tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86161574718075635202011-12-03T20:18:03.848-08:00<a href="http://alibasye.blogspot.com">News and updates about Ali Basye, her work and her book, The Long (and Short) of It: The Madcap History of the Skirt</a>Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.comBlogger1121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-61301738594480155222011-07-01T16:20:00.000-07:002011-07-01T16:50:17.343-07:00

A few days ago I taped a fun segment for the radio program "KUOW Presents" about teen fashion, the bottom-up theory and two films that demonstrate the evolution and growing influence of street style versus designer style. The piece just aired, and it's always kind of wild for me to listen to the conversation edited down after the fact. (I also have to say there is nothing weirder than listening

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-47185020324257384042011-06-07T10:00:00.000-07:002011-06-07T10:02:14.816-07:00

Be sure to check out my two articles offering up fun things to see and do in Seattle and the Eastside beginning on page 68 in the current issue of Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air magazines. It's always fun to work with the (local) team at Alaska!

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-15714536381128025572011-02-22T12:24:00.000-08:002011-02-22T13:30:24.799-08:00

The issue hit newsstands last month, so I figure it was about time to post this: Todd's and my wedding was featured in the upcoming issue of Seattle Bride magazine! This wasn't a shocker, of course. After Todd proposed, one of my first thoughts was to call Rachel Hart, the editor of Seattle magazine and editorial director of all the Seattle-based Tiger Oak publications, as well as one of my

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-74218399617993829622011-01-12T11:42:00.000-08:002011-01-12T11:44:46.144-08:00

I'm so honored to be featured on lifestyle expert Kelley Moore's blog, For the Love of Design, today! In her Ramblings column, a Q&A with different design-oriented people, I reveal my biggest pet peeves, my greatest extravagances and how I really feel about fashion police!If you don't read a lot of design magazines and are not familiar with Kelley, I suggest you click over to KelleyLMoore.com and

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-29274510233415604382011-01-01T09:27:00.000-08:002011-01-01T09:31:51.363-08:00

Is it too soon in the history of On This Day In Fashion to create a top-moments list? And can a top-moments list be such a thing if the items are in no particular order? Granted we’ve only been up and running since June 27, but we’ve had so much fun over the past six months, and ‘tis the season, after all. I just couldn’t let 2010 close without commemorating a few favorite moments, kind of like

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-21140320020583023562010-12-17T17:58:00.000-08:002010-12-17T17:59:02.895-08:00

I just finished doing a really fun segment on KUOW Presents, a terrific radio program on 94.9-FM, about three December-released films that offer great take-away fashion. All three films were recently featured on On This Day In Fashion: Morocco (1930), starring Marlene Dietrich and her pants; Saturday Night Fever (1977), starring John Travolta and his 19-year-old polyester-clad butt; and Out of

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-57527704112245314382010-11-15T15:16:00.000-08:002010-11-15T15:16:55.756-08:00

Exciting news today: I did a short fashion segment on New Day Northwest, a terrific morning news-magazine show in Seattle, to talk about the November anniversary of Marc Jacobs' notorious grunge collection for Perry Ellis in 1992 and the return of grunge style in 2010. I teamed up with the stylistas at Ajentse, which represents fashion photographers, stylists and hair and makeup artists, and

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-74536819800749770132010-10-28T13:04:00.000-07:002010-10-28T13:04:07.489-07:00

Back in 1999 at the beginning of my magazine career, I interviewed Rebel without a Cause screenwriter Stewart Stern for Seattle magazine, where I was an editor. In the spirit of today's Cinemode, Rebel without a Cause, I thought it would be fun to dig up this lost interview after all these years and post it on On This Day In Fashion. The short Q&A with Stern centers around the fact that I'd

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-56933972530105939302010-10-28T13:01:00.000-07:002010-10-28T13:01:10.880-07:00

It was supposed to be filmed in black and white. Rebel without a Cause was already in production when the studio made the decision to switch to color Cinemascope, introducing entirely new concepts for the cinematographer and costume designer. Thanks to the inexplicable change of plans, when Rebel was released on this day in 1955, audiences were able to drink in James Dean’s saturated red jacket,

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-77649920767667749742010-10-26T13:37:00.000-07:002010-10-26T14:12:06.555-07:00

I haven't posted a story in reference to the history of the skirt in a while, but this item is too good to pass up. Yesterday the mayor of Castellammare di Stabia, a southern Italian resort town, "has ordered police officers to fine women who wear short miniskirts or show too much cleavage, as part of a battle to raise what he describes as the level of public decorum," according to an article in

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-37485240268424999232010-10-22T13:03:00.000-07:002010-10-22T13:06:06.101-07:00

This post was reblogged from the October 22, 2010, edition of On This Day In Fashion. They called him an “enemy of the church,” a menace and, my personal favorite, “the Bolivar of the Bosom,” a reference to the 19th-century general who helped lead Spain to independence. But Los Angeles–based designer Rudi Gernreich didn’t have a fixation on breasts, as many critics angrily contended. Nope,

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-84338687482168643882010-10-18T21:09:00.000-07:002010-10-22T13:04:44.163-07:00

The film starts with finger snaps, of all things. Snaps as intimidation, snaps as tension, snaps as power and control and, of course, snaps as cool. Somehow, through coordinated snapping, West Side Story sets a tone for a different way of experiencing film: through color, angles, movement and sound. It might be the coolest film ever made and one of the most stylish, too. It’s the musical for

