Butch Blum

OPEN TODAY - CLOSED TOMORROW/MONDAY

2013-05-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

Jasper Johns - Three Flags (1958)

Make a shopping trip to Butch Blum a part of your Memorial Day weekend plans - we're open this Friday and Saturday, and will be closed Sunday and Monday in honor of the holiday. See you this weekend!

SAMUELSOHN DOUBLE-BREASTED WINDOWPANE

2013-05-24T13:00:00.000-07:00

Super 150's wool and cashmere - Samuelsohn - $1395

It's no secret that double-breasted suits are making a slow comeback- an elegant choice for those who have need of a more tailored wardrobe. How then, to incorporate this style in a closet that's had nothing but single-breasted for years?

Try a double-breasted suit that's a little bit shorter in the jacket and a lot narrower in the shoulder than they were 10 years ago. Your jacket should cross the center of your palm so that you can curl your fingers underneath the skirt without rumpling it. For the very fashion conscious, try an inch shorter than that - about even with your thumb joint. The shoulder caps should fit squarely on the edges of your shoulders without drooping over, yet not so tight that your tricep bulges out of the sleeve.

A fabric like this wool/cashmere windowpane is an excellent alternative to stripes, as it flexes more easily into sport-coat territory. Tuck the pocket flaps in and pair with a slim pant in a clear-finish charcoal gray fabric. Your shoe should also be slightly sportier - a suede oxford or perhaps a light colored nubuck.

(detail)

NEW ARRIVALS - ARMANI SHIRTS

2013-05-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

End-on-end cotton - Giorgio Armani - $275

The latest arrivals in shirting by Armani are exciting yet tasteful, elegant variations on menswear staples. Among the half dozen designs new to our Spring mix are herrinbones, tattersalls, and other classic shirtings, each rendered in a uniquely Armani way.

ALEXA CHUNG IN MOSCHINO

2013-05-23T13:24:00.004-07:00

Another celebrity fan of Moschino's is Alexa Chung, who is a model, writer, television presenter and contributing editor of British Vogue. She's seen here in the SS13 sheer geometric coat with organza floral details at the Glamour "These Girls" event, a celebration of all things feminine in our decade.

CINDERELLA'S MARGIELA SLIPPER

2013-05-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

Cinderella's fairy-tale glass slipper is the stuff of legend, but did you know perennial Butch Blum favorite Maison Martin Margiela actually produced a limited edition glass-slipper objet d'art as part of their SS2009 collection? It's currently in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's permanent collection.

VARVATOS DERBY BROGUES

2013-05-21T12:30:00.000-07:00

John Varvatos Collection - $498

Varvatos takes the classic derby and re-imagines it for daily casual wear, using an innovative double-lacing and a distressed cement color that is anything but ordinary. Wear these with a casual cotton or linen suit, or pair them with your favorite pair of slim jeans for a rocker look a la Varvatos' collection.

FOR THE VARVATOS FAN

2013-05-21T10:49:00.001-07:00

2013 Chrysler 300 - John Varvatos edition

For the fan of John Varvatos - or of anything with a rock and roll, american muscle edge - Chrysler partnered with the designer for a limited edition of their "300" sport sedan, with unique European fascia, matte 22" wheels, brushed titanium hardware, and a discreet Varvatos logo on the rear decklid.

KRISTA'S PICK - BY MALENE BIRGER JERSEY SHEATH

2013-05-20T12:39:00.002-07:00

By Malene Birger - $295

This is my favorite of our summer dresses. The fabric is a super soft viscose jersey that twists around the body - lots of texture, and easy to move around in. The top third of the dress is a slightly shimmery chiffon that adds some interest and excitement without being too distracting.

Krista Kelly
Salesfloor

NEW JEWELRY - SUSANNAH GALANIS, AVANT GARDE, MIMA & AIREHEART

2013-05-20T10:32:00.001-07:00

Styles by Susannah Galanis, Aireheart by Sydney, and Avant Garde

Our jewelry runs the gamut from the ridiculous to the sublime this season, and at every pricepoint - fun styles by Soixante Neuf, Avant Garde, and Susannah Galanis for $175-295, and incredible semiprecious styles from Aireheart by Sydney and Mima for $395-1295. Find styles in gleaming metals, glowing polished stones, and quirky, one of a kind vintage baubles sourced from estate sales, dead stock, and more.

