Kristi Burrell Fashion Show

Just never know what you're gonna find in the old Not Quite Palm Springs on a Saturday night. We stopped by Gilbert Cellars for an after-dinner Merlot (omg try the Syrah brownie with ice cream--nom nom nom) and Kristi Burrell happened to be putting on a little fashion show! My luck! Kristi, who I have blogged before, has moved her shop to Track 29-- so the models came trotting across the street wearing their beautiful gowns and capes. Kristi is a fabulous dress designer/maker who specializes in evening gowns and full-length hooded capes. Here's Kristi in a red mini, boots and tights with Burberry scarf tossed over her shoulders giving everyone the details on her dresses.

This was an absolutely fabulous red silk gown, bias-cut so it fell to the floor in waves and moved so beautifully. Kristi's designs may not be for everyone, but if you need an amazing bespoke gown for a very special occasion, she is the one to see. Imagine having a gown like this made just to fit your bod & no one else's!

Here's a view of one of the hooded capes, very Harry-Potter-like, as she's removing it to show the long-sleeved velvet gown underneath. Such a rich burgandy color, and again the bias cut of the dress makes it flow particularly well.Ooooh, she looked like the most beautiful character in a King Arthur tale in this stretch velvet black gown: Guinevere? Maybe Morgan leFay--lovely high bateau neckline, long sleeves (unusual any more in a long gown), fully gathered in the back with miles of fabric, bias cut (one of Kristi's signatures, obviously), and beguiling. Every woman's fantasy to have a theatrical, stunning gown like this!

The Gift Shop at Memorial

This is not a paid advertisement, I just consider it my Blogwoman Duty to tell you. I always say it's the best-kept secret in town, so now I'm letting all you blog readers in on it: the Gift Shop at Memorial. So much more than a hospital gift shop!

Rather than the traditional Get Well Cards and useless porcelain angels and other corny knick-knacks & bric-a-brac, the Gift Shop carries a fun, far-reaching array of acessories, baby clothes, gourmet food items, and gifts for the home that can't be found anywhere else in NQPS.

Marci Cates Wright scours the gift market a couple times a year and comes back with unique, fabulous, well-priced items for her customers. Right now the shop is stocked with fabulous rain boots in hot colors and prints, warm fuzzy scarves for winter, some amazing jewelry, gloves and tons of other fashion-forward accessories. Ladies--this is the best place in town to find cool handbags! They're always unique, look so designer-like, and most are under $100. Truth. I'm carrying one right now.

If you're visiting a new mom in the hospital, go to the gift shop first. The baby clothes you'll find there are so precious & sweet you'll want to buy the teeny fashionista an entire wardrobe.

If you're decorating your home for Halloween/autumn/Thanksgiving you'll find some clever and different items for the kitchen, for the dining table, for anywhere in the house. Nothin wrong with buying a gift for yourself, I always tell myself.

Most people don't realize that the Gift Shop has a Pantry section that features gourmet treats: soup. nuts. chips. cookbooks. chocolate. Nomnom.

Gasperetti's beautiful fresh floral arrangements are delivered daily, kept cool and ready to go.

And I didn't know this til I went to the website: http://www.yakimamemorial.org/patients_gift_shops.html , but you can even order a gift on line and have it delivered to a patient that day!

My advice is: don't wait for someone to get sick, go there now. Or anytime you need a fun, different gift for an exchange or a hostess gift or a birthday present, check it out.

Also if you're on Facebook, you can become a fan of the shop by going to The Gift Shop at Memorial. Then you can be updated all the time on new merchandise arrivals, events, and whatever's going on at the shop.

Marci--I gotta tell you--great job, girl!

Leslie Loudon Guild Luncheon

My apologies for being so late in blogging, dear readers, but I've had a busy week! Monday was the Leslie Loudon Guild luncheon--a fun annual event for NQPS ladies who like to dress up, drink wine, hobnob with each other, watch an informal fashion show, and raise money for a good cause. In this year's case, the proceeds went to build and furnish a children's playroom for Memorial's "Cottage in the Meadow", a new hospice care facility. (Go to http://yakimahospice.org/ if you couldn't attend but would like to help out.) Judy, emcee for the day, greeted everyone at the door in this happy red cashmere sweater with ruffled v-neck & more ruffles at the cuff. The best part: she bought it last year at the end of the season for $15! Yay! I do love a bargain. So she got one in black, too.