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-13933101412977527182010-10-13T08:56:00.000-07:002010-10-22T13:06:49.676-07:00

This post is reblogged from the October 13, 2010, edition of On This Day In Fashion. In 1947 Bette Davis already had a dresser, the famed costumer Orry-Kelly, who had worked for Warner Bros. since the early talkies. But the two fought like cats, and Kelly’s ongoing bitchy comments about Davis’s aging looks and expanding figure didn’t help the relationship. Perhaps that’s how Paramount costumer

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-90465251650787783152010-10-08T16:07:00.000-07:002010-10-08T16:08:04.343-07:00

I just wrapped up a great Cinemode segment about fashion in film on KUOW, the local affiliate of NPR, for "KUOW Presents." Host Jeannie Yandel and I talked about three movies that demonstrated the power of personal style, even when the means at hand are entirely limited. Can you guess what the movies were? Okay, I'll save you the suspense: Grey Gardens (the documentary not the Drew Barrymore

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-25385853598137121002010-10-08T13:02:00.000-07:002010-10-08T13:03:39.757-07:00

This post was reblogged from the October 8, 2010, edition of On This Day in Fashion. “Clothes should be useful.” “I like comfort.” “I do not like glitter.” These are just a few edicts from mid-20th century designer Claire McCardell, and if they sound severe, well, she meant them to. This is a woman who earned popularity with the unseemly sounding “Monastic” and “Popover” dresses and tie-over “

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-70055251593282288302010-10-01T21:30:00.000-07:002010-10-22T13:09:32.009-07:00

Sound the trumpets and hail Chanel! October 1 marks the Officially Recognized Day of the introduction of the designer’s iconic and history-making Little Black Dress. Yep, it was on this day in 1926 that American Vogue magazine ran a small illustration (left) of what it called Chanel’s “Ford” dress, likening the modest garment to the reliable Model-T of the era and hearkening Henry Ford’s line, "

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-29368676746799712962010-09-29T14:41:00.000-07:002010-09-29T14:45:34.599-07:00

This post is reblogged from today's On This Day In Fashion. The Charles James sandals that made the cut. Don't let the title mislead you: I'm not a shoe addict, or even a "shoe person." A bag person? Sometimes. Jewelry person? Sure. But although I dream of wearing these and these and these, it’s probably not going to happen. Reason being that I wear a size 11-wide heels (size 10½ sneaker) and

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-65195763427252691292010-09-24T14:27:00.000-07:002010-09-29T14:42:14.188-07:00

The following post is reblogged from the September 22 edition of On This Day In Fashion. What defines the relationship between artist and muse? And how are those boundaries altered when the roles are interchangeable, when the artist becomes muse and vice versa? Observing the longtime collaboration between musician Björk and designer Alexander McQueen, it’s hard to say who influenced the other

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-37149790304246866852010-09-15T13:17:00.000-07:002010-09-15T13:17:36.426-07:00

This editor's note post is reblogged from the September 15 edition of On This Day In Fashion. As we roll into our third month parked here on the www, you may have noticed a few recent changes and updates to On This Day In Fashion. If not, allow me to give you the dime tour: A long overdue project—masthead bios and photos—have been posted on the About Us page so stop on by and pay us a visit.

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-47156877100978698712010-09-05T14:27:00.000-07:002010-09-19T15:15:06.110-07:00

This post was reblogged from the September 5 edition of On This Day In Fashion. Confession: I love shopping at Goodwill. I'm not just talking about the fact that I like how the money I spend there goes to a great cause, or how you can find cheap deals on pretty much anything that goes in a person's home. My love is more serious: I get a goosebump-inducing, pulse-racing thrill from shopping there

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-34923048485799614282010-09-04T06:04:00.000-07:002010-09-04T06:18:36.077-07:00

This post is reblogged from "Àli Mode," my editor's note from the September 1 edition of On This Day In Fashion. I’ve been trying to think of better titles for a weekly editor’s note than, um, “Editor’s Note” and I’m toying with the idea of Àli Mode. Get it? It’s me, but “of the style or fashion.” What do you think? Too silly, or kind of cute? Maybe I need to sit on it for a week and see how

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-43267952403466402272010-08-31T12:47:00.000-07:002010-08-31T12:47:43.030-07:00

Wow, after 12 years working at a bridal magazine and a lifetime, I suppose, of wondering what my wedding would be like, I made the leap and tied the knot on August 26, 2010. It was a great wedding week, with family and friends flying out from around the country to lend their support and bust a few moves on the dance floor. Soon I'll post lots of pictures but in the meantime, many thanks to all

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-59705345763859047362010-08-19T22:29:00.000-07:002010-08-19T22:36:41.351-07:00

This post is reblogged from August 18 edition of On This Day In Fashion. The Gary Graham dress the started—and ended—the hunt for the perfect dress.I’ve been thinking a lot about fashion lately, but not the kind you might be thinking about. Visions of wedding clothes are taking up the bulk of sartorial space in my head these days, reason being that I’m getting married next week, thanks very much

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-54781923768322966992010-08-04T14:15:00.000-07:002010-08-04T14:15:48.846-07:00

