Wear What When

77 Seattle Essentials

From bar implements to ankle boots, these style elements define and shape a stylish city life.

Posted by: Seattle Met Staff on Nov 08, 2011 at 06:30AM 0 Comments

Photo: Justin Gollmer

1. Traditional textiles. For 76 more, see 77 Elements of a Practical and Stylish Seattle Life.

Feel like something’s missing?

Feel like you’re getting it exactly right?

Already thinking about what to give new Seattleites for the holidays? What to give old Seattleites for the holidays?

Our guide to the 77 Elements of a Practical and Stylish Seattle Life points you in the direction of wardrobe essentials, hot housewares, locally designed innovations, novel forms of entertainment, and the best Northwest classics and latest trends.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Gift Guide, Seattle Designer, Holiday Shopping 2011

Gift Map III: Kids’ Stuff

Because shopping for quality playthings isn’t always fun and games.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 16, 2010 at 06:30AM 0 Comments

Photo: Flora and Henri online shop

Mohair rabbits where adorable is defined, Flora and Henri on Capitol Hill.

If the kids on your shopping list are your own, you have enough to do without plotting out where to find the worthwhile, classic stuff of childhood. If the tiny people on your agenda do not belong to you, you may not be totally familiar with the lay of the fun-and-games landscape. Either way, our kids stuff shopping map makes it easy to navigate an entire city’s worth of educational objects of enjoyment, timeless toys, and apparel and accessories that appeal to both of you.

Some things to think about before you begin: At Izilla, they’re loving a board game called Dixit because it does the impossible: makes fun times for kids and adults. At Tottini, there are two options (at two budget levels) for those considering a modern take on the generations-old winter holiday dream gift, the dollhouse. (I will never forget the year my dad built me one and put it, if not exactly under the tree, at least nearby.) At Planet Happy, they’re into the timeless idea of packable, go-anywhere animal play sets; they’ve got ’em farm- and sea-themed.

That oughtta get you started. Go now among the world of math-is-fun gaming and miniature tea seats and make someone small hugely happy.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Seattle Toys, Gift Guide, Gifts, Sustainable Such and Such, Seattle Kids' Style, Gift Maps 2010

Online Sale: Tininha’s

Because it’s always bikini season somewhere on the planet.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 14, 2010 at 10:00AM 0 Comments

Having a white sand Christmas? This bikini is on sale for $46.

If your holiday plans include a beach escape, well, first of all, I can’t talk to you politely because I’m insanely jealous. But also, you should know that the once brick-and-mortar, now online Tininha’s has lots of bikinis and at least one maillot and a couple of cover-ups on sale in their web shop.

And, if you’re just shopping for someone who seems to need a new carry-all, wallet, or other pack object, it’s worth noting that many of the shop’s beloved Orla Kiely bags have been discounted as well.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Gift Guide, Online Sale

Online Sale: Plaid Doctrine

Take 15 percent off a local company’s smart travel totes when you shop online.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 13, 2010 at 03:00PM 0 Comments

Smart totes by Kirkland’s Plaid Doctrine are on sale online.

Remember when we talked about how recycled water bottles could come back to life as baby-blue houndstooth patterned laptop bags? Those locally designed, made-in-the-USA Plaid Doctrine totes are marked down by 15 percent through December 24 on the Kirkland company’s website, www.plaiddoctrine.com Since we first intro’ed the line here, new styles have emerged. You’ll see them all online.

To access the savings, just enter jolly15 at checkout. Shop on.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Locally Made, Gift Guide, Locally Designed, Sustainable Such and Such, Online Sale

Classic Gifts I: Eat Your Heart Out

Chocolate, wine, and coffee. What else is there?

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 10, 2010 at 03:00PM 1 Comments

Give a bite, sip, or mug of Seattle this year.

This country, by which I mean the great nation of Seattle, was founded on chocolate, wine, and coffee. Maybe a little beer and perhaps some large aircraft and a book behemoth, but you are not going to be at all wrong if you want to go classic and choose to give a gift of the Northwest with a little Theo, Heaven’s Cave Cellars, and Fonte.

Now. There are other fine purveyors of these three cornerstones. For the first I’d refer you to Fran’s; for the second, to one of our invaluable regional wine compendiums; and finally, well, I do prefer Fonte, with Oly’s Batdorf & Bronson close behind (I get mine at Whole Foods foods/).

