If you dislike shopping at retail chains as much as I do, then you'll be glad to know that nestled between Friendship Heights and White Flint Mall is a little bit of one-of-a-kind. Mustard Seed is a 
delightful clothing store on Wisconsin Avenue, just south of Old Georgetown Road. They curate a nice mix of new and used clothing, accessories and shoes, "from Target to Prada," for men and women.
It doesn’t take long to go through the store. You might find something, you might not. But at least you’ll know in minutes, and you aren’t stuck in some department store maze, like a casino sans clocks and daylight, wondering if you might have missed something. It's not a place to find basics, as much of their inventory is too stylish for everyday wear, and if you're a thirty-something you do run the risk of coming out with twenty-something rags a la Carrie Bradshaw. BUT the selection is well vetted and chances are you'll find something you like. And the prices are surprisingly reasonable for a vintage shop, where they tend to charge a premium for sorting through the dregs.
Mustard Seed also buys clothes, and unloading clothes is almost as gratifying as walking out with something new. The owner fingers your offerings with agility and conviction, looking for things just contemporary enough, vintage enough, stylish enough, to make the cut. She won’t even take 501s—a vintage staple for decades—because they don’t meet with her InStyle standards. She's not looking for that boxy, curve-concealing vintage look of the 80's; she wants sexy, bold and tailored. You don't need an appointment to bring clothes in. Come by any time, but bring seasonal items as she doesn't want anything she has to store.
Getting there is easy, either via Metro or parking in the nearby public lot. Sadly, downtown Bethesda doesn't offer a very satisfying shopping experience, but you can cobble together a respectable stroll if you tack on Coco Mio and Luna.
Mustard Seed, 7349 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, 301.907.4699, Mon-Sat 11-8, Sun 12-6
Cultureflux on Mustard Seed; Mustard Seed in Judy's Book; The Hoya on bargain shopping; DCist on vintage and consignment shops; washingtonpost.com on selling clothes
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