Kicking off fall at the District Sample Sale

After a long, hot August waiting for fall, we were sooo happy to get out to last night's District Sample Sale. This event is always fantastic, but this fall's was off the charts. The venue was HUGE; exceptionally excellent nibbles (I was rhapsodizing about the Black and Orange Rogue slider) and deep discounts on clothes to wear NOW. I scored big on shoes. My three pairs really should have been four: At the last minute I found Oscar de la Renta open-toed stilettos that said "lady" but screamed "sex"--and what did I do? Dither, dally and ultimately pass. Don't do that, people. It's never worth it. Those shoes were originally $695. Last night they were $120 at Sassanova--that's exactly two fattening nights out at Rio Grande with my husband. I can make my own Mexican food, but not those shoes!! Another regret--not snagging a beautiful Madison Marcus blouse for $80 that I ogled this summer for over $200 at Emily Grace. Fail.

Okay, enough beating myself up. Here's what I did score: Seychelles black suede booties with hot studs for $25,  Dolce Vita dressy, sexy black suede booties for $69 and buttery leather, all-season slingbacks for $50. And, suddenly, my friends and I were all smitten with a $10 tee from Imagine that said Peace, Love and Fashion. Ok, why not? We had shopper madness and it's really cute. We finally paused at that point to have dinner: sushi, baby burgers, gelato and cupcakes. It's almost embarrassing to go on. But I will. There were also tables loaded with brie, artichoke dip, crackers, hummus--all my faves. The DSS was my official fall kick-off event. If you missed it, I hope you know not to let that happen again.

Calm before the storm at Sassanova

Sassy is all ready to go

And yes, you got two flavors with each serving. Pumpkin: unreal

 It's still the VIP hour so you get first grabs in a peaceful setting

Cocktails, wine, champagne and soda. We loved stopping here. 

 Gretchen Hitchner of Ginger awaits the onslaught. 

You could do some serious damage at the elegant Belina

 Julia Farr (far left) is working it. The madness has begun.

Today's the day...tix on sale for the District Sample Sale

You won't want to miss out. Today's the day to get your ticket to the area's most fashionable sample sale. Over 20 boutiques will be deeply discounting apparel, shoes and accessories at the March 29 event. Go for the $40 general admission or spring for the $100 VIP, which gets you a goodie bag and an extra hour of shopping before the crowds hit. Information and tix available at www.districtsamplesale.com.

Get your elbows ready--It's back! DSS set for March 29

Tickets go on sale this Tuesday, Feb. 22, for the biggest, best--and most charitable--sale of the season.  Don't miss out. The District Sample Sale, set for March 29, offers deeply discounted merchandise from over 20 of the region’s best designer boutiques, including Urban Chic, Ginger, Julia Farr, The Shoe Hive, Wink, Caramel, Sherman Pickey and Hysteria, and Baltimore’s Babe, Cupcake and Poppy & Stella. It's a stellar way to knock off a few items off the wish list, have a night out, and give to a local cause. A limited number of VIP tickets ($100) are available that get you through the doors at 5:30 for a loaded goodie bag and a private hour of shopping before the crowds hit. General admission tickets are $40--and for that you also get the ultimate shopping experience with  music, hors d'oeuvres, cupcakes, cocktails and even hair styling and blowouts, courtesy of sponsor One80 Salon. Other sponsors include Bethesda Row, and Vornado/Charles E. Smith. This spring's event moves from Georgetown to 2101 L Street, NW.

The District Sample Sale has raised over $200,000 for its past local women’s (fall) and children’s (spring) chosen charities. This spring's event will benefit the  E.L. Haynes Public Charter School. Founded in 2004, the school’s mission is to ensure high levels of academic achievement for students of every race and socioeconomic status. In 2009, 80% of students scored proficient or advanced in math on the DC-CAS and 66% scored proficient or advanced in reading.

For tickets, a complete list of retailers and more information, please visit www.districtsamplesale.com.

Founders Jayne Sandman, Mary Amons, Barbara Martin, Shannon Haley and Liberty Jones