Karen in a leopard-print suede swing jacket (I didn't know you could make suede out of a leopard?) and Linda in an earth-toned shimmery shirt jacket--with clever little black box bag.

Gotta love Becky's black lace tights with the suede & patent boots. One of Becky's fav sports is bargain hunting, and she shot these babies down at TJ Maxx for $30. OMG, I've gotta get out there soon--TJ's is the best place in town for bargains, one just has to go often and search carefully.

Becky in denim skirt, bright pink slouchy shawl-y sweater, and the aforementioned black boots. Martha looked so pretty in this salmon shaded jacket.

How often can a lady wear a purple hat in NQPS? And purple shoes as well? Lilly played the part perfectly in her black & ivory dress with the print scarf. All about the accessories I always say.

Carolyn looked like she was blooming straight out of this jacket--no, more than a jacket, more like a work of art--by CoVelo at Gretchen, this boiled wool jacket has stems & leaves appliqued all over the body and the sleeves, with a frothy burgandy organza ruff at the neckline. A perfect art piece for one of Yakima's most talented artists.

I had to practically bribe Jeanne to put on this great animal-print silk jacket she was carrying with her. It's reversible to brown on the other side, zips up, has a generously oversized collar, windbreaker style--- but so much more elegant. She got this one at Priscilla's.

Oh yeah, do that checked thing! Marci wrapped in a black & white houndstooth shawl, carrying a red & black checked vinyl tote, sporting plaid tights and lots of bangles--from guess where? The Gift Shop at Memorial Hospital where she is the buyer. (More on that in the next blog). Marci is a fearless fashionista.

Gretchen Gilday from Gretchen, (811 W. Yakima Ave.) the sweetest boutique in NQPS, coordinated the informal fashion show for the guild this year so I managed to snap a few of the models.

And speaking of checks, more houndstooth! I love the houndstooth! I brake for houndstooth! I have a closetful of it & I still buy more. This is Cindy in a very clever diagonally-buttoned wooly vest with oversized roll collar. And black leather gloves with bows. A real standout piece.

This is a deliciously furry jacket trimmed in olive green with a ribbon belt--looked so cozy!

Loved this grey sweater jacket that Augustina wore with the very skinny jeans & the warm scarf.

This drapey coat is so much more than a coat: check out the fabulous ribbon trim on the sleeves and the collar--all velvety in shades of green, pink, & magenta. Plus the assymetrical closing and the uneven hem--another wearable art piece that makes a big statement on Sue or anyone who would wear it. Loved it! And the grey gloves, too.

A fun black sweater trimmed in little rosettes, all over the sleeves, on the wide collar, buttoning down the front--gotta love the whimsy! We're all fools for whimsy.

All in all, great fashion show. Check out Gretchen for these unique, off-beat, fun-to-wear pieces. Pricey but fabulous!

PNWU Gala

Who would ever imagine that the boring ol' Convention Center in the NQPS of Washington could be transformed into the "Starliner Supper Club"? It was almost as sweet as the Ozdust Ballroom! Anyway the theme of this fundraiser/celebration for Pacific NW University of Health Sciences was "40's Supper Club" black-tie style so we dressed accordingly: men in their tuxes (has that style changed since 1940? not much) and women ran the gamut from current black cocktail dresses to true vintage to slinky full-length gowns. Mysterious veils and sumptuous furs were everywhere. Here are some of the things I caught:

Terry in below-the-knee black cocktail, lovely long black gloves, drippy earrings, and cute little orange headband in her new short 'do. Love the furry little black cape on the shoulders! Her friend found a very vintage-y black mesh and lace empire waist, lingerie-style dress. And the little pillbox on her head: sweet!

This is Corrie: she was working the event but I made her throw down her chart for a moment to take her pic. She rocked the entire look beautifully: Veronica Lake waves in her hair, bright lips, and this shocking pink satin strapless gown to the floor. Like the black stole, too. Corrie got in touch with me after seeing herself in the blog, so now we're BBFs! Best Blog Friends! Turns out I went to school with her aunt. Anyway Corrie has her own blog at www.cvo-underthestars.blogspot.com where you can see more shots of this beautiful dress. She's a doll.

