MANNEQUIN MOMENTS - NEW YEARS EVE

Outfits by Olvi's and Giorgio Armani

What will YOU be wearing tonight, as the clock strikes 12 and we usher in 2013? If you don't have a fabulous outfit yet it's not too late - come see us and add a little razzle-dazzle to the last hours of 2012!

NEW STYLES FROM SAXX

Assorted styles/colors - $35 - SAXX (click to enlarge)

We have some terrific new colors and styles just in from SAXX underwear - a great line of Men's basic trunks and boxer briefs that provides support exactly where you need it, and feature great fabrics and a moisture-wicking waistband.

WARDROBE BASICS - THE PERFECT BROWN OXFORD

"Quentin" by Santoni - $695

This style by Italian master-shoemaker Santoni is kind of a must-have piece...this is THE shoe to wear with any dress trouser but solid black. It's a classic cap-toe oxford, hand finished with a traditional rounded toe - perfect for guys who dislike narrower Italian shapes.  The hand-burnished color is subtly beautiful - a dark walnut on the toe cap slowly degrades to a beautiful chestnut. 

NEW ARRIVALS - LBM 1911

Wool/Rayon - $945

 Another shipment of our perennially popular garments from LBM 1911 has just arrived - terrific soft jackets and coats that have been entirely crafted in Italy.  Part of what makes this kind of jacket so special is that its beautiful wool fabric (often mixed with a small amount of nylon or rayon for integrity) is garment-dyed after construction, resulting in beautiful cloudy colors and texture.  Check out more pieces from this terrific company in store now!

Wool - $995

SHEDRAIN UMBRELLA CONTEST

Our friends at Shedrain are looking for some of the best portraits of their umbrellas, and we wanted to share with all of our clients! Your photo submission can be you alone or someone else using or posing with you and your umbrella - or the umbrella can simply be on its own in a unique setting. The options are endless.
 
Each month Shedrain will pick their favorite photos from the snapshots you send in. If they pick your portrait you will receive an umbrella of your choice from Shedrain* and your photo will be added to the SHEDRAIN ONLINE ALBUM.  

Submission Requirements: ·  All entries must be digital uploads only. Please send submissions HERE.

·  Photos must be submitted in JPG format. ·  Each file submission size should be no larger than 5MB in size. ·  Color and/or black & white images are allowed. ·  Watermarks, Signatures, or Copyright Notices must be removed prior to submission. ·  Photographs will be accepted only from the original photographer who must be the sole author and the owner of the copyright for photos submitted. ·  Elements or objects not in original scene should not be added. ·  Acceptance of prize constitutes consent to use winners names and images for editorial, advertising, publicity and web site purposes without further compensation, except where prohibited.

* excluding the Ombrelli line. All prizes will be awarded by Shedrain only.

MILANO CASHMERE BLAZER

Knit cashmere blazer - Milano Cashmere - $1995

This is a VERY special jacket - the excellent craftsmanship alone sets it in a class apart, but when you factor in the incredible fabric (a gorgeous fine-gauge knit cashmere that behaves more like a woven material than a sweater) then you've got something truly one-of-a-kind. The modern, figure-flattering cut beautifully shows the old-world tailored details, like handstitched details, inverted bust darts, taped seams and camicia shoulders. It's exclusively available at Butch Blum in Seattle, so you won't run into anyone else in your new blazer - except for the lucky owners of the other two colors, that is!

CHRISTMAS HOURS

Vogue cover - December 1928

We are closing early tonight in honor of Christmas eve at 5 pm, and we will be closed tomorrow for Christmas day. However you observe this holiday, we hope it's safe, happy and warm.  Merry, merry everyone!

BY MALENE BIRGER SEQUIN SWEATER

All-over sequin crepe knit sweater - By Malene Birger - $665

This little sweater by Danish designer Malene Birger is a fabulous, one of a kind piece...the kind of adorable little top you keep forever. Perfect on its own, or layered over a great white blouse, this will be your go-to top for fun events.

HIS AND HERS UNCONSTRUCTED SPORT COATS

Left: Brushed cotton herringbone - Cantarelli - $1395...Cashmere print scarf - Yarnz - $235
Right: Felted tricotine blazer - Peserico - $545...Gauze cashmere cowl - Rosso Puro - $265 

When we say "Unconstructed," we're referring to the lack of canvas structure and shoulder pad that is traditional in sport coat (or suit) construction. These jackets have a dressy feel thanks to their suitlike silhouettes, but their casual fabrics and soft, easy fit are perfect for dressing up or dressing down.

MARTIN MARGIELA S/S 2013

 A first look at Maison Martin Margiela's  S/S 2013 runway collection. Check out new Margiela arrivals in store now!

FOGAL HOSIERY

Assorted looks from Fogal - $39-59

Featuring double-reinforced gussets, these tights by Fogal are stylish AND beautifully made, perfect for a casual daytime look, or for a fabulous holiday evening. Ours exclusively in Seattle, Fogal has been making incredible fashion looks since 1922.

