Smitten Salon owners Melanie Amoss & Lisa Rittiner (thesmittensalon.com)

Hello there, shoppers! If you’re looking for a new fall hairdo and live or work around Clarendon, stay tuned for the opening of Smitten, a new boutique salon from ex-Salon Bleu all-stars Melanie Amoss (my stylist with whom I’m smitten) and Lisa Rittiner. Both have received lots of media attention from local editors and readers alike, for good reason.

Speaking of kudos, congrats to Salon Bleu for recently being named among Elle’s magazine’s top 100 salons in the country, the top salon in Virginia.

Smitten is hoping to open within the next couple of weeks at 3000 Washington Blvd., really close to METRO, which I’m very thankful for, since I’ll be heading in from Reston.

I’ll let you know as soon as they’re accepting appointments.

Happy shopping!

–Natalie Kaar

(All images courtesy of the salon)

Lenore Koors, development director of Komen Maryland; Colette Banet, guest relations coordinator at Salon Bleu; Yvonne Saa and Jennifer Pham, salon directors

Salon Bleu staff members looking forward to some serious fundraising (Row 1: Sarah Arnall, Jennifer Pham, Yvonne Saa, Ruth Kim, Jenny Nava, Anne Landry, Jocelyn Johnson, Samia Ayoobi; Row 2: Karla Ferrel, Colette Banet)

Senior Stylist Henry Mont concentrating on providing a perfect cut

Some of the tasty delights provided by Entyse and Maggiano's

I’m told the Bleu shampoo team, inspired by the tunes Bose was spinning, had a dance-off at one point! I’m so sad I missed that! Do any of you have photos of it or were you too busy enjoying those free chair massages from the folks at Equinox?

Ps. Look forward to a whole bunch of Columbus Day Sale goodness tomorrow! And, to tide you over until then, how about checking out the special sale taking place at ralphlauren.com? Through Oct. 12, the site is offering shoppers 25 percent off and donating 10 percent of proceeds to a choice of two cancer charities: the Pink Pony Fund (use code “PINK”) or the Ralph Lauren Cancer Center for Cancer Care and Prevention (use code “RLCCP”).

Pss. Don’t forget to comment here by 8 a.m. tomorrow for your chance to win a pair of goodie bag tickets to Shecky’s Girls Night Out D.C.!

First of all, next Monday, Oct. 12,  is Columbus Day; you know what that means … sales, sales, sales, all over town, all weekend long. One sale you definitely won’t want to miss:  Leesburg Corner Premium Outlet’s Annual Columbus Day Weekend Sale, featuring special savings on top of the outlet stores’ already significant everyday discounts, Friday through Monday! A few examples: 30 to 40 percent off select items at Burberry, 30 percent off outerwear at Esprit, 30 to 50 percent off select fall favorites at J. Crew, 30 percent off select boot styles at Nine West,  $25 dollars off for every $100 spent at Restoration Hardware, and loads of other huge discounts!

Fortunately, store hours will be extended. Friday and Saturday, Leesburg Corner stores will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Monday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Also very exciting, Saturday marks the beginning of Alexandria Boutique Week, which actually runs through Sunday, Oct. 18, offering shoppers 50 great reasons to shop in Alexandria — ranging from incredible discounts to wonderful complimentary gifts with visit or purchase of clothing, accessories, home decor, art, food and wine. There will even be great deals that doggies will dig, including 15 percent off dog costumes at Barkley Square!

Things will also be heating up on the shopping front in the District. Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the CW will present the First Annual Fashion, Beauty & Lifestyle Expo at the Grand Hyatt Washington, featuring a musical performance by R&B superstar Brian McKnight, fashion shows every hour with runway appearances by America’s Next Top Model stars Saleisha Stowers, Sandra Nyanchoka and Isis King, cool freebies (including a goodie bag filled with $50 worth of the latest must-haves for the first 500 women to arrive), trendy makeovers and so much more.

For instance, in honor of Domestic Violence Month, Becky Lee from Survivor, also founder of Becky’s Fund, will host a self-defense seminar; Celebrity Apprentice star Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth will be on hand to offer women career advice; model coach Paul Wharton will host an instructional seminar on breaking into the modeling industry; celebrity photographer Tony Powell will help women boost their portfolios; and Mark Jenkins, trainer to stars including P Diddy and Beyonce, will bring his popular workout class “The Jump Off” to those brave enough to try it.