HAMILTON SHIRTS TRUNK SHOW

2013-05-17T11:58:00.000-07:00

Hamilton Shirts - the company that GQ magazine dubbed "The Best Custom Shirt in America" is presenting their Spring 2013 Bespoke collection of custom fabrics at Butch Blum May 15-19. Select from the finest Swiss and Italian fabrics in both dress and sport styles - the options are almost literally endless. This is the Bespoke collection (not the MTM collection) featuring intensive custom fitting and is unavailable except at authorized storefront Hamilton Shirt retailers.

During the trunk show period, both new and previously existing Hamilton Shirt clients are invited to take a 20% discount off retail prices.* For more information, or to RSVP for the event, please email promotions@BUTCHBLUM.com, or give us a call at 206-622-5760.

*New clients are subject to a 3 shirt minimum order - see your sales associate for details.

MOORER ALL-WEATHER WINDBLAZER

2013-05-17T10:37:00.001-07:00

We coined the term "Wind-blazer" for this piece, as it's a lightweight stretch nylon blend, but cut like a modern blazer. The fabric has a chic, papery feel akin to a silk/wool blend, but is totally weatherproof.

MANNEQUIN MOMENTS - CANTARELLI AND GASPARI...PART 2

2013-05-16T11:25:00.001-07:00

Jacket - Sartoria Cantarelli - $1695...Pleated chiffon over-vest - Antonio Gaspari - $395

Cantarelli's soft, lightweight linen/wool blend jacket dresses up as easily as it dresses down, very much like Pier Antonio Gaspari's crystal-pleat chiffon over-vest. Both of them pair beautifully with slacks, as shown, but can be worn dressed-down easily. The fabrics travel well (particularly the blazer, as the wool in the fabric keeps the linen from looking too distressed), and the taupe/chocolate colors make existing fall pieces in your wardrobe look great right now - as long as they aren't too heavy.

MANNEQUIN MOMENTS - CANTARELLI AND GASPARI

2013-05-16T10:00:00.000-07:00


Wool/mohair Suit - Cantarelli - $1895...Cotton-cashmere blend crewneck - Rosso Puro - $425 Pleated chiffon overblouse - Pier Antonio Gaspari - $465...Calf/Rhodium belt - Stephania Carrera - $325

Aren't they a cute pair? The suit is a fabulous wool and mohair blend with a touch of silk in it - it catches the light with a subtle sheen and a micro-check pattern incorporated into the fabric. The overblouse (paired with a viscose tank-slip) is the lightest chiffon, the very shallow pleats adding texture but not weight.

MANNEQUIN MOMENTS

2013-05-15T13:04:00.002-07:00

Outfits by Miilla, Moorer and Fuzzi

Ryan James Gallery leant us some fabulous works of art by local artist Peter Juvonen....we love the way the patterns and colors reflect our spring palette of fuchsia, teal, celadon, and tangerine.

SPECIAL PROMOTION - HAMILTON ONE-CUTS

2013-05-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

This just in! During our Hamilton Trunk Show tomorrow, we are excited to offer special One-Cut fabrics, materials that exist in such small quantities, only one shirt can be made. You can have your very own custom shirt, normally retailing between $365-425, for $325 during our Hamilton custom event.

These are available in addition to the normal Hamilton library of fabrics, which will be sold at 20% off their normal retail price. If you haven't RSVP'd yet for the trunk show, please let us know you're coming!

REMO TULLIANI COTTON BELTS

2013-05-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

Cotton belts (also available in Navy) - Remo Tulliani - $85

Brought in especially to coordinate with our Fratelli Rossetti collection this season, these cotton and leather belts are a great value for the construction and the quality of materials. Enjoy them with cotton slacks or jeans, and a great soft pair of shoes.

VARVATOS WAXED LINEN JACKET

2013-05-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

Varvatos *USA* - $425

This is a wonderful choice for Seattle...the waxed linen is wrinkle-resistant and a great choice for misty weather. It has a subtle sheen, even sparkle to it, which lifts the olive drab in a sophisticated, 3-dimensional way.

DESIGNER BIO - GIANETTO PORTOFINO

2013-05-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

"Denim wash" shirt - $295

Gianetto Portofino is new to our mix for Spring 2013 - a line of hand-finished, small-production shirts made by the same family in Andria, Portofino since 1979.

The line is a family company, started by the mother and father, who still manage the company along with their son and daughter. The father oversees all the business activity, the mother runs the cutting and sewing room, the son creates the collection and is in charge of sales and marketing and the daughter manages administration. In their small factory, there are 8 sewers and 2 cutters for a total of 15 employees.

