Wear What When

New: Vince in Bellevue and More

New outpost of the already well-loved brand opens in the mall on Friday, November 5.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Nov 04, 2010 at 08:00AM 0 Comments

Slideshow: Say hi to Vince at Bellevue Square (and say hi to this lambswool aviator jacket) ALL IMAGES COURTESY VINCE

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Slideshow: Say hi to Vince at Bellevue Square (and say hi to this lambswool aviator jacket) ALL IMAGES COURTESY VINCE

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Superyak/wool blend cropped sweaters at Vince. I do love a cropped sweater (see fall fashion editorial for proof)

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All-cotton flannels for men at Vince

What’s up with everyone moving into Bellevue Square? As of tomorrow, the new Ann Taylor store and the still-pretty-new Report Footwear shop will have a new neighbor: Vince.

You know the name if you shop at Nordstrom; it pops up at little boutiques too — kind of wherever draped jersey and slightly off knitwear can find a home for themselves. But the all-Vince all-the-time Bellevue store is the 16th such retail outpost for the eight-year-old brand.

If you, like me, love a good coed shopping experience you’ll want to make note of the fact that Vince offers dudely plaids and feminine biker jackets. Definitely something(s) for him and her.

IN OTHER RETAIL NEWS…

Remember when Veritables in Mad Valley was having a sale to make room for change and we didn’t know too much more than that? I know a good deal more now. Design 10301, a now two-store collective (the first is in Bellevue, on Main Street) that houses Jarbo, the line of Seattle-based designer Sharon Roth, has cozied in. Veritables’ furniture and larger decor pieces are sold exclusively in the Bellevue shop; the Seattle store concentrates on gifts, accessories, jewelry, and smaller decor pieces and leaves room for vaguely Japanese-feeling boxy sweaters made of hand-dyed Italian wool that’s been cut and sewn in Seattle. More to the point: I bought one myself, which is what I meant by knowing a great deal more.

And there’s a new outpost of Urban Hardwoods down on First and Virginia near Peter Miller Books. The shop is called Urban House, though the neon sign says House Urban. Don’t let that confuse you. It’s what’s inside that counts: gorgeous reclaimed local wood fashioned into timeless furniture pieces. You can see a stunning example in our holiday gift guide if you’d like, but be sure to check out the real deal, too.

Oh, and Betty Lin, your favorite spot for marked-down off-season scores? Tell your friends in San Francisco all about it because they’ve got one down there now, too.

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Tags: Bellevue, new, Retail News, Bellevue Square

New Store: Ann Taylor

The concept: Ann got cool.

Posted by: Sarah Hirsch on Nov 01, 2010 at 07:00AM 1 Comments

Slideshow: We heart you too, Ann, and your new Bellevue Square shop.

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Slideshow: We heart you too, Ann, and your new Bellevue Square shop.

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A runway display of mannequins spans the length of the new and improved Ann Taylor store in Bellevue.

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Clothing is categorized by color and function and grouped into these “shop within a shop” zones.

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Books and jewelry intermingle throughout the entire store for more of that hanging-out-in-your-bff’s-closet sort of feel.

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Their crafty marketing ways are working on us…we find ourselves coveting…

Bellevue Square has a new resident. Sort of. The Ann Taylor store got a facelift. It’s now stocked with chunky sweaters and feathered handbags and there are Chanel and Richard Avedon coffee table books laying around. Accessories have been cheekily renamed ‘covetables,’ there are chandeliers, and vases of monochromatic flowers. There are a few private dressings rooms, but there’s also a communal area with a three-way mirror and couches. It’s not your mother’s Ann Taylor; the new store is girlfriend-y.

Situated on the second floor, directly across from J Crew (more on that in a minute), the gleaming white storefront all but cries out, “Hey, girl!,” to twenty-something shoppers.

We attended the store’s grand opening last week, where director of public relations, Andrew Taylor, (no relation) told us the new vibe isn’t necessarily about a younger client, but ‘being inviting to all ages.’ So is the concept behind the new ‘concept store’ (their words; the Bellevue shop is only the second such environment for the brand) based being fresher and cooler? Taylor allowed for that, and added, ‘And intimate and chic.’

Fair enough. But if you get a whiff of Juicy Couture-meets-Express-times-that aforementioned neighbor, we’re right there with you.

After the AT’s fall 2010 New York Fashion Week shows last winter, national fashion media like the online fav Refinery29 were all abuzz with praise with the line. Prior to that, even style.com and the New York Times were friendly to the recession-friendly brand, especially when it came affixed to leopard print dresses. (Paging Michelle Obama…) And did you hear about the little sheath dress that sold out in two days and started fetching tidy prices on eBay this past spring?

Alright. So how did Ann Taylor get cool? Well, for one, it turns out the brand got a new senior vice president of design: Lisa Axelson. Fresh outta Club Monaco (whose papa is Ralph Lauren), she brings a knack for stylish classics trend-referencing twists. And it may not just be the ‘concept’ stores that are ‘cool.’ The whole Naomi Watts thing doesn’t hurt (she’s cooler than your mom, right?) And, A-list editorial stylists like Kate Young have been tapped for in-store promotions and parties at the brand’s Loft locations. Kristin Rawson, AT’s style director says the tweaks and style turns are all about how they’ve, ‘continued with the classics of Ann Taylor, but updated [the line] to make it more modern and elegant.’

And, you might find, covetable.

Check the slideshow here for more, and watch this video from the recent Fashion’s Night Out.

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Tags: Bellevue, new, Eastside, Retail News

Raising the Barre

Brides-to-be use a butt-kicking combo of ballet, Pilates, and more to get their bods in shape.

Posted by: Amanda LaPlante on Oct 27, 2010 at 10:00AM 6 Comments

Here come the lean, toned, poised brides; the workout at Pure Barre.

