Robert Rodriguez fur and cashmere stole on sale for $42.50. Photo credit: Kelly Collis Fredrick

I started a mental list of luxury items that will, at least in theory, forever be staples in my closet – Chanel quilted purse, couture leather jacket, Hermes scarf, vintage fur stole, perfect pair black Manolo’s heels – just to name a few. Being an avid shopper, the treasure hunt to find these items at a deep discount is part of the fun. We are lucky in DC to have a plethora of consignment stores and I visited several to see if I could find the luxury items I was looking for… though I’m still saving for these items so I left my credit cards at home.

All the consignment stores I visited carried J. Crew, Banana Republic, Nanette Lepore, Tory Burch, etc. – which is great for staples, but I was looking for the “Fifth Avenue” brands. After several stops it came down to these three consignment shops that had the best selection of luxury items.

Consignment shop owner Inga Guen. Photo credit: Kelly Collis Fredrick

Inga’s Once is Not Enough

The grandmother of consignment stores in the DC area is Inga’s Once is Not Enough on MacArthur Boulevard. Inga Guen has been in business for 16 years and many of her items are consigned from boutiques from all over the world – meaning these items have never been used! I counted at least 20 pairs of Manolo heels, Christian Lacroix suits, and an entire rack of Chanel jackets, suits and gowns. She organizes her high end labels by racks rather than mixing all the brands together. She also has an abundance of Chanel and Gucci handbags as well as Akris (one of her best selling brands). If you are looking for something particular, just ask Inga; she has a back room of sorts where she keeps some additional inventory. She is dedicated to making her customers happy by working with their budget, style and body shape.

Despite being surrounded by such beautiful and couture fashion, talking with Inga (who was dressed to perfection) was the highlight of the visit. Her pleasant nature and dedication to her customers is obvious. Her face lit up as she described the under 45 crowd in Washington as being “the pulse of DC fashion” and how they are both “fashion- and budget-conscious.”

Favorite things from Inga’s:

Chanel mint green leather jacket $498. Photo credit: Kelly Collis Fredrick

Green ostrich leather Gucci handbag $2998 (retails for $9800). Photo credit: Kelly Collis Fredrick

New to You

Christina Novak’s boutique in Falls Church has been in business since 1992. I was impressed with the clean and crisp environment that seems to be an anomaly with consignment stores. Many of her consignees mail in items from all over the country. She has a well-stocked inventory of handbags from Louis Vuitton and Valentino.

Christina Novak and store employee Rebecca. Photo credit: Kelly Collis Frederick

Out of the three stores featured, New to You had the largest jewelry inventory with brands like David Yurman, Gucci, Alexis Bittar and vintage Tiffany. It was the only shop that had a few pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes. The use of social media has allowed her to expand her network of consignees, expanding her luxury inventory as a result. A handful of high ticket goods are listed online for sale.

Favorite things from New to You:

Vintage Tiffany necklace $1000. Photo credit: Kelly Collis Fredrick

Bottega Veneta handbag one of only 150 $4500 (retails for $6400). Photo credit: Kelly Collis Fredrick

Mint Condition

The newest addition to this market is Toni Henderson’s shop in Old Town, Virginia that opened last summer. Owning a consignment store is a family trait; Toni’s mother owns one of the largest consignment stores in Minneapolis.

Mint Condition owner Toni Henderson. Photo credit: Kelly Collis Fredrick

Mint’s luxury inventory is relatively small and tucked away next to the registers, but it’s an area she continues to expand. On visiting last week I spotted several pairs of Gucci, Prada and Jimmy Choo shoes as well as Escada and St. John clothing. During my weekday visit the store was packed with customers ranging in age.

Favorite things at Mint Condition:

Robert Rodriguez fur and cashmere stole on sale for $42.50. Photo credit: Kelly Collis Fredrick

(It is worth noting in closing that I had a particularly awful experience at Secondi in Dupont Circle.  The staff were rude and would not allow me to interview them or photograph the store.)

