Get the dish. Learn about Sarah Alexandra’s latest inspirations. Journey with us!
“The World’s Finest Shirts for Women” – How Did We Do It?
08.18.2016
If you’ve ever tried on a Sarah Alexandra shirt, there’s no doubt you’ve experienced first-hand just how special these shirts really are. However, not many…
read more
“The World’s Finest Shirts for Women” – How Did We Do It?
If you’ve ever tried on a Sarah Alexandra shirt, there’s no doubt you’ve experienced first-hand just how special these shirts really are. However, not many people know how much work has gone into these shirts in order to truly make them, “The World’s Finest Shirts for Women”. The work starts with the design, then the materials, the fit, and lastly the manufacturer.
The Design
By now you’ve likely heard about our lineage from Renee Bassetti to Sarah Alexandra. If not, here’s a little summary. Renee is a women’s custom shirt maker and clothier based in Seattle, WA. She developed the Signature Shirt that has become popular all around the world. Sarah, Renee’s daughter, worked for Renee for many years and the two of them ultimately collaborated to bring Renee’s custom shirts to the ready-to-wear market. This was the birth of Sarah Alexandra in 2015.
Designing a women’s shirt is one of the hardest things to do in fashion; and grading the shirt for the ready-to-wear market wasn’t easy either. It took us almost a year with over a dozen women trying on the shirts to make the necessary adjustments for each body type. The number of revisions to each shirt design was seemingly endless, however, ultimately rewarding because we now have these beautiful shirts available in sizes 2 through 14.
*Check out our blog post on June 24, 2016 to learn more about the designer of the Sarah Alexandra shirt, Renee Bassetti.
The Materials
Having worked for her mother, Sarah had relationships with many of the Italian mills and knew exactly what fabrics she wanted our shirts to be produced in, the finest Italian cotton. The beautiful thing about using high quality Italian cotton is that the fabrics are both soft and incredibly durable. That was the easy part, but selecting just a handful of fabrics for the first collection was definitely a challenge! There are so many amazing fabrics it was hard to limit it to just ten.
We knew we wanted the first collection to be the “Classic Collection”. Our customers need to be able to find their favorite shirts season after season. One of the most frustrating things in shopping is when the brand has discontinued that classic white shirt or pair of jeans because they needed to make room for the new collection! We wanted to have a collection that our customers could count on season after season and create consistency in an ever-changing market. We carefully chose these ten fabrics so we can create timeless shirts year after year!
The Fit
Renee had designed such a one of a kind shirt, but we wanted to make sure that it fit as many body types as possible. As luck would have it, Sarah was introduced to one of the most talented fit specialists and pattern-makers in the industry, Meg Okies! Luckily, Meg had just finished a major project and had room in her schedule to work with us! We couldn’t be more grateful to her for the amount of time she took on each and every detail! We enlisted 15 of our friends and family and undertook a two-day fitting session! With Meg at the helm, we documented every last detail of every part of the shirt. From here, we were on our way to creating the shirt you see and love today! We asked every single person a series of questions from: How did it feel overall? What do you think of the sleeve length and body length? How do you feel about the height of the collar? How about the spread of the collar on the weekend shirt? . . . and on and on! We combed over every inch of the shirts and made adjustments to the buttons, button-hole placements, pleats on the sleeve, and even particular stitch locations around the collar. We did all this to make sure they were absolutely perfect for every customer in every size!
The Manufacturer
As you can image, with such a unique design as the Signature Shirt, finding a manufacturer who could make these shirts to our standards was the most challenging part! After sending samples and patterns to a number of manufacturers in the United States and Canada, we discovered that very few had the actual skill necessary to make these shirts to our specifications and expectations. The fashion industry has always praised Canada for their clothing manufacturers’ quality, professionalism, and working conditions. We found this to be true. We located a manufacturer in Ontario, Canada that was absolutely perfect. They are both a dream to work with and have as much attention to detail as we do!
The Result
The result is simply the most impeccable shirt you’ll ever wear. From the top to the bottom, this is an everyday kind of shirt that never disappoints. That was our goal for you when we established Sarah Alexandra – to provide a beautifully designed and constructed shirt at a contemporary price point. We hope you’ll feel the same way when you wear your Sarah Alexandra shirt!
Introducing Ash + Ames to our Pop-up Shop!
08.08.2016
For the remainder of the pop-up shop (now through September 30th, 2016), you can find Ash + Ames jewelry alongside our Sarah Alexandra Shirts, Maria Christofilis…
read more
Introducing Ash + Ames to our Pop-up Shop!
