Wear What When

Party Week at Horseshoe Boutique

The Ballard boutique celebrates its fifth anniversary with Toms shoes, Butter London, big sales, and you.

Posted by: Annie Rose Favreau on Jun 07, 2011 at 10:00AM 0 Comments

It’s a blank canvas…for your feet! Color some Tom’s and celebrate Horseshoe’s fifth birthday.

“I’ve always had a thing for horseshoes,” says Jill Andersen explaining the name of her Ballard boutique. “I grew up in Nebraska and Colorado and have an affinity for early Americana; plus, there’s the lucky charm aspect.” She’s certainly feeling fortunate right now: it’s her store’s fifth anniversary this month. “You survive your first year, the second year is better, then you see all this growth. It makes you want to get up and come to work,” remarks Andersen.

Some stores, like some people, let birthdays go by with little fanfare. For others, one party isn’t enough, so they throw a whole suite of celebrations.

The main event in a string of four is a Style Your Sole Toms fete on June 15. After buying white Toms, you can hire one of three local artists to decorate your purchase for $10. Paint supplies will also be on hand if you want to get crafty and design your own. Amidst cake, champagne, and serious sales, they’re also raffling off a Prairie Underground sweatshirt and other goodies.

On June 12 there’s the Annual Stockroom Sale. Arriving early is recommended: last year, so many shoppers braved the freezing May weather, that the line stretched out into the back alley.

On June 17, consider the Happy Hour Butter Party, where you can relax with a mini mani-pedi courtesy of Butter London beauty products, sip some bubbly, or enter your name to win Butter by Nadia’s Signature Dress in Little Red Stripe. “It’s going to be really, really girly,” notes Kruger.

June 21 marks the launch party for Teu Swimwear, a line by Tininha Silver which will be sold exclusively at Horseshoe. With any luck, bathing suit weather will be on the horizon by then.

As if Andersen doesn’t have enough on her plate, she’s planning the debut of her new online store to coincide with the celebrations.

“For us, the thought of launching the website on the day we opened five years ago is perfect. It’s the second shop.”

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Tags: Butter London, Party, Sales and Discounts, Ballard, Seattle Boutique, Prairie Underground, Horseshoe

Introducing: City Mouse Studio and Store

Remember the name game at Donna Ryan Photography? It’s over; the West Seattle children’s shop and studio has a new name.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jan 31, 2011 at 02:15PM 0 Comments

Photo: Donna Ryan Photography

Back in December we shared the news that Donna Ryan Photography was crowdsourcing a new name.

The crowd supplied lots of ideas, but the winning name was actually sourced from the backstories and explanations that accompanied the submissions. The West Seattle kids stuff shop — where gorgeous images of little ones are among the items on offer — is heretofore known as City Mouse Studio and Store. mouse/info:1055/

‘The name City Mouse reminds me of my childhood growing up in Australia where my favorite story was the Aesop’s Fable, City Mouse, Country Mouse,’ says photographer and shop owner Donna Ryan. ‘It evokes feelings of resourcefulness and a modern lifestyle, two unique aspects of my business.’

On behalf of everyone who entered, the $500 gift certificate that was promised to the contest winner went to WestSide Baby, a White Center-based non-profit that provides diapers, clothing, toys and equipment to families in need.

Want to see for yourself what’s really in a name? Join city mice on Saturday February 12 from 10 to 5 for an open house.

Shoppers will enjoy 20 percent off storewide, including new products like super soft baby clothes from Babysoy, edible finger paints from Wee Can Too, and hip gear from SkipHop. Additionally, purchases put you in the running for a $300 portrait package, and, the booking of a portrait shoot ($75 sitting fee) for March or April gets you $35 credit towards any Tea clothing purchase made that day.

Cupcakes and mimosas, naturally, will be served.

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Tags: Seattle Toys, Seattle Kids' Style, Seattle Retail News, Seattle Boutique

Meet the Shopkeepers: Hip Zephyr

Now with music videos!, our shopkeeper series finds us up on Phinney Ridge again.

Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Jan 31, 2011 at 07:00AM 3 Comments

How can they help you? Hip Zephyr owner Dana Smith and manager Jessica Clark.

What’s a Hip Zephyr? On Phinney Ridge, it’s a women’s clothing shop that functions like an episode of What Not to Wear, except that the emphasis is on what you should wear. Elsewhere, it might be a with-it lily, a cool Greek god, or a savvy marshmallow-based candy consumed in Latvia. Here, Dana Smith and Jessica Clark of the neighborhood boutique talk about flattering shapes and runaway signage.

