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Shecky’s Girl’s Night Out Ticket Giveaway!

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By Sarah Zlotnick   Published Monday, October 05, 2009

Think you’ve got the lowdown on DC style? Washingtonian wants to hear the dirt! We’re giving away two pairs of Shecky’s Girls Night Out tickets to the best insider shopping info you’ve got to offer. Local designer gems, under-the-radar boutiques—let us know what’s worth knowing about in the District! Post your best-kept shopping and style secrets to the comments below, and the winners (announced this Thursday) will shop up-and-coming brands, sample beauty treatments and craft cocktails, and walk away with one of the event’s legendary goodie bags.

The deadline is 10 AM Thursday morning. Make sure to include your email address with your comments so we can notify you if you win.

Shecky’s takes place October 13-15, 5-10 PM, DAR Constitution Hall. Click here for more info.  

Comments

My style consists of high/low mixing and matching. A typical day consists of jbrand jeans with a $3 silk vintage top I find at the Salvation Army. I have found almost identical items at Annie Creamcheese in Georgetown for around 10x the price as at local thrift stores. Thrift stores in the Fairfax/Centreville/Manassas are a far trek for some Washingtonian’s, but in this economy, paying $5 for a pair of BRAND NEW white Fendi flats is unbeatable. They just recently moved the Salvation Army in Manassas to a larger shop, and although their prices increased a bit, a cute high-waisted leather pencil skirt for $7 is a steal. I never pass up an opportunity to go into a thrift store. If vintage or slightly used is not your thing (as I know it isn’t for many of us), try Winchester. This is much further but there is a little gem I share with only my closest friends. Gabriel Brothers is an incredible store that offers Jbrand, True Religion, and Seven for All Mankind jeans for $19.99-$39.99. Gabriel Brothers also offers shoes (Korkease, Cole Haan, and Ralph Lauren), tops (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and American Apparel) and dresses. You have to look through the items in the store, but they frequently have sales and I enjoy totaling up how much my $36, 9 item purchase would have cost in the original stores; usually from $350-$600. If you are into the vintage thing, there is a Goodwill where I have purchased 2 great authentic vintage bags (Gucci and Versace for $10 each), and a great pair of handmade knee-high leather flat boots. These are my secrets, for all of you reading this, keep these secrets close, because these stores are the reason I have such a large wardrobe and my friends die to know where I get my one-of-a-kind pieces.

mcoyle.mlc@gmail.com

Posted by: Megan, Oct 07, 2009 06:35:32 PM

Go to the Victoria’s Secret sale at the end of the sale instead of when it begins! They mark everything 1/2 off the sale price! So its really a sale! kennedikateymom@yahoo.com

Posted by: Diva Pam, Oct 07, 2009 01:13:00 PM

Go to the Victoria’s Secret sale at the end of the sale instead of when it begins! They mark everything 1/2 off the sale price! So its really a sale!

Posted by: Diva Pam, Oct 07, 2009 01:11:49 PM

Diva, a consignment shop in Old Town Alexandria, offers lightly used (they practically look new) name brand clothes. Treat is also a fun boutique in Old Town with high-end fashion.

Occasionally, Saks at the Galleria in Tysons has wonderful sales. They usually are not advertised well, though. My friend once purchased an Emilio Pucci dress for $600, regularly priced at $1400.

My favorite- The Leesburg Outlet. Everyone can find SOMETHING there at a decent price.

Posted by: trixi35@hotmail.com, Oct 07, 2009 03:48:41 AM

My style secret is always wear something that makes you smile - a great pair of shoes, a fabulous scarf, your grandmother’s pearls. As long as you have one special thing in your outfit, it’s going to be a good fashion day.


Georgetown/Friendship Heights/ Tysons/ Bethesda are all great for high end shopping and luxe vintage finds. Tyson’s Corner has the most options for the petite woman. Fornash in Georgetown has fantastic accessories. Sherman Pickey (G-town) and Tickled Pink (Bethesda) are perfect for the prep crowd.

Columbia Heights/U Street neighborhoods have great boutiques with more trendy items. Nana’s is amazing, and it’s really difficult to walk out of there without buying something.

Old Town is wonderful for boutique shopping. If you’re looking for a wedding dress, you have to stop at Hannalore’s. They are, hands down, the best in the area. I can’t reccomend them enough.

For bargains, interestingly, you can turn to Friendship Heights, just like you can go there for Jimmy Choo. For a road trip, the Rack in Shady Grove, or the outlets in Hagerstown or Leesburg are great stops.

