Remember that day, so long ago, when you discovered what having your eyebrows waxed could do for your face? Or how about when you tried a shaper for the very first time? Or a push up bra? How much do you wish someone had told you years ago about the importance of sunscreen on your face?
It's these unspoken truths that transform how we look and feel. And let me tell you, Dear Reader: lash extensions are your next addiction.
What lash extensions from the Lash Factory did for me and what they can do for YOU.
Read MoreIt may or may not be obvious, but I think long and hard about the subject of each Seattle Sunday post. What are clients asking me about? What's my favorite new discovery? What do readers NEED to know right now?
With that sort of attention, it's been excruciating for me to hold off on this post. But, it was worth the wait!
My hands down favorite shoe store in Seattle is re-souL. That's right. Hands down.
Because of this adoration, I wanted to kick off the holiday season with a post about this Ballard boutique filled with high quality Italian-made shoes for men and women. But a post just isn't enough. My interview with owners Maggie and Legh Burns resulted in so much valuable information that you'll be seeing tips and tricks from them throughout December. And, read on for more information about how YOU could win your very own pair of men's or women's shoes from the re-souL collection. Off we go!
Why a Visit to re-souL is at the Top of your Holiday To-do List
Read MoreIt's just as cool outside as it is inside. Man, you are going to love it.
One of my very favorite gifts for men is a subscription to Esquire magazine. Trust me. It's never a mistake.
But as we head into prime gift giving season, I thought I'd help you, Dear Reader, find the most perfect gifts — besides a magazine subscription — for the man in your life. No matter his age or income, the American man has a plethora of tools at his disposal to look impeccable. Of course, a great coat and a high quality pair of shoes are paramount. But what's next? As a personal stylist, I hear this question all the time.
I'll tell you what's next: accessories. And you can find every one you need, for every man you know, at Madrona's Hammer + Awl.
Three Phases to Accessorizing the American Man at Hammer + Awl
Read MoreA friend and client recently said the most extraordinary thing to me, "Wow. You have the most symmetrical eyebrows I've ever seen." First, I should point out that this client actually DOES have incredibly symmetrical eyebrows. You know the ones, with the beautiful arch. Yes, those. And, thanks to mother nature, I actually don't have them.
Until now.
If you read this blog with any regularity you've heard my seemingly endless praise of Katrina and the Cake Skincare team. I've been dying to write this blog post so that you, Dear Reader will have a glimpse of the transformation I've been experiencing since my first visit with owner, Katrina Rising.
Cake: If You Can Get In, Get In Now.
Read MoreHow many times have you visited Pike Place Market and noticed the breathtaking storefront that is Alhambra? I'm guessing quite a few as owners Serpil and Shakir Kaymaz opened this Seattle Boutique 25 years ago.
Inspired by the Alhambra Castle in Spain, the interior is even more gorgeous than you'd expect. Serpil, Shakir and their team clearly put a whole lot of love and attention into selecting the pieces they carry.
It seems only right that you, Dear Reader, have a little incentive to visit Seattle's best kept secret — which has been right in front of you all this time.
3 Reasons to Escape to Alhambra
Read MoreYour weekend starts now.
You know how much I love Bluemercury and last week I was lucky enough to get my fix. The U-Village store frequently hosts makeup events.
Translation: Experts from specific makeup or skincare lines visit for a few days to give private appointments and help you learn directly from the gurus. The best part, if you buy at least three items from the store (that includes your skincare products, post shaving gel for the fella in your life or anything else) your session is FREE. Yeah, that's real.
So, back to your weekend...
This weekend is the Trish McEvoy event and I wanted to give you a heads up so you can set your appointments. I sat down with Regional Artist Jason McCarty last week and he shared a seemingly endless stream of tips and tricks directly from "Trish", as the team affectionately refers to McEvoy.
As your very own personal stylist, I HAD to share. Here we go!
5 Things I Learned from Trish McEvoy Artist, Jason McCarty
Read MoreIt's a funny thing, living in Seattle. If you live or work near Pike Place Market — a plethora of tasty fresh food, flowers and unexpected finds — you may frequent it regularly. If not, you likely only visit when entertaining out-of-towners. We're so neighborhood-centric, we can easily forget that there are very good reasons to venture outside the ten-minute radius around our houses.
So, on this beautiful Sunday, my goal is to inspire you to go beyond your neighborhood, and Pirkko is a worthy destination.
Read MoreToday's your very last chance to save 10% from TomboyX with code: Poplin.
Read MoreThe pros of boutique shopping:
1. You get a piece that no one else has.
2. You have an interesting story to tell about your purchase.
3. Ideally, you have great customer service.
The potential cons of boutique shopping:
1. You walk out with one item, if any, because you simply can't afford the prices.
2. You feel judged when you walk in the door.
Enter Vixen Day Spa & Boutique in Magnolia: Your first and likely new favorite boutique (and day spa!). Owner Courean Napolitano opened the doors in 2002. An esthetician by trade, she started the business as a day spa and eventually expanded so that her loyal clientele could shop before a manicure, relaxing all the while.
As a personal stylist, it's common for clients to tell me that they love the idea of boutique shopping, but struggle with execution. Might I suggest Vixen as your introduction to boutiques?
5 Reasons to Visit Vixen
Read MoreOur good friend, photographer, tile setter, designer, maker, painter and the list goes on, Selena Kearney is also a member of the Chehalis Tribe. Being around her for so many years has offered us the opportunity to get a glimpse into Native American culture. (For the record, Selena refers to it as, "Indian.") I digress.
