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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 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.
Seattle's oldest glassblowing studio and gallery lets you watch fearless artisans at work in the "hot shop." Some of the best glass artists in the country work out of this shop, and many of their impressive studio pieces are for sale, along with around 40 other Northwest artists represented by the shop.
Outside of San Francisco, Seattle has the largest Hawaiian population on the mainland. Hawaii General Store is a great resource for both those expats and anyone who loves Hawaii (and who doesn't?). With food, music, art, bath products, luau party supplies, and jewelry from the islands, the store is a warm little respite from Seattle's rainy winters.
"A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll," Horseshoe offers girlie Western wear and hipster styles. Comfy, sassy shirts and dresses are available from designers like Sanctuary, Lovestitch, and Amuse Society. Premium denim, cowboy boots, and unique jewelry are among the wares.
Nominally a vintage clothing store with a focus on inclusive styles and sizes, Indian Summer is a fashion community destination for anyone who has ever struggled to fit into traditional clothes or trends. The unique vintage clothes curated by owner Adria Garcia show off impeccable taste that caters to nobody's beauty ideals, filling the shelves with the kinds of dresses, pants, hats, and more that so many people always dreamt of but never thought they could wear.
You'll find the store's own brand of fun and funky boots, chunky leather shoes, and urbanized wooden sandals here in men's and women's styles.
Japanophiles, get thee to this Tokyo-based chain for a huge collection of books, magazines, office supplies, collectibles, clothes, and gifts. Their manga selection is particularly impressive—nearly every title you could want is represented, and they'll happily order anything you don't find in the store.
This lovely store sells artisan crafts from studios in Japan and the Northwest. As at the International District branch, you'll find tasteful home wares, cute but functional gifts, and quirky pieces of furniture. After a long day of looking at retro and ironic items, this place will cleanse your palate.
This tiny store tucked inside the Ace Hotel has a careful selection of urban street wear that includes hard-to-find designers like Nudie Jeans Co., Barbour, and Fred Perry—it's sophisticated while still maintaining an edge. Kuhlman is best known for creating custom clothing, often from superb European and Japanese fabrics.
Women whose sartorial leanings go beyond basic will adore the sophisticated dresses, gorgeous handknits, and the makings of great work outfits here, much of it from Europe and Japan. Younger fashionistas come here, too, for unique summer skirts and ultrasoft T-shirts. Everyone seems to love the whimsical lingerie collection. Les Amis carries some top designers, such as Dosa, Isabel Marant, and Nanette Lepore.
Sit down with a slice of Sardinian flatbread, Nutella brioche, or a raisin twist—or more elaborate lunch options.
Since 1977, this two-story, 7,000-square-foot shop in the heart of Pioneer Square has been supplying families with games, toys, puzzles, tricks, candy, and figurines. They claim a professional child runs this friendly store—and it shows.
Known for fabulous service and designer labels, this high-end boutique treats every client like a superstar. Men shop the ground floor for Armani, Etro, and Zegna; women ascend the ornate staircase for Prada, Emilio Pucci, and Lanvin. A freestanding Hugo Boss boutique sells the sharpest tuxedos in town.
One of the best shoe stores in town, Market Street stocks so many styles and brands that you're likely to find something. Shoes for men, women, and children prioritize comfort, so you'll see sensible picks from Dansko, Hoka One One, and Blundstone, but there are plenty of fun options by Eric Michael, Pendleton, and Bueno, as well.
One of the oldest wine shops in the city is attitude-free and offers an amazing selection of wines from around the world. Check out the selection of local wines to experience the true flavor of the Northwest. Free tastings are held on Saturday.
Whether you're searching for a laminated pocket map of Seattle or a world map made up of music notes, stop here for a massive selection of books, globes, charts, atlases, antique reproduction maps, and local satellite images. Don't let the store's location in the middle of Pike Place Market fool you: this is a Seattle institution, not a tourist trap.
With a tiny spiral staircase leading to the basement, and resident cats wandering through the tightly packed aisles, Ophelia's offers a classic used-bookstore experience in an age when so many are disappearing. The owner is known for her excellent taste, and it shows—you'll find major titles from notable authors as well as obscure works and poetry books. Be sure to ask for recommendations—she'll be happy to help.
Comics and geek culture may be more popular than ever but many fans still feel underserved by the shops catering to the traditional audience. Enter Outsider Comics and Geek Boutique, a small, welcoming space that showcases comics and more created by and for women, minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community. The unique selection might even make a new comics appreciator out of you.
If the person next to you on the bus isn't wearing North Face, they're probably clad in Patagonia. This popular and durable brand excels at functional outdoor wear—made with earth-friendly materials such as hemp and organic cotton—as well as technical clothing hip enough for mountaineers or urban hikers. The line of whimsically patterned fleece wear for children is particularly cute.
A gem of an independent bookstore, Phinney Books is owned by local eight-time Jeopardy! champ and reading enthusiast Tom Nissley, who's stocked his charming shop with an expertly curated selection of books, including many titles by local authors and a whimsical section for kids.
These folks have spent more than four decades carving out a reputation as one of the best wine markets in the city. With more than 1,000 wines personally selected from the Pacific Northwest and around the world, this shop offers expert advice from friendly salespeople.
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.
Modern, minimalist clothing feels effortlessly stylish when it’s good quality like the looks you’ll find at this chic boutique, a surprisingly friendly place to browse. Think basic tees, on-trend denim, simple jewelry, and pieces with edgier details that are still highly wearable. Brands include Richer Poorer, AGOLDE, Ganni, and Mandinga, a Uruguayan line known for signature bold prints.
A petite, colorful boutique by Pike Place Market, Pirkko carries a selection of high-quality Finnish and Scandinavian clothing and accessories, including famously bold pieces by Marimekko.
This beloved Seattle bookstore is well-known for its friendly, knowledgeable staff and extensive book selection. Pop in for children's storytelling sessions on the third Sunday of every month, or browse at night and catch one of the many author events. After you grab your new books, slip into El Diablo, the cute coffee shop adjacent to the bookstore.
In the tradition of the general store, this shipping spot also operates a sweet boutique with fashionable women's clothes, jewelry, and gifts. Come here for locally made goods, shirts emblazoned with the neighborhood name, and a unique souvenir (and ship it home, if you need).
Stocking cool but comfortable shoes from Karhu, Clae, Miz Mooz, and the like, this hip space offers a small selection of crazy fashionable boots, shoes, sneaks, and high heels. In keeping with the "little bit of everything" trend so popular with Seattle boutiques, re-souL also sells great jewelry pieces. They carry both men's and women's shoes, some clothes, and accessories. Everything is a bit pricey, but not excessively so, and the service earns the price tag.
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.
Vintage shopping meets modern style in this consignment shop. Mixing used women's clothing with a collection of jewelry and art from local designers and other miscellaneous items, the store winds up with just the kind of eclectic collection that feels curated enough not to be slogging through junk, but haphazard enough to feel like your next treasure could be right in front of you.
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