Shopping Hotspots in the Emerald City

After residing in Seattle my entire life, I've come to appreciate that there are distinct advantages and disadvantages to living in the Northwest. And I'm not talking about the coffee or the rain. I'm talking, instead, about how Seattle fares as a fashion hub.

True, we're no New York City. You won't soon stumble upon a Manolo Blahnik store while cruising the Seattle streets. But what we lack in notable high end fashion, we more than make up for with funky, unique style.

There are numerous places to shop throughout Seattle, and each one offers something slightly different. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it's something to get you started on your quest for fashion in the Emerald City.

-University Village
Located just minutes away from the University of Washington campus, this is a common haunt of many college students. I won't say it's ideal though, because it's awfully pricy, and therefore lacking somewhat in the "college friendly" category. But if you have a few bucks to blow, this charming shopping area provides a vast array to occupy your afternoon. With jewelry shops like Something Silver, book stores like Barnes and Noble, restaurants galore, and numerous clothing stores (Abercrombie, Victoria's Secret, Coach, etc.), you're sure to find an interesting way to spend the day. And yes, don't worry, there's a Starbucks conveniently located in the Village for that afternoon shopping pick-me-up.

-Bell Square
One of just many major malls, Bellevue Square is conveniently located just outside of Seattle proper in the city of Bellevue (hence the name…). This is definitely for the higher end and more traditional shopper containing all the fashionista standards such as Ann Taylor, Express, Guess, Banana Republic, J. Crew and more.
If you're looking for the more unique and the most individualized, you might want to steer clear of this very traditional and classic mall.

-45th in Wallingford
This main drag runs past the previously mentioned University Village, but the farther north you follow it, the more counterculture fashion you encounter. The community of Wallingford is particularly interesting. Within this stretch, one of the most notable aspects of 45th is the prevalence of diverse restaurants. You can find everything from authentic Italian pizzerias to Chilean food to a solely chocolate eatery!
And don't think I've forgotten about clothes. Rather than the large, commercialized chains of a standard mall, the shops here are usually locally owned and run. They're much smaller and definitely more unique. (This means if they're out of stock in the store, they're probably out of stock period.)
Expect the prices to be high but comparable to any mall.

-Goodwills, Thrifts Stores and Consignment Shops
Seattle is absolutely fit to burst with wonderfully diverse and interesting secondhand stores. We're well stocked with the larger, more recognizable chains like Goodwill and Value Village, but we also have a plethora of smaller thrift stores and consignment shops tucked away in little neighborhoods and communities.

If, for example, you ever find yourself in the city of Lynnwood, check out Richie's Thrift Store. They feature a patented $1 clothes policy. With such a large inventory, they don't have time to go through and individually determine the price of every article of clothing. That means each and every piece of clothing is just $1!

Hopefully, this has helped to dispel some of the prevailing ideas that Seattle wears nothing but flannel and ripped jeans. Yes, Seattle is definitely casual, but that doesn't mean we don't care about our fashion…

Good luck, and happy shopping!

by Liz Herrin