December 5, 2024

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Technological development

See the before and after as two techies put on fresh looks for the GeekWire Gala – GeekWire

See the before and after as two techies put on fresh looks for the GeekWire Gala – GeekWire

Karina Martija-Harris, left, and Brian Crouch, winners of Geek Style Reboot at the GeekWire Gala in Seattle on Wednesday night. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)

Two geeks definitely stepped out in style in Seattle on Wednesday night.

Karina Martija-Harris and Brian Crouch, winners of this year’s Geek Style Reboot, attended the GeekWire Gala feeling refreshed and looking great after spending the day at Nordstrom getting pampered, made over and dressed up.

Martija-Harris, a program manager at the Tacoma, Wash., incubator of Maritime Blue, was glowing as she emerged from an hour-long facial at the Nordstrom spa. Her day at the store was also filled with lunch at Nordstrom Cafe, a style consultation, a hair blowout at nearby Swink Style Bar and full makeup with a Nordstrom beauty stylist.

Crouch, a technical SEO manager at tax compliance software company Avalara, also got a facial, as well as a pedicure, a style consultation and help with his skin-care routine.

The two emerged from Nordstrom dressing rooms dressed for success before heading to GeekWire’s annual holiday party at Block 41 in nearby Belltown, where they were greeted with cheers from the crowd of fellow techies.

Karina Martija-Harris before, left, and after her Geek Style Reboot.

“Overall, it was a fantastic experience,” Martija-Harris said. “All of the Nordstrom employees really did go out of their way to make sure all of my needs were taken care of!”

A big Seattle Sounders fan who is usually very comfortable in sweatshirts and pajama bottoms, she said she was feeling “very inspired to take on the new year in tech, and will use the outfit as a building block to help me create more great looks in future.”

Crouch, a self-deprecating techie who spends his day in front of a computer, joked throughout the experience about his approach to fashion and self care. He was clearly impressed by the attention he received.

Brian Crouch before, left, and after his Geek Style Reboot.

“The time at Nordstrom was an eye-opener for me,” he said. “The folks I encountered had real hearts for the customer experience.”

Crouch said he felt as if he had been “gift wrapped” by the spa, beauty and style professionals for his special night out.

“When I’m with my wife, everyone’s looking at her,” Crouch said. But at the Gala, all eyes were on him, including those of his wife, Gretchen Crouch.

“He looks smart. He looks like himself but dressed up,” Gretchen said. “The plaid jacket is a departure but it totally fits him. He likes to look professional, so this is a good thing for him.”

The Geek Style Reboot winners, Brian Crouch, left, and Karina Martija-Harris, right, are introduced on stage at the GeekWire Gala by Alison Prince, vice president of product management at Nordstrom. (GeekWire Photo / Todd Bishop)

Karina’s look:

Brian’s look:

Keep scrolling for more photos from Karina and Brian’s day:

Karina Martija-Harris getting her hair done at Swink Style Bar. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
(GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Brian Crouch during his complexation consultation with Nordstrom beauty stylist Ricci Carole King. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Asked whether his time in the beauty chair at Nordstrom was the most he’d ever thought about face care, Brian Crouch said, “Vastly so.” (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Karina Martija-Harris gets her makeup done — a “soft glam” look — by Nordstrom beauty stylist Marissa Chambers. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Nordstrom stylist Helen Marion-Rowe shows off the look she helped select for Karina Martija-Harris. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Brian Crouch and Karina Martija-Harris after getting dressed at Nordstrom. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Karina Martija-Harris holding her new bag outside Nordstrom. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Brian Crouch and Karina Martija-Harris on stage at the GeekWire Gala with GeekWire reporter Kurt Schlosser and GeekWire co-founder John Cook. (GeekWire Photo / Todd Bishop)
Brian Crouch and his wife Gretchen in the photo booth at the GeekWire Gala. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)