Current Boutique

I’m a frequent consignor and consignment store shopper. For reference, my favorite consignment store for selection and service is Michael’s on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
I live a 5 min walk from the Clarendon location of Current Boutique. I have consistently consigned and shopped at this location for 5 years. I don’t appreciate the $ 1 fee to send me a check for my sales proceeds.
The staff is pleasant and drop offs are uneventful. Due to its location in Clarendon, the staff quickly accept trendy items, as that style sells well here. I save more sophisticated and timeless pieces for the McLean consignment store through which I also consign.
I’ve found lots of fun items at the Clarendon location of Current. It helps to go regularly and look thoroughly. The store is mid range and does not have many designer items. Most items are well priced and they do not take markdowns. The racks right by the front door seem to be new items purchased for the store and I always skip them. The new, larger and brighter, location is a significant improvement over the previous location.

This place is a joke. Don’t consign here; they don’t appreciate your business. Their business practices are predatory. And no, I’m not exaggerating.
As a consignor at Current Boutique, you are responsible for checking in to see if anything has sold. If you don’t, you’ll never see your cut of the sales.
Most consignment shops will send you a check with a tally of all items sold, at what price, and a clear-​cut breakdown of what your cut is, on a regular schedule. For a lot of places, it’s every 90 days. I don’t know how they do their paperwork here, but it’s a disorganized mess.
Anyhow, I asked for my check. They said, «All checks get a $ 1 checking fee to cover paper, postage, etc.» This fee, by the way, is required whether or not you get the check mailed to you or if you choose to pick it up.
It left a bad taste in my mouth. I had just generated sales for this consignment shop, only to be charged for my own cut. This is just a sign of how poorly they treat their patrons.
I complained and they would not make any exceptions, except, of course, if I wanted to get store credit for the full amount. I obviously declined. I insisted on taking back my two unsold items back. They said by contract, I am not to take back items. If I signed this, fine. But the fact that there was no flexibility whatsoever to maintain our business relationship was unsettling. Yes, they get their $ 1 fee and the two remaining items, but at what cost?
The whole process was a mess. The staff is rude. They never thanked me for choosing to consign with them. An overall unpleasant experience. I don’t get why they would insist on alienating their patrons so steadfastly, repeatedly.
I guess they don’t need my business. I’ll never shop or consign with Current Boutique again.

From a consignor’s perspective, this is the last place you want to go. I brought in over about 20 pieces, some of them in brand new condition with the tags still on them. Out of those 20 pieces, only 1 item was selected. I then find out that even if the item never sells, I never get it back because the store reserves the right to donate it. (My bet is that the sales associates keep the clothes for themselves.)
So 3 months later… I decide to give them a call and find out if my sweater sold. It did, but it turns out they don’t tell you if anything sells — you just have to take the initiative to remember to call them and remind them to pay you. It turns out my $ 40 sweater sold for $ 13. My cut was a lousy $ 5.40, because it turns out that Current Boutique requires you to pay a mandatory $ 1 processing fee (which no one ever told me about and wasn’t in any of their paperwork).
The sales clerk then proceeded to try to convince me to pick up the check because the Arlington PO has supposedly been losing a lot of their checks recently. But even if you pick up, you still have to pay the mandatory $ 1 fee. WTF?
Oh, and here’s the best part. They only cut checks twice a month, so I need to wait until December 24 (15 days from today, December 10) for them to write me a check. It then takes 2 weeks for me to get the check so I won’t see the cash until January 7. (Methinks someone is delaying mailing the checks because why else would it take 2 weeks to get a check from Arlington to Fairfax.)
NEVER AGAIN!

Good selection, mediocre prices, horrible customer service.
I spent about 20 minutes as the only customer here and picked out eight dresses to try on. At no point while I was browsing did either of the saleswomen ask if I wanted a dressing room or any help. I went to try on my dresses, walking directly past where both employees were chatting, no acknowledgement. Tried them on, again no acknowledgement. Left empty handed because that’s no way to make yourself any business.

