Interpreting the right design for all occasions

Like a breath of fresh spring air, Periwinkle has offerings to refresh any stylish woman's closet.

Dresses, suits and separates to outfit all occasions line the walls of this shop in the booming North End of Old Town.

Periwinkle is a large shop and painted (what else?) but periwinkle blue. Each shopper is greeted with an offer of something to drink. The merchandise is thoughtfully organized, with dresses, casual, resort and business clothes all grouped together. Clients can easily find what they want with a quick glance, or they can take the time to browse. Periwinkle is not confusing or cluttered but straightforward with enough space for a seasoned shopper to collect herself as she picks out her purchases.

Periwinkle is the brainchild of Elizabeth Mason and Gretchen Hitchner whose complementing styles create a hybrid of function and style.

Our clothes are thoughtful and unique. We tend to go with designers who interpret fashion a little differently than mass produced items. Our goal is to make our client look and feel great. Whether it is a job interview, a night on the town, a weekend getaway, or a child's play date, we want our clients to look and feel their best, said Hitchner, a Del Ray resident and mother of a 1-year-old.

Periwinkle is stocked with this spring's hottest styles. The clothes are cheerful and uplifting, with turquoise and pink as the most striking colors. Periwinkle can take their clients from the office to happy hour and then to work overtime on the weekend. Particular hot items for spring are flirty dresses in lightweight fabrics like linen, cotton, and seersucker. Also abundant are spring coats. The coats are lightweight and generally hit above the knee. They are ladylike and add a touch of elegance to any spring wardrobe. A light spring coat can make a dress more comfortable this time of year. With the unpredictable weather, a light coat is practical and stylish, and much more fashion forward than a cardigan or pashmina, said Mason, a resident of Shirlington.

Notables
A large selection of flattering and feminine suits from such designers as TIBI, Liquid and Parameter add panache to a work week, interview or speaking engagement. Best of all, the location makes it easy to park and shop with no meter feeding required. Shoppers can meet a friend for lunch or drinks at nearby Rustico and pick up a baby shower gift at Tutto Bambini across the street.

Other notable Periwinkle items are gorgeous jewelry designs from Alexandria-based Bella Designs. The hand beaded necklaces and bracelets complement all of the styles at Periwinkle. We can hardly keep our Bella Designs in stock. It seems that one accompanies each outfit sold, said Mason.

Periwinkle 1557 Potomac Greens Drive (703) 519-5242 www.periwinkleshop.com Hours: Mon., Wed., Thu., Fri. – 11 a.m. -8 p.m. Sat. – 11 a.m. -6 p.m. Sun. – Noon -5 p.m.