Sweet Treat

Enjoy great bargains without sacrificing style at Old Town’s Treat boutique, now in a bigger location. You’ll find sample-sale pricing all the time on designer names such as Foley & Corinna, Diane von Furstenberg, and Nanette Lepore. Through November, mention The Washingtonian at checkout to receive an additional 20 percent off any purchase of $100 or more.

Baby Talk

Jacadi, the French boutique for the wee set (under age 12), knows that making your little Suri or Shiloh fashionable can be pricey. Bring in this page to get 10 percent off any purchase over $100. Customers who spend $100 or more also can get a free Jacadi backpack while supplies last.

Denim Deals, Shoe Steals

A great pair of jeans is always in style. At the denim mecca National Jean Company, shop the latest in jeans by names such as Current/Elliott, True Religion, and Citizens of Humanity plus casual wear by Ella Moss, Splendid, and LnA.

In November, take 20 percent off any non-sale items by mentioning The Washingtonian at checkout or using the code “Washingtonian” if you shop online. You can also get 20 percent off non-sale shoes by the likes of Stuart Weitzman, Frye, and Sam Edelman at the store’s sister Web site, shoptheshoebox.com.

Melanie Kimmelman, 21
Student, George Washington University

What she’s wearing: Club Monaco jacket, her mother’s Hermès scarf, Brochu Walker tank top bought on Ruelala.com, J Brand jeans, La Canadienne boots, sparkly necklace from J. Crew, Coach watch, and Tiffany necklace and bangle. Another bangle is from a trip her father took to Peru.

I’m seriously loving that scarf, Hermès or not.
“My mom gave it to me because she never wore it. You just fold it into a triangle, and then fold it over toward the triangle. I have one from a trip to Prague and a few others. I wear them under jackets like this and a leather jacket I got recently.”

Tell me about your style.
“Being comfortable is important. I like classic clothes. I wear blazers a lot, and one of them is part of a Theory suit I got for college interviews. I like to mix up the classics and do more with accessories, which might be a holdover from high school, when I wore a uniform. You had to get creative with accessories—your bag, your jewelry, even your planner. I think about details.”

What better way to spend a rainy weekday night than with good friends, free drinks, and more than miniature trunk shows? The Washingtonian headed to DAR Constitution Hall last Wednesday for Shecky’s Girls Night Out , a smorgasbord of boutiques, jewelry designers, and food and beauty products. Read on for how to shop our favorite vendors from the evening.

Stella & Dot. There was so much that we loved from this jewelry designer that’s a favorite of fashion magazines and celebrities. The sweetly pretty pieces are versatile, trendy, and range from delicate outfit enhancers to impossible-to-miss statement makers. We can’t wait to incorporate the Ava Cupchain ($44) and Sofia Pearl Bib ($118) necklaces into our holiday-party wardrobe, and the Paige Chandelier earrings ($69) would be a great way to glamorize weekend wear.

Tuesday, October 13, through Sunday, October 18
Spa Week
Washington’s semiannual Spa Week in Washington offers select $50 treatments at more than 50 participating retailers. Click here for full details.

Boutique Week
Get your boutique fix in Old Town with the first annual Boutique Week fest. Retailers throughout the Alexandria neighborhood will offer discounts, special promotions, wine, and trunk shows. One lucky shopper will receive a grand-prize package with a one-night stay at the Morrison House Hotel as well as an Old Town shopping spree. To be eligible, shoppers will need to fill out an entry form by October 22 and have stamps from at least five retailers. For details, click here.

What: Piazza Sempione Opening  

When: Wednesday, October 7.

Where: Piazza Sempione at the Collection at Chevy Chase.

Admission: Free, but it was an invitation-only event.

Around 100 of Washington’s well-heeled set showed up in Chevy Chase last night for a grand-opening fête for the Italian designer line Piazza Sempione, who opened its latest stand-alone store late last month. The party, sponsored in conjunction with Vogue magazine, included free appetizers and Champagne as well as a DJ, in-store modeling, and an exclusive spring 2010 trunk show with a 15-percent discount on purchases.

This Halloween, don’t get caught at the bar wearing the same Kate Gosselin wig or one-gloved Michael Jackson ensemble as everyone else. Get original—and the Shakespeare Theatre Company can help. This Sunday, the theater’s costume shop is opening its collection of surplus stock for public sale. The pieces, accumulating since the last sale three years ago, will take over the three levels of the lobby at Sidney Harman Hall from 1 to 6.

Because the theater has covered a lot of Shakespearean ground since 2006—remember Twelfth Night, Hamlet, and Macbeth?—the selection is diverse. Period details such as doublets, cloaks, and armor pull an elaborate character together—or check out some of the unexpected options, such as animal headdresses or 1960s mod fashions. And it’s not just clothes, either: There’ll be jewelry, masks, and props such as sculpted wedding rings and table settings from The Taming of the Shrew.

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.