Penelope Norton has helped create Democracy Journeys, a travel company that leads high-end, educational trips to countries where democracy is being shaped in real time. Their current destinations include Armenia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Mexico, Albania, and Washington, DC. If you’ve been looking for a meaningful way to explore, this is your moment.

We’re getting ready to kick off our Spring Trunk Show series with fresh arrivals, lighter layers, and the promise of warmer days ahead. We’re starting the season with TWP and it feels like the perfect way to ease into spring. These are beautiful transition pieces that will carry you through the last stretch of winter and straight into the new season.

I started thinking aspirationally about spring. About warmer days, lighter layers, and all the great clothes arriving in store. And naturally, that meant it was time to start planning events to match those deliveries. This spring, we have our biggest lineup of trunk shows yet, with plans to add even more in May. It’s shaping up to be a very full—and very fun—season.

Valentine’s Day is more than a date on the calendar—it’s an opportunity to tell your story through a gift that lasts a lifetime. At Mystique Jewelers, we believe the most meaningful pieces are the ones that carry a message, capturing love not just in words, but in gold and stone.

TWP makes really beautiful clothes. They have quickly become one of our most popular brands, and I couldn’t be happier about it. The Hive is hosting our second TWP trunk show next week, featuring new spring arrivals with a special focus on their signature shirting. And really, couldn’t we all use a great new shirt?

This year, the holiday is less about clichés and more about intentional gifting: pieces you actually wear, love, and keep long after February 14. Enter Eliana Curated, the King Street boutique locals can’t stop talking about, with three distinct Valentine’s Day Gift Guides designed for every kind of love story — including your own.

The Alexandria Warehouse Sale starts on February 7th and we have boxes and boxes of shoes – Maybe more than clothing – ready for you. Staring at the stacks and stacks of shoes is what inspired me to start this event years ago. This Warehouse Sale, we’re putting the shoe in Shoe Hive.

People often ask me, “Is coming to Old Town really worth it for the Alexandria Warehouse Sale?” What they’re really asking is simple: How good are the deals? I’m here to tell you—they’re really good.

A lifelong Alexandrian, Kendall’s story begins at Belle View Shopping Center, where a childhood favorite—The Virginia Florist—sparked an early love of flowers. That first job grew into a lasting skill she carried alongside a career in accounting and venture capital. Now, with an entrepreneurial spirit and deep local roots, Kendall’s path is coming full circle.

I love to see what other boutiques are doing on social media and, for our events, this research—if I can call it that—is where a lot of my ideas start to take shape. I was watching a story from another independently owned boutique, and the owner was talking about her most worn items from 2025. Two of the items were from AMO, a line we carried many years ago.

This month feels like the season of returning favorites. With smaller delivery windows, we love the chance to bring back lines we’ve missed—and Closed is one of them. While it may be known for denim, it was the sweaters, shirts, and everyday essentials that truly won us over this time around.

Kari Ginsburg doesn’t blend in. She has no interest in doing so and doesn’t want you to either. In a world where conformity often feels like the default, her presence and style is bright, intentional, and refreshingly authentic. That same spirit defines her work at Uproar Coaching, where she helps others show up unapologetically as their truest self.

It is hard to believe that 22 years ago I was sitting in my space at 115 South Royal Street, scratching my head and trying to figure out what to do with my extra inventory. I realized there had to be a way to get more people to shop my clearance items. This is literally how the Alexandria Boutique Warehouse Sale came to life.

Mystique Jewelers is opening the doors to something special and offering you early access to a carefully curated selection of fine, designer and high-fashion jewelry at 30% off. This limited preview gives you the first opportunity to discover rare, one-of-a-kind pieces before they reach a wider audience.

Allude is fast becoming one of our most important brands. The smaller, Germany-based company was founded in 1993 and has been perfecting its craft ever since. Known for high-quality cashmere and modern styles, Allude has become a customer favorite.

As I was thinking about what to write for Stylebook, I realized we had been unpacking a lot of leather pieces last month. I can’t quite explain it, but I have a hard time passing up suede and leather—which is probably obvious if you shop at my store. I tend to dress pretty simply and shy away from pattern, so I’m naturally drawn to texture. That’s where my love of leather comes in.

It seems like 2026 is shaping up to be the year of bringing back brands we’ve missed over the past year or two. Last week, we talked about the return of Sea NYC, and now we’re excited to welcome back one of my favorite jewelry lines: Completed Works.

Two things tell me 2025 was an epic year: I took a fraction of the photos I take in a normal year, and the photos I did take blow me away to look back on. It was a year that was so busy there wasn’t always time to stop to document along the way, and the projects and events we worked on were exciting, challenging, and beautiful.

Aside from the frequent commute for school events, I try to stay in the Commonwealth—and more specifically, in Alexandria. When I find great new places, I love to share them. Everyone knows where I get my hair, nails, and facials, but this year I added a few new local favorites to the mix.

When the new year rolls around, I always like to write about a few things that have nothing to do with the store. Let’s be honest—we probably all need a little reset after holiday shopping. This time of year also brings resolutions about being healthier and happier in 2026. That’s part of this post, but only part of it.