Blackbird Clothing in the Middle of the Day
Men's clothing stores are a rare bird. Most shops either cater to the "Big & Tall" variety or also have a selection of women's clothing. Not that there's anything wrong with clothes for both sexes being sold in one store, but we like to keep our genders separate. Blackbird Clothing fits the bill--er, beak. Blackbird has moved to Ballard from Fremont, and not a moment too soon! While some people may find paying $85 for a T-shirt to be anathema, newer residents will undoubtedly find threads from Trovata and Modern Amusement worth every penny.
Trovata is most definitely worth it! They have a T-shirt that reads "Everyone Loves the Smell of Cigarette Smoke" with a cute graphic of a happy family. Their hipper-than-thou t-shirts, thankfully, are not indicative of their line. They make clothes for the blue bloods of the west coast. They're classy, but laid back. There is a great attention to detail that most men's clothier's overlook--contrast stitching, unique linings, and quality fabrics.
On the other end of the spectrum is Modern Amusement. What began as an earnest line with an accesible logo has become a mass-marketed exploitation of boy-cool. Guys seem to like the logo--a raven--and that logo has unfortunately become a design concept for the brand. Mossimo purchased the upstart label in 2004 and everything except marketing has gone downhill ever since. Sure, they're more prolific, but how many garments can carry the raven of the brand? Their designers seem to think that they all need to--from shirts to kicks.
Both Trovata and Modern Amusement are well-represented at Black Bird as is the ubiquitous Munsingwear. The shop is inviting with its Ms. PacMan machine, and as the only store in Seattle to carry Trovata, its a must-stop-and-shop for any guy who cares about the way he looks.
Blackbird Clothing
5410 22nd Ave. NW
(206)247-2524
