At the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Opening – 14th Street

Posted on May 24, 2007
Filed Under Around Town, Events, Men, Women | 21 Comments

Everyone was drooling over Lyndsay’s outfit (center), including me. Her pants and tunic were from Sherman Pickey in Georgetown, and the bag (Catherine Rapetti) and shoes were from Sassanova. It’s hard to tell from the picture, but Adam (on the right, obv) was wearing a great fitted jacket and the most fresh way to wear a pocket square right now: a simple white fold. Missy (left) is wearing Gigi Favela shoes!!

I loved this woman! She was wearing the coolest pants from French Connection, a Target (!!) top, and Manolo Blahnik boots. When I grow up I want.to.be.her.

Party dresses! The woman on the right is on the PR end of the company, managing the designers’ support of GLBT rights…very cool job.

« go back — keep looking »

At Eastern Market

Posted on May 24, 2007
Filed Under Around Town, Everything Else, Men, Only in Washington | 1 Comment

I took this the weekend after the fire.

« go back — keep looking »

At Taste of the South: Southern Belle Style

Posted on May 23, 2007
Filed Under Around Town, Events, Men, Women | 17 Comments

The boozy Taste of the South meekly held its 25th Anniversary Gala this past weekend. Apparently the event once enjoyed a heyday but on Saturday night it felt a little like a high school dance. That is, if high school dances allowed heavy drinking and served corndogs.

Anyway though, I had a terrific time, truth be told. There were a ton of great-looking people there and I mean…there was a buffet with crawfish grits and ribs in the VIP area. So I was good.

The girls especially turned out. It’s been said…Southern girls know how to look pretty.
One girl in particular caught my eye while she was sitting, because her skirt was fanned out and it reminded me of a hoop skirt. I liked the color and neckline anyway and didn’t think the dress would actually be dramatic but when she stood up it was better than I thought it’d be! A modern take on the hoop skirt! I’m pretty sure she said it was Betsy Johnson and I’m not sure, but it certainly wasn’t the very similar Oscar de la Renta Camilla Belle was wearing at the a recent boutique opening for the designer.

Guys were OK but all looked pretty much the same in rented tuxedos.

It makes me feel bad for guys interested in clothes because they have one look to wear to these events. Anyone have suggestions for what guys can do to jazz up their black-tie-affair outfits? Or do you think that the point of a tux is to look like a man in a tux and not mess with it? Particularly if he has a lot of these functions to go to, should a guy invest in a tux and then personalize it from there?

« go back — keep looking »

The Great Style Debate

Posted on May 22, 2007
Filed Under Everything Else | 5 Comments

I want to address a few things based on some comments made in this post yesterday and this morning. When I took this young lady’s photo, I snapped two shots: one full-length shot like I always do, and the one I posted that just showed the shoes. Why did I choose the latter? Partly because I was scared that certain commenters would make comments: “she’s fat” or “she shouldn’t be wearing that,” etc. etc.

And so I censored myself. I’m somewhat ashamed to admit that I fell for this. All too often, I wonder if I like what a girl is wearing because she’s thin or attractive or because I genuinely think she’s wearing something interesting. As was discussed in the comments, knowing what suits you is fine, but it’s not everything. Sure, part of being a stylish woman involves knowing what suits your body. But it’s also about wearing something that you love and feel fabulous in. It’s about creating a signature look for yourself and not being a slave to appropriateness, trends, or rules. To me, true style transcends age and physical appearance.

Believe me, I can get all fashiony-opiniony with the best of ‘em, but for the most part, that’s not what the point of doing the street-style and around-town photos are about. It can’t be–how many people walking around Washington look completely fabulous from head-to-toe? The on-the-street shots are meant to celebrate individual style, and I especially love it when I see someone who’s taking a chance.

I’m not saying that the picture of the flats is of someone with revolutionary style…I’m more concerned with addressing what seems to be a trend in the comments: “they shouldn’t have worn this, they shouldn’t have worn that.” Washington needs more courageous dressers–the city is far too aesthetically conventional already. Would fashion even be interesting if it was all about rules? If boundaries were never pushed? What about the style icon Iris Apfel? What about Vivienne Westwood, who literally and figuratively toppled the fashion establishment (see Naomi Campbell’s famous fall on the runway in 1993) time and again…first with her subversive clothing for The Sex Pistols and the burgeoning Punk movement, and later with runway shows that celebrated both nonconformity and tradition.

When you subscribe too much to rules, you take away everything that’s interesting and fun about fashion, and you run the risk of looking totally boring. I invite people to think outside of the style box and be more adventurous and have more fun. After all, it was Donatella Versace who once said, “If you’re going to be boring, stay at home.”

We shouldn’t get so caught up in the do’s and don’ts, the shoulds and shouldn’ts.
So I’ll try not to censor myself. I’ll try to be more courageous with who and what I present here. I keep comments unmoderated because I want to encourage any and all comments (except ones that offer nothing productive). I’m thrilled that the post yesterday has sparked such debate, and I hope that it continues. I hope more readers will feel compelled to comment in general.

« go back — keep looking »

So cute…14th Street.

Posted on May 22, 2007
Filed Under On The Street, Women | 2 Comments

Snapping this photo over the weekend made me realize all over again why doing this can be so much fun: I end up meeting some really great, interesting people. We ended up talking there on the street for probably 20 minutes or more. As it turns out we have mutual people in common and she just moved into the ‘hood. Crystal, let’s get together for yoga soon, I think my ashtanga is a little out of shape.

Her great tunic top was from Intermix…

« go back — keep looking »

On Lokation Hoops for Africa Event

Posted on May 21, 2007
Filed Under Around Town, Events, Men, Women | 5 Comments

Thursday’s On Lokation event featured designs from cool Israeli designer Lia Kes and a host of locals, including sorta-local Yolanda Linton (Baltimore), above, in a thrift jacket, Forever 21 T-shirt, Fendi bag and really awesome pants of her own design.

« go back — keep looking »