You may have heard the buzz- but if not, stop what you’re doing and block out your calendar immediately for next Sunday, May 3rd when some of Seattle’s best boutiques will gather together for a huge warehouse sale! We’re talking about savings of 50-90% on apparel and accessories for men and women from stores like Blackbird, Clutch, Dolce Vita, The Finerie, Impulse, Marqsmen, Magnotti Antiques and Horseshoe. Event organizers have even added a “Buy Green” section to the sale which featuring vintage and recycled designer goods. Plus, there will be dressing rooms available and free parking!
Date: Sunday, May 3rd, 2009
Location: Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Center
Hours: 10am to 5pm
Admission: $10 at the door (kids under 12 are free)
Payments: Cash is preferred. Some vendors will take checks or credit cards.
Dressing rooms: Yes
Parking: On-site lot (free) or street parking
Although not necessarily known for its fashion scene, Seattle is home to a number of fabulous menswear boutiques. We’ve got Ian in Fremont, Oslo’s on Queen Anne, Blackbird in Ballard and Marqsmen in Bellevue. That’s hardly slim pickings when you consider all the brands that they carry. Easily accessible locations along with blogs that feature the latest product make these stores the best in the city when it comes to catering to the menswear market.
Ian has been in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood since 2002 and opened up a second location in Fremont in 2007. Known for carrying a strong mix of trendy, contemporary styles along with global fashion pieces, Ian carries a wide range of brands including Dope & Drakkar Denim, G-Star, Erik Hart, Orthodox, Kicking Mule Workshop, Modern Amusement and Penfield. For the latest product selection and brand offerings check out Ian’s blog at www.ianshop.com/blog.
Voted by Seattle Magazine in 2006 as the Best New Men’s Clothing store, Oslo’s has been another staple in Seattle menswear. My favorite part about this boutique is the friendly store mascot, a gold retriever named Oslo. They also carry a variety of great brands including Earnest Sewn, Chip & Pepper, Indigo Palms, Loomstate, Union, Agave, and Velvetmen. Along with their well-edited product assortment Oslo’s also has another unique feature, an in-house barber who offers a traditional shave for $30. Additional barber services include aromatherapy skin treatments, haircuts, scalp treatments and buzz cuts. Oslo’s can be found online at www.oslosamensstore.com.
Blackbird was a sleeper hit for several years before it went mainstream and the Ballard neighborhood it called home turned into a hip urban metropolis. Blackbird’s creative merchandising techniques along with their fashion forward brands like Kenzo Minami, Robert Geller, and Obey make their store an oasis of items to be coveted by men who love fashion. Fans of Blackbird can keep up by checking out their blog at http://helloblackbird.blogspot.com/.
Marqsmen in Bellevue Square is designed to cater to the upscale menswear market on the Eastside. The store is clean, masculine and meticulously edited with brands like Jack Spade, James Perse, 7 For All Mankind, Loomstate and Rian Bags. Marqsmen was also recently featured in Esquire Magazine as part of their “Style Manual for Successful Men”. Keep up with the latest buzz at http://marqsmen.com/
Photo Credit: Spring 09 William Rast Menswear Collection - Style.com
