Boutiques: U Street in Style!

I recently trudged through the left-over snow to visit a few great boutiques. You would think the cold and snow would be truly miserable...but it was great. Sometimes a brisk walk in the cold air is the best way to release endorphins. I'm glad I decided to take the adventure....and I bet you will be glad too.

U Street has become a favorite of mine. There are fewer tourists and just as many great shops, restaurants, and cafes. U street is a melange of people from all backgrounds and there is at least one thing that they all have in common: at the end of the day, they simply want to take a break, relax, and enjoy life. I found a few boutiques that help U-Streeters (and u-street-wannabes) do it in style.

On the top of the list for style and great service is Pink November. I was warmly welcomed by a woman and introduced to the store. We talked about the small businesses in DC and she gave me a few great websites to visit in order to find more boutiques.

Unfortunately, Pink November ranks pretty low in terms of affordability. They have gorgeous dresses and amazing shoes, but most range anywhere between $200 and $600. The best part is that when you are there you don't feel like you're in a ritzy boutique...instead, it feels as though you are walking through some one's closet and they've offered to give you whatever you want (for a steep price). I fell in love with a pair of gray, white, and sparkly cowboy boots hanging in one of the wardrobes. The super-friendly woman told me they were the last pair...as I held my breath waiting for her to say they were a size 9, she announced that they were a 6.5....hmm, why is it that my mother's feet are always perfectly sized for the cutest shoes and I was stuck with clunkers?

Right next door was Nana...Nana is much more casual (with lots of cottons). I am not a fan of the way the store is laid out; it's a bit cold and empty. But I do love their looks and I think they will be bringing in some great spring outfits.
Right now at Nana they are offering 50% off of already marked down items (but I doubt that will last for long)...and also, if you sign up for their mailing list you can get another 15%...those discounts really add up.

So after loving Pink November, and liking Nana, I went into Stem. I was dazzled by the jewelry and accessories but less than thrilled by their lack of customer service coupled with the strong smell of food.

You see, Stem is connected to Noodle, and so it smells like, well, noodles. The woman at the counter was on the phone the entire time (speaking loudly in her native language) and then a man came to take her place. I asked him how long the sale would be going on (they have nearly everything marked down) and he said he didn't know. I kind of got the vibe that they nearly always have a sale going on. Ultimately, I will likely shop there in the future, but only if they actually take the time to greet me and inform me of any sales.