CELEBRITY SIGHTING - DANIEL RADCLIFFE IN HAMILTON

BB style favorite Daniel Radcliffe was out at the Met Ball this month, wearing one of our favorite shirts - a Bespoke white tuxedo shirt by Hamilton Shirts. A classic, elegant choice, Daniel!

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - BOSS LAYERED TOP

Sheer layered top - Hugo Boss - $395

Slightly peach-pink and oh so delicate, this top is a layered organza (a semi-opaque silk that has some body to it, unlike a gauze or a chiffon) and is incredible with a white or grey tailored pant.

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - TRANSIT LINEN SHIRT

Transit linen shirt - $350

This is the coolest linen shirt we've seen in quite a while. A great denim alternative (wear it with contrasting pants please) with a garment dye finish that shows just the right amount of raw, un-dyed fabric beneath the pockets and on the seam lines. Expect a slimmer fit, as Transit always runs a touch small.

MEMORIAL DAY CLOSURE

We hope you're out and about enjoying your fabulous Memorial Day weekend! Butch Blum will be closed Sunday, May 27 and Monday, May 28 in honor of our troops. We re-open our usual hours Tuesday, May 29 at 10am.

YARN WINDOWS

 Enlarge these terrific shots of our current windows to see the great detail - colorful yarns tie together two of our favorite trends for this season...colorful men's casuals, and neutral crochet looks for women.

ROSSO PURO SHAKER STITCH CARDIGAN

Cardigan - Rosso Puro - $325

Made exclusively for us by a small scale knitwear company in Italy called Rosso Puro, this incredible cardigan's ultrasoft yarn is actually made of thousands of smaller yarns twisted together, then knit into the piece you see here. The color is a soft mocha-taupe, perfect for wearing as a jacket in the spring, and transitioning into fall as a layering piece.

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - TRANSIT JERSEY JACKET

Zip jersey jacket - Transit - $495

This jacket by perennial BB favorite Transit is a soft, easy piece to toss on for a cool evening or an early morning jog. It's finished with raw edges and a contrasting ribbed bottom, but doesn't blouson around the hips - no muffin top!

CELEBRITY SIGHTING - LEA MICHELE IN ARMANI

TV Star Lea Michele (Glee, the upcoming Dorothy of Oz) steps out in this fabulous frock by the master himself, Giorgio Armani. We love this proportion on the diminutive starlet (she's only 5'2!) as it makes her look very leggy and terribly tall.

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - OLGA BERG EMBROIDERED BAG

Olga Berg - $165

The embroidery on this bag is very rich - beautifully done for an accessory at this price point. Jazz up some of your casual pink tops with a pinch of green leaves!

SKIN GAME OF THE WEEK - PONTI

PONTI SEAFOOD GRILL | 3,000 BB SKINS

Northwestern gifts of amazing seafood and incredible produce are celebrated daily at Ponti Seafood Grill, where inspired cuisine uses the freshest regional ingredients. Nestled next to the Fremont Bridge, views of the waterway, outdoor patios surrounded by trees and flowers, or a warm and inviting dining room meet your every need, including private event rooms with a view. The lucky BB Skin Game player will enjoy a scrumptious dinner for two. Discover more at pontiseafoodgrill.com. ($150 value)

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - SPRING POCKET SQUARES

Squares by Roda - $65

 Pocket squares are a GREAT way to individualize your jacket - and not just a suit jacket, either. A pocket square can go in any sport-coat style jacket with a pocket, and is a great way to make a casual outfit pop when you're not wearing a necktie.

KENT'S PICK - RELWEN V-NECK POCKET SWEATER

Relwen navy pocket sweater - $175

"It's hard to do something new to a sweater and not come out looking stupid...this pocket sweater by Relwen has exactly the right balance of cool detail and classic wearability. The red tipping at the neck sets it off, and the pocket looks cool without being distracting. A huge plus is the terrific price for a VERY nicely made piece."

Kent Rogers

MTM Specialist

BUTCH BLUM SUMMER SAVVY SAVINGS

Print out a copy of this coupon for some fabulous savings on our latest arrivals! 

