Top Places to Shop in Arlington - Best of Arlington 2023

Reader Pick
Shopping District

Mosaic District

The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker. The tutor, the boho boutique, the eyelash aesthetician specializing in natural-growth conditioner. In the 10 years since its first shops and restaurants opened, this buzzy district on the edge of Merrifield has grown to offer something for each of the 200,000 patrons who flock there weekly—whether to pick up a birthday gift, grab drinks with friends, catch a movie, snap a family photo on the rainbow staircase (just try and keep the kids off it), rock a new ’do or sample one of the really obscure, really hot peppers at the Sunday farmers market. With roughly 100 businesses tucked into its tidy storefronts and a steady calendar of street fairs and events, there’s always something new to discover at Mosaic. “It’s an environment where people want to connect throughout the day and into the evening,” says David Germakian, a managing director with the neighborhood’s developer, EDENS. “It was envisioned to have that vibrancy.” –Susan Anspach

Other top vote-getters:

Ballston Quarter, The Crossing Clarendon, Lee Heights Shops, The Shops at Wilson, Tysons Corner Center, The Village at Shirlington, Westover

- Advertisement -

Reader Pick
Everyday Jewelry

Covet

Diamonds aren’t a girl’s only best friend. Sometimes you’re in the mood for a chunky beaded bracelet, dangly leather earrings or a sterling silver signet ring engraved with the simple message (or is it a monogram?) “WTF.” For those occasions, Autumn Clayton’s edgy, feminine, feminist gift shop in Bluemont has your number. Tucked into the top floor of a farmhouse on Wilson Boulevard, the petite boutique is the place to discover indie jewelry designers whose business cards Clayton is careful to display alongside their wares. “I want people to feel connected to the stuff they’re buying,” says the proprietor. “You can go and find any mass-produced jewelry anywhere. That’s not us.” –Susan Anspach

Other top vote-getters:

Diament Jewelry, Dominion Jewelers, The Top Jewelers, Trade Roots

- Advertisement -

A Peter Langner wedding gown (Courtesy photo)

Zoya’s Atelier

For Zoya Bitici, the perfect dress all comes down to perfect alterations, and they’re done on-site by seamstresses she has trained herself. “Nothing goes out of here unless I approve it,” says Bitici, who co-owns her eponymous Falls Church bridal boutique with daughter-in-law Amy. Those bespoke fittings are partly what has compelled brides to fly in from as far away as California to try on the shop’s exclusive designer lines—most notably The Atelier by Jimmy Choo—as well as satin, tulle and lace gowns by designers Suzanne Neville and Peter Langner. (Langner and Neville feature prominently in the boutique’s evening wear collection, as well.) The couture is on display for a small handful of clients each day, as the store is open by appointment only. –Susan Anspach

Reader Pick
Lighting Store

Dominion Lighting

Meyer Sharlin founded the Dominion Electric Supply Co. in 1940 with $500 and a truck. Today, the family-owned and -operated business has 10 locations, 300 employees and 20 trucks. The Arlington flagship store, which opened in 1947, carries 300 lighting brands displayed in about 6,000 square feet of showroom. “We use the showroom almost like a Rorschach test for folks to get a gut check on where they’re going” in terms of design, says Matt Rowan, vice president of residential lighting. Ever since a 2020 makeover, the shop has also been using its retail space to display works by local artists, hosting new exhibits every few months for free. “This allows people, when they’re in the mindset of improving their houses, to also stumble across artwork and artists that they would otherwise never see,” Rowan says. “It also just makes our space look more beautiful.” –Stephanie Kanowitz

Other top vote-getter:

- Advertisement -

Lamps Unlimited