Wear What When

Style News: Capitol Hill

Date announced for Built for Man space, and you’re invited to a conversation at Vermillion.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Feb 07, 2011 at 08:20AM 0 Comments

Photo: Ryan McVay for Seattle Met

You’re invited to talk to the Frye’s Robin Held (pictured), editor Laura Cassidy, and others from the community at a February 15 conversation (don’t call it a panel) about style at Vermillion on Capitol Hill.

The Built for Man Open Space art gallery and showroom that we talked about a few weeks ago is officially on the calender. The Push/Pull exhibit opens on Thursday February 17 and you’re invited. The new space is located at 509 13th Ave, Seattle, 98122.

You’re also invited to Vermillion on Tuesday February 15 at 7 for a conversation about style. The get-together—please don’t call it a panel, or expect it to be one—was curated by John Boylan and is part of a series of talks that include artists, professionals, and other familiar faces. But more importantly, the conversations include you. Boylan is intent on making these things interactive in the good, old-fashioned sense of the word.

Here’s what Boylan has to say about the topic, ‘This time we’ll be talking about style, how we create and re-create ourselves as individuals, as presences in the crowd. And how we make our mark on the world around us, whether through art or in the simple everyday.’

Among the guests invited to start but not monopolize the February 15 discussion is yours truly. Also in the mix are two folks I’ve included in Style Counsel: Maikoiyo Alley-Barnes and Robin Held. Joining us are the incomparable Adria Garcia from Indian Summer (who was actually featured on Style Counsel so long ago that her page isn’t even digitally archived) and the artist Kelly Lyles.

Admission is free. Please come if you’ve got something to say.

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Tags: Capitol Hill, Style Counsel, Seattle Style Blog, Built for Man, Fashion

UPDATEDOpening Soon: Built for Man Open Space

Seattle’s most obsessive menswear designer launches an art space and community catchall near Seattle University.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jan 28, 2011 at 08:45AM 0 Comments

What we talk about when we talk about the man behind Built for Man is passion and enthusiasm. In last year’s 100 Reasons to Love Seattle feature, we put it this way, No one believes in Seattle’s viability as a World-Class Fashion City more than designer Francisco Hernandez.

It might be said that no one believes more fervently in the potential of Capitol Hill and the Seattle U district, either. In speaking with Hernandez about his soon-to-open Built for Man Open Space, the creative force says, ‘The Seattle University neighborhood is going to be Tribeca to Capitol Hill’s Soho.’

(He also said, with a laugh, that his passion for helping build and grow a fashion community here sometimes borders on obsession — which I thought was just plain charming. I love it when people embrace the truth.)

This idea about the get-in-now-before-it-gets-really-really-cool nature of the nether region between the Hill and the ID has a lot to do with why he and his collaborators decided to make a home for their showroom/art space/forum/community catch-all on 13th Avenue near East Jefferson.

Here’s what we know about what that catch-all will be:

-The space will serve as a place to go check out the chunky, urban-nomadic men’s knitwear, shirting, and accessories that are building the Built for Man brand.

-The space will also be like an art gallery; Hernandez was an art consultant in a former life. My favorite thing about going to the Built for Man design loft is staring at the enormous Stephan Sprouse painting. Add to the list of his passionate obsessions: The idea that fashion and art are intricately linked, and collaboration between designing minds of all kinds is vital, but it’s not worth much if you’re not there, too.

-The first show in the space centers on video art and is called Push/Pull. Key collaborator on the premier show, which culls the work of 11 artists and will run for four continuous hours each day once the curtain is up, is recently transplanted New York artist John Criscitello.

-The majority of the video artists in the show are women. Why? Hernandez believes that video art is marginal and women in art are sometimes marginalized, and he wants to explode that. (I guess I’m not sure that I think video art is marginalized anymore, considering everything happening at the intersection of the internet and fashion is happening via video, but I’m still interested in the concept and the reach of the show.)

UPDATE: Date has been announced: February 17. No, there is no date yet for opening night. We’ll update you here once there is one. It’s looking like mid-February. Until that time, please check out the video here by Liliana Velez, who joins Janet Biggs, Michael Greathouse and others in the show.

Untitled from Liliana Velez on Vimeo.

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Tags: Capitol Hill, Visual Art, Seattle Retail News, Built for Man, Video Art

Experience: Rue Seattle

Rue La La gets local with Seattle deals, and Seattle experiences.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jan 21, 2011 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

Photo: Nordstrom.com

Experience locally created home fragrance innovations with Rue Seattle.

Sure are lots of ways to score a deal these days, huh?

I’m a worrier by nature, so I tend to fret about whether Groupon, Daily Candy’s Swirl, and the like are bulldozing the underdog indies with their copious deal-making. (I have friends who can’t believe that I don’t have the Gilt app. Nope. Don’t.) It’s not an unfounded worry, even for a worrier. So my eyebrows were up where my new short, short bangs are when, right before Christmas, I heard that Rue La La was coming to town.

