Shop Local: Lou Lou

The hunt for the perfect cocktail dress or new outfit for work is never complete until you’ve tied it all together with a killer accessory. (Trust me, truer words have never been spoken). But sometimes it can be hard to dig up the right piece of jewelry from your cluttered collection. Instead of a last minute, frantic trip to the mall, my DC-area readers should check out Lou Lou, a cute accessories boutique with numerous locations across the DMV.

I recently shopped at Lou Lou in Old Town Alexandria and was blown away with their massive selection of reasonably priced jewelry. Seriously, hydrate and have lunch before stopping by — you’ll need the energy to sort through the tables of jewelry!

Exhibit A:

And Exhibit B — so many brightly-colored watches, bauble necklaces and lovely scarves and purses.

I couldn’t resist picking up two new pairs of earrings both priced under $25. One practical, one fun!

Locations:
Numerous! The original Lou Lou boutique is located in Middleburg, VA, but they have 9 DC-area shops including Alexandria, DC, Reston, Bethesda and more opening soon. Click for details.

Old Town Lou Lou:
132 King Street, Alexandria, VA [Map]
Mon-Sat 10-8, Sun 11-7

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Shop Virginia: Covet

Fact: Local boutiques that operate out of cozy houses are instantly more charming than stores in a generic mall or shopping center (it’s true!).

If you agree with this, then my DC-area readers will love Covet boutique, located in Arlington, VA. My wonderful coworker Kate has been raving about Covet for years and since I love an enthusiastic recommendation, I finally checked it out. I was not disappointed! How cute is this shop?

Covet specializes in local and handmade items; jewelry, art, handbags, home decor, clothing, candles, the list goes on. It’s like a real-life version of Etsy! If you’re in need of a gift for ____ [fill in the blank with any female you know!], Covet is the place to go. And I love giving gifts that support the local economy. In fact, when I was in the store, an Arlington jeweler came in to check on her stock and chitchat with Covet’s friendly owner, Autumn Clayton. Where else can you get that kind of personal attention?

I also love Covet’s space — it’s warm, inviting, and beautifully decorated.  Customers make their way through three girly rooms, oohing and aahhing at the playful items (all priced within my budget), bopping their heads to indie music on the iPod. It feels like home… and we all know, there’s no place like home.

Location:
5140 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA [map]
They’re located on the top floor of a grey house, just look for the hot pink door.

Hours:
Tues-Fri: 11-6
Saturday: 10-5
Sunday: 12-5

Bonus:
My all-time favorite pizza place, Pupatella, is located a block away. Nothing goes better with shopping than pizza, gelato, and friendly Italians!

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Fun with Fingerless Gloves

Get ready to channel your inner Madonna because it’s time to invest in some cute, on-trend, fingerless gloves for winter.

Sure, mittens and regular gloves are the obvious choice during cold months, but why not change up your routine with some cute and practical fingerless gloves? They’ll keep your my hands warm without getting in the way of tweeting on your iPhone, reapplying lipstick or paying for your morning Starbucks coffee. Hot and handy!

The good news is that most retailers are currently marking down their cold-weather accessories, so get ’em while they’re hot… and the weather is still cold!

Where to shop (top to bottom): “Be My Valentine” 2-pack ($52 from Etsy); Lulu Fingerless Bow Gloves ($6.90 from Nordstrom); Rubbish Cable Knit Convertible Gloves ($12 from Nordstrom); Oatmeal Fingerless Bow Gloves ($22 from Etsy); Gray Long Fingerless Gloves with Flowers ($39 from Etsy); Echo Design Pop Top Gloves ($28.99 from Zappos); Fingerless Gloves in Linen ($38 from Etsy); Fleece Convertible Mittens ($6.99 from Gap).

Adora-bauble Necklaces

[bau-ble: A small, showy trinket or decoration]

I’m currently coveting bold, adora-bauble necklaces. Get it? Adorable + bauble! Let me explain.

Picture a necklace that has a bold embellishment on it — maybe a chunky cluster of beads or a row of sparkly gems — and you have yourself a bauble necklace. It’s a necklace that is meant to be seen. A statement-maker.

Check out some of my current favorite, all under $50, and then challenge yourself to use the word “bauble” in a sentence today. So fun!

Modcloth Pearls of Widsom for $20.99; Modcloth Tidal Crave Necklace for $34.99.

Etsy Teal Cluster Necklace for $50; Etsy Flower & Pearl Necklace for $44; Charlotte Russe Bead Cluster Collar Necklace for $12.50; Kohl’s Simply Vera Wang Jet Simulated Pearl Necklace for $21.

LOFT Long Fireball Cluster Necklace for $34.99 and Anthropologie Loose Change Necklace for $48.

The Limited Stamped Feathers Necklace for $36.90.

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Creative Jewelry Holders

I finally found someone who loves necklaces more than me: my kitten! Every night around 3am, I wake up to find her pawing at the necklaces hanging on the stand on my dresser. Mitts off the jewels, Bandit!

Must. Outsmart. This kitten.

It was time to come up with a new way to store my jewelry. A traditional jewelry box or dresser drawer would hide my collection and result in tangled chains. So I decided to turn my necklaces into wall art. Ta da!

I spied this lovely coral wooden frame at Home Goods for $24.99. Such a steal! The curled iron inside the frame serves as the perfect hooks for my necklaces. With the help of my muscles (ie, the bf), we hung this in the hallway, just outside my bathroom. Now every time I walk by, I smile. And it’s kitten-proof!

If you’re in need of more jewelry holder inspiration, here are a few more creative ideas that I’ve collected from my friends, fellow bloggers, and Pinterest. Which one is your favorite?

Image sources, top to bottom – Coral wooden frame from Style Me Thrifty // Green & purple frame // Twig art // Rows of lace // Cork frames // Twig stand from House Bella (my friend, Sara’s, blog) // Turquoise frame // Canvas art (my sister’s jewelry holder!) // White frame & lace.

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