Second Time Around hosts late-night sale

Tired of winter?
So is this kitten.
Let's go shopping.

Second Time Around is clearing out winter merch by offering 70 percent off all of it. Their blog has details and all the locations participating, but I'll save you the trouble: Georgetown will be open until midnight tomorrow night (the 10th) for maximum shopping opportunity. If winter knits aren't your thing, new arrivals will be marked down 20 percent. That means you can stop by and check out the pair of nearly-new Rich & Skinny jeans that I dropped off to consign last week....

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Thrift tip: Last chance for winter gear

I know it's still freezing (except for Wednesday when it may or may not get into the mid-50s) but something to consider....all the winter sales happening as we speak. I was in Second Time Around the other day consigning some things and all their winter stuff is 50 percent off.

And fresh from my inbox is this winter sale announcement from Annie Creamcheese that promises only the best in vintage capes'n'such:

See you at the sale rack!

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Field Trip: Tari

1525 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington DC 20007
202-621-7500


Tari snuck into Georgetown this fall, and if you ask owner Sara Mokhtari, the store isn't quite ready for its grand opening. Oh sure, you can come in and shop, but the speakers haven't been installed, and there are holes in the ceiling where vents will go. When she dashes into the back of the shop to look for something, it sounds like an avalanche of boxes. But it's just an organization system coming to fruition. Slowly.


And then there's the matter of a sign. Tari has a beautiful, multi-paned window at the front of the store. Sara's mother likes the old-fashioned window, and I agree with her. But due to Georgetown's strict business regulations, a window sign seems to be the only option. And you can't spell T A R I out across four window panes unless you want it to look like S A L E. 


But, it will come together.


For now, the clothing speaks for itself in this consignment boutique. During my visit in late December, a regular customer walked out with a Diane von Furstenberg dress—tags still on—and a pair of YSL heels for about $400. Out of my personal budget? Just a bit. But a veritable steal for the seasoned shopper.


Mokhtari has a background in interior design that comes out in full force as she darts around the shop, arranging items and setting them just-so. The regulars bring in their items to consign, but Tari also has connections in the New York and LA fashion scenes that provide much of the tags-on designs.


Menswear is a focus at Tari, with affordable prices on men's suits, tuxes, and casual clothing. Mokhtari is working on plans to expand the shop onto the building's second floor, which means.....entire men's section. If I were a dude, I'd find this very exciting. (Still, as a lady, it's pretty cool.)

The photos can say more than I can, so check 'em out after the jump.

The find: Winter pants, summer dreams

I could appear on Mad Men in these high-waisted pants.

The Look: Sailor pants appropriate for winter

Label: Margaret O'Leary

Location: Second Time Around, Georgetown

Likewise: Pair this creamy camel with a rich jewel tone, or be bold and wear it with a black top and red shoes. I may have done the latter myself.

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K Street Kate offers comprehensive guide to secondhand Georgetown

During the cold, windy winter months, it's a shopper's dream to have several of their favorite stores in one neighborhood. Such is the case in Georgetown, and K Street Kate delivers a comprehensive guide to the shops on M St. and Wisconsin Ave. She reviews a few places that I haven't visited yet, so it's definitely worth a read.

I beg to differ with Kate's statement that Annie Creamcheese is the only place in D.C. to find vintage formalwear. Meeps, Junction, and Mercedes Bien all feature formal dresses, and men in search of vintage attire are sure to be pleased at these locations. And while Annie has racks of gowns, quantity never trumps quality.

Kate also mentioned Annie Creamcheese for having the best website. That site is a saccharine train wreck. 

The most interesting tidbit I picked out of Kate's post is mention of Tari, newly opened on Wisconsin Avenue. I noticed the store's website points to the old (but redesigned for Tari) site of Posh Consignment. So I grabbed the phone and reached owner Sarah, who told me that she is friends with Julie, who owned Posh. Posh closed with rumors that it may reappear on H Street. Sarah took over Julie's website while waiting for one to be specially designed for Tari—hence my confusion. Another interesting point: Tari has opened at the address previously home to Julep, a famed shop that closed in the spring.

