I will get up early on Saturday mornings—but it had better be for a darn good reason (because otherwise, sleep, reading the paper and drinking approximately 5 cups of coffee is the name of the game). However, it is well worth my time—and yours too—to get up early, grab that latte to go and get down to the downtown Nordstrom tomorrow for their Spring 2011 Cosmetics Trend Show. Starting bright and early at 8 a.m., Nordstrom experts will preview new spring colors and share makeup tips at the 2-hour long event. Tickets are $15 (credited toward any purchase you make, so think of it as a deposit of sorts), and along with your free gift (now, we’re talking), snag exclusive new products from the likes of Smashbox, Trish McEvoy and Laura Mercier (I adore their new turquoise ink cake eye liner). Grab a ticket today at a downtown Nordstrom cosmetic counter.

 

Happy birthday to local boot purveyor Washington Shoe Company, 2011 marks the Kent-based company’s 120th year in the biz. Along with ridiculously cute kiddie boots, the company is also responsible for Chooka, my favorite rain boot line. Since the weather has decided to stick with this whole wild, wet and wooly thing, there is still plenty of time to snag (and use) a pair of flirty puddle stompers from their spring line—I especially love the new rocker-inspired wellies.

  

 

In an effort to not be a Debbie Downer, I’m going to embed the sad news here in the middle: Queen Anne favorite Oslo’s A Men’s Store has closed its doors. I always loved poking into John McDowell’s super stylish men’s shop—from the in-house barber chair, and on-trend wear to the happy, tail-wagging store mascot Olso himself- it was a fun place that will be missed. (Perhaps fittingly, clothes from Oslo’s grace our male cover model this month.) However, grab one last Oslo souvenir for yourself this weekend. McDowell will be liquidating all remaining merchandise and furniture, the sale runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

 

Okay, big sigh and on to happier thoughts, new clothing collections. Former Seamless in Seattle winner Beki Wilson has released her spring 2011 Out of Line collection. I could go on and on about how it walks the line between laid back ease and posh sophistication (because it does, beautifully), but instead I’m just going to say, look at it here, and go buy it here. Now.

And if you missed it, take a peek behind the genius of Nube Green’s new in house collection; we feature designer Adriennne Antonson in this month’s Shopping Around column and our videographers took a trip out to Vashon to get a behind the scenes look at how alpaca hair translates into high-fashion attire. Watch it here.