The Empress Suite opened in 2024 in Federal Way, and owner and founder Amber Bruce couldn’t be anymore elated to bring women’s high fashion to South King County.
Initially studying fashion design at the Art Institute of Seattle, Bruce worked in the retail industry and in property management before transitioning into her entrepreneurial journey. Along the way, Bruce got involved in pageantry, as well.
“Getting involved in the pageant scene here in Washington was kind of my way of staying in touch with my fashion roots and desires, and occasionally making custom pieces for myself to compete in,” she said.
While working her corporate job, Bruce had a moment where she reconsidered her career path and decided to pursue her passion, “At one point I reassessed what I was doing and where I was spending a majority of my time, and that was my turning point where I really wanted to take more time to invest in myself.”
Bruce then decided to focus on her love for fashion and came up with a business plan to open a store and create a safe space for women which focuses on inclusivity and empowerment. “It kind of just hit me that I have a skill set in the fashion and pageant world, and that there’s a gap in the market here for formal wear that isn’t bridal,” she said.
Taking a leap of faith, Bruce opened The Empress Suite, a women’s formal wear boutique which carries high-quality dresses, shoes, and accessories for special occasions, including for prom, pageantry, and formal events. The boutique is unique in that it celebrates women and of all sizes, shapes, and backgrounds, and carries a diverse size selection of choices and styles.
“So in the store right now, I have a variety of different dresses that are between the sizes of 0 and 24, and as designers continue to expand their sizes, we will as well,” Bruce said.
For the soft launch of her grand opening, The Empress Suite had a wonderful turnout with many of Bruce’s close friends and supporters in attendance. Photographer Jennifer Lloyd Artistry and Maureen Francisco of Pageants NW collaborated with Bruce for the opening, and complementary head shots were even provided for RSVP attendees. Reflecting on the day, Bruce recalls, “The grand opening was very special. Maureen Francesco and Jennifer Lloyd, whom I met in the pageant world, came to me and they said, ‘We want to do something nice for you and we’re doubling down on our personal missions to empower women.’ My jaw hit the floor when they came to me because I was still trying to figure everything out, it’s definitely a trial-and-error situation.”
Expressing her desire for women to feel comfortable shopping while looking for their glamorous gown, Bruce wants to emphasize the need for more formal wear in our region as well, “I also felt in addition to wanting to create this safe space, I wanted to provide a service for my pageant girls who I feel often are at a disadvantage when they go to big pageants, such as national or international events, out of the Pacific Northwest because we don’t have the same support in the fashion realm as women who live in the South or East Coast. A lot of our girls travel outside of the state to get their formal wear, and being able to start the process of filling that gap is exciting.”
Some beneficial services currently offered at the boutique include a 1-hour private styling session with Bruce, where she helps women find their dream dress outside of business hours, and pageant prep assistance with runway evaluation where Bruce will offer guidance with stage presence, confidence, runway technique, refinement, and more. Having more than a decade of experience in pageantry, Bruce is currently the choreographer for Pageants NW, which runs Idaho, Oregon, and Washington’s official preliminary to the Miss USA competition.
“This is my second year as their head choreographer, and I did the cutest thing possible. I got my mom to come on as my assistant, so when I travel for pageants, my mom will go with me. And now that I’m a choreographer, she comes with me as well, and we’re able to pour into these young women and surround them with love,” Bruce said.
Having found pageant success herself, she has also found fulfillment working behind the scenes and also produces The Global Beauty Awards (The Oscars of Pageantry) with Co-Founder Maureen Francisco.
Keeping busy with pageantry and running The Empress Suite, Bruce is grateful for finding the right location for her business, which is in close proximity to The Commons Mall, “It has a very intimate vibe, and the location is easy to navigate,” she said. Adding, “Our aesthetic is very warm and inviting with plenty of parking, and that’s what I was looking for in a storefront.”
Currently the boutique is open to the public, but will eventually switch over to “By Appointments Only” sometime down the line for that curated and customized experience. Bruce also has many plans in the works for potentially designing her own line, hosting more events, and opening more locations. To hear her take on the beauty industry, fashion, and pageantry, tune into her podcast BGE Cloud, which is available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple podcasts.
Follow The Empress Suite on Instagram here.
The Empress Suite is located at 32020 1st Ave S #102 in Federal Way. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Jenny Castro is a freelancer writer for Seattle Refined.
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