Project Beltway Interviews: Katherine Kennedy
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Last weekend outside of Cafe Milano – Katherine in a rare pant-wearing moment.
Katherine Kennedy was in town last weekend from London. In typical it-girl fashion, she was posing at a party at The Park in a navy blue satin dress mere hours after landing, looking just as – if not more – glamorous than the other girls who’d had hours to prepare. You might be wondering who Katherine Kennedy is. I heard of Katherine before I ever came to know her. You might call her a socialite, whatever that means in Washington. She’s regularly asked to host charity events and she shows up frequently in the party pages of local mags like Capitol File and was asked recently to be the “socialite columnist” for Verse Magazine.
The night this article came out in the City Paper, I went out to Clarendon Ballroom for a concert with “KK” and a few others, and it was the first time I’d ever seen her in jeans, much less a pair of pants. Since I didn’t really know her all that well yet, the article put me in the position of anthropological observer (which I love as you might know, and why I love Angela’s articles on people in DC). She is overwhelmingly good-natured — the girl making sure no other girl was lost as we moved through the crowd — with a magnetic persona and a kind of social mojo that is pretty fascinating to be around.
Katherine and I caught up last weekend over drinks. Read on for her favorite thing to wear on a plane, what she thinks of being dubbed a “socialite,” and why she thinks brunettes might have more fun.
Tell us a little about yourself: where you went to school, how you ended up in Washington and then London, what you wanna be when you grow up.
I’m from Los Altos Hills, California – grew up a Cisco kid in the Silicon Valley. Went to college at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles (graduated in 2005) then got my masters in business and technology from Georgetown in 2007. I’m studying ecommerce at the London School of Economics hoping to get my phd. Peruse.com started as a class project for an ecommerce course at Georgetown. When I grow up I want to have a talk show using the media as a platform to promote people who “do good” (non-profits, etc – similar to Oprah’s Angel Network). I also want to start a charity for MEN. I was diagnosed with MEN 1 and sporadic carcinoid syndrome when I was 15 in 2000. Its kind of funny it’s called men – the root of ALL of my problems! I owe a lot my ambition and success to the illness as it gave me the chance to live as if I were dying and seize every moment (thus graduating high school and college each a year early, selling a company, traveling the world, etc). I want to start a charity that gives teens who are faced with serious illness a chance to live their dreams in fast forward. I am also selling my jewelry designs at We One You Two, with the proceeds going to the start-up of my foundation.
Favorite thing in your closet and why?
I am absolutely obsessed with my black Burberry trench. I truly believe that you can invest in
fashion, and it is probably my best investment yet. Always classic and appropriate in just about every setting, combining fashion and function… Plus, if you’re wearing a nice coat it doesn’t matter what you have on underneath!
Ice skating on the Mall in her Burberry trench.
What do you think of being dubbed a “socialite”?
I think the term socialite is pretty hilarious, showing that I have come along way since the times when I would wear orange Umbro shorts that went down past my knees sticking out two inches beyond my plaid school uniform. I admit I have been a little overexposed even for my own liking, but have been blessed as I have been given the opportunity to promote many good causes- including fashion based ones like being a face for Fashion Fights Poverty, a model in Fashion For Paws, and a board member of Suited For Change and Menzfit. I’m not exactly sure how I got dubbed a socialite, being that I came to DC with academic ambitions at 20 years old and never made a sex tape a la Paris Hilton, but as long as I can use my name to help the numerous good causes in the District, I am okay with whatever they will call it.
How would you describe your style? Any signatures or style quirks?
I hope my style is portrayed as a hybrid of classic elegance and eclectic charm. I tend to disregard what is hot this season but mix in some runway ideas into each season’s wardrobe. I wear pearls every single day- something atypical hailing from California – but I try to wear funky, imperfect ones, never the traditional round 16-inch strands.
You’ve gone from CA to DC to London. How has your style changed or evolved depending on where you’ve lived?
I believe that every person’s fashion sense is a work in progress. In California I was obsessed with Juicy Sweats and Uggs. When I moved to DC I realized it may not be so appropriate for a twentysomething to have the word “Juicy” inscribed upon her bottom so I opted for more classic pieces and learned to dress to fit my body, not the trend of the moment. Living in London has given me the courage to be a bit edgier with those classic pieces, trying out different cuts and accessories.
