Wear What When

Sale: Betty Lin

End of summer designer sale at Betty Lin.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jul 28, 2011 at 04:00PM 0 Comments

Because they operate on a different retail model (they’re basically an outlet; a sort of clearing house for some of the top boutiques in the country), Betty Lin in Pioneer Square marks down their end-of-season merchandise on a slightly different schedule.

So while shops all over the city are winding down their sales (public service announcement: the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is over on August 1), this little medley of designer dresses and favorite-label separates is just beginning.

Markdowns at Betty Lin went live today, Thursday July 28; they’ll be available as long as the past-season merchandise is.

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Tags: sale, Sales and Discounts, End of Summer Discounts, Betty Lin

Shop Late in West Seattle

This summer, boutiques along the West Seattle Junction are staying open after hours on Thursdays.

Posted by: Annie Rose Favreau on Jun 23, 2011 at 07:15AM 0 Comments

Where: The West Seattle Junction

What: Do your plans for tonight involve takeout and 30 Rock reruns? You might consider rethinking them.

Shop Late Thursdays, a summer-long initiative wherein 19 stores at the heart of West Seattle—including Carmilia’s, Capers, and Easy Street Records —have agreed to keep their doors open and their cash registered fired up until 9, start tonight.

So instead of boob-tubing it, you might be shopping tropical plant terrariums at Fleurt, or indulging in a bite of chocolate and a glass of bubbly at Clementine, where they’re also raffling off a Prairie Underground top.

Locally designed summer sandals for little ones are 40 percent off at City Mouse Studio, and Queen Bee handbags and wallets are on sale at Click! Design that Fits.

When: Starting tonight, June 23, and running every Thursday until Labor Day.

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Tags: sale, West Seattle, Summer Plans, Prairie Underground

Sale Edition! Meet the Shopkeeper: Endless Knot

This is Anne Gavzer; this is Anne Gavzer’s yearly sale.

Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Nov 02, 2010 at 08:00AM 0 Comments

Endless Knot owner, Anne Gavzer: Endlessly searching for a good pastrami on rye.

Each year around this time, the shopkeepers at Endless Knot in Belltown pack up their off-season and past-year coats, dresses, jewelry and more and head to a way-below-wholesale warehouse sale in the neighborhoods for the annual warehouse sale. (A word about that jewelry: Remember when Roberta Armani was in town? When I complimented her on a delicate, yellow-y gold necklace she was wearing, she said she had bought it the day before … at Endless Knot.) This year’s sale starts on Thursday November 4 and runs through Sunday November 7. You’ll find the sale in Crown Hill at 9250 14th Ave NW in the Small Faces/ ARC Gym between Holman Rd and NW 95 Street. Hours are: Thurs 1-9; Fri & Sat 10-9; Sun 10-4. Here’s owner Anne Gavzer.

WWW: What’s your personal spin on the ubiquitous “How can I help you?” question?
Gavzer: Each person has their own unique style of visiting a shop and we strive to be available to them as much or as little as they prefer. Some people really appreciate a lot of attention, and some just want to be left to meander on their own.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
Usually I would say dresses, because we always carry a beautiful selection. But right now, as the weather starts to creep colder, I have to say it’s our coats. We have a fabulous collection in all sorts of styles and colors and prices such as ones from Prairie Underground and Tulle. Our winter accessories — especially the animal hats — are always a fave this time of year.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
Honestly, I’m not much of a shopper. I go to PCC several times a week. And Couch on Western is my new favorite for the cozy sofa of my dreams.

What specific store or type of store do you feel is missing from Seattle’s shopping scene?
I’m not really sure what is missing. Is anything missing? I have everything I need. Except a decent pastrami on rye.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
We are on the corner of First and Bell. Weird is how we roll. We are right in the center of the most diverse neighborhood in Seattle. Our neighbors run the gamut from high-end restaurants to low-rent nightclubs, we have fancy condos and homeless shelters right next door, and access to every sort of mind-altering substance is just a stones throw from a yoga studio. So just opening the door can get weird. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Tags: Belltown, sale, Meet the Shopkeeper, Prairie Underground

Sale of the Week: Handmade Home

Find earthy, elegant deals at the red-dot sale at Liave

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 23, 2010 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

Slideshow: Artful home accessories on sale at Liave

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Slideshow: Artful home accessories on sale at Liave

View Slideshow » Illustration: View Slideshow » Illustration: View Slideshow » Illustration:

Made in Vietnam from upcycled Hmong fabrics. So on-trend.

View Slideshow » Illustration: View Slideshow » Illustration:

Great, high-quality glassware – lots of it for half-off.

