Gifts Delivered from the Salish Coast: Madrona Gifts

  If you’ve ever wanted to send a gift basket to a friend or family member, but didn’t want to go through an impersonal internet business, Madrona Gifts is a perfect solution. Run by Kirsten Lutes, the…

Yes In A Dress

Q&A with Ashley Fullenwider, owner of local activewear brand Nuu-Muu

Fall-to-Winter Fashion

As we begin the transition from autumn to winter, the days might be dreary, but your wardrobe doesn’t have to be! With the help of local boutiques, we’ve picked out some pieces that will help you step into the new season with style.

Fall Fashion Q&A: Bellingham Alive Office Edition

It’s officially Fall! Here’s a look at what our staff here at Bellingham Alive loves about Fall Fashion.

How to Shop Vintage

Fashion Q&A with Sarah Dunbar, vintage buyer and owner of Pretty Penny

Leather Bags Built to Last 

Bellingham native Julie Simon creates leather accessories, capturing the DIY spirit and beauty of the Pacific Northwest all in one.

Spring Hair

Beauty salons may be closed, but you can still take care of your hair and get a fresh spring look. Check out this Q&A with Guerrero Hair Salon’s owner and stylist Nick St. Mary.

Travel Packing 101

Going on vacation and need to pack light? Check out this Travel Fashion Q&A with Seattle-based blogger Autumn Sorelle.

Honey Salon Brings Beauty to the Granary Building

Late afternoon sunlight streams through the windows of the Granary Building in Bellingham, illuminating Honey Salon’s new location. People in various stages of haircuts and blowouts laugh, lounge, and sip on complimentary tea and coffee. Honey Salon occupies the fourth and fifth floors of the building, looking out onto downtown Bellingham to the east and the San Juan Islands and the sparkling sea to the west. The entry areas…

Redhead Makeup Myths

 Be brave and give yourself permission to experiment. In the end, the only person in charge of telling you what–and what not–to do is yourself.

Spring Trends: Fashion Q&A

Spring is coming soon (hopefully). Here’s a look at this season’s trends with Seattle-based blogger Autumn Sorelle.

For the Love of All Things Sparkly

Designer jewelry gallery Whimsey brings unique, locally made creations to Bellingham’s Historic Fairhaven District.

A Passion for Style

After inquisitive clients kept asking hairstylist Janet Horton where she found her trendy threads, she realized she could combine her passion for hairstyling and fashion in one place. As such,…

The Art of Feeling Pretty

For those looking to revamp their look, check out Pretty Penny Clothing and Guerrero Hair Studio—owned by Sarah Dunbar and her husband, Nick St. Mary, respectively.

Betty Does Good

A new Betty Be Good location, which sits directly beside Woods Coffee on Front Street, joins the Birch Bay store in aiding the victims of human trafficking.

Attack That Closet

The New Year is a time to refresh! Fashion blogger Autumn Sorelle shares her tips on how to clear away the clutter and re-organize your closet.

Bramble Furniture

THE SHOP A playground filled with stately furniture for any preference, Bramble Home Store offers endless possibilities of elegant, handcrafted pieces to transform a…

Purpose Boutique

What if you could combine giving back and empowering women with shopping for clothes and accessories? Here in the Northwest, you can. Purpose Boutique in Kirkland (and Bremerton) has a powerful mission to outfit local women in beautiful, accessible clothing while donating 10% of net proceeds to fight human trafficking. They also partner with socially-conscious companies that empower and employ women. CEO Christie Johnson…

Shopping and Sharing Life at c’est la Vie

The first words that come to mind when walking into Edmonds’ c’est la Vie (pronounced Say La Vee) are colorful, eclectic, and fun. The entry walkway and surrounding walls are artistically lined with quotes that range from the funny to the heartfelt, setting the perfect mood for what you’ll find in the store. “There’s always something unexpected when you come in here,” c’est la Vie’s…

Ragfinery

Beauty & Function Picture a vibrant new store that takes Bellingham’s collective passion for reusing and repurposing in a new, untapped direction. What a wonderfully cluttered used bookstore is to boxes of lonely books in your attic, Ragfinery is to those bags of clothes, jars of buttons, and McCall’s bell-bottom patterns you stumble over while trying to reach those boxes with the books…only without the clutter, musty smell and paper cuts. Ragfinery, located downtown at 1421 Forest Street,…

