Destination: Centered in the urban chic Mosaic District in Fairfax, Take 5 surrounds itself by modern designs, candor beauty and essential shops. The husband-and-wife-owned boutique is a refreshing addition to the growing district that is a need-to-know shopping center.
Atmosphere: The store mimics the style of a SoHo gallery with pale walls, a glossy wooden floor and abstract art hanging from the walls. Racks of clothes are neatly organized around the perimeter, leaving room for easy browsing and a hard-to-miss fuchsia ottoman that is the centerpiece of the store. Walking into Take 5 you leave NoVA behind, and enter a world with complimentary espresso, high fashion and art.
Bread and Butter: The clothes at Take 5 are chic, handcrafted pieces that come straight from the runways. “We all have one or two hundred items in our wardrobe, but there’s only one or two pieces that we are absolutely obsessed with. Everything you see at Take 5 are those one or two pieces,” says co-owner Mahir Iskander. The store is filled with unique pieces including blouses, skirts, dresses and accessories created by European designers.
Sweet Surprises: Co-owner Sakina Iskander has designed a unique clothing line dedicated for women who have undergone a double mastectomy; the clothes are designed to fit better in the chest, creating a flattering piece that is elegant and feminine. The line is inspired by Iskander’s grandmother who passed away from breast cancer. It is due to come out Spring 2015.
Fiercest Fan: Ladies who embody a delicate balance of cosmopolitan, European and Washingtonian style, and are looking to make a statement with their clothes.
Blows to the Budget: Prices in the store run from $100-$5,000, ranging from small accessories to by-appointment gowns. –Helen Ray
Destination: Take 5 Boutique, 2910 District Ave., Suite 155, Fairfax
(September 2014)