The Best Shopping Party in Town

For those who missed the District Sample Sale, the biggest sale of the year (and benefiting GW Mammogram), I hate to say it, but you also missed a really great party. DJ Neekola spun tunes while frenzied shoppers (and it WAS a frenzy--especially trying on tiny dresses over full outfits... never mind) paused to replenish at the vitaminwater zero lounge and nibble on salmon bites, chicken croquettes, fresh veggies and brie from Occasions Catering, swig corn chowder shots from ICI Urban Lounge, and get more tasty bites from Neyla and Kababji. Cafe Bonaparte was whipping up full-sized French crepes...seriously?? Oh yeah, and a full table of Georgetown Cupcakes, including my favorite "Chocolate Squared." There was more from Dirty Martini, FunXion, Morso and Ping Pong Dim Sum. If you needed a beauty refresher, there were mini-massages, polish changes -- and even blowouts by one80 salon--nice on a damp, rainy night. The most serious shoppers follow a pattern--shoes first, dresses next, then champagne and cupcakes last. Slackers like me go straight for the bubbly. VIPs got a swag bag chockful of goodies including an Equinox gift card, a Monopoly Deal game, a full-size Deborah Lippmann nail polish, Popchips and a tee-shirt and hat. Wheeee! But don't feel bad. There's always next year.

The Fab Five Haute Committee: Mary Amons, Barbara D. Martin, Jayne Sandman,
Liberty Jones,  Shannon Haley

Gretchen Hitchner of Bethesda's Ginger 

Fabiana Zelaya of Daisy Too

ICI Urban Lounge

The smorgasbord

Time out for polish changes

DSS! DSS! Tickets go on sale today

Get your shopping pumps on and elbows ready. This fall the District Sample Sale benefits the GW Mammovan (George Washington University's mobile mammography program). This huge all-volunteer sale for charity, founded by the now-Real D.C. Housewife Mary Amons, features the area's best boutiques with merchandise slashed to near ridiculous prices. Don't let the lines and near hysteria stop you. Get in there! I snagged a cashmere cardigan last year from Daisy Too for a mere $70 marked down from $350, Bettye Muller purple suede pumps, and a nifty little Donna Morgan dress I wear all the time. And I'm a very frugalista shopper. Boutiques present are from both D.C. and MoCo: Urban Chic, Wink, Lettie Gooch, Daisy Too, Luna, Imagine, Emily Grace, Ginger, Hysteria, Cupcake, Sassanova, Simply Soles and...more...The sale will be held Sept. 16 in Georgetown at 3336 M Street, NW. 

General Admission: $40
Admission to the sale from 6:30-9:30pm
Cocktails & hors d'oeuvres
VIP Ticket: $100
the above plus:
Admission to the VIP shopping hour from 5:30-6:30pm
VIP Goodie Bag
Benefactress Ticket: $250
 the above plus:
Admission to the VIP shopping hour from 5:30-6:30pm
Benefactress Deluxe Goodie Bag
Listing as a Benefactress Sponsor in the program and signage

VIP and Benefactress tix are first-come, first-serve.
.

DSS afterglow

The DSS VIP line

What fun it was last night at the District Sample Sale in Georgetown. Just getting out and about is always fun enough for me, but shopping with friends (writer Cathy Alter, publicist Zena Polin, Kelly Collis Fredrick of CityShopGirl, Barbara Saylor of Capitol B, Makeda Saggau-Sackey of The Glamazon Diaries, publicist Jill Collins), plus champagne, great food and tons of clothes just about sent me over the edge. A reticent shopper not in awe of crowds, I surprised myself at the number of terrific buys I found. Fabiana Zelaya of Daisy Too gets the credit for getting me started and giving me that initial push into fashionland. She said she knew a Jae Basilio cardigan would look great on me, and she was absolutely right. So I got the long taupe and plum sweater for $68--marked down from $341. The bargain of the night. I followed that up with a pair of plum suede Bettye Mullers (from Simply Soles). And...I went from there. A black jersey dress from Emily Grace and a teal graphic Donna Morgan (perfect for my upcoming trip to Japan), champagne, a snack and a chance to say hi to many MoCo shop owners. And as always, kudos to Barbara Martin of The Patton Group. Am I gushing? Yeah, a little. Morning-after glow.

Ginger owner Gretchen Hitchner and friend, Cathy Alter


Cathy Alter, Zena Polin, Kelly Collis Fredrick, Maurisa Turner Potts, Jill Collins, Barbara Saylor

District Sample Sale Next Week!

There are still tickets available for the biggest sale event of the season, D.C.'s District Sample Sale, which benefits Rachael's Women's Center, a D.C. daytime shelter for homeless women. The sale takes place Sept. 16 in Georgetown at 3336 M Street, NW. Browse designer names from fave MoCo boutiques like Daisy Too, Ginger, Imagine, Luna and Urban Chic and get huge discounts on apparel, shoes and accessories. There are a host of other shops there as well, including Wink, Periwinkle, Caramel and Simply Soles. While VIP tickets are gone, you can still enjoy the sale for $40 or as a benefactress for $250. Enjoy nibbles from DC restaurants, cocktails, a silent auction and bargains, bargains, bargains.