Cornelia Veit brought back the red dot, and she made it fit in to a pretty special place, too.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen anyone utilize the bold round %-off stickers this well. It does seem like the time, even if Liave isn’t the most obvious place.

At the West Edge home store, earthy, handmade European ceramics and ethereal old-world glasswork from the far eastern side of that continent have been discounted from 10 to 50% off to make room for spring arrivals. Now through March 31, and there are some pretty sweet deals to be had.

Remember that beautiful, Dutch-made saturated blue suede shoulder bag that was Veit’s favorite thing back in July? Well, okay, that one’s gone, but some of its collection-mates are still around, and with the markdown, you really do want to safety-pin one of them to your collarbone so you never have to be without it.

Check the slideshow here for more.

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Tags: Design, sale, Fall/Winter Sale, Home Decor, West Edge, Liave

Sale of the Week: Back Story

Hitchcock offers props and background scenery this weekend

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Feb 19, 2010 at 06:00AM 3 Comments

If you know Hitchcock in Madrona you know half the fun of shopping there is seeing what stories Erica Sheehan and her partners are telling in the windows and on the shelves.

A Mommy Dearest homage for Mother’s Day — complete with a vintage dress that nods to Joan Crawford, a collection of paint-by-numbers “art” for fall, colorful vintage sun hats to go with the August heat. It’s a place where Kennedy-esque grace and classic style go hand-in-hand with quality kitsch and garage sale guffaws.. (No small feat.) When it comes to telling a story via merchandising and decor, there truly aren’t many stores that can compete.

This weekend, Feb 20 and 21, the folks at Hitchcock are offering their propping and staging items at 50% off their original value.

You might not have a storefront in need of propping, but the sale promises finds for eclectic home stylists, good-humored gift-gifters, and genuine antique seekers.

And, if you’re just looking for a good deal on ? For the first time only, Hitchcock is offering discounts on select items by Alexis Bittar, McTega, Assad Mounsser, and more.

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While in Madrona, hit “Driftwood Consignment.”: /blogs/wear-what-when/driftwood-consignment-090109/

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Tags: Accessories, sale

Sale of the Week: You, on special

Personal closet warrior Tiffany Wendell offers a deal on spring cleaning

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Feb 09, 2010 at 03:45PM 0 Comments

Whenever I see forlorn, ragamuffin LA celebrity types in Current Elliott jeans, I think of locally based stylist Tiffany Wendel. In this case, I’m just not sure she’d endorse the dog-as-extra-carry-on-bag thing.

Remember Tiffany Wendel, the Seattle-by-way-of-LA personal stylist who let us into her adorable closet so we could check out her modified leather pants and studded oxfords?

Well, she’s offering $25 bucks off on any service — closet consultation (that’s polite-speak for dump run organization, let’s be honest), personal styling for events, men’s style makeovers (hopefully makeunders are available too), denim doctoring (you stay home, she deals with which pair will make your butt look just right), and more — through the month of February.

As for that $25 you’re saving, you can spend it on whatever spring item Ms. Wendel says is a must.

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Tags: sale, Valentine's Day, Fall/Winter Sale, advice

New, Used, Open, and Closed

Retail changes, and changes and changes

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jan 28, 2010 at 08:00AM 2 Comments

This Lanvin pump is 40% on Posh on Main’s website

I want to pass on word of a couple retail changes, but since we all hate bad news, let’s start with some details from the brighter side.

Alexandra’s, Downtown’s biggest designer consignment shop, hits its fall/winter sale today. All past season pieces (think chunky knits, wrap sweaters, wool slacks) are 50% off their lowest price, and spring merchandise is 10% off.

While you’re in the neighborhood, with new-to-you bargains on your mind, you should check Driftwood Consignment as well. As mentioned in this post about a heavy linen batwing dress/tunic from A Small Collection that I scored there, Natalie Anderson and Adam Peart’s two shops (there’s one in Madrona, too) buy and sell to and from the kind of girl who shops small, neighborhood boutiques and scores up and coming, small batch designers.

Consignment shopping does require patience and the hunter/gatherer spirit. Driftwood is small enough to navigate without much of a strategy, but at Alexandra’s, where pieces are well-organized by color and style but the sheer volume can be overwhelming, you’ll do well to enter with a target or focus, even if that means just concentrating on a color, or patterns versus solids. The shop gets bonus points for using those little triangularly round size indicators on the top of their hangers that make browsing that much easier.

And now, for the bummers.

+Some changes on Main Street in Bellevue: Posh on Main’s storefront has been shuttered; the remaining inventory is online. Having made big markdowns, owner Angela Self plans to sell through her stock of Valentino flats and Miu Miu booties before taking down her site.

