Big Tech made Seattle’s new status as a fashion capital inevitable

When you think of the most fashionable cities in the U.S., Seattle wouldn’t often come up, with its flannel-clad residents, often trudging through the rain in hiking boots and the distinct lack of an umbrella. But according to an article from Esquire, Seattle is now an unlikely fashion capital. The Gee and Ursula Show explains why this new status was actually inevitable.

The article lays out the pillars of Seattle fashion: Grunge – dressing in the anti-fashion of the 90s alternative rock made famous by Kurt Cobain – and ‘GORP’, which stands for ‘Good Old Raisins and Peanuts’ (or, as it is more popularly known, trail mix). GORP is used by the article to describe the utilitarian, outdoor-focused clothes that have become fashionable in the last half-decade.

Hosts Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin of the Gee and Ursula Show spoke about what they see Seattle fashion as, and what makes Seattleites unlikely fashion icons.

“When I think of style or fashion meccas, I think of New York, London,” Ursula said. “One of the things that is really cool about Seattle is the general feeling that people don’t care that much about style. I love that people have no qualms going thrift store shopping.”

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Gee takes a bigger issue with calling Seattle a fashion capital, calling out the grunge aesthetic, often using thrifted, loose-fitting clothes.

“First of all, I think of fall,” Gee said. “I think people dress for it all the time. So I’ll see the usual button-up, that’s kind of open with the t-shirt up underneath and it might be some khaki panels. So here’s the thing about Seattle, and I’m not trying to knock on it, but my biggest problem that I’ve developed over the 20-plus years that I’ve been here is the noncaring. And as long as you aren’t sloppy looking, it’s fine.”

“I completely disagree with you on that,” Producer Andrew “Chef” Lanier said. “It’s just that we don’t realize it’s a lot of money. Look at the average person walking down the streets of Seattle. They got a $200 Patagonia jacket, $200 Danner boots, $300 Arc’teryx pants, $100 prAna shirt, and a $400 Filson Bag. And they can afford it because they work at Microsoft.”

Listen to the Gee and Ursula Show weekday mornings from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.