Fornash
The Ballston Common Mall isn’t exactly our idea of a major shopping destination, but the relocation of Fornash, a sweetly preppy accessories shop that used to reside in the Shops at Georgetown Park, caused us to reconsider a visit. Retail manager Courtney Lada says the shop’s brightly colored jewelry (which comes in fleur de lis, anchor, and bumble bee shapes) is great for prepsters who love to mix, match, and stack accessories–and we’ll definitely be heading in to round out our outfits for horse-racing season. The move allowed the Fornash team to expand in size (their new space was previously three separate shops), meaning more room for the brightly colored scarves, purses, belts, headbands, and more. 4238 Wilson Blvd. (2nd floor); 703-525-3206.
The Jeans Whisperer
Open since mid-March, this little discount shop actually resides in a dry cleaner’s store. Owner Jan Forman sells designer denim by Rock & Republic, Seven for All Mankind, Joe’s, Paige, and Miss Me at wholesale prices. Everything in the store is under $100, and some jeans (think Calvin Klein) are as low as $40. We can probably all agree that a $100 pair of brand-new Sevens is a solid find, but be prepared to do a bit of work to get your hands on exactly what you’re looking for. The Denim Bar this is not; you won’t be sipping a beer, lounging on a leather couch, and chatting up the staff in between fittings–it’s more reminiscent of a TJ Maxx runway section. But if you’re in the neighborhood, the prices certainly warrant a stop. 3101 Wilson Blvd. (inside Greener Cleaner in the Hartford Building); 703-585-8833.
Bluemercury (Clarendon Location)
Locally founded beauty emporium Bluemercury opened its first Virginia location in Clarendon in mid-March. True to form, the shop also has a full spa, which offers skin-care, aesthetic, and massage services. Besides the traditional spread of makeup by Laura Mercier and Nars and Acqua Di Parma body lotions, the shop will also carry cofounder Marla Malcom Beck‘s new skin-care line, M-61, which she says marries the best of technical results with natural ingredients. She expects the spa’s new 30-minute Peace, Power, and Glow facial–which uses all M-61 products–to be very popular among Clarendon’s busy young professional population. “On those Friday lunch breaks when we’re thinking, ‘I’m going out tonight and need my skin to glow,’ it’s a great option,” she says. 2855 Clarendon Blvd.; 703-248-0028.
