Dorothy Cabot Best (1888-1958) was co-owner and co-founder of the women’s clothing store Best’s Apparel. The store opened in 1925 at 1520 Third Avenue and then moved in 1935 to a larger location at 5th and Pine. Dorothy worked in partnership with her husband Ivan Lovich Best (1887-1979). She was the face of the store and made decisions about merchandise and design, while Ivan worked behind the scenes in business management. Dorothy was known for her exceptional taste and ability to find good style for a range of price points and needs. The marketable last name “Best” was Dorothy’s maiden name, and was taken on by Ivan, their children, and Dorothy’s children from an earlier marriage. Dorothy died in 1958 and Ivan sold the business to Nordstrom in 1963.

Here, Dorothy Best poses at Best's Apparel for a photo to accompany an interview by the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.