I spent this past Saturday morning with Tanya of the newly opened Refine, an appointment only boutique located in a pretty and bright upstairs space within the Cathedral Commons neighborhood. Tanya started Refine after an extensive career in high end retail and hopes to cater to urban professionals in the DC area who struggle to find time to shop in between work, social engagements, and everything else that seems to fill up our agendas.
A Saturday morning appointment was perfect for my schedule this weekend, and the minimal but stylish ambiance made for a relaxing shopping experience. We had a great time chatting about everything from concerts we’ve been to recently to french bulldogs to topics more relevant to putting together a wardrobe, such as pulling pieces that would fill the holes I currently see in my wardrobe: feminine but not too dressy date night tops and dresses as well as sweaters that are more brunch than football game appropriate.
While I usually tend to lean towards tailored pieces rather than drapey or billowy silhouettes, the items Tanya picked for me were just what I was looking for. Also, I couldn’t get enough of the neutral color palette that’s currently filling the shop—soft greens, grays, and taupes rooted by plenty of black.
Appointments can be set up before, during, or after the work day, and she can even come to you if you’re truly on a time crunch and need a dress for a 7 p.m. charity event and find yourself with only minutes to spare—definitely not enough time to run out and go shopping.
Refine carries lines that span from casual weekend wear to cocktail dresses, including Cooper & Ella, Joie, John + Jenn, Karina Grimaldi, and Jenny Bird jewelry. It’s a great range of price points, and there’s no cost for the appointments or even for house calls. You can book an appointment with Tanya at Refine by emailing refineboutique@gmail.com.
Also it’s worth noting that this post is not sponsored, I just had a wonderful experience with Refine and think it’s exactly what so many of my friends and I have needed when it comes to shopping in DC!