Here's this week's editor's note from On This Day In Fashion! After last week’s inaugural editor’s note, I received a few emails from people reaching out with comments and questions—which is great! As the site grows I hope more readers share their thoughts. In fact, one of our shorter term goals is to set up some kind of fashion Q&A center where readers can come and ask any fashion question they

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-17919117947388182602010-07-27T11:20:00.000-07:002010-07-27T11:34:10.215-07:00

I was so pleased to receive two new magazines in the mail last week and discover both featured stories about two of my latest projects! I knew both stories were running, of course, but you kind of forget about these things until they land in your lap—kind of like online shopping from French websites: By the time you receive your goodies you forgot you ordered them. Anyway! The new, Fall/Winter 

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-46232495980869030392010-07-13T10:44:00.000-07:002010-07-13T10:50:50.733-07:00

The headline explains my exile from blogging (and life) over the past six months: I finally launched my long-in-the-works project: OnThisDayInFashion.com! The idea came after the book I wrote a few years back on the history of the skirt was published, and I began blogging little "On this Day in Fashion History" posts that related back to snippets from the book. I don't know if any of my posts

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-64671737548201712572010-05-22T11:06:00.000-07:002010-07-13T10:51:35.827-07:00

I'm pretty hopeless when it comes to Sex and the City. For better or worse, I have enough years invested in the TV show that when the movies come out I'm not only first in line at the movie theater (a place I normally avoid) but dressed to the nines on opening night. So I'm really looking forward to seeing the sequel (again, for better or worse) this Thursday night. I even, natch, picked up (

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-6183619374139965212010-05-19T11:32:00.000-07:002010-05-19T11:34:16.970-07:00

This Friday at 7 p.m., Lorna Yee and I will be at one of my favorite small venues—Tom Douglas' Palace Ballroom—for a foodie/book event hosted by one of my favorite women, Kim Ricketts of her eponymous book events. Kim hosted amazing food-meets-words nights for many years; I've been to a handful of her events and can attest that they are great fun and truly interesting. We'll be talking about the

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-15315724436725688932010-05-12T09:23:00.000-07:002010-05-12T13:02:17.685-07:00

I spent a sick day yesterday catching up on fashion blogs (my list of daily "must-reads" has grown to, like, 70), and I nearly fell out of bed when I saw this found-object necklace on W magazine's normally, er, dreary site. The writer spotted it at the SOFA show at the NY Amory, and took the time for a short Q&A with the artist, Jennifer Trask. I'm anti-taxidermy, and don't fawn over mounted

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-14715674436199321012010-05-01T10:40:00.000-07:002010-07-13T10:52:44.327-07:00

This year has clearly flown by, as today—the release date for the Newlywed Kitchen—completely snuck up on me. Today, May 1, you can find our cookbook on various online sites as well as in bookstores everywhere! I'm so pleased with how pretty it is; Sasquatch did a beautiful job of compiling all of Lorna's recipes and the charming food/love stories of so many inspirational couples. I hope

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-157904794264459582010-04-30T22:34:00.000-07:002010-05-01T08:34:25.157-07:00

How can anyone not be crazy for Tim Gunn? This video, part one of a critique of superhero costumes, is classic TG. Carry on!

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-82801701711591057592010-04-29T18:42:00.000-07:002010-07-13T10:56:33.127-07:00

Today I stopped by the Rodarte trunk show at Nordstrom to meet the Mulleavy sisters and see their fall 2010 collection and the verdict is in: Those two women are as cool and charming and down-to-earth as all other accounts have stated before me. To boot, the collection, which is inspired by a road trip they took from El Paso to Marfa, Texas, is stunning and truly evocative. After seeing the

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-10939960258455778162010-04-26T16:34:00.000-07:002010-04-26T16:34:25.146-07:00

I can't stop looking at these pictures of "The Maison in a Room" that Martin Margiela designed at 10 Corso Como, a must-shop boutique in Milan. I'm a sucker for trompe l'oeil—not to mention Margiela—and these examples are pretty great. The room, which artfully displays all of Margiela's non-fashion lines (home objects, fragrance, sunglasses, jewelry), is up through May 30, so lucky Milanese

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-23008494473501498982010-04-13T09:50:00.000-07:002010-04-13T09:50:07.071-07:00

Late Friday night I got one of those "pleasecallmebacknomatterwhattime" messages from my friend Gayle, the owner of All About Weddings & Celebrations and one of the hosts of Nearlywed Radio. It turns out that her co-host was down-and-out with the flu, and she needed a last-minute stand-in for a live radio show the next morning: Would I be up for the gig? Gayle knows me too well; I love to chat!

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-90648873916089055172010-04-07T14:17:00.000-07:002010-04-07T14:27:39.360-07:00

I love clothes, but the truth is I'm more a fan of clever design than amassing loads of outfits and trends of the moment. Even more limiting on my clothing purchases is my not-so-secret alter ego as a guilt-ridden tree hugger. People are usually surprised when they see how few clothes and shoes my partner (who puts my own style to shame) have in our adjoining walk-in closet. But style, my dears,

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-10522708270784379912010-03-31T09:51:00.000-07:002010-03-31T09:53:00.042-07:00

For years I counseled brides that, if they are wearing a classic wedding gown, they should save on the dress and splurge on the shoes. The thinking being that, unlike the dress, the shoes can be worn over and over, so why not purchase that fabulous pair of Christian Louboutins or Manolos you always dreamed of but could never justify? If something is going to be worn once and then packed away

