Proper Topper

Today was my first time visiting this location. I decided to stop & check it out since I walk by everyday on my way to work. They have some adorable pieces however the customer service wasn’t that great. When I walked in, I was the only customer and there were three employees chatting at the front while prancing in the mirror (not sure why). They just stared at me like a deer in headlights and proceeded back to their conversation without any greeting. I finally left, I wont return and I will not recommend to my colleagues. Customer service plays a big role in attracting customers and actually keeping them. Step it up!

I occasionally go through a hat wearing phase (primarily during the cold months). From fedora’s to beret’s, I like my hats to be dapper (just like me). That’s why I go to the Proper Topper. A friend of mine told me about it. When I looked it up, it was listed as a women’s shop, but guys I assure you they have a nice selection of men’s hats.
I’ve been coming here for years and I always find a nice hat. Are they a bit pricey? Yes. But in my experience, you get what you pay for. As for the store, it can be a little junky at times; however, their sales assistants have always been helpful to me in regards to finding exactly what I need. Overall, I recommend the Proper Topper.

Walked by this store in Dupont and had to venture in, glad I did! It used to be a hat shop but now is a unique boutique. The clothes are ridiculously expensive ($ 300+ for a casual dress?!) but the knick knacks, books, and little things scattered throughout the store on bookshelves are so fun! Great place to buy a gift for your friends or yourself.

Oh I wish my wallet were what it was years ago…
So much fun stuff in here, Well made, unique, and interesting stuff.
Gifts for yourself and for others.
Things mostly for women and children, but even the occasional man who is dragged in here by a woman will find things that amuse him — like a short heavy ruler (made of lead?) that doubles as a bottle opener.
This is a great gift shop, dress shop, jewelry store, children’s store, and housewares and décor store.
Oh ya — they also sell hats.

I came across Proper Topper last year while looking for a place to buy a new winter hat to go with my overcoat. The variety of men’s hats they had was nice, but unfortunately finding one in my size proved to be a problem given how unorganized everything was. The employees weren’t much help, and said I just had to dig through this messy pile of hats to try to find a particular size. The problem was that the same hats weren’t grouped together, so I had to look through literally every similarly-​colored hat they had to see if it was the right one.
After maybe 15 minutes, I found something that suited me, made my purchase, and was on my way. In my car while driving home I tried it on again, and decided it was actually too tight (yea, I have a big head), so I turned around to return it. I had made my purchase with a credit card, and was told that it couldn’t be refunded on my card, but could only be given in an in-​store credit. Seriously? My card had been run not an hour before, and they just ‘weren’t able’ to void the transaction. Reluctantly I accepted an in-​store credit, which they said they keep on file.
Fast forward 2 months, and I return to find a hat I really like. I was going to use my store credit to cover the cost, but having misplaced the receipt confirming the credit, I ask if they could look me up in the system. Lo and behold, they can’t find my credit on file. On their computer behind the counter I can see them thumbing through an excel sheet with a bunch of customer names and credit amounts, but I’m not in there… I guess somebody forgot to enter my name and credit after my previous return (professional, right?). I had to go back home and search for the receipt, which I finally found.
I ended up using the store credit and finding a hat that I liked, but given the disorganization and generally bad customer service, I can say confidently that they won’t be getting any more of my money.
All-​in-​all: Good variety of men’s hats, bad selection of sizes, bad record keeping, generally disorganized, poor customer service

Perfect place to pick up a gift for any friend– Proper Topper has a wonderful range of jewelry, hats& clothes from local designers, cute odds and ends for the home and a nice range of children’s books, activities and clothes.

Very unique merchandise, at a properly large price.
I walked in looking for a gift, and a pleasant shopping experience to kill a little time, and found both though my bank card was whimpering when I left. There are some very unique pieces of clothing, cute and high quality accessories, and nice lotions and things, but all are very expensive.
Staff was friendly and helpful, one woman with curly hair totally sold me on an adorable scarf.
I might come back if I have a lot of money to blow (lol when does that happen?) or if I really need a super unique gift for someone close to me. Only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is prices, but I realize DuPont rent is probably outrageous.

I love the jewelry and gifts at this store. Pretty, a little different, not too pricy. The clothes are not to my taste and I don’t wear hats, but the other stuff is great. As indicated in other reviews, the service is a little too «cool.» still, I love having this independent store nearby!

The staff here racially profile people. Today I walked from my office to buy a few cards on the recommendation of a colleague. The ridiculous looking woman behing the counter proceeded to follow me around the small store wherever I went. When I noticed she was staring at me I gave her a quizzical look and then she started to «check on» everything I was looking at. How outrageous! I will never go back here, and will not encourage anyone in my office to go again.

My never-​fail, go-​to place for feminine, beautiful gifts. Proper Topper is the best kind of boutique — the kind of place where someone with amazing taste chooses everything inside with a great deal of care so you don’t have to. I’ve come here for jewelry, hats, wallets, baby gifts, home stuff, dresses. I’ve always found the service to be just right. Warm without being intrusive.