But, because Theo, Fonte, and Heaven’s Cave are going to be offering a little holiday shopping happy hour at Fonte on Wednesday December 15 from 4 to 7, and because a portion of the proceeds benefit Pike Market Kids, I’ve decided to kick off my Ten Classic Gifts list with a nod in their very deserving direction.

Oh, and, this is nothing to sneeze at either: When you’re shopping, you’ll indeed have the opportunity to enjoy the cafe’s happy hour menu.

Here’s my holiday motto: Don’t over think it. People love coffee, people love chocolate, people love wine, people love Seattle. Done.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Locally Made, Gift Guide, Classic Gifts 2010

Gift Map II: Made in Seattle

Send something locally made to someone woefully far away by accessing our handy map.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 10, 2010 at 08:00AM 0 Comments

The locally made gift of the season: The skipjack scarf, for sale at Far 4. Find other things that were blown, built, sewn, and crafted with our Made in Seattle map.

Time was, if you wanted a Seattle-y gift, you settled yourself with those Space Needle-shaped pastas from the landmark’s gift shop. Hey, I remember.

But these days, the city is a veritable artist’s studio; the best boutiques carry gorgeous goods by local makers, and it’s super easy to send your best friend in New York some stitched, blown, built, or otherwise crafted object that’ll make him/her feel like a real jerk for living so far away from all this awesomeness.

Top on my list of locally produced giftables is the skipjack scarf from a line called Victory Garden Yarn. The woman behind this line happens to have worked at Polite Society before that lovely little place shut down, and I can you for certain that she’s a great gal — which only makes her scarves more special.

I’ve seen the convertible cowl/scarf live on Jenny Klimenkoff a number of times this season, and I watched her field multiple compliments about it on each occasion. Now, watch it all come together here: Klimenkoff sells the skipjack at her store, Far 4, and Far 4 is one of the seventeen stores on this week’s shopping map.

At Fancy, they’re having trunk shows on Sundays for the rest of the month; at Nube Green, whatever isn’t local is at least from the U.S.; and at the new Urban House you have access to goods that weren’t just built here, they were grown here hundreds and hundreds of years ago. And that’s just a rambling random sampled. Check the map for more.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Locally Made, Gift Guide, Locally Designed, Sustainable Such and Such, Gift Maps 2010

Trunk Show: Regina Chang

Locally made jewelry, vintage goods, and organic beauty at a studio sale on the south end.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 07, 2010 at 10:00AM 0 Comments

Where: 4429 39th Ave S, Seattle 98118

What: Local jeweler and stuff-maker Regina Chang celebrates the opening of her new studio with a studio sale featuring holiday jewels and pieces from her new vintage decor and gifts collection.

Chang is also hosting a new line of organic beauty products, NYR Organics.

When: Tuesday, December 14 from 5 to 8

Add a Comment »

Tags: Locally Made, Seattle Vintage, Gift Guide, Locally Designed, Health and Beauty

Shop It: Kimberly Baker Design Collective

Astrology readings, It bags, iconic local jewelry, and mad dress designs in Fremont starting December 11.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 07, 2010 at 09:10AM 0 Comments

The new Aztec Parcel by Ampersand As Apostrophe is a part of the upcoming Kimberly Bakery Design Collective at the local jeweler’s Fremont store.

Where: Kimberly Baker’s Fremont shop

What: If you’ve been to Kimberly Baker’s Fremont shop recently, you know it was remodeled by designer wunderkind Jessica Park. If you’ve been to Kimberly Baker’s shop ever, you know it’s general arty-luxe vibe more than makes up for its diminutive size.

The shop’s limited space does call to mind a question mark or two upon hearing about Baker’s holiday-season shop, aka the Kimberly Baker Design Collective. But they’re not really, like, worrying question marks, just vaguely sort of, ‘huh, I can’t wait to see how that works out…’ sort of queries. Because yes, it’s happening. Very soon.

Included in the collective are the aforementioned Jessica Park, whose new It bag , the Aztec parcel (pictured here) gives us a second option on her original It bag.

You’ll also get a look at Victoria Simons’ Mad Men meets Mad Max ’50s silhouettes in superrad crinkled, dyed, and otherwise artfully treated fabrics. Don’t you love how you keep getting continually surprised by just exactly who is living and working and creating in your city??

All of the above were curated by Baker to complement her signature collection — which you may take 20 percent off of on the day of the collective’s launch.

When: Things kick off with a Saturday, December 11 launch party that goes from 12 to 6 and includes mimosas and — get this (no, like, literally get one — free mini-astrology readings by Stephanie Gailing from 2 to 5. The collections will be up, and available to holiday shoppers through the very last day of 2010.