Sarah explained that a lot of the vintage and consignment-oriented people in the city are linked together. She wasn't kidding.

I'll be popping by Tari soon to learn more about this new endeavor.

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Sale alert: Student discount at Annie Creamcheese

A few weeks ago I started receiving these e-mails on Mondays. Does Annie Creamcheese love its neighboring college campuses? It must, as they now offer a 40 percent discount with your student I.D. Every Monday, everything but Chanel. This can add up to big savings for students.

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The find: Perfect wedges to go with that holiday party dress

The Look: Red patent wedges with a twist

Label: Rampage

Location: Second Time Around, Georgetown

Likewise: Set off your winter neutrals with these bright wedges. Think outside the gray-black box and pair them with navy, camel, or cream.

When I found these adorable wedges I didn't even try them on. I just snatched them off the "new" table and plunked down the $12 for them at STA. Well worth it. The narrow wedge can lead to some twisted ankles, so be sure to take care when wearing a shoe similar to this one.

So pretty, I wish I could wear them every day.

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Thrifty weekend events in Georgetown and LoCo

Here, some events. Go enjoy them, thrifters.

This swap got rained out the first time around, but fear not--it's back for a second try. Sunday, noon to 4, Propper Topper, Georgetown.  More details on the Propper Topper blog.

For the Virginia crowd, some info I copied and pasted directly from a TBD submission:

The 8th Annual Townwide Tag Sale in Purcellville is this weekend starting with Antique Flea Market running 8-10 Oct from 8-5 and the big event Sat & Sun 9-10 Oct 8-3 and 10-3. The whole Town becomes a yard sale! The event was selected by Visit Loudoun as the Best Small Tourist Event (<3000) for 2009. This year there are nearly 100 vendors plus 100 yard/business sales, free trolley, and everything you could want and more. Information sheets and maps are at the official website - www.townwidetagsale.com.

Purcellville, woo!

Your Girl Blogger is on the lam this weekend, so be sure to provide any updates or sweet pics from any thriftiness you get into.

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Deep thoughts about Fashion's Night Out in Georgetown

I was pleased to find myself on the “VIP” list for all the Fashion’s Night Out. The atmosphere was fun, the crowds were out, and I managed to keep my ankles intact in my heels on the brick sidewalks.

It was nice to see everyone out in Georgetown on a beautiful night, doing their thing—whether it be eating, shopping, or a little of each.  But I had a few beefs with  the event.

The deals: Being open until 11 p.m. isn’t a deal. If all it says on the map next to your store is “come see us at Fashion’s Night Out!” I’m not going to get that excited.

The “deals”: Free gift with a purchase of $150? A percentage off if you spend $300? I couldn’t even start to look at the racks in some of the stores.  My list of places to visit shortened pretty quickly.

The perks: My dietary-restricted date for the night couldn’t enjoy any of the stores with free wine, so we were in search of champagne. The offerings were quite modest in most places, and those with more generous servings were packed so tightly it wasn’t worth waiting in line. Was anyone really shopping, or were they waiting in line for one piece of sushi and a glass of champy at Intermix?  The thumbs-down of the night goes to Betsey Johnson, which had advertised a garden party on their back patio with wine and Baked and Wired cupcakes. We were greeted by a very cheerful associate when we entered the store, but she chirped, “Oh, and your Betsey Johnson purchase is your ticket to the party out back.”

Well, that’s not what the map says.  But, I wasn’t going to argue. We noshed elsewhere. Betsey Johnson, I love you, but I could not even touch anything on the sale rack.

The timing: We scrambled up and down M Street to visit all our desired stops before heading up to the fashion show around 9. I would have liked more time to browse. 5-11 next time, Georgetown?  Pretty please?

