Bellevue's Aritzia delivers a casually chic look for women

Bellevue Square experienced a Canadian invasion earlier this month when Vancouver, B.C.-born Aritzia opened its doors just a few doors down from Abercrombie & Fitch, which may turn out to be the store's primary mall competition.

I've been trying to think of the perfect descriptor to help place the women's apparel shop on the map of suburban fashion. A less trendy Forever 21? A dressed-down Anthropologie? An eco-friendly Gap? None of the labels quite fits, because it's hard to categorize this Canadian chain that carries staples for women who prefer a casually chic look -- think skinny jeans tucked into boots, layered tops and a loosely tied scarf. It's as if the store's buyers want to provide local women with unlimited options to create one specific, albeit classic, look over and over again.

Lightweight cotton tops from Wilfred in a rainbow of muted colors ($35-$60) are meant to be layered underneath fur-trimmed hoodies from TNA ($125 to $175). Premium denim brands include Rock and Republic ($188-$238) and 7 For All Mankind ($199). The best buys are the wool and cashmere-blend coats from Talula Babaton ($268-$350).

Aritzia makes an effort to be eco-conscious, opting to do business with labels that maintain high ethical and social standards, and sending customers home with wood-free shopping bags. A word of caution: The Aritzia return policy resembles that of a small boutique rather than a chain store. Cash refunds are given only within 10 days; no returns or exchanges are allowed after 21 days; and no returns or exchanges are ever allowed on sale items.

Though Aritzia isn't groundbreaking in terms of style, Eastsiders will appreciate its boutiquelike selection and the convenience of its location, and Seattleites will find it a worthwhile stop on a Bellevue shopping excursion, or a pleasant place to wait out rush-hour traffic.

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