I have been going here for years and have found many nice things here. The selection is usually quite good. In general, the clothes are clean and in good condition, and there is an especially interesting selection of dresses, some of which are new. Although I’ve only consigned a few things here, the process worked well for me, although they definitely will turn away any clothing that’s not very lightly used or in like-​new condition.
I have noticed that the prices have gone up across the board since they moved to their new location. I used to find things there for $ 12.99 or even $ 8.99, and the past few times I’ve been there those very low-​priced items have been nowhere to be found. Jeans are uniformly priced at around $ 55 even if they are in variable condition or from cheaper retailers. Worse, I saw very cheap clothing from H&M priced above $ 20, which just seems wrong — it’s H&M! I hope they bring back some lower-​priced treasures — I’m willing to pay more money for quality used clothes, but at a certain point it seems wiser just to buy it new.

I’m surprised they have a good selection of awesome brands: Gucci, Burberry, Kate Spade, BR, MK, True Religion, etc. Items range from handbags, dresses, shoes, to accessories. Prices are marked as a third of the department store tags.
Please take note that most of the store is pre-​owned minus a few racks and shelves towards the front of the store.
i.e. My friend found this awesome black skirt that fit her very well since she’s super petite. She did a quick search and found the brand to be priced around $ 200. She snagged it for about $ 50. Yay for her!
This particular location will be relocating soon so keep an eye out for the movement. And I believe there is another Current Boutique location in the VA area as well.

They have a great selection of clothing, but most of the good stuff is way overpriced. You won’t find any deals here. Also, the inside of the store is hot as hell. I wanted to stay and try on more clothes, but started dripping sweat five minutes into it and had to leave shortly after. Felt disgusted with how hot I was and all the clothes were sticking to me making for awkward fittings. They should really consider updating their a/​c situation.

Don’t bring your items for consignment here. You will waste a ton of time. They don’t contact you when the item is sold, so you have to keep checking yourself. On top of all they have a $ 1 fee for when they send you a check. Salespeople were rude when I brought my wife’s items for consignment. Another time when I stopped by they were nicer. Still, they just nickel and dime you. Not worth my time.

I didn’t even know there was a Current in Clarendon. I’m not the biggest fan of consignment, but Current mixes both new and old. If you like consignment, this is probably a good stop, as I noticed a decent amount of higher-​end brands, along with the typical mall store stuff.
Some of the staff is friendly; some is not. There’s so much apparel here that it’s quite overwhelming. On my second visit, I stuck to the jewelry and found a super cool ring. It’s probably worth a pop in if you have the time or are in the mood for weeding through racks.