This trio decked out in '40's fun. On the left: black mesh over white in an ethereal-looking filmy number with ruffle at the hem. She told me she bought this dress in London years ago and it was begging for an event like this! Her cohort wore long, black, and slinky & looked so beautiful in it. Judi, on the right, donned a slip-like black cocktail dress with slit up the side--and her mother-in-law's feathered hat. Lotsa feathers everywhere that night!

Lucy was the "Cigarette Girl", pictured here before she got her tray of candy cigars and faux cigarettes. Beautiful ivory satin bustier blouse with chiffon sleeves & yoke, a short black net dirndl skirt, and sorry you can't see her clear acrylic pumps with the black bows!

Who Wore it Best??? I'm conducting a People mag poll...

Best friends Julie & Jean surprised each other by showing up in the same dress: black, cocktail length, mesh yoke with tiny rhinestone studs, and lovely draping in the back. They obviously have matching great taste. And look almost like twins, no?

Doesn't she look fabulous? She really went with the '40s style in this short black number with a lace overlay bodice, black velvet elbow-length gloves, and veiled pillbox. The red lips really made the look complete.

Carol wore "Victory Rolls" in the hair and boldly pinned a mammoth Stargazer lilly to the side of her head, wore a short poufy dress, and carried the best accessory of the night: black fur muff! Spectacular.
Like all the pearls, too.

Like a teal-colored little islet in a sea of black, she stood out with this long, beaded, very period-looking gown and carried a luscious white fox stole complete with tails. Adore those fingerless white gloves! I don't know how women wore white gloves back then--it's impossible to do a thing in them without getting them messed up. Oh well, that was definitely another time.

Kay dug this glamorous deco crystal? diamond? who knows for sure? necklace out of her jewelry box for the evening. She said this piece belonged to her mother and she had never worn it until tonite. Dazzling!

Now here's some true vintage: Gwen wore the ruched black dress with long lace sleeves & beautiful v-neck bodice and the most entertaining fox stole. Remember the kind with the little paws and the head still on? I guess so if you end up alone at the end of the evening you'll still have someone to talk to...

I adored everything about her outfit: fox fur stole, tiny beaded bag, felt cloche with ribbon band, double strand pearl necklace, and bright red lips.

Lilly made me pose with her, which I never do. Wish you could see my authentic '40's hat--it's so cute: black satin with a ruffle on the side. I stuck two yellow crystanthemums in it before I went out the door. The dress is a silk Tommy Bahama I bought last winter in Maui but I figgered it was '40-ish & I also figgered everyone else would be in black--so you know me.

I knew Lilly would show up in something appropriate to the decade: she has a closet full of vintage spanning about 6 decades. She selected a fabulous short dress with long black lace sleeves, the full-meal-deal fox fur stole, and a black saucer style hat with elegant veil and red rose. Pure Lilly all the way.

Loreen gives an extensive make-up lesson to her friend in the ladies room! Lotsa red lips!

The Belle of the Ball, Pat Temple, who was being honored that night by PNWU for being a major force and source, donor, board member, and all-around doyenne of philanthropy here in NQPS. Her beautiful, full-skirted black satin gown is an Arnold Scaasi, accessorized with a bejeweled and beaded bright brocade jacket, tiny feathered cocktail hat.
She looked absolutely lovely, and gave a very moving and humble speech to accept the honor. (great job, Pat!)

Would you pay $1200 to dance with this dude? Jean did, and she seemed quite happy about it! (He did look pretty studly. AND he could really dance, too.)

I nominate this gown best in show: bold black-and-white floral print in a satin column with black net underlay at the flounced bottom--just gorgeous. Helps that she's a size 2.

Dave, our MC for the evening, in supper-club style with the white satin lapels on his evening jacket, AND the best part:

the black-and-white patent leather oxford shoes once worn by Al Capone. Well, we don't know that for sure, but they could have been.

Ohhhhh, Donna! Too fabulous jeweled sandals!

Cricket in her Jessica McClintock cocktail dress with the rose-trimmed neckline--trying to get a drag off a fake cigarette. They actually lit up, too! Hilarious.

Judi in her feathered hat, enjoying her after-dinner chocolate cigar.

What a fun evening! Cocktails, dinner, auction, speeches, awards, skits, then dancing. My feet are killing me.

