Fashion in Seattle

Photo from here: an appropriately named blog called "Hipster Fashion"

I heard it from my piercer, his room mate, my best friends brother, and a professor before I moved to Seattle: Seattleites are not as hot because they don't dress up.

This is frankly BS.

California's are used to either always dressing up and looking good, or always being casual and looking good.  Seattleites...are the same.

There are a few key differences between Seattleite looking-good and CA looking-good.  CA pairs clothes that look good and keep the wearer cool, and tend to not give two schticks about where their clothes were made or bought from.  Seattleites always look good while staying warm (or cool) and actually care where their clothes come from.

The most recent fashion trends I saw in Seattle (in September, 2011) were as follows:

Photo from here.

1. Anything American Apparel: AA is made in the US, so nerd points for that aspect.  And the fashion of AA is very similar to the staple fashion of the US in the 80's and 90's.  If you're in Seattle and want to wear clothes that no one will have a beef with, wear AA.  And be prepared to dish out $300 a purchase.

Photo from here.

2. A flashback to the 80's: You might think this photo was taken in '87.  Nope.  It was taken 3 days ago outside of Seattle Central Community College by my coworker Linda (she's the one behind the camera). 

      OK, I'm lying, but everything you see in this photo is back in fashion in Seattle, in moderation.  I'm pretty sure I bought that purse on the far right hand side about 8 months ago from Value Village on Capitol hill, but because I paired it with a skin-tight contemporary red dress, it was a hit at the bar.  And the whole low-cut shoes with high-cut socks look?  As long as the shoes and socks don't match, you're a fashion icon in Seattle.

     Scary, hu?

Photo from here.

3. Thrift store fashion: The best fashionistas in Seattle appreciate how much good schtick you can get at a thrift store or a 2nd hand store; how else can you get the most authentic 80's-looking purses or shoulder pads?  Top hits in Seattle include Buffalo Exchange on Capitol Hill and University District; Value Village on Capitol Hill; Life Long Thrift Store on Capitol Hill; and Atlas Clothes in Fremont.

If you're going to Seattle for a vacation and want to fit in just a little more, don't leave home without these staples:

1. Small purse, preferably a thrift store find.

2. Sun glasses; don't kid yourself, it does get sunny in Seattle.

3. A high-fashion coat or jacket (in case it gets cold)

4. Tight skinny jeans

5. tattoos.  Just do it.  You know you want to.

6. Men, grow a mustache.  The more epic, the more drinks you'll get at the bar.

7. Women, short flared skirts.  Again with the drink thing.

DO NOT, above all things, DO NOT WEAR A FLANNEL and expect to not be mugged in Seattle. 

Photo from here.

If these men were in Seattle, they'd be lost.  It doesn't matter how epic their mustaches or beards are, or how tight their jeans are, or how good the beer in their hands are, or where they got their tattoos.  The flannels cancel out any coolness involved.