Half of the time I look around London wondering if the hobo look was in, and the rest of the time I’m awestruck and staring at girls who can pull off tights with shorts without looking like my mom in the ’80s. Washington is really conservative so it’s quite a trip seeing Londoners walking around in huge bell bottoms, furs, and elf-toed boots. The eclectic mix in such an internationally savvy city means there’s the good, the bad, and the ugly…but has definitely made me envious!
Any favorite places to shop in Washington and in London?
On my last trip to DC I became obsessed with We One You Two. Since I wear a dress about every single day, I found my little slice of heaven in Georgetown’s two story gift from above! I love dresses with pockets and they had a ton. London has a lot of great shops overflowing with new trends. My go-tos as a fashionista on a budget are TopShop and Zara, where I can always find something of-the-moment, well-made, and at a great price. Shopping online is huge in London as well. Net-A-Porter.com is fabulous!
With WJLA reporter Pamela Brown in Georgetown over the summer.
What beauty products can you no live without?
People might be surprised to hear that I’m actually low-maintenance when it comes to makeup and hair, probably because my A.D.D. kicks in and I get distracted. I am a big advocate of Mystic tanning…I know it sounds awful, but it’s true. I don’t do sunbeds, but I love the way the Mystic tanning means I don’t have to wear makeup and it makes my body glow from had to toe. On the makeup front, the only three things I have in my bag are Philosophy’s “The Supernatural Airbrushed Canvas” with SPF 15 in Bronze (its amazing!), The Balm’s “Hot Mama” blush/eyeshadow, and Volume Express Mascara. I kind of look like a transvestite when I wear makeup, so I tend to opt for the all-natural look…
Favorite labels/designers?
TranquiliT.com makes the absolute best travel clothing. In London, I’ll travel almost every weekend to Paris, Milan, Barcelona, so I needed something comfortable to wear, especially on the
transatlantic flights. Their Eco-Luxe lifestylewear is both fashionable and environmentally friendly, but most importantly ridiculously comfortable. I wear the jumpsuit (in black) every single flight with the cardishawl in off white. It is uber classy going from flight to dinner- just accessorize with shoes and jewelry and you’re done! Easy packing!
What’s the best fashion advice you’ve ever been given?
My favorite professor in college once told us, “Never wear Versace, stick to Chanel.” He was making a metaphor for politics, but I took it to the depths of my closet. You’re the one wearing the clothes, so they should compliment you, not take the focus away.
What’s something you’d never be caught dead wearing?
Plaid. I went to a Catholic School all the way from preschool through graduate
school. so I’ve overdosed on plaid (in every imaginable color-combo). A little Burberry on the inside of a jacket is classic, but a plaid shirt/skirt/etc– never!
What style do you admire but would probably never wear?
I am jealous of the people who can throw on a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt and some urban kicks and look flawless. Clothes give me a lot of confidence, and I’m just not as outgoing unless I have a great pair of heels and a dress on. I also wish I could go brunette as I honestly believe that only brunettes can be stunningly gorgeous, but its just never going to happen I don’t think…
Favorite fashion quote?
“My idea of changing a flat is putting on a stiletto.”
Comments
Leave a Comment
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
Isn’t the store called We One You Two?
the name of the store is We One You Two not Me One You Two. Thank you!!!!!!!! Love you Katherine!
Ms. Kennedy definitely has a cute style about her in the first two pictures, but that third one – the footwear in particular – has me scratching my head a bit.
And I’m not even touching the other woman’s outfit.
This website sale sounds very iffy. Can this be confirmed?
Your blog has really gone downhill. Sorry – but giving this girl any more “press” shows you really need some material.
This girl’s style is nothing new and terribly boring. And seriously, she needs to lay off the Mystic tanning a little.
I actually think she is great. I met her a few years ago at something (I can’t remember what) but I can remember she was one of the nicest people I had ever met. Dresses+Heel+Pearls….what could be a better combination?
Dress+Heels+Pearls = Barbara Bush. Yawn.
