I was shocked and dismayed last week to read this article in the Seattle PI on the supposed debacle of Northwest Fashion. According to certain New Yorkers "trained in the art", we here in the drizzle pond of Seattle "wear too much plaid and flannel", as well as solidly err on the side of much "too outdoorsy".
I thought, surely they must be wrong. Clearly, they didn't comfortably seat themselves within one of our beautiful office buildings, or outside the Rainier Club (which doesn't even allow jeans to be worn on premises - no exceptions.)
But it did make me curious, so I started a casual visual survey, designed to run for a full week and take into account several "general" environments:
- The most ubiquitous Seattle scene; a coffee shop.
- A trendy bar/club, which interestingly enough had been compared in a different article as to have been so designed that an attendee wouldn't really know whether they were in NY or Paris (or Seattle!)
- A downtown office building
- An industrial district office building
- A posh private club
And the survey says....(wait for it.....) they were right. I saw plenty of skin, and plenty of style, but I would characterize most of what I saw as "comfort clothing"; not too loose, not too tight. Lots of color and texture, and plenty of "mixed bag" outfits - i.e. not too matchy-matchy. Usually anchored with one or two good pieces complemented by the individuals own sense of self and style.
I think comfort clothing is somewhat analogous to comfort food, and with much the same intention. After all, we ARE Northwesterners, who would probably rather be hiking, kayaking, running, beach-combing, skiing, skateboarding or just about any other outdoor activity than what we're currently pursuing in-house.
To be honest, I dress differently when I go to New York. For that matter, I dress differently when I go to LA - because it's its own little universe unto itself, amen. Interestingly enough, the only difference in clothing for me between LA and NY is the weight of the fabric and the season in which they're worn.
Maybe as an alternative to tsk tsking about our gortex and polypropylene, and the well-supported spandex market (no pun intended), those snarky "What Not to Wear" folks should just give it a rest and get comfy in an anorak and a pair of running tights. Or, perhaps its that their physique just can't stand up to the test...? In any regard, let's just leave it at "we're okay, they're okay."
Today, I am running my software company dressed in a pair of chinos, a navy turtleneck and my favorite Eddie Bauer quilted vest, finished at the foot with my faithful, well worn 6 year-old Cole Haan slip-ons. I'm a lot happier than when I'm in my 3" stilts with a pencil skirt, breast-hugging shirt and well cut blazer. And it shows. No wonder I've made this side of the world my permanent home. Northwest fashion running afoul of the style mavens? You bet, and I hope it stays that way!
Amen. Comfort clothing all the way. I have on capris and a short sleeved Hawaii looking blouse. That's pretty fancy for me!
Posted by: Margaret | June 14, 2005 at 04:11 PM
When I visited Paris a few years ago, I noticed that Parisians apparently spend a lot more money on a good outfit than we do. After a few days, I realized that their chic chicks wore the same outfits, day after day; the Parisians also aren't known to bathe frequently.
The evening subway ride may prove challenging to those who do not bring their own cologne. At times, my preference is for the well dressed but smelly but elegant French gals, though this isn't always true.
I don't want to recast Seattle into the image of New York or LA, nor do I think that we need to adopt the hygene habits of the French, but I wouldn't mind encouraging our own new fasion movement. Perhaps we could start with formal-rain-wear or mountaineering formals or maybe attempt some cutting edge space-wear for geeks and nerds, something that would upstage both the New Yorkers and the French!
Posted by: David Stephen Ball-Romney | June 14, 2005 at 07:27 PM
I'm staying the hell away from Paris. Northwest is the place to be! We bathe, and we wear "smart" clothes. Only idiots dress for others.
Posted by: Cathy | June 14, 2005 at 08:57 PM
And to think I wanted to move to New York. I live in my swim suite in the summer, and jeans and a sweatshirt work just fine for me in the winter.
Posted by: Emily | June 14, 2005 at 11:37 PM
Oooooo. Methinks a nerve has been twanged. I like David's idea of starting a Northwest trend, though this may also fall under the "been done before" category (i.e. Grunge, capital "G" is still very much an identifiable, Seattle based movement.)
I'm definitely noodling on what we could create as a mass movement. FYI - we have some very notable designers on the rise based here - but most are in the specialty wear category (read "fancy dresses and stuff") and this may bear an entirely different post. Noodling onward and upward!
Posted by: Kimberley | June 15, 2005 at 09:31 AM
Bravo! and well said. Personally, I'm awfully tired of those from the Outside (New York, LA, etc.) casting judgement on our way of life, fashion, etc. and insinuating that we are unable to meet their standards. It's not that we can't, it's that we don't care to...and who appointed them fashion police anyway?
It comes down to this: who has the higher quality of life - the "well dressed," stressed-out, urban-locked New Yorker, or the comfortably attired, slower-paced, nature-loving PNW'er? We aren't the rest of the country, nor do we want to be. /native rant
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