Brides — and many grooms, too — will go through just about anything to get toned and fit before that walk down the aisle. Most of you are familiar with the whole bridal boot camp thing; the essence of tough drill sergeants and take-no-prisoners workouts seem to work oddly well for pre-wedding day motivation. But how about toe shoes and tutus as inspiration?

Actually, there’s nothing fluffy about Pure Barre a nationwide fitness program that began in 2001 and just made it to West Seattle this past June. The studio there is all ballet bars and floor-to-ceiling mirrors, but the ballet-meets-Pilates-meets-weight training sessions don’t have much else in common with Nutcracker Suites.

We tried it ourselves; an hour’s worth of small isolated movements — some familiar to our dance and yoga days, some not — intended to tone bums, thighs, abs, and arms (just about all of the target areas on a bride’s mind, although not all of Pure Barre’s disciplined students are getting ready for that particular kind of big day). Instructor and studio owner Sami Dinsmore Sweeney promised that the first training session would be the hardest and she wasn’t kidding. Sweeney kicked our butt. Actually, she’s sort of perfected the butt squeeze — that ubiquitous move we’ve all tried in an attempt to firm our seat. If day-after soreness is an indication, the move works. If you decide to give Pure Barre a try, you might consider inviting your bridesmaids along — you might need them to carry you out.

We talked with a Pure Barre regular, too — here’s Nikole Smuck: When the West Seattle location opened in June, I immediately signed up and I found out quickly how challenging the classes were. I was getting married in September and, like most brides-to-be, I wanted to be in the best shape of my life. Pure Barre is tough work, but the results were quicker than anything I had ever tried. The workouts gave me the toned arms and little waist that I desired for my wedding dress. And I never thought I would like my thighs!

Sweeney says most clients see results within just ten classes, and they stress that the mental clarity often achieved through yoga is a part of this practice as well. The focus required to maintain poses and execute lifts, tucks, squeezes, and more for sixty minutes does, as the claim goes, allow you to block out budget concerns and table seating dilemmas.

Sweeney plans to open University District and Bellevue locations this month; check out the above links to the Pure Barre website for pricing and new studio information.

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Tags: Bellevue, Weddings, West Seattle, Seattle Wedding Details

New: Eddie Bauer Flagship Store

Flagship store launches new pro gear for fall

Posted by: Amanda LaPlante on Jul 26, 2010 at 11:00AM 0 Comments

Shop the revamped denim line and new First Ascent product in Bellevue.

Where: Bellevue Square

What: Across the street from the Eddie Bauer corporate headquarters, the Northwest-based hiking, fishing, camping, outdoors brand opened its new flagship (you might find this part ironic) inside the Eastside’s go-to mall on Friday morning. The new store’s lodge-inspired decor puts you outside the air-conditioned shopping center environment and lets you daydream about adventures to come—and the gear you’ll need to complete them, of course.

When: For a limited time, fall-preview products are only available at the new lodge/shop in Bellevue, so go now and be the first in your crew to score a First Ascent Primaloft jacket.

Who else is new at Bellevue Square? Report Shoes

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Tags: Bellevue, Eddie Bauer, Grand Opening

New: Report Shoes

Local shoe company sets up shop in the Square

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jul 22, 2010 at 12:00PM 1 Comments

Slideshow: New at Bellevue Square Mall: Fashion footwear from Bellevue-based Report Shoes

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Slideshow: New at Bellevue Square Mall: Fashion footwear from Bellevue-based Report Shoes

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Thigh highs and high gloss at the new Report store at Bellevue Square

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A go-to line when trend and price point are of the utmost importance, Report couldn’t be more different than what we typically imagine when we think of footwear from the great Northwest.

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Report shoes: Now at Bellevue Square Mall

Where: Bellevue Square mall

What: Report, Eastside-based purveyors of stilt-like stilettos, walkable wedges, and trend-driven sandals, boots, and oxfords, now has its own four walls. Limited edition styles as well as Report and Report Signature models will be on offer.

Sure, Report footwear has long been available via Nordstrom, Zappos, and inside other people’s shops, but who doesn’t want their own slice of the mall – a place to call home? Report insiders in Bellevue say a retail shop has always been a goal, and, finally, the right space became available. Check the slideshow here for more.

When: Now, and whenever you’re looking to sneak in on a footwear trend and you don’t have the required top dollar to go designer. This way, at least you know you’re supporting a local business and its local employees.

Who else is new at Bellevue Square? Eddie Bauer

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Tags: Bellevue, Shoes, Locally Designed

Sale: DNA 2050

Discounted denim, drinks, and bites from Wild Ginger

Posted by: Amanda LaPlante on Jul 13, 2010 at 08:00AM 0 Comments

At DNA2050: Jean Shop tie-dyed denim (regularly $409) and suede vest by Torn ($398) oughtta be hot items at the sale

Where: DNA 2050 at the Bravern

What: Discounted denim, drinks, and pan-Asian bites. Take 20 percent off men’s and women’s denim by True Religion, Paige Premium, PRPS and more. Other items – dresses, tops, and accessories (like jewelry from Nicole Richie’s House of Harlow 1960) – will be marked down 10 percent. Want sips and apps to go with that? A cash bar and complimentary snacks will be on hand, and the first 50 purchases get two drink tickets and waived cover to the Eastside shopping center’s Wild Summer Nights.

Wild Summer Nights? Yeah, in which a five dollar cover (proceeds benefit Hopelink) gets you a cozy seat by the outdoor fireplace and signature drinks and appetizers from the nearby Wild Ginger.

When: Thursday, July 15 from 5:30-10

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Tags: Bellevue, Bravern, Spring/Summer sale 2010, DNA2050, Wild Ginger, Jean Shop, Wild Summer Nights