Universal Standard, the world's most size-inclusive fashion brand, will open a new retail concept in Seattle this Thursday, June 20th. Located in Belltown, the new 1:1 space will be part styling studio, part community event space. Customers will be able to book styling appointment and group shopping experiences that are intimate and inclusive in a relaxed setting that feels more like an urban loft than a retail storefront. The space will stock apparel and outerwear by Universal Standard in sizes 00-40, including select pieces from capsule collections with like-minded brands. Past collaborations have included Goop, Rodarte and J. Crew, with new partnerships coming this fall.
In addition to shopping, customers will have the ability to reserve the 1:1 space for exploring personal interests and hosting meet-ups like book clubs, girls nights, and dinner parties. Universal Standard will also utilize the space to host its own monthly programming and community events. Local stylist and PR professional Jessica Branning, formerly at Neiman Marcus, has been tapped as the local Director of Retail and Curation. She plans to activate the space with a variety of localized programming that explores the intersection of fashion, culture, and technology.
The brand is based in New York but does have local ties. Founder Polina Veksler spent time working at Microsoft before launching the company with her co-founder Alexandra Waldman in 2015. The Seattle 1:1 space will open its doors at 2228 First Avenue on Thursday and host a series of grand opening events to showcase the space and introduce the brand to the community. Universal Standard plans to open similar concepts around the country later this year in Portland, Chicago, and New York.
Universal Standard
2228 First Ave. Suite 220
Seattle, WA 98121
Search the hashtag #USintheWild to see Universal Standard in action on Instagram.
Calling all beauty fans! K Banana is now open at U Village and the assortment of k-beauty products is unreal. You'll immediately be drawn to the whimsical packaging and then fall in love with the amazing prices. I've dabbled in Korean beauty products in the past, but now, after working with the K Banana team on two grand opening events, I'm a total convert. Here are 5 of my favorite k-beauty products you can get right now at K Banana.
#1 Whal Myung WM5 Hydrating Cream
I have oily skin and as a result, I always shy away from anything hydrating so this is an unusual pick for me, but I'm happy to report that my skin has really turned a corner with this product. Prior to using this hydrating cream, I was regularly stripping my skin with cleansers to control oil. Turns out, this has the opposite effect on skin and actually triggers even more oil production. K-Beauty expert Ashley Brown suggested that I add in hydration as the final step of my skincare routine by using the Whal Myung Hydrating Cream ($52, shown above) in the morning and at night. It seemed foreign to me because I'm normally just concerned with getting oil off my face and stripping it completely of moisture, but she assured me that using a pea-sized amount and distributing it evenly over my face and neck would help combat redness and balance out my skin, and it totally worked. I'm now less oily and my skin feels hydrated and calm.
#2 MadeCera Lip Balm
Hot summer days are perfect for hydrating lip balms with a pop of color. I'm obsessed with the MadeCera Lip Balm ($12) available at K Banana because it has a sheer pop of color and fits perfectly into my pocket. The "Pop Pink" color, shown above, is my favorite.
#3 Huangjisoo Perfect Cleansing Oil
This is also an unusual pick for me but when the temps rise, I always find myself being drawn to the double cleanse method. It's literally the only thing that makes my skin feel truly clean. For newbies to this method, the double cleanse involves washing your face first with an oil-based cleanser to draw oil and impurities away from skin, followed by washing your face again with a water-based cleanser. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but it's totally worth it and I swear this method makes my skin glow. I've been using the huangjisoo oil cleanser ($25, shown above) from K Banana and it's quickly becoming one of my go-to cleansers.
#4 KOCOSTAR Plump Lip Capsule Mask
Enclosed in this cute lip-shaped case, shown above, you'll find 30 Kocostar capsules filled with lip plumping serum. You twist off the tip and apply the clear serum on to your lips. It tingles a little at first and then completely transforms your pout. I already have big lips thanks to Juvederm but I LOVE these little capsules because they really make my lips pop.
#5 Dr. Jart+ Cheek & Eye Lift
The Dr. Jart Cheek and Eye Lift mask ($7) is hands-down my favorite mask of all time because it instantly defines my cheek bones (which are normally non-existent) while also de-puffing my under eyes, which we ALL need. I store these masks in the fridge and use them as my secret weapon whenever I have a special event or a photoshoot because they really work. These masks have little acupressure dots on the inside that help to lift and tighten skin. You'll look like you've just been to the spa.
