Seattle Fashion Directory: Handbags

Navigating the Seattle fashion scene is easy when you know where to shop. Here's the inside scoop on Seattle's best handbag lines and where you can shop for them locally.

Ampersand as Apostrophe

Featuring clean design details the Ampersand as Apostrophe line created by Seattle designer Jessica Park is a local style staple. The minimalist collection features utilitarian-style mailbags, luxe leather reversible totes, convertible shoulder bags and more. The parcel bags are a personal favorite due to their versatility, but the entire line is beautifully crafted and built to last. Shop locally at Hitchcock Madrona 1406 34th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122. 

Such Sweet Tierney

Designed by husband and wife team London Tierney and Christian Perry, Such Sweet Tierney is a gorgeous collection of hand-printed textiles that are assembled into everything from tea towels to tote bags. All designs are rendered onto paper with pens and paint, then manually screen-printed in Pioneer Square using eco-friendly, water-based inks. Shop online or check out the bags in person at Seattle boutique Velouria, located at 145 S. King St. Seattle, WA 98104. 

Pine + Boon

I first stumbled upon Pine + Boon products at Moorea Seal's shop in Belltown and have been following the line ever since. Created by Jess Marie Griffith, who runs a small design studio in Seattle, the Pine + Boon line features suede totes, leather bags with hand-painted graphic prints, coin purses and more. Shop locally at Moorea Seal in Belltown or online at PineandBoon.com. 

Glittersweet

Colorful enough to brighten even the gloomiest day, Glittersweet bags are made for Pacific Northwest living. Designed to sparkle in the sun and stand up to the rain, the entire line is made of high-quality vinyl and produced locally in Sodo. Seattle sports fans will want to make note of the capsule collection designed especially for 12th fans. Shop locally for Glittersweet bags at Phinney Books located at 7405 Greenwood Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98103. (Update: September 2017 - Glitter has closed)

BEVÉE

After founding the nail polish line butter LONDON, Seattle entrepreneur Sasha Muir set her sights on the world of accessories. Inspired by working women in need of functional yet fashion-forward accessories, Sasha developed BEVÉE (pronounced beh-vay), a line of convertible wallets and handbags that transition from office to evening in a click. The detachable billfold is one of my favorite features of the line! These bags are great for travel and come in a rainbow of colorways to suit your mood. (Update: September 2017 - BEVÉE has closed)

Bag, Borrow or Steal

When Jennifer Hudson wowed Sarah Jessica Parker with her patchwork Louis Vuitton rental in the first Sex & The City movie, Bag Borrow or Steal became a household name. Located in Seattle, the designer handbag rental site brings luxury fashion to the masses. 100% of the items on the site are verified for authenticity and the site regularly stocks on-trend pieces from designers like Balenciaga, Gucci, Chanel and Hermes. Bag Borrow or Steal offers free standard shipping and includes damage insurance in the price of each rental.

Alice Noon

Based in Fremont, the Alice Noon line, designed by Tiffany Eley, is carefully handcrafted using oil tanned leather and suede to produce unique handbags perfect for everyday wear. The line includes shoulder bags, duffles, shopping totes and even backpacks. Shop online, or check out select bags at Les Amis, located at 3420 Evanston Ave. N. 98103.

Haiku

If you're on the hunt for an eco-friendly bag that is great for travel, look no further than Haiku. The Passage duffle (pictured above) is made from more than 38 recycled plastic bottles and has a vegan leather applique, detailed embroidery, plus a water-resistant interior and coating. You can even slip a yoga mat or jacket through the front slip pocket. Shop online at HaikuBags.com.

3 PNW jewelry designers you need to know right now

Accessories can make or break an outfit, which is why I never leave home without them. The truth is, simply adding a great necklace can instantly transform a look and update your wardrobe for the season without breaking the bank. Here's a look at 3 pretty incredible jewelry designers that you need to put on your radar right now.

Dreamy, minimalist jewelry that is perfect for everyday wear. Say hello to Masha Moon. The entire line is handcrafted in Seattle and includes bracelets, necklaces, cartilage earrings, gold-filled rings and more. Shop online or check out the Masha Moon collection in person at the Found & Gathered pop-up on Dec. 12th. 

