There are new, noteworthy developments a-brewing over at Nordstrom. First off, the department store has partnered with Madewell, J Crew’s laid-back, denim-heavy sister brand, to bring more than 70 different clothing and accessory items to 15 Nordstrom stores, including the Bellevue Square locale. Starting in March (online now and in store this Friday), you’ll be…

“I want to do good and do great, and I hope I can encourage you to do the same, pursuing the things that bring you happiness and fulfillment.” Seattle sweetheart Moorea Seal says on her website. Before opening up her self-titled brick and mortar in the Belltown neighborhood last March, Moorea Seal had already established…

Seattle’s oldest neighborhood has seen boom times and busts over its 162-year history. It’s experienced prospectors and panhandlers, full occupancy and devastating vacancies. It is home to an arts crowd and a homeless community that coexist in a tenuous relationship. And these days, with a recent influx of notable restaurants, it is one of the…

If you’re lucky enough to be jetting off to a tropical isle this month, whip your wardrobe into shape with something from Pua, a line of beach-worthy dresses, skirts and tops by Ballard’s Shala Sullivan Daniel, owner of former Queen Anne boutique La Femme. Pua means “flower” and “child” in Hawaiian—a perfect name for the…

The starry-eyed masses may be out snatching up roses, chocolate and sentimental cards before making rezzies at a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner spot. (The lovey day is this Saturday, FYI.) But you–the unaffected single, the consciously uncoupled, the devil-may-care guy or gal who doesn’t need a special holiday to help you spread love and joy–you…

Madison Valley and its easterly neighbor Madison Park aren’t like Ballard, Pioneer Square and other local shopping meccas. “You have to come here on purpose,” Leah Steen, interior designer and owner of Revival Home and Garden, says of her central Seattle neighborhood. And if you don’t frequent the area already, you shall be sweetly surprised….

Personal fragrance is, well, personal. Wearing a signature scent makes an olfactory impression on the people in your life, forever evoking thoughts of you when they catch a whiff of it elsewhere. For Maria Christofilis, the passion for perfume is also her profession. The Mount Baker mom, who founded home-scent reed diffuser lines Antica Farmacista…

The rest of the world is starting to tune in to what diehard astrology fans have known for years: when Mercury is retrograde things tend to suck. Let me explain: Three or four times a year, the planet Mercury appears to be going backwards (or in retrograde motion) in relation to the Earth. Mercury, astrologically…

CURRICULUM VITAEFor Capitol Hill’s Robin Held, there are no boundaries when it comes to sartorial self-expression. “I like convertible clothing,” says the creative strategist and cultural entrepreneur who has held prominent positions at Henry Art Gallery, Frye Art Museum and Reel Grrls. “I have skirts that make great tops.” When she travels, Held packs just…

Fresh New Sephora Store for BellevueWhere: Bellevue SquareWhat: Sephora now has an even bigger and bolder beauty Mecca in Bellevue Square. The retailer moved from its much smaller space next to Kate Spade into a 6,418-square-foot location on the first level neighboring specialty apparel shop Aritzia. Doors to the new digs officially opened last week…

South Seattle–based jewelry designer Jamie Joseph (jamiejoseph.com) is best known for her highly coveted, faceted gemstone rings, each designed with a distinctive thick bezel and sometimes, a tiny diamond “beauty mark” embedded in the stone. Last fall, Joseph, who works alongside her husband and head stonecutter, Jeremy, released a new bridal line called Modern Traditional….

As if you haven’t done enough monetary damage these past few weeks, there’s even more store openings and sales a-happening, plus timely tidbits to know about should you still be feeling spendy. Let’s roll. Moncler Opens in BellevueWhere: Shops at the BravernWhat: The luxe French label founded in 1952 and most known for its men’s…

From royal coins to Lands’ End totes, monograms have long been deployed to add a special, personalized touch to another otherwise mundane items. It was that desire to add meaning that inspired Bellevue-based artist Maja Arnold to create distinctive monogram necklaces, cast in sterling silver, white or yellow gold, using a bold, modern font. “The…