A vision of loveliness.
I have always bought gifts for my niece here since she was about 5 years old-​she always has loved to come visit me and go to «sight-​seeing» to see their window dressing.
Such a lovely young lady works there now, I wish she had told me her name…
Totally recommend if you are seeking a unique gift or treat for your favorite niece :)
Can’t wait to go back again.

I see from other reviewers that there are far more fabulous things that have come home with happy shoppers, but for me this store is all about the hats. Particularly the ladies hats and fascinators! Drawn in by their chock full of cuteness windows, I benefitted from my height and spied them first — perched on vases and other decorative objects on top of their shelving were a dozen or more amazing fascinators. As I was with my soon to be wed friend, we quickly descended on them and picked the red and black feathered number with a little bird cage veil in the front for her. I engaged up with a hot pink feathered and spiraled ditty that is possibly the most fabulous thing I’ve ever planned an outfit around! Mine was $ 44, hers around $ 140. I got the better end of the deal, but at least they hooked her up with a fancy hat box to get hers home safely. The staff were nice and not pushy at all, they were quick to help and easy with a smile. Overall, big love to Proper Topper. It’s certainly one of the most unique places I’ve been in DC.

A tiny boutique just south of Dupont Circle, crammed with all kinds of tasteful goodies. So many stores have the same stuff nowadays that it’s rewarding to go into a boutique where the buyers know their clientele and have a distinct niche.
I’m not one for hats — the store’s namesake — or fancy clothes, but there is much here to give me a case of the Wants. Lovely jewelry and accessories, and pretty stuff for the home (goblets, demitasse, unique silkscreened tea towels). A small but enticing book selection, too: I once made an impulse purchase of a book on letterpress printing. Their children’s clothes are so utterly charming that I always browse through them even though I don’t have kids!
This is a fab place for gifts, particularly for women.

The name sold me. That was really all I needed. Nothing like a great name to get me vibing as I walk into an establishment.
And for an artsy/​pseudo vintage hat and assorted oddities store, ain’t no name as awesome as the Proper Topper.
The staff was friendly and happy to joke around with us as we perused their selection. Something tells me if I lived in DC I would be compelled to revisit and buy something.
Nothing gets me in the winter mood quite like some quirky women’s hats. I mean… men’s hats. They have those too, and THAT’S what I meant.

Went here last weekend with a friend, she and I were trying on hats and clothes.
I agree with other reviewers that some of the prices are a little expensive, but it’s a fun place to look around. The two employees (women) working there were really helpful and funny! They were joking around with us the entire time.
I had a great time and bought a hat, it’s worth stopping in!

Although I always enjoy a good top, this shop needs to learn how to deliver.
The shop is small with cute hats, dresses, children’s clothing, stationary… basically girly things… EVERYWHERE. If you’re looking for a gift for a special lady in your life, I would say any purchase from here would do the trick.
However, snooty and unfriendly service would prevent me from returning. Walking into an empty store, the one lady behind the counter couldn’t even grace us with a «hello.» Okay honey, keep checking your emails. Browsing the adorable, yet highly priced selection — we felt like a burden when asking a question. FYI to small business owners — if you’re going to expect people to pay higher prices at a locally owned store, then you should have staff who are polite and helpful.
I can find cheaper tops with less attitude online…

Hat and derbies most every where, but not a topper for me. In a store mainly comprised of head wear and I, being a hat person, was surprised to leave empty-​handed from a shop dealing mainly in the accessory I love most.
Hats.
Some, though gorgeous, were wildly overpriced.
Some, though inexpensive, just did not fit right.
And some, well, they were just not right at all.
A cute, well-​appointed and organized store, but for those who are a bit less picky.

A tad expensive but I love the uniqueness of the gifts here. Proper Topper is geared more toward women — which is good news for men buying gifts for their SO. Especially noteworthy are their hats (no surprise) and baby clothes and earrings and garden books and and and… Never dull, that’s for sure. Have bought great gifts there for a number of my friends. They usually have two sales per year — and there are two locations (Dupont and Georgetown).

The selection of girls clothes is grand (highly recommended if there are little girls in your life.)
For women though? Not so much.

In a last minute rush, I needed to find something unique for a friend of mine that is so unique and authentic herself, that any gift otherwise would just seem odd.
I knew I could find something at Proper Topper. With all of the handmade jewelry, unique household items, interesting books, art, hats, soaps and scarves (among other things) it’s hard to leave the store without feeling accomplished.
The prices are a bit higher then you might normally expect, but they seem to get away with it. It is probably because it’s hard to find so many cute and different kinds of gifts in one small shop. And man, the shop is small. I’m not sure if they deal with a lot of shoplifting here, but I always feel like the employee assigned to the floor is a little too eager, if you know what I mean.
I’m also not sure why they still haven’t invested in a regular credit card receipt machine. They always hand write their receipts, which makes the check out process a bit more time consuming.
Otherwise, great place to grab a last minute gift that will probably not be a duplicate.