Fashion:District returns, for a price

In which Your Girl Blogger has conflicting thoughts about an event:

Reasons to go:

-All the cool fashionistas will be there

-The pop-up shops will have beautiful items for sale, and shoppers will be supporting local businesses

-It's easy to get to (Circulator! 96 bus! Walk from the Woodley Metro!)

-Watching DC's fashion scene develop is inspiring and causes many warm fuzzies

Reasons to skip it:

-Spring's fashion:district cost $10 to get in. Since this girl blogger missed her chance to buy a fashion show ticket, she missed what was probably the best part of the night.  This year, it's $25 to get in ($35 for all-access which includes a swag bag and open bar).  For fashionistas on a budget who'd like to actually be able to buy something from the pop-up vendors, $25 is no small change.
-If you get up early (like this girl), beware of timing. Spring's fashion show started about an hour late, and while we can't make assumptions, we will say that fashion runs on its own schedule. Be prepared for a late night.
-There will be enough multimedia afterward that you'll still be able to see the runway looks.

Are you going?  If so, get your ticket NOW as this event will sell out pronto.

♥

Quick pics from Crafty Bastards

Crafty Bastards comes but once a year, and for my first time attending, I decided to jump in and volunteer. On the 5 a.m. shift. Working the early shift gave me the opportunity to do the following:

-See what AdMo is like at 5 a.m. on a Saturday

-Get in a good workout from which I am still recovering

-Meet some nice people

-Eat bagels in the dark with said nice people

-Get a head start browsing the market!

I helped the guys from Arganica load in their supplies for the day,
including these two to keep them company!

Go green at the Adams Morgan Day Festival

Adams Morgan Day is here again, and the Quarter Life Closet is back to help celebrate. Stop by the green pavilion on September 12 for all your environmentally-friendly needs—including clothing. Remember, vintage is sustainable and keeps clothing out of landfills.

Visit Megan at the Junction table and keep a lookout for colorful homemade price tags. That'll be the stuff hand-picked by me, in a pretty wide range of ladies' sizes. And if you're shopping in the afternoon, you may even spy me in the crowd.

See you at the festival!

♥

Field Trip: Mercedes Bien

Not to be confused with Jumbo Slice up the street

2423 18th St NW, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 360-8481


Mercedes Bien had been on my "to-visit" list for a while, but its odd hours forced me to keep pushing back my visit.  I finally made the time to stop by on a Saturday just as Ally was putting a sandwich board out on the sidewalk.  If it hadn't been for that sandwich board, I probably would have walked right by the shop.  The first floor is closed up, so you have to look for signs of vintage (like the small sign on the second floor, or the sammy board, as we will now call it).


When you reach the second floor, it's like wandering into some awesome old person's attic.  But instead, it's a carefully hand-picked collection by Mercedes herself, who has been in the vintage business for as long as your girl blogger has been around.  Not every piece is true vintage, but that's become common in vintage shops: sometimes, a great vintage-inspired piece shows up and looks great.  It's not sacrilege to put it in your vintage collection.  It's a tribute.  Sometimes that tribute comes from Target.  Shrug.  No big deal.


Mercedes wasn't at the shop when we visited, but when she was called for a price check, we found ourselves on the phone with her.  Talk about approachable!  If she's that friendly on the phone, I can't wait to meet her in person. Clearly, she loves what she does and loves the great construction of past fashion.  There's no particular time span favored in the store, but trust that the dresses and other clothing from the '40s and '50s through the '80s is top-notch.


Two areas of the store stood out to me for the very cool and surprising selection: belts and glasses.  (I'm surprised too.)  Mercedies Bien has an entire folding screen covered in belts, including wide modern styles that are popular now.  I've found that decent belts are hard to find in thrift shops, so I seriously considered plunking down $30 for a quality belt here.  As for glasses, you may not see many when you first enter the store.  But ask for them, and you'll be shown drawer after drawer of beautiful frames in every style.  From elegant, to funky, to bifocal (a lot of the pairs still have their original lenses), there's something for every face.  


Also worth checking out: the menswear section in the back room.  Not a wide selection, but suits and suit separates are reasonably priced for quality secondhand.


We're not going to lie, the store hours—12-6 on Saturday and 12-5 on Sunday—are grossly inconvenient.  But, if you can't stand to wait, you might be able to score an appointment with Mercedes herself.  Otherwise, carve a little time into your weekend to take a trip down fashion memory lane at this fun shop.


A bajillion more photos after the jump.

Field Trip: Smash Records

2314 18th Street NW, Second Floor

Washington, DC 20009

202-38-SMASH

www.smashrecords.com

I know, I know. You're sitting there like, "Jeebus girl, this is a record store not a vintage or thrift shop. You're doin' it wrong."