A special preview:

Enjoy!

Ps.  Great news from Salon Bleu: The fabulous team’s fundraising event “Cuts for the Cure” last Sunday raised $8,000 for the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure!

(Shutterstock)

Good morning, shoppers! Here’s hoping you all had a great weekend despite some disappointing football. Should you still be sad over the Redskins’ loss, or like in my case, the losses of both Penn State and the Steelers, I wanted to remind you of just the event to perk you up:  Salon Bleu’s “Cuts for the Cure” coming up this Sunday, Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.!

At the event, as I mentioned a few weeks ago, the salon’s impeccable stylists — I seriously pray that Bleu’s Melanie never stops doing hair and makeup — will be providing haircuts and blow-drys at their usual prices, and donating 100 percent of service proceeds to the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a cause very close to the hearts of the Bleu team. Clients will also be invited to purchase tickets for a variety of raffle baskets with winners to be announced at the end of the day.

Salon Bleu’s pink-themed fundraiser will also feature refreshments and treats from Entyse Restaurant and Maggiano’s, while Bose will have a DJ spinning. Plus, the salon will be offering complimentary chair massages and makeup applications. (By the way, one of the best parts of the Salon Bleu experience is the head massage you receive when getting shampooed. Heaven!)

While walk-ins will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis, I suggest making an appointment (202-333-2538, ext. 4). For one, the schedule is filling up fast. Also, all clients who schedule appointments for the event will receive an exclusive “Cuts for the Cure” gift bag from Salon Bleu, which will will include fabulous prizes from partnering retailers.

Can’t make the event? You can still make a donation. Call the salon for details.

Ps. In other hair news, T3 is celebrating five amazing years, offering special savings at several beauty-related retailers through the end of this week.

Tim Gunn, to appear at Tysons Galleria on Saturday, Sept. 19 for "All Access: Fashion" (papermag.com)

Good morning, shoppers! Don’t you just love Fridays?! Me too, especially when I have a whole bunch of juicy shopping news to share! Then again, it can be hard to know where to begin in writing this blog.

I suppose I’ll start with some of today’s simply irresistible sales:

Is it time to shake up your beauty routine or stock up on all of your favorite beauty products? Skinstore.com is offering 20 percent off sitewide through Sept. 1 with the code “20AUG” at checkout.

Dying to buy a new fall trench or some fall dresses? Lord & Taylor is offering the opportunity to save big-time on such purchases during the store’s BIG sale. With the promo code “BIG” or this savings pass, you’ll save 15 percent on regular and sale items, 25 percent on clearance merchandise.

Looking for fabulous freebies? The Georgetown Cusp is offering a free gift with every Alice & Olivia purchase tomorrow.

Thinking your handbag collection has lost some of its luster? Today is the last day to save up to 75 percent on Kate Spade handbags and more, plus score free shipping, during the Sample Sale.

Been missing Bath & Body Works’ aromatherapy body mist? The store has brought back the much-loved product in five of its most popular scents — Lavender Chamomile, Lavender Vanilla, Jasmine Vanilla, Eucalyptus Spearmint and Black Currant Vanilla. Another reason to visit B&BW now: the Stock Up and Save event.

Does no store bring a smile to your face like Bloomies? During the Black & White Sale, going on now through Sunday, you can save up to 40 percent off and help the store benefit amfAR.

Other need-to-know-now shopping news:

Sept. 17-19, Tysons Galleria will host “All Access: Fashion,” a sure-to-be-fabulous charity event benefiting YouthAIDS, to include runway shows featuring luxury apparel from Galleria stores, in-store trunk shows, wine tastings, makeovers and much more, including special appearances by fashion icons including Tim Gunn from Project Runway and Frederique Van der Wal! I cannot thank the awesome Melanie Amoss of Salon Bleu, who will be doing hair and makeup at the event, enough for sharing the scoop.

Speaking of Salon Bleu, you’re going to want to clear your calendar now on October 4 and call the salon for an appointment: 202-333-BLEU (2538). Why? That’s when the remarkable salon will host “Cuts for the Cure,” a very special event to raise funds for the Maryland affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which directly benefits area residents. The charity, very close to the hearts of the Salon Bleu staff, will receive 100 percent of proceeds from the cut-a-thon! Don’t want to get your hair cut? You can still help the cause. Schedule a blow-dry and styling or make a donation.

