAMPED NECKLACE, 72
"I EXIST AS I AM" CRYSTAL NECKLACE, 65
”MY PRONOUNS” EARRINGS, 42
WRAP UP
This has been a year like none other in recent memory. Our community was hit terribly hard, but we've become all the stronger for it. Choosing to shop local is one of the most important things any of us can do, not only to support local fashion professionals, but to revive our broader local economy.
While it's beyond our scope to cover every industry, please consider our local schools, non-profits, beauty salons, spa centers, gymnasiums, stockists, retailers, restaurants, and the many other businesses and professionals affected by our shutdowns. We're all in this together. And together, we can weather any storm.
EDITOR’S NOTE: ALL IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHTED AND REPUBLISHED HERE FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES. LINKS TO THIRD PARTIES ARE PROVIDED FOR FURTHER READING. SEATTLE FASHION COLLECTIVE DOES NOT RECEIVE A COMMISSION. THAT SAID, WE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES AND ENTREPRENEURS AND ENCOURAGE SHOPPING LOCALLY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.
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