CULTURATA DOUBLE-FACED SHIRTS

All shirts by Culturata - $195

With Culturata's incredible double-faced shirts (with 140's cotton fabrics sourced from Cotonificio Albini), you get an incredibly soft, wrinkle resistant dress shirt, one that wears beautifully as a casual sport shirt...Because the fabric is double-faced, when the sleeve is rolled up you get a pop of fun color, as well as a small amount on the inside of the collar.

Detail

AGAVE - SUPIMA MELANGE CARDIGAN

Supima cotton cardigan - Agave - $175

We've talked elsewhere on the blog about how great long-staple cotton is, but it's uncommon to find at this price point...Italian vendors frequently price pieces of this quality at $395-495, which makes Agave's product that much more amazing.  Available in a distinctive charcoal and hazelnut color-way, this cardigan is a great value at any price and will be something you reach for constantly this fall (and likely this upcoming Spring too!)

AGAVE - ITALIAN CANVAS JEANS

Italian canvas jean - Agave - $265 each
Shoe - Timberland Boot Company - $275

Agave is well known for their innovative takes on casual clothing - incorporating luxe Italian-made fabrics in styles that are normally reserved for basic denim.  These flannel jeans are no exception - a subtle nailhead weave and a lofty hand feel compliment the perfect slim fit - not too skinny, not too full.

SKIN GAME OF THE WEEK - SALON DIVAS

UPDATE YOUR LOOK | 2,000 BB SKINS

At Salon Divas, many of its stylists have over 25 years of experience. Whether it’s updating a look or something completely new, its highly skilled stylists are here for you. Salon Divas strives to give its best service and atmosphere possible. The BB Skin Game winner may choose from a variety of style and beauty services from select stylists. All certificates include a personalized style consultation so you can find your perfect look. Visitsalondivas.com for more information. ($100 value)

PANTS BY MASON'S

The collection from Mason's is a novel, exciting group of items designed for a guy who wants a comfortable, fashionable pant.  It's an especially nice product for men who aren't comfortable with most narrower pants, because Mason's pants are cut roomy through the thigh allowing for more comfort.

This season we feature a number of original double-faced fabrics (roll them up at the bottom for a fun pop of color) as well as some sumptuous pinwale corduroys.

ARMANI JEANS ZIPPERED LEGGING

Armani Jeans - $185

Armani Jeans' excellent leggings were among the best we found this season.  Crafted from a sturdy four-way stretch fabric, they are detailed with a constructed waistband (pictured below) and a zippered ankle detail, yet add no bulk to filmy dresses and tunics. 

NEW ARRIVALS - ARMANI JEANS 5-POCKET SUIT SEPARATES

Armani Jeans - $335 (coordinating pant separate $235) 

One of our favorite deliveries this season, this suit by Armani Jeans is the PERFECT "first suit" - a basic grey nailhead fabric with a touch of stretch in a wool blend. Wear it with a tailored blouse and the matching pant for a sleek, professional look - OR - use these as separates! The 5 pocket pant is a wonderful jean alternative, and the jacket is darling over a knit skirt or blue jeans.

(pant detail)

JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER STEALS THE SHOW AGAIN

Film of the designer talking about his clothes was projected onto mannequin heads

 A new exhibition of designs by Jean-Paul Gaultier at The Brooklyn Museum opened yesterday. The iconic French fashion star stole the show once again, with three-dimensional talking representations of the designer projected onto the display mannequins.   We *LOVE* that idea - now where can we find a dozen small projectors?

One of the designers iconic "Mermaid" bridal gowns

PYA- THE PERFECT TEE

PYA Patrick Assaraf's tees are the ultimate layering piece for guys! These tees are 95% Pima cotton, 5% lycra, which means they are both ultra-soft and nicely fitted, great for wearing under a shirt or on their own over jeans. These tees hold their shape and color after washing and drying, and are available in a nice selection of classic, neutral colors.

ALLUDE FALL 2013 COLLECTION

This season Allude shook things up a little bit by introducing unusually fashion-forward elements, including patterned intarsia knitwear and knits trimmed with leather in their cashmere collection.

We love Allude for its excellent pricepoint and its chic but classic take on quality knitwear. Check out the latest from this terrific collection in store now!