The fashion show: The show was held for a limited crowd at TD Bank on Wisconsin Avenue. By the time the show started, Wisconsin that high up (around Q, or on “Book Hill” as it was marketed….never heard that one before) was already pretty quiet. The show was held to benefit a great cause (no really, the organization is called Cause), and the fashion was nice.  But the emceeing involved a lot of unnecessary explanation of outfits, and some seating would have been nice.  Basically, I did a lot of awkward standing around at the back of the runway during the entire show. So if you see any videos….there I will be.

TD Bank, however, gets the evening’s big thumbs-up for nosh, with substantial appetizers and sweet “mocktails” made by the restaurant that, in the words of Erik Wemple, causes NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST (Mie N Yu.).  

Why did we hide all the cute clothing from the masses at this “exclusive” fashion show?  I didn’t see any names there.  It wasn’t the hot gossip site for the evening. I would have loved an elevated runway and a sleek show to mimic the polished acts at New York’s fashion week.  If you want to play with the big kids, you gotta do it right.

Final word: a solid B.  It’s Georgetown’s first attempt, and it was without a doubt successful. I definitely had a blast. But Georgetown isn’t a place that needs to attract shoppers with money, and I still feel like an outsider in the Georgetown fashion community.

Whatever.  Being frugal pays in the end.

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Fashion's Night Out in Georgetown is finally here

Yes, friends, the night we've all been waiting for has come. Your girl blogger will be out on the town tonight, so check back after the event for deep thoughts on the deals, the fashion show, and of course, the styles on the streets of Georgetown.

THE yard sale in Georgetown this weekend

Potentially super-sweet yard sale this weekend in Georgetown.  Any idea if this is student-run, or is this just the most eye-catching ad I've ever seen for such a sale?

It doesn't really matter, I'm totally going.  But I'd love to know more, fellow Georgetown students and residents.  Let's go shopping.

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DC Chillin': Sweet Sale at Annie Creamcheese

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You're Invited: Annie Creamcheese Anniversary Sale

One of our favorite shops, Annie Creamcheese, is having an anniversary sale.  Get at it!

The coupon doesn't have an expiration date on it, so make sure to check with the staff to see if it's still valid before you fall in love with something pretty.

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Q and A: Finding a Vintage Wedding Gown

Carrie in her vintage dress on her wedding day--with a friend.

If I've learned one thing about blogging, it's that once your friends find out about your passion, they tell everyone else about it--and then you make a bunch of new friends like that. That was just the case when I was casually talking to Emily about vintage wedding gowns. She connected me to Carrie Dvorak, who has lived the dream and found the perfect wedding gown while wandering through Georgetown. Carrie, a speech-language pathologist in Prince William County, Virginia, was kind enough to share her story--and a ton of beautiful photos. Some valuable advice after the jump!


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Field Trip: Second Time Around

3289 M Street NW
Washington, DC‎ 20007
(202) 333-2355‎
www.secondtimearound.net


Consignment: Yes
Vintage: Some
Local Designers: No

Sammy and I dressed for two different seasons.
She was right.  It was warm.

Last weekend was a very special one as our fellow Pennsylvanian Sammy was in DC!  After having a fantastic time as a beautiful bridesmaid, she spent Sunday afternoon traipsing around Georgetown with yours truly.  After a nice lunch at Pizzeria Paradiso, we went across the street to Second Time Around.  


You'll remember that we stopped into another one of Second Time Around's many northeastern locations while visiting Boston earlier in the month.  But while Newbury Street and M Street cater to the same crowd, we were more excited about the selection in Georgetown.  


We were pleased to find a vintage-specific rack right inside the door as we entered.  It was a matter of minutes before Sammy found a delightful violet dress and couldn't resist the urge to try it on.


While she was in the fitting room, I bee-lined for the 70-percent-off racks.  If you're looking for separates or sets to add to your 9-to-5 wardrobe, those racks are a great place to start.  There were great discounts throughout the rest of the store as well, thanks to the trusty colored-tag system usually seen thrift stores.  