Rogue Boutique

THE SHOP The picturesque town of Edmonds, with its quaint stores and sidewalk cafes, recently welcomed the chic fashion boutique Rogue to its charming Main Street on March 8th. Visitors can find the shop in an appealingly old-fashioned white house built by the local blacksmith in the 1890s. Inside, however, the modern styles offered by owner Kimberly Koenig provide a spirited contrast…

Find Your Fashion Again

THE SHOP Find Your Fashion Again is the new kid on the block. Located in the Grocery Outlet Center in Ferndale, Wash., this…

Jaleh Boutique

All of the clothing in Jaleh Boutique is designed and manufactured locally in the Puget Sound. Designer and Jaleh boutique…

Naked Clothing

THE SHOP Located on West Holly Street and shaded by the trees and nearby shops, Naked Clothing is home to a new type of clothing—clothing with a conscience. The shop is new to the downtown Bellingham area, and is located in the old Merch-Bot space. Naked Clothing has been open since October 31, 2013. ATMOSPHERE Bright and relaxing oasis. KEY PEOPLE Jeff Kraus created Naked Clothing in 1999. The store’s mission is to provide high quality clothing that is flattering…

Dear Zara

Just utter the name “Zara” and you will have the attention of every fashionista in the Pacific Northwest. The Spain-based fast-fashion paradise opened its 49th U.S. store in Seattle this February and the buzz it is causing may be infinite. Ask anyone who has already paid a visit to the Westlake Center Zara…

J & J Jewelry

THE SHOP Within the Bay Street Public Market is J & J Jewelry, a hidden gem. The owner is owner Jaime Pyshny, long-time jewelry expert. J & J is…

Lorna Jane

It was ironic to dress up for the opening of an activewear store. After all, activewear is my typical daily work uniform. Yoga or running pants? Check. Comfortable lightweight hoodie or tee? Check. Turn on the computer and watch me go. But when I have to do an interview…

Sound Styles

The Shop On the corner of 5th Ave. and Main St., in downtown Edmonds, stands Sound Styles, a fashion institution in Edmonds. Originally, the boutique was bought by two families with the intention of having the daughters from those two families run it. However, one family quickly discovered that the retail business was not for them, giving mother Dolores Bjorback and her daughter Jenny Murphy co-ownership only three years after the purchase of 100…

Pipe & Row

Pipe & Row’s tagline is “Not your average staple” and that certainly fits. Owner Kayla Boehme said, “We want to push someone to the edge of their comfort zone, but not over it.” The boutique, which opened June 17 in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood, aims to make high fashion accessible to everyone. The store carries brands like Miista. Ampersand as Apostrophe, Wren and Sam & Lavi. “You might…

Red Barn Jewelry

THE SHOP Nestled next to Bayou on the Bay, on the corner of Holly and Prospect in downtown Bellingham lays a hidden jewel called Red Barn Jewelry. Owner Stacia Davis makes bracelets, earrings, necklaces and rings using…

J. Jill- Philanthropy Meets a New Prototype

J. Jill’s new retail location in Bellevue has elevated the shopping experience to be a modern day escape for those who seek simplicity. The completely redesigned space opened late April under the brand’s new platform with a fresh philosophy–“uncomplicated.” Chris Gayton, the…

Betty Be Good

Betty Be Good — a contemporary fashion boutique in Birch Bay Square — offers attractively chic clothing, shoes and accessories at affordable prices. “The printed leggings are our most popular selling item, they sell for $14.50,” said owner Suzanne Smith. Betty Be Good opened in October 2013 and truly is one-stop shopping. Aside from being a business owner,…

Bringing Two Arts Together

It could be the open environment, the gorgeous furniture, or the large oil paintings hanging on exposed brick walls — whatever it is, owner and showroom manager Sharon Kingston has finally found her place in Bellingham at Modern Classics. Originally a virtual company started by her husband Curt, Modern Classics is now, as of April 4th, a store in…