Wear What When

His and Hers

New Seattle-designed co-ed handbag collection debuts at David Lawrence

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 12, 2010 at 08:00AM 0 Comments

Slideshow: Spring ‘10 Muratori Collection (here: men’s messenger bag)

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Slideshow: Spring ‘10 Muratori Collection (here: men’s messenger bag)

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What if the definition of luxury begins to shift, and we start associating the term not with logos and character-driven brand names but the prestige of well-made, artisan-produced, mindful goods that will can be worn for ages and then passed down for eons?

You know, just wondering. What if?

Brand new in two Seattle stores, Muratori Designs wants to take you a step or two in that direction—with the help of David Lawrence and you.

Step one: Designer Julie Berard’s hand-worked vegetable-tanned leather bags for him and her.

Step two: You, and the new-to-the-Bravern merchant supporting the local endeavor.

The refined, mostly classic, mostly timeless models in the just launched handbag and manbag line don’t come cheap, but hand-stitched Italian workmanship never does. At under a grand, they’re less than the iconic, instantly recognizable pieces at Hermes and Louis Vuitton, (just around the corner from David Lawrence’s Eastside outpost), and about the same price as the lower end models by DVF, Marc Jacobs, et al at nearby Neiman Marcus.

At Muratori’s first local retail outlets, the bags will be displayed near Just Cavalli dresses and Versace suits. Will the bags take on a similar status? Do they need to carry that cachet to fetch their ticket price?

Are quality, beauty, long-lasting appeal, mindful methodology and workmanship luxuries in and of themselves?

Just asking.

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Tags: Accessories, Eastside, Bravern, Locally Designed

New Today! Olivine Online

Julie Wray tells us why her beloved Ballard shop closed, and why she’s bringing it back

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 11, 2010 at 06:30AM 2 Comments

Slideshow: What you’ll find at the brand new Olivine Online (here, Prairie Underground; Olivine has always been a prime outlet for the beloved local line)

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Slideshow: What you’ll find at the brand new Olivine Online (here, Prairie Underground; Olivine has always been a prime outlet for the beloved local line)

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A dress by Dace, a Vancouver-based line

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Personalized bracelets by Jenny Present

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Wray’s own line of LuLu Beauty scents

When Olivine closed its Ballard Ave doors in the summer of 08, you could pretty much hear hearts breaking all over the city. Women loved that store. The clothes were feminine, but they were easy. The vibe was low-key, but not ordinary. You could go there and leave with something special. Seattle was really sad to see it go.

But then Olivine owner Julie Wray popped back up at Show Pony in Fremont, and all was right in the world. Recently, however, she sold the shop, and again, I keep having that conversation with people, What happened to Julie?

Well, she’s back — as of today. Shopolivine.com joins la-rousse.com in that small but one-can-only-expect-growing category of brick and mortars-gone-digital. If you like to shop in front of your laptop and you also like to shop local, you’re in luck.

Here’s the scoop:

Wear What When: Seattle women loved it so… why you decide to close Olivine?

Julie Wray: Great question! The real deal is that I was tired of owning a retail store that required so much in the way of travel, employees, inventory etc. I had just recently gotten married and we were getting ready to get pregnant. After 16 years of owning retail stores and being single I was ready to prepare my life for a family! It just so happened that I closed Olivine before the recession hit, so I got to leave on a high note. Business was always good at Olivine from the day we opened.

WWW: And what about Show Pony? Just when they thought they had you back …

JW: Show Pony was supposed to be my version of a pop-up shop! My intention was to only be open for a year. It surprised me that it ended up doing as well as it did, so I thought it would be better to sell it instead, and I found the perfect person to take it over.

WWW: Olivine online launches today. What do you love about being online-only and what scares you about it?

JW: Selling online will be a totally new challenge for me and I am so excited about it. I started and ran four successful retail locations, but I don’t know anything about selling online! I love a challenge… I have very little overhead now so there is a lot more freedom to offer little perks. We’ll be doing: Free same-day delivery in Seattle, one-day only pop-up shops around town, and private in home parties starting in the fall. And of course, It gives me the freedom to relax and enjoy my business and my family! The huge bonus for me is that I get to work from home and watch my beautiful seven week old baby grow up!