The launch party also includes the opportunity to win one of three grand raffle prizes: One pair of Kimberly Baker Jewelry Evette earrings in Sterling Silver ($128 value), a copy of Stephanie Gailing’s book Planetary Apothecary: An Astrological Approach to Health and Wellness, and a $75 gift certificate toward Victoria Simons Clothing.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Locally Made, Gift Guide, Locally Designed, Seattle Trunk Show, Coming Soon, Kimberly Baker

Gift Map I: Pet Projects

Your guide to shopping for four-legged (and possibly winged and/or finned?) friends.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 02, 2010 at 09:00AM 0 Comments

Pets are people too.

From Wallingford to the Central District; from contrarian cats to face-licking dogs, multilingual birds, squirrely ferrets, and sublime fish, Seattle is full of beloved beasts and boutiques that stock clothes, toys, treats, and more for them.

We know how you are. And we think it’s cute. Every time you buy two or three presents for humans, you pick up a little something for the wildlife in your residence. Kicking off a month of maps is this guide to luxe pet emporiums and essential critter shops.

And stay tuned: Each Thursday for the rest of the month we’ll link you up with a heavily plotted and pin-pointed city grid to help you navigate a new niche of holiday gift searching.

Add a Comment »

Tags: Gift Guide, Gifts, Maps, Gift Maps 2010

Shop It: Eco Chic Expo

A neighborhood holiday market in Phinney

Posted by: Seattle Met Staff on Nov 30, 2010 at 08:00AM 0 Comments

Photo: My Octopotamus

Kids can craft felt holiday wreaths with the Etsian behind My Octopotamus at the Eco Chic Expo in Phinney.

Where: Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, 98103

What: More than 20 local, green-minded gift and lifestyle vendors gather in Phinney for this year’s Eco Chic Expo. Kids can craft holiday wreaths under the tutelage of the Etsian known as My Octopotamus, and Sweet Treats and Got Soup will roll up to serve their goods.

When: Saturday, December 11 from 10 to 3

Add a Comment »

Tags: Locally Made, Gift Guide, Holiday Events, Locally Designed

Online Sale: Grain

Shop locally and sustainably produced modern goods at 15 percent off.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Nov 18, 2010 at 04:00PM 0 Comments

Photo: Grain

Grain’s Solola mini-bag, ethically produced by repurposing vintage Guatemalan woven blouses.

Where: Local design collective Grain’s online store

What: Take 15 percent off smart home products and upcycled accessories. Look for the can’t-miss-it discount code on Grain’s site when you’re shopping.

When: Now through December 15

Add a Comment »

Tags: Gift Guide, Locally Designed, Online Shopping, Online Sale

What’s Your Take on… Fancy Hats?

Two trunk shows celebrate eccentric designs by local mad hatters.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Nov 15, 2010 at 08:00AM 1 Comments

Photo: Jean Hicks

A hat to ponder by Jean Hicks, whose work will be at Clementine Nov 26-28.

Two special fancy hat sales have us wondering: How do you wear a tiny black cone topped with electric blue feathers? Why do you wear a tiny black cone topped with electric blue feathers?

To answer that question, first: Head to Clementine in West Seattle on Black Friday where Jean Hicks presents hand-milled wool, alpaca, and cashmere toppers, and Izzie Lewis Millinery shows off her architectural background via highly constructed and detailed hats. The California Ave shoe sellers are even pouring a special ManHATtan cocktail and hosting a the Gary Manuel Aveda Institute stylist on Saturday from 1 to 5 to help clients navigate the sometimes tricky world of hairstyle-n-hat.

Clementine’s Hat-itude runs November 26–28; the store will be open Friday 11–7, Saturday 10–6, and Sunday 11–5 for the trunk show.

And then, on December 1 at Tasty, on Phinney Ridge, Tuzzie Muzzie, Lucky Day Hats, Soft Shelter Hats and more gather from 6 to 9 for a showcase of burlesque toppers, motoring caps, tall Victorian top hats, mini clip-on accessory hats, fleece warm-ups, costume numbers, and even head coverings for pets.

We know people love to bemoan the disappearance of the hat …) but we’re not sure if this is what they were thinking of.

Oh and about Black Friday: watch for our Thanksgiving Weekend Sale Map soon …

Add a Comment »

Tags: Accessories, Gift Guide, Seattle Trunk Show, What's Your Take On...