American In Paris Old Town — Local services in Alexandria

This is not a store where you go to just browse. This is a store to visit when you have a specific item you're looking for or an event to attend. I needed a dress for a political wedding that was a big to-do (Senator's child). I tried my normal department store go-tos and just wasn't having any luck. A friend and I decided to try "An American in Paris." Living on Prince Street, I walk King Street often and had often stopped to window shop. Sometimes loving everything, sometimes not, but always looking in.

Upon walking in, and yes, she keeps the door locked (as a crowd control measure) I explained to her that I needed a dress for this wedding. She asked for details - time of day, venue, etc. My friend started browsing and yes, was chastised for touching the clothes. Face it - your hands are dirty. Even if no visible dirt, the oils from your hands transfer to whatever you touch - including her clothes.

As my friend and I exchanged wary looks, the owner was busy pulling dresses. I don't remember trying on more than just the dress I purchased. It was perfect. While I was in the dressing room, my friend looked around (no touching!) and saw a dress she wanted me to try. I emerged with the owner's pick on, which I LOVED. My friend still wanted me to try on her pick though. The owner chastised her again, saying, "No! That is NOT the dress for her!" She was right! It was a style I would never have picked for myself, it was not at all right for my body type, and it was not appropriate for the event.

Now trying on styles you would never pick for yourself can be a good thing, with the right friend. Let's just say that while I love my girlfriend to pieces, we have totally different tastes in clothing. She is very good, however, at being that honest friend that tells you if your butt looks too big, so makes a good shopping buddy.

Shopping at "An American in Paris" though, you don't have to worry about that. You won't be permitted to try on anything that doesn't suit you or your body type. The French woman knows. And while she may be rude, she won't let you purchase anything in her shop that you don't feel and LOOK...

I would never set foot in this store again. The door is locked to prevent you "mindlessly browsing." The owner has to let you in and then has to give you a 5 minute lecture about how to properly handle her merchandise, which is just clothing. "Dont touch it, just look, put it back this way - not this way, you can only touch this part the hanger, do not touch the rack..." i mean so many ridiculous rules for a clothing store!! From there, she has to give you a "tour of her museum of clothing"... that is what she called it 🙄. I saw a cute top and touched it to see what kind of fabric it was, forgetting momentarily that strict rules were in place and the owner slapped my hand.... yes, actually slapped my knuckles because I did not handle her merchandise correctly. Keep in mind, all I did was hold a sleeve out to see the material and the print that was on it. Anyway, she slapped my hand saying "you did not listen to me!! What did I say?!" I began to leave the store, to which she said something to the effect of "I am a world class stylist. I know what I am doing!" I grabed the door knob to leave, but it was locked and I promtly asked to be let out. She said "just let me show you one more thing before you go" and pulled out a pair of pants I would never even consider an option for myself to wear. I told her I just wanted to leave and she said " you dont know anything about style." She opened the door, I stepped out, she slammed it close then locked it again.

I did see a dress I liked in the window. I was able to find it on Amazon for 1/3 the cost, no locked doors, no lectures and no assult... This is by far the worst shopping experience I...

The sketchiest "high-end" store I've ever been in. what the heck does she lock the door for? what is this? Chanel? Hermes? I'm extremely picky about the quality of my clothes since I make a lot of my own clothes and my mother was a seamstress and I didn't see anything that was particularly high-quality (when a store wants to sell quality, they tell you something about the garments and why they're high quality, ex where its made/ how?/environmentally friendly etc. they don't just insist that they're high quality and that all the other stores suck.) the prevalence of synthetic fibers is usually a pretty accurate give away to clothes that are not high-quality. the inside of the store looks like a ross inventory closet, cluttered and way too much going on. I've never been in a high-end store that hovered over me and nit-picked how I touched the clothes. there are some cute dresses and all and maybe she's good at finding what the customer wants. If you simply like the style of the dresses there and are willing to pay for the print, thats fine! but the quality of the clothes in the boutique is not what she claims it to be. This lady is scamming rich people that don't...