Denim Bar
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sun 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Garage
16 Reviews for Denim Bar
I went here after my workout at Bally's Fitness. Although I was looking pretty sweaty and tired, I didn't expect the snottiness of the staff at this place. It's not like I was planning to try on any jeans, but just inquired about a pair that I was interested in. Nonetheless, this will be my last time going in. Too bad this place thinks it's "above" other places since you can pretty much purchase the same jeans at Macys or Nordstroms, which are literally 200 yards away.
This place could have been a 5-star...but for the stupid, terrible, awful, customer un-friendly return policy.I went there initially with the intention of buying my first pair of skinny jeans. I had tried my best to prepare myself for the psychological warfare I was about to encounter. Instead of many dreadful hours of trying on jeans and wanting to hang myself with a pair of them, I was in and out in less than one hour. The girl who helped me was great - helpful and honest...I mean, you can't really get better than that.The result - I bought 2 pairs of jeans. I get home that night and try them on again. One pair I love, and the other I'm so-so about. I decide that for $185/pair, I better LOVE them both. So, I'm going to return the pair that I don't love. This was right before the holidays, and I didn't have time to go back before I headed to FL for 2 weeks.So I get back in town and the first errand of the week is to return the jeans. I check out the receipt and realize that it's got this 7-day bullshit on there. Just a note to the management in case you're reading this: When a person is spending $400 on two pairs of jeans, your policy should be to communicate this verbally to the customer at the time of purcase.Seeing this, I decide to try anyway...and here's the part that KILLS me. I can't return the jeans...BUT there is a little sign on the counter that addresses the return policy in regard to xmas presents. Now those can be returned with a gift receipt until Jan 14, regardless of the purchase date. So...had I asked for a gift receipt along with my jeans and brought that instead of the original I could have returned them? Ridiculous. If you're going to allow that, then you need to lighten up on all returns until Jan 14 or whatever arbitrary date you decide is the absolute latest day that you will accept returns on over-priced jeans.Now don't get me wrong - I am not at all pissed about paying almost $200 for the pair that I love, but to not be able to return the other ones...total bullshit. Oh, and another note to the management: YOU CAN EASILY TELL IF A PAIR OF JEANS HAVE BEEN WORN.
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I cannot stress how much I HATE buying jeans in a regular store. Mostly because there's so many damn brands, most of which do not fit me right. However, you come into Denim Bar and and you tell them what kind of fit and wash you want and they do all the dirty work for you. Meaning, they'll scour the store and find at least 5 different pairs for you to try on.
GREAT.
My salesperson was extremely helpful and kept insisting that I come out so that he could tell me whether they looked okay or not, which is what they typically do- though I do not enjoy that part! However, this kind of critique can be very helpful for some. There's a huge full length mirror outside of the fitting rooms that you usually step infront of. Also, there's a pair of communal designer heels that they keep for ladies that want to try on their jeans with heels.
Their collection of denim is truly extensive for the real denim connoisseur. T/Ksubis, Nudies, Acne, Paiges, Serfontaines, and so much more. They've got it. Yes, it's expensive but the denim that you buy here will seriously become your favorite.
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I would give this store only one star except for the fact that I'm sure they have a great selection of jeans ... had I gotten a chance to try them on.
Problem No. 1: The jeans are stacked on shelves with no labels on the shelves. There's no easy way to browse here, and no rhyme or reason to the organization that I could tell.
Problem No. 2: Perhaps there's no organization because the point is not to self-browse? Perhaps this place is called Denim BAR because rather than getting your own drink, you place your order and some nice bartender helps you with your selection? That would have been nice, had I gotten any kind of customer service. I was simply not acknowledged during the five minutes I was in the store. The staff appeared to be way too-cool-for-school and was too busy chatting with their friends to say even hello and goodbye. I'll only subject myself to that kind of treat (or lack thereof) once.
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Why is it that I have been to this mall a kabillion times and I recently just found this store? Yeah, that's me..Little Miss Behind The Times.
Anyway, I can share some news with you Denim Bar fans. Howzabout a 20% sale around the dreaded V Day next week? I will so be there.
This place just has the "wow" factor for me:
Wow. All of the employees are dressed like bartenders
Wow. They offered me a beer!
Wow. The owner takes his jeans seriously.
Wow. They really DO make jeans for petite girls who have more junk in the trunk than average.
Wow. Those jeans do look like crap on me.
Wow. THOSE jeans look awesome.
Wow. They do tailoring in store.
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USED TO WORK HERE:
Denim Bar is where you come to find denim... or it was, before I left the quality of the inventory was going down a bit, especially on the men's side of the board. If you are a woman believe me there really is no better place around the District to find a good fit for your self, find Jeff he'll be a huge help for you.
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So I bought my first 2 pairs of True Religion jeans (big-T and the normal dark wash) here a little over a year ago. They were the first place in NoVA where i found the selection and sizes I oh-so craved (its hard to find a 25 in 3 different styles of the same designer!). The sales person (female) was a lot of help, even though she did talk me into buying that second pair... The only thing i would complain about is that they didn't offer me a drink, which could be attributed to the fact that i look 18? Anyways, I'd say it was a good experience! The only reason I give them 4 stars now is that the hard to find brands I went there to find are plentifully available now.
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So, you're telling me that you'll walk me through a style type, help me find designers that fit that style type, give me several washes and fits in that style type, allow me to hang out, chill, talk AND drink wine & beer?!......I'm sold!! Yes Gayle, this place does have that WOW factor.
