This store is definitely worth a visit. But you don’t have to leave your house to shop from Current. Consigning made easy.

Current has four locations in DC, Virginia, and Maryland.  As I spent a whole summer in the district but had yet to explore its suburbs, I used Current’s location in Alexandria as an excuse to see Old Town. The store is nestled among a slew of boutiques in old brick townhouses on King Street. The name CURRENT is plastered on a blue sign that is matched with striped walls once you step inside.  As I waited for the owner, Carmen, to finish with some inventory, I explored the store on my own. The shoe rack caught my eye first, and I was impressed. Upscale shoes are often trendy and therefore not the easiest to consign. I visited a lot of secondhand stores this summer (as you may have noticed in this column), and a good pair of heels were far and few between. At Current, I saw quite a few; a pair of dark leather Christian Louboutin sandals and white diamond encrusted Manolo Blahnik were among my favorites. I was still admiring them when Carmen came to greet me. She took me around the rest of the store and I saw plenty of Trina Turk, Banana Republic, and Vince. There is an abundance of dresses (according to Carmen, if you can’t find one where you won’t be able to find one anywhere), shirts and jeans. The style ranges from casual to business casual, with a lot of preppy. Carmen has been in the business since she was 15. She explains to me the best types of cashmere, the science of pricing and the all-time best sellers. In front of the store, there are brand new items Carmen has picked from up and coming designers at trade shows around the country. Overall, the store is definitely worth a visit. But you don’t have to leave your house to shop from Current. They’ve just launched a website where you can explore items in their warehouse and get them sent straight to your doorstep. Consignment shopping has never been easier. All in all, Current was a great way to end my successful summer of consignment shopping.