Spice Up Your Hair w/Color Chalk!

Normally, when I get my hair done at Swink Style Bar, I just go for lots of volume and waves. God, I wish I had that big hair all the time! Sigh. This time, however, Swink treated me to something a little special for the Girl Power Hour anniversary party. I tried out their newest service - color chalking with Kevin Murphy's Color Bug!

Subtle Luxury printed scarf, LA Made tee & Arden B. Ava ankle skinny jean c/o Bollare
Zara leather jacket / TopShop studded flats

Color chalking is the latest trend in instant, wash out hair color. Swink uses the Kevin Murphy Color Bug, which comes in pink, purple and orange. The color can be applied in any part of the hair and can be wiped throughout in little pieces for a look as subtle or dramatic as you want. My stylist used a wax pomade in my hair to dampen the areas I wanted to chalk, then wiped on the color until we got a vibrant pink. (The color chalk absorbs the moisture created and settles into the hair.) Once your desired look is achieved, just set it with hairspray. 

Lauren Conrad's a fan!

Oscar de la Renta used it on the runways too.

It is REALLY messy during the application process. Swink will make sure you're covered with a salon robe and towels, but if you're buying the bug and DIYing at home, you'll want to have a towel or cape over clothes and furniture. Swink stylists seal in the color (until you wash it out) so you won't have to worry about it getting on your clothes later. You do not want to apply heat tools to the color - this will, seal the color into your hair for longer than the intended 1 day wearing time. 

Big hair & pink accents!

I loved the subtle pink highlights against my black hair. I chose to only do random chunks of hair, but you can use chalk to achieve a more ombre look too. Color chalking is great for a fun party or night out on the town, or if you're looking to add some permanent color to your hair and want to give it a test run first.

Right now, color chalking is available at Swink downtown and University Village locations. You can add on a color chalking service to any dry style for only $15, and if you want to keep the Color Bug, it's an extra $5.

Also, any UW student can get FREE color chalking with a dry style on any game day or on UW day Nov 2nd. Just show student ID. GO HUSKIES!

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Seattle: Three Awesome Events This Weekend 9/28/12

The ladies of Swink Style Bar and The Finest Accessories are getting together for a sweet pop-up shop this weekend! Check out some fun headbands, wraps and other hair accessories today and tomorrow.

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The Modern Home Tour is coming to the city this Saturday. Sign up to take a look at some of the flyest modern homes in the city! Proceeds benefit the Seattle Architecture Foundation.

Buy tickets here (Get a discount from sponsor Gray Magazine)

You already know Spike will be making an appearance at SlobberFest 2012, this Sunday at Marymoor Park in Redmond. Hosted by the Bulldog Club of Greater Seattle, the American Kennel Club and Cascade Bulldog Rescue.

More information here

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Interview: Stacy London on the Westfield Style Tour

A few Seattle bloggers and I got to sit down with super stylist & What Not to Wear host Stacy London last Saturday at Westfield Style Tour's Southcenter stop to ask her a few questions about life, fall trends and personal style. First of all, I want some of whatever she is channeling to be that bright, beautiful, spunky & cheerful so early on a Saturday morning! Stacy was really kind and gracious to us, taking the time to field a question from each of us and answer each one with a lot of care. I scribbled a ton of notes from everyone's questions and have chosen a few of my favorite highlights from our interview with Ms. London. Enjoy!

On the Westfield Style Tour:

I want to give customers a roadmap for their mall experience, because shopping can be overwhelming. 

[My style guide] is part catalog, part magazine & part hunting guide. Let me tell you, putting together a publication like that is hard work. Anna Wintour should run for president for what she does!

On style & confidence:

I am passionate about women feeling good about themselves because it took a long time for me to. 

I thought being into fashion meant being 'hip' and 'in the know' - and it left me feeling empty, not good enough.

When people stop believing in themselves, you can see it in their clothes. My guests tell me deep, personal, meaningful stories about their lives that affect their style. It's amazing how style can bring back confidence.

What are your favorite winter trends?

• Brocade, lace, leather, tweed, faux fur
• Primary colors, bold prints
• Mixed prints
• Black & white, bordreaux, teal, mustard
• Texture
• Monochromatic

FJ: What were your inspirations growing up that eventually led you to fashion?

Each chapter in my book is set to be a case study of sorts for different kinds of styling issues for women. In each chapter is an "I get it" section. I've been there. I've always been attracted to fashion from a very young age. I wanted Glenda's shoes from Wizard of Oz! I also had formative experiences, including a skin disease, that left me feeling 'less than' and overcompensating. Thankfully, I was able to overcome and now I use my experience to help other women feel good about how they look.

I think that fashion and style can sometimes be written off as superficial, and that's one of the most dangerous things we can do. Style is an emotional investment and we can learn a lot about ourselves from it.

Thanks, Stacy! Make sure to check out her book, The Truth About Style and Westfield Style Manual too!

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Rich Kids Brand Fall '12 Collection: Penthouses & Pitfalls

One of my favorite Seattle brands is back with a solid collection of tees and hoodies for fall. Rich Kids Brand embodies the notion of loyalty. "Rich is not what you have. It's who you have beside you.

On their latest collection, creative director Lee Smith says,

"'Penthouses and Pitfalls' is a representation of real life. As you live your life, it is inevitable that you will face your fair share of ups and downs. Through those experiences you grow as an individual and realize who is your loyal “family.” The ones who stick with you during the pitfalls are the ones who will be by your side permanently. The ones who are only there for the penthouses are temporary fixtures that will eventually fade away." 

I'm with that! Enjoy my favorite shots from their lookbook below:

All photos credit AJ Ragasa

Shop the new Rich Kids' Penthouses & Pitfalls collection online now!