Sammy hemmed and hawed over whether to splurge on the dress for her own growing vintage wardrobe, but seeing our reaction and that of the sales associates, she knew she had to jump on it. All in all, the splurge cost her less than $30. 


If you're in the neighborhood, I say stick to the discount racks and tags at Second Time Around to score yourself a designer bargain.  


While we were in the neighborhood, we popped into Annie Creamcheese so Sammy could feast her eyes on all the amazing vintage goods.  It has come to light that Sammy has a weakness for hats, and we loved a pink one, be-flowered and ready for a day in town.  We all tried it on.  It was a popular hat.


More photos from our shopping trip and stroll on the Georgetown Waterfront, after the jump.


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Field Trip: Annie Creamcheese

3279 M Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 298-5555
www.anniecreamcheese.com

Annie Creamcheese is So.  Much.  Fun.  I'm serious!  I wandered into the store on a rainy, dreary day and was met with a fun atmosphere and friendly associates.  They even bent the rules and allowed me to take photos so I could give you a peek into the store.

There are two sides to this store.  On the right side is the "mod" side, where you'll find less expensive items.  On the left is the "couture" side, which is just that.  The couture side is full of high-quality vintage, ranging from bedazzled dresses fit for Cher to preppy frocks.  Anything from the late 40s on is game on this side of the store.

On the right side of the store, there's a mix of vintage and contemporary styles at more moderate prices.  There are a few men's items, but trust me when I say this is a store for us, girls. 

There were a few sales going on when I visited, with discounts available on both winter gear and new spring styles.  The associates told me that Annie Creamcheese also supports up and coming designers, so you'll see some new clothes on the racks. 

Make an appointment if you have a closet full of smocks and frocks you'd like to turn in for cash.  Annie Creamcheese even offers store credit for consignment, so if you just want to update your wardrobe, you can put that credit to work.

Annie Creamcheese also has a second location in Las Vegas.  Just one more place to visit when I get to enjoy some travels!

Seriously, stop into Annie Creamcheese next time you're in Georgetown.  This stuff is beautiful.

After the jump....some delicious photos.

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Field Trip: Secondhand Rose

1516 Wisconsin Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20007

(202) 337-3378

http://www.secondhandrosedc.com/

This consignment shop is older than we are by a good few years.  But if you're out for the day in Georgetown and have a minute to dig around, stop into Secondhand Rose.

There are some serious brands here.  MC was shopping with me and had his eye on a sweater that was hanging up on a mannequin.  He thought it would look great on me, although I insisted it wasn't my style.  Good thing I didn't like it--it was a $400 sweater.  I guess MC has some good taste.  

The store wasn't very busy during our visit, so the friendly staff was ready and available to answer any questions we may have had.  These women know their stuff.  Ask to take a look at the men's ties.  You'll find a very expensive selection of ties at very appropriate prices for something that might get some dinner spilled on it.

Unfortunately, not too many of the items in the front section of the store fit my budget.  But fear not, broke shoppers.  There's a sale room.  When you reach the top of the stairs, go straight back down the hallway that's lined with jackets and dresses on each side.  The sale room is cramped, but take your time and look around.  The room is meant for only one or two people at a time, simply because there's so much stuff back there!  The shoes are arranged by size, and the offerings in the sale room are very reasonably priced for the great brands that were present (Ferragamos included.  You know we have a soft spot for Ferragamos).  Most of the items in the sale room were priced at $50 or below, which tells you how expensive some of the things cost in the rest of the store.

But, you pay for quality, even when it's secondhand or vintage.  Think about it--the good labels don't stay popular because their stuff falls apart on the third wearing.  You may be paying for the name, but oftentimes you really are paying for quality.

For a deep appreciation of fashion of all types, a visit to Secondhand Rose can be a real treat.

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