I have been turned on to many local designers in the last few month by retail curator and photographer Charlie Schuck (Object, Frye Art Museum Store), but right now I’m loving the work of Jessalin Beutler, whose designs range from bold geometric shapes to intense fractal patterns and are rooted in the natural world.  …

Since November 30, ten local designers have been competing in The Look, a reality fashion TV show co-produced by King 5’s Evening Magazine, IADT’s Monir Zhanghoreishi and Rose Dennis, designer Luly Yang’s publicist. Each week through February 7 the designers, including Lisa Vian Hunter, Tina Witherspoon, Julie Danforth, Justin Zachary Bartle (all former Seamless in Seattle contestants) and…

Seattle magazine managing editor, Lisa Wogan, always wears the coolest tights. Arts editor, Brangien Davis, isn’t too far behind Ms. Wogan, with her stylish “uniform” of boots, tights and pencil skirts. So once I found these amazing ombre tights ($45, on sale now for a limited time for $30) from BZR on Etsy, I immediately…

I’ve followed Issaquah-based designer Lizzie Parker since her store-within-a-store at the now-closed Tweed in Greenwood, which she stocked with her cozy, comfy, sexy, simple and chic brand of cotton jersey-centric ready-to-wear. Since then Parker has opened and closed her own atelier in Gilman Village, become a reality TV star and seen her career take off…

Housed in the teeny Madrona storefront formerly occupied by Driftwood consignment boutique, the new Studio Montagne is a pop-up shop that pops up around holidays. Proprietor Anne Smith (who also works as creative director and visual merchandising manager at Filson) showcases a selection of accessories, home décor and “upcycled” vintage furniture, exquisitely curated to match…

Think in and outside the box with these great Valentine’s Day gift ideas: Heart shaped flip flips by Melissa, from Clementine (see above). Jen Ament print from Far4:   Paloma Picasso Amethyst Dot Charm in 18k gold on a chain from Tiffany & Co.:   Horses Cut Shop tee shirt:     Whitney Stern Evil…

Unless you’ve got other plans for that worn-once, too-small dress that has occupied space in the back of your closet since… well, that’s not important… consider giving it a second chance to see the light of day—or rather, to see the light of a disco ball.  On February 24th from 11am to 1pm, the Ruby…

Here’s a list of some sexy, soothing pampering packages at local spas: Alderbrook, a stunningly relaxing spot on Hood Canal, is offering several romantic spa treatments, available throughout the whole month of February.  The Besos is a 60-minute cocoa-infused exfoliating rub for two that leaves your skin glowing and soft ($105 per person); The Cupid’s…

Save Your Sole consignment boutique and other Belltown/Midtown businesses have joined together in Belltown Unites, a partnership dedicated to helping keep some of the 2,500 homeless people sleeping on the streets of Seattle warm this winter. Each business has created a special promotion to donate warm wool blankets to the homeless community with a goal…

I’m a little obsessed with Kickstarter—the popular crowd-funding website—and often get lost in the site, checking out the cool, weird and improbable campaigns that people launch. I’ve always loved the thought of being a benefactor, and Kickstarter is a great way to do that on a micro-level, since a few bucks often makes all the…

Vancouver, BC-based retailer, Aritzia, has announced that their first Seattle location will open on March 14 in University Village. If the name is familiar, it’s because they already have a boutique in Bellevue Square, their first in the US, which has been open since 2007. The brand started out as one boutique in Vancouver in…

A simple leather tote bag, reliably versatile and able to carry almost anything asked of it, can weather the winds of time. In fact, a little bit of weathering, over years of use, is exactly what makes classic leather bags so perfect. It is in that spirit (simple, durable, affordable) that Tacoma-based designer Laurel Dasso…

Head East to Kirkland’s Blue Luna (127 Lake St South) for a sale to beat all sales. Starting today, Thursday January 31 at 1 p.m. and running through Saturday, February 2 at 2 p.m., six designers and retailers, including Elizabeth Roberts, Canopy Blue, MB’s Finds, Sway and Cake, Blue Luna and Mandy Moon Vintage, will…