Jen Donohue of Treat Boutique. Photo credit: Lawrence Luk

One of my favorite pastimes is visiting independent boutiques in the DC area and talking to the owner. I am fascinated by their motivation to take a risk in retail. When Treat in Old Town Alexandria opened in 2007 and was described as a sample sale boutique, I made a special trip to check out this unique shop. I was greeted by a warm, friendly smile from the store’s owner, Jen Donohue.

I am fortunate to have spent time with Jen through the years and I am inspired by her entrepreneurial spirit, fabulous sense of style combined with hard work that has made Treat one of the best boutiques in the DC area.

Jen is a copyright attorney at a large law firm in downtown DC and my type of girl as both a lover of fashion and great bargains. She first got the idea to open Treat in 2005 when she was visiting New York City and waiting in line at a sample sale. The pure madness of the lines with their pushing and shoving was not her favorite thing but a great deal on designer labels was – she came home with a coveted pair of Manolo heels.

In 2006, she started to consider opening up a store that would offer Washingtonians sample sale-like prices on designer labels, but was surprised to learn she was already on track to become partner at her law firm.  She decided to dedicate herself to making her other dream of partner come true, and to top it off she was getting married that same year. During this time, she fed her creative spirit by taking art classes at Old Town’s Torpedo Factory.

Jen’s dedication paid off; she became partner and around the same time, and she also became friendly with another DC woman entrepreneur Ada Polla, CEO of Alchimie Forever, who was getting ready to launch her own line of skincare products in the DC area. Ada was a source of inspiration and encouraged Jen to pursue her dream.  Jen credits Ada and her husband with helping her make the decision to “just do it” – Treat opened in July 2007.

Treat Boutique. Photo courtesy of Jen Donohue

Loyal customers visit Treat multiple times a season because there are new items every week, as the inventory mostly comes from boutiques from all over the country that were not able to move these items. About a third comes direct from the designers.  Almost everything is at least 40% off retail.   There are sales where inventory can be as high as 75% off.   Jen has a knack for trends and understanding the often conservative clientele in DC.  Her inventory is always seasonal, for example, she will start to purchase resort wear, currently in stores, in May coinciding when most people are buying clothes for warmer weather.

Designers like Nanette Lepore, Loeffler Randall, 3.1 Philip Lim and even some hard to find designers in the DC area like Sally Tseng and a ton of denim are staples in her store. Accessories include Bettye Muller shoes, Rebecca Minkoff handbags and jewelry from local designer Ruth Barzel.

She believes she pushes the envelope with her clothing while working her day job at Arent Fox.  She scours fashion magazines like Lucky to find inspiration and the perfect addition to her closet and goes to great lengths to find that particular item. And it shows – the best way to describe Jen’s style is conservative chic – she pairs a basic pencil skirt with a trendy fitted blazer, bold jewelry, high heels and a fabulous handbag.

Jen continues to work at her law firm and really enjoys her day job.  Treat allows her to express her passion for fashion. Given her knack for style, creative talent and ease in multi-tasking, I asked her if she has thought about designing her own clothing line. She doesn’t know how to sew but would like to learn, knowing her she will accept the challenge down the road.

Stay tuned, Jen will surely continue to be a quiet but powerful fashion icon in Washington.

Treat Boutique
103 S St Asaph Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 535-3294

Winter has arrived in D.C. and if you have lived in Washington for a while you know we are not real pros at surviving the cold and not to mention dealing with snow! I find it is more of challenge to stay stylish during the winter months.

Here are a few items that will keep you warm and looking stylish this winter.  So ditch those Uggs!

Hats and Scarfs

Anthropologie in Georgetown has a great selection of knit hats in a variety of colors and styles that range from $38-$42, they are loose fitting so it will not mess up your hair completely.  And on the flip side if you are having a bad hair day, they are super cute and you can wear them all day.

Another great item is a spin on a classic  – a ruffled scarf.  Anthropologie sells them a bunch of different colors for $98 and I have also spotted some at Bloomingdale’s in Chevy Chase for a lot less at around $40.