I’m sorry, but she is just terrible. Daddy’s money may buy you Burberry trenches, but it doesn’t buy you respect. KK’s socialite endeavors may be appear laudable on paper, but hosting a party at Smith Point or The Park doesn’t make you a martyr – it makes you a party girl. Let’s not confuse actual humanitarian work with social climbing. For your next in-depth interview, please talk to someone with not only an original fashion sense, but also one that isn’t bought with a nauseating amount of money. Furthermore, she’s a terrible writer and I would suggest cross-referencing her blog.
Tisk, tisk, tisk. Jealousy shows its ugly green head yet again. Luckily, KK has probably gotten used to all of the haters. I guess when you look like her, you could wear a Hefty bag and look better than 99% of the population. Sorry people, like it or not – she is gorgeous and you are jealous. Is her fashion sense earth shattering? No. But are you only nailing her because you wish you could be her? For damn sure.
People are railing on the pseudo-socialite….how OBVIOUS.
Lighten up people.
She’s a DC personality and this entry is shedding some light on it.
I find that there’s something charmingly self-assured and cute, if a little spoiled, about her. She’s actually GOT some personality instead of veiling it in the kind of judgmental snobbery that too often rears it’s head in these comments.
Good for her – she needs to teach this city to
CHILL out.
Why do people always want to equate stating a strong opinion with jealousy? Aside from the comment about her poor writing skills -an accusation I’m neither endorsing nor refuting- none of the critiques here have been personal attacks worthy of the “you’re just jealous” barb.
Some of us don’t think kitten slides with a denim mini and a Lohan tan is particularly pleasant to look at — pointing that out doesn’t have to mean we’re 400 pounds of ugly sitting at home in sweats pining for this woman’s life.
Just so everyone knows, I didn’t really set up a time so take Katherine’s pic for this. These pics are ones taken on two very casual occasions – one, catch-up drinks with friends, the other a summer afternoon in Georgetown after a night on the town (I’m sure achy heels for both ladies inspired the footwear). It wasn’t the most stylish picture so I never used it, but it seemed okay to use for a little profile.
Just saying that these pictures aren’t the most representative but perhaps that’s somewhat my fault – I know this site is really visual at least at this point and so I guess I should have known better than to focus more on the interview than the pictures.
The tone of the comments provoked by this posting appear to reflect poorly on most of the contributors, anonymous though you remain.
The pathos of those couple of commentators who feign great disappointment at the asserted deterioration of the blog is surely a misused rehetorical flourish: the blog appears to consistently amount to a distillation of DC fashion on the street. As such, it merely confirms the middle-of-the-road fashion nostrums that guide most resident’s daily dress sense. To attack the observer for the oberservation is akin to assaulting the messenger for the message!
As for the flurry of insulting comments responding directly to the hagiography-like piece on KK, all I can say to the subject (whom I do not know) is: “unfortunately, it appears that the ‘tall poppy syndrome’ persists on both sides of the pond!”
To those who defend their actions as not evidencing envy: “thou does protest too much!”
To disparage a young, fresh and well-groomed young lady by invoking comparison to Barbara Bush is to inadvertantly point to the achille’s heel of most criticisms made in response to the posting: fashion and style are ultimately anchored in the organic tissue of the individual.
In the absence of natural looks or a pervasive sense of individuality, fashion when worn falls remarkably flat, much like warm Champagne!! It is this natural law that plays out on the runways of the top fashion weeks around the world. The “uber” models do not rise to top of the fashion industry by accident and happenstance.
This girl’s appearance is more striking than the average, and therein lies her advantage: she can wear beeds, kitten heels, and the ubiquitous plaid of Burberry and get away with it. In contrast, those less striking can bedeck themsleves in Gucci, Dior, Comme des Garcons (to name but a few) all to little avail! The fashion epiteth “beautiful people” was not coined in a vacuum!!
Here’s hoping that I don’t get assaulted on the streets of DC by a troll brandishing the latest-to-die-for bag from Bottega Venetta
Wow, can I borrow your thesaurus?
“I heard of Katherine before I ever came to know her.”
Well, I haven’t. Just a little journalistic advice for the future — please add some appropriate background so those of us not in the Mystic tan loop know who we’re reading about. Who is she? How did she become a “socialite”?