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If I could give this place no stars I would do it. First of all, they never have any sizes. Second, I bought $200 jeans in which the button face just twisted off. I took them back and long story short, wait from end of Feb to end of April with constant calls to them to tell me I wasnt going to get them back. They never once called me to tell me the status of my jeans and when I finally requested a refund they were rude and would not refund me the full amount for jeans I never received. Horrible horrible service and a horrible attitude. They might have good jeans but trust me, you can find them elsewhere and it's not worth it there. Plus, they hike up the prices, so you can get them cheaper at Bloomingdales, etc.
*I'm going to add a disclaimer on here to also say that my experience was at the Bethesda store. Not sure how the Arlington store is bc Ive never been there. After my experience, I talked to the owner of the Denim Bar. He treated me very professionally, so I'll give them that much. I still ended up buying the same pair at Bloomingdales for 50 bucks cheaper (they were having a sale and it's 20 bucks cheaper anyway)
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This is a store for the denim addict. I call them the denim nazis, but they know what they're talking about. Sevens are so 2004. Come here for the staples or the latest sermon on the difference between True Religion and Evisu. Mauro Farinelli and team will load you up with jeans and the latest fashion trends. Take the "bar" literally with sales staff who look like bartenders and serve you a cold one to boot. You can still get Citizens of Humanity or AG, but since customers can buy these brands in almost any local shop or department store, he's targeting the customer who wants the exclusivity and status that come with a pair, say, made from salvaged denim and double indigo-dyed. These rarefied jeans from such un-household names as Tsubi, Edun or Rock and Republic and will cost you anywhere from $200 to $300 and up to $635 for a special-edition men's pair from Japanese company Evisu.
As a denim snob myself, I think it's worth the coinage, just work the butt test. Don't worry, if all of these different brand names have your head spinning, Mauro gives every customer there very own free consultation to help find the pair of jeans that best compliments you and the junk in your trunk...
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If you are a woman reading this you will know what I'm talking about. It's difficult shopping for jeans. We all have different waistlines, butts and hips - making for a multitude of possible fits. I have personally driven miles and miles, trying on seemingly hundreds of pairs for that euphoric feeling of finding the right fit. Mauro Farinelli and his staff solve this dilemma - one stop shopping - every brand of jeans conceivable - and the knowledge to tell you (just by looking at you) which pairs will fit you best. Check your BF at the door, ladies. They have built in entertainment for him, not to mention, beer. Now you are free to get to the business of finding jeans that make your butt look good. Prefer salvaged denim or double indigo-dyed? He's got 'em. Can afford to spend over $600 on one pair - he's got them too.
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And to think, I knew Denim Bar when it was still a field between Pentagon City metro and my building. Pretty cool that all that stuff just grew up there while I was in college. Sucks that it raised all kinds of rents.
This place rocks! I went there asking for a Joe's Jeans in the Muse cut, and they were out of my size. They did offer a Red Engine pair, grabbed my size off the shelf, and it was perfect! That was cool. this will be one of my first stops when I get into DC. I say "One of.." because I do have to say hello to daddy and put my suitcases in my old room.
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Being the shorty that I am, I can never find jeans the right length for me. So it goes for Denim Bar. But, that doesn't stop me from shopping here. First of all, the blonde, super-fit woman who is one of the co-owners is SO nice and friendly. I've bought a ton of cool belts and belt buckles (for the pants that are the right length), a couple hoodies,and a bunch of shirts.
Love this place.... when I can afford it.
I agree with Betsy T.- no rhyme or reason to the organization and not user friendly in terms of browsing. The young kid who helped me was nearly worthless. I wanted jeans that were not painted on- each pair he handed me to try on was skin tight. He basically said "well, they are all fitted- i'm not sure what you are looking for...." I left. I can hardly believe that there was not one pair of jeans in that store that might fit me. Perhaps in the evening, when folks have had a few beers one might find better service. I wasn't impressed and i'm not sure what all the fuss is about, unless you love beer, are a size 5, and like spending lots of money on overpriced jeans.
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Mauro knows his stuff about denim, and I REALLY mean it! Most SuperFuture folks would agree denimbar is the best place to cop APC and other VERY-hard-to-find brands like Samurai, Nudie, Evisu, etc etc...
Mauro had a special on the APC stuff, raw New Standard, Rescue and other styles $120 shipped, that's definitely the best deal ever... I received mine in 2 days and absolutely love them! Friend of mine bought his jeans from their store, they stretched out a bit too much and he was able to exchange them to a smaller size free of charge, that is great service, and very important when you buy denim as often times sizing and stretching are not very consistent even in the exact same brand and style...
Keep up the good work! One of these days I will definitely be visiting their store...
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This is denim heaven... Ok, so I may have a teensy little problem with buying jeans. Basically I want every brand, and all in one place, so I can try on about fifteen brands in three styles each.... Denim bar has 'em all. If all you want are the typical sevens or citizens, you are better off going to nordstroms. They stock the harder to find, wow I never even heard of that brand denim - stuff like melting pot, brown label, and immortality. They also have good stand-bys like rock and republic, true religion, and paige.
I went on a rainy tuesday, which is the best time to go - there isn't that weekend crowd to deal with so I had all three people who worked there giving me opinions on the various styles, and when i found something that was almost right but not quite, they were thinking of styles or brands that might fit better. All in all I tried on about twenty-five pairs (ridiculous I know) only to settle on ones I almost knew from looking at that I would love... They were a bit too long so I had them hemmed with original bottoms and they are being shipped to SF for only $8.... I guess thats what you get for service when you pay a ridiculous amount of money for something - but I have already justified my obsession - I wear them every day, to work and play, and they balence out the ten dollar tanksand hoodies......
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