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA

The famous Margiela label. The number indicates the collection, in this case 14 - the luxury collection of menswear.

Belgian designer Martin Margiela is one of the world's most hermitic and mysterious fashion figures. He has never been photographed in either the fashion press or in-house publications, preferring to focus attention on the house itself. The designer refuses to grant personal interviews, instead conducting interviews by fax and signing "Maison Martin Margiela," exemplary of his holistic approach to fashion. There is frequently an air of surreal mystery in the collection, and slightly unnerving details like a buttonhole sewn closed, a tailored jacket without a breast pocket, a classic sweater shrunken or blown up to gigantic proportions.

Martin Margiela started his career in the early 1980's, working for Jean-Paul Gaultier before showing his first collection under his own name in 1989.  He is closely associated, though not officially a part of, the Antwerp Six - a group of designers from Antwerp, Belgium that showed their first collections in London in the 1980's. His unusual first collections heavily featured copies of vintage garments, so closely reproduced that the Margiela garment credits its country and year of origin on an unobtrusive tag inside. This practice still continues today, with inspiration as diverse as a French knitting bag from 1940, to an entire collection of clothes copied from Mattel's Barbie and Ken dolls, their proportions unchanged (even to the comparative size of snaps and velcro) for the actual person wearing them. This approach creates a timelessness to Margiela's clothing, adding to the investment value for the wearer.

What sets Maison Martin Margiela apart from other Avant-Garde designers is the brand's committment to wearability in everyday life. For every jacket made entirely from wigs there are ten beautiful basic jackets, featuring outrageously soft superfine wool or cashmere and innovative detail work. You can always find both the ridiculous and the sublime, courtesy of Martin Margiela and available at Butch Blum in Seattle - new arrivals for Fall/Winter 2013/14 in store now!

NEW ARRIVALS - PIER ANTONIO GASPARI COAT

Pier Antonio Gaspari coat - $1050

This season's arrivals from Pier Antonio Gaspari are moody and a little wild...featuring heavy exposed zippers, milano-stitch merino wool, and incredible felted jacquard wool, in an artful melange of styles that works for dress (as shown) or casual wear, with a great pair of jeans and a turtleneck.

(detail)

CLOSED - FINE-WALE CORDUROY SHIRT

Closed - $225

Woven with a cotton so soft you'll have a hard time believing it's not cashmere, this button-down from Closed is a smart addition to any Fall wardrobe. Whether your color palette tends towards the warm or the cool, this grey-green color will work beautifully with your existing clothes, so it's perfect for a subtle update.

NEW ARRIVALS - CLOSED KNIT BLAZER

Closed - $545

This jacket neatly straddles two important categories in a professional guy's wardrobe - elegant, lofty sweater, and cool casual blazer.  It's a wool/alpaca blend guaranteed to keep you warm - and itch free - in the ugliest weather, and the cool parquet knit in navy and grey will go with the most diverse wardrobe easily.

SARAH SLONIM AT TULA'S

 Client and friend Sarah Slonim will be performing this week at Tula's Restaurant and Jazz Club  with her band, the Sarah Slonim quartet - now with a new saxophonist!

Spaces for her show are still available - 7:30 pm on Thursday, October 24...tickets are $15 each.

CAMERON LEVIN - A WOMAN TO WATCH

Our own in-house designer and stylist Cameron Levin was recently highlighted on Jtnews.net, in an in-depth article about how she gives back to the community, her fashion label, her involvement with the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, and more...check out the article here.

IKER CASILLAS IN CLOSED

Iker Casillas, the goalkeeper for the Real Madrid soccer team, was spotted out and about in a cardigan by German sportswear brand Closed. Closed is a brand all about the basics - shirts, pants, cardigans, chinos, jackets, etc, in every color of the rainbow. If you like simple, clean lines and subtle color (not to mention an outstanding price point) this is the collection for you. GOAL!