It’s one thing for a mega-marketer to scoop up some past season Juicy Couture from Juicy Couture HQ and offer the stuff in a virtual sample sale environment, perhaps snatching the $40 a Seattleite woulda spent in her neighborhood boutique if so much online wheeling-and-dealing weren’t in her face, but what does it mean when the mega-marketer goes small and scoops up — and also invoices for the clean-up — the neighborhood boutique’s unsold stuff and repackages it for that same Seattle shopper? Does the small boutique lose twice?

Well, okay. That might just be the fretter in me. That’s not what Rue Seattle is doing. So far, with promotions involved eye lash technicians, top chefs, high-end nail salons, family jewelers, chocolate makers, and cheese tastings, Rue Seattle is offering experiences as much as deals. They’re getting retailers, chefs, and stuff-makers into public arenas with their members (yes of course, you must sign up and become a member). I spoke with two locally based representatives of the company and both stressed the experience element. Next week, a promotion with Antica Farmacista involves the founders giving a behind the scenes look at their home fragrance process and a good value on the product itself. Likewise, a Built for Man. deal In a few days (it’s all about the surprise element of the email in your inbox; I can’t tell you when because I don’t know – they wouldn’t tell me) means Rue Seattle members have the chance to buy the locally designed knitwear for a good price, and attend a private fashion event with the brand’s insiders.

Home fragrance entrepreneurs and global-good menswear designers have to pay for the brokering of such promotions, sure. But they do so on the bet that (as current retail science goes,) experiences + value = brand building. We, as consumers are getting accustomed to experiences. These days, we want more than just stuff when we buy stuff. We want to be involved, we want to interact with a personality, we want a story to tell. Conceivably, if the stories that Rue are facilitating are worthy, what they offer could equal a win, win.

But as I’ve established, I’m not always the joining type. So you tell me, Rue members: Are you getting good deals? Are you having experiences?

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Tags: Built for Man, Rue Seattle

Seattle’s Shopping Week Out

Sept 10-18: Shopping exclusives, gift card giveaways, margaritas, and more.

Posted by: Amanda LaPlante on Sep 07, 2010 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

Meet Francisco Hernandez of Built for Man (that’s not him, but he did design that gentlemen’s shirt and scarf) at a party at Veridis during a week-long celebration of Seattle shopping.

Seattle’s Shopping Week Out is bound (and determined) to make waves in our sea of shops, and beyond. Like Fashion’s Night Out, this week-long shopping spree, bolstered by sales and specials specific to each of the participating shops, intends to reinvigorate the retail economy and remind you how darn good it feels to spend wisely and look sharp. We’ve already told you about the culminating Fashion First fashion show (yep, they’re linked, and both benefit Rise n’ Shine), but there are more shopportunities, trend parties, and happy hours to be had.

A full schedule outlining which stores are marking what down will be released on September 9 on Shopping Week Out’s Facebook, Twitter and blog. For now, here’s a peak at some of the events surrounding the city-wide sales:

Where: Sway and Cake
What: Stop in for the Shopping Week Out kickoff party and happy hour, and enter to win a $200 Sway and Cake gift card with every purchase.
When: Friday September 10 from 4 to 6.

Where: Veridis
What: Tea and wine happy hour and a meet-and-greet with Francisco Hernandez of Built for Man. You can also see his line at a David Lawrence fashion show scheduled for September 11 at the David Lawrence location at the Bravern. You can purchase tickets for that at the show.
When: Sunday September 12 from 4 to 6.

Where: Chez Chic
What: Skinny Girl Martinis and a shopping special, for this day only. Spend $200, get a $50 gift card for a future purchase.
When: Wednesday September 15 from 5 to 9.

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Tags: Built for Man

Fashioning Forward

Built for Man’s runway show and David Lawrence’s Bravern debut

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 02, 2010 at 07:50AM 0 Comments

Photo: Adam Sheppard

Slideshow: On the Runway with Built for Man

View Slideshow » Photo: Adam Sheppard

Slideshow: On the Runway with Built for Man

View Slideshow » Photo: Adam Sheppard
View Slideshow » Photo: Adam Sheppard
View Slideshow » Photo: Adam Sheppard
View Slideshow » Illustration: View Slideshow » Photo: Adam Sheppard
View Slideshow » Photo: Adam Sheppard
View Slideshow » Photo: Adam Sheppard
View Slideshow » Photo: Adam Sheppard
View Slideshow » Photo: Adam Sheppard
View Slideshow » Photo: Adam Sheppard
View Slideshow » Photo: Adam Sheppard

Francisco Hernandez of Built for Man

Recently, just about every buyer from Seattle’s big, small, important, and influential shops watched as Peruvian-made, hand-loomed, handknit scarves, sweaters, and ponchos as well as dress shirts with old-world, gentlemanly accessories added up to a global yet local, aspirational but wearable collection of menswear for neo-Gothic Nomads.