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Tags: Locally Made, Accessories, new, Locally Designed, Online Shopping, Health and Beauty

Saturdays in the Park, the Penthouse, the Winery, and the …

Booked your summer wedding yet? Here’s where and when you could and should get in

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 10, 2010 at 10:30AM 2 Comments

Slideshow: Book this Venue (here: the loft-like, cabin-y, summercamp-like experience at Island Wood)

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Slideshow: Book this Venue (here: the loft-like, cabin-y, summercamp-like experience at Island Wood)

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Picture yourself just kinda humming along at the Apple Tree Resort

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Big Sky Country: Cave B Resort

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They’d like to play your song at the Falls Terrace at Salish Lodge

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Waterfront property at Semiahmoo Resort

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Always an important room to check out: The Wedidng Suite. This one’s at the Sheraton.

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The Forrest Room at the Edgewater.

The early bird does, typically speaking, get the fat, juicy worm. But those who sleep late and/or forgo the 18-month engagement period sometimes do okay, as well.

Inspired in part by my brother’s recent engagement and his let’s-get-it-done, super-short engagement period (he asked on Valentine’s Day, they’re tying knots in, hopefully, July) and in part by a pitch from a contact at one of the venues below who wrote in to ask if I might like to let you all know about her available dates, I am happy to present you with this giant list of available Saturdays from June through September at a variety of fireside lounges, grand ballrooms, grassy fields, and otherwise fantastic locales.

Some are even offering discounts and deals exclusively for you.

Two really important things to keep in mind before you go any further:

1. This is what’s available now. At press time, as we like to call it. If you’re of the later-bird variety, don’t wait too much longer, huh?

2. It’s safe to assume that those who have Saturdays available also have Sundays and Fridays — and you know, Tuesdays at noon — available too. And it’s safe to assume that Sundays, Fridays, and other non-Saturdays come with a budget price tag, too.

(Please note: the dates below reflect availability at the largest/main event spaces at these facilities; if you are planning a small wedding, there very well may be alternate rooms with more availability. When in doubt: it’s safe to assume that it doesn’t hurt to ask.)

***************************************************************************

IslandWood
Available Saturday: June 26

Mountain Springs Lodge
Available Saturdays: June 5, July 3, July 10, July 17, Sept 4, Sept 11
Mention that you saw these dates on seattlemet.com and you’ll get half-off the booking fee

Carnegies Restaurant
Available Saturdays: July 17, 24, 31, Aug 7, 14, 21

Inglewood Golf Club
Available Saturdays: June 19, July 3, 24, Aug 28, Sept 4, 11, 18,

Sanctuary at Admiral
Available Saturdays: every Saturday except July 10 and Aug 7

Hilton Garden Inn Issaquah
Available Saturdays: June 5, 12, 26, July 3, 10
*Mention that you saw these dates on seattlemet.com and receive complimentary dance floor for your reception and a complimentary suite

Safeco Field/Gold Glove Wedding (new venue call 206-346-4228)
Available Saturday: July 3

Tulalip Resort
Available Saturdays: June 5, 12, 19

Apple Tree Resort
Available Saturdays: June 5, Aug 7

Palisade Restaurant
Available Saturdays: all Saturdays in June, July 3, 17, 31, Aug 28, Sept 11, 25

Cave B Inn at Sagecliffe
Available Saturdays: July 10, 24, August 7

W Hotel
Available Saturdays: June 5, 12, July 3, 17, 31, Aug 21, 28, Sept 11, 25

Salish Lodge
Available Saturdays: June 19, 26, July 3, 17, 24, Aug 7, Aug 21, 28, Sept 11, 18, 25 ALL DATES are available for daytime bookings only

Semiahmoo Resort
Available Saturdays: Every Saturday June through September except July 17

Museum of Glass
Available Saturday: July 31

Chambers Bay Golf Club
Available Saturdays: June 12, 19, Sept 11, 25

Sheraton Seattle Hotel
Available Saturdays: June 5, 12, 19, Aug 28, Sept 4, 11, 18, 25

At the Quarry
Available Saturdays: June 5, 12, July 3, Aug 28, Sept 4, 11, 25

Seattle Aquarium
Available Saturdays: June 12, July 3, 10, 24, 31, Aug 7, 14, 21, Sept 4, 11, 25

Pan Pacific
Available Saturdays: June 12, 26, July 3, 24, Sept 4, 11, 18

Campbell’s Resort
Available Saturdays: June 19, Aug 28, Sept 25

Museum of Flight
Available Saturdays: Every Saturday June through September

Moon Mansion
Available Saturdays: June 12, 19, 26, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, Aug 7, 14, 21, 28, Sept 18, 25

Hollywood Schoolhouse
Available Saturdays: June 5, 19, 17, 31, Aug 14, Sept 11, 18

