• home
• About

Fit to be Tied

Posted on November 26, 2007
Filed Under On The Street, Women | 9 Comments

Scarves! They seem to be everywhere.

In the *September issue of Vogue the writer Sarah Mower (whose runway commentary on style.com is always spot-on) asks “are multi-everything scarves the next multiseason accessory?” She writes:

We fashion people talk about trends — season in, season out — but I have learned by now how to recognize the difference between a whim and the signs of an epidemic. Here are the symptoms: Whatever it is has to be not just ubiquitous but counterintuitively, nuttily so. Having defied mere logical considerations like comfort and temperature, it has to become so habitual that women cease to notice there’s anything unusual about it.

Hers is a smart point. Think of high heels and pierced ears, for example.

Mower points out that women have taken to wearing them year-round: indoors, outdoors, at the beach. The 25-and-under set have been the look’s champions, especially the gauzy ratty-tatty “ethnic” variety, but thick knit versions are getting play too. The focus is on the overall casually covered-up look. Nicholas Ghesquiere sent iterations of the look down Fall RTW runways, paired with collegiate jackets. Evidence of the look here in Washington: a trio of young women snapped more than a month ago on the streets of Georgetown, and a Unsung Designers devotee in attendance at the showroom’s closing the other week.

*the one with Sienna Miller on the cover….and inside sporting the most obvious painted-on highlights ever. Anyone else notice this?!

« go back — keep looking »

Sidewalk Style!

Posted on November 20, 2007
Filed Under Everything Else, Interviews, Only in Washington | 11 Comments

Hi PBers! I wanted to share some exciting news with you. Washingtonian.com has asked me to be a regular fashion contributor for their site. I’ll be doing a column called Sidewalk Style that embraces Project Beltway’s mission to celebrate individual fashion found on the streets of DC. In addition, I’ll cover some local events for the site.

Sidewalk Style will include an interview with my ambushed ‘sidewalker’ as well as a breakdown of their outfit – something I think a lot of you will enjoy.

I want to thank you all for you support of PB and thought you would happy to know that our debates and appreciation for personal expression through fashion is making a big impact and is reaching a broader audience. Project Beltway has certainly enlightened me and made me appreciate how many smart & interesting people you walk past on the street every day. I hope it has done the same for you!

Don’t worry, PB is here to stay and will remain a place for all of us to laugh, argue and learn. I’ll just be working more .

As always, send me your ideas and thoughts and keep the comments coming – without you, PB is just another blog. Check out this week’s Sidewalk Style featuring Marvin’s general manager, Sheldon Scott.

Happy Thanksgiving! I’ll be back next week if not before.

XO

Rachel

« go back — keep looking »

R. Nichols Event @ Apres Peau

Posted on November 20, 2007
Filed Under Around Town, Events, Only in Washington | 9 Comments

I have the hugest crush not only on the new R.Nichols stationery at Apres Peau (exclusive to the store), but also the designer Nick who I met there the other night when they held a premiere party for his new DC -themed line. One of the notecards features a woman frolicking with her dog at the base of the Washington monument (me! If I had a dog!), and another features the Jefferson memorial and cherry blossoms. TOO cute.

Perfect single-girl-in-the-city stationery….if I ever sent mail, that is.

SOME day, I will be the kind of girl who jots off hand-written notes to friends, family and boyfriends.

I caught local model Jackie Akoko and Tara on the way out. Jackie was in the cutest cropped leather jacket from bebe, and a silk tunic from Forever 21. Tara was in a dress she found at Loehmann’s and Gucci shoes. My friend Barbara sent some more pics to me the other day, including one of Nick and his parents (how cute that they came!?)….those are after the jump.

So back to Nick – who was just so refreshingly open and laid-back. Something he said that night really struck me and I wonder what yall think. PB came up while we were chatting and he confessed that he’d wanted to wear jeans and a cool Miu Miu top that night, but that he’d been advised to trade the hip artist threads and stick to a conservative suit more appropriate for the Washington audience.

I was really kind of surprised and disappointed by this. I’m all for dressing respectfully and appropriately, especially for office environments, formal dinners, weddings, etc….but an art opening held in your honor?! I grew up around artists, and it seems to me that they are one of the blessed few that not only get to wear whatever the hell they want but are sort of expected to wear something creative and unconventional. Conservative town or not, I really do feel that people here expect and crave this kind of expression from our few creative types.

Read more

« go back — keep looking »

Give the Gift of Style: FemmeFete on Tuesday.

Posted on November 16, 2007
Filed Under Shopping Events & News | Leave a Comment

People.

The ridiculous talent that bedecked you in Ayanna jewels, pampered you at the Spring Suite event and produced art impressive enough to make your IKEA couch look Bobois brings you her latest and greatest shopping/pampering/charity/indie-art-and-fashion celebralooza yet: The FemmeFete Holiday Gift Fair. At the Four Seasons, bitchez!!