BB HOLIDAY COUPON

With this coupon, enjoy great savings this holiday! Either print this image out, or bring in the coupon in your latest look book, in the mail now.

DONALD J. PLINER "ETIE"

"Etie" by Donald J. Pliner - $318

Crafted from a distressed nappa leather that's ultra-soft, with a great waxy black-over-brown finish, the "Etie" from Donald J. Pliner is a terrific dress up/dress down shoe for the rainy winter months in Seattle, as there's not much you can do to hurt the finish of the shoe itself, and the thick rubber soles will handle all kinds of moisture with aplomb.

FROM THE LOOK BOOK - KNIT TIES

Assorted knit ties - $185-225 - Corneliani, Roda

These aren't your knit ties from the 80's, although like those ties they're a wonderful way to bring some texture to a business casual outfit. Today's knit tie is significantly hipper - narrow, with a clean finish, and available in fine-gauge merino and cashmere yarn. These are even reversible for added flexibility (the reverse side of these ties are the same patterns and colors but exactly the opposite - light with dark figures instead of dark with light figures).

DESIGNER BIO - JOHN VARVATOS

A look from Varvatos' S/S 2013 collection

A Greek-American hailing from the suburbs of Detroit, John Varvatos credits his early obsession with Motor City rock and roll for his interest in fashion, and it is clearly a unifying theme in his design.

Varvatos turned heads early on in his fashion career, serving as head of menswear design at Calvin Klein and later at Ralph Lauren where he created the successful Polo Jeans Company. In 1999 he opened his own fashion house, which debuted its first line in late 2000. The original “black-less collection” of casual-cool suiting garnered critical acclaim and a CFDA New Talent award, followed by a Designer of the Year title in 2001.

The brand has grown into a lifestyle, including a line of footwear for Converse, handbags, eyewear, and luxury skincare and fragrances, all unified by the John Varvatos musical sensibility and sophisticated touch.

Varvatos boasts a boutique at 315 Bowery in New York, the space that formerly housed seminal underground music club CBGB. Seventies audio equipment, vinyl albums, and electric guitars are sold side by side with the designer's minimalist menswear. Memorable ad campaigns for his collection have featured legendary icons Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper, Velvet Revolver, and Green Day among others.

Look for new arrivals from John Varvatos at Butch Blum now.

CELEBRITY SIGHTING - MINKA KELLY IN YARNZ

Sighted! Actress and Model Minka Kelly (in a still from the film "The Roommate, with Leighton Meester beside her) is looking stunning in a scarf by Yarnz, one of our favorite new resources for incredibly soft cashmere in fun patterns and colors. While Minka's scarf runs towards the subtle, you can find exciting "pop" colors and patterns from Yarnz here at Butch Blum this holiday.

MARIE-LAURE CHAMOREL JEWELRY

Cashmere sweater - Allude - $345 (also available in paprika, below)
Glass beads and strass - Marie Laure Chamorel - $295 

Jewelry is an important category for us, especially during the holiday season when every gal needs a little sparkle to brighten her day.  These pieces by French designer Marie-Laure Chamorel make use of unusual materials including strips of suede and recycled glass beads to provide a little something new for the lady who has everything.  Wear them with your favorite cashmere sweater (these ones by Allude are pretty fabulous) and try a few of them - they look amazing layered on each other.

Gold and suede - Marie-Laure Chamorel - $185

ROYAL'S PICK - VALSTAR REVERSIBLE JACKET

Reversible tech jacket - Valstar - $1395

Valstar celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, and with craftsmanship like this, it's no surprise. This is a very clever coat. The details are great - beautifully sewn and thoughtfully placed, and the fabric (an unusual impermeable cotton and wool blend) is pleasant to touch but tactile - much more interesting than most 'tech' fabrics. 

Royal Roles
Luxury Menswear buyer

MANNEQUIN MOMENT - DRESSED FOR A PARTY

Tie - Carrot and Gibbs - $65...Shirt - Culturata - $195
Cardigan - PYA - $195...Pant - Armani Black Label - $895

The mannequin sitting among the socks is dressed for a fun holiday party , in a salt-and-pepper Armani wool pant, crisp Culturata white dress shirt, lightweight PYA merino cardigan, and of course a festive bow tie!

YARNZ CASHMERE SCARVES

Assorted cashmere scarves - Yarnz - $235

 We have the coolest cashmere scarves from Yarnz - a boutique company out of New York that specializes in vividly colored scarves in high quality yarns. At $235 each, they're a terrific value for the quality, and their limited runs of each style guarantee you'll be the only one walking down the street in your awesome new scarf!

