By Angela Bobo
DESTINATION: Located just a few yards from the Potomac River, you can experience the chic coastal lifestyle every time you visit this new Old Town Alexandria location and the flagship shop at National Harbor.
BREAD & BUTTER: This unique store offers home and apparel products in shades of white, other neutrals and hints of turquoise to bring a clean and sophisticated palette to both your abode and wardrobe.
ATMOSPHERE/ATTITUDE: “Imagine if Papa Hemingway and Audrey Hepburn had a love child born in a Paris flea market. That love child is Coco Blanca,” says co-owner Elisabeth Squire. Born out of an idea that originated during a vacation in Cape Cod, the store’s owners follow the neutral color palette of a coconut to create a serene atmosphere much like that of the beach. Each store is divided into appointed home collections and fab fashion finds in “Coco’s Closet.” Squire and co-owners Susie Neithamer and Gayla Reed aim to invoke a sense of hospitality and social grace of past times to offer customers a relaxing shopping experience.
SWEET SURPRISES: While the overall atmosphere of the two local stores may be the same, customers will be surprised to learn that each carries two different collections. The Alexandria store’s “Breezy Island Bungalow” and “Chic City Loft” collections offer some variety to the already established “French Country Farm” and “Rustic Lake Cabin” collections found at the flagship store. This guarantees that every shopping experience with Coco Blanca will be new and fresh.
FIERCEST FANS: With customer ages ranging from 17 to 75, there really is something for every woman at this specialty store.
Coco Blanca
210 S. Union St., Old Town Alexandria at The Strand
703-535-8002
cocoblanca.com
(July 2013)