Why it’s Haute:
More than 30 local designers to shop from.
Complimentary wine, stocking stuffers, hand massages, and lots of good people-watching.
Holiday gifts that will make the people you love feel loved.
*Perfect for the dudes.
My friend Sarah is doing the wrapping and also blogs over at The District Domestic. I came up with that name, ya proud?!
It’s not the mall. The mall just makes me want to stab everyone who ever made a holiday CD (Bono, how could you!?) and never have children. That I bring to the mall. To just walk really slowly and irrita…..ghrrh!!

Buy tickets, scope the designers, and start making those lists HERE.

*Guys, take note. Your girlfriend does not want a packaged bath set from Bath & Body Works. She wants you to buy her a ticket to this so she can pick something, or several things, out. Let her pick out some stuff and then surprise her with one extra thing.

« go back — keep looking »

For Thursday: Fashionable Happenings All Over Town

Posted on November 14, 2007
Filed Under Shopping Events & News | 4 Comments

Wow, my schedule is all out of whack from having the day off on Monday…Thursday crept up on me! Lots of things to attend in your cutest fall outfits, plenty of wine and nibbles for your dinner, and even more lovely things to buy for yourself or presents…or as a present to yourself.

Belted “S” coat by Dr. Gano

First off, my top pick for Thursday: Unsung Designer’s going away fete. As I posted before, Unsung is closing its showroom doors to officially “headquarter” itself in New York, and they’re having a huge blow-out party and sale tomorrow from 6 – 9 p.m. Everything in the store, including sale items, will be a whopping 40% off, so THIS is your chance to snap up the Couture Saboteur necklace or Verrieres & Sako cocktail dress you’ve been eyeing. Speaking of, the amazing talent behind Unsung fan faves Verrieres & Sako and Dr. Gano will fly in just for the occasion to show their new fall/winter collections (not on sale). Theirs are perfectly tailored, edgy-meets-classic clothes – a perfect fit for Washington’s women. Customers who spend more than $500 will receive a special gift from Verrieres & Sako. Don’t miss your chance to send off Grace & Alishia and wish them the best as they take Unsung to the next level!
Unsung Designers
2413 18th St. NW Adams Morgan

Sequined tunic by Palmer-Jones

If embassy row had a boutique, it might take the shape of relative newcomer Sangaree. The sparse boutique is known for its luxe offerings from international designers you may not know, like Kyrgyzstan’s Dilbar and Denmark’s Benedikte Utzon and ones you might, like Lisa Ho and Louis Verdad. These are sumptuous, gorgeous clothes for a woman with sophisticated taste and a relatively high credit limit. But y’ know what, looking is free! Unlike other high-end boutiques, the vibe here is refreshingly fun, friendly, and not at all pretentious. Tomorrow from 6 – 9 p.m., stop by for dessert and bubbly while you watch an informal fashion show of their new collection of holiday dresses and accessories from Derercuny, Lisa Ho, Palmer-Jones, Ben-Amun, Elisa Atheniense and others. If you know you’ll be dropping by, be a lady (I’m sure fellas are welcome too!) and RSVP (202-333-4690 or info@sangareeboutique.com).
Sangaree
3288 M St. NW Georgetown

While you’re over in Georgetown, don’t miss local De*Nada designer Virginia Arrisueno’s trunk show of her new line of bags and handmade scarves, both of which would make great holiday gifts. Her braided scarves are unique and incredibly soft, and the airplane-printed version is great for dudes or anyone suffering from wanderlust. Preview work from local street artist Kelly Towles, whose work you can also see over at The District Line and on various legal and non-legal spots around town. RSVP with names! info@denadadesigns.com
NIDO, 1425 Wisconsin Avenue Georgetown

….whew.
See you lovelies out & about!
xo
Rachel

« go back — keep looking »

Project Runway: Get Your Design On Tonight

Posted on November 14, 2007
Filed Under Everything Else | Leave a Comment

As you may have guessed from the title of this blog, I’m kind of a huge fan of the show Project Runway. > I’ve been watching since Season 1 episode 1. Like I was with Sex and the City, I only watch it with people who understand that there is to be NO talking during the show. During commercials we’ll talk shop, but during those precious minutes of show, no distractions. It’s just that good, if you ask me.

I’ll be running around tonight so I will unfortunately NOT be enjoying the Project Runway Season 4 premiere from the comfort of my couch (hurray for reruns), but I’d be crazy not to pass along this sneak preview fashion show and accompanying article about 21 year-old sorta-local (Annapolis) contestant Christian Siriano, courtesy The Baltimore Sun.

And for around-the-clock PR news, head over to Blogging Project Runway.

Make it work, yall.

« go back — keep looking »

Tomorrow: Shopping Event @ Wink

Posted on November 13, 2007
Filed Under Shopping Events & News | 2 Comments

« go back — keep looking »