Shop Op: Mint Condition

Looking for priceless items that look fresh from the mint? The head to Mint Condition, a new area consignment shop, in Arlington, VA. The converted row house with its mint green walls hosts a bevy of top designers with price tags suitable for penny pinchers with a passion for fashion.

Owner Toni Henderson has adopted an organized shopping style for customers where pieces are organized by type, then size and then color, making it easy for shoppers to pick out a pair of Paige Denim jeans or a Catherine Malandrino dress.

The shop is also consigner friendly as they split profits fifty-fifty, regularly mail checks, and gives people a week to claim items after the selling period before they’re donated.

Check them out at 114 South Royal Street, Alexandria (703-836-6468)

shopmintcondition.com

Beach Bumming...

Divorces are messy so its pretty understandable that singer Kelis decided to hit the beach to get away from the hoopla surrounding her pregnancy and recent separation from rapper Nas. According to TMZ.com things aren't going well in splitsville, Kelis is running into financial trouble as her estranged husband was the primary breadwinner.

Kelis said, "My survival is based on [Nas'] will at this time. If he does not want to pay for an expense, it does not get paid."

Kelis also said she's entitled to maintain the lifestyle to which she became accustomed during their marriage -- they have five homes, fly first class, go to fancy restaurants, and on and on.

"There were many expensive pieces [of jewelry] such as a princess-cut diamond tennis bracelet that was recently appraised for $190,000. My engagement ring is an approximately nine-carat cushion cut solitaire. I have numerous watches...such as Cartier, Rolex, Frank Muller and Chopard."

That may explain why Kelis sported a Forever 21 swimsuit (above) at the beach with her friends...

The swimsuit Kelis is wearing if Forever 21's Geo Studded Bandeau top and Bikini bottom. Both pieces retail for $12.80.

This summer Forever 21 introduced swimsuits to their collection of low-cost fashion goodies. Check out some more 80's retro swimsuits below that wont break the bank.

Flashback Bandeau Top and Bikini Bottom ($12.80 each)

Neom Fun Trim Monokini ($22.80)

Peacock Feather Monokini ($22.80)

Jumping Around Solo

My favorite fashionista and up and coming songstress Solange Knowles is continuing to strike out on her own! She was seen performing on stage alongside rock band Chairlift at Tennessee's 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.

Outfitted in a one-piece Rapscallion by Samantha Peet jumper, Solo rocked out at the four-day, multi-stage camping festival which is held on a700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee every June.

You can pick up your own Rapscallion jumper at your nearest Urban Outfitters. The one Solange wore retails for $58.00.

While your there, pickup a few more...

Like this BDG Strapless Button-front Jumper ($58)

Or this Ecote Strapless Smocked Jumper ($58)

Or this Kimchi Blue Strapless Tie Front Jumper ($58)

Or this Silence & Noise Knot Front Jumper ($48)

Emerald City at MTV Movie Awards

Dressing for the MTV Movie Awards is never a really straight-forward situation. Its not ultra-glam like the Oscars or rock & roll like the VMAs. The Movie awards, one of the lesser watched award shows has everyone from actresses, to models, to musicians present.

British Actress Sienna Miller was right on the money in a money-green long sleeved sparkling mini-dress. The dress is from her own line Twenty8Twelve

The dress boasted a plunging-V in the back and Swarovski crystals. Sienna was definitely seen in green on the red carpet this week.

D you want to recreate the look? Head to American Apparel in Georgetown and pick up the Foil Print Nylon Spandex Micro Mesh long sleeve mini dress in Metallic Teal (below). The dress retails for $48.

Boutique Scene: Passport

PASSPORT

2003 11th Street NW

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Seriously. If you could take your passport and go anywhere, WHERE would you go? How about home. That's what the owner of DC boutique Passport, Kourosh Chitsaz, did. When he wanted to open up a boutique in the U St. area with an international feel, he decided to open it up in his home.

That's right Kourosh renovated his home in Northwest Washington, DC and made it into a hip and trendy boutique with a unique concept. After working in the UK in the fashion industry, Kourosh found himself in Washington, DC living in a historic row house next door to his family owned restaurant and club Bohemian Caverns.

From his conveniently located home, he managed the DC landmark. After Bohemian Caverns underwent a management change, Kourosh decided to turn his home into "Passport" which opened May 4th, 2008.

The DistriCt interviewed Kourosh Chitsaz about Psssport, here's what he had to say:


DISTRICT: How did you come up with the name Passport

KHOUROSH: Well, in order to travel every person needs to carry a passport. It's a form of personal identification, but the pages also tell a story about where that person has been and what they are about. A passport is a reflection of a persons individuality and that is what the Boutique is all about: Individuality.

DC: How do you decide what designers/merchandise you carry?
KC: The designers are hand picked from all around the globe in order to give the customers a sense of uniqueness.Therefore, I try to pick designers that are not in the mass market.When a customer buys a piece from Passport, they generally will not see anybody in Washington DC with the same style.


DC: What's the most fabulous piece/item you have in the store right now?
KC: Well for ladies, I have a gorgeous yellow dress from an Australian designer that is to die for, it is perfect for the warm weather.As for men, it is hard to identify one piece, there are so many... I would have to say the linen jacket with the funky layered collar by one of the European lines.

DC: How do you stay ahead of the competition?

KC:I stay ahead of the competition by not following trends and continually looking for styles that our outside the box.


DC: What can a shopper expect from a "Passport" experience?

KC: Customers can expect a relaxed atmosphere without pressure and there is always a martini or espresso waiting to be served. For the busy ladies and gents, Passport provides a Personal Shopping Service, this allows the customer to sit back and be pampered.

Check out pictures of Passport's unique space below...

Kourosh's former living room now serves as the men's floor Upstairs on the women's floor, Khourosh has kept the exposed brick indicative of DC row houses

Every space of Passport is used as merchandising space

Kourosh does a great job with using unique merchandising techniques; like this distressed leather trench on the back of this rocking chair.

The second floor bar allows customers to have a drink while they shop

Cool details like antique chairs adorn the space.

Street Chic: Easter Egg Hunt

This weekend I was shopping in Georgetown and as I pillaged the sale section of Urban Outfitters this Easter egg-colored DistriCt resident caught my eye.

23-year old Kenny is an Urban Outfitters employee and was looking especially great on this bright and sunny Saturday. He made sure to play off the color palette of his buffalo plaid shirt.
With a pink G-Shock watch (below) and purple high-tops (below)

Its all in the details for our boy Kenny who describes his style as "laid back, chill, real easy".

Glad we were able to hunt down this Street Chic look!

Street Chic: Weekend Ed.

So I was at Zara Georgetown this weekend shopping for the latest designer knock-offs and I spotted Ty. She piqued my interest because people are always asking me how to rock harem pants casually well take a cue from this DistriCt resident.

Ty, a 19-year-old college student form Northwest paired the pants with a pale pink tank and a heather grey cardigan.

Ty who describes her styles as "Sophisticated-classic-vintage meets modern" was right on the money! She looked weekend glam and ready for a shopping day