Aqua Velva {No. 20}
Sandy September 3rd, 2009
Step one foot inside 20 Twenty clothing and shoe shop and the faint mingling of Aqua Velva and shoe polish recoils your memories of: the male dorm room, grandpa’s closet, your first boyfriend’s bedroom. 20 Twenty is Ballard’s kitschy shop that has a clear vision, offering gently used men’s and women’s wardrobe and accessories. Curiosity draws your attention to the little embellishments on some of their recycled clothing and trimmings-such as their vintage 1970’s ties in brown, cornflower blue and maize–black silk-screen stencils of old-timey bicycles, gramophones–each one applied as uniquely as the individual sporting it. Lines of men and women’s shoes stretch along the rim of the floor and in the window displays. Their quantity of gold shoes is noteworthy; more gold than Cleopatra’s headdresses that shone and sparkled in her prime! They also have an abundance of T-shirts (including a New Kids on the Block tee!) in an array of colors and styles, running shorts that are coming back in style and a collection of old Polaroid cameras. Everything in the shop is conveniently priced at around $20, making it affordable to be dressed in style.
Adorning the walls are wonderful and reasonably priced pieces of art from local artists; this month are talented & contemporary artists Laura Kinney and Joey Bates.
20 Twenty
5208 Ballard Ave NW
(between N 20th Ave & Vernon Pl)
Seattle, WA 98107
(206) 706-0969
Hours:
Mon-Sat. 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
