My Faves: Boutiques, Thrifts, and consignment

Growing up here I had my rants and raves about the small town atmosphere, but coming back in my thirties feels very different. My love for styling actually began in high school, when I mixed thrifted finds with the occasional item from the mainland mall. Now I cannot even imagine going to a mall at all.

As I continue my campaign for shopping local, I want to highlight some of my favorite places to shop on the south end. I have mostly gravitated toward thrift stores because we already have enough clothing on the planet to outfit several generations. It is alarming to think about. Still, I love to shout out my favorite storefronts that have weathered the changing economy.

Part grocery store, part gift shop, and part fashion boutique, the Star Store offers a wide range of styles and ages. Their fresh selection rotates seasonally and you can find just about anything in a pinch whether you are traveling or looking for a perfect birthday gift. They carry quality brands such as Effies Heart, Lost Horizons, Cut Loose and so many more. There are always tons of purse options! The mens and kids departments also offer carefully curated pieces at more accessible prices. Owner and buyer Tamar Felton has shaped the store for nearly forty years with her strong eye for merchandising.

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A few doors up is a small boutique and artist workshop owned by Holly and David Price. Behind the shop David works on his latest encaustic piece while Holly curates their collection of minimalist linen pieces. The space offers Not Perfect Linen and is the only retailer in the United States to do so. The lookbook is worth exploring for ideas on how to layer pieces through every season. They also carry utilitarian goods from dozens of quality makers.

Old Soul Bazaar

Before COVID arrived, Old Soul Bazaar made its debut along Langleys First Street. It was created by Francesca and Fiona Coenen Weiner, a mother and daughter team. Francesca and I met in high school in 2005 and through all our style eras and nomadic years we have stayed in touch. She is now the owner of the Taproom at Bayview Corner and a new mother. With a little more breathing room she has reopened her boutique, which carries recycled materials and one of my favorite finds, a horseshoe claw clip, as well as Market of the Stars kimonos and fisherman beanies embroidered with the phrase We Need Art. Francesca is a rare bird and her shop brings back the spirit of boutique counterculture.

Madrona Supply Co.

The first shop you see when you drive off the Clinton Mukilteo Ferry sits in a historic building marked by bright orange signage. It is known as Texas orange to some but for locals it signals a creative space that is co run by three female creators. Madrona Supply Co. carries in house screen printed clothing, wood goods, ceramics, leather pieces, and more. It is also where I refill my shampoo and pick up tea, laundry detergent, and Swedish candies. They partner with more than forty artisans and support creators of all ages. Make the trip to the Clinton tip and see what they are making next

Good Cheer Thrift Store

Both Langley and Clinton have their own Good Cheer thrift locations. I have shopped at Good Cheer my entire life and remember the old oversized clothing rounders from childhood. Today the layout is more organized and items are grouped more clearly. Pricing can feel inconsistent at times but I have scored suede jackets under ten dollars and Italian made shoes for next to nothing. It remains the most reasonably priced thrift store on the south end in my opinion. Volunteers at the Good Cheer food bank or garden receive a discount in the store as well

Designer Consigner

A coworker recently told me about this newer shop in Freeland. They moved from a small location on Main Street to a larger one next to Island Herb. Designer Consigner sits right by Freeland Cleaners which is perfect. I bought a one hundred percent wool sweater and immediately dropped it off next door to be cleaned. The shop offers store credit when your quality seasonal items sell, which makes it easy to reinvest in new finds. I even discovered the perfect [Levi’s] stonewash denim that somehow knew to find me. Check it out next time you are in Freeland because the selection changes often.

Thank you for joining me on this small tour of south end shopping. When you support local retailers you are helping sustain the creative and economic heartbeat of our island. My opinions are my own. Please reach out if would like to be featured in a more in-depth interview. 🙂

Xoxo!