Christi’s on Main, just down the way, is also on its way out. A closeout sale is in full effect.

+In the world of plants and greenery: UrbanWeeds in Fremont is selling its remaining botanicals and accessories for 90% off; the store will close at the end of the month.

When one door shuts … another often opens. You might try the brand new Midnight Blossom in Ballard if you’re need of an organic, in-house oxygen generator, and see our Diggable Plants from last spring for more shops that’ll grow on you.

+Speaking of growing: Plum Children’s Shoes in Madison Valley is closing; check their site for great deals on European kids’ kicks, and on Queen Anne, Urban Kids Play has reconsidered their format. They’ll continue offering safe, smart toys online, but the retail location is transitioning to a drop-in childcare center.

+Cartier at Pacific Place? Gone. Across the street and down a block: Coldwater Creek is hanging it up as well.

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Tags: Weddings, new, Seattle Vintage, sale, Fall/Winter Sale, Eastside, Seattle Consignment, floral, closing

Taking your Pills

Or better yet, leaving them. The experts tell us how as fall/winter clearance sales continue

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jan 19, 2010 at 10:00AM 6 Comments

Half price at Margaret O’Leary: Unpilled sweaters (and gratis tips on how to keep them that way)

I have a thing about pilly sweaters. I have a thing as in I hate them. So when I stopped by Margaret O’Leary recently to get the details on their current sale (50% off all classic cashmere, and 50% off all F/W chunky wool sweaters, luxury cashmere blends, and draped, boxy, directional cuts), I took the opportunity to chat with store manager Nisa Trehearne about her favorite pill fixes. And then I followed up with a few more retailers to bring you the first Wear What When How To.

Nisa likes those pumice stones for de-pilling, and also reports that she’s had good luck with the little sweater shavers you see at drug stores. She points out that you have to lay the sweater flat on a smooth surface and not attempt to shave the sweater you’re currently wearing. Bad move; causes snags.

At Butch Blum, Kay Smith-Blum, an ardent knitwear wearer if ever there was one, has this to say: ‘I use the small comb meant for depilling – I pick them up in Italy usually, but have seen them in sewing shops too. You can also use the masking tape lint rollers – and the best preventive measure is to hand wash all cashmeres in cold water. Drycleaning is too much heat, and results in breaking fibers. I would not recommend the vacuums. Angora needs to be stored in freezer to keep fibers from flying in your eyes when wearing. Any time you have a chance to buy double face wool, cotton, cashmeres, do it! They never wrinkle! And fold your knits – never hang!’

I’ll add on Kay’s behalf, and yours, that F/W looks by Marlene Birger, Tumi, Culturata, and more are 40% off.

Next up, thinking of the shawl collar cardigan on our November Spree page, I went to Patricia Wolfkill at Merge. Here’s Pat’s practical and simple advice: ‘I just trim the pills off with scissors. I’ve never tried the shavers, but I’ve heard they work on sturdier pieces — I suspect they would pull on the weave of more delicate cashmere. I do know that you shouldn’t PULL the pills off, it just drags on the weave, creating more pills.’

You may recall that there’s a killer sale going on at Merge as we speak.

And finally, I wanted to two cents or so from Totokaelo’s Jill Wenger, since that’s where I purchased the Junya Watanabe cardigan I am hellbent on protecting. Jill says, ‘I remember the first Tom Scott cardigan I bought. Special. Somewhat conceptual. 100% cashmere. And it pilled after the fist wear. And I was devastated. Come to find out that great knits pill. It’s not a reflection of quality. The weave makes a difference (how thin is the thread they are stitching with? Is it bundled into yarn before knitting?). And additives – like 50% cashmere 50% nylon. Soy and bamboo are also fibers that don’t pill, so good blenders. And then I pay attention to designers. Some designers/clothing lines just do a better job at containing the pilling than others. If you have a favorite sweater that’s held up well, stick with that maker. APC is my go-to non- pilling sweater brand. Thinner sweaters are less likely to pill. Big heavy sweaters tend to just shed. It’s that medium weight knit that’s a doozie for pilling. I don’t have a great fix as I’m a low maintenance gal — well, not too low maintenance because the one fix that I can recommend is the dry cleaners. I ask them to de-pill when I clean. But now-a-days I mainly just buy sweaters that are 1) a lighter weight, and 2) a blend and 3) a brand I trust. Because I too hate pilling.’

And again, the sale at Totokaelo? Don’t sleep on it.

Now what about you? What’s your best trick for keeping the best sweaters free of pills?

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Tags: sale, How To, cashmere, butch blum, merge, totokaelo, experts