Seattle: Where to Shop [II]

My love of all things wearable truly knows no bounds. A beautiful skirt can change my life- even if it's only for an instant. I have felt love at first sight more times than a character in a teen melodrama, but the object of my affection is, invariably, a pair of sky-high heels. I like things that are pretty, and shiny, and well-cut. And I enjoy the thrill of finding them as much as I enjoy actually wearing them.

Oh, I also like make-up. And jewelry. I like jewelry a lot.

When I'm in Seattle, I shop for things I like at...
H&M - Multiple locations in Seattle
H&M in Seattle is much like H&M anywhere else in the world; that it is one of my favourite stores is, surprisingly, not why it made this list. H&M sells essentially the same clothing and accessories the world over. But Americans get them at the best price. Comparing European prices with American ones is tricky business and can change drastically from day-to-day. As a Canadian shopper, I can guarantee that if you visit a Seattle H&M, you will find everything that you've been admiring in your local H&M store, for anywhere between ten and twenty dollars less than you would be asked to pay in Canada. Is it infuriating? Absolutely. Will it make you buy more? Probably. Either way, a deal is a deal.

J. Crew - 2260 North East University Village Street

How do I love J. Crew? Let me count the ways... About half of my warbrobe comes from this store. Browsing their online shop is one of my favourite ways to waste time- and part with large sums of money. J. Crew is not cheap. But they are one of the only stores in North America where you can still buy shoes made in Italy, not China. They source fabrics from old family mills in long forgotten countryscapes. Everything they do is about detail, from rhinestone-embellished velour pumps to brocade dresses with hidden pockets to satin-lined coats. Although they have recently begun to embrace trends slightly more liberally, their wares are elegant and classic and timeless, almost heirloom-worthy; I can just as easily picture my grandmother wearing my red wool winter coat from J. Crew as I can some distant future great-grandchild. When you buy something from J. Crew, you aren't just buying a piece of clothing... I won't go so far as to say that they are lovingly creating unique pieces of individual shoppers, but there is a certain feeling of that in the stores. The corporate culture is such that employees love where they work, what their workplace sells and want to share it. J. Crew is an experience. And you'll bring back something beautiful to remember it by.

Nordstrom - 500 Pine Street
What started out as a joint-venture shoe store opened by a Swedish immigrant in Seattle has become one of the United States most successful department stores. From much-coveted designer jeans to Manolos and Jimmy Choos, Nordstrom has it all. I have never bought a single thing from them. At 23$ a pair, even the underwear they sell is a little too rich for my blood. That doesn't stop me from looking. Nor should it stop you. The 500 Pine Street location is Nordstrom's flagship store, just blocks away from 4th and Pike, where its first incarnation opened in 1901. Inasmuch, it is a tourist attraction as well as a store. Consider your window-shopping part of a true Seattle experience.

Nordstrom Rack - 1601 2nd Avenue
If you really want to be able to leave Seattle having bought something from Nordstrom, never fear... I have an ace up my sleeve. Just down the street from Nordstrom's flagship location is Nordstrom Rack, their clearance centre. Be forewarned; the store is crowded with people and scarcely arranged merchandise. Their is a pervading smell of dampness and I have a strong suspicion that the floors only get cleaned on an annual basis. Do not, under any circumstances, use the restrooms. And, most importantly, be prepared to dig. Nothing is going to jump out at you. But if you take your time sifting through the racks, you can find some amazing deals. (My fiancé recently scored a Hugo Boss dress shirt for a mere 15$.) And if you're a fan of Hanky Panky underwear (and honestly, if you're not, it's just because you haven't tried them yet), do not miss Nordstrom Rack; they clear out last season's colours for anywhere between 7$ and 9$.

Ulta - 401 North East Northgate Way
Sephora has an unaffiliated little sister. She is smaller, less flashy and easier on your wallet. Her name is Ulta. Known as "beauty superstore", Ulta sells cosmetics from their own line as well as designer brands like Smashbox and drugstore brands like Covergirl; an array of skincare and fragrance lines; salon haircare products and styling tools. Some locations have salons on-site: a Benefit Brow Bar, for example, or a Redken-certified colourist. Make-up junkies- you know who you are- do not dare miss this cosmetic emporium.

White House Black Market - 301-600 Pine Street
Take a look through your wardrobe, before you leave for Seattle. If you notice a lot of bright colours, you can probably give this store a miss. Personally, I am uncomfortable in colours, almost suspicious of particularly bright ones that don't seem to match anything. For me, White House Black Market is a haven. They sell white and black clothing, and almost nothing else. Every season they have a few key coloured pieces- a red satin cocktail dress debuted for Christmas 2009- but by and large they trade in neutrals. Girls on the hunt for their perfect little black dress, the one that Breakfast at Tiffany's has driven us to spend our lives obsessing over, will not want to miss WHBM. Black and white may not look particularly exciting when displayed in a store, but you cannot possibly go wrong wearing them (as long as you aren't prone to spills.) WHBM also has amazing sales- think 180$ dresses being sold off at 29,99$- that make it worth investigating even if you are a colour person.

The countdown to my departure for Seattle is set at five days! Check for daily updates starting on Wednesday, May 26th!