What do a sports-loving snail, a deep-sea-diving walrus and a trapeze-artist monster have in common? They’re all part of the colorful (and earth-friendly) pack of creatures known as Zomsters, imagined by Snoqualmie mom Ronda Bergman for her new children’s clothing line. Bergman, a former clothing designer for Northwest outdoor clothiers (Columbia Sportswear, Outdoor Research and…

Gents, pair your dapper skinny necktie with a clip made to fit: Kirkland-based jewelry artist Paige Forland forges her 1- to 3-inch-long tie clips from an array of burnished metals, such as copper and brass, adding modern textural designs or custom engraving for a polished finish to your power suit. $12–$25 at purelypaige.etsy.com.    

Lynnwood-based designer Andrea Voss’ muse list reads as follows: Coco Chanel, early-’90s rockers like Axel Rose and the costumers of Star Trek. The women’s and menswear designer cites the quirky assemblage as influences behind her ultramodern Voss Rock line. A graduate of Los Angeles’ Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising and a veteran of multiple…

It isn’t the soft-lilac-hued walls or sparkling chandelier that first draws shoppers into the new Anthousa (South Lake Union, 900 Lenora St., Suite 105; anthousa.com) so much as the wafting aromas of crisp cucumber or spicy nectarine. The antithesis of a cloying scent shop, the pocket-sized boutique is the new headquarters of local fragrance guru…

Bellevue may be best known for the brand-name mecca Bellevue Square mall (or more recently, for being at the opposite end of the grumble-inducing 520 bridge toll), but just one block south of the downtown park between Bellevue Way and 100th Avenue lies the sweet Old Main Street district with plenty of new draws that…

At Bellevue’s newly opened Hopscotch Consignment Boutique, the parking is plentiful and the gently-used kids and maternity clothes are bountiful. On a recent visit we were pleased to find a store chock full of great finds in sizes infant through 12, including brands like Mini Boden, Hanna Andersson, Janie and Jack, Gap Kids, Ralph Lauren,…

Here’s your chance to grab hot-off-the-runway style: Local jewelry maven Sarah Loertscher just returned to town after runs at Los Angeles’ and El Paseo’s fashion weeks, where her innovative sculptural jewels were paired with Project Runway alum Mila Hermanovski’s new collection.  Now, Click! Design That Fits in West Seattle is hosting a trunk show of…

Tucked away just west of our famous market, the Pike Street Hillclimb, located on Western Avenue along the sprawling staircase that leads to Alaskan Way, features dining, shopping and local art. Standbys such as the Zig Zag Café (1501 Western Ave.; 206.625.1146; zigzagseattle.com) have long attracted patrons to the ’climb, but with the arrival of…

In 2000, then graphic designer Luly Yang entered a fashion show on a whim, crafting an exquisite butterfly dress entirely out of paper. The awed—and awesome—reception to the gown soon inspired a career change. Now, after enlivening the fashion community for 10 years, gaining fame for her thematic annual runway shows and elegant bridal and…

Seattle’s Outdoor Research, which just turned the ripe old age of 30, is blazing new trails with the introduction of the 13.5-ounce Axiom jacket ($375), the company’s first shell that uses Gore-Tex’s most breathable and waterproof stretch fabric, Active Shell. And for adventurers who don’t have time to change before hitting the bar, the Termini…

They’re the perfect foil for pastel-colored nursery walls: hip linoleum-block prints inspired by vintage French pop art, made by West Seattle–based artist Jennifer Ament. The lovely black-and-white linos are beloved by babies, who like to stare at high-contrast images; parents like them, too, for their sweet, clean lines, worthy of display long after baby is…

If you enjoy dressing your baby in hats with little ears, the newest pants from sweet tot line Hoot Organic (by Seattle dress designer Suzy Fairchild) will have you oooh-ooohing with delight: The Monkey Bum Pants are made of 100 percent organic cotton and feature a contrasting diaper-bum gusset for a nonbinding fit—perfect for those…

Both your grown-up and childlike sides will appreciate downtown-based Red Leaf’s Fragrant Bubble Bath Dough (shown above), come bath time. Made with almond oil and moisturizing glycerin, the shapable, Play-Doh-like scrub ($12) dissolves into soft bubbles under the faucet. Available in sophisticated scents such as fresh clover, basil lime and black tea; if a handful…