Crème de la Crème in Old Town Alexandria Offers Beautiful and Unique Entertaining and Gift Solutions

ALEXANDRIA, VA – “Unique and useful,” is how Crème de la Crème’s co-owner Tara Wegdam defined her approach for choosing beautiful gifts and French homeware during the holidays—or for any special occasion, as she welcomed guests to the company’s festive outpost at 907 King Street.

Crème de la Crème’s ultimate mission is to inspire—or–to rescue the creative host, she noted.

“First of all, the vision is trying to find unique gifts. I think we have useful, unique things!” Wegdam explained as she handed a visitor a Match white salad bowl with a warm pewter finishing around its rim. “I think nobody wants things that won’t be used. The other great thing about having stock is that people can come in for an emergency.”

The inviting home and gift store opened its Old Town location in April. Celebrating its first holiday season, staff members said they were looking forward to meeting residents and showing off the store’s entertainment treasures, as well as gifts—many tucked into a pretty nook at the rear of the store where many whimsical and practical gifts are displayed. A sister store on East Washington Street in Middleburg is celebrating its 25th year, and other shops by the same name are located in Leesburg (recently relocated to 27 S. King St.), Richmond (3156 W. Cary St.), and Frederick, Md. (207 N. Market St.).

As she gestured to the store’s walls stocked with displays of imported coordinated serving pieces and complementary linens, Wegdam noted the immediate accessibility of a brick and mortar store for the shopper. If an immediate dash of tasteful accessory is needed, a host could definitely find it here.

“We can supply the emergency dinner party! You can set the whole table,” says Wegdam, showing off an assortment of coordinated serving pieces, dinnerware, and stemware, extending her reach to a sparkling display table.

Intriguingly beautiful and functional items for gracious living permeate the space, including clever gift items from young children to the hard-to-please discerning adults. At a special book-signing event and holiday reception on Thursday evening during regular store hours, she and co-owner/ husband Ben assisted friends and shoppers.

Fittingly, Hadley Keller, the editorial director of the Design Leadership Network based in New York, was on hand at Thursday’s book-signing to inscribe the mammoth new edition of The Living Room from publisher Assouline–weighing in at a hefty five pounds. Among the 312-page tome of photographed living room areas are leading international designers’ works including noted designers Mariah Crosby of Crosby Designs of Alexandria, along with Byron Risdon, Zoe Feldman, and Oehme van Sweden, all of D.C., and Barry Dixon of Fauquier County, Va.

“I think just having the range (of designers) is a really cool broad slice of the best of the design industry,” Keller explained, adding that future editions will probably feature specific other rooms.

Keller’s publication was the featured design book of the event but joins others in a selected book section at the rear of the store. From the vibrant assortment of dinner candles and fragrance candles to exceptional French serving tableware to vibrant patterns of 100 percent cotton napkins and other linens, the store is prepared to entertain—and to help match holiday shopping lists. The store’s signature candles burned during the book signing event on Thursday, scenting the air with “Fresh Cut Fir”—an appropriate complement to the season of giving.

Crème de la Crème also caters to the younger crowd with exquisite selections of musical books, decorator-quality posters, and whimsical stuffed animals and distinctive ornaments. A simply charming musical book series titled The Story Orchestra books and other items were on display and included titles of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Planets—awaiting those eager little hands and ears. Nestled nearby were small stuffed mice in matchbox packaging sure to launch the imagination.

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