Welcome to Racked DC where we dig deep into the retail world and let you know about the latest happenings in fashion and shopping. Know of something interesting coming to town? Send the news into our tipline.
UNION STATION—What started on Election Day and continues until Nov 25, Warby Parker, the supplier of affordable hipster frames, has a showroom in the city. Well, more like a "show bus". Rolling old school style, Warby Parker is hitting up different spots in the District to make sure the coolest specs rest on the bridge of our oh-so-hip noses. [Washingtonian]
FRANKLIN SQUARE—Ride, Sally, ride. Or better yet, ride, dandy man in tweed, ride. The annual Tweed Ride downtown drew bicycling hipsters from far and wide to show off the earliest in forgotten fashions. The Tweed Ride harks back to those easier times. Before Internet. Before smartphones. Before Twitter. Before women's rights. And on, and on, and on. [Mystery Incorporated]
FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS—Hot on the heels of the new DSW store in CoHi, Friendship Heights has its own emporium for shoe lovers. Located 5333 Wisconsin Ave NW in a former Borders store, the new DSW opened in October and is selling shoes to all the well-heeled (and not-so-well-heeled) residents. [Georgetown Patch]
GEORGETOWN—Another one bites the dust. Ralph Lauren's uber-preppy Rugby store is closing in Gtown. (And the other 13 Rugby stores are following the same path.) And this isn't the only Ralph Lauren store with a tumultuous history in the nabe: Western-styled RRL closed in 2009 after two years in business. [The Georgetowner]
BETHESDA—The Woodmont Triangle will have a new resident: Take 5 Boutique. The focus will be on an "exclusive roster of designers" and will have other personal services, such as styling consultations, advice on makeup, and unique wares from Turkish designers. [Bethesda Now]