U Street's vintage-inspired home store Foundry. Photo courtesy of Foundry.
This week’s can’t-miss list of shopping deals and fashion events includes a style seminar and a mimosa-filled morning of beauty treatments.
Gilt City Best of 14th and U Street
The local edition of the luxe Gilt City serves up deals at the most stylish spots along the 14th/U Street corridor, guest curated by Foundry owner and interior designer Yvette Freeman. The flash-sale deals include discounted cupcakes at Cakelove and a mixology class at Marvin, but our fave is for Freeman’s own Foundry: a tiered offer for the store’s merch ($150 for $300 in-store credit, for example) or discounted design services from the store’s decor experts. The Parisian-inspired furniture and decor store is one of our local faves, so don’t miss this chance at the equivalent of an all-store discount. Monday through April 22 on Gilt City DC.
Sassanova’s Autism Fundraiser
The chic shoe boutique hosts a fundraising event supporting autism advocacy nonprofit Autism Speaks: Donate $5 to the cause and take 20 percent off your entire purchase. Sassanova will match each contribution and add a dollar for every customer that comes into one of the three area locations. Through April 15. Sassanova stores: 1641 Wisconsin Ave., NW; 7134 Bethesda La., Bethesda; 805 Aliceanna St., Baltimore.
We don’t know about you, but we are so. very. ready. for a big dose of bold color. And when it feels like you’ve been stranded on winter’s gray and black fashion island for far too long, a double (or triple!) shot of vibrant hues just seems appropriate. One way to work in some major color: Go for the ultra-graphic, high-drama combos of mod, geometric color-blocking. We love this ’60s-esque look in clothes, so naturally we’re feeling the reinterpretation of crisp color-blocking when applied to fold-over clutches, ladylike shoulder bags, and structured satchels. Shop the eight faves above, then click through our slideshow to see 12 more graphic goodies.
Alice + Olivia Catherine gathered skirt A-line dress, $597.
Though the seemingly never-ending cold has managed to push back the peak bloom date of Washington’s tourist-magnet cherry blossoms again (and again, and again), there are still plenty of National Cherry Blossom Festival events happening, with or without the namesake flowers. So obviously you need something appropriately festive to wear, right? Luckily we found this ruffly confection of a cherry-blossom-print sundress right in the nick of time. Apparently Alice + Olivia’s design team was really feeling the DC-centric print this year—check out the brand’s delicate, feminine pumps and this darling (and perhaps more practical) cap-sleeve silk frock. Best part? Even once the pretty pink blossoms are long gone, the dress will still be equally lovely.
Oh, wedding season. As we launch into the spate of nuptials, it can feel like a girl needs nothing more than dresses. A sassy little number for the bachelorette girls’ night out. An elegant choice for the wedding itself. And, of course, the trickiest of them all: the shower outfit. This one poses its own set of criteria: It can’t be white, obviously. Or black. It has to be day- and grandma-appropriate. So what to wear, then? Read on for our tips on finding the perfect party frock, then click through the slideshow for 20 adorable options.
Fit comes first. For this, think classic femininity. That means looking for simple, elegant sheaths, hourglass fit-and-flares, or retro shifts. Avoid super-tight body-con styles and too-bare strapless types.
Go for color. We already mentioned avoiding solid black or white (and we might even add red to the no-no list, too). This is a celebration, so it’s a great opportunity to indulge your color-loving side. Go for poppy pink! Sunny yellow! Languid blue!
Pick a print. While we love a sophisticated solid, this is a fab time to spring for spring’s flirty florals, a playful polka dot, or a preppy stripe. Have fun with it.
We’re not going to tell you to buy a white tee and a pair of perfectly fitted skinny jeans, because: duh. Why is every “essentials” list stocked with boring basics you already have? We don’t know, but we’re here to remedy that: Here are the eight style musts to mix in for the ultimate so-right-now spring wardrobe. Get one of each, and give your style an instant upgrade. You’re welcome.
1. A Sharp, Structured Jacket
This is a way chicer approach to battling
overzealous AC than a ho-hum cardi. Look for a jacket with a sleek,
futuristic silhouette—that means shoulder pads, some killer draping, and
a slim-yet-sculpted shape.
Helmut Lang Sugar Combo jacket, $575 at Intermix.
2. A Chambray Shirt
Ok, this one isn’t so new, exactly. But still,
this is an über-versatile piece every style-savvy girl should have
sitting in her closet. The laid-back workhorse pairs with everything
from a pleated chiffon maxi skirt to sleek leather short-shorts. It’s a
must.
Perfect chambray ex-boyfriend shirt in Ferrous Wash, $69.50 at Madewell.
3. Leather Shorts
And
speaking of leather shorts: Get yourself a pair. Wear them with
everything, just like you would jean shorts. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Premium leather shorts, $130 at Topshop.
4. The Statement Collar Necklace
We love the dramatic punch of a
major statement necklace, and the latest versions sit right at the
collarbone for face-framing perfection. Mix yours with this year’s
florals and stripes for a modern take.
Dannijo Zinnia necklace, $612 at Shopbop.
Shirlie's Girls Night Out. Photograph by Sophie Pyle, courtesy of BrandLinkDC.