Tights

This is my favorite item to buy in the winter – they are relatively inexpensive and I love adding to my collection each year.  The trend this year is color and texture!    Lace tights are everywhere and classic enough to wear to work or for a night out.  I love this pair from Banana Republic and priced right at $19.  Hue is the master of all things legwear and this year they have teamed up with designer Trina Turk to make a line of ultra trendy tights.  These metallic tuxedo tights are ideal to spruce up a basic black or gray dress.

The ultimate winter tight for warmth is the merino wool blend tight from UK based Wolford.  Even with their wool blend, they are not bulky and really do keep your legs warm.  They are available in basic colors – black, ecru, mocha, and grey and are in stock at their retail location in Tyson’s Galleria ($54).

Layers

Layers are key!  We can see the example from our First Lady who has made cardigans cool again by adding funky belts and flower pins to complement her personal style.

J. Crew and Gap are the go to stores for finding basic color cardigans and adding accessories can be inexpensive  – Urban Outfitters and LouLou in Bethesda and Dupont have a great selection of pins and belts to accessorize to your cardigan.

The boyfriend blazer is also very hot this season.  It is a great transition piece from work to a night out and can be paired with everything from denim to a cocktail dress.   Zara in Georgetown has a wide selection of blazers that include tweed to tuxedo styles.  I also spotted this look at Wink in Georgetown.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Collis Fredrick

This blazer is from Priorities ($116); I would be remiss to not mention the necklace and although it may not keep you warm, it is a fun accessory I am currently coveting ($85 – comes in silver too).

Footwear

Ok, I admit I own Uggs and I love my Uggs, on those cold mornings to walk my dog…but the look is passé.  Invest in a great pair of leather or suede boots with a slight heel.  The tip is to wear tights and then a pair of cashmere blend socks to keep those tootsies warm.  These Bettye Mueller boots from Columbia Heights’ shoe boutique Simply Soles are great because they can be worn multiple ways and high enough to keep the leg warm.   Another great pair that are cozy and stylish are these ‘Frostie’ boots available at The Shoe Hive in Old Town. Investing in a great pair of boots is worth it, they are always in style and made well they will last for winters to come!

Stay warm!

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I recently attended two events held in what I knew as the 14th and U Streets corridor – the Dog Days of Summer in August and about a month later, Fashion’s Night Out. The vibe of these events, the display of unique items from both clothing and home décor boutiques, made these memorable shopping excursions.

Who was organizing these popular events? I traced it back to the MidCity Business Association (BA). MidCity BA represents businesses on the commercial corridors that stretch down 14th Street from Florida Avenue to Thomas Circle and along U from 9th to 17th as well as several side streets way beyond the 14th and U district. Many don’t know that MidCity is actually a historical term for this collection of neighborhoods dating decades back.

Over the past few weeks, I spent time with a few of the boutique owners, as well as Natalie Avery from the MidCity BA, to better understand the neighborhood and community (and was able to sneak in some shopping too!).  As a life long Washingtonian, it was a great experience to learn about the rich history of this neighborhood and the strong sense of community that still exists there today.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Collis Fredrick

The MidCity BA formed in 1998, coinciding with the opening on the Green Line metro stop U Street/Cardozo/African-American War Memorial. Their mission addresses key concerns that effect the health and sustainability of the neighborhood, such as parking, rising property values, public safety, street maintenance and beautification, along with developing and implementing marketing campaigns to attract local, national, and international customers.

There is a beneficial symbiotic relationship with the restaurants, art and music venues, independent boutiques and home décor retailers along with large brands like Whole Foods, Ace Hardware and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams that has boosted MidCity as the ultimate urban destination. The MidCity BA’s gritty and loyal nature to the members and dedication to improving the city forced me to love this area even more.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Collis Fredrick

If you love to shop, today MidCity is a hub of eclectic clothing stores with local independent designers and not-your-find-everywhere designers. There are over 20 home decor shops and 15 independent clothing boutiques not to mention over 70 restaurants and bars.