Of course, the sexiest thing any woman can ever wear is a smile, and it goes with everything.

ashleyslye (at) gmail (dot) com

Posted by: Ashley, Oct 06, 2009 02:39:11 PM

I love reading about fashion, especially by fashionistas from this city. I like REDEEM in 14th street, they have local designers and a very unique style, the owner is lovely and she’ll help you find what’s best for you, they have a SALE section almost all year long. Also, I read a blog from a local photographer who writes about fashion and she has a very unique style and artistic eye. I love how every day she comes up with something trendy, fashionable, perfectly put together without having to buy new things every day, only by being able to combine basics with one or two pieces of accessories that highlight your outfit. I admire her ability to use clothing and accessories so versatile that she’s able to combine a dressy piece with a casual one to make a great casual outfit and vice versa; or the way she combines textiles and textures with color or in fact, most of the times, lack of color. The best part of her blog is the footnotes where she shares with us where the item comes from; that allows you to go find it (it happens to me that I have seen that specific piece hundreds of times in a cloth rack at my favorite store and have had no idea how to wear it, or think it’s too expensive to be a once to be used piece). Every time I read her blog I feel that necessity to go back to my place and take a deep look into what I have and figure new and creative ways of wearing things. You can just try to find these basic elements at a cheaper store, what matters is not the brand but the way you wear your clothes. She encourages people to create their own clothing pieces by tailoring them according to fashion’s trends (but most important use whatever looks best on you), reuse old pieces that you have stored in the back of your closet, even transform jewelry into something fun and fashionable. Check her tips out at http://goodnicole.blogspot.com/. My email (alinaaf@gmail.com).

Posted by: Alina, Oct 06, 2009 11:59:19 AM

I am a true believer that clothes don’t make an individual’s "style". However, one needs to feel untouchable — and the best way of acheiving that is knowing you look good and dress great! My fashion secret is a boutique called Kiskadee on Mount Vernon Avenue in Del Ray. As a fashionista, you want to be guaranteed the satisfaction that you will not run into someone on the street in the same outfit! What is great about this place is they only get one item in select sizes— and once they are gone, they are gone! In addition to carrying popular designers like Michael Kors, they stock local and "up & coming" designers to assure the exclusivity of their clothes and jewelery. Prices are moderate to high-end, but they always seem to be having great sales! It’s a must see- and a gem you will want to keep for yourself!

kathrynkfinnigan@gmail.com

Posted by: Kelly, Oct 06, 2009 07:47:01 AM

Hunting and scouring - that’s how to find the best bargins. Whether it’s Target, Nordstrom, or Treat in Old Town, you’ve got to look and select carefully! (cooke.jenny@gmail.com)

Posted by: Jenny, Oct 06, 2009 07:33:02 AM

I dont know if it’s all the time but Fresh in Georgetown had buy one get one half off on great pieces over the weekend. For not being consignment they were great prices. The girls were so nice and so helpful and I ended up walking away with a couple incredible pieces.

my email is brooke.forman@gmail.com

Posted by: Brooke, Oct 06, 2009 07:24:23 AM

There is nothing like spending some quality time in Friendship Heights where it is bargain shopping heaven. There is a filene’s basement, loehmans, TJ Maxx, and Stein Mart.
If that doesn’t strike your fancy head out to a Nordstrom Rack or the Saks Off Fifth in Leesburg. You are almost certain to find something like a Rebecca Taylor dress for $25, Vera Wang Lavendar top for $11 or a $32 Marc Jacobs blazer. Just be prepared to pick through the racks!
(eg7955a@american.edu)

Posted by: Elyse, Oct 06, 2009 06:58:36 AM

My email is plumaplomb@gmail.com btw

Posted by: Patty, Oct 05, 2009 04:55:37 PM

Thrifting out in the ’burbs. I came across a black Alexander McQueen cutout blazer for TWELVE DOLLARS. These places have sales. Can you believe that? Stock up for less than ten dollars!

Posted by: Patty, Oct 05, 2009 04:55:00 PM

I’m 29 and my style rule is to resist the effort to stock up on the season’s trends from the ’usual’ spots (you know them) and strive for a more timeless look that incorporates interesting clothes that people will not have seen on anyone else. I look for well-made, slightly unusual, yet classic pieces and treat them as investments, which means sticking to a budget. I get my basics anywhere and for the most part, stay away from high-end designers and vintage. Places like Donna Lewis in Alexandria are one of those hidden gems that walks a middle-of-the-road line in terms of style and pricing, but sells very unique clothes. I think the final product is an overall style that says you know about fashion, but are showing it in an understated way.

Posted by: Jennifer Eberline, Oct 05, 2009 02:08:29 PM

Annie -- thanks for your comment! Can you please post your email address so we can notify you if you win? Thanks!

Posted by: Catherine (washingtonian.com), Oct 05, 2009 01:49:31 PM

Secondi, the consignment shop in Dupont Circle above Starbucks, has the best deals in town on designer clothes, shoes, and bags. I tend to find a new signature item every other month. It is the best retail therapy because you can’t feel guilty about buying something used.

Posted by: Annie L. , Oct 05, 2009 01:37:02 PM

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