- Monumental Magazine
Georgetown Shopping Guide
By Kassidy McDonald
Alice + Olivia
Alice + Olivia stores transcend your typical shopping experience, and the Georgetown location is no exception. The store layout is so unique and showcases so many gorgeous pieces. The gowns and dresses on display capture attention from customers with their intricate detailing and structure. Pieces include everything from professional attire, edgy going out looks, basics like jeans, and even some athleisure pieces. The bags and accessories were fun and funky, a very different style from most stores in Georgetown. The tall front window displays drew in customers even from across the street with their untraditional mannequins. The bright, vibrant pieces are very on trend this season, though not rare in Stacey Bendet's designs, and are a bold way to add flair to your wardrobe. There are also more understated, yet equally unique, wardrobe staples including trench coats and blazers. The store's layout compliments the energy of the brand and reflects the story behind each seasonal collection.
My Favorite Piece:
Rag & Bone
Rag & Bone is known for its quality clothing as well as great customer service and the Georgetown boutique location is no exception. When the employees are helpful with styling, it makes for an easier, more enjoyable shopping experience. The store’s vibe fits the brands aesthetic the exposed brick and ceiling beams making you think you're in New York, where the company was founded. The pieces are classic yet somewhat edgy, and anyone can find pieces that they can incorporate into their everyday wardrobe. From heavy, wool fabrics to light, flowing silk, there is a plethora of fabrics incorporated into their collections. Many of their traditional pieces seem edgy because they’ll have an unusual pattern, color, or an interesting trim. Rag & Bone has popular pieces for winter and fall, namely denim and heavy sweaters, making their locations busier around this time.
My Favorite Piece:
AllSaints
If you’re looking for a really cool place to splurge on a winter staple piece for your wardrobe, look no further than AllSaints. They are most famous for their jackets: studded biker jackets, chic puffer coats and structured camel coats. AllSaints' vibe is grunge and edgy, featuring a darker color scheme of a lot of black and leather. The overall atmosphere of the store is impressive, industrial, and feels expensive and chic. The only problem with the AllSaints Georgetown location is the lack of appropriate sizing options for women. When looking at pieces, I found sizes ranging from 0-6 with an occasional size 10. The lack of variety in store is disappointing for many consumers, and with so much emphasis on how one size does not fit all in our society, this was somewhat disappointing.
My Favorite Piece:
Madewell
A great option for those of us on a budget is Madewell. Madewell has a huge selection of denim as well as blouses, sweaters, and outerwear. They have an old school flair while still being modern and in style. Their target consumer is the younger woman who wants to look classy without looking old or frumpy. The store has fitting rooms upstairs and downstairs, which makes the shopping experience less chaotic. The entire layout of the store is aesthetically pleasing and fits the vibe of the clothing and accessories. A really cool feature Madewell offers in store and even online is custom embroidery or leather stamping. The store in Georgetown personalizes your accessories and even has store events called “Personalization Paloozas” where customers can shop the leather accessories and get them hand painted or monogrammed on site for free. Personalizing your denim or handbag is the perfect way to a unique touch to a plain outfit or even a fun gift idea for the holidays.
My Favorite Piece:
Lucky Brand
Lucky Brand pleasantly surprised me while shopping in Georgetown. As not the biggest fan of anything Lucky Brand other than their staple jeans, I was impressed with the aesthetic of this particular location. The store does a great job of presenting eye-catching pieces on their mannequins and in the window displays, which draws in a lot of foot traffic. Their funky yet rustic aesthetic is fun and they have excellent customer service. The team of staff is friendly and will assist with any customers' styling needs. Lucky Brand is very size inclusive, which makes it a more positive experience in my eyes. They are a fairly basic brand, but great if you’re looking for some simple, classic pieces for your wardrobe. They also feature a large selection of belts, chunky jewelry, and bohemian bags different from what is out in the accessories market.
My Favorite Piece:
