Discovering a new (to you) shop is like being a tourist in your own city. The excitement that comes from finding a store that has gone undetected by your retail radar means that a whole world of wardrobe possibilities is ripe for the buying. Our pick for best under-the-radar shops is Endless Knot (2300 First Ave.; 206.448.0355; endlessknotseattle.com), a conspicuously inconspicuous boutique on the corner of First Avenue and Bell Street in Belltown. It has been there since 1994—you’ve driven past it a million times—and carries a lovely and wide selection of affordable separates, dresses, bags and jewelry from local (Prairie Underground), national (Tulle) and international (Skunkfunk) lines. “I buy what I love,” says owner Anne Gavzer. “I try to keep in mind women of all ages and budgets; women who have a personal sense of style and come to us for something that suits their essence. I strive to find ways to strike the right balance between offering well-priced, rapidly changing trend merchandise along with higher-end products.” 

Also shop: Capitol Hill hipsters and the Seattle style set head to Veridis Clothier (Capitol Hill, 1205 E Pike St.; 206.402.3789; veridisclothier.com) for an unstuffy approach to high-end shopping, and its comprehensive collection of impression-making men’s and women’s clothing and accessories. The carefully curated selection of jewelry and shoes is also worth a glance, and the dapper gentleman will find outerwear, sweaters and button-ups, and men’s accessories. Two-year-old Jack Jerome (University District, 2906 NE 55th St.; 206.524.5225; jackjerome.com), just north of University Village, is a family-run boutique that sells a variety of on-trend casual wear with a sporty flair for men and women, including AG, Agave Denim, Elizabeth and James, Peter Millar and Bills Khakis, which just happen to be the brand that Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll wears.