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The Luxe Starts Here
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"We get a lot of black cards in there," Buscher said, referring to the elite American Express Centurion credit card.
Michael Gilman, co-founder of the Grooming Lounge, a high-end salon for men in downtown Washington, said he doesn't see a limit to Washington consumers' wallets. But he acknowledges that there is a District aesthetic. He describes the atmosphere in the salon as equal parts country club, law firm and cigar bar, with its dark wood paneling and stylists dressed in striped button-downs.
"We're proud of our D.C. roots," Gilman said. "That's our brand."
Following the Money
A second Grooming Lounge is scheduled to open in Tysons Galleria next month. Gilman said many of his clients live in Fairfax, Vienna and Reston.
The outer suburbs have become increasingly affluent as residents move farther away from the city and congested inner suburbs in search of bigger homes and less traffic. As the money travels, so does the shopping.
Take Loudoun County, with a median 2005 household income of $90,989, according to Claritas. It is one of the wealthiest counties in the nation. But until recently, it has mostly been the land of farms and outlet shopping.
Consultant Jon Eisen of Street Sense is hoping to change that with a project developed by McLean-based Miller and Smith called One Loudoun, which sits at the intersection of Loudoun County Parkway and Route 7. The mixed-use development hopes to attract an art screen cinema, a boutique grocery store and high-end retail stores. Eisen said he wants to take the project a step above mall-based stores such as Banana Republic.
"I would be thrilled if we had a Banana Republic, but we'd be disappointed if that's all we had," he said.
In well-off Howard County, Urban Chic has opened its second location in high-end development Maple Lawn Farm. The merchandise is slightly less pricey than that in the Georgetown store, Buscher said, but it still carries $300 Marc Jacobs dresses. Across the street, a 10,000-square-foot spa named Pearl offers a $120 exfoliating treatment involving caviar.
For the right store in the right environment, luxury consumers will travel almost anywhere. Aba Kwawu said she bought a pair of sunglasses at the Gucci at the Collection the day it opened. She's also already hit the Barneys New York Co-Op to start on her spring wardrobe. And, oh yes, the Jimmy Choo as well.
"I've got stuff hiding in my closet that I haven't shown my husband," she said.