SKIN GAME OF THE WEEK - BEST FRIEND PHOTOGRAPHY

Emily Rieman has been doing commissioned portraits of dogs and cats in and around Seattle since 1997. Satisfied clients say, "She comes to your home and sets up her studio right there; that's where your pet is the most comfortable, everything smells right and it guarantees the perfect portrait." For 5000 skins, The lucky Skin Game winner will receive one sitting for one pet, an online proofing gallery and hard-copy proof sheets. Prints not included. Additional pets and people are welcome for a small fee. For further information, see her website, at www.bestfriendphoto.com. ($250 Value)

CELEBRITY SIGHTING - RITA ORA IN MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA DEFILE'

British singer Rita Ora (now one of Karl Lagerfeld's favorite muses) shared this "selfie" at her hotel in Paris...a look pulled from Maison Martin Margiela's FW 2013 re-purposed couture collection. The coat she wears is a reimagined evening cape originally produced in the 1950's, and the mask is a prop in the original runway presentation. Who do YOU think wore it better? Ora, or the model in the runway show?

TRANSIT CHALK STRIPE DB SUIT

Outfit by Transit...Jacket - $595...Shirt - $325...Skirt - $325

This piece has so many of the things we look for in a garment...versatility, first and foremost, as well as quality construction and originality in design.  Wear the separates as you would denim, with casual pants and flats, or wear them together as an elegant suiting alternative.

KENT'S PICK - INIS MEAIN "PUB CARDIGAN"

Cashmere/wool cardigan - Inis Meain - $845

I'm fascinated by this yarn...in order to create the 'Donegal' feeling of this knit, Inis Meáin had to ply 2 different gauges of yarn together, then knit the combination. The effect is of woven tweed, rustic and three-dimensional. It's a very unusual way to treat navy blue - most of the time navy is mixed with charcoal, and comes out much preppier.  The wool/silk/cotton/cashmere blend is exactly the right weight for fall weather in Seattle. 

Kent Rogers
MTM specialist

NEW ARRIVALS - AGLINI

Fall styles from Aglini - $265-295

 The latest from Italian shirtmaker Aglini have hit the shelves, and they are fantastic! Whimsical motifs like Asian characters, subtle western-themed prints, dark florals, and sumptuous flannels pair beautifully with slim fits and interesting buttons and trims. Find your favorite in store now!

NEW ARRIVALS - GIMO'S "CERAMICA" JACKET

Gimos - $975

This "ceramica" fabric from Gimo's keeps a wonderfully soft hand-feel while repelling water and snow beautifully. The hypoallergenic fiber-fill keeps you toasty warm, but is still nicely breathable.

NEW ARRIVALS - MALO WORSTED CASHMERE

Malo - $665

This vintage-inspired piece is one of our favorite sweaters this season - a mini shawl style in a crisp, textural worsted cashmere yarn. Perfect for daily sportswear, it looks terrific under a sport coat for a dressy look as well.

FABIANA FILIPPI SILK/CASHMERE CARDIGAN

Silk/Cashmere pulled-loop collar cardigan - $745

A popcorn stitch like this one is one of the most wonderful tools in a knitter's arsenal - simultaneously textural and crunchy, yet soft enough to cuddle into.  The deep teal colors is fabulous with all our rich Fall shades, and it's sophisticated but still casual. Also available in Ivory.

BLUI SCARVES

Assorted silk/modal/cashmere scarves - Blui - $395

The scarves from Blui this season are a wonderful mix of translucent florals, clever cartoony graphics, and subtle cityscapes all hand-printed on ultra soft silk/modal blends. They are the perfect weight for year-round wear, and available in fabulous colors perfect for this season's best outfits.

NEW ARRIVALS - Z ZEGNA LAYERED PUFFER

Layered tech jacket - Z Zegna - $1475

Continuing their string of terrific hits this season, Z Zegna released this wonderful winter jacket, layered with an attached sweater coat.  The outer shell is thoroughly water-resistant, and the perfect weight for heavy activity like skiing or snowboarding. The inner layer is a dense, ultrafine merino wool which breathes beautifully, so this jacket keeps you warm in the coldest weather, but never uncomfortably hot. As a final detail, the knit cuffs on the sleeve have thumbholes for warm hands (that can still operate a smartphone touchscreen).