Let me clarify, I would give it 4 stars for an actual store. But, I would give it 2 – 3 stars as a consignor. Let me talk about the store first.
**Store:
It’s a nicely laid out store, clean, organized, and fun. I like the dressing rooms option. You’d be surprised how often there isn’t a dressing room in consignment stores.
However, browsing around, there aren’t a lot of choices for casual or business casual. It’s mostly dressy or clubby. I saw some clothing had some tears and gems missing too. Also, there are a lot of the same sizes, which are not mine. I wish it was organized by size more clearly. Then, we could go right to your size. I’ve been several times on several days (my sister lives in Arlington). I don’t know if it’s because they don’t get them in or they don’t sell it. I think they stop at size 10, which is okay, but some people might need an extra size up. I’m a solid 12 always, which is sad to see the lack of representation. However, this might not be their problem.
About their shoes, I don’t like them on top of the clothing racks. I could have one fall on me. I would prefer (if possible) to have outfits put together with shoes and accessories (they could just be shoes and accessories or with a shawl or something one size, no clothes). The accessories and shoes are hidden and hard to see.
**Consigning:
The two girls that I had looking at my things were quite rude and unprofessional. I told her that I had about 20 – 35 minutes for her to look at my items and if they didn’t have time, that was fine. I would come back. They said they could split them up and do them in 15 minutes. I browsed the store (see above). After about 25 minutes, I see they are still at the same spot where I left. They were chatting, on their phones, and talking to another customer (which is fine, but it was a long conversation – she didn’t buy anything).
I asked how it was going and they threw a bunch of my items in a bag. Threw is NOT an exaggeration. I had all of my items on hangers and in garment bags and a few items (about 3) folded nicely in a bag. They didn’t even put everything back on the hangers and just threw them in the garment bags and zipped them up (I learned this after I got back home). After they said they were complete, I noticed that a whole garment bag wasn’t even unzipped and they didn’t look at my bag of accessories at all.
As I was taking my items back, they saw a sweater dress in the garment bag (I was making sure it was zipped up) they didn’t look at and took it at the last minute. I don’t like last minute sales. Also, they were holding up my items during the initial decision process and were being quite rude about holding them up and discussing them/​saying mean things. I keep my items in pristine condition (some even had the tags on them still) and they only took about 5 – 8 out of about 25. I saw several damaged items (see above) in the store though. But they were extremely picky about my items.
I had to give an itemized list which is fine, I consign a lot. But, I could have been filling out the contract and the list while they were going through it. Also, they did NOT go over the contract with me (or even have explanations of questions I had) and told me with a long sigh that they were impatient when I was trying to read it. I was under the impression when I got there that I would get a check mailed to me every so often, but I was informed that I would have to WAIT 90 DAYS. Who can wait 90 days for a check? I really need money since I had an internship from August — December that I did not get paid for. I was informed I had to come back and check my balance occasionally, which I can’t do, since I don’t live anywhere near Arlington. I only visit my sister sometimes and we don’t come here every time.
I will not be consigning with this boutique again. They made me feel belittled and didn’t even thank me for my items or time. I had a really nice leather jacket and I saw they slashed the price on the list when I left… I was left with a really bitter taste in my mouth.
***ADDED: «mean girls» is accurate. THANK YOU.**

I really love this store! I appreciate that every time I walk in, I am greeted with a smile and a hello. The store is small but always packed with inventory, so you should be prepared to stay awhile and look through each of the racks. Despite the smaller space, the store does not feel too crowded and makes for a comfortable shopping experience still.
One of the reviews on here talks about the high end stuff hiding in the racks, and she is right. You might find a Banana Republic top right next to a Joie right next to a Trina Turk. If you’re like me though, you will appreciate that accessibility of everything. If you’re looking exclusively for those brands, you might get frustrated. For me, there is a really good range of sizes and I have better luck finding items that work on my short body than almost any other store.

There are many reasons to shop at Current Boutique. Maybe you’re on a budget. Maybe you don’t like paying retail prices. Maybe you think the clothing industry is bloated and wasteful. Maybe you’re 16 months post-​partum and still can’t fit into your old clothes, but refuse to buy brand new bigger ones, because that’s just giving in, right? Oh, is that just me?
I enjoy shopping here, but it requires patience. They have several selections of new seasonal clothing (usually dresses) at the front of the store, but everything else is organized on racks into «categories». I have yet to figure out what these categories are, other than «tops», «pants», «skirts», etc., and the racks are absolutely packed with clothes. But with perseverance, you can find some great bargains here with name brands that are in great condition. They also have super cute jewelry.
I’ve also sold here. They won’t accept items that are out of season or older (hence the name Current), and I didn’t get as much for some of my clothes as I thought I could have, but overall, they make the process really simple. They can cut you a check or you can take store credit, and anything that doesn’t sell gets donated to charity. Pretty simple and a good way to clean out the closet for cash.

Yesterday afternoon I had received a dress that I had ordered in the mail, and I realized that it really needed a necklace in order to look nice. This would have been fine — except I was going on a airplane the next morning and I had no such necklace to take with me! When I was out running a few last minute errands, I stumbled upon Current Boutique. I figured I would go in real quick and see if they had a necklace that would work with the dress. As soon as I stepped in the door, two very friendly ladies asked me if they could help me find anything. They scoured the store for pretty necklaces and even helped me match them with a dress that was similar to mine. I was really impressed with the customer service! I found the perfect necklace and was so happy that I had found Current Boutique!