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-86126062356573318562010-03-28T22:04:00.000-07:002010-07-13T10:53:56.559-07:00

Save the Date - August 26, 2010 from t davis on Vimeo. is ours! (If I do say so myself :) The genius hubby-and-wife team of Lance Wagner and Trixie Lane at Seattle's Old School Pinups helped Todd and I recreate our meeting and engagement into the niftiest ever proposal/save-the-date video for the small wedding we're having late this summer and we couldn't be more thrilled. A while back we took

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-69178670603314873632010-03-22T12:50:00.000-07:002010-07-13T10:54:20.819-07:00

There are few women I consider greater personal icons than Patti Smith. Her music, style, writing and spirit have provided 20-plus years of inspiration, and so I rarely miss an opportunity to see and hear her when she's in town. She was in town for a reading/performance at the end of January, and as usual she charmed the socks off of every person in the auditorium (Socks sidebar: Once I saw Patti

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-72428703204258841532010-03-11T08:19:00.000-08:002010-07-13T10:54:44.830-07:00

A few years back when I was writing The Madcap History of the Skirt, my editor was adamant that I include a section about the fashions of America's First Ladies. I remember her saying: "People will love it, and it will SELL," words every writer wants to hear, but I was still cool on the idea. I wanted the book to be fun and cheeky and the first ladies seemed so…dry. But once I began my research I

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-34705139082197177692010-03-10T17:28:00.000-08:002010-07-13T10:55:12.763-07:00

Today's mail held a particularly special package: My first copy of The Newlywed Kitchen, the cookbook I coauthored that strives to inspire couples to learn to love cooking together. It's wonderful to see a longtime idea come to fruition: I've often said this book is like a really long feature I always wanted to run in Seattle Bride Magazine, one that came from my dismay at learning that so many

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-62289482836173722552010-03-03T06:02:00.000-08:002010-03-11T12:33:27.798-08:00

Two competing skirt lengths from Emilio Pucci FW10 collection test the hemline theory. Photo: Marcio Madeira / FirstView.com I was delighted to see this article on yesterday's Wallet Pop about the history of economic upturns correlating with rising hemlines. The author, Amy Pyle, even pulled a snippet from my book: Skirts functioning as a barometer for the economy is not a new theory.

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-59372719157752147912010-02-15T12:14:00.000-08:002010-02-15T12:16:43.842-08:00

…and someone wrote an article about me for a change! I had forgotten to post this last week, but our local newspaper published a story about our house, which makes for an interesting subject only because the space is small (1,200 sq feet) and green-built. The author did a terrific job and the photographs are just beautiful. Big thanks to Colleen and Ben for making Todd and I seem way cooler than

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-40789442477119660872010-02-13T14:23:00.000-08:002010-02-14T04:26:39.819-08:00

Apparently, it took quitting my job at Seattle Bride to lift the so-called "wedding curse" (not really a curse at all) that had hit so many employees before me. Earlier this week Todd completely surprised me and proposed with a family heirloom ring my mom sneakily sent him a few weeks ago. So it's official: After all these years I am a Seattle Bride! Todd popped the question in a booth at Tango,

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-3422452133326010702010-02-12T18:55:00.000-08:002010-02-13T09:39:43.217-08:00

Like anyone who loves to wear great clothes and follow fashion behind-the-scenes, I was sad and speechless after reading about the death of Alexander McQueen yesterday. What’s to say? He was an inspiration and a great artist (although I like best what Andre Leon Talley said on Heard on the Runway: “He was a great poet. There are very few poets left.”) I occasionally edit fashion shoots and

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-63332613931612761152010-02-04T12:42:00.000-08:002010-02-04T15:40:42.877-08:00

Image by Kelly StuartMy 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

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-16319963489035632962010-01-03T14:44:00.000-08:002010-01-03T19:43:22.541-08:00

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

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-62453320077592273422009-11-06T14:21:00.000-08:002009-11-06T14:23:28.334-08:00

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

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-88667316434711340252009-11-04T15:35:00.000-08:002009-11-04T15:37:54.175-08:00

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

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-78312043456907877492009-09-12T13:27:00.000-07:002009-09-12T19:00:55.340-07:00

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

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-34339136201743019222009-09-11T14:51:00.000-07:002009-09-12T19:01:59.888-07:00

The best caption from Fashion Week so far. (Is she being rewarded or punished?!?!) Photo: Casey Kelbaugh for The New York Times

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-62994272142834278522009-09-11T12:18:00.000-07:002009-09-12T19:02:54.916-07:00

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

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-44468350427260687682009-05-20T08:29:00.000-07:002009-09-12T19:03:34.591-07:00

I'm in love with this video shot by Edit 1 Media at Seattle Bride magazine's recent photo shoot for our flowers feature. What really floors me is that this is the state of wedding video these days! Many thanks to Edit 1 for this beautiful video and giving our readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at a flowers/fashion shoot. Edit 1 Media founders Laura and Chris Randall are also one of our

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-27860139198542877962009-05-14T15:48:00.001-07:002009-09-12T19:04:24.459-07:00

Photograph by Elke Van de Velde The upcoming Fall/Winter 2009 issue of Seattle Bride is coming down the home stretch, giving me little time for anything else. So it was great to take a break last night and watch a terrific segment on Evening Magazine about one of our upcoming fashion spreads shot by one of my favorite photographers, Elke Van de Velde. It's always fun to see how TV shows edit

