A Carolina Herrera Fashion Show! Inside The Seattle Art Museum’s Annual Spring Into Art Event

There's an undeniable charm in experiencing weather that defines a city's character. Sunshine in Los Angeles, wind in Chicago, and, in this case, rain in Seattle. On Tuesday night, the rain couldn’t deter Seattle's fashionable set from gathering at the Seattle Art Museum for the annual Spring Into Art event hosted by SAMS (Seattle Art Museum Supporters). This year's sold-out affair, attended by 250 guests, included cocktails, a private guided tour of the museum's Calder exhibit, and a Carolina Herrera fashion show presented by Nordstrom.

“Can I tell you the truth?” said Wes Gordon, Carolina Herrera’s Creative Director, in a private room just down the hall from the cocktail hour, moments before the event began. “It’s my first time in Seattle. I’m embarrassed to say that. It’s such a special place and so many people love it. I’m thrilled to be here with Nordstrom. They are amazing partners and the nicest people, so I’m very excited to meet the people of Seattle.”

As Gordon and his team wrapped up interviews and added the finishing touches to the fashion show scheduled for later in the evening, any thoughts of rain quickly dissipated. Cocktail hour commenced with guests dressed in sunny spring colors and florals—many wearing Carolina Herrera—while sipping champagne and enjoying feta and strawberry salad skewers. Soon after, the art museum opened for a private tour.

Nordstrom, the Seattle-based retail giant, has been a steadfast supporter of the Seattle Art Museum since 1985, when Sally B. Nordstrom, wife of John Nordstrom and part of the third generation of the Nordstrom family, founded SAMS. This longstanding partnership has helped the museum raise millions of dollars, significantly bolstering both the museum and the broader Seattle art community. Tuesday night was a true celebration of this collaboration, seamlessly blending fashion, art, and community.

Unintentionally, there were connections between the private art exhibit and the fashion show. Guests were led through an exhibition of works by American artist Alexander Calder, renowned for transforming sculpture with his famous mobiles and stabiles. The bold, saturated reds and black-and-white contrasts in Calder’s work served as a perfect prelude to the Carolina Herrera show, held just one floor below.

“You’re seeing the Fall collectsion today, which we showed in New York in February,” said Gordon. “This collectsion is about the idea that beauty is power and power is beauty. Elegance and beauty are the opposite of weakness; they’re strength. We focused on pieces that are bold and direct, with black and white, deeply saturated reds, and a burst of color and energy. It was a story I really enjoyed telling for fall, and I’m excited to share it with Seattle.”

As the show concluded, the party continued. Guests lingered for more drinks and dessert as music echoed through the museum. But the party didn’t end there. Many carried on at nearby hotel bars, running into each other once again. It turns out, Seattle really is sleepless.