Built for Man’s Francisco Hernandez refuses to believe that Seattle is anything other than a city on a fashion ascendancy. As he put it to me a few days after the show, “We are for real, we are here, we are not Paris, we are not New York, we are Seattle.”

The Built for Man creative force speaks softly and patiently, with an understated urgency. He has lofty goals that include showcasing fashion in the traditional parlor setting (in Seattle no less), and upgrading local dudes to neo-tuxedo shirts, capes, and corvatts. “Passionate” doesn’t begin to describe it.

And considering the line’s back story — the house of BfM mindfully and respectfully makes good use of traditional talents and craftsmanship in Peru, employing and sustaining endangered communities — the odd elements (arm warmers, bare feet, man-ponchos) only add to the curious attraction.

“Curious” would be a good way to describe the line’s buzz. Despite not having a ton of retail representation, just about everyone in Seattle’s style circles has heard of BfM. You’ve maybe read a little about it here and here. And if you’ve seen passersby in one of those ponchos (they call them unkus), you didn’t soon forget it.

But what will it take to boost Built for Man to that sweet spot of creative symbiosis that Hernandez so passionately believes in?

Some more solid stockists would help.

Which brings us back to the buyers in attendance last week. Veridis and David Lawrence have been key retailers for Built to Man this year. With the latter’s move (he left Bell Square — do the kids still call it that?? — but will keep his Downtown Seattle location) to The Bravern this week, one can only expect that Hernandez’s expectations are high.

Directional style does love good company, and snuggled in around Neiman Marcus, Hermes, and racks of stylized raw denim is not a bad place to be.

Flip through the slideshow here as an introduction or update to Built to Man, and then plan to visit David Lawrence at the Bravern soon - if for no other reason than to see how many different corvatts are on offer.

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Tags: Locally Made, Capitol Hill, Locally Designed, Fall/Winter, Seattle Menswear, Built for Man

Don’t Call It a Comeback

The baby blue tuxedo shirt is back and better than ever.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 23, 2009 at 10:00AM 2 Comments

Photo: Photo by Elke Van de Velde, courtesy Built for Man

I can remember my cousin Scott’s blue ruffled tuxedo shirt like it was yesterday. His bride Leila, all puffy sleeves and perfectly tan skin, was the prettiest woman I had ever seen, and Christopher Cross’s “Sailing” over the church’s PA system was nothing short of magical. I was 11 years old. I probably thought the Jordan almonds were delicious, too.

Of all the early-80s cliches, I bet you never thought this one would make its way back. And it hasn’t. Not really.

But Francisco Hernandez of the locally based but globally effective Built for Man line recently issued a handsomely updated take on my cousin Scott’s wedding day shirting.

White and black versions exist, too, in slightly more austere but still directional styles. To see the shirts yourself, head to David Lawrence (downtown or on the Eastside), or Veridis on Capitol Hill.

Photo: Photo by Elke Van de Velde, courtesy Built for Man

You’ll find they’re impeccably made with 2-ply Pima cotton, French seams, and perfect lines.

But how to wear such stylized shirts with a suit? Good Question. The answer: Very carefully.

Hernandez shows them with his corvatts, but not everyone is willing or able to go that route. I’m thinking these are the kinds of shirts a groom can wear when he’s thinking the tie and jacket are not necessary. You know — beach weddings, backyard elopements, casually chic commitment ceremonies. On the other hand, with a slim, streamlined black suit and a skinny, single-color straight or bow tie (plum, slate gray, brilliant bright blue), the white or black version could be stunning.

One thing’s for certain: There are, increasingly, grooms who are just as happy as their brides to stand out and really, you know, bring it, on the big day. To them I say, Do it, brother — locally, in a Built for Man shirt.

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More Wedding Wednesday content? Sure. Travel here to tell your engagement story to the Jones Soda folks for a chance to win big, and then work backwards from there.

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Tags: Built for Man, Built for Man

Tie One On

Built for Man’s new silk scarves and ties

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Sep 30, 2009 at 06:00AM 2 Comments

Photo: Courtesy Built for Man, credit: Lydia Selk

You’ve noticed that on the runway and in real life, black bow ties — whether structured loops or knots or tie-like materials done up into bow-like shapes — are a quick and chic way to add that often necessary little something to a look.

For those not interested in trying their hand at a length of black grosgrain, or on those occasions when something with more real estate is called for, Seattle-based designer Francisco Hernandez offers a couple of locally made silk varieties, in black and white, for his Built for Man line.

Built into Built for Man is purpose and change. Knitwear, for example, is created in rural villages in Peru using old world techniques, allowing these crafts a practical, on-going purpose in America. Seattle-made elements in the line, have, of course, their own benefits.

Photo: Courtesy Built for Man, credit: Lydia Selk

BfM styles — as Hernandez likes to point out, and as is demonstrated here — are easily adaptable for women as well. The new-to-the-collection silk ties are available at Veridis on the Hill and at David Lawrence

These pieces and other styles from Hernandez’s line will show at the David Lawrence fashion show tomorrow during Bellevue Fashion Week.

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Tags: Built for Man