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-5394462219119697272009-03-12T14:44:00.000-07:002009-09-12T19:06:08.532-07:00

As always happens when exciting things are happening in my busy life, I've been super lazy-bones about documenting the developments on this blog. Well, thank goodness for Lorna Yee, my new partner in our newest venture: Eat, Drink, and Be Married, a cookbook for newlyweds, due out from Sasquatch Books in March, 2010. Lorna, the chef for Cache Seattle and a food writer for Seattle magazine,

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-33621205443990305552009-02-08T09:19:00.000-08:002009-02-08T09:38:24.115-08:00

Today Seattle Bride and The Healthy Bride are kicking off the second day of Battle of the Betrothed down at Westlake Center and the competition is fierce! All eight of our hilarious, adorable, charming and all-around fantastic couples are pulling out all the stops to come up with the most creative solutions to the challenges before them. Yesterday, couples competed in a toilet-paper-dress-making

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-51674449800093636732009-01-22T09:32:00.000-08:002009-01-22T09:40:37.263-08:00

While reading the spectrum of reactions to Michelle Obama's fashion choices last night I came across Mrs. O, a terrific web site that regularly follows the fashion of the new First Lady. The site not only shows great pics and discusses Michelle's outfits, but offers a round-up of commentary on the Web, video, and tracks down each garment and accessory, Nancy Drew–like. For instance the Carole

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-17975510673981834872009-01-21T15:04:00.000-08:002009-01-21T20:32:32.642-08:00

Photo from the Washington PostReaders of this blog know I'm a big fan of Robin Givhan of The Washington Post; she's probably my favorite fashion writer and my main go-to gal when I need a good read, fashion news–wise. So when I looked at the Post today and saw she had a front-page story about Michelle Obama's dresses—and better yet—hosted a live Q&A on the web site at 1 p.m. EST, it was like

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-83559481208393240502009-01-20T11:25:00.000-08:002009-01-20T12:12:36.069-08:00

Photo from AFPThere's so much goodness to write about today but, hey, let's dish about The Dress. Michelle wore a beaded lemongrass wool-lace dress and matching coat by—drum roll—Isabel Toledo, a designer she has worn before (to a Calvin Klein fund-raiser last year, for one) and a long-time favorite designer of mine to watch. I first discovered Isabel and Rubén (her artist-illustrator husband)

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-22361382582237465492009-01-07T12:20:00.000-08:002009-01-08T09:39:10.554-08:00

New Year, new article, new post! My story about visiting Paris was published last week in Virtuoso Life and I have photographer Peter Frank Edwards to thank for the beautiful images that accompanied the story. You can read it here, and I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback!

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-27845653794871572042008-10-06T10:40:00.000-07:002008-10-06T10:59:13.466-07:00

Todd arrived at the crack of dawn (before I even crawled home from my late night, poor thing) and we moved to the 16th and checked into our amazing digs at La Réserve. As you can see, we are essentially on top of the Eiffel Tower—it's beyond a dream! The staff here apparently guessed my weakness: fabulous, fabulous macaroons.Soon we were met by our fabulous guide, Bob, and photographer, Frank,

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-28716808336124412602008-10-06T10:30:00.001-07:002008-10-06T10:40:46.437-07:00

After the Chloe show on Saturday, Susan from Seattle and I hooked up near the Trocadero to experience Nuit Blanche, the one night of the year Paris celebrates the arts from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.—for free! Many galleries are open all night and each train station throughout the city hosts and features the work of a contemporary artist. Tony Oursler did a cool video installation on the facade of one

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-48175291950204878522008-10-04T09:51:00.000-07:002008-10-04T10:19:26.507-07:00

Just a few quick notes about the Chloe show this afternoon in the Jardin des Tuileries before I run off to a dinner: Celebrity sightings were (obvs) numerous; favorite moments included the can't-miss entrance of the unbeatable Anna Piaggi and her sun visor over a purple bandana headband; Santino (!?!) avoiding Nina, who kept her classic Project Runway pursed smile on her face throughout the show

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-71189220768240770132008-10-03T14:04:00.000-07:002008-10-03T14:27:42.422-07:00

Every one of us has experienced a long forgotten scent that, once encountered, triggers a strong emotion. Melancholy gets me every time. Climbing stairwells in 1960s-era buildings evokes the antiseptic, chalk-dust powdered hallways of my elementary school in Delaware. A trip to a neighborhood library can throw me into a nostalgia tailspin, as afternoons spent sitting Indian style (as we called it

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-11583133040483167162008-10-03T14:01:00.000-07:002008-10-03T14:04:54.276-07:00

I'm all checked into Le Meridien and ready to devour a week of fashion, perfume, shopping, food, art and the rest of goodness that is Paris. My view doesn't include La Eiffel, but it ain't bad either.

