Winding along the unbeaten path from the University Village, we encountered a sign: "3 for $35." Curiosity heightened, we swerved off the road and into Alhambra's discount clothing store where the gentle and helpful salesman told us that the three were t-shirts from the A to Z Tees clothing line, but other combinations from the clothing line were also on sale: t-shirt and dress, t-shirt and novelty top, for $30.
Veering off the Unbeaten Path for a T-Shirt Sale
Eddie Bauer Headed for the "Big Sale" Bin?
Word came down today that Eddie Bauer might be up for sale again. Bloomberg is reporting that Eddie Bauer Holdings is in talks with potential buyers including Gordon Brothers Group and Hilco Consumer Capital. Naturally, no one has a comment just yet.
Shopping Eco-consciously on Roosevelt
With Earth Day and May Day in the not-too-distant past, we were feeling more earth-friendly than usual and spent the weekend bouncing in and out of eco-conscious, recycling shops. Our first stop on Roosevelt Way was a women’s consignment store, Oh Bella! (6507 Roosevelt Way NE), where we joined three women in the coffin-sized shop. Somehow, we rotated with the women around freestanding rack to browse the rack and the walls. We noted a Moschino Cheap and Chic bubble skirt, but at $50, we thought it was chic but not as cheap as we expected for a consignment shop.
Nordy's Same Store January Sales Drop Almost 4 Percent
We wanted to start off the morning with some good news, but after twenty minutes of scanning headlines, we gave up. Nordstrom's 2008 fourth quarter sales were down 8.5 percent, which is significant, but the double-whammy is that crappy start to the New Year. For comparison as to how tight pocketbooks are getting, same store sales are down 11 percent compared to January 2007. We don't like that. Seattle fashion is already a little too thrift-store friendly for our tastes.
What Nordstrom Has To Say For Itself
Nordstrom has just released its monthly sales report, which you can find online here. Alternatively, you can rest your mouse finger and let a friendly man's voice tell you all about it by calling (800) 891-8250, which is the option we chose. Lest you be tempted to sink into an investor's funk by what you hear, Chris Holloway from Investor Relations reminds us that the changing date of Thanksgiving lopped off an entire week of holiday shopping this year, and that hurts the numbers. Chris also reports that the departments that did the best were Contemporary Women's Apparel, Junior Women's Apparel, and Cosmetics, proving once and for all that women are the stronger economic sex.
H&M Expanding in Seattle
Seattle fashionistas, get ready because your H&M prayers are being answered. According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, in addition to its Southcenter location, ever-popular H&M will open two new stores in Seattle proper next month. A 19,000-square-foot, two-story location will open in University Village on Sept. 12 and a 16,000-square-foot location will open at 520 Pike St. in downtown Seattle one little week later, on Sept. 18.

