Gary Graham on Elle

Image by Kelly Stuart

My favorite designer is back, this time on today's Elle blog (I think it's the best fashion-mag daily-blog right now), where he gives a peek at his Fall 2010 line and chats about his process and inspiration. The new line and the ideas behind it are fascinating, and there's a great video—and loads of gorgeous studio images by photog Kelly Stuart—that gives a little window inside the mind of Gary Graham.

Coincidentally, the peace T-shirt Gary created for the CFDA Fashion Fund contest went on sale at the Google Store today. I got one; will you?

Big changes for 2010

At risk of being redundant, this an excerpt of the letter I sent out to several hundred people late last month:

Some of you have already heard the news that after many years I'm moving on from Seattle Bride Magazine to pursue independent interests. …To answer the burning question: Nope, I'm not leaving for another gig. My goal is to continue editing and writing for the magazines and clients I'm fortunate to have a long history with, while chasing after any interesting leads and opportunities. (I might even take a vacation or two.) The Newlywed Kitchen, the book I co-authored with Lorna Yee, is due out in May 2010, and in the coming month I'll be debuting a new web site that will provide more information about my upcoming plans.

     I've been friends with many of you since long before my days at Seattle Bride, and I've thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the rest of you during my time there. It's been a wonderful ride, one I'm truly proud of and cherish. I invite you all to keep in touch with your ideas and inspirations—or just to say hello from time to time.

So that is my big news! I have a very interesting and juicy project in the works that I intend to share more of later. And of course, from time to time, I'll post when I have a story published or other news to report or, basically, when I remember to. In the meantime, I'll sign off this post with a picture that sums up what I will miss more than anything about this wonderful job editing Seattle Bride: The thrill of getting my hands on that first, real, tangible copy as it lands on my desk—or, in this case, as it debuted at the annual Best of Bride party. It was an absolutely wonderful journey!

Viewing the issue fresh off the presses. I'll miss it! (Image from Team Photogenic)

The Perfect Bridesmaid Gift (IMHO). Discuss:

I've written about bridesmaid gifts before and, yes, I have feelings about the subject. It's not that I don't appreciate the gesture of a gift, but in our globally warming world, I believe it's better to not give anything at all than to give something cheap that will create clutter. For example, I've been a bridesmaid something like 9 times, and I've rarely been gifted anything that didn't eventually wind up in the garbage (fall-apart jewelry, shiny photo frames, perfume, change purses to match my 'maids dress, etc—all personal-or-home items I kind of want to pick out for myself or don't need at all).

I've championed gift cards, but many people like to give something that isn't essentially the equivalent of money; they'd rather give something the recipient can look back on and think of the giver and the lovely day they shared. Soy candles are nice, but they burn away. Wine disappears (in my house anyway) in an hour. Finding something that is truly useful and lasting, but doesn't cost an arm and a leg, is difficult.

So that's why I'm seriously loving…purse holders. (Yes, I know they weren't invented yesterday, but I've kept my lust for them hidden until now.) Here's why I think they're great: They're generally inexpensive and they're seriously useful, especially if you are like (ahem) some people who spend the equivalent of a month's rent on a single handbag. Some handbag holders are really well-made and truly pretty, such as these Pavina Handbag Holders, which are essentially the Tiffany & Co. of handbag holders, featuring glittery gemstones and other bling. They retail for $45 to $60, but are 40 percent off here from 11/27 through 12/21/2009. (Quick disclaimer: I haven't personally tested Pavina brand).

A pretty Pavina handbag holder. If only these worked over the back of movie seats...

If that price is still too steep for your wedding budget, a quick web search turned up tons of great handbag holder choices for around $12, including plain ones you could decorate with your own flair (your 'maids' initials? a tiny picture under glass?)

What are your thoughts? Is this a good bridesmaid gift idea or a stinker? What will you give your 'maids? You can find more inspiration at SeattleBrideMag.com.

The Loveliest Wedding Shoes of All

As far as I'm concerned, Vivienne Westwood can do no wrong. But (despite Carrie's infamous wedding dress in the Sex and the City movie) I don't really think of Westwood designs as typical "bridal."

That must be why j'adore these classic-Westwood heart heels: They are whimsy and cheek married with cool style, and yet are also The Perfect heels for a bride.

They come in tan, white and blue—the latter is the obvious choice for the nearly wed—and are only $159 if you buy them here. (Are they sweet or what?)

As for me, I'm going to buy a pair—Right. Now!—because I think these cuties are just as apropos for a writer who writes about love, as they are for a gal declaring her undying love.

(I found the above wedding images—uncredited—online, so I don't know who the bride or photog are.)

Fashion Week: Lovely Gary Graham spring 10 "wedding" dress

Some of my favorite wedding dresses are ones designed from entirely un-bridal inspirations. Most of the brides we feature in Seattle Bride's real weddings stories wear traditional wedding dresses, but we've also shown women wearing beautiful dresses found at Marios or Nordstrom, and one memorable dress worn by a PNB ballerina was culled at BCBG for a song.

So I loved spying this Gary Graham dress (above) from the Spring 2010 collections yesterday. His collection was partially inspired by both Nancy Spungen and Lillian Gish, according to Style.com. With this dress, a 1930's Gish (and maybe a little 90s-era Courtney Love, who always aspired to be Spungen), is evident.

Graham's whole collection, pieces of which are sold here in Seattle at Alhambra and Les Amis, is lovely and there are beautiful options for bridesmaid dresses—that can actually be worn again, thank you very much—as well.


Photos: Alex Antich / Courtesy of Gary Graham

Maybe Anna's Starbucks arrived cold today?

The best caption from Fashion Week so far. (Is she being rewarded or punished?!?!)

Photo: Casey Kelbaugh for The New York Times

Uncharted Territories: Panama, Costa Rica—and Victoria!

Now that what must have been my busiest, most adventurous summer yet is drawing to a close, I have time to blog (and just in time for Fashion Week) and post a couple of magazine articles I wrote that were recently published.

My story about an incredible "Journey Between Two Seas" from Costa Rica to Panama appears in the September issue of Virtuoso. As with any trip, most of the journey is not included in the article—there are dozens of stories that came from this trip, from exploring old ruins to meeting remote tribes to zip-lining through the rainforest canopy—but I hope you enjoy my take on 10 days in the jungle and on the ocean in 1,800 words.
Me, ziplining over the jungle; Photo by Kerrick James

In the same issue, a smaller article I wrote about eating my way through Victoria, B.C., one of my favorite nearby Northwest getaways, is featured on page 36. Victoria is a laid-back, lovely city with a fussier reputation than it deserves. Thanks in part to the inventive Island Chef's Collaborative, many, many bistros and restaurants here are just first-rate, offering organic, island-only—or primarily island—cuisine. Feel free to get in touch if you ever need suggestions about where to eat or stay (or bike!) in Victoria; I'm always happy to pass on my recommendations!
Cycling the coastline near Victoria. And, no, I don't always wear some kind of helmet when I travel