Speaking of amazing accessories, here's your first look at the debut line from Rogue T&K. Designed with maximum versatility in mind, this line merges natural materials like freshwater pearls with mixed metals to create unique pieces that are perfect for the Pacific Northwest. Wood pieces for the line are hand cut and dyed in vegetable juices, making them eco-friendly and vegan too! Check out the Rogue T&K line and meet Katrina, one of the designers of the line at RAWk Seattle on December 3rd at Foundation nightclub. 

Just north of Seattle in Vancouver, British Colombia, designer Emmy Trinh is busy making gorgeous jewelry inspired by architecture, nature and visual elements of the west coast. Celebrating one year in business last month, Emmy's namesake line features delicate bracelets, gold-dipped crystal necklaces, onyx earrings and more. The Emmy Trinh jewelry collection is designed for everyday wear and combines quality materials with classic shapes. Shop locally for select Emmy Trinh pieces at 8telier, located at Pacific Place. You can also locate additional stockists on her website. 

Gala Guide: 5 Outfits + Accessories

Seattle-based online boutique JJ Caprices has you covered when it comes to sparkly accessories that shine this holiday season. Get gala ready with chandelier earrings, statement bracelets and ornate rings. Here's a look at a few of our favorite pieces for the holiday party season.

Golden Glamour is a major trend for the holidays and designers have gone all out with gorgeous gowns adorned in glitter, sequins, and beautiful metallic fabrics. Perfect for festive parties and gala events, the golden glamour trend is sure to be a showstopper.  Shown above: Dress, Badgley Mischka. Earrings, Drop earrings by LK Designs available at JJCaprices.com. Lipstick, Gucci Iconic Red. Shoes, Aquazarra.

Take a trip to the dark side this holiday season with lace, matte lipstick and ornate accessories. Shown above: Dress, Marchesa Notte. Necklace, Pearl with crystals by Maodun. Lipstick, Nars Audacious. Shoes, Sebastian Milano.

The little black dress is a classic and provides the perfect backdrop for incredible accessories. Elegant earrings instantly dress up this look and a soft pink lip adds a beautiful final touch. Shown above: Dress, Nha Khanh. Earrings, Filigree drop earrings from LK Designs. Shoes, Jimmy Choo. Lipstick, Christian Louboutin available exclusively at Nordstrom.

Meet your new best friend: Knack

If gift giving were a competitive sport, I would be in the winner's circle. My holiday shopping routine often goes something like this:

1) brainstorm creative gift ideas

2) find local shops that carry the products I'm looking for

3) run around the city like a crazy person picking up various elements to assemble the gift

4) spend even more time finding a creative way to package each item

5) blow the recipients mind with my thoughtfully curated gifts sourced from local vendors

Yes, it's exhausting but I'd like to think that the recipients of my gifts would agree, it's worth it. Until now, there hasn't been an easy way to shop from a variety of local brands while also being able to completely customize your gift with a personal touch. Say hello to Knack, an incredible new way to satisfy your inner DIY-er while taking advantage of the convenience of online shopping. On the site shoppers can create gifts by choosing from over a thousand high quality products (called knicks) sourced from all over the Pacific Northwest. The site then helps you make a "knack" using whatever vessel suits your fancy including glass jars, paint tins, premium gift boxes or even upcycled bottles. 

The site is incredibly user-friendly and features a variety of local brands I love including Olivine Atelier, Herbivore, Tokyo Milk, Fran's Chocolates, Dachshund Design House, Potluck Press and more. Making a Knack is fun and users also have the option to collaborate with others, instantly making group gifting a lot easier and so much more engaging. There's even an option to split payment among multiple people!

The team recently invited me over to their Capitol Hill office space to create a Knack for my best friend Jessica. Naturally, my custom BFF box includes an array of beauty products mixed with inspiration, celebratory confetti and topped off with a small glitter crown.

