It’s fall, y’all, and ghosts and goblins abound! There’s one that lurks around you, though, all year-round – and he is so sneaky. Let’s have a little chat about that sly little gremlin known as lifestyle creep. You know, that insidious phenomenon where you’re just living your best life, and before you know it, your spending habits have ballooned faster than your last self-care splurge.

What a year 2024 has been! When we celebrated our 20th last fall, I could not have predicted that within 12 months: I would not have a men’s store, I would have an outlet (I like to call it a local version of Nordstrom Rack) and that The Shoe Hive would close its doors at 127 South Fairfax St. and merge into our space at 315 Cameron St. I feel tired just typing it.

Shara has always had an entrepreneurial mindset. “You get out of school and think they’ll teach me how to run a business. But that doesn’t happen in the chiropractic industry…they make you their workhorse, and you just adjust clients, and don’t learn how to run things. There are people who can’t work for others and figure things out for themselves. That was me.” 

To help kick off the fall shopping season we’re having a Bag and Boot Sale. We have so many great bag lines this year. We have our first delivery of fall from Maison N.H Paris, tons of great new pieces from customer favorite Jerome Dreyfus and our first selection of Ganni purses. And we still have MZ Wallace, Think Rolyn and my favorite, Parker Thatch.

At our upcoming Patina Tag Sale, we will present everyone in line with a marking system for the items they wish to purchase. We recommend that everyone bring their own packing material, bags, bubble wrap, etc. This will be a credit card/check event only, no cash. This is a one-day sale. All the final details will be shared on Friday, September 27, the day before the sale.

Hair growth can feel like one of those elusive goals. We've all been there – staring at the mirror, willing our hair to just grow already. But often, it’s not just about what we’re doing to encourage hair growth; it’s about what we’re unknowingly doing wrong. Here are some common mistakes that could be stalling your hair’s journey.

I tend to be a planner except when it comes to more personal things for myself, then I put them off to focus on things for others, until there is a deadline. It took me months after my divorce to get my documents in order. Are you that way, too? If so, I am going to tell you why you should set a deadline for a medical directive for yourself.

We have finally hit the “ber” months, and I am so ready for some cozy, fall vibes. The kids have headed back to school, football season has kicked off, and it’s also a pretty important time tax wise! Grab a pumpkin spice latte (or a pumpkin cream cold brew *light cold foam*– my personal fave) and let’s go over what you need to do. 

After 20 years, we’ve figured out what really works, and want to carry more of what people love. Thanks to Annette’s design we figured out how to keep the shoes right in the center of what we think is the heart of the store – the sitting area where people congregate. Here's our shoe lookbook for fall so everyone can see, we still have tons and tons of great shoes.

I LOVE October. It’s the perfect temperature, I can wear sweatshirts with sandals, mellow creme pumpkins hit the candy shelves, the leaves are peak color, and Halloween. Those are all good reasons to love the month, am I right?! I’ve never been one to dress up for Halloween as an adult, but I revel in the joy it brings to children.

What better way to embrace the new season than with a cozy fall movie night? I’ve seen a fun trend on TikTok where guests host movie marathons, each choosing a film and bringing a drink that complements the movie's ambiance. For instance, pairing a classic James Bond movie with a Vodka Martini, “shaken, not stirred.” See my take:

The first thing I notice as I walk into Old Town Books Junior is the tree. It is magical. Its leaves. Its trunk. The pillows strewn in front. “It’s the first thing I wanted,” says Ally Kirkpatrick. “I researched the tree before the store designer. I wanted a moment, a beautiful memorable thing. If I were a little kid, I’d remember the tree."

At Boxwood, I adore this time of year, September kicks off fall and holiday season planning. We conquered our summer entertaining with vibrant shades of pink, blue and yellow, with picnic baskets and acrylic champagne glasses and beautiful linen napkins. Now we welcome with open arms – the oranges, reds and browns.

I asked Ali to help style some of the pieces for The Hive’s Veronica Beard Trunk Show, and give them the Ali twist. She always keeps it classic but also puts a bit of a modern spin on it. Check out her three looks with Veronica Beard’s newest arrivals. They made me realize I need that plaid blazer and suede jacket!

If you’ve seen me bopping around Old Town, chances are you’ve seen me wearing - or even asked about - my boots. Black leather, zip straight up the back, and a snap enclosure. They fit like a glove, because they were custom fitted to me. After much convincing, we were able to convince both La Casa de Las Botas and Antonio Vicario to bring these boots to American in Paris.

I recently had the pleasure of completing two charcoal portraits and displaying them in my studio window. It was such a joy to overhear passersby exclaim, “Oh, I know who they are!” as they recognized the subjects. Children, in particular, are the ultimate judges of how well you’ve captured someone’s likeness—always brutally honest and refreshingly direct.

It's a tantalizing experience, so enticingly sweet. So embrace its power, its seductive charm, let it ignite passions, and set your heart warm. For in the depths of darkness, where desires ignite, chocolate, my dear, is the key to a passionate night.

These women are the perfect example of why Veronica Beard is our number one brand. They are all busy working moms that want to look good when they head out the door, but don’t have time to worry about it. They don’t want a “work wardrobe” and a “mom wardrobe”; they want them to overlap.

As soon as autumn arrives, I always find myself rewatching Gilmore Girls, daydreaming about tasting Sookie's culinary creations at The Dragonfly Inn, or sharing a coffee with Rory and Lorelai at Luke's Diner. Since waking up in Stars Hollow isn’t possible, I thought—why not bring a bit of *Gilmore Girls* magic to Old Town instead?

Families in Alexandria and the D.C. metro area are a uniquely driven bunch. You’re so passionate about setting your children up for success, that you’re willing to make any sacrifices for them to position them for better opportunities. As you’re preparing for fall, I have a few suggestions as you consider shaping this year to be a great success for your child.