on the right- the poseidon by louboutin. i know, because i used to go downstairs and stalk it. tamara is also wearing dkny ‘nudes’ with the toeless feature.  we had a bit of a hosiery conversation…

this dress was so amazing! and she said she got it at an estate sale and that it still had the tags on it. that handbag was killer too…

i’m such a fan of a well chosen accessory (could be some of my accessory design background)… and statement necklaces are still high on my list. especially for the summer. nothing turns an easy summer dress into something ‘dressy’ faster than dazzling neck adornment. or stacked cuff bracelets or show stopping earrings… or… ok, you get the picture…

of course they both look great, but don’t you think it’s the shoes that pulls it all together?  thanks to these two for letting me accost them multiple times as i struggled to find light that worked with the shot.

i was invited last week to attend another performance of ’3 by dove’ by pacific northwest ballet, and also the co-ordinating backstage pass event appropriately titled ‘when doves fly’. if you don’t know about backstage pass… they’re a group of 20-40 somethings who promote interest in the ballet by selling a selection of tickets from the season and then hosting events either before or after the performance.  it’s a non-intimidating way to enjoy the ballet (when you don’t know anything about the ballet) and who doesn’t like to mingle or have a cocktail when you’re already out.

this event was one of their bigger ones of the year, and was great for style watching, people watching, and of course, sneaking around backstage…

above dancers chal and lucien- she’s wearing a vest that she said he found for her (and louboutins?), and he’s got a pair of carole mcklellan leather pants.

From needle+thread

rachel had such cute hair, and i loved her…

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feather headband

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that jersey dress looked so comfortable and still completely chic (plus, who doesn’t love pockets in a dress?)

From needle+thread

erin’s deep back v sweater was perfect on her, and the vintage escada purse in ‘sparkle’ accessorizes her all-black well

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patrick and jeff- the second time i’ve seen white deck shoes in a week… trend alert?

From needle+thread

rocky and ricardo- keeping it classy in ties.

thanks again to backstage pass for having me!

emily haines of metric epitomizing rocker style- sparkle and boots.

also, be sure to check my pictures featured on the P-I’s after dark blog- COOL!

From needle+thread

jimmy shaw of metric

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emily haines on keyboards

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bassist josh winstead

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emily haines

From needle+thread

emily haines

From needle+thread

emily haines

From needle+thread

emily haines

From needle+thread

emily haines and drummer joules scott key

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performing ‘help i’m alive’- emily haines

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jimmy shaw and emily haines

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emily haines

From needle+thread

emily haines

going on now through june 6th at the bellevue art museum- the exhibit encompasses the varied design career of beth levine. she seemed to be a woman ahead of her time- not only design or creative-wise but a successful woman designer in the 50′s? very cool.  for more about the show, and some of the shoes i saw, visit needleplusthread on the seattle p-i.

From needle+thread

and what’s an event without fellow bloggers?? the magpie (miss jaunty if you’re nasty) and i got to enjoy the lecture, wander the exhibit and force our photography selves on the masses (ok, just the people at the event).  AND she rocked sequin shorts.

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i fell in love with this odd, kind of creepy, but pretty mass above the bar.  it was both lacy and alien looking…

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our featured speaker of the night, helene verin. such a cool lady… friends with beth levine, lives in NY, teaches at FIT and a shoe designer herself. and… she’s wearing beth levine shoes (along with the amazing sparkley dress and oversize faux fur coat!)

of course someone who’s worked at nordstrom for over 20 years has an amazing wardrobe, and knows how to go about finding that must have item. i liked that sanda incorporates fashion with bargain. obviously you don’t have to pay full price for a coveted designer. it’s a little more work, but as these pictures show, worth the effort.  here’s what she had to say about personal style…

From needle+thread

NT: describe your style to me-
SB: rocker chic.  i’ve been doing rocker chic for 20 years, it’s come more into style this year. my husband just recently said to me… he’s in two bands, and he said i dress more rocker than he does.