Each item is then carefully hand packed into a box (or other vessel) by the Knack team and topped off with a Knack Book that includes a personalized message from the gift giver along with product descriptions for each item so that recipients can get to know the backstory of the brands included in the gift and discover incredible products made right here in the Pacific Northwest.

My BFF box aka the "Soul Sister" is available for sale on the Knack store. You can purchase it as is for the gal pals in your life, or customize it based on your budget and needs. Knacks start at $25 and can be shipped anywhere in the United States. Your holiday shopping just got so much easier (like you needed one more thing to stress out about).  You can thank me later.

Knack is a great way to shop local while also having the ability to customize the perfect gift. Tag us in your Knack pics so that we can see what you've created! And don't forget to follow @KnackShops on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. 

Fashion Calendar: Goodwill Glitter Sale

The 32nd Annual Goodwill Glitter Sale will take place November 14th and 15th at the Dearborn store located at 1400 South Lane street. Get ready to shop because we're talking Missoni tops, Prada skirts, Tiffany bracelets, vintage dresses and more. Admission is free and as per usual, the best items go first! Proceeds from the sale benefit Goodwill's free job training and education programs in the community. Racks will be restocked all weekend long and if you can't wait, feel free to preview available items on the Goodwill blog.

What: 32nd Annual Goodwill Glitter Sale

When: Saturday, Nov. 14th and Sunday, Nov. 15th from 9am-6pm both days

Where: Goodwill 1400 South Lane St. Seattle, WA  (Free parking)

Why: Because this is the ultimate way to shop for a cause

Don't forget, there's still time to buy your tickets to the Goodwill Glitter Gala taking place on Nov. 6th in Seattle. I will be there and can't wait to meet you! Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.  Check out the video from last year's show:

Coming soon: Uniqlo Bellevue

The countdown is on! Uniqlo is opening its first store in the Pacific Northwest on Friday, November 6th in Bellevue. The 16,000 square foot store will house merchandise for men, women and kids. "We see the entrance into the Pacific Northwest region as a necessary and exciting growth driver as we continue to expand across the US," says Uniqlo CEO Larry Meyer. Uniqlo opened its first store in Japan back in 1984 and now has more than 1,600 stores worldwide. Follow the new store opening action on social media using the hashtag #UniqloSeattle.

Head over to Uniqlo.com to take a peek at a curated assortment of merchandise for Seattleites and meet the taste makers the company partnered with for the launch of the new store including Shauna Casey, Bethany Marie, Hollis and more! 

Fashion Calendar: Style Up Fashion Finale at Pacific Place

The four-day fall fashion series at Pacific Place is coming to a close. Join Seattle magazine for a LIVE fashion installation and cocktail mixer tonight from 6-8pm in the atrium. Featured retailers include 8telier, Lululemon, Farinaz, Francesca's, Eddie Bauer, Chico's and more. Follow the action on social media using the hashtag #StyleuPP. 

Style Recap: Independent Designer Runway Show

Congratulations to the production team at Bellevue Fashion Week on another amazing Independent Designer Runway Show. The sheer level of talent among the 8 participating designers was incredibly inspiring. To see the evolution of each line was a testament not only to the judging panel who helped mentor the group for the past six months, but also to the region's continued support of emerging designers.

This year's judging panel consisted of Bruce Pflaumer of Michael Bruce Image Consulting, Marj Turner of Fashion Group International, industry veteran Patricia Wolfkill and Amanda Zurita, Style Editor of Seattle Met. This group not only helped support the designers as they geared up to showcase their collections on the runway but also helped provide coveted insight on fashion branding and retail strategy.

The event marked the 4th annual Independent Designer Runway Show competition as part of Bellevue Fashion Week. The grand prize winner, Phuong Nguyen received a cash prize of $5,000 furnished by The Bellevue Collection and the Kemper Freeman family. Her bridalwear will also be featured in seven free-standing fashion frames located throughout Bellevue Square through the month of October. Watch out Luly Yang, it looks like you've got some competition on your hands.