Chimps Style 2.0

The chimps were in the blog not too long ago, and shortly after that Sarah Baeckler, CEO of Chimp Sanctuary Northwest invited us to come up to Cle Elum (www.chimpsanctuarynw.org) for a private tour and a visit with the seven retired lab chimps! We went last Sunday, and what an eye-opening experience it was. Sarah is not only a primatologist and an anthropologist, but also holds a law degree. She gave us an incredible tour of the sanctuary and an education about it's amazing residents. The sanctuary is not open to the public, but a visit to the website can help you understand what it's about.
I have to say, however, that seeing it in person and actually meeting the chimps had a powerful effect on all of us--more than we ever imagined when just looking at pictures.
These primates were all raised in cramped metal cages that didn't even have real floors--just metal bars. They were never given blankets or toys or any fresh fruits or vegetables (which they love!). They were rented to different labs where they were poked and prodded as unwilling test subjects for human drugs. Most of the females were used to produce babies, which were taken from them at birth. In fact Foxie, my favorite of all of them, carries troll dolls around and cradles, kisses, and holds them as she was never able to do with her own babies. Their stories are all so moving and sad, yet it's wonderful to see them in their new habitat: swinging from the roof, playing with their toys, slurping fresh pineapple with abandon, and....dressing up! These chimps have style. Jamie is the leader of the group, and she's the fashionista. In the above pic she's wearing a swimsuit bra on her head. Original. I'm not sure what she's blowing on.

Here she is in a pink and blue rainbow tutu--I guess tutus are her favorite, probably because they're easy to put on. Although she likes to wear shoes too, AND knows how to tie bows.

Here's Jamie in blue--a true prima ballerina!

And here she's wearing sherbet shades of pink and yellow. Jamie has an extraordinary interest in shoes (kinda like someone I know), and when we walked up to the fence she stared at everyone's footwear, two by two, checking them all out to see who had the best taste in shoes. I think she liked Matt's bright yellow sneakers the best.

Fresh Hop Ale Fest

Another great night of beer tasting, another fabulous fund-raiser for Allied Arts! I've blogged the Fresh Hop Ale Fest every year, and every year it gets bigger and bigger. It's now become one of the premier destination beer festivals in the Northwest. This year there was only one problem, and that was something over which we had no control-- the weather. In a word: wet. In two words: really wet. Ok, here's three: god awful wet. Or maybe that's two. Is god-awful hyphenated? No matter, there was still wet-weather style to be had here in NQPS.

Toward the end of the evening, anyone with out a hat or a hood made do with whatever they had, and this girl had her zebra-striped jacket over her head. There were many similar make-shift garments for protection. By then, who cared what was fashionable? We were wet and we were freezing! I made the mistake of wearing a knit fur and I smelled like wet dog when I got home. But that's another story. Here we go:

Hot pink, one of the new neons for fall. Love it! Bright colors are perfect for rainy days. This one is a new slightly high-waisted sillouette with pleats all around, double breasted front and ever-so-slightly puffed sleeves. Pinkalicious! Gotta love those red-rimmed glasses and the purple bag, too. I adore a woman who's not afraid of color.

This guy actually ran the "Tour of Pain" race which was something like Couer d'Alene to Spokane and back, and he had the wooly coat with this huge applique on the back to prove it. So I'm sure a little rain wasn't bothering him. He was there til the end. After all, he's a finisher. Says so on his coat.

Krista came all the way from China just to go to the FHAF. Well, she may have had a few other reasons, but she's a world traveler who has been all over the place. Not sure where she got this most interesting skirt that was tiered with ribbons and what looked a little like burlap (reminiscent of the hop bales, right?), well-worn boots that obviously have some worldwide miles on them, and the honey-colored leather baseball jacket & long scarf. She looked casual and chic and was having a great time.

Okay, so I blogged Kilt Man last year too, and i think this was even the same kilt. The difference, he said, was that this year he remembered to wear the long underwear with it. I guess it got a little chilly last year. When he saw me he said, "Hey, Not Quite! Not Quite!"

Plaids and ruffles, both very big for this winter, and here in a great combination. AND she got this at JC Penney--so fashion forward, who knew? I love how the ruffle runs all the way down the front--it changes what would be a very ordinary brown and blue plaid jacket into something really eye-catching and fun. Plus the ripped jeans, the pink sweater underneath, the Coach--she obviously put some thought into her look that night.

I'm a sucker for black and white houndstooth, and she very obviously knew what she was doing in this great all-season jacket, her black leggings and sturdy riding boots. She was happy to have those on later when it began to pour. Looks great!