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Fresh Style: Glamour Girl at G5

I had so much fun on the Fashion Panel at Girl Power Hour's G5 party last week I forgot to take photos! Here are the few that I took. Special thanks to Blue Nile for keeping a lady adorned with beautiful jewels for the night!

Got my face and hair done! More on the hair in a later post.

My beautiful city from the 74th floor of the Columbia Tower Club

Clockwise from left: Faceted Black Onyx Pendant; Amethyst & Diamond Cocktail Ring in 18k Yellow Gold; Freshwater Cultured Pearl & Amethyst Earrings; Lavender Amethyst Cocktail Ring

Cupcakes!

With my girl Jen Joyce aka Uber Seattle

Enjoying champagne with the Girl Power Hour G5 Fashion Panel and founder Darnell Sue! Some amazing ladies here. Photography by Teresa Potter of www.1StopWeddingSpot.com

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Fresh Eats: New York Food Diary

No trip to New York would be complete without an ample amount of dining! My bf and I asked friends and foodies alike for their recommendations on where to eat in NYC, and made time for as many of their suggestions as we could. What you see here are most of our excursions - omitted from here is the Shake Shack because I devoured my burger before I put together a single thought, and the other of a restaurant with incredibly bad service who shall remain unnamed! Enjoy.

I like to pretend The Meatball Shop was named after my Meatball. I make it a point to eat at the original Lower East Side spot every time I visit NY. This was bf and my first time eating there together, though, and I was really excited to enjoy a meal there with him. I always get the classic meatballs with spaghetti & meat sauce, with family jewels on top. A pitcher of sangria and I'm good to go!

My dear friend Jordie of Clutch 22 met up with us for dinner and drinks one night, and took us to Painkiller (PKNY) in the Lower East Side to cap off the night. This little tiki dive bar is on GQ, Esquire and numerous other lists for top bars in the city, and their extensive drink menu does not disappoint. I could only handle this one drink, and it was the size of my head! Look closely at the address, because you can easily miss this walking by on the street.

Jordie date night started out at Mercadito Grove in the West Village for some micheladas and tacos. She said they were the best micheladas she's had in the city, and Mercadito did not disappoint!

Filipino restaurants are few & far between, so when I heard about Maharlika, I had to give it a try no matter what. I've heard mixed reviews, mostly from Filipinos who refuse to like anything that isn't their mother's chicken adobo, so I wasn't too fazed going into it. We ended up having to wait at the bar for awhile while a table came up, but the staff was gracious about apologizing, giving us great service when we did have dinner, then comped our drinks for the night. Speaking of which, the drink menu is insanely good & filled with nostalgia - all drinks are named after current and legendary Filipino celebrities. I had mimosas with mango puree and Tang in them. SO GOOD. We ate spam fries (!!!!), pancit, lumpia taquitos and chicken wings. Yum!

I also like to stop in the East Village at the famed Momofuku Ssam & Milk Bars every time I'm in NY, and couldn't wait for my bf to try the steamed pork buns and duck pancakes there. Not to mention the compost cookies and birthday cake truffles!

Last notable food stop was for brunch in North Williamsburg, at egg. This place tops every list of Best Williamsburg Brunches, and was definitely worth the wait (though the wait wasn't even that long. Still, come early b/c you could be outside for awhile!) I chose their steel cut oats and he had french toast. I inhaled those steel cut oats and then licked the bowl clean! I can't lie. It was delicious, and a great pre-cursor to Brooklyn Flea on the waterfront.

I think we did alright for a couple of Seattleites eating in NYC! Do you have any favorite haunts or must-stops in the Big Apple? Let me know, I'll add it to my list for next time!

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Fresh Faves: Meet J Project Clothing (video)

I love this video produced by Magical Touch Media for J Project Clothing. Such a perfect capture of the vision of J Project's founder, Jaime Marie and the goods she sells in her short school bus turned mobile boutique. If you're in the Seattle area, you can catch her most weekends at the Shoreline Farmers Market, plus other markets and events around the region! Follow Jaime on Facebook and Twitter for a current update on her whereabouts.

I met Jaime last month at BadWill Market, and have been wearing one of her signature beaded wrap bracelets ever since!

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Nordstrom presents the Seattle Music Project

Last Friday, Nordstrom's flagship in Downtown Seattle hosted the Seattle Music Project photographic memorabilia gallery chronicling over 50 years of Seattle music. It was awesome to see the city's music historic icons and movements through all of the photos. I'm also loving Nordstrom's many efforts to branch out and explore different concepts in its stores! An art gallery is definitely not your typical use of space in the men's department! They even hosted a small set by Seattle's Campfire OK in the windows on 6th & Pine!

Here are a few of my favorite choices in the gallery. Check all the pics I took of the Seattle Music Project plus photos from Nordstrom's new collections with TopShop and Free People on the Fresh Jess Facebook page.

Campfire OK in the windows of 6th & Pine!

Eddie Vedder

Sir Mix-a-Lot

Jimi

Heart

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Seattle: Three Awesome Events This Weekend

Three fun events to satisfy the designer, foodie and sports fan in ya!

Brite Collective presents Value, a pop-up shop featuring independent home decor designers happening thru Sunday at 6:00p.m. in honor of the Seattle Design Festival. 

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The International District has food, music & dance performances, beer, art exhibits and more for its Night Market tomorrow night! Saturday 6:00 p.m. - midnight

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Looking for a place to watch UFC 152 or college football? 95 Slide is showing both tomorrow night - FREE! For all of you mixed martial arts fans, you know that beats paying cover to watch it elsewhere.

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Hope to see you at one or all three!

xo. Jess

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