Other participating designers include Jeanette Svensk Li of Cute Like Mad, Daniel Ress, Sophie Karen of Dawson & Deveraux (my favorite of the night!), Varsha Agarwal of Varsha (dress shown above), Victoria Postolit, Rana Ottaviani of RO2 and Iris Klein.

Congratulations to everyone involved. It was an incredible night! Major kudos to Terri Morgan of TCM Models for producing another amazing runway show!

Style Recap: Fashion First Seattle

Fashion fans from all over the city hit the town on Friday night to celebrate fall fashion at the 12th Annual Fashion First Runway show at the Showbox Sodo. The line-up included local faves David Lawrence, Canopy Blue, Elizabeth Roberts, The Brik and La Ree, plus national favorites like Intermix and Shane Co. among others.

Seattle style bloggers and influencers also came out to support the cause and hang out in the VIP Style Lounge provided by Seattle Style Society in partnership with Gossip & Glamour. While on site the guests sipped champagne, supported the LIVE auction and enjoyed over 100+ fall fashion outfits in the runway show produced by Terri Morgan of TCM Models.

3 fall fashion "trends" you already own

If you plan to play with fashion this season you'll probably have add a few new pieces to your wardrobe, but chances are you already own some of the season's biggest "trends". Check out our budget-friendly summary below.

If you've been keeping up with trends this year, you probably already own something lace. This trend was everywhere for spring and continues to carry over for fall, which is great for anyone (like me) who bought lace like crazy last season. Pair a lace top with jeans, layer a lace tank under a jacket, couple a lace skirt with a basic tee, or add lace-inspired accessories to dip a toe into the trend. This season you'll find me living in lace dresses paired with ankle boots. End of story. 

Embroidery continues to remain relevant for fall and you won't hear any complaining out of me. I personally love this trend and can't wait to continue wearing it through the season. For fall, I'll pair embroidered tank tops from my summer wardrobe with cozy sweaters and boots, my embroidered dresses will be layered with faux fur vests and my heavily embellished and embroidered bags will get paired with numerous outfit combinations. 

Last but not least, don't save your sparkles for special occasions. This season the cool kids are letting their best metallics shine during the day. That means you can totally wear a sequins jacket with boyfriend jeans. Metallic shoes with a blazer. Even a sequins dress with a leather jacket on a random Wednesday. Remember that sequins clutch you bought to pair with your New Year's Eve outfit? Yep. Bring that out too. Anything goes. Now go have fun playing dress up!

3 must-have fall trends

Fall is on the way and that can only mean one thing. It's time to pack away your summer staples and make room in your closet for the onset of fall fashion. Here's a look at my must-have trends for fall '15.

Pairing a leather pencil skirt with an easy knit will be one of my go-to looks this season. Great for work (or play) a leather pencil skirt is versatile and fun to wear. If pencil skirts aren't your thing, there are literally hundreds of other ways you can play with the leather trend this fall. Leather dresses, leather tops, and of course, the infamous leather jacket will all be style staples this season.

// Leather Style Tips // 

Play with texture: Pair a leather top with a cozy knit sweater for a fresh look this fall. 

Mix and match: Throw a leather jacket over a graphic print dress for an easy look with a little edge.

Go head to toe: Friday nights will be way more fun when you wear a leather dress. 

Just a touch: Add a pop of color to your fall wardrobe with an oversized leather bag or dip a toe into the trend with an embellished leather wallet instead. 

I am all over the printed dress this season, especially if it has long sleeves.  Bonus points if it has pockets too! Dresses are so much fun to wear because you can literally throw them on, add ankle boots and you're all set. My favorite go-to boutiques for dresses in the city are: Queen Anne Dispatch (Queen Anne), Horseshoe (Ballard) and Pipe & Row (Fremont). 

// Shown above //

BEVÉE convertible clutch (Seattle-based fashion brand)

Dolce Vita 'Mazarine' fringe bootie (available at Nordstrom)

Sapphire gem earrings via T+J Designs (Seattle-based e-commerce site)

This season more is more and embellishments everywhere are having a major moment. Don't worry about going overboard. This trend is all about having fun and adorning yourself in apparel and accessories that you love. 