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - CROCHET TRIM SCARVES

Crochet trim scarves - $155

A "BB Find" from our marketplace travels, these scarves are an incredibly soft viscose rayon - the perfect weight to have around your neck all day - and come in colors that compliment any Spring outfit!

MARTIN MARGIELA HANDBAG

Martin Margiela Handbag - $1445

A fabulous neutral shade of peachy beige that will accent - but not overwhelm - any spring outfit makes this supple lambskin handbag from Martin Margiela unique. Try it with spring pastels, as it looks terrific with pale pinks, lavenders and blues.

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - SPRING SOCKS

Assorted spring socks - Marcoliani and Pantherella - $25-29

The colors this season in our Men's sock library are terrific - check out the vivid greens, oranges, lavenders and reds, perfect for dressy or casual outfits.

FROM THE LOOK BOOK- ARMANI WOOL/SILK BLAZER

Armani wool/silk blazer - $2495

This fabric is light enough to be mistaken for linen - without the attendant wrinkles. The weave is light and open, leaving the warp and weft exposed with lots of airflow.

CELEBRITY SIGHTING - ANDREW GARFIELD IN ARMANI

Andrew Garfield (The Social Network, The Amazing Spider-Man(2012)) graced the summer cover of V-Man magazine in a sleek Armani tee and jeans - Mr. Armani's preferred uniform. Sometimes it doesn't take a lot to look terrific!

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - ARMANI JEANS JEWELED TEE

Jeweled tee - $195...Jasper teardrop necklace - $495 (By Aireheart by Sydney)

Armani Jeans- doing what they do best...simple basics with quirky touches. These jersey tops (available in grey, black, and rose) are a lovely basic perfect for year-round wear, but flex from daily casuals with a bit of funk to elegant evening separates with the right pieces.

MOM dot COM - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Happy Mother's Day from the Butch Blum team! 

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - DEAR CROCHET TRIM

 U-Neck - $125...Cardigan - $135...both by Dear

Dear is a terrific resource for inexpensive Women's items in intriguing configurations. These garments have a wonderful crochet trim at the bottom, lending a bit of handmade feel to a simple basic.

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - MOSCHINO FLORAL

Cotton shrug - $265 - BP Studio...Tank - $135 - Schumacher...Skirt - $495 - Moschino Cheap and Chic

Nothing says springtime like a bouquet of fresh flowers, even if the bouquet in question is spread across your adorable new skirt! Ladies, we DARE you to try this on and not give it a little twirl.

NWHH FASHION SHOW

On May 3, we participated in the Northwest Hope and Healing fashion show, which was a great success. Here's some shots of our models from the show...thanks everybody for helping make this a fun event!

Jacket - Martin Margiela...Polo - Agave...Pant - Gardeur

Jacket - LBM 1911...Vest - YRS...Shirt - Culturata...Pant - MAC

Jacket - Herno...Shirt - Transit...Short - Benson

Suit - Z Zegna...Shirt - Sartoria Partenopea...Tie, Square - Dion

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - BARBERA BLAZER

Blazer - Luciano Barbera - $1995...Shirt - Culturata - $195

The construction standards for this blazer are incredible. The (unusually light-weight) canvas is hand-basted into the garment, creating a shape that's structured without being heavy. There's just enough padding in the shoulder to give it some lift, without looking too square. The blazer is then hand-finished with an attractive decorative stitch on its edges.

SCENES FROM THE HAMILTON EVENT

Excited for his Hamilton custom shirt

Expertly pouring a Mack and Jack's 

Checking in 

Yummy nibbles from BOKA

The Capelli's crew giving a hot towel shave

WHICH kind of pants did you want?

Special thanks to everyone who came to the Hamilton custom event on the 26th and made it so much fun. Looking forward to seeing you at our next BB party!

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - JEAN PAUL GAULTIER SWEATER

Sweater - Jean-Paul Gaultier - $535

A fabulous little basic by a master of quirky French fashion, this sweater's convertible neckline will have all your friends talking. The ribbed material is loosely cut around the neck, so you can wear it as a cowl, off the shoulder, or any other way you like. 

