Destination: Don’t blink or you might miss it. This quiet boutique is disguised amongst the hustle of downtown Vienna, sitting adjacent to Polo Seafood House (formerly Marco Polo restaurant) in a small quaint looking building off of Maple Avenue.
Atmosphere: Walking into the store is like walking into a cozy living room. There is wood flooring, a wide-open center, a couch, coffee table and beautiful female-inspired art that hangs on the walls—all designed to help relieve the stress of everyday shopping and create an intimate shopping experience.
Bread and Butter: All the items of the store are handpicked by storeowner, Ifat Pridan, who strives to bring specialty one-of-a-kind pieces from around the world to women in Northern Virginia. The pieces in the store are colorful, feminine and full of flare; they include office, casual and formal-wear as well as accessories. Most of the store items are made by designers in Pridan’s home: Israel; although, she is always looking for new designers and has pieces coming from Australia, England, Italy and around the United States.
Sweet Surprise: On top of the coffee table neighboring the usual fashion magazines is a handmade book by Pridan with information on all the designers in the store. Pridan prides herself on trying to personally get to know every designer in the store. She can tell you where they started, how they make their pieces and other need to know tidbits.
Fiercest Fan: Women who crave extraordinary style with a desire to dress in a sophisticated and trendsetting manner. The pieces have a “funky flare” to them says Pridan, who realizes the clothes are not for everyone, but for those who are after a unique style.
Blows to the Budget: Prices run anywhere from $35-$700 depending on the origin, designer and material of the piece. —Helen Ray
Destination: Lili The First
101 Pleasant St. NW, Vienna;
703-261-6323; lilithefirst.com
(July 2014)
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