Washington, DC Shopping

[Diorling]

Ive known of Relish for what...A LONG TIME. I could never find the damn thing!! Everytime I went to Georgetown my friends and I would wander for hours looking for that damn store. Then, just as I was moving, I found that it is right off M st in this wierd thing called Katys Alley (I thought it was an actual street, not whatever it is) It is SO STRANGE. Ive never been.

 

[lmelanie]

yeah..its def worth the trip..yeah it is in a weird place..i was on the phone having someone guide me to it..haha it was pretty funny

 

[marremarremarre]

strolling around old town with my mom today I decided to stop in this little boutique called "an american in paris"
I had been there for 30 seconds, and was looking at this cute jacket, trying to get a better look at the funky buttons, and the owner makes a beeline for me and scolds, in a tone reserved for speaking to 5 year olds, "here we do not touch the garments, if you wish to see a garment, you grab it by the hanger only"...

This is an odd one for my first post here, but I've been in that shop with some friends, and we are in our late 20s/early 30s, not a bunch of careless kids.. And we were treated just the same by the woman who works there.

I was astonished. The clothes aren't all that expensive to fuss like that and all we had done was look at the dresses. I'm in old town all the time but I won't go there again..

 

[salomelovesjohn]

Ive known of Relish for what...A LONG TIME. I could never find the damn thing!! Everytime I went to Georgetown my friends and I would wander for hours looking for that damn store. Then, just as I was moving, I found that it is right off M st in this wierd thing called Katys Alley (I thought it was an actual street, not whatever it is) It is SO STRANGE. Ive never been.

My problem too also I've been too lazy to find it. But based on the recs I'll try and get down there.

Igotgoodjeans - great list! Some of those places I hadn't heard of.

 

[igotgoodjeans]

glad to be of help!

diorling i dont think a lot of those stores have menswear but will double check with a friend of mine who is more in tune with places where they have good mens stuff.

 

[shamigo]

I found relish once...wandered into caddy's alley and it's one of...two stores there (i think the other's a cafe? can't remember)

apparently they don't like to carry anything in a mens size small (which is crap!) but the stuff they did have was quite nice.

 

[spinster]

igotgoodjeans, thanks for the U Street recommendations! I went there for the first time last weekend and I loved it, especially Nana. I didn't buy anything but I know that that store will get me into some trouble in the future. :-) It reminded me of my favorite boutique in my beloved Los Angeles.

I noticed that Nana carried some Wrangler 47s, but not in my size. Has anyone seen this line anywhere else in the area? I tried Denim Bar in Arlington and didn't see it there. Thanks!

 

[Ardento]

In fact, Relish has just closed its menswear section due to low demand (that's what their SA told me). That's too bad - it was THE place for all things avant-garde.

 

[igotgoodjeans]

^ oh really??? that sucks!!

spinster im glad you had a good time in U st area! i know what you mean about those stores being potential trouble on wallet haha...

 

[pinkpolo]

oh, now i can't wait!

 

[thepeppers]

FYI - Just got an invite to this, don't know if I am going but wanted to pass the word along. I do know a few people who went to the one last fall and really liked it. Beware, it costs $$$ to get in and people do line up early like they do in NYC:


Join us Wednesday, February 28, 2007 from 6:00-9:00 pm.
3307 M Street, NW in Georgetown, DC
Between 33rd and 34th on M Street, Across the street from Cady's Alley
Cocktails and Hors d'oeuvres
Cocktails, couture and charity: the trifecta that's at the top of every DC fashionista's agenda.

Join Labels for Love as present the second fabulous installment of the District Sample Sale! Modeled after SoHo and Tribeca warehouse sales, the District Sample Sale brings you exclusive access to unprecedented boutique bargains at the most talked-about social event of the season, all to benefit our Spring 2007 beneficiary, SOME Place for Kids.

SOME Place for Kids, located at So Others Might Eat’s Independence Place, SE, facility, provides an enrichment and nutrition program for children in need, as well as educational activities and structured recreation."

Here is a list of the stores participating (many are uber preppy, but you might be able to find some good stuff
Alex Boutique
Betsy Fisher
Caramel
Denim Bar
Lettie Gooch
Maggie and Lola
Muleh
Periwinkle
Proper Topper
The Purse Store
Queen Bee Designs
Sassanova
Sherman Pickey
The Shoe Hive
Simply Soles
Sissy Yates
Sugar
Urban Chic
Valise
Wink/Blush


www.districtsamplesale.com
​

 

[She Sends Kisses]

If you are shopping in the U Street area, also don't forget to check out Redeem. It is across the street from Muleh, and they have a lot of cool clothes. It just opened a few months ago.

Also, I think Cusp in Georgetown is opening this week.

DC is getting better!

 

[igotgoodjeans]

just got word on another shopping/art event this saturday:

X @ BeBar (1318 9th st : walking distance from the convention center metro station) this Saturday/Feb 24th 6-10pm!!

What is X? Presented by 88 and Flavored Layers, X is a creative amalgamation of LIVE art including 3 graphic designers, electronica music acts, tribal belly dancers, independent fashion designers and other local artists.

i cant go but just wanted to pass along... B)

 

[igotgoodjeans]

k another shopping event coming this saturday - i think im gonna go check it out. a friend of a friend is hosting the gig. same info also here: http://www.onlokation.com/blowout.html

 

[Diorling]

!!!! that is really tempting...

 

[lollicandy]

Tangentially related to shopping, has anyone sold clothing back to Secondi, Annie Creamcheese etc and can recommend a specific boutique, store to sell clothes to? I've really got to purge my room at home, its starting to look like a warehouse. Thanks!

 

[igotgoodjeans]

^ depends on what kind of stuff you have, but ive sold at both annie creamcheese and mustard seed (which is in bethesda). mustard seed tends to me more open in terms of what kind of stuff they buy. ive had good experiences at both.

 

[salomelovesjohn]

I've haven't had the best experiences with Secondi. The first time I got a paltry amount of money for my clothes, including D&G jeans with the tags still on. The second time they didn't accept anything - and it was fine stuff, not super high end, but I was surprised considering the out-of-style and clearly way too used stuff I see in there all the time. Mine was less than a season old and not much used. I have no idea what their standards are or why people bother with them frankly.

I have two huge bags of stuff that I might take to Mustard Seed this weekend- the other thing is I believe Mustard Seed pays you on the stop while Secondi makes you make and appointment and then mails you a check.

 

[salomelovesjohn]

On another note can anyone recommend a shoe place in DC that they would trust with nice shoes, like Manolos? I took a pair to Corrective Shoe Repair in Dupont and they put zip soles on them only to let some of the black gunk get on my gold shoes - big trauma, they're supposedly fixing them this week, but I'm never taking anything there again. The shoes were luckily a less expensive trial pair, but still I'm really into my shoes!

(The owner was also sort of a jerk, didn't even offer to refund me for the bother of hauling out there a total of four times for one pair of shoes. I think I might ask him for a refund when I pick up the shoes and if he doesn't give it I may just dispute the charge, that seems fair to me.)

 

[thepeppers]

Try Best Foot Forward at Pentagon Row, ask for Willie Lopez, the owner. I have taken my shoes there for years and have always been happy with the product. They just resoled some Marc Jacobs flats and they look brand new. They do take a while (usually a week), but it is worth the wait.