NT: and has it been en evolution, or have you always just dressed that way?
SB: yeah, it’s a lot better fabrics, and more expensive than it was 20 years ago… *laughing* i have fashion déjà vu, where there are things i definitely wore in high school that have come back in updated ways… but it’s really more of a state of mind.

NT: do you think what you do for work influences your style?
SB: definitely, because i have to stay on top of trends. i have to interpret those trends so everybody can wear them. i also try to be the first to wear things and put it all together for a real woman. the more people can see it, on other people, it doesn’t become a trend, but an actual way they can wear the clothing.  an example, i started wearing leggings a couple of years ago and i’ve had women come up to me and say- you know, i just never thought someone of my age could wear leggings until i saw you wearing them.  it’s fine to look at things in a magazine, but until a woman can see it on a real person, see it on a person that’s not a 14 year old model, they don’t think that they can wear it.

NT: kind of like age appropriate-ness?
SB: its one of my pet peeves.  i feel like the only clothing that has an age label on it, is kid’s clothing.  as long as you have the confidence to wear it, and the conviction to wear it… i mean, you could be 20 years old and not be able wear a mini skirt or you could be 60 and rock a mini-skirt.  it just depends on how you feel in it.  if you feel good, and if you have the confidence to carry it out, go for it.

NT: what do you think influences your next purchase?
SB: i’m all about a sale *laughs*

From needle+thread

From needle+thread

NT: is there anything you’re currently looking for?
SB: i just bought and wore some black sequin leggings last night… i wore them with a white button down shirt to a cocktail party.  it was really comfortable, and it’s probably something i never thought i would have bought last year, but it’s something i’ve seen in magazines… and thought, well, i’ll try it out.  my next purchase, who knows.  i’m trying to do more color… so something in the burgundies, wine colors and purple… to go with all the black in my life.

NT: when you say sale…
SB: where do i like to shop?

NT: well…you obviously have a lot of label, how do shop designer on a budget?
SB: i love doing designer for less.  consignment shops, vintage stores, eBay, nordstrom rack… they have the best designer for less.  i’m all about a bargain.

NT: what else? what do you want to tell me as it relates to style…
SB: just that your personal style is your statement to the world on how you feel, and you can either say,  i feel great about myself and i’m confident, or you can say, i woke up in the morning and got dressed in the dark. so a lot of how your self image and how you feel about yourself, it depends on how you look.  that may be shallow, but that’s how it is… first impressions are so important, it’s how you present yourself.

From needle+thread

From needle+thread

NT: working as a stylist, what do you think people get hung up on the most? is there a perception that it takes a lot of time to have personal style?
SB: a lot of people get hung up on thinking that they have to be a certain age to wear something. i’m 45, so i don’t limit myself in what i can wear, maybe more how i wear it?… i think also one thing about being older, is you don’t care what other people think, so i don’t get hung up in that. what are people going to think about this outfit, you just put it on and feel great in it, and rock it.

i also do wardrobe audits where i go in to people’s closets and clean it out, just get down to the bare basics so that they’re able to get dressed and everything can go with each other. i think that when you walk into a large store, like nordstrom’s, it can be overwhelming because there’s so much there.  and we can just edit it and bring you the best. as a stylist at nordstrom, i can navigate the whole store, pull the best clothing options from each of the departments to fit your needs and help build a wardrobe.  it saves time and money in the long run.  it’s a dream job

NT: who are your style icons-
SB: my style icon growing up was cher. she always wore whatever she wanted, and she always had the confidence. and even though it was bad or good, it was always very memorable. she always took fashion risks, that’s what i like about her.  i remember drawing gowns for her to wear on the show.  i must have wanted to style cher when i was little! and then last year i saw chrissie hynde with the pretenders- she just looked amazing on stage, and i said that’s what i want to look like when i grow up.

for more information on sanda’s services, contact her at sanda.belaire@nordstrom.com

to follow me or sanda on twitter- kammart and nordbvuestylist

so many trends here… wide belt, sequin legging, leather jacket, boots… she brings it together, and of course it helps that she looks fierce.