For the remainder of the pop-up shop (now through September 30th, 2016), you can find Ash + Ames jewelry alongside our Sarah Alexandra Shirts, Maria Christofilis Parfums, and Callista Crafts Handbags!
Who is Ash + Ames
Ash + Ames is an amazing jewelry line that focuses on women jewelry artisanship around the world. You can find anything from rings and necklaces, to one of a kind scarves and belts. The quality is incredible and they won’t break the bank. The materials used are anything from gold, silver, or even wood. But this isn’t the only reason we’re partnering with Ash + Ames!
What Makes Ash + Ames so Special?
The three main focal points of the Ash + Ames story are:
- To empower female artisans all over the world
- To give back to developing countries
- Provide a platform for women to launch their independent businesses
Some of the reasons why we fell in love with them are that every season there are collections of pieces that are created by women in developing countries. Then 100% of the proceeds from those pieces go back to the community where it was made!
Another reason is that every single piece of jewelry has a story to tell, and Ash + Ames provides that story. Learn about the creator, their inspirations, their background, and their dreams. Give yourself a feel good talking piece to share with others!
Come Shop Their Collection with Us!
We have the pop-up shop until the end of September. So come in and shop their collection and read about the jewelry 7 days a week with us! At the same time, get styling tips on how to pair your new Ash + Ames jewelry with a new Signature Shirt, clutch, and perfume.
Weekend Special: Official Launch Party (Photos)
07.14.2016
On Wednesday, July 20th Sarah Alexandra had its official launch with the successful opening of its Pop-up Shop in the Bravern. The turn out was overwhelming and appreciated! Thank…
read more
Weekend Special: Official Launch Party (Photos)
On Wednesday, July 20th Sarah Alexandra had its official launch with the successful opening of its Pop-up Shop in the Bravern. The turn out was overwhelming and appreciated!
Thank you to the friends and family who came to support us and help turn this event from a launch into a launch party! Along with the tireless investment by many, your encouragement along the way has helped turn this dream into reality.
We are looking forward to seeing you at the Bravern or online soon!
With gratitude,
Sarah Alexandra McKinney
Photo Collection: Official Launch Party July 2016
If you want to see more photos, check out our Facebook page: Sarah Alexandra.
Pop-Up Shop Now Open with Maria Christofilis Parfums and Callista Crafts Handbags
07.01.2016
What’s Happening? This month is incredibly exciting! Starting July 2nd, we are officially opening a pop-up shop at The Shops at the Bravern in Bellevue,…
read more
Pop-Up Shop Now Open with Maria Christofilis Parfums and Callista Crafts Handbags
What’s Happening?
This month is incredibly exciting! Starting July 2nd, we are officially opening a pop-up shop at The Shops at the Bravern in Bellevue, WA. We’re going to have every design of the Sarah Alexandra Signature and Weekend Shirt available at the store for you to try on for yourself!
We are partnering with Maria Christofilis Parfums and her line of incredible perfumes, including her new summer scent Mykonos12!
Lastly, we’ll also have Callista Crafts Premium Leather Handbags which are made in Athens, Greece available. This will be the first time you can find these bags in America. They’re not even sold online here in the States!
Details
Location: The Shops at the Bravern. 11111 NE 8th St. Bellevue, WA. Suite 155. We are located between Gucci and Omega
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Who: Sarah Alexandra – Maria Christofilis – Callista Crafts
Q & A with Renee Bassetti – designer of the Sarah Alexandra shirt
06.24.2016
We sat down with the creator of the Sarah Alexandra shirt, Renee Bassetti, to uncover the inspirations that brought her to designing the world’s finest shirt for women….
read more
Q & A with Renee Bassetti – designer of the Sarah Alexandra shirt
We sat down with the creator of the Sarah Alexandra shirt, Renee Bassetti, to uncover the inspirations that brought her to designing the world’s finest shirt for women.
What were the early influences in your life that ultimately led you to where you are today?
As a child I was exposed to beautiful clothing and beautiful things. When shopping for clothes, my mother included me in the decision making process, and taught me to discern quality. I loved to turn garments inside out to see how they were made.
Another one was that my mother let me sew on her Singer Featherweight Sewing Machine when I was about 6. I was immediately fascinated by being able to sew. Constructing with fabric and getting the pieces to fit together intrigued me.
Another influence was how something felt next to my skin and the imported cottons were magnificent to the touch. All of my life I have been drawn to the Italian and Swiss cottons as they are the finest.