Thanks.
“I love the way the Mystic tanning . . . makes my body glow from had to toe.”
You got that right, you are glowing! Like an orange Christmas light!
This interview made me sad.
i’m visiting Project Beltway today because it was linked to on anti-dc (which i found through asjine) today. i used to be a reader but have slacked off because of disinterest in pictures of your friends parties and stylish wanna-be dcers this post makes me really see what i’m *not* missing!
please go back to how it was in the beginning! anonymous people on the street is way more interesting!
to Anti-DC:
Take Prozac, dear.
Nothing makes me sadder than learning of your dissatisfaction with living in a town you viscerally dislike. Life is not a dress rehearsal: you only to get to live it once. So move on and find something more nourishing!
However, my suspicion is that you, in common with many of the other negative commentators, ultimately have no driving ambition in life; hence, the preoccupation with heaping scorn, condescension, and ridicule on others. (It’s certainly one way to pass time.)
Take in good look in the mirror first, girlfriend!
I, too, have heard KK’s name dropped a few times and not known who she is or why she is popular. After reading this interview, I still do not know and thus I don’t care. But that’s why DC is like Hollywood for ugly people: You can be popular without contributing anything to humanity. That’s life. Deal with it or get outta DC.
First of all Rachel is a humanitarian for continuing to bust her ass day after day, taking pictures all evening, writing all night and posting in the morning. I’ve gotten to know her from being out “on the scene” and been personally inspired by her the evolution of her look, journalistic talent and progression of Project Beltway. To the person that said, go back to the way it was before, wake up sweety. Fashion is constantly moving forward. Innovative thinkers are always reinventing themselves and their work. Pick up a Washington Post or a New York Times. I can’t believe the way most of you tore into Rachel and Katherine. You all must have very low self-esteem. How about this for a challenge…. Anyhow that chooses to make such outrageously negative and judgemental comments (behind the mask of an alias) should then tell us their full name (which we probably would never recognize), post their picture, bio and resume….. Any takers??? I didn’t think so. Great work Rachel, keep it up and “F” anyone that anoymously judges you.
Paul,
You certainly don’t pull your punches.
I feel sad for this girl who doesn’t feel good about herself unless she’s in kitten heels (so cliché) and a dress…. Come on, get some confidence, or at least die your hair brown.
KK should go back to the place of sunshine and shady people…. LA. Her personality (I’ve known her for 3 years) fits more appropriately there then the east coast where education does get you farther then a pretty face. Yes, yes, she has her masters and is getting her PhD, but does she have any REAL life experience? No, she is simply book smart living off daddy’s deep educational pockets so she actually doesn’t have to pay for a real bill like the rest of the world. I’d love to see her try and make rent every month in NYC and afford to buy clothes at GASP – Zara! Give me a break, I get my basics from there before I move on to real fashion… like the villages or up on 57th street. I dare her to come to the NYC streets and attempt to strut her stuff and see how many people actually even notice her.
Also, what’s the deal with Peruse.com??? I assume she failed that class, as it does not exist. In addition, you don’t need to spend 400,000 on education to come up with a website idea… If she had any real business smarts, she wouldn’t be wasting her time sitting in classes all day.
thats soooooo funny i live in the us and my name is Katherine Kennedy
OMG! MY NAME’S KATHERINE KENNEDY TOOOOO!!! and net-a-porter.com is a real website and it’s really big in the UK
I, and my 3 children also have M.E.N. type 1 and we live in the UK. My elder daughter, Emily Katherine, and myself founded the UK Charity for MEN in 2002 – called the Association for Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Disorders (AMEND). We would very much like to get in touch with Katherine, especially as our annual conference/AGM will be held in London in May 2010 and we would like to meet her there!!
I live in North Yorkshire (tel 01423 780594) but other AMEND colleagues live closer to London. We are only a small charity but it would be amazing to talk to Katherine about her experiences, especially as we are in touch with many other MENers in the States, Canada, Australia and other parts of the world.
So please could you ask Katherine to have a look at our website and to get in touch with me – we have a lot to talk about!!
Kind regards
Liz Dent
Co-founder & President of AMEND