I’m pretty new to shopping in consignment stores but I liked this boutique. I bought 2 items: terracotta skinny Paige jeans and stripped Vera Wang top. I paid $ 100 total which I think is a bit high for pre-​owned items. However, both pieces look brand new so I’m happy with the quality. Bottom line, I got a super cute, fashion-​forward outfit that I’m excited to wear. Also, it’s a great way to discover new brands and styles. For example, I could never find ultra skinny jeans that fit me well and were comfortable. I was so thrilled when I tried on Paige jeans. Fit like a glove, make my legs look awesome. So overall, I’ve had a good experience.

Love this place! Totally cool. It’s a weird combination of bargain basement and top-​quality fashion. I have found amazing things here at amazing prices including a new Express skirt (from last season but new!). The owner is pretty friendly and the store is very inviting. It’s a hit or miss sometimes. You have to be here at the right time to get lucky. Something cute may not be available in your size. Something in your size may not flatter your figure. I will go back often to see what else I can find.

Decent prices, and easy to find some nice dresses, and occasionally the nice boot. If you know your size, then much better deals seem able to be found at online stores which offer free to semi-​free shipping (YOOX, etc).
Still, there’s a nice atmosphere, and you definitely will end up finding a few pieces that you never would have considered had you not the opportunity of first trying it on.

Discovered this little gem while exploring the neighborhood. They had a great selection of high and low end brands. It felt like I was shopping in a friend’s closet. It’s great if you’re looking for staples to add to you’re wardrobe. The staff were super friendly and really nice. Looking forward to the upcoming summer sales!

As much of a shopaholic I am, I have never stepped foot inside a consignment boutique. After hearing good things about Current from classmates who work there, as well as hearing their radio ad on 99.5 in the mornings, I decided to check it out during a long break in between classes.
They had a good mix of low to high end brands, but the organization throughout the store is lacking. The racks are STUFFED with clothes, but they could definitely organize it by sweaters, tops, blouses, etc. rather than putting all tops in one rack. They sell everything from tops, bottoms (skirts, pants, denim), dresses, shoes, purses, wallets, accessories, jewelry, and so much more. Unfortunately, I’m a common size so it was hard to find things that I liked in my size. I did end up finding two pieces for work that were decently priced though. Yay… Success!
I’m thinking about selling a few pre-​loved items here, but I will probably check out their other locations, or other consignment boutiques in the area so I can get the best bang for my buck.

I have been checking out all of the consignment shops in the DC area because I am looking for unique clothing pieces at the fraction of the costs. I have been meaning to check this place out, but never did. They usually have sales advertised, but not this weekend. The store is small, and there are a lot of racks so not a lot of walking space. The racks are full which is good and they get new stuff in all the time. There is a good selection of designer and mall brands so you never know what you are going to find.
I do feel that for a consignment shop the prices are somewhat high. There was a shirt from the limited that was priced at $ 19.95, it was a few seasons old. You can get that at the store for less with a coupon or just by the item being on a promotion sale. There was a bebe dress priced at $ 40 which is somewhat more reasonable, but not by much. A BCBG jacket priced at $ 200, just go to the store. A Theory dress for $ 200, I would just go to Bloomingdales or Nordstorm’s for that. Some of the more upscale designers such as ESCADA or Diane Von Furstenberg are reasonably priced. The clothes were in good condition and there is not one piece of clothing on the floor.
I will stick with Second Time Around or Secondi. I will check back here or there, but not a place that I make a point to visit.

This is my second time in Current Boutique. The first time around they were just as snotty, although they did «accept» a couple pairs of my high end jeans. I’ll admit, this time around I really did dig in the back of my closet. I was consequently denied on every piece, the message: even if it’s still in style, «they don’t take long dresses or pieces that were bought longer than 2 years ago». Totally get it! Why then did I walk out feeling like such a peasant? They do have standards obviously, and it’s easy to take the denial of even older pieces from your closet personally. I swear it’s them and not me though, «mean girls» is a perfect definition. Give me a break, it’s a consignment shop in Arlington, VA, not a boutique in Beverly Hills. Come back down to the real world ladies, and lose the attitude.
Great jean selection though, so here’s two stars.