India Bazaar

Popping into Freighthouse Square for dinner a la to-go box, my eyes were swiftly drawn to the brightly colored fabric in a show window. A detour quickly ensued. The rumbling in my tummy could wait. India Bazaar opened its second location barely a week ago here. The glittery saris and skirts are a nice addition to the eclectic mix of items to be found at Freighthouse Square.

All handmade and imported from India, the clothing ranges from simple, minimally embroidered cotton shirts, pants, skirts, and dresses ($19.99 and up) to very intricate, formal outfits for traditional ceremonies and parties ($399 and up). The more expensive items are primarily custom ordered. However, a few are kept in stock due to the extremely time-consuming amount of work that goes into each item. Sonny, son of the couple who owns the shop, let me feel a skirt that was heavily encrusted with sparkling gemstones, shiny beads, metal discs, and thickly threaded embroidery on the top layer of four layers of fabric.



The skirt literally weighed four to five pounds. The matching tank-style top was another three pounds, easily. India Bazaar also offers a wide variety of glitzy jewelry: bangles, earring-necklace-ring sets, and stackable bracelets. Incense, bronze and carved wooden statues, silk and cotton scarves are other items for sale here. To one side of the import store, a whole grocery section resides with dried legumes, grains, spices, jars of relish, and a refrigerated case with drinks, paneer cheese and microwavable meals.



[India Bazaar in Freighthouse Square, 430 E. 25th St., Suite 9, Tacoma, 253.272.5398]

[India Bazaar in B&I, 8012 S. Tacoma Way, Suite 49, Lakewood, 253.584.4467]

Glenna’s Clothing

Fashion reviewers called the style choices of most of the female nominees and attendees of this year’s Academy Awards safe. I call them boring. These broads have access to the most crazed and genius designers the world over who continuously turn out dazzling creations that flatter any figure, and yet, some of them actually picked brown as the color for their big walk on the red carpet. Lame. Interesting color choices were worn by actresses Nancy O'Dell, who managed to bring out the glitz in a grey, skin-skimming, décolletage-baring, lace-embellished dress, and Kelly Preston in a bust-enhancing, draped, fall leaf orange, strapless gown of Grecian influence. The only gown of real note was the flaming red, definite haute couture elegance designed by John Galliano. The silk taffeta worn by Heidi Klum held so much old Hollywood high drama that all other designs simply faded away. And while the intense red was carried well by Klum’s strong, mature beauty, young, fragile-looking Anne Hathaway seemed overwhelmed by the very crimson dress she wore. Follow Klum’s example. Get some va va voom — like the rest of these high-dollar earning ladies should have — at Glenna’s Clothing in downtown Tacoma. Glenna’s Broadway boutique shop specializes in stunning vintage couture, retro finds and gowns galore.



Don’t forget the shoes — rounded toe, pointy toe, open toe, sandal (no toe) — and accessories, sparkly jewelry, and divine hats to boot.



[Glenna’s Clothing, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 783 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.627.8501]