And, finally, the Cash for Clunkers program may have been scrapped for now, but according to the A Girl Must Shop blog and Business Week, come fall we’ll welcome Cash for Refrigerators, a program to encourage shoppers to purchase high-efficiency models, which is already receiving a lot of criticism.

Hi there, shoppers. Boy, this girl is tired after a weekend spent at the first-ever Women’s Show of Northern Virginia, but what a pleasure it was to see some of our favorite local retailers take to the Fashion & Entertainment Stage, which included: 

And, well, it may be due to spending the weekend at a show all about honoring and celebrating women, but I couldn’t help but write about something very womanly today: dresses! And not just any dresses: gorgeous spring dresses that look like they broke the bank, yet the only thing they truly break are hearts!

Ladies, in the photo above, feast your eyes on fabulous dresses and accessories from Crystal City’s Gossip on 23rd, where everything is under $100!

And get a load of these dresses at South Moon Under, which the ladies of Pam Shops 4 You touted on Friday for housing sensational, wallet-friendly finds. As you’ll see, there are many gorgeous frocks to choose from at the Clarendon and Reston gem — again for less than $100!

Yep, looking like a pretty woman certainly doesn’t require a trip down Rodeo Drive! (No wonder so many of us who modeled in the Gossip on 23rd show couldn’t wait to purchase the fabulous frocks we wore on the runway!)

If your plans include the Women’s Show of Northern Virginia like mine do, make sure to stop by the Northern Virginia Magazine booth to say, “hi” and grab one of our stage promotion flyers, which will score you discounts from  Gossip on 23rd, Pam Shops 4 You,  PR at Partners, Salon Bleu and new couture dog clothing purveyor Unique Paws. As promised, you’ll find us right by the Fashion & Entertainment Stage, which will keep you more than entertained while you’re there thanks to shows from the businesses just mentioned plus many more.

Of course, you’ll also be plenty busy with all of  that shopping and eating you’ll be tempted to do!

If you plan to do some shopping in Tysons and you’re especially searching for items for a little tyke or two, look no further than H & M. The store’s Kids Collection is on a tremendous sale through May 10; everything is buy two, get one free (of equal or lesser value) with this coupon. And, those savings are only the cherry on top of already great prices.

You’ll find girls’ accessories from $3.90;  floral tops from $5.90; ballet flats from $12.90 and layered skirts from $16.90 as well as  boys’ polos from $7.90; printed tees, plaid shirts and sneakers from $12.90; and jeans from $19.90.

Happy shopping!

Ps. If you haven’t been able to get your man to shop for ages, perhaps Lost Boys in D.C. will get him spending again.  I know a certain food editor who is already dying to visit the store.

At the first-ever Women’s Show for our area, attention will be paid to all of our top interests, from fashion to food, fitness, health, business, education, travel, leisure and home decor, under one roof. (Did I mention free parking?!) You can expect everything from trendy fashion shows — showcasing a full range of looks from casual to business and formal, including couture clothing for dogs and eco-friendly fashions for families looking to start or keep living green — to creative cooking demonstrations, amazing makeovers, professional styling tips, celebrity guest appearances and superb shopping!

To give you an even better idea of what’s in store, here is the list of exhibitors.

Also make sure to check out the stage schedules, including the Northern Virginia Magazine Fashion & Entertainment Stage schedule, here.  While each and every act promises to be sensational, we hope you’ll pay extra special attention to the fabulous shows we’re sponsoring featuring: Gossip on 23rd, Pam Shops 4 You, Unique Paws, PR at Partners, Salon Bleu, Wish Special Events and “House & Home author Kathleen McCleary. Personally, I’m also looking forward to an appearance by Jason Earles of Hannah Montana (my nieces LOVE that show!) as well as fashion shows featuring formal wear designed by Johnathan Kayne of Project Runway.

As for tickets, they’re currently selling in advance for only $7 at Harris Teeter with a VIC card; and they’ll still be just $9 at the door, $5 for kids age 6 through 12, free for kids under age 6  accompanied by an adult. Plus, shoppers, you can win three FREE tickets by nominating someone in our Ultimate Female Role Model Contest. Just do so by Thursday!