[trip style = urban]
This post is written by Trip Styler fashion and lifestyle blogger Heather.
I must confess that I've been cheating on Seattle with Portland for the past few years, but the Emerald City has been calling me back. While Portland has tax-free shopping and killer restaurants, its larger neighbor to the north has more to offer than Nordstrom and corporate coffee outposts. Here are a few neighborhood picks -- shops and eats -- away from the established shopping zones of Downtown, Bellevue and the U District, where you'll find unique clothing and lifestyle goods for the discerning, fashion-forward shopper.
Capitol Hill - 10th Ave
Totokaelo makes an impact even before you've set foot inside its doors. It's the kind of shop you can't just walk past; it calls you in. The store has three separate spaces for women, home goods and, most recently, men. Beyond the incredible selection of items from designers like Dries Van Noten, Acne, Rachel Comey, Apiece Apart and Henrik Vibskov, Totokaelo {pronounced toh-toh-kye-oh} sets itself apart with impeccable customer service. Cruise your favorite items online before coming in and save them in your online account to try on in store. Buy a few items and get a beautifully designed card in the mail to follow. It's details that these that keep me coming back -- especially during sale season!
{More great shops on Capitol Hill's 10th Avenue: Elliott Bay Book Company and Nube Green}
Trip Styler Tip: Rest and refuel at Oddfellows Cafe & Bar next door and Molly Moon's Homemade Ice Cream Shop around the corner.
Ballard - Ballard Ave
Prism is a retail and art space I came across this summer on one of my favorite streets in the city, Ballard Avenue. This restrained yet gorgeously curated lifestyle shop carries home goods, jewelry from local designers like Iacoli & McAllister, apothecary items from Blackbird and both new and vintage mens and womenswear. Only a little over a year old, Prism is the sister space to Capitol Hill's Cairo. On my first visit, I couldn't help but leave with two necklaces, the bangles shown above and a list of must-buy items for my next stop in town.
{More great shops on Ballard Avenue: Ketch and The Palm Room}
Trip Styler Tip: Take a load off and get your eat on at The Walrus & The Carpenter, La Carta de Oaxaca and Hot Cakes.
A Few Other Seattle Gems
- E. Smith Mercantile {Pioneer Square}
- Les Amis {Fremont}
- Hammer & Awl {Madrona}
More Fashion Friday
Falling for Portland
High/Low Fall Trends
Make a Statement
[photos via visit seattle, totokaelo & prism, collages by @heatherlovesit]