Pioneer square is, no doubt, a tourist attraction. With its decaying monuments of brick and marble, it is the urban offspring of New York City. Pubs, nightclubs, boutiques, art galleries and bail bonds businesses are sandwiched together down the cobblestone streets, trod on relentlessly by pedestrians and pigeons alike. It is dense with texture, diversity, history, and, in bright spots of polished window-displays, home to some seriously cool threads.

Deli, which opened this past May, brings a bit of edgy, urban charm to this area in the form of upscale street-clothes for men and women. Owner Max Heigh said the inspiration for the store came from his business upbringing in his family-owned delicatessen in Sea Tac. Heigh admits this is his first experience in retail, but the business graduate has a knack for merchandising and the store's blunt reference to a real delicatessen is not lost upon entry.

"All ...

read more

The small boutique sits in between various shops, but the pulse of this tucked-away gem makes it a definite stand out. The source of that pulse comes straight from the owner Michele Tesler herself. When I first met the petite woman, she seemed 9 feet tall, all smiles and more than ecstatic to share her love of what she does. It was refreshing and contagious.

The boutique that opened in November 2005 was born from the desire to bring Mercer Island something it really didn't know it needed. Tesler had been happily working in oncology as a nurse at the Fred Hutchinson Center, but had realized her own fashion style had become predictable. She got in contact with a friend that was a rep for a few designers. She started to send Tesler some samples. You could almost say this is where the real story began.

Tesler credits designer ...

read more

It is hard to believe a little boutique on First Avenue in downtown Seattle could have such a huge impact on the surrounding world. The Finerie, which means Sunday best, consistently goes above and beyond what a typical clothing store does to create a social awareness mecca of fashion, passion and generosity.

To walk in the doors of The Finerie is to walk into the closet of your dreams. Imagine black rococo inspired chandeliers, edgy teal walls, racks and racks of exclusive garments and antique Grecian busts showcasing your finest statement jewelry. On either side of the closest walls, shadow boxes encased in elegant gold frames boast an exquisite collection of designer shoes and accessories. Complete with a secret loft that can only be known as the stairway to fashion heaven, The Finerie is truly a blessing bestowed upon Seattle.

Hosting a multitude of chic designs for men and women ...

read more

If construction cranes can be considered any measure of a city's successful and pending expansion, then Bellevue is the new business and pleasure hub of Washington. Bellevue Square mall is currently among only a handful of other shopping centers seeing impressive sales rates during this economic slump. In fact, the entire Bellevue area seems to be exponentially reaching new heights, both physically and logistically. But for the thousands that come flocking to this pristinely polished city of glossy indoor mall shopping, there is still nothing inside the Square that can hold a candle to the luxe, East-Coast charm of old-town Bellevue on Main Street. Evocative of the sweet, inviting demeanor of Greenwich Village, N.Y., it has overhanging residential complexes and a refreshing abundance of greenery (nearby Bellevue Park is ringed with maple and cherry trees). Old Bellevue, despite its history, would appear to be in its delicate and ...

read more