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Think Runway, Shop Beltway: Queen Bee

Posted on April 12, 2007
Filed Under Think Runway...Shop Beltway, Women | 2 Comments

Rock quartz “Eleanor”
$190
Queen Bee Designs

It’s clear that for women, one of Spring’s hottest trends is more about hat you can’t see than what you can: see-through bags, acrylic bangles and yes…clear heels. Apparently they’re not just for strippers anymore.

It’s not likely that many women in Washington can pull off the clear-heel thing, but we can still give a nod to the trend with a gorgeous rock quartz necklace from local jewelry maven Allison Priebe Brooks of Queen Bee Design. Washingtonians including Ana Marie Cox, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Laura Bush all own Queen Bee pieces. “Everyone from interns to first ladies can wear–and afford–my designs,” said Brooks, a former Hill staffer.

Get in on the trend THIS weekend, when Brooks will host a trunk show and sale at her “hive” in Alexandria. Expect steep discounts (umm…EVERYTHING at wholesale price…including the “Eleanor,” above), hors d’ourves and bubbly. RSVP here.

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Spanish Import Mango Comes to Tysons

Posted on April 12, 2007
Filed Under Shopping Events & News, Women | 2 Comments

Move over, H&M. Mango has come to town and the clothes are fabulously made and fabulously priced. Mango reminds me of the time I spent in Spain in college, when Mango, along with Zara and H&M, weren’t really available stateside. The clothes are around the same price-point as Zara, but the quality is outstanding, and the company clearly knows how to celebrate a woman’s oh…T&A.

The current collection is inspired by a myriad of influences, including Jane Birkin and the art scene Jean-Michel Basquiat was a part of in the 1980s. Penelope Cruz and her sister Monica are helping to design the Fall/Winter collection. Cruz and her sister were great choices for the company–Cruz is Spanish to the core but will help to translate the product to the American market. The grand opening of Mango at Tysons on Tuesday evening drew a crowd, many of whom seemed familiar with the brand.

So why Washington? “Washington is a very international city and our brand has recognition here from the many women that travel to Europe,” said Jose Gomez, Vice President of International Development. “It was an easy choice.”

More after the jump…
Read more

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Do You Look Like Your Neighborhood?

Posted on April 12, 2007
Filed Under Men, On The Street | 2 Comments

It’s funny how DC has become a city of neighborhoods, each with its own relatively established dress code. I think if I passed this guy on the street in Adams Morgan or U Street I wouldn’t find his look all that different. But in Georgetown he definitely stood out. It’s all about context.

The best part this was that after he agreed to have his picture taken, he asked “mind if I smoke?” in a way that I think he thought sounded offhand…and then proceeded to suck on the cigarette, quite intentionally, while I took several shots.
I’m not a smoker, but do you think that a time will come where smoking doesn’t lend a certain air of cool to photos and movie montages??

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The Skinny on Skinny Jeans…

Posted on April 11, 2007
Filed Under Everything Else, Men, Women | 16 Comments

Guys are buying into the skinny jeans trend too; this version by Cheap Monday being a pretty extreme version of the trend.

DCD writes in recent comments:
Ok, here’s an internal debate I’m having, completely unrelated to this post (sorry). I’ve become enamored with the new matchstick skinny jeans. I decided to hold off on buying them until I [see] someone who looks like myself in them, (5 feet, with some hips to boot). Do these jeans only look good on the tall rail-thin girls or is there hope for me too?

DCD, I hear you on this. In…out…it gets dizzying! I’m 5’7 and not too curvy, but I’m still hesitant. If you’re gonna do it, I’d check out brands like Cheap Monday (linked to above; not sure if they carry it at the local outposts…might be worth a call) so you don’t spend a ton on a trend you’re unsure of. Alternatively, and possibly the best solution: go to the Master of Denim, Mauro Farinelli at Denim Bar in either Arlington or Bethesda. I hear he spits the truth when you just wanna know what will look great for YOU. Which, really, is more important than anything.
Further–check out the resurgence of wide-legged denim in a flattering dark rinse…another example here.

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Hide the Plastic From Yourselves.

Posted on April 11, 2007
Filed Under Everything Else, Shopping Events & News | Leave a Comment

Shoshanna herself will be there! Am I lame that I’m really kind of excited about that? I think this is gonna be a good party guys…and further make me want to burn everything I own and buy all-new things.

I love her feminine clothes and the way she considers things like, ohhh, T & A, when she makes them. Check out looks from the Spring 2007 Shoshanna line at Urban Chic’s website.

–As an aside, kudos to Urban Chic for having their entire inventory online; I know that’s a TON of work. As this article suggests, it’s so easy (and soo tempting as a result) to buy from the convenience of your laptop.

I’m all for buying locally (hence my Think Runway, Shop Beltway) weekly column, and so I applaud shops that make doing so that much more convenient…so I wish that article had listed local online options. Although nothing beats going out on the weekends (or Thursdays for trunk-show-style parties, as seems to be the trend), I often don’t have the time.

Let’s brainstorm what local (or at least stores with local outposts) shops have online inventory…leave your favorites in the comments!

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Remaining Neutral

Posted on April 11, 2007
Filed Under On The Street, Women | 8 Comments

Natalie, a Washington Times ad exec found her jacket at Aeropostale (“shhh!”) and got her skirt at Banana Republic.

Her outfit is a reminder that neutrals and knowing what shapes work for you never looks bad.

The outfit isn’t making a big statement, but it achieves what seems to be important to professional women (and men) here: not to look fashiony or trendy necessarily, but to simply look put together polished.

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Glimpse of Summer: U Street

Posted on April 10, 2007
Filed Under Everything Else, On The Street, Women | 3 Comments

Nothing feels better than a breezy dress in warm Washington weather. Yes, it was this warm a week or so ago…sigh

Brandi Gardner and Noelle Green are working with Hari Smith of the African American Civil War Memorial to produce a literary journal called Greater U, focused on the heritage and history of the Greater U Street area.

…You probably know how good the half-smokes are at Ben’s Chili Bowl, but did you know that the space was originally DC’s first silent moving picture theater?

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