But I'm not! Scout's honor.

The same day that the roommate and I wandered into Meeps, we tripped upon Smash. We wouldn't have given it a second glance except she noted that the easel sign out front mentioned vintage. So wander we went, inside and up the stairs.

There are a ton more records than there are clothes here, but think about it: records take up much less room, and therefore approximately a zillion of them can be crammed in a small space. Clothes and shoes: slightly more cumbersome. The front half of the store has all the vintage and thrift goodies. It's a good mix of old stuff, and newer secondhand stuff that has an old vibe to it. There were all sorts of people in the store, which smelled kind of like armpits, and patience was required when visiting the racks. Everyone gets a turn to look and touch!

Prices aren't out of this world but are markedly higher if you're looking for a big name like Betsey Johnson--which, if you peek around, you can find. I was pretty proud of the shoes I bought at Smash. I had been looking for work-appropriate flats for a while, hoping to find a pair that would withstand my hellacious commute through the winding, faltering Metro system of doom. And I am a fool for some patent-leather shoes, or at the least something similarly shiny. So for $16 (plus tax of course), those cute flats were mine. I am still breaking them in, but they look glorious. Check 'em out--they even have fake taps on the bottom. They look awesome when I'm flying down the platform at Metro Center.

Stop by Smash after brunch during your weekend stroll of Adams Morgan. If you're not too hungover, you'll enjoy poking around here. Maybe get a few LPs while you're at it.

Shuffle fake-tap shuffle!

Modeling my new shoes in front of the store,
ignoring the extensive amount of clash I am creating in the process

♥

Field Trip: Meeps

2104 18th Street Northwest

Washington, DC 20009

202-265-6546

www.meepsdc.com


In the past few months, we've gotten a few questions about where the guys can bulk up their vintage wardrobe in DC. I finally have the answer: Meeps.

I'll admit that I was underwhelmed after a round through Meeps on a late Sunday afternoon. And then I looked around and realized what my problem was: I was out of women's clothes. And there were still tons of men's clothing. And I could not wear that stuff.

And so, while Meeps gets a nod for its beautiful vintage frocks and locally-designed pieces, it really gets the award for menswear. I should have known--when we walked in, the store was swarming with dudes. There's a nice selection of casual clothing, blazers, and all sorts of separates. Guys, make sure not to miss the second-floor loft: it's got quality vintage suits and tuxes. You'll also find some shoes and boots up there.

When it comes to prices, Meeps' tags are about average for the area. Budget about $30 for vintage separates, and $60-$80 for something more fancy. Meeps also gets a nod of approval for its local designs. We found a whole rack of repurposed, recycled skirts, tops and dresses. Recycled! And local! Gotta love this store for supporting the recycled lifestyle.

Bottom line: Men. Here. Now.

My partner in crime considered this cute recycled skirt.

A view from the loft overlooking the store

♥

Field Trip: Posh

1828 18th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20009
(202) 460-2100

www.aposhconsignment.com

Posh is the new kid on the block, debuting in late October across the street from DC dining staple Lauriol Plaza. But if you have any concerns about the quality of owner Julie Visperas' inventory, leave your worries at the door. She's got more name brands than a Fergie song.

This past summer, she proposed the idea of a consignment shop that didn't forget the male demographic to her boyfriend. At the time, he scoffed at the idea.

She said that most of the items in her store are about 65% off the retail prices, and while it's an upscale place, there's something for every budget level. Many pieces are brand new with their original tags. If you're looking to splurge at a discount, you'll be right at home among racks of True Religion and Seven for All Mankind jeans. There are Gucci boots and Louis Vuitton shoulder bags. (I told you this place was going to sound like a Fergie song.) She has a few vintage items, but most of the inventory is more modern.

The stylish man will feel at home at Posh, where the menswear is front and center in the small shop. From jeans to blazers to tailored suits, get ready to look good. During our visit, a man came by with a variety of clothing to consign, adding to the collection near the front door.

Visperas prefers that consigners make an appointment so she can meet them personally. She goes through each item with consigners and ensures mutual agreement on prices. She was well-stocked with jeans at the time of our visit, but she would like to see more evening gowns on the racks.

Consigners get half the dough on a sale, but have the opportunity to make a donation if their pieces sit on the racks a little too long. Visperas works with the Women's Collective, which provides HIV prevention and management services and support for women and their families.

"I'm blessed to get through the door," Visperas said, crediting the store's early success to word- of-mouth advertisement. "The response and support from the neighborhood has been amazing."

When you're done your holiday shopping and the only person left on the nice list is yourself, head over to Posh. No one needs to know it's not brand new.

More photos after the jump.

♥