One of the hallmarks of Gianetto's brand is their "Entirely Made In Italy" concept, which takes Italian fabric and hardware (buttons, snap closures, etc) and creates a fit-intensive product, which is then garment-dyed in a variety of beautiful colors. In addition to their line of shirts at the retail level, they also produce shirts in a "Bespoke" manner, letting a client take existing styles and modifying the fit, collar style, buttons, plackets, pockets, and washes.

Check out this beautiful collection of shirts in store now, including the beautiful "Denim-wash" patterned shirts styled after traditional chambray, but with tiny figures in the fabric and a soft garment wash.

SUNDAY STYLING WITH CAMERON

2013-05-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

Try out new arrivals from D'exterior (pictured above) and more!

This Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12th, choose a special treat for Mom. Seattle's savviest stylist, Cameron Levin will choose from among her favorite designs at BUTCH BLUM to make any Mom look and feel their absolute best - and ready to take on Spring 2013!

3 complimentary style appointments, each an hour and a half, choose from ~~Noon~~, 1:30, or 3pm.

Each complimentary appointment includes a special $100 gift card to Salon Divas, a Fabiana Filippi sachet, PLUS 15% off any BUTCH BLUM purchase over $1000!

RSVP to promotions@BUTCHBLUM.com with the appointment time that works best for you and Mom - First come, first serve!

HAMILTON SHIRTS WINDOW

2013-05-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

Our visual director really outdid herself on this one. Created from thousands and thousands of shirt and suit swatches, this beautiful tree is an enticing reminder of all the beautiful custom options growing inside Butch Blum - particularly the Hamilton Shirts Trunk Show on the 15th-19th.

AVANT-GARDE IN Z!NK MAGAZINE

2013-05-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

Z!NK magazine recently used a bracelet by Avant-Garde Paris in their Spring Issue. The theme, "Cremeux" (creamy) celebrates the tones of beige, taupe, grey, mauve, and bronze that are so big this season. We love their choice and encourage you to stop by and check out this incredible collection of fashion jewelry perfect for any daytime - or nighttime - look!

Avant Garde - $265

NEW STYLES FROM EYEBOBS

2013-05-09T14:18:00.001-07:00

Eyebobs - $85

We have some terrific new styles from Eyebobs, featuring brushed stainless steel and environmentally friendly, renewable bamboo. Check out the latest styles and don't forget, if you love something but we don't have it in your magnification, we can send it to you in less than a week.

Eyebobs - $95

DESIGNER BIO - CITIZENS OF HUMANITY

2013-05-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

Citizens of Humanity’s head designer, Jerome Dahan, began his career in Los Angeles in the 1980’s with Guess Jeans - then at the top of the ‘designer denim’ game. He developed the brand into a modern Levi’s - a classic brand wearable by men and women that still maintains a strong fashion bent.

In 1999, Dahan began Seven for All Mankind, a designer denim label that would re-invent the industry in much the same way that Guess Jeans had some 20 years before. Dahan left Seven for All Mankind in 2002 after disagreements with the design team, and went on to found Citizens of Humanity - bringing together the best fabrics and the fashion-oriented direction the label is known for today.

In 2007, Dahan would again make news with the company when he merged C of H with Adriano Goldschmied’s brand "Goldsign," which incorporated Goldschmied’s legendary skills with denim washes and finishes. Dahan attributes his success to loving what he does - “If you’re not pure of heart and have a motive other than being passionate and extremely creative, my advice is you better start running, and you better run fast, very fast, because any good fortune you receive will not last for long.”

Butch Blum is proud to carry the men’s collection of denim bottoms from Citizens of Humanity in both classic “blue jean” washes, and non-denim fashion fabrics. Check out the latest from this terrific label, in store now.

EDWARD ARMAH BOUTONNIERES

2013-05-08T10:12:00.000-07:00

Assorted silk boutonnieres - Edward Armah - $35 each

Edward Armah is a respected name in accessories, an expert when it comes to fun colors and innovative new ways to wear them. Case in point, these beautiful silk boutonnieres, which are a fun addition to any sport coat or suit.

ARMANI PRINT WINDBREAKER

2013-05-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

Armani print windbreaker - $895

The comment we most often get about this piece is "It looks like a necktie fabric" - and it does, a micro pattern with some excellent color mottling in the navy/steel blue color family. The rich fabric has a matte sheen to it, which makes it look incredibly chic and sophisticated.