Clise Mansion at Marymoor Park
Availability: the Mansion does not accept event bookings until the end of April each year; concerts at the park are being booked through April and weddings and events can only be booked after concert schedule is final; contact venue for open dates at end of April

Harbor Club Bellevue
Available Saturdays: June 5, 12, 19, 26, July 3, 10, 17, Aug 14, Sept 4, 18, 25

Edgewater Hotel
Available Saturdays: June 19

Mayflower Park Hotel
Available Saturdays: June 19, 26, July 17, 24, 31, Aug 7, 21, 28
Mention you saw this information at seattlemet.com when you book with Mayflower and get a $400 credit for any vendor of your choice

SoDo Park/Herban Feast
No available Saturdays but mention that you saw this note here to receive 50% off rental rates on all other remaining (non-Saturday) dates

Port Gamble
Available Saturdays: July 4, 10, 17, Sept 11

Ray’s Boathouse
Available Saturdays: June 5, 12, July 3, 17, 24, Aug 14, Sept 11

Crystal Mountain Weddings
Available Saturdays: June 12, 19, 26, July 3, 10, Sept 11, 18, 25

Woodmark Hotel
Available Saturdays: Aug 28, Sept 11, 18, 25

Cederbrook Lodge
Available Saturdays: June 5, 12, 19, 26, July 3, 10, 17, 31, Aug 14, 28, Sept 4, 11

Arctic Club Hotel
Available Saturdays: July 19, Aug 21, Sept 11, 18

Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort
Available Saturdays: June 26, July 3, 31, Aug 7, 14, 28, Sept 18, 25

Willows Lodge
Available Saturdays: June 12, 26, July 10, 17

Novelty Hill/Januik Winery
Available Saturdays: June 5, 12, July 3, Sept 4, 11

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Tags: Weddings, Venues, reception

Where to Find It: Souvenirs from Mexico and Beyond

Edgar brings a bit of the beach to Broadway

Posted by: Chelsea Randall on Mar 09, 2010 at 11:30AM 2 Comments

Slideshow: At Edgar, a very nice man has traveled the world so you don’t have to

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Slideshow: At Edgar, a very nice man has traveled the world so you don’t have to

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The store doesn’t call a lot of attention to itself—from the outside. Inside Edgar: The Store, however, is a colorful and thoughtful collection of artisan-made pieces and flea market finds that darn near speaks to you.

Edgar: The Shop Owner is Edgar Lee, a Southern, story-telling gentleman who’s got a tale for every trinket. Sourced from his mostly international shopping trips, his shelves are stocked with antique French fencing shields, toddler-sized hot pink-and-red candles, Mexican pottery in the Italian Renaissance style, and stuffed sheep hand-knit by Benedictine nuns right here in Washington.

For birthday gifts or ex-post-facto reminders of your own far-flung adventures (after all, you can never bring as much home as you’d like these days, thanks to those new Draconian luggage weight rules), you can hardly do better—or have more fun looking around.

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Wheel of Fortune

Take the spin at Mario’s “Mar 10” in-store party and fundraiser

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 08, 2010 at 04:00PM 0 Comments

The right raffle ticket could get you a pair of Lanvin sneakers at Mario’s “Mar 10” party

The coincidence that is Mar 10 is all they need to throw a pretty good party each year at Mario’s.

Get it? Mar 10 = Mario.

The shop becomes a bit carnival-like when the wheel of fortune moves in, and customers who have spent $200 or more get to take a spin. (Note: You have until the 10th to spend those 200 bucks, and when you do, you’ll get ten percent off.) Prizes are added all day so depending on when you drop in, you might be spinning for the Manolo Blahnik heels of your choice (up to $745), an Oscar de la Renta Ikat clutch, Etro scarf, or Brunello Cucinelli piece (up to $750).

Men, you’ll spin for a Zegna sport coat, John Varvatos shoes (up to $365), Canali suit, and other similar, stellar items.

But it’s not just about you. Or Mario’s. Or even celebrating coincidences.

Raffle tickets will also be available; 100% of the proceeds from those sales (one ticket goes for $10, or buy three for $25) goes to Children’s Healing Art Project and Coyote Central. The former uses art to help kids in crisis, the latter lets junior-high youth discover their inner creative spirits.

Raffle prizes are no joke (errr—-what was that I said about this not being about you?): Score a Lanvin item (up to $1000), Irene Neuwirth earrings, an Isaia Aqua Spider suit, or something equally as incredible.

The only question is, are you feeling lucky?

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Tags: Downtown, Promotions, Accessories, Mario's, Good Cause