Shop Around Blog

Deals, fashion, style, shopping, spas and more in Washington, DC and beyond.

Gossip Girl Recap: Season One’s Best Style

By Betsy Lowther

Do you miss the teen dramedy as much as we do? We pay tribute to season one with a recap of our favorite fashionable looks.

We’ve been going through a severe case of GGW—that’s Gossip Girl Withdrawal, of course—ever since the CW’s beloved teen dramedy went on summer hiatus. (Though we’re keeping ourselves entertained with regular repeats, airing Monday nights, as well as following the real-life coupling of stars Blake Lively and Penn Badgely. Hey, we’ll take anything we can get.)

We also thought it would ease our suffering to take a trip through some of our favorite looks from episodes past. Join us, won’t you?

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Where & When: Fashion Edition

By Betsy Lowther

We can’t get enough the new District Shopping Days sale, Bethesda’s boutique boom, and the kitschy fun of Baltimore’s Hon Fest.

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Sidewalk Style: Sophie Bruch

By Rachel Cothran

This week we stopped little Sophie Bruch, walking along in the 98-degree-plus weather with her dad, Carl, on the way to the Logan Circle Whole Foods. Sophie managed to be both cool and cute in her embroidered seersucker cotton dress and simple flat sandals.

Photograph by Rachel Cothran.

Photograph by Rachel Cothran.

Sophie Bruch, four, wants to be “a princess” when she grows up.

Sophie’s mom likes to buy clothes for her online; this dress is from Hanna Andersson. Sophie especially likes the embroidered flowers. Her sandals, from Stride Rite, are a play on the ’60s novelty song “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.”

When asked about the favorite item in her wardrobe, Sophie told me quite simply that she doesn’t have a closet. (Her dad says she has a dresser.) However, she does have a brand-new Tinkerbell toy from Target that she’s certain no other Washington fashionista owns. When she’s not wearing “dresses that twirl,” she’s running around town in Disney princess dresses.

Take that, Carrie Bradshaw. This little lady is clearly the heroine of her own fashion fairy tale.

More>> Shop Around Blog | Style | Find a Spa | Sidewalk Styles

The World According to Lance

By Betsy Lowther

You don’t know bluemercury’s go-to facial and brow authority? You might be one of the only ones.

Washington-based beauty outpost bluemercury counts Harrison Ford and Lauryn Hill among some of its clients.

In nearly ten years with Washington-based beauty outpost bluemercury, spa director Lance Etchison has achieved a cult following for both his facial techniques and his eyebrow-shaping skills. Over the years, he’s unclogged the pores and streamlined the brows of everyone from Harrison Ford to Lauryn Hill to Monica Lewinsky (back in her carefully groomed deposition days, of course).

Etchison works out of the store’s Georgetown branch but oversees the spa menu and aesthetician training for bluemercury’s growing national reach—now nearly 30 stores and counting. We sat down with Washington’s best-known extraction expert to get his take on everything from do-it-yourself skincare secrets to who’s got the best brows for the White House. It was all so good, we came up with ten foolproof quotes that make up Lance’s Guide to Great Grooming.

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Sidewalk Style: Anthony Polimero and Torre Mattison

By Rachel Cothran

Sidewalk Style was in Philadelphia over the weekend and managed to avoid all things historic, instead embracing all things caloric and shopaholic. The stylish guys inside the Italian men’s boutique Bello stopped us in our tracks. Read on for their thoughts (and mine) about style and more in Philly.

Photographs by Rachel Cothran.

Photographs by Rachel Cothran.

Names: Anthony Polimero, 60, and Torre Mattison, 34

What are you wearing?
Polimero: “Everything is Palzileri—the jeans, shirt, and vest. The belt is Cortigiani. I don’t remember about the shoes.”
Mattison: “Jacket from Bello, Ted Baker tie and pants, Gianni Barbato shoes, Nagual Designs beaded cuff, ring from Ruka.”

Thoughts on style in Philly?
Polimero: “Oh, I won’t get into that. If people shop here, they will be fine.”
Mattison: “It’s a too conservative, I think—there’s no vision. No one wants to step out and be noticed. And it’s a little too casual. A lot of guys don’t know how to buy suits that fit them. Italian suits have nice high armholes that fit the shoulder and just mold to your body, but a lot of guys think that’s tight. In terms of women’s dress, the older women dress better here. In the next couple years and as more people move here from New York [he points to some condo construction across the street], things are going to change.”

Where are the top places for both men and women to shop in Philly?

Mattison: “For women, Joan Shepp. It’s one of the best stores in Philly. Echo is a bit artier. The owner used to be Eve’s stylist. Of course Bello for men, and a Gianni Barbato store is opening soon here.”

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Where & When: Fashion Edition

By Betsy Lowther

Free hair treatments, big summer sales and a few new shopping spots have us feeling rather punchy this week.

Wednesday, June 4: The terry track suits are coming! The terry track suits are coming! Yes, it's true: Juicy Couture (who, to be fair, has expanded their selection to also include cute work bags, jewelry and clothing) is opening their much-anticipated Georgetown outpost today.

Thursday, June 5: Celebrate good hair—come on! To mark their recent nod in Allure magazine for being D.C.'s top salon, downtown's one80 salon is offering free Phyto deep conditioning all day until 5 PM. No purchase necessary, but you will need an appointment. See here for contact details.

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