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-1835466396244275262008-09-11T10:17:00.000-07:002008-09-11T10:39:08.670-07:00

Photograph: The New York TimesI just learned that I'm headed off to Paris for 10 days in October to report on behind-the-scenes shopping and the all-around Good Life in the City of Light (fancy hotels and restaurants, private fashion shows and cooking classes, perfume workshops and hair and makeup sessions and the like). I know, tough life, right? I'm giving thanks to the goddesses of good

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-55149330590267005932008-09-04T09:38:00.000-07:002008-09-04T15:47:26.416-07:00

Last week I was asked back as a guest on Northwest Afternoon—this time to chat about fall bridal trends and Seattle Bride's 10th anniversary issue. Once again a fantastic team of talented bridal vendors and coworkers helped me out, especially Elizabeth Tveit at Tiger Oak Publications, Stephanie Cristalli Photography, Judy Tallant of Tallant House (yum!), Christiane Zweifler of Flora Nova, Miya

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-58096875533992187272008-09-02T16:14:00.000-07:002008-09-02T16:22:52.892-07:00

As evidenced by total lack of posts, I took the summer off from blogging. But now I'm back with some fun news about The Long and Short of It. Google Alerts (love this feature) tipped me off to this cute article about my book in the Style Matters section of the Rocky Mountain News. It's always great to read positive reviews and these gals seem like a kick. I'll certainly be back to their column to

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-46821260660851086042008-07-14T07:13:00.000-07:002008-07-14T17:32:42.668-07:00

Bill Cunningham for The Times It is without a hint of shame that I tell you that my favorite part of the online edition of the Sunday New York Times has become Bill Cunningham's audio slide shows of On the Street. For three-or-four minutes he discusses fashionable trends he's seen on New York streets and his take is always fascinating. Whether he's discussing low-slung men's jeans or oversize

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-5222985388055048072008-06-27T13:52:00.000-07:002008-06-27T13:56:37.885-07:00

One of the gals at Seattle Magazine interviewed Christian Soriano from Project Runway while he was in Seattle for a Gay Health fund-raiser last night. I'm so bummed I missed this event! But I have to share this video because I'm such a fan. I just think he's so articulate and funny and sweet and does so much for fashion. I'm just smitten!

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-80759395621267591252008-06-23T09:36:00.000-07:002008-06-23T09:50:17.844-07:00

Photograph by Tom Barwick; Bouquet by Aria StyleI am so pleased with the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of Seattle Bride magazine, which hit newsstands on Friday. The magazine is chock full of wedding goodness and celebrates our 10th Anniversary to boot. Not bad for a start-up local bridal publication! Photograph by Elke Van de Velde for AjentseAs usual, a big shout-out goes to the amazing team of

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-62769988045403345102008-06-10T10:16:00.000-07:002008-06-10T10:22:18.330-07:00

Image by Elke Van de Velde for AjentseTune into to "The Flow" on KKNW 1150 a.m. today at 2 p.m. to hear me chat with 7 Salon owner Rodger Azadganian about bridal trends in the Northwest and get a sneak preview of what's in the upcoming Fall/Winter issue of Seattle Bride!

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-64406106733242487152008-05-31T18:12:00.000-07:002008-05-31T18:32:09.654-07:00

(Craig Blankenhorn/The Kobal Coll)At the risk of spoiling the storyline of Sex and the City: The Movie, which I saw along with at least 1,000 other devoted women (and about 3 gay men) at the Meridian in Seattle last night, I'm going out on a limb here and saying that it just may be the perfect wedding movie. (I assume you've all seen the trailers by now, of Carrie in a wedding dress, so I won't

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-8105925055904644392008-04-30T15:32:00.000-07:002008-04-30T15:42:13.354-07:00

Tune in tonight to watch Dinner Impossible on the Food Network at 10 p.m. (or in re-runs all week). Super stylist, and lifestyle and entertaining expert Kelley Moore and Seattle Bride Magazine teamed up with the crew at Dinner Impossible to help a couple plan a lightening-fast five-star wedding. In fact, the whole affair was planned in just under five weeks! Kudos to the team at Seattle Bride and

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-53635505596535145542008-04-20T09:34:00.000-07:002008-04-20T10:36:27.361-07:00

(One of my favorite Spring 2008 Gary Graham skirts)On Thursday I received an exciting email from a producer at 1TV in the UK about a five-part series the station is doing on the History of Fashion, and she invited me to participate as their resident "expert" on the history of skirts. It turns out that they are dedicating an entire film to skirt history, mostly 20th and 21st century skirts. Since

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-13594641121081278192008-04-04T11:35:00.000-07:002008-04-04T12:05:53.574-07:00

This post is a little overdue but my article Cycle Chic was published in the current issue of Textile View. I think it turned out pretty great. Thanks to the dozens of cyclists from Seattle to San Diego who schooled me on the history of fixies and the evolution of cycle chic.

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-17232046334546495052008-03-08T20:53:00.000-08:002008-03-09T18:09:51.222-07:00

Well, this sure was a nice surprise in today's mail. I opened up Moore News, the quarterly magazine from my alma mater, Moore College of A&D, and saw a little article about the chat I gave to some of the fashion and textile students there last October (click on the image to read the story). I love the article and am so happy to have a picture with my three favorite teachers and mentors, Michael,

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-59961859455303562732008-02-07T11:15:00.000-08:002008-03-17T09:39:30.962-07:00

Just a reminder to watch this week's "About the Money," a program hosted by Christine Chen on KCTS-TV, Channel 9 in Seattle, Tuesday at 7:30 pm. I'll be on to talk about love, money and marriage, weddings, brides and industry news and trends on a segment called "CEO Spotlight" (!!). If you missed the segment, KCTS has a web page where you can view the show!

