Food & Drink

Sondra Elizabeth Colburn: Best Summer Party Dresses

Sondra Elizabeth Colburn: Best Summer Party Dresses

The line: “I focus on using bold prints, colors and design details to bring a fun twist to dresses that have classic silhouettes,” says the Seattle Central graduate, who adds playful touches with darling bustier tops accented with vintage coral buttons, dainty peplum designs and demure open back accents. Creative spark: The 22-year-old Kirkland designer…

Krista Marie Kelly: Best Modern Urban Wear

Krista Marie Kelly: Best Modern Urban Wear

The line: The Capitol Hill-based designer’s line is synonymous with tomboy chic, focused on relaxed separates that pair sand-washed silk charmeuse tops with silk/wool twill bottoms. In addition to the aesthetic appeal, the line’s renegade attitude harks to a historical moment in women’s wear. “Pants at one point were liberating,” Kelly says. “They were about…

Suzy Fairchild: Best Everyday Frocks

Suzy Fairchild: Best Everyday Frocks

The line: Formerly a women’s wear and accessories designer at Nordstrom before opening her Frock Shop boutique in 2006, Fairchild lets both the pattern and originating era of the fabric breathe life into her exceedingly wearable skirts and girly yet refined day dresses (often offered for less than $125). “I love the silhouettes and styles…

Alicia Czerwiec: Most Artistic Line

Alicia Czerwiec: Most Artistic Line

The line: Czerwiec unconventionally combines print, color and texture to create a strong sense of personality and promote a lifestyle anchored in creativity. “I want to…push the boundaries of using basic materials in an interesting way—like the use of strips and remnants of knit jersey to create braided medallions as appliqués for coats and outerwear,”…

Sonia McBride: Most Innovative Line

Sonia McBride: Most Innovative Line

The line: The Central District-based designer (who works for a Ballard biking pannier company by day) describes her line as “urban cycling clothing for the professional woman,” as seen in garments like a violet pencil skirt that unzips on the sides to give more leg room to pedal. Other thoughtful details: reflective satin fabric on…

Erin Roby: Best Student Designer

Erin Roby: Best Student Designer

The line: The Ballard-based designer, who also holds a master’s degree in urban planning, uses one word to sum up her debut line, “edited.” It’s a well-chosen adjective: Roby’s jackets contain simple yet strong details such as cowl pockets or shoulders, leather collar work to accent her copper wool duster and the dramatically flared tuxedo…

Christine Chaney: Best Emerging Designer

Christine Chaney: Best Emerging Designer

The line: “I want my line to be timeless, but almost separate from ‘fashion’ per se, which can tend to revolve around trends and seasons,” says Chaney of her creatively crafted scarf frocks with sly peekaboo panels and asymmetrical hemming, cozy crochet sweaters and avant-garde coats made from army surplus wool blankets. “I want to…

Consignment Steals in Downtown Kirkland

Consignment Steals in Downtown Kirkland

A designer enclave is well worth the S.R. 520 bridge toll.

Consignment hounds, this designer enclave is well worth the S.R. 520 bridge toll: Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Ragamoffynn’s still reigns as the Eastside queen of consignment; owner Gisela Manning’s shrewd eye keeps the high-end couture stock flush with elite designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Prada and Chanel (boots!). If your wallet is…

Old Bellevue's Refined Boutique Shopping

Old Bellevue’s Refined Boutique Shopping

Soak up the refined boutique scene of this charming old-town shopping district.

Begin on Main Street, the historical pocket of downtown just south of Bellevue Square, which harks back to the area’s days as a sleepy Seattle suburb, where an independent spirit lives on along a pleasant promenade of unique boutiques and restaurants. Begin at (1) Jarbo, the source of Sharon Roth’s exquisite clothing line, which she…

Queen Anne Shops Offer a Small-town Vibe

Queen Anne Shops Offer a Small-town Vibe

With its precious jewel-box shops, the hilltop is still cream of the crop.

Sure, in days gone by, Queen Anne had more bustle (see: departures of the Teacup, Oslo’s and Skookum), but this petite charmer still has appeal. There’s nothing quite beats linking arms and strolling Queen Anne Avenue, peeking into an intimate spot like 2-year-old (1) Charley + May Co., located at the northernmost end of the…

Goldmine for Gifts: University Village

Goldmine for Gifts: University Village

The shops sprinkled in U Village and surrounding area can help you score a gift for almost anyone.

From holidays to graduations, the shops sprinkled in U Village and surrounding area have your back year around. Curving behind the northwest bend of the shopping center, stroll along NE Blakeley to snag a few delightfully irreverent cards at Curtsy Bella; owners Mary Jo Thomas and daughter Danielle Fayette stand ready to help you find…

Stylish Shopping in Madison Valley

Stylish Shopping in Madison Valley

Luxurious vintage, global-chic jewelry and unbeatable kids’ consignment are the pride of the valley.

The first stop in the Madison Valley is, hands down, the best place in the neighborhood for an amazing deal. (1) Sugarlump stocks racks upon racks of button-cute and barely worn consignment kids’ clothes, with prices topping out at $40 (for maternity wear), but most falling in the range of $10 or- less. It also…

Shop Seattle's Pike/Pine Corridor

Shop Seattle’s Pike/Pine Corridor

The hippest part of town is well equipped to keep you looking like the hippest thing around.

Start small on your stroll on the hill with a stop in (1) Bootyland, a neighborhood mainstay for kids’ clothing that is devotedly fair trade, organic and sweatshop free, not to mention a reliable source of baby band tees for $26.95. (Who doesn’t know a 16-month-old Devo fan?) Continue down Pine Street along Cal Anderson…

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