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.

I was actually listening to his show on Hot 99.5 yesterday afternoon — on my way back from dropping off piles o’ magazines at the Dulles Expo Center for this weekend’s Women’s Show of Northern Virginia — when I heard him talking about it on air.  He (or his coworker) even posted a photo of the shirt on his Twitter page as well as on  ryanseacreast.com! It looks like you better place those orders for super-soft, super-funny Ts now — before the company can’t keep up with demand.

Speaking of Idol fashion, what did you think of Allison’s punk look this week? Think it was appropriate for a No Doubt song or ridiculous any way you look at it?

A quick scan of the chefs participating in the Cooking Stage–an interactive showcase tapping the talents of local toques like Liam LaCivita of The Liberty Tavern, Aaron McCloud of Vintage 50, Chris Clime of PassionFish, Carmen Piazza of Extra Virgin and Alison Swope of M&S Grill–obliterates the outdated stereotype of cooking being strictly women’s work.

But it did get us thinking about the lovely ladies that helped shape our own culinary worldview.

The question is: what iconic female would be at the top of your list?

Alice Waters?

(Photo: Evan Sung)

Julia Child?

(Photo: Arnold Newman)

Aunt Jemima?

(Image: FDA)

Your gray-haired granny?

(Did anyone actually expect to see their sweet, grinning meemaw in this spot? That would’ve been WAY creepy.)

So, let us in on what lady helped bring the kitchen alive in your life in the comments below, and we will see about getting you into the Women’s Show free of charge.

But don’t just spit out a name and some ho-hum praise.

We want details: lovingly prepared birthday meals you’ll never forget, bizarro baking catastrophes that have become the stuff of family lore, invaluable cooking tips that have saved countless meals/your marriage from utter ruin. Well, you get the idea.

We’ll reward the 10 most interesting responses (be they heartfelt, hilarious or horrific) with a pair of passes to the upcoming show.

But you’ve got to reply by noon on Tuesday, March 31 to qualify.

–Warren Rojas

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!

Here we go, a little somethin’ for everyone:

First of all, tickets are almost sold out for Northern VA Fashion Week, so order those tickets now to enjoy this weekend’s fabulous shows!

Searching for some killer shoes? Head to Alexandria, friends, on to Alexandria, that is if you’re not a size 8 or 9; in that case, you’re going to want to shop online. What am I talking about? The Shoe Hive, TREAT and simplysoles.com are teaming up for a very special shoe sale! Wear size 5 to 7? Head to TREAT (114 S. Royal St.). Wear size 10 to 12? Trek next door to The Shoe Hive (115 S. Royal St.).  At both stores as well as simplysoles.com today through Sunday, you’ll save 60 to 80 percent!

Other stores are celebrating milestones, giving us all reasons to celebrate, too! For example, Simpatica in Fredericksburg (810 Caroline St.) is celebrating its fourth birthday by offering shoppers the following deal: Buy one item, get your second 40 percent off! Similarly, Today’s Cargo, in Alexandria (1102 King St.), is celebrating its 36th year by offering shoppers 50 percent off all jewelry and gifts! A special coupon is required for that offer, though; email (natalie@northernvirginiamag.com) me by 5 p.m., and I’ll be happy to forward it to you.

Other fabulous clothing and accessory sales that I’m really looking forward to: Lord & Taylor is offering 20 percent off almost everything in the store through Monday with this shopping pass or the code: TWENTY. Meanwhile, at Cusp in Tysons Corner Center, spend $300 and receive a free Hat Attack hat, hair accessory, Cusp beach mat and water bottle.

If furniture is what you’re after, head to Danker Furniture in Pentagon City, where you’ll enjoy savings at up to 90 percent off retail!

Prefer to spend your weekend mingling and shopping with celebs? Head across the Potomac to Christian Audigier’s new Georgetown Ed Hardy store on Saturday between 5 and 8 p.m. At the opening, you’ll get a chance to scope out the Ed Hardy Spring 2009 collection as you mingle with NFL players Clinton Portis and Rock Cartwright of the Redskins, and Vernon Davis of the San Francisco 49ers; the Wizards Girls; DJs from Hot 99.5 and others!

Prefer to stay at home and catch up on all of your favorite fashion shows? Be sure to tune in to STYLE for the premiere of  “Running in Heels” when it debuts on Sunday at 8 p.m.! The show tracks the lives of three Marie Claire interns hoping to make it big in publishing! Sure to be fascinating!

Have a great weekend!