WWW: What song is playing on Hip Zephyr’s sound system right now?
Smith and Clark: ‘Hot Cold’ by Basement Jaxx

What was your first job in retail? What did you love or hate about it and how does it compare to what you do now?
Smith: I am a full-time nurse, and prior to opening Hip Zephyr four years ago, I hadn’t worked retail. I have always had a passion for all things fashion, and came from a business-oriented family, which led me to follow my dream and open the store.
Clark: My first retail job was as a sales girl in a small boutique in San Francisco, 14 years ago. I fell in love with helping women feel confident and beautiful back then, and I love it just as much today. The difference between what I did then and what I do now is that in addition to establishing relationships with customers, I now have my hands in all other aspects of the business from merchandising to buying to business maintenance.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
Smith: My favorite thing in the store right now is our Love Heals Jewelry. Love Heals is a small, family-owned company out of Northern California that crafts gorgeous, one-of-a-kind pieces using precious and semi-precious stones and vintage charms. I love that they’re socially conscious, planting 10 trees for every necklace sold. And the long necklaces we currently have in from them look great with tunic tops and skinny jeans.
Clark: The piece I’m coveting right now is our June Leather puffer vest. It’s made of buttery soft leather, filled with goose down and lined with pretty printed silk. It features an elasticized waist band that pulls it in through the mid-section, creating a flattering hourglass shape – and it has a built in cell phone pocket on the inside.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
Clark: I love trolling around Seattle’s never-ending supply of thrift and vintage shops. There is just something about finding special, unique pieces that no one else is wearing that makes me smile on the inside!

What specific store or type of store do you feel is missing from Seattle’s shopping scene?
We think every neighborhood needs a store like Hip Zephyr that carries high-quality, fashion forward styles that can’t readily be found elsewhere in the city and offers top-notch fashion consulting.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
The sandwich board that we keep on the sidewalk outside has been stolen five times in the past four years…and it always comes back to us! Twice it ventured down to Greenlake — which wound up being fantastic advertising!! — and most recently it turned up on the roof of a church in North Seattle!

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Tags: Phinney Ridge, Meet the Shopkeeper, Seattle Boutique

Meet the Shopkeeper: Frock Shop

Locally made skirts and, coming soon, frothy prom dresses on Phinney Ridge.

Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Jan 20, 2011 at 08:00AM 2 Comments

Frock Shop owner Suzy Fairchild and future Frock shopper Sadie.

When you ask people what they love about Seattle they often say it’s our neighborhoods — each one a little world unto itself. Phinney Ridge is a prime example, thanks in part to the Frock Shop, where gals from near and far happen upon easy-to-wear floral-printed knee-length skirts and feminine, ruffly tops. And if they’ve got a little one in toe, wee hats by Hoot Organic. The look — vintage-inspired, easy but never frumpy, girly in a tomboy kind of way — with options from independent designers as well as inexpensive mainstream lines, suits the cozy, homey, earthy, tuned-in nabe to a T.

WWW: What’s your personal spin on the ubiquitous ‘How can I help you?’ question?
Fairchild: We always say Hi to everyone who comes into the shop. You can usually tell those who would like help and those who don’t. I’ve always hated being followed around boutiques by overbearing sales people, so we really wanted to avoid that.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
My favorite thing in the shop right now are Glamspoon skirts. They are all one of a kind and handmade in Seattle. I own 3.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
Anthropologie and Nordstrom Rack.

What specific store or type of store do you feel is missing from Seattle’s shopping scene?
Seattle is missing a formal dress shop. I regularly get teens in looking for unique prom dresses. They don’t want to go to the mall or department stores. I am planning to have a larger formal section this spring to cover some of the prom and formal wedding business.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
A little girl had a pee in one of our dressing rooms!

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Tags: Phinney Ridge, Meet the Shopkeeper, Seattle Boutique

Meet the Shopkeepers: Tottini

With this South Lake Union kid’s shop, little ones never have to know about poor design, drab ideas, or wasteful materials.

Posted by: Malika Ritchie on Jan 10, 2011 at 08:10AM 1 Comments

Photo: photo courtesy Tottini

Tottini co-owners Melissa Van Flandern and Melissa Maffei; you’d be surprised what they can get into the back of your compact hybrid.

At Tottini in South Lake Union, Melissa Van Flandern and Melissa Maffei prove the kids are people, too. Half-sized sustainably built and well-styled furniture isn’t about humoring the little ones, it’s about making sure they grow up with – and in and on – a thoughtful, design-centric perspective. Playthings, books, and accessories follow suit.

WWW: What’s your personal spin on the ubiquitous “How can I help you?” question?
Van Flander and Meffei: Since Tottini is a kid’s store we like to have a fun, comfortable experience for our customers, who are often with their children. We usually don’t usually say ,“How can I help you?” and instead offer a warm greeting and smile, letting the customer know we’re available.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
Of course we love everything in our shop, however a couple new lines we are currently in love with include bath products and toys from Hoppop from Belgium and arts and crafts by Seedling from New Zealand.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
We enjoy visiting Clover House, a super cute gift shop in South Lake Union, and Izilla Toys on Capitol Hill. also stumbled upon Lavender Heart in Madison Valley recently and found some great holiday gift items.

What specific store or type of store do you feel is missing from Seattle’s shopping scene?
Unfortunately, over the last few years Seattle has lost quite a few children’s clothing shops. We’d love to see [more open up].

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
We often get a chuckle when customers want to load very large furniture into very tiny cars! We suppose it’s wishful thinking… although we’ve actually fit a crib and changing table into the back of a Prius.

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Tags: Seattle Toys, Eastlake, Meet the Shopkeeper, Seattle Boutique