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Seattleites are sometimes scorned for their fashion sense (polar fleece, sport sandals, and socks—oh my!), but as the city has grown and enough money has percolated through the ranks of retail, the city's style barometer has made a steady creep upward. Bibliophiles, foodies, wine aficionados, and design-centrists will also find
Seattleites are sometimes scorned for their fashion sense (polar fleece, sport sandals, and socks—oh my!), but as the city has grown and enough money has percolated through the ranks of retail, the city's style barometer has made a steady creep upward. Bibliophiles, foo
Seattleites are sometimes scorned for their fashion sense (polar fleece, sport sandals, and socks—oh my!), but as the ci
Seattleites are sometimes scorned for their fashion sense (polar fleece, sport sandals, and socks—oh my!), but as the city has grown and enough money has percolated through the ranks of retail, the city's style barometer has made a steady creep upward. Bibliophiles, foodies, wine aficionados, and design-centrists will also find plenty of shopping opportunities—Seattle is a hotbed of unique, independent shops stocking one-of-a-kind treasures.
Shopping in Seattle is something best done gradually. Don't expect to find it all in one or two days worth of blitz shopping tours. Downtown is the only area that allows for easy daylong shopping excursions. Within a few blocks along 4th and 5th Avenues, you'll find the standard chains (The Gap, Urban Outfitters, H&M, Anthropologie, Sephora, Old Navy), along with Nike's flagship store, and a few more glamorous high-end stores, some featuring well-known designers like Gucci . Downtown is also where you'll find department stores like Nordstrom, Macy's, and Barneys New York. Belltown and Pioneer Square are also easy areas to patrol—most stores of note are within a few blocks.
To find many of the stores that are truly special to Seattle—such as boutiques featuring handmade frocks from local designers, independent record stores run by encyclopedic-minded music geeks, cozy used-book shops that smell of paper and worn wood shelves—you'll have to branch out to Capitol Hill, Queen Anne, and northern neighborhoods like Ballard. Shopping these areas will give you a better feel for the character of the city and its quirky inhabitants, all while you score that new dress or nab gifts for your friends.
And don’t forget about Seattle’s culinary bounty, which includes the stalls at Pike Place Market; the flagship Sur La Table, which stocks every kitchen gadget known to man; and the city’s various weekly farmers' markets, where you’ll find enough locally made, artisanal offerings to fill a suitcase or two.
Forget going obsolete—this shop shows how video stores can keep up with modern viewers. One of the biggest and best independent film shops in the country can be found on Roosevelt Way, where 145,000 rare, out-of-production, foreign, and mainstream films are available to rent and buy. Scarecrow's friendly staff are bona fide film geeks—pick their brains for suggestions, or stop by for one of the non-profit shop's many in-store events.
5030 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
Crossroads Trading Co. carries dependably cute and trendy used clothes, bags, and accessories. Their buyers screen each item, so you won't be stuck poring over a rack of stained T-shirts. It's all clean, bright, and fun.
4300 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
With designers ranging from Mihara Yasuhiro to Nike, this sneaker store has an extensive brand selection that's perfect for the eclectic Capitol Hill neighborhood. With its emphasis on "less is more," the clean white space creates the illusion of art gallery rather than shoe retailer. They also have a wide variety of apparel and bags.
1101 E. Union St., Seattle, Washington, 98122, USA
Primarily a video game store, here you'll find a huge variety of new and used classics and rare games for all consoles, with a focus on imported and retro games going back to Atari times. They also carry toys and their own branded merchandise, which is pretty snazzy. They have a second store in the International District.
4341 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
Nostalgia rules in this cavernous space filled with well-organized, good-quality (and sometimes pricey) vintage and new clothing. Fantasy outfits from decades past—complete with accessories—adorn the dressing rooms. It's a go-to spot for stylists and thrifters. Fun fact: this funky shop was one of the locations in Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” video.
4560 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
Campus bookstores are usually rip-offs to be endured only by students clutching syllabi, but the University of Washington's store is a big exception to that rule. This enormous resource has a well-stocked general book department in addition to the requisite textbooks. Author events are scheduled all year long. Check out the bargain-book tables and the basement crammed with every art supply imaginable. They also carry a good selection of UW Husky gear if you need a souvenir and plenty of local gifts.
4326 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
Make a beeline here for fabulous upscale shopping and good restaurants in a pretty, outdoor, tree- and fountain-laden shopping village. You can have your fill of chains like Williams-Sonoma, Banana Republic, L'Occitane, Crate & Barrel, Sephora, Aveda, Warby Parker, H&M, Madewell, Apple, Anthropologie, and Kiehl's. If you get enough of that at home, however, there are a few unique gems among the batch, including the excellent Village Maternity Store, candy wonderland The Confectionery, and local artsy chain Fireworks. Note that parking here can be tough, especially in the holiday season, and the atmosphere is slightly snobby. If you're in the mood to walk a bit farther, go immediately to one of the free parking garages.
2623 NE University Village St., Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
A conservative take on Pacific Northwest footwear, this cozy shop offers brands like Birkenstock, Blundstone, Keens, and Toms. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will happily help customers with hard-to-fit feet and help find the perfect shoe.
4303 University Way NE, Seattle, Washington, 98105, USA
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