Caramel Boutique first opened in 2006 offering unique clothing and accessories for men and women, featuring international, national and local designers. The owner, Sarah Watkins, also uses the space to showcase work by local artists in the U Street community. Watkins who works 3 days a week at a non-profit, the rest of her time at her boutique, and is also a long time resident of MidCity. Passionate about her business and the neighborhood, she is a member of the MidCity BA but also meets regularly with other women store owners in the area. She emphasized the importance of community, an example being the “wildly successful” men’s shopping event hosted at neighboring home décor shop RCKCDY (pronounced rock candy), where Caramel clothing was for sale too.

Watkins talked about popular events like the nationwide Fashion’s Night Out, a global initiative at major cities held on September 10, 2009 aimed at promoting retail, restoring consumer confidence, and celebrating fashion. The MidCity BA in conjunction with Great Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce coordinated the marketing efforts in bringing the event to DC. MidCity was the only shopping district in DC that celebrated Fashion’s Night Out, offering spirits and staying open late. Customers came “in droves” and stayed out as late as 11:00pm shopping. In addition, Watkins believes, it brought customers that had not shopped in her store before.

Redeem is a clothing store providing bold and unique casual wear, with hard-to-find men’s and women’s luxury brands both established and new. After talking with the store’s owner Lori Parkerson, a native Washingtonian, it is no wonder Redeem’s mission is to be an involved, responsible neighbor in the community contributing to the on-going revitalization. She too is personally invested in the success of the neighborhood and made a deliberate decision to open her store in MidCity versus the more established shopping district of Georgetown. She carries local designers like deNada and Plastic Heaven.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Collis Fredrick

Parkerson credits the MidCity BA’s “cohesive marketing plan to brand the neighborhood” as a positive vehicle to foster partnerships within the community. According to Parkerson, the success of Fashion’s Night Out was that the stores stayed open late. Many of the boutiques regularly close at 7:00, and she often wonders about the potential customers that could come in after work and the crowd visiting the neighborhood for the great nightlife and restaurants.

Another great independent shop in the area is Dekka, a 2 story co-op of mostly local designers, artists and retailers. The owner Joshua Tinkin and his wife and clothing designer Luciana opened the store in April 2008. “A lot of things wanted to happen in fashion and in DC and we now have a place for them,” says Joshua. Dekka currently has 15 members that design everything from clothing to handbags to jewelry and home décor items and all are for sale at Dekka. When Dekka first opened, it was the owner of neighboring Vinoteca Wine Bar that gave him a case of wine for his opening party. They have since worked closely on a variety of events.

This sense of community also thrived in the past year, where due to the recession many individual boutiques struggled to keep their doors open. MidCity BA stepped in and coordinated advertising with restaurants, which were not hit as hard as the retailers. Restaurants like Café Saint Ex sponsored advertising that not only promoted dining but also the neighboring boutiques. Rice Restaurant gave their customers a card with their receipt after dining. The card was good for $5 at Rice when you spent $50 at one of 5 participating local boutiques.

Beyond talking with these business owners, I witnessed the close-knit community first hand – I was invited to the MidCity BA’s monthly members networking happy hour. This festive and well-attended bunch of about 40 managers and owners met at Café Saint Ex – which also houses the MidCity BA’s offices.

It is because of successful events like Dog Days of Summer and Fashion’s Night Out that MidCity BA has revived Third Thursdays launching tonight, November 19. Boutiques like Nana will donate $1 for every pair of mittens, gloves, or scarves sold to Martha’s Table (one of the few not for profit MidCity BA members) and offer 15% off their merchandise. Like Fashion’s Night Out, many boutiques will stay open late.

Natalie, the Marketing Director from MidCity BA, recounted a funny story from Home Rule: a potential customer called them and said “I am at the corner of 14th and U and I can’t find you.” They are located at 14th and S. Explore this neighborhood and vibrant community known as MidCity beyond 14th and U.

A list of some of my favorites in MidCity:

Caramel – 1603 U Street NW
Dekka – 1338 U St NW
Muléh – 1831 14th St NW
Treasury – 1843 14th St NW, 2nd Floor
Redeem – 1734 14th St NW
Pulp – 1803 14th St NW
View MidCity Fashion in a larger map

For more details on the neighborhoods that are part of MidCity check out Shannon’s overview and history of Shaw and Logan Circle.

There’s also a full listing of shops in MidCity.

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