ALLUDE COWLNECK DRESS

 Cashmere cowl-neck dress - Allude - $555

We're ALL about value here at BB - how much something costs vs. how much it's WORTH, and we think this cashmere sweater-dress by Allude is a great price for what you're getting. Italian-sourced cashmere yarn (and a lot of it, too) isn't cheap, especially when it's luxe, long-fiber cashmere yarn like this one (the long length of the fiber means that 2 years from now, this will be clean and tidy instead of covered in pills like a cheaper "floor-sweepings" cashmere). The silhouette is easy for everyone to wear, whether you belt it as shown, or wear it loose and soft.

INIS MEÁIN ALPACA/SILK SCARF

Alpaca/Silk scarf - Inis Meáin - $225

Alpaca is a hollow fiber, which means that it not only retains warmth easily but is also lightweight. This great wear-it-with-everything scarf is made in Ireland of locally grown Alpaca, and is mixed with silk for added softness.

ALLEGRI DOWN SHIRTJACKET

Down jacket - Allegri - $595

 This down coat has a terrific shape - fitted at the shoulder and waist, which gives you a great silhouette, unusual for a down jacket. The outer material is as impermeable as it gets, and the inside features a transparent lining to show off the feathers.

Also available in olive 

"WODEHOUSE" BY TIMBERLAND BOOT COMPANY

Timberland Boot Company - $275

 One of our most enduringly popular shoes, this style by Timberland Boot Company goes with a little bit of everything, from a casual sport coat and pant to a tee-shirt and jeans. Its soft, tumbled leather has a slight shine, without needing tons of constant attention (even in tough Seattle weather).

CONGRATULATIONS!

Client and friend Marie Booker enjoys the Seahawks game today with her pal Michelle, after winning our drawing for free tickets at the Doug Baldwin event back in October. Later today, after the game, she'll get an exclusive meet-and-greet with Mr. Baldwin himself!

Congrats to the Seahawks on their ASTOUNDING victory over the Cardinals.

PYA CARDIGAN AND Z ZEGNA FLANNELINA

Fine Gauge merino cardigan - $195 - PYA (also available in black)
Brushed flannel ombré sport shirt - $295 - Z Zegna

We love great quality from unusual resources. PYA black label is a small knitwear concern from Patrick Assaraf, an big-time importer in the fashion industry who wanted to provide great quality at a relatively low price. The shirt shown with this outfit is from perennial BB favorite Z Zegna, who use a unique brushed cotton flannelina (like a flannel, but not heavy) and dart the shirt in the front, rather than the back, for a sharply tailored V shape.

WINTER ACCESSORIES

Gloves - $95 - Shaneen Huxham...Stretch pearl bracelets - $98-115 - Aireheart by Sydney

We love winter accessories! The gloves you see here are a sumptuously soft stretch velvet equally appropriate with a heavy fall coat or with a glamorous satin evening look. The bracelets incorporate freshwater pearls and vintage 'whatnots' sourced from estate sales, antique stores, etc by their creator, Sydney Curtis.

PESERICO BLAZER

Cut felt blazer - $545 - Peserico

$545 buys you a LOT of jacket with this little piece from Peserico - a manufacturer who provides the stylish designs seen on French and Italian runways like YSL and Chloe. The material is a brushed tricotine - a tightly woven fabric with knit characteristics that is known for being wrinkle-resistant and textural without being busy.  The care and attention Peserico give to construction are easily seen in the tiny stitches, unlined construction (never cheap to do) and intelligent placement of bust and waist darts.

CONGRATS TO OUR LNO DRAWING WINNERS

Special order looks from Fogal

Congratulations to the winners of our drawing, held at our Ladies Night Out party on Tuesday night!

Jeri Donnelly won herself a gift certificate to Toulouse petit, a French-style kitchen and lounge in the Queen Anne area.

Terri Blair won herself a pair of stockings from our premier line of Fogal legwear, exclusively available at Butch Blum in Seattle. 

Thanks again to everyone who made it to this terrific event!

Scrumptious options from Tolouse Petit

JOHN VARVATOS SPRING 2013 RUNWAY

John Varvatos' Spring 2013 collection is classic Varvatos - Menswear staples with a fashion bent, with rustic finishes and a slightly preppier overall feel than his usual rockstar-on-the-weekend approach. Check out some of our favorites in store now, as we receive the first of the spring arrivals.

SCENES FROM LNO - PART 2

 More from our fabulous Great Gatsby-themed Ladies Night Out party last night. Thanks to everybody who made it such an incredible party. We love you ladies!!!

FABIANA FILIPPI 3/4 POUF

3/4 puffer - Fabiana Filippi - $1695

It'd be hyperbole to suggest that next to "versatile" in the dictionary, there should be a picture of this coat...but what the heck, why not? It's just that flexible! This coat is a weatherproof nylon outer with a gorgeous cashmere/wool blend zip-out lining, and removable cashmere/wool sleeves, which means that you can wear it lots of different ways with lots of different accessories. Its light weight combination of fabrics makes it easily packable, so it's super for travel.

SCENES FROM LNO - PART 1

 We had an incredible Ladies Night Out party last night, with some of our best friends and clients and of course, the fabulous offerings from Fogal and SAXX underwear. More photos to come!