SKIN GAME OF THE WEEK - HOTEL ÄNDRA

HOTEL ÄNDRA | 5,500 BB SKINS

Located in Seattle’s midtown, Hotel Ändra is a sophisticated boutique hotel perfectly situated between Seattle “must sees” and the shopping core. Scandinavian style is fused with Pacific NW elements to create a warm urban atmosphere throughout the hotel’s 119 stylish guest rooms and suites. Tom Douglas’ Lola restaurant offers guests Greek-Mediterranean cuisine with local flavors on the main level. The BB Skin Game winner will receive a $270 gift certificate for a one night’s stay in an Ändra Superia Room. For more information, please visit www.hotelandra.com. ($270 value)

AUTUMN CASHMERE - SKIP STITCH V-NECK

Cashmere/wool skip stitch v-neck - Autumn Cashmere - $325

This sweater has such an unusual finish! Crisp merino yarn is paired with squishy-soft cashmere for a durable, yet soft knit with just a tiny bit of detail.  The skip stitch running every couple of inches provides a unique bit of texture without distracting from a dressy outfit. Available in steel grey (pictured) or russet.

BRENDAN DOOLING IN AUTUMN CASHMERE

This season on The Carrie Diaries, Brendan Dooling wore an excellent cashmere polo from one of our favorite sweater resources, Autumn Cashmere. The lightweight, yet dense cashmere pullover wears beautifully on Mr. Dooling and will do the same on you, available in a half dozen equally exciting styles.

VOTE FOR BUTCH BLUM!

Click here to vote for Butch Blum in King 5 Evening Magazine's Best of Western Washington contest! Butch Blum won the best of contest back in 2011, and placed # 5 in 2008 - let's make 2013 our 2nd #1 year!

PLANET JERSEY BY CANTARELLI

Cantarelli - $1475

"Planet Jersey" is a very special project in Cantarelli's tailored division...a sportswear-inspired garment crafted from a knit jersey fabric with lots of stretch and very little interior construction.  Picture your favorite sweater cut and sewn into a sport coat, and you'll have "Planet Jersey."

Check out the latest arrival in store now, this gorgeous sage grey wool with an extremely lofty finish - a surprisingly versatile color; pair it with anything you'd normally pair with blue, brown or grey.

DOUG BALDWIN'S WILD RIDE

Doug in Samuelsohn MTM, accepting Marshawn Lynch's Sportsman of the Year award

Jayson Jenks of the Seattle Times recently wrote an excellent article about Doug Baldwin, wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks as well as the face of Butch Blum's Made-to-Measure campaign. In it, Jenks examines why Doug is such an excellent player, as well as the various career choices Doug had to make to get where he's at - did you know Baldwin has a degree from Stanford, and was considering a career at Dropbox.com? 

ROCK AND ROLL WINDOWS

Outfits by Jean-Paul Gaultier

Outfits by John Varvatos

ARMANI NYLON TWILL-PRINT PEACOAT

Armani - $1195

This coat from Giorgio Armani is one of our favorite sportswear garments this season...a modern take on the classic peacoat silhouette. The fabric is weather-resistant microfiber, with an unusual printed twill pattern over the quilted surface. It's a wonderful idea for Northwest-dwellers who need a stylish piece for all the weird weather we're prone to have.

KAY'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH

Our very own "boss lady" Kay Smith-Blum won the prestigious Nellie Cashman award from the WBO (Women Business Owners association)...here's her acceptance speech at the event, where she talks about the arduous process of applying.

SKIN GAME OF THE WEEK - SEASTAR

SEASTAR RESTAURANT AND RAW BAR | 2,000 BB SKINS

Fresh innovative Pacific Northwest cuisine...that is Chef John Howie’s Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar. Zagat rated “Best Seafood Restaurant” and Seattle Magazine’s “People’s Choice for Best Seafood” recipient for both Seattle and Bellevue locations. At Seastar our chefs use local, seasonal, sustaining, quality ingredients to provide our guests with innovative menus and memorable experiences. These scrumptious meals are served in both the luxurious Seastar dining room and in the upbeat Raw Bar. For more information about this dining experience, please visitwww.seastarrestaurant.com. ($100 value)

VARVATOS IN THE DETAILS

This weekend we are featuring John Varvatos Collection for special order, a rock and roll inspired line with incredible details. Because many of these garments are made in limited runs (some of our samples are literally off the runway), there is a very good chance you'll never see them on anyone else. Join us today for our last day with the samples, until 5pm.

Knits layer over woven fabrics in the same garments

Varvatos is NEVER afraid to use an unconventional fabric

Ultra soft shearling is a luxe way to get through the winter

Reverse-print is so cool on a henley

Look like James Dean in a buttery soft lambskin