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-12891371661349811042008-02-01T18:59:00.000-08:002008-02-02T14:27:24.863-08:00

I have the perfect dress for my Macy's Bridal event tomorrow: A Verrier white flocked ruffle dress. But how do you wear a white chiffon dress in February? Is it at all possible? It's too breezy for tights and too textured for fishnets, too ruffled for a jacket and too stark to pair with color. Plus the Macy's stage is white, with white tablecloths on the tables. If I wear bare legs I'll look

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-6353754315058865062008-01-28T13:37:00.000-08:002008-01-28T13:52:42.150-08:00

The upcoming week brings more …Me! As many of you have reminded me with snapshots of the downtown Macy's window, this Saturday (2/2) is the FREE Macy's Bridal Spectacular Event, and I'll be there with Jorge Perez from Waterford, chatting tabletop settings, registry and other such stuff. It's a day-long event for brides or anyone interested in housewares, party planning and decor. Did I mention

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-46792303961546989912008-01-23T18:12:00.000-08:002008-01-24T17:48:07.059-08:00

There are two things I have in common with every other healthy American woman: I love to eat and I swoon for firefighters. So it was a no-brainer to agree to take part in the Shuck & Swallow Oyster Challenge at McCormick's Fish House tomorrow (1/24) for my second year in a row. And just to be clear: I like oysters, but I'm a counter, not a schucker, and definitely not a challenger! In the event,

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-53118730287416479682008-01-07T11:10:00.000-08:002008-01-07T15:22:00.508-08:00

Writer, editor and busy mom Sarah Jio recently interviewed me and posted the results as a kind of "All About Ali" on her terrific blog, A Full Plate, where she dishes about writing, motherhood and what's for dinner. Sarah writes for top-notch publications, including O, Glamour, Health, SELF, and Fitness, among many others, so it's great to be affiliated with such esteemed company! Check it out at

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-91142709341787930922008-01-06T18:11:00.000-08:002008-01-06T18:51:24.435-08:00

Well, um, this is kinda cool. First of all, big thanks go to the creative and talented duo of fashion design students at the Art Institute of Seattle, who came up with the idea of making a dress entirely out of pages and covers of Seattle Bride magazine. (I know this dress is inexplicably sideways on this blog page—sorry 'bout that—but is it fierce or what?!?) I can't believe this gorgeous piece

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-35044091774988230802008-01-06T11:18:00.000-08:002008-01-06T19:07:20.007-08:00

Glam by Pam had the most amazing, sparkling, show-stopping booth I saw all day—and all the vendors pulled out all the stops this year! I can't remember if this is her first year at the Wedding Show (she may have had a booth last year) but we featured her for the first time in the Spring/Summer 2007 issue and I just think she is a true artist. The reason I'm only publishing one not-so-great image

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-46888027896845472592008-01-06T11:01:00.000-08:002008-01-06T17:58:02.338-08:00

There are a ton of un-be-lievable dresses I want to take pictures of, but unfortunately some vendors have issues with it. You know, the whole copyright of the design thing. I explained it was just for personal blogging and, honestly, in this age of free information does Vera Wang or Monique Lhuillier even have time to worry about their designs being ripped off from a blog? Just imagine lots of

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-54455392706295255842008-01-06T10:51:00.000-08:002008-01-06T18:10:09.990-08:00

John at Aria had another great bouquet idea: real cherries in bouquets. Is this red and green bouquet darling or what? I'm guessing these are Rainiers. He said he tried it out for the first time for the show and that they kept really well. I love them. He also had these great tea-stained bouquets I should have taken a picture of but didn't, because I'm officially labeling tea-stained bouquets

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-9822147602366049982008-01-06T10:50:00.001-08:002008-01-06T19:09:33.004-08:00

Yellow! We are seriously time-traveling to the 70s, here, people! Brown tuxes are hot and yellow is the It accent color, hands-down. I see yellow bridesmaid dresses, ribbons, stationary, and here, two gorgeous yellow-toned bouquets from Aria Style (who debuted their line of dresses at the Wedding Show!) And, yes, those are kumquats in the bouquet. It all looked so fresh and clever but still

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-23283327311139454932008-01-06T10:28:00.001-08:002008-01-06T19:11:09.465-08:00

So in regards to yesterday's post about tuxedo trends, it's true: Brown tuxedos are the hot thing for grooms! It makes sense, being that chocolate is a big color in weddings (chocolate and robin's egg blue, chocolate and fern green, chocolate and chocolate-chocolate, blahblahblah.) And these styles are really sharp, nothing like the thick, nubby, poo-brown polyester tuxes from the 70s. The brown

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-50857592535656854332008-01-05T18:58:00.000-08:002008-01-06T17:59:20.929-08:00

Today kicked off the Seattle Wedding Show and despite the fact that the event overlapped with a Seahawks playoff home-game (they won; yay Hawks!), the convention center had an amazing turnout of brides and, yes, grooms (most of whom wore their Hawks jerseys, natch).I worked the booth with Seattle Bride's fab marketing gal, Elizabeth (see above), and we sold a ton of magazines: Just $3 gets you

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-64958087655828947622008-01-04T17:24:00.001-08:002008-01-04T17:33:16.041-08:00

The new Seattle Bride magazine hit newsstands yesterday, celebrating our 10th anniversary! I think it's pretty stunning. You can get a preview here or swing by the Seattle Wedding Show this weekend and get a copy—we're selling them at a big discount only at the show. I'll be there, along with the fabulous Seattle Bride mag team. Come by, say hello and tell us what you think of the new ish!