// Embellished Everything Style Tips // 

If you want to dip a toe into the embellishment trend try a pair of statement earrings like the ones shown above from JJCaprices.com. These beaded drop earrings have a fun fringe detail and are handmade in Israel by LK Designs. 

Colorful, embelished shoes are an easy way to add color to a fall outfit. These Sophia Webster shoes are colorful and have a gorgeous satin texture making them fun and interesting. Plus, the Mary Jane-style shoes with a sweet ankle strap are big this season. 

I'm an equal opportunity girl when it comes to embellishments. Fur, feathers, sequins, and semi-precious stones are all fair game as far as I'm concerned. If you have statement shoes you've been meaning to wear, now is the time to take them out and dust them off. It's dress up time dolls! Go bold, or go home and most importantly, have fun with it. 

Porcelain and Stone Pop-Up at Moorea Seal

Belltown boutique Moorea Seal is hosting a pop-up shop featuring Porcelain and Stone on Sept. 5th at the store. The event runs from 11am-4pm and will feature the work of artisan Kimberly Huestis, who pairs ceramic jewelry with fine metals to create gorgeous accessories that are minimal, yet modern. Here's a peek at some of our favorite pieces from the line:

Stone River Ring with 22k gold detailing, $86

Gold bar earrings, $150

Midnight Kiss navy earrings, $120

Jaded Crescent Barnacle necklace, $285

The Details

What: Porcelain +  Stone Pop-Up Shop

When: Saturday, Sept. 5th, 2015

Time: 11am-4pm

Where: Moorea Seal 2523 Third Ave. Seattle, WA (Belltown)

The 52 Lists Project, $16.95

And while you're at the store, don't forget to check out Moorea Seal's new book, The 52 Lists Project, a journal of weekly lists that will nurture your soul and help foster self-development. Written by Moorea Seal, each seasonal section is a list of prompts to help you take action each day to make your dreams a reality. At under $20, this book also makes a great gift.

Tried It: Sugar, Sugar

In a new series on Seattle Boutique Blogspot called "Tried It",  I'll share my most intimate, Seattle-centric beauty adventures with you! Put your seatbelt on and get those ear muffs ready, because this is going to get personal. 

In this edition, we cover sugaring. It's one of my latest beauty obsessions because it's a total timesaver. Translation: I don't have to shave every day. As per usual, I didn't dip a toe into this new beauty adventure. I went all the way. In this case, that means full Brazilian at Sugar Sugar on Green Lake.

An alternative to traditional waxing, sugaring is a method of hair removal that uses all-natural and organic sugar. The sugaring paste is water-soluble and can be used over and over on different parts of your body. After the treatment, the entire ball of sugar is discarded. No more strips. No excess waste.

The Stock List: Moorea Seal

Seattle boutique Moorea Seal is definitely one of my favorite Belltown boutiques. Located on third avenue between Vine and Wall street this shop is literally a Pinterest page come to life. Stocking great brands like Fresh Tangerine, Herschel, Pine + Boon, Baleen, Dolce Vita, and Quiet Clementine, you're sure to find something you can't live without. Plus, with a full range of price points, you won't have to break the bank. 

Color, texture and graphics come together perfectly in these great bags from Moorea Seal. If you wear black all day these bags would be a great way to perk up your outfit. Shown above: Bags from Anna Joyce, Pine + Boon and Karu. 

In-store it's grid-layout galore! This is my favorite way to view merchandise, but I'm also a classic Virgo, so this comes as a surprise to absolutely no one. Shown above: Coin purses by Pine + Boon, Les Femmes desk calendar with illustations by Garance Doré.  

If you get excited about accessories, Moorea Seal will be your new go-to shop in the city. They even show a little local love by stocking Seattle brands like Fresh Tangerine. Shown above: Brass Jaspar Cuff by Cities in Dust, Weiland Spike Ring by Shadow House, Gold Doppler Earrings by Cities in Dust, Raw Stone Drop Earrings by Leslie Francesca, Thistle Pendant by Shadow House, Louise Necklace by Dream Collective.