The Courtyard Clearance continues and the deals keep getting better and better. This week all three stores will have new markdowns to $125 and $150. The tables will be out and the racks at The Hive will be full of huge savings on some of our biggest brands.

It's the end of an era. In a few weeks we’ll be packing up The Shoe Hive and moving it into our clothing space at 315 Cameron Street. We’ve been at 127 South Fairfax since 2009 and it’s been a wonderful home for our little fashion community. I hope you’ll come to the courtyard one more time!

Natalie says, “You can keep an eye on your clients and work out. There’s an energy transfer when we’re doing it together…we know when we’ve fatigued…that’s harder to tell when you’re not actually doing it. I also give my team the freedom to bring their own flair to their class, it’s not plug and play.”

Well it’s week two of our Courtyard Clearance Sale at The Shoe Hive. Things are moving quickly, that’s for sure! This week we have only two price points: $75 and $100. There’s something about the arrival of fall merchandise that makes us grab the red pens and reduce prices on summer merchandise.

I find that shoes are an area where it can feel safe to play around with color a bit. I cannot explain this but whenever I see a very classic outfit in neutral colors with a bright shoe it always looks great. Always.

“Coming from Old Town Alexandria, I wanted to open my first restaurant here. Restaurant Eve was born, named for my daughter. I didn’t want it to fail so I named it after her. We were very fortunate, we received four out of four stars from The Washington Post…served two sitting presidents. After Eve, I opened 14 restaurants…”

This year is going to be a big one because, well, it’s our last one. After the Sidewalk Sale in August, we’ll be merging the Shoe Hive (on Fairfax Street) into the Hive’s location at 315 Cameron Street - and won’t have the awesome courtyard. This sale is a little bittersweet for me, and the deals are going to be major!

Let’s celebrate July with a bang — and I’m not talking about fireworks! Mystique Jewelers is happy to share the best diamond sale on diamond engagement rings.

There’s no better place to share how to shop like a pro than in our beloved town of Alexandria, so I thought I’d kick off a little series in which I give you very specific ways to shop at each of our local boutiques. Let’s begin with The Hive…

The entire collection with its bright colors and ease makes me smile. My favorite is the Best Friend Necklace. If you are looking to add some happiness into your summer wardrobe this is the easiest way to do it.

I like the clean lines, the simple shape and fabrics that look better as they age. Parker Thatch checks all these boxes. I also like their sizes. The larger bags fit my laptop and lots of papers, and the slings and smaller bags are perfect for travel.

In 2013, Deirdre Roffani was in Spain and saw all the women riding around on their Vespas in bikinis with shirts over them and was inspired to start her own brand. She wanted to bring that casual summer vibe to the States.

“I was having dinner at Landini’s and I walked right past Courtney and her husband. And she stopped me and said, ‘Oh my God, what have you been doing?’ I shared that I was getting my masters in interior design and she said, ‘You’re going to work for me when you graduate.’ Once I moved back here, I reached out to her immediately.” 

While trends don’t drive our purchasing decisions, I find that we consistently end up carrying items that are both on-trend and have the ability to be timeless. Here are four Summer 2024 trends that we think make a good wardrobe investment — for now and forever.

Since it’s officially summer and the Fourth of July is almost here we wanted to help everyone spruce up their summer accessories. Starting June 27, all straw accessories are 50 percent off! Shop online or in store at The Shoe Hive, check them out!

The one item that folks come in looking for the most from April through July is: white jeans. To help everyone out with this summer staple we are having a White Denim Sale, June 24 through June 30. All white denim will be 20 percent off online and in store. 

Ashley’s background has been in surgical medicine for the past 20 years. “I’m an artist, and even though I can’t draw, I can paint your face. I can see the angles of your face, that's what injectable medicine is. It’s not replacing plastic surgery, it’s supporting your face. It’s changing the way your face catches the light.”

While we've been cruising around Old Town – walking, shopping, attending openings – we’ve also been checking out each other’s nails. We asked our contributors to share the summer hues they’re loving; see if any of these shades work for you.

If you are in the market for a new black pant, these are your pants: not too dressy, and not too casual. They’re the perfect in-between and so comfortable. Wear them with a light linen shirt for work this summer, or a tank top and sandals for something more casual.

We are moving into one of Old Town's most iconic storefronts and I couldn't be more thrilled about the enhanced shopping experience that awaits you in our beautiful, expanded space.