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-89463871783596129702007-11-12T10:02:00.000-08:002007-11-12T10:16:52.923-08:00

Calling all aspiring fashion writers, magazine editors and wordsmiths! Next week (11/19, 7:30) I'm giving a talk at UW about how to break into magazine writing and editing and describe a day in the exciting life of AB. Feel free to come on by!Update: Whoops, this lecture is only open to students participating in the program. So, uh… don't come by after all!

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-10762879004431931122007-11-06T10:07:00.001-08:002007-11-06T10:18:34.698-08:00

I love these adorable handmade party hats—especially with the holidays around the corner (these are begging to be worn on New Year's Eve!) Co-owner/designer Mikele Keiffer was selling these at this weekend's Crave Show and she looked so cute—like a maverick Isabelle Blow for a new generation—that I had to snap a picture. I covet the hats with sweeping ostrich feathers and little songbirds perched

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-47822129682905729252007-11-05T16:30:00.000-08:002007-11-06T11:33:21.652-08:00

This past weekend's Crave Show was a smashing success! Thanks to everyone who came out to hear my presentation on "How to Throw a Green Celebration" (without sacrificing beauty, style or tradition). As promised, I am publishing information here for all the sources and vendors I discussed in my talks. Again, none of these folks are affiliated with Seattle Bride; they're just products I personally

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-74322473824348859732007-11-02T17:30:00.001-07:002007-11-02T17:44:03.169-07:00

I just returned from setting up my stage at this weekend's Crave Show and everything is looking amazing! Seattle Bride—as well as Seattle magazine, which is produced by the same publisher—has a beautiful presence and I'm officially excited to share my tips on how to throw an earth-friendly celebration. By the look of things, there will be more shopping, beauty treatments, fun seminars and fashion

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-18394836383997050602007-11-01T11:35:00.000-07:002007-11-01T12:14:56.390-07:00

Calling all Seattle brides and party girls! Stop by Crave Show at the Convention Center in downtown Seattle this weekend to hear my presentation on How To Throw a Green Celebration and get some insider gossip on what you’ll find in the upcoming issue of Seattle Bride Magazine, due on newsstands in early January 2008. At 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday (11/3 and 11/4), I’ll be on the Beauty

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-21329152587846166292007-10-31T13:45:00.000-07:002007-11-01T06:43:55.727-07:00

Here we go again! Today’s London Telegraph has an article called “Goodbye Lycra, Hello Street Cred” about how urban cycling is no longer just a pastime for jocked-out sportos but an Officially Cool mode of transpo for fashionistas.Hm … sounds strangely familiar to an article I just wrote for Textile View magazine called “Cycle Chic!” But here's the rub: The Telegraph cites as evidence of this “

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-71276183725551115112007-10-21T15:38:00.000-07:002007-11-01T06:44:44.206-07:00

Yesterday we wrapped the latest fashion shoot for the upcoming issue of Seattle Bride Magazine and, as usual, it’s going to be stunning! Of course, I can’t show any real pictures (the above shot depicts the aftermath...) or reveal any details, but let’s just say that the 10th anniversary issue (on newsstands January 2008) is going to be unforgettable!

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-49646839817970448992007-10-21T10:46:00.000-07:002007-10-29T15:24:43.695-07:00

For roughly the past 10 years in the building where I live, an anonymous donor has contributed to the Laundry Room Art Gallery, covertly supplying shrink-wrapped vintage magazine advertisements and images to the collection of tenant-crafted paintings, charcoal drawings and (framed!) dryer-lint collages.The magazine images are smartly chosen, cheeky and ironic. Mid-20th century movie stars hawk

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-62677303372760895812007-09-27T07:50:00.000-07:002007-11-01T06:45:24.664-07:00

The NYT published an article, "Reborn in the U.S.A.," in yesterday's paper about the luxury denim industry currently thriving in Los Angeles. It reports that an estimated 100 companies making premium denim are based there, but the more interesting story is how a handful of these companies are producing the jeans right there in L.A. versus overseas.Hm…sounds a lot like the article I wrote for

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-71256162379881659932007-09-20T06:57:00.000-07:002007-11-01T06:46:01.695-07:00

Last night Luly Yang showed her 2008 collection at the Paramount Theatre and pulled out all the stops: a gorgeous, Tom Douglas–catered event with cocktails and dessert, all benefiting Children's Hospital. The collection was beautiful, as always, with shades of Bo Peep, peacocks, and a finale party dress that lit up like an effervescent sea creature. The crowd went nuts! Another highlight was the

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8616157471807563520.post-50959778557079674642007-09-19T10:45:00.000-07:002007-10-29T18:20:07.852-07:00

I'm a week behind on this story but it's so crazily skirt-centric I had to comment! Kyla Ebbert, a 23-year-old college student and busty Hooters employee, was almost kicked off a Southwest airlines flight for wearing a frayed white denim miniskirt, tight, white scoop-neck top and little green shrug a flight attendant deemed too short. She was removed from the plane, lectured in what she claims

Ali Basyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06541548196045380290noreply@blogger.com0