Shoe blog

CUSP Sale: Department Store Boutiques

Generally speaking, I do not care for department stores. They are too big, and, quite frankly, just too much in every respect. Yes, you can peruse an incredible selection and find some great deals, but it always takes me hours. It’s like I walk into a department store and remerge hours later completely overwhelmed. This is why I love boutiques! I can cover the entire store in a much more timely manner. But the downside is that the selection and markdowns are not always comparable to a department store.

CUSP, Neiman Marcus’s equivalent of Barney’s Co-Op, is my new favorite boutique department store! I bought a Marc by Marc Jacobs bag online a few months ago and was impressed with the website’s selection and prices. Yesterday I was walking down the street in Georgetown during my visit to Washington D.C. and spotted a brick and mortar CUSP (3030 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20007)! I was so excited!

The store’s selection was amazing! I loved everything! I was there for about 45 minutes and felt like I covered the place. The staff, especially in the shoe department, was very helpful! The salesman informed me that if you request a sale item as “final sale” you save an additional 15%! This deal does not appear to be available online.

I bought these adorable Sam Edelman ballet flats in wine (they are also available in gray) on sale for $44. 

Sam Edelman Bow-Front Ballerina at CUSP for $44 (regularly $99)

Loeffler Randall colorblock pumps at CUSP for $191 (regularly $425)