INDULGE
University Village
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BY AMANDA ZURITA
eattle’s style scene is a fullfledged fashion force, and on-trend shoppers are taking note. Not only is the city chockfull of independent boutiques, which make Seattle an ideal destination for scoring unique and cutting-edge looks, it’s also the birthplace of upscale department store Nordstrom and the new home for internationally loved brands from as far away as Amsterdam and Spain. So whether you’re hunting for a dapper suit or a new little black dress, here’s where to shop the ground floor: The biggest retail news in Seattle of late is the opening of Spain-based Zara at the recently refreshed Westlake Center downtown. The 8,200-square-foot space—spread over two levels—is one of the largest Zara stores in the United States and houses the brand’s on-trend collection of fast-fashion apparel for men, women, and children. Looks are modeled off runway pieces for a fraction of the cost, and the store’s racks are refreshed twice a week with the company’s latest lineup. Other newbies to Westlake: Portland ath-
letic line Respect Your Universe (only its second location) and an upgraded Nordstrom Rack. Also in downtown, another Euro brand recently opened the doors to its first location on the West Coast. Dutch suiting purveyor Suitsupply, who counts local hip-hop sensation Macklemore among its legion of fans, aims to equip Seattle’s dapper dudes with well-priced formalwear, tailored casual pieces, and classy accessories. Rounding out the emerging downtown retail openings are the Pacific Northwest’s first See Eyewear and what is one of just seven locations of Bhldn around the country, Anthropologie’s bridal branch. The former is a notable optical shop that specializes in hip eyewear for the style inclined—think everything from polka dots to neon-colored frames. Up the street, Bhldn’s new shop-in-shop carries dreamy bridal wear, accessories, and romantic wedding accoutrements inside the Fifth Avenue location of Anthropologie. In north Seattle, outdoor shopping mall University Village has seen several new resi-
dents since the center expanded in late 2013. The updated lineup includes another name from across the pond, Scotch and Soda, an Amsterdam-based apparel brand specializing in trend-driven looks for the whole family. What makes this Seattle location such a landmark? Scotch and Soda wares show up on more than 200 store racks throughout the country, but the company has only a handful of full-on brick-and-mortar shops. Cool and cheeky home decor store Jonathan Adler also moved in last year— one of just two locations in the Pacific Northwest—with a collection of vibrant accessories, quirky furniture, and the signature pottery pieces that first made Adler famous. Just up the walkway, beauty boutique Bluemercury opened its second West Coast storefront here in April 2014. The luxury makeup and skincare retailer carries more than 90 coveted brands and features an in-store spa with treatments ranging from oxygen facials to waxing services. Just don’t forget to leave extra room in your luggage for all your Seattle shopping finds.
Bhldn 1509 Fifth Ave; bhldn.com • Bluemercury 2661 NE 46th St; bluemercury.com • Jonathan Adler 2623 NE University Village St, Ste 7; jonathanadler.com • HNordstrom 500 Pine St (flagship store); nordstrom.com • Nordstrom Rack 400 Pine St; nordstrom.com • HRespect Your Universe 400 Pine St; ryu.com • Scotch and Soda 2633 NE 46th St, Ste 2633; scotch-soda.com • See Eyewear 1429 Fifth Ave; seeeyewear.com • Suitsupply 1331 Fifth Ave, Ste 213; suitsupply.com • HUniversity Village 2623 NE University Village St; uvillage.com • HWestlake Center 400 Pine St; westlakecenter.com • Zara 400 Pine St; zara.com HFor more info on Visit Seattle shopping partners; go to visitseattle.org/visitors/discover/shopping-and-fashion
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Visit Seattle summer/fall 2014
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