This weekend we attended the Salmon Homecoming on the Waterfront and I found some Native culture mixed in with some crazy deals that I thought you, Dear Reader, might appreciate.
Three Excuses to Enjoy a Pow Wow in the Coming Months
Read MoreIf you, Dear Reader, embrace the TomboyX lifestyle, the brand sells itself. Quality pieces with an edge.
But, if you love it, and aren't sure how to wear it- that's where your very own personal stylist comes in. And, now is certainly the perfect time.
TomboyX and Poplin Style Direction are joining forces to help YOU win up to $250 worth of clothing from the brand, a styling session with me at the showroom AND lunch with the team. Make sure you are entered to win by liking TomboyX and Poplin on Facebook as well as signing up for our newsletters. See more details here.
Now, where were we? Oh, yes, styling.
Ways to Wear My 3 Favorite Pieces from TomboyX
Read MoreAh, University Village- the place you go shopping when you are entertaining out of towers.
It's relaxing, can technically be counted as time "outdoors" and has an array of destination retailers without fighting for parking downtown.
September offers up thirty plus excuses to get to U Village fast.
What's Trending at U Village and Why it Matters to YOU
Read MoreRemember when Craigslist wasn't creepy?
Yeah, those were the days.
If only there was a way to sell things to people in your very own neighborhood AND help out a local school, perhaps even YOUR kid's school. I am excited to share with you, Dear Reader, that such a place does exist. Thanks to the interweb and a small crew of dedicated folks right here in Seattle.
I'm appreciative of my good friends at the Recology Store in Issaquah who first clued me in on Swopboard. As it turns out, boutiques like Veouria are on board, too. More on that to come.
It's especially fun to share Seattle Sunday posts that highlight local brands or people that have managed to make an impact on the rest of the country. Swopboard is in the process of becoming one of those companies. Although, I get the feeling if YOU embraced them, they'd go even further.
In the words of the team: SwopBoard is an online marketplace to buy, sell and give back to local schools. Transactions involve users who share similar lifestyles - people in your school and neighborhood communities - which increases the chances of finding the right buyer and purchasing what you really need.
Here's What YOU Need to Know About Swopboard.
Read MoreAs you can imagine, I get pretty excited when I make a new discovery. Whether it's a new retailer, a great deal or an unusual pairing, I can't wait to shout it from the rooftops.
Ever since I met Jonathan Armstrong, a local web developer, very stylish man, deep thinker and skilled maker, I've been sharing his story. And people love it. So, it's only fair that I share it with you, Dear Reader.
Jonathan sews quilts by hand. And they are unbelievable. Fortunately for me, he has one on display at Ludlow in Phinney Ridge. (That place is so incredible, it warrants an additional post of its own. Keep your eyes peeled in the coming weeks.)
We recently caught up with Jonathan at Ludlow to hear his thoughts on style, quilting and the power of making things by hand. Enjoy!
Read MoreIn all of our lives, there is a pivotal moment when we officially move up in the world. Well, officially to ourselves, anyway. When we graduate from generic ice cream to Dryers and then to Ben and Jerry's and beyond. Or when we buy our first items at full price from a boutique or perhaps our very first designer purchase (even if it is at the Rack).
Once you've crossed the threshold, everything changes. Suddenly, you wouldn't consider glancing at generic anymore. And shopping at a boutique becomes a regular occurrence. If you have yet to make any of these leaps (hello college), don't worry. You will. But, if you have moved beyond level one and even level two in the game of life, I have something for you: Kitchensurfing.
Just over a week ago, Kitchensurfing launched in Seattle. It's already established in larger cities and thank goodness it finally arrived at our foodie mecca. The concept is simple: a chef prepares a meal for you and your guests at your house AND cleans up afterward. Yes, that's what I said.
A few weeks ago, we hosted a Kitchensurfing dinner party. Our very generous friends, Steve and Lauren, offered to share their home with a group of friends to try it out. Our conclusion? Kitchensurfing: It's a must have.
Four Reasons Your Next Adventure MUST Include Kitchensurfing
Read MoreOver the last few weeks, I've had a number of clients use words like, "earthy," and "natural" when describing their personal styles. You, Dear Reader, know how essential style keywords can be. Along with the do's and don'ts for your body type, style keywords can help you ensure that your clothes are communicating exactly what you want them to.
Lucky for me, the lovely and talented Jill Griffin was just a click away to empower me to offer up locally hand made jewelry for the earthier set of my client base. I met Jill last year when one of my clients hosted a trunk show for her. (I went home with a black leather cuff.)
And, because I think of you, Dear Reader, as my virtual client, I wanted to make sure I share her pieces (and the client discount) with you.
What You Need to Know Now About Jill Griffin Jewelry
Read MoreThere are two extremes for the fashionista:
- The stylish individual who has clothes strewn about her bedroom with extras shoved into her closet.
- The stylish individual who has everything methodically organized by size and color with off season items stored away in the appropriate containers.
Most of us fall somewhere in between. And, like having your very own personal stylist, many of us have always secretly yearned for a professional organizer in our lives.
Enter Annie.
Read MoreI don't know about you, Dear Reader, but my teen years were spent in thrift stores. On the eternal quest to find something that communicated who I was through my clothing and managing to stay within my teenage budget was no easy task. Parenthood has made every minute more valuable and my love of shopping has shifted to brick and mortar stores and online. But, my love of vintage coats will never die. And that is where the Citizen got me.
Citizen Rosebud AKA Bella is a die hard lover of all things vintage. With special love for American-made items, she knows her history through clothes. Each dress, each coat, every pair of shoes has a story and Bella is dying to tell it to you.
Read More