Photos by Elizabeth of District of Chic
Shop My Look:
Earrings | Sugarfix by BaubleBar(similar)
Growing up in Fairfax, VA, we actually had a lot of options when it came to shopping malls. Springfield Mall was the “ghetto mall”, so we steered clear of that, Fair Oaks was just “okay”, Tysons was a madhouse, but Pentagon City Mall — now called Fashion Centere at Pentagon City — had it all. Some of my earliest shopping memories are from this mall, and my mom always took my brother and I to Johnny Rocket’s on the lower level as a treat for coming with her.
The mall has gone through many changes, including adding a Shake Shack, Matchbox, and Sugar Factory as dining options, introducing new retailers, and renovating their food court, but the mall’s cleanliness, fan-favorite anchor stores (hi, Nordstrom!), and overall attention to detail and style have remained the same. Since I’ve always loved the mall, I jumped at the chance to attend their Style Summer: Influencer Mixer event last night.
The event was held at the beautiful Matchbox space, where we got to sample their house wines and select appetizers and mix and mingle with some of the mall’s best retailers and learn about the mall’s Summer Ready event on June 30. The Summer Ready event will be at the mall from 1 – 5 pm and allow shoppers to learn about the season’s latest beauty, clothing, and accessory trends through fashion displays, pop-up makeover stations, and more. There will be a variety of sample giveaways from brands like Aveda, L’Occitane, LUSH, New York & Company, Superdry, and more, and if you spend $150 or more at any store, you’ll receive a complimentary beach tote filled with summer essentials.
Read on for some of the highlights of the Summer Ready that we got to experience firsthand at the event last night!
Nordstrom: swing in to the beloved department store for their Summer Beauty Event where you can earn a free gift with purchase. Make sure to check out the new BECCA X Chrissy Teigen beauty glow palette and download the Nordstrom app to scan products and get consumer reviews immediately at your fingertips.
Calzedonia:the newly opened European swimwear shop is the only swim-exclusive retailer in the mall, so you know the ladies there know what they’re talking about! Stop in for suits of all cuts — we loved the numbers they displayed at the event.
Coach: the luxury leather handbag company is debuting two new bags this Friday and we got a sneak peek (which I shared on IG stories!). My favorite was the Rouge — the bag was made for the traveler on the go and lets you wear the bag three different ways
Garrett Popcorn: swing into the Chicago-founded popcorn shop to refuel after all that shopping cardio. Pro tip: repurpose Garrett’s colorful copper tins (featured in my pics above!) to store your makeup brushes or even children’s toys around the house!
Intimissi: also new to the mall, the Italian lingerie shop is a much-welcomed alternative to Victoria’s Secret. Since it’s European, the sizing tends to run a bit smaller, which is perfect for girls like me who aren’t as blessed up top! I’ll definitely be stopping in for a custom fitting.
Kate Spade: did you know that the iconic handbag brand is sister companies with Coach? I’m not going to lie, it pulled at my heartstrings to see the beautiful Kate Spade products displayed after the sad news last week, but I know Kate would want us to keep wearing her fun and flirty products with a smile on her face. The new flamingo collection is peak Kate Spade and embodies everything the cheerful brand is about.
Tumi: the luxury leather luggage company is back, but it’s getting a makeover. While Tumi typically conjures up images of masculine leather bags, the brand is drawing inspiration from women on the go and adding in special touches like additional storage and softer leather hues.
L’Occtaine: summer is the perfect time to revamp your skin routine and L’Occtaine’s new moisture-focused line is the perfect way to make sure your face is hydrated in DC’s hot weather months. Stop by the store to test your skin’s hydration and take home some tips from the skincare pros
District Damsel 