Sample the goods at Thread, a party of a sale

Seattle's fashion-forward will line up early Sunday, Sept. 16 for Thread, a jazzed-up sample sale complete with cocktails, DJs and artist exhibitions. Last year, more than 100 people queued up outside Fremont Studios for a chance to be among the first through the door -- the first 250 attendees receive a gift bag. This year, the bags' contents are reported to include swag from American Apparel and Vain.

More than 65 local and national designers will hawk their wares at the popular franchise shopping event (other shows take place in San Diego, San Francisco and the United Kingdom.) Highlights will include tunics and leggings from local label Prairie Underground, menswear-inspired accessories from Portland artist Erin MacLeod, brightly colored stone and glass cocktail rings from Cintli and sweet frocks and coats from Seattle designer Suzabelle. Tickets are $7 at the door, $5 with RSVP at www.threadshow.com/seattle/.

Urban boutique Zebraclub will be on hand to host a deeply discounted denim bar featuring racks crammed with labels like AG, The Year Of, G-Star Raw and Diesel. Our tip: Don't count on easy access to a dressing room. Know your size ahead of time, or guess as well as you can. Once you're shopped out, kick back and enjoy the tunes. Where else are you going to hear five local DJs spinning in the middle of the day?