So many events this week. You lucky shoppers, you. Here's a quick rundown of the fun fashion and shopping events taking top billing on our calendar:
Tari’s Evening of Spring Style
Cohosted by men’s style blogger Grant Harris of Image Granted, the vintage-gem-laden consignment store Tari kicks off a spring soiree, complete with complimentary style consultations and a 10 percent discount on purchases, plus a giveaway from men’s product subscription service Bespoke Post. Wednesday 7 to 9 PM. 1525 Wisconsin Ave., NW. RSVP through Eventbrite.
South Moon Under’s Evening of Fashion and Philanthropy
South Moon Under’s Clarendon location links up with Fashion for Paws for a charity-driven shopping event, at which the trendy chainlet will give 15 percent shopping discounts and donate a portion of the evening’s sales to the Washington Humane Society. Find sips from Honest Tea, giveaways, swag bags, styling advice, and a deejay. Four-legged buddies are welcome, obv. Thursday 6 to 8 PM. 2700 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington.
We hear you—it’s awfully hard to get psyched about pretty (sleeveless) spring frocks and flirty (toe-exposing) spring sandals when the daily highs are barely inching over 50 degrees. Lately, all we can really get excited about are what we can have NOW: pale, speckled nail polishes; brightly hued leathers (so much warmth potential!); fantasies of balmier forecasts.
And, of course, spring jackets. Bring on the spring jackets! Trenches, motos, bombers, blazers—we love ’em all. Here, just for you, are 15 of the spring toppers topping our list.
Two pieces from the new spring collection. Photographs courtesy of Nana.
We know you’re busy mapping out your spring shopping marathon right now, so while you’re at it, add a local label to the list: Nana.
When the Mount Pleasant boutique of the same name closed earlier this year, owner-turned-designer Jackie Flanagan assured us she wouldn’t disappear along with it. With a slew of events, like a Valentine’s Day bazaar and trunk shows for the shop’s most-missed brands, she’s still very much involved in the local shopping scene. But what we’re really dying to know is what’s happening with her own clothing line.
Nana’s spring collection launches tonight via pop-up at one of our U Street faves, GoodWood, offering the first look at the much-anticipated wave of organic dresses, skirts, and tops. The brand’s gotten a little more creative this time around, using new textures, hues, and prints, like the florals on the blouse shown above. Flanagan describes the aesthetic as “utilitarian elegance,” aiming for the collection to be as befitting for a European vacay as for Friday’s board meeting. Each piece is sewn together at Adams Morgan's Bits of Thread studio and made from sustainable materials. Ever owned a skirt made of hemp? Here's your chance.
It won’t be the first Nana event. Since the shop closed in January, Flanagan has been adamant that the brand has simply changed its location, not its presence. She plans to team up with more local retailers for similar events, and of course, the Etsy shop remains.
The event is from 5 to 8, but if you can’t make it, not to worry: the collection will become available online starting tomorrow. Happy shopping!
Say what you will about the date on the calendar, but it definitely does not feel like spring. Luckily retailers are getting rid of the spring collections regardless in preparation for the summer months to come. These five great spring sales offer discounts on jewelry, clothing, and home accessories enough to have you fully prepared for the warm weather—once it finally arrives.
BaubleBar Spring Cleaning Sale
No outfit is complete without statement-making jewelry. Shop chunky necklaces, whimsical studs, and brightly colored bangles at BaubleBar’s clearance sale. Pieces start at just $16.
Some of the pre-loved goodies at ShoeRaRa: Jimmy Choo d'Orsay Mary Janes, $115; Christian Louboutin nude pumps, $150 (sold); Brian Atwood zebra pumps, $125.
Got Loubie taste on an Aldo budget? So did Sawyer Williams. This 26-year-old DC resident was in the habit of snagging his designer shoes for cheap on eBay when, over Thanksgiving dinner with his younger brother, the idea sparked to create an easier way to shop for pre-owned footwear.
“We thought, there seems to be a surplus of really nice used shoes out there that you can get for super cheap from top-shelf designers—why doesn’t everybody do it?” says Williams. “And then we quickly realized why: It takes a lot of energy and time to do the eBay thing, the thrift shop thing. And then on top of that, there’s no uniformity—every seller has a different return policy, and they take different quality pictures. Then there’s always the fear that eBay is littered with fakes. We realized there was the pain point that was preventing people from indulging in buying used.”
And just like that, ShoeRaRa was born. Here’s how it works: Williams hunts down used designer shoes on eBay, in thrift stores, and from local sellers, then sends his finds to ShoeRaRa’s partner cobbler here in Washington to clean and restore the shoes to top-notch used condition. Then the reworked shoes go up for sale on ShoeRaRa’s site, where clear, crisp imagery and detailed condition descriptions help clear up any doubts about the wear of the shoes. (And the free 60-day return policy helps, too.)
The result? Lightly worn designer heels, boots and flats at major—and we mean MAJOR—markdowns. We’re talking $620 Brian Atwood zebra-print pumps for $125. Jimmy Choo sequined ballet flats for $85. Prada bronze leather ankle booties for $130. At prices like that, how can a shoe-lover be expected to resist? We’ve already got our eye on a pair (or three).