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - JEAN PAUL GAULTIER LINEN

Linen dress - Jean Paul Gaultier - $585

Featuring a multi-closure detail up the sides of the dress and a shirred elastic waistline, this is a darling little dress for a warm day, and easily layered for cooler evenings. 

ROYAL'S PICK - ARMANI SILK SUIT

Suit - Giorgio Armani black label - $3295
Shirt - Hamilton Bespoke - Price upon request

"This is my favorite from this year's collection. I love how everything about this garment is soft - the fabric, the color, the shape...yet it has a great slim, modern fit. It's a very versatile piece, really great for any man's wardrobe."

Royal Roles

Men's luxury buyer

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - MARTIN MARGIELA SWEATER

Men's Martin Margiela sweater - $875

Using a heavy-gauge cotton yarn and an innovative variation on the classic shaker stitch, Maison Martin Margiela have created this clever cardigan - a wardrobe basic with a twist. The color is unusual but easy to coordinate - pretend it's navy or charcoal and go from there.

MICHELLE OBAMA IN JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER

Our first lady looks terrific here in an outfit by Jean-Paul Gaultier - a Butch Blum favorite! We actually carried this top a couple of years back, as well as a dress version with a cascading ruffle. Check them out here.

HAMILTON WINDOW

Our Hamilton Shirts window looks terrific, doesn't it!? The display team used hundreds of deleted shirt fabric swatches from our MTM program to create the collage on the sides.

Check out more of our amazing windows here!

FROM THE LOOK BOOK: GIMOS LASER CUT SUEDE

Gimos - $1355

Gimo's is an Italian leather specialist that makes an innovative leather garment...using hand-sanding, garment-dyes, and more labor intensive procedures to create their distinctive product. It's also an incredible value, especially compared to "designer" brands in the same category.

DESIGNER BIOGRAPHY - LUCIANO BARBERA

Luciano Barbera began his design career in the 1960's, when a Uomo Vogue photographer captured a photo of a young Barbera wearing a suit of his own design, made of fabric from his father Carlo's mills. The photo was seen by fashion icon and founder of the legendary Louis Boston store, Murray Pearlstein, who encouraged the young Italian to produce his own clothing. 

The young Luciano Barbera

The Barbera brand has always been for the man or woman "who believe in individuality and intelligence" - people who care more about the garment and its functionality than trends or labels, yet always cut a stylish silhouette.  Barbera's wool and cashmere fabrics are considered some of the finest in the industry, achieving their signature drape and softness from a secret process which includes aging the yarn before it is woven in subterranean caverns in order to maintain the wool's natural moisture levels. Every Barbera suit is entirely made from Carlo Barbera fabric, woven from Italian yarn in the Barbera factory in Biella, Italy.

Look for Barbera garments for men and women at Butch Blum, where we share Sr. Barbera's passion for individuality and intelligence, not to mention beautifully made Italian clothing. 

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - GIMO'S ABRADED SUEDE

Gimo's - $1575

This leather is perfect proof of Gimo's labor-intensive process, which uses multiple layers of coloring, abrasion, conditioners, and more. The result is a skin that is butter-soft and incredibly supple, molding itself to your body immediately. 

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - MARGIELA TANK DRESS

Martin Margiela extra-long tank dress - $545

Sometimes a basic still needs to be a little bit fabulous. This narrow heather and white striped tank dress by Margiela is all a gal needs to be stylish in the sun for 2012.

NORTHWEST HOPE AND HEALING FASHION SHOW

Click to enlarge

Butch Blum is proud to participate in the 10th annual Northwest Hope and Healing Fashion show, TONIGHT (May 3) at 7pm at the Showbox (SODO location). Join us for a killer fashion show, with great Butch Blum styles for men and women...proceeds go to Northwest Hope and Healing, a local organization which helps newly diagnosed cancer patients at Swedish Medical center.

To buy tickets, or for more info, click here. 

FROM THE LOOK BOOK: FUZZI SILK PRINT

Silk one-shoulder print dress - $495 - Fuzzi

This silk dress by the masters of fabric at Fuzzi demonstrates that a great print still needs an eye-catching cut to be truly fabulous. Featuring an a-line skirt and a soft, asymmetrical single shoulder design, this is a terrific style for a day-into-evening look.