Upstairs at Dalton Pratt, colorful Toffee to Go boxes ($21 each) are just one of the fun gifts you’ll find. Photograph by David Phillipich
If you know how to look, good gifts aren’t hard to find. Here’s our sure-fire shortcut: Find a store you feel perfectly embodies your recipient, then let the friendliest saleslady on the floor guide you to the most interesting items. If there’s a posh woman-about-town you’re ready to test the theory on, you’re in luck—Dalton Pratt, a new home goods and accessories shop, opened across from Georgetown’s Social Safeway last Thursday.
At the helm are two women with boutiquing in their blood. Fourth-generation retailer Caroline Dalton, 26, is the daughter of a former owner of Cathedral Heights’ Dalton-Brody, and she also worked at Georgetown’s A Mano. She got to know co-owner Brittany Carlson, 46, while Carlson was working for her parents at Dalton-Brody. The name of their new store pays homage to both their families (Pratt is a family name of Carlson’s). Dalton and Carlson signed a lease on a former tailor shop in September, and debuted their elegant, accessory-focused shop less than a month later.
In the pristine white downstairs space you’ll find plenty of jewelry, purses, and winter scarves and throws. Baubles are versatile, elegant, and restrained—think necklaces and bracelets a modern Jackie Kennedy would wear. Particularly craveworthy are the pavé-diamond-accented astrological necklaces by Stacey Lynn. Other brands include Alexis Bittar, Kara Ackerman, and Melanie Auld.
We were also impressed with the purse selection, which includes luxurious options from brands such as Monserat De Lucca, Kotur, Stephanie Johnson, Gryson, and Oryany that will work well on the arm of any Georgetown socialite. Ladies with several black-tie galas on their social agenda will also appreciate the bevy of tastefully sparkly evening clutches.
Upstairs, the home goods selection seems straight out of Martha Stewart Living. An artfully chosen hodgepodge of candles, furniture, paintings, and knickknacks—all that quintessential Washington mix of subtly preppy and slightly vintage-y—fills the small space. We were especially enamored of the sparkly Camomile Hixon painting on the back wall.
“We’re here for the Georgetown woman,” says Dalton, “and we’ve got a little bit of everything.”
Dalton Pratt, 1742 Wisconsin Ave., NW; 202-333-3256. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 5:30 PM. After Thanksgiving, opening hours will extend to 8 PM on Thursday and noon to 5 on Sunday.
Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.
