JJ Boutique in Capitol Hill envisions designer clothing as fine art

Katharine Hepburn would worship their Publicka pants ($264). Audrey Hepburn would be charmed by their Mini Market dress ($290). Be your own fashion icon by picking up something stylish at Capitol Hill's new women's clothing store, JJ Boutique.

First-time boutique owners Sandy Chac and Chanda Mak want JJ Boutique, which opened this past August, to "be discovered" by clients who feel as if they've stumbled upon one of the city's best-kept secrets.

Nestled in the Pike/Pine corridor, the boutique inhabits a dual-level space rich in industrial undercurrents, like the innovative steel-pipe clothing racks and exposed cement floor that accentuate the clean design and minimalist aesthetic of the space. The sophisticated, urban feel of the boutique is intentional -- its design was inspired by art galleries.

But with no canvases on the walls, the art of JJ Boutique is its clothing. And oh my goodness, the clothing. The boutique carries a discreet selection of everything a girl dreams of; signature Henrik jackets ($470), dangerously formfitting Sretsis cocktail dresses ($506) and IRO blouses that will make the 9-to-5 fantastically tolerable ($171).

Pieces by Demylee, Cloak and Dagger and designers discovered in Paris, New York and throughout Japan, have been hand-picked by Chac and Mak for their impeccable craftsmanship and understated distinction.

The pieces play with feminine and masculine aesthetics and often feature architectural elements like the intersecting straps of the Zigi dress ($312). Well tailored and extremely chic, they are first and foremost both wearable and comfortable.

Chac and Mak chose a Capitol Hill address for their boutique because "the Hill is a ballgame and we wanted to be part of it," Chac says. "But we don't just see it as being on the hill -- we want to connect to Seattle as a whole."

Though JJ Boutique's price point is higher than that of neighboring shops, Chac and Mak expect to distinguish themselves by carrying clothing that is unique and worth the investment. "Our designers are creating a form of art," Chac explains.

The owners choose their clothing by asking two questions: "Who do we see wearing this?" and "What do they have in their closet?" They want their pieces to be the keystones of their clients' wardrobes.

They select their limited accessories to complement the clothes, and the results are a perfect Lorick day scarf ($77) to dress up an Ideeen top ($220) and a pair of Eley Kishimoto heels ($359) that the Airess tank dress ($541) demands.

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