K Banana is located at U Village next door to Sole Food and Amour Vert. Once inside the store you'll find a variety of curated k-beauty skincare including over 150 different types of sheet masks on the vending machine face mask wall hand painted by local artist Jesse Brown, plus a dedicated selfie wall, and a "BIY" Beauty-It-Yourself gifting station with colorful mesh pouches that you can fill with travel-sized products to create the perfect gift.
K Banana 2621 NE Village Lane Seattle, WA On Instagram @hellokbanana
There are so many incredible places to shop in Seattle, especially if you love to #ShopLocal. I recently had the chance to take Youtuber Rachel Waldorf around the city to visit some of my favorite shops around town and we had so much fun exploring! Unlike other cities, Seattle doesn't have one main shopping row like a Fifth avenue in New York or an Oxford street in London. Instead, we have a variety of neighborhoods that each have their own unique set of bars, restaurants, and shops. Here's a round-up of the boutiques we visited around town and a little more about why we love them:
Lika Love
Founded in 2013 by Malika Siddiq, Lika Love was originally founded as a fashion truck and later grew into 3 brick and mortar boutiques plus an e-commerce website. Rachel and I visited the Lika Love boutique on Lower Queen Anne just across from the Seattle Center and Met Market, but the company also has 2 more locations in the Alaska and Morgan Junctions in West Seattle. Lika Love carries apparel and accessories for women, plus shoes, shapewear, and even gifts. Local brands stocked at the store include Loho, Leia Beila, and French Girl Organics.
535 Warren Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 Neighborhood: Lower Queen Anne
Moorea Seal
Featuring over 150 different independent designers, Moorea Seal focuses on hand-made goods and garments made in the USA. The store is often described as a "Pinterest board come to life" and it's easy to see why. The walls are painted pink, the potted plants are vibrant and green, and the merchandising makes you want to buy one of everything. The assortment is thoughtfully curated and features apparel, accessories, shoes, sunglasses, skincare, jewelry, and even Moorea Seal's own range of books and journals. Shoppers who want to give back will also love that Moorea Seal gives 7% of all proceeds back to a rotating list of non-profits.
1012 First Ave. Suite 150 Seattle, WA 98104 Neighborhood: Downtown
Flora & Henri
It's hard to believe, but Flora & Henri is celebrating 2 years in Pioneer Square this month! What started as a children's clothing line has now expanded into a full lifestyle boutique featuring womenswear, men's accessories, gifts, and home goods. The store is gorgeous and flooded with natural light, plus, the store also serves as the official HQ for Flora & Henri. The team shares loft-style offices upstairs where they design products, fulfill e-commerce orders and conduct wholesale business. Local brands stocked at the store include Herbivore Botanicals, Ampersand as Apostrophe, and Amy Augustine jewelry.
401 First Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 Neighborhood: Pioneer Square
Swan Dive
Shoppers who visit Clementine's in Pioneer Square will inevitably stumble upon Swan Dive, a treasure trove of vintage fashion curated by former Seattle mag lifestyle editor Ali Brownrigg, located in the basement of the store. At Swan Dive, shoppers will find vintage clothing along with an edited assortment of consignment from contemporary brands.
310 Occidental Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 Neighborhood: Pioneer Square
Likelihood
Save the best for last. Or at least that's what Rachel and I said to ourselves when we visited. Likelihood is a hidden gem on Capitol Hill that carries footwear and accessories for men and women and we were so delighted by the friendliness of the staff. Featured brands include Nike, Puma, and Vans, but you'll also find a mix of international brands like Hender Scheme, Spalwart, and Golden Goose. I'm also a big fan of the Maison Louis Marie candles and perfume oils because they make great gifts! No. 4 is the best scent of all and has notes of sandalwood, cedarwood and nutmeg.
1101 E. Union St. Seattle, WA 98122
Neighborhood: Capitol Hill
The retail industry is currently experiencing a major shift and it's more important than ever to shop local when you can- even if you're not making a big purchase, the small ones add up too. Yes, it may be more convenient to shop online and get door side delivery, but when you do that you miss out on the magical serendipity that happens when you visit a store in person. Rachel and I had so much fun chatting with store employees about what's new, what's coming, and what's been selling really well. It's valuable market insight that you can't get anywhere else, and when local shops go out of business, so does their localized assortment. If you enjoy visiting neighborhood shops and finding exactly what you need, shop local. Statistics show that for every $100 you spend locally, $68 stays in the community vs. only $43 when you shop at a national chain.
So get out there and have fun exploring Seattle! We have so many incredible boutiques that you can't find anywhere else in the world. Tag us in your Instagram photos so that we can see what shops and boutiques you stumbled upon! I'm @Sydlovesfashion and Rachel is on IG @Rachel.Waldorf. And if you like our video, please share it with your friends!