I went to Sun Valley to ice skate in the summer when I was 11 and I walked into Picardi, a small European boutique in the Sun Valley Lodge. I purchased a pale yellow Italian cotton shirt with gray mother of pearl buttons. It was the silkiest cotton and obviously I’ve never forgotten it. I would have to say that was a pivotal moment regarding my relationship with Italian and Swiss cottons.
I was truly influenced by my father, my grandfathers, my uncle, and my great aunt as they had their own businesses. If you had an idea, why not make it into a business, hence my entrepreneurial spirit was probably fostered by them.
What happened that caused you to design the Renee Bassetti shirt?
I was out shopping for shirts in Seattle early 1989 and I was not finding a single shirt to buy. Then I had the thought – If I designed a shirt – what would it look like? One thing led to another and in 3 years I had developed the shirt I was looking for.
What inspired you to create your shirt design?
There was not a great woman’s shirt in the market place and I had frequented some of the finest shirtmakers in the world. They would have the beautiful cottons but not the design.
How did you start selling your shirts?
When I was working on the prototypes, a friend dropped by and saw me sewing a shirt. She tried one on and said, “This is the best looking shirt I have ever seen.” I subsequently did a trunk show at her home and sold some shirts to her friends. That was the beginning of me becoming an entrepreneur.
You have a philosophy, ‘buy quality rather than quantity.’ Quality is a big deal to you, as it is to everyone at Sarah Alexandra. Tell us more about why it matters so much?
I have always appreciated anything that was beautifully executed. Quality is equal parts design, craftsmanship and materials. In our case that’s why we use only the finest cottons woven in Italian and Swiss mills. Also speaking of quality, I would rather have quality than quantity.
Comfort makes a big impact when wearing clothes, influencing how we feel in them. Can you share how that factors into a Sarah Alexandra shirt?
I wanted the design to be flattering and I wanted to be able to move comfortably. To me it is as much about form as it is about function. There was a lot of engineering and real-life testing that went into creating the body of this shirt. I had to get a woven fabric to have the ultimate in mobility and comfort. The armhole and setting in the sleeves were critical and I spent months on that aspect of the shirt. I literally went 1/4″ by 1/4″. There is an integrity of fit that gives you the freedom of movement. There is a misnomer that a big, loose shirt is easier to move in. The closer the seams are to our anatomy with an added ease, the better the garment will move. Accomplishing the body design and combining that with the fine cotton resulted in my shirt not only feeling wonderful but also fitting superbly.
Is there a secret to how your shirts complement all women, not matter her age, size or style?
Number one there is really nothing about the shirt that will distract the eye. This may sound like a contradiction but the design is complicated simplicity. The collar is pivotal in creating the leading line. There is no confusion about where the leading line takes the eye – drawing it right up to the face. I wanted the shirt to become the woman wearing it. It is all about her; her eyes, her soul, and her personality, which is held in her face. The collar acts as a frame around a picture.
Can you expand about the versatility of the style? How it works with any outfit – dressy or casual?
The shirt design is so well thought out and executed that it is substantial. Every detail was analyzed and it wasn’t over stylized. Visually there are no complications. I would define it as a bit of, “feminine architecture”. Therefore, having said all that, the shirt combined with jeans as well as a silk taffeta long dressy skirt. It will take you from the boardroom to the ballroom. It’s so good looking that it looks good with everything. It’s a masterwork in complex ideas delivered in a simple design. It has no limitations.
You began designing the shirt 27 years ago and have sold it to countless women all over the world. Why is it still so popular today? And what feedback have they shared with you?
I’ve had the privilege of fitting thousands of women from all over the world with every imaginable body type. The amazing thing is this shirt works beautifully on every single woman. They try the shirt on and the immediate response is – “this is a fabulous shirt!” The comments I hear are the same even when the women themselves couldn’t be more different. “This is the best looking shirt I have ever owned, my husband loves it, my sister wants one, my friends never stop complementing me, I need to order more. When I want to look and feel great I reach for your shirt. All of my other shirts have been eliminated. I just look better in your shirt. Every time I step out the door wearing your shirt, I receive compliments. I have never owned another article of clothing that has been as admired.” That’s the hallmark of great design: everyone gets it and everyone loves it.
It is effortless and this is the best looking women’s shirt in the world. Hands down. The quality is impeccable. It flatters EVERY woman. There’s not a woman on the planet who won’t look fabulous